Tool #8

Cute video to help students learn how to simplify fractions. I've shown this to students in previous years and they enjoy anything with music and a beat. I look for videos on Teacher Tube more than YouTube for the simple fact that I feel I can trust finding suitable material.

Even though I no longer teach Science, I found this video on the water cycle a couple of years ago and I think it just shows the power of creativity in children. I've always liked the concept of how they put it together.

Tool #7 Digital Storytelling

I made a photo story of my brother's wedding. I've used photo story before to create projects in my library science classes. Uses for digital storytelling, it obviously lets someone tell a story using pictures, images, text, music and/or voice. One of the things I like about digital storytelling, it allows the user to personalize their story. I've seen some really awesome videos done by students. They can use it to create book reports, show problem solving in math and science concepts.

Tool #6 Wikis

Wikis are great resource to use to collaborate with others. I've used wikis in several classes to find information about courses, ask questions and add comments/opinions. They can be very useful but if used in the classroom, as they would need to be monitored regularly. Wikis allow students to add their input, ideas and make revisions collaboratively. Some ideas on how to use wikis-set up problem solving problems in Math, use as grade level meeting place to share lesson plans, and as a place for parents to find homework tips and strategies to use with their children at home.

Tool #5

Tagging and Social Bookmarking

I've used online bookmarking websites for student use on projects and research. I find del.icio.us easy to use to bookmark websites and discover new ones. When searching for online resources, tagging is an excellent resource to use to narrow down websites and resources.

I chose two websites that I would use as a librarian. I used the tags librarian and teacher. What I really enjoy about del.icio.us is the ability to add more tags when searching, which helps to really narrow down the search and websites.

Techlearning

KidsRead

I joined diigo.com and plan on exploring it later.

Tool #4

I've used Google Docs in several of my library science courses. I really like using their documents for the simple fact that it allows more than one person to collaborate on a project or paper. For one of our group projects, we used Google Docs to create a webquest that we could use every year and share with others.

Here is the link to the webquest:
https://docs.google.com/View?docid=ddgknjqm_0gfjfq487

I have used Google Reader to subscribe to blogs that I read often but I don't find it that useful for me. If I read certain blogs daily, I immediately go to those blogs to stay up to date on their postings.

As far as using Google docs in the classroom, as the video and other testimonies state, it's a great way to allow students to collaborate together on projects and papers not only at school but anywhere. I see the potential for students to interact with others across the world and it can allow teachers to give students instant feedback on their work.

Tool #3

I see several different uses for image generators and mashups in the classroom. It provides students with a different and creative way to process their thinking and show examples of what they have learned. I believe students would be extremely creative using some of these tools. They can be used across the curriculum.

Tool #2

1. What are your thoughts about building an online education community and participating in a PLN?

Participating in online community is a great way to further your knowledge and education. Interacting with your peers through blogs, wikis and other online communities is one way to grow professionally and stay updated on new technology and fresh ideas.

2. What point stood out to you from the commenting advice?

Only comment on things and blogs that you make a connection with, leave them a meaningful comment, don't comment for the simple fact of commenting.

3. What five blogs did you select for your comments?

I haven't commented on any blogs yet, buts as I continue working through these tools I will take the time to comment on others...as long as I have something meaningful to say