Week 9

I have to admit that I am not one to browse YouTube on my own, but I love it when my e-friends send me links. I do receive e-mail updates from SchoolTube and TeacherTube, and I recommend both of these to you all.

I have been downloading podcasts for several years now. Most of them are work related. I even participated in a webinar on how to make a podcast. One day I'm actually going to use that info. Meanwhile if you would like to borrow it, I have a hard copy. Natasha used it last year.

This has been a really good experience for me, especially being the virtual cheerleader. I've done some things that I had been putting off and put off some things I should have done. I loved reading everyone's blog, and I apologize for not commenting more. You all put me to shame with all you have learned to do. Can't wait for the next group!

Week 8: Productivity and LibraryThing

I think Google docs and Zoho will be the way for us to go, especially as we move more and more toward collaborative projects. I worked with Google docs last year, but so far I haven't gotten anyone else to buy into the process. Maybe 2009 will be the year. I'm a member of Google Teacher, so I get updates and newsletters from Google all the time about what's new with them.

I haven't joined LibraryThing yet. I like my GoodReads membership, but I may reconsider & put a LibraryThing widget on my blog over the holidays.

Week 7: Wikis

I got truly emersed in wikis with Josh and wordnerd. This year I'm using the PBwiki. We used last year's wiki and wikipedia as models for our new wiki. Josh's students have created wiki pages on the Middle Eastern countries. He has covered the entire world in ONE SEMESTER with the wiki finishing up the last countries. Then they classes were in for their exams. They had to find the answers on one exam section using the wiki pages. We learned how to create folders so that each class could be separate. Wordnerd's Dozen Ways project is also posted. Wordnerd is really good at editing. If you decide to make a wiki, she would be a good resource. Now I've got to clean up the wiki a little before next semester.

Week 6

I got so caught up in staying one week ahead of the group, that I forgot to make my own posts. I set up my delicious account and love the way I can just click on it and am automatically into my bookmarked sites. I think creating mutlitple delicious accounts would be the way to go for posting pathfinders for the students.
I had also explored technorati & creative commons. So much to see and so little time....

My Voki

I had a blast creating my new avatar. Be sure to click the play button to hear it talk.

New Ideas

One of the sessions I attended at the conference on Friday was on Web 2.0. Be sure to read the December LMC newsletter to get a full listing of the sites or you can go to one of the presenter's directory of web sites @ http://delicious.com/fozzieblue/AfterSchool.

Speaking of delicious, if you haven't looked at it yet, take some time to do so. I have been to lots of presentations that recommend it.

I saw some really good things with Flickr; things that might calm some of your fears about our students and appropriate content. Check out www.flickr.com/commons for museum & library collections. Creative Commons provides licensed photos @ www.flickr.com/creativecommons.

I found it interesting that to cite the photos, the presenter just hotlinked the photo back to its original source. That would be so much easier for our students than their trying to easybib them. What do you think of offering that as an option to the formal citation?

The presenter also did a great demo of customizing a google map. She inserted bullets to make an itinerary and then hotlinked photos to the bullets. It was really cool. I could see that happening with wordnerd's Dozen Ways project next year or Towncat's travel brochures.

Finally I saw two fun sites. You have got to try these:
Wordle is a just for fun site that makes word clouds. I played around with it a little tonight. The one thing I couldn't do was copy it so that I could post it here. My options were to either print it or post it on Wordle. I chose not to post on Wordle. I could see our students getting really creative with this site. Unfortunately, right now it is blocked at school. I'll work to get it unblocked. Check it out @ http://www.wordle.com/

Finally, you have got to try the talking avatars. I plan to make one soon. http://www.voki.com/. I bet hornek will be the first to post a talking avatar.

So much to try, so little time to try it in!

Week 5: Fun with pictures