Thing 14: Go with the Flow!

I choose http://www.gliffy.com/ to make a flow chart. It was very easy and user friendly. The only problem I had was trying to get the link to work on my blog.
Test Flow Chart


I choose https://bubbl.us/ to make a mind map. It was very easy and user friendly also! But I would have to say that I liked this one better than the flow chart! I know that they are basically the same thing but this one was more fun! Also, I got the link to work!
Test Mind Map

Thing 13: Zoho Writer vs Google Docs

The online applications to make documents were fairly similar to Word. I did have a little trouble with both. Zoho Writer to me was difficult to use compared to Google Docs.

Zoho Writer...

• Had trouble getting out of the header/footer.
• Easy to insert pictures.
• Hard to re size pictures and get them in the right proportions.
• Font and color was easy to change.
• Easy to insert a table but could not delete it.
• Tried to export it to my computer it worked, but when I opened it in Word it was really messy looking.

Google Docs...

• Header/footer was easy to get in and out.
• Easy to insert a picture and re size.
• Font and color was easy to do.
• Easy to insert a table and to delete it.
• Could not figure out how to export this document to my computer.

So I am not sure how to attach these test documents to my blog. I prefer the Google Docs application over the Zoho Writer because Google was easier to use. I am always up for user friendly! These applications would be great for students to collaborate with each other since you can share documents and spreadsheets.



Test Doc for Zoho



Test Doc for Google



The only way I could figure out how to put my documents in my blog was to make the public documents where anyone could see them with Internet access. Which I really do not like but I guess I have to.

Thing 12: GOOGLE

I love Google and everything it has to offer! I sure it everyday! My creations are a homepage and a Calendar. The Calendar is very useful as a teacher or student. I can put everything on this calendar such as homework assignment, appointments, events, and much more! One day when I am a teacher I plan on using this as a way to keep parents updated on homework and events.

The Google Homepage was just fun! You can customize it anyway that you want. Just pick out the things that you are interested in and Google does the rest! I love it!

Thing 11: Search Tools for RSS

I found the the Google Blog Search tool was the easiest to use out of the four search tools. I love Google! I use it everyday! So I already know my way around Google! The one I did not like so much was the Topix.net. It was neat to just type in my zip code and get local blogs or news feeds. What if I wanted to find something but did not know what zip code to put in! I think it is a great place to find out local info. With the Google search tool I found lots of blogs and news feeds. There are a large varitey of blogs and news feed that you can find using the Google search tool. Such as sports, tv, movies, world news, and technology to name a few. I really did not use any other tools to search for news feeds or blogs! When in doubt Google! :)

Thing 10: Readers

The RSS Readers are a really cool thing. It does make it easier to get all the news and blogs at one page. I like that instead of searching all of your favorite pages everything is in one place! Teachers can definitely take advantage of this new technology and use it in the class room. It will be easier for teachers to find and keep what need of the web for the classroom! I will be able to use this technology everyday to check news and blogs that I follow instead of adding all the web address to my favorite list on my computer. Also, if I am not at my computer I can get to my favorite places with out having to try and remember the web address or searching for it! Because with Google reader it is all there on one page! I think that this was a very smart idea!

Thing 9: Images

http://www.comicstripgenerator.com/

I created the picture above using Comic Strip Generator. It was really easy! You just upload any picture. Then choose a broader or any of the special effects that you want. The last step is to download your picture and save it to your computer. EASY and FUN!

http://www.imagechef.com/

I created this puzzle picture at Image Chef. It was wasn't as easy as Comic Strip Generator but still easy enough. You just have to choose a template and up load your picture! There are a lot of templates to choose from! The hardest part was trying to decide on a template! Then upload a picture and save it to your computer!

                                                           http://www.happyfacegenerator.com/

I created this smiley face image at Happy Face Generator. It was super easy! Just pick a face that you want. Then just add the text that you want and save it to your computer! It was super easy and fun!

These picture generator are so much fun! They could be used in the classroom to decorate with educational pictures on the walls! Also, educational sayings for the students to see. These generator can be used in personal life too! Like family pictures with funky boarders or saying on them!

Thing 8: Mashups

The Flickr Mashup are really fun! The one I used was Spell with Flickr. I could you this to decorate in my future classroom. I also like the Flickr color Pickr! That could be use to have student think of thing that are certain colors or to just have the students create artwork with certain colors! I love art, so I hope to incorporate that in to the way I teach! Or maybe finish up my degree in Elementary Education and get it in Art Education! :) What I think about sharing photos online is that it is a awesome way for family and friends to view your life! That is what I do with using Shutterfly! I share my photos with family and friends who do not live close to watch my daughter grow! Also, so that my husband can watch her grow while he is deployed!!!

Thing 7: Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mweiser14/5440805462/




This photo was taken while my husband and I were going to the airport in Pittsburgh PA. We are big Steelers and Penguins fans! I figure I would share a photo that was not too personal. I did not want to put a picture of my family out like that! I am not sure yet if I would use Flickr for personal use, but it could be very handy in a classroom for the students. I use Shutterfly! I love it! I can share photos with family and it is the way I share photos with my husband while he is deployed! On Shutterfly you can create albums, make photos books, calenders, cards, and just print pictures! You can create an account and have your family and friends sign up to get your updates! It is awesome! The two differ... On Shutterfly you have to invite people to look at your web page of photo albums and you can create more things like coffee cups, notebooks, magnets, and clothes. On Flickr it seems a little limited compared to Shutterfly. BUT I do like Flickr!

Thing 6: Web 2.0 Tool: Google!

I love Google! I use Google for everything! I have chosen Google Calender as my Web 2.0 Tool to discover. This is a great place to write down everything from birthdays, homework, meeting, and events. You can also access it from your mobile phone. There are different views of the calender day, 4 day, week, month, and agenda. The cool thing about is that you can subcribe to your friends calenders! Below is a link to the Google Calender.


The features are very useful! This web tool could definitely be used at a school. Teachers could use this for informing parents about upcoming homework, project, and events. This is a great way for teachers and parents to know what is going on with the students. This way teacher would know that the papers they pass out could get to the parents. You know how students can be sometimes by not bring home information that the teacher sends home!


Google Calender

Thing 5: Web 2.0 is the Future of Education

School 2.0 is the future in Education! School 2.0 has changed the classroom even just in the last few years. I have taken online classes and also been in classes such as Educ 3040 where most of the work is done on the computer and internet. I think if more school use computers and internet in the classrooms student would get involved more and have fun! Students these days know so much about computers. I knew nothing about computers until I was in high school. We took a computer class that taught us how to type and use Microsoft Word and Excel. But times have certainly changed even thought I graduated 6 years ago! School 2.0 will definitely change schools in the future! I think that the textbook companies might need to convert over to making online textbooks because I don't think student will have textbooks in abut 5 to 10 years or sooner. Web 2.0 has changed the way students learn and how teachers teach! I think the future looks bright!

Thing 4: Commenting ...

Commenting is very important in the blogging world! At least that is what I have read about! I do agree with this! I am not very big on this blogging thing but from what I have read it does seem very important to comment on others blogs. The 10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog is a very informative blog. I believe that this will help me out on being a better blogger! Invite Comments. Ask Questions. Be Open Ended. Interact with Comments Left. Set Boundaries. Be Humble. Be Gracious. Be Conversational. Reward Comments. Make it Easy to Comment. I hope that these techniques will help me get more comments on my blog! Does anyone else have any other ideas?


Some people I have commented on...
Kala Burch
Melissa Moore
Lindsey Darnell