#16 Organize me! Please!

Hmmm, I must ponder the theoretical benefits of having to remember yet another website to remember websites. Please enjoy this gif while you are waiting: 

 

 

Of the three customizable start pages I preferred the look of @Start.org.  It had a pleasant background and easy to read fonts.  I preferred that the information appeared on the start page itself, rather than having to click a button to travel to each individual site. Though I doubt I will use it.  I am becoming overwhelmed with all of the websites about websites!

 

I actually use my google calendar quite a bit.  It is linked to my phone, so that no matter where I add an event it appears on all calendars.  I have also used it to send reminders and invites.  It's quite handy!

 

As for the other widgets or tools, I could use the file converters (zamzar.com and PDF converter) tomorrow!!  I am always needing to convert files at school or for lessons.  I will definitely be using these!

#15 Wiki tiki tavi!

Oy Vey!!! The wiki!!! The apsu23things sandbox refused to be my friend.  I begged and begged.  I pleaded.  I promised it brownies in a mug.  Nothing.  It refused to send a verification email to my email address.  And, without said verification, was quite adamant "NO wiki mango for you!" 

Alas, I am resigned that "tomorrow will be a better day!"  And perhaps the verification will eventually arrive.

icanhazcheezburger.com

Here we are a couple weeks and one stomach virus later and the apsu23things.wiki has deigned to allow me to enter!  Yay!!  I really enjoy the concept of the editable wiki.  I can see a lot of potential for collaboration amongst students and teachers.  I will definitely keep it in the back of my mind!

#14 Mapping the convoluted mind or, as we like to call it in the biz, going with the flow!

#14 Mind Mapping and Creating Flow Charts.

My first thoughts are, why did I chose the programs I chose.  In this case it was fairly simple, their design appealed to me.  I liked the colors and the ease of use.  I was attracted to their little advertising icon.  Amazing the power of that first consumer hook!

So I decided to take Gliffy and bubbl.us out for a little test drive.  See if it could withstand the clutter in my mind without over loading the server!  I have to admit at first blush I was favoring Gliffy. All the fun shapes, the pretty color text, ease of use.  And then I tried bubbl.us *angels sing aaaaaaa*!  And I fell in love!  I loved the little pop up boxes, the way everything connected, how easy it was to start a new set or add new boxes... I adored it!!! I would certainly put it down as my go to mind mapper or flow chart creator!!

As it turns out Science is perfect for these types of tools.  And what a great activity to be able to have each student on a computer creating a mind map of their current knowledge of a subject before each instruction, and then one after!!  It would be great for genetics.  For teaching students cause and effect.  For helping students get organized!  Did I say I loved this particular app?  I do!!

#13 Driving Miss Google

Blog post in Google Drive!

I found Google Drive to be a wonderful for use anywhere anytime you have access to a computer. I think it is phenomenal for sharing and collaborative work.  Students can work on group projects without having to physically be in the same room!  They can share their ideas and their edits for papers and presentations and work together in real time.  Definitely something to show them when they are working on their next STEM project!!

I found it interesting and can see potential for educational purposes from a teaching standpoint also.  Quizzes, homeworks, various assignments,   Slideshows of the content covered… and many more!

When comparing Google Drive to Zoho I favored the system with which I was already familiar.  I also like the “add app” feature in Google Drive, which made Google Drive virtually limitless (ha! see what I did there?).  
 

Thing #12 Google is Not Just for Searching Anymore

Thing #12 Google is Not Just for Searching Anymore 

I regularly use google scholar to search for journal articles.  It is especially handy to use if the library does not have a full text version of an article that I am interested in reading.  Usually if there is a free full text version out there google scholar can find it!  Google scholar also searches a wider range of information sources than the well defined library searches by content.

Google translate!  Huzzah!! It was the only way I could communicate with a chinese student I had last year (well, if the other chinese student wasn't there).  It is an invaluable tool that is easily accessible on the computer or on a phone.  I use it quite frequently.

Thing #11 Finding Good Feeds

Thing #11 Finding Good Feeds 

Edublog where is your search box???? Not having a quick readily identifiable search function drives me up a wall!!  Google blog search, while it shows new content within the search parameter, it is not presenting me with the types of blogs I am hoping to find.  The search appears to be very comprehensive and were I looking for an obscure reference or topic I think this would be the place to be!!

I found several blogs to follow on blogsearchengine.org and I will certainly be perusing this search engine again for blogs.  My by far favorite way to search for subject topics is the feedly search engine.  Though I concentrated my search on content that is very specific to my area of interest and teaching I think that I can find most of the information needed with these two search engines.

It was interesting and surprising which websites and blogs did not contain an rss feed!!  It is something I will certainly be looking at more closely now!

Thing #10 RSS Reader and Feeds

Thing #10 Set Up an RSS Reader and Add Feeds 

Wow RSS has come a long way since the last time I used it!!!  I followed several science sites since I try to stay current with new and ongoing research.  RSS really puts all the newly published information at my fingertips without time consuming searches and weeding through those subsequent searches.  This will help me (and all science teachers) really stay abreast of the new information and keep our students on the cutting edge of information!!!