Thing #9: Image Generators

Using this site's meme maker, I was able to take a picture of our dog Chief and then overlay text and send this image to my husband who is deployed to Afghanistan. His birthday is tomorrow and I know our puppy wanted to send him something too!

The second image I created was from the same site above, and the more I looked through image generator sites the more ways I could think of to use this tool in presentations, posters, and nearly every visual display of text in a classroom.

Thing #8: Flikr Magic

Hey! Look! I spelled my name! This website uses Flikr images to spell whatever you type into the box. I like that it gives you the option to flip through and change the picture if you don't like the one it generates.

   

 I could definitely use this to make posters for the classroom... to post the class name, room number, or even a welcome sign!

 

If allowed, Flikr shares a person's uploaded photos for public use such as in the words created above.  The only site I've used for sharing pictures is Facebook, although I do not have strong opinion on the concept.  However, I personally would not publish pictures of people for public use on Flikr, just because Flikr uses public images in a way that Facebook does not.  Flikr images can be publicly used to create other photo products as shown above, whereas Facebook is generally used for sharing among those persons you've granted access to view.

Thing #7: Intro to Flikr

While exploring Flikr, I found this image of the Northern Lights.  I've decided this phenomena is definitely on my bucket list of things to see during my life!  I think it'd be worth a drive to Quebec.

Accompanying caption:

"Lights along the northern horizon give an orange cast to the low clouds while alluring green and purple hues of the aurora borealis or northern lights glow powered by energetic particles at the edge of space.  The Big Dipper in the constellation Ursa Major is on the left and on the right is Queen Cassiopeia in the constellation Cassiopeia. Between them in the middle, is the Little Dipper in the constellation Ursa Minor. The end of the Little Dipper’s handle is Polaris, known as the North Star."
Credit: Philippe Moussette at Observatoire Mont Cosmos, Quebec, Canada

I hadn't really explored Flikr before today, although I did know about it.  The first image I found did not allow downloads, however I thought it really captured the concept of imagination, which is something I plan to emphasize with my future students.  Imagination, creativity, and curiosity together are the powerhouse of innovation and learning at all ages.

After realizing I could not download the first image, I discovered the Creative Commons, which allowed for downloading.  I also used the search bar and found myself browsing for around two hours before realizing I should probably just pick one to use for this post.  In other news, Flikr made me realize I desperately need to get the display driver fixed on my computer... it caused my computer to crash no less than 20 times while working on this post.  I firmly believe it's just being spiteful now.

Thing #6: Web 2.0

Trello is an online organizational tool that tracks the progress of a project among group members.  This free tool details the brainstorming process, tasks and responsibilities, deadlines, items currently in progress, and tasks completed.

I like the idea board component and how this tool could be easily utilized in a classroom for students to use within group projects.  A student could look back and see their evolution of thought and project creation while effectively managing group tasks and deadlines. Furthermore, if I were co-teaching, or had an educational assistant we could use this tool collaboratively to manage our tasks and ideas within our classroom.  Trello also has an app interface for mobile device access.  If a student were using this website for a Chemistry project, they'd then have that information on their phone also- essentially serving as an app for their classroom assignment!

Thing #5: School 2.0

After exploring this site on Web 2.0 tools, I fell in love with the Prezi presentation tool and have nearly vowed to never show a power point again.  For instance: below is a Prezi that one teacher used to engage a class on the first day:

I once read a book explaining how the first day of school is the most important day out of the whole year for a teacher, as it sets the protocol, procedures, and expectations for every class following.  If a student were to see this presentation on the first day of class, then the bar would be set and they could expect for the rest of the year the material and content to be presented in an interesting and new fashion, rather than death by power point and overhead notes.  It is one more way of roping students in and grabbing their attention from the start and waking them up to an entire course of information they are about to learn.

In this article Web 2.0 is the Future of Education, Trend #3 discusses how electronic books will "Rock our reading world."  However, I disagree with this statement.  Yes, Kindles are a great tool and many prefer it over physical books.  I for one, do not.  There is just something shy of magical of walking into a public library and being surrounded by a wealth of information and books, both physically and visually.  Being able to take a physical text book, annotate it, read it, and by the end of the course have it indisputably yours in that it no longer looks like its original self, but a work of your own- with notes in the columns, dog eared pages, and highlighted text.  Yes, you can do these things virtually on a kindle, but being able to pull it off a bookshelf and look at your self-made tabs, and  know exactly where to turn not because the page you're looking for is labeled, but because you've referenced it so many times that the book opens there naturally, is something the world of e-books  lacks, and I do not believe will every be able to effectively emulate.

To me, School 2.0 defines a non-linear path to education.  It is a participant driven and interactive experience involving students using computers and the internet as a pathway to learning.  In the coming years, schools will be culturally forced to participate in this new "tidal wave" of information and education system.  Accepting technology in the classroom and using it as a mode of instruction will be necessary.

Thing #4: Commenting

Commenting... does anyone really care what I have to say?  What can I contribute that is so earth shattering and important?  These are the thoughts that cross my mind when I think about commenting... right before I silence them and remember- you only live once.  So, like it or not, here I comment!

I learned today that a comment is an expression of a vote- a way to say I vote that this topic or this idea or this thread is important.  It is the Facebook equivalent of a "like", or well... a comment, which in those terms makes the concept not so intimidating.  I also was reminded that a comment is the participation in a discussion, and it is characteristic of being a responsible blogger (also a new concept to me...)

Commenting stimulates discussion and promotes a sense of community and interaction within that community.  If a blogger were to blog, and no one ever read, then the blog is nothing more than a diary never being read.  The ability to comment on other's posts allows for an interactive flow of ideas and opinions, and those who comment then find themselves within a community of bloggers.  Those who frequent the same blog are termed "neighbors."

As my initiation into the commenting community, below are the names of five blogs within our class and two within the blogosphere, which comprise my first-ever comments.

• Stephanie Freeman: I posted on her Pinterest blog for Thing #6 because I thought it was a great idea to use that website to generate ideas for the classroom.  I let her know I'll make a board too so if I see anything really cool I can share it.
• Stephanie Fortner: A thanks for sharing a link in her Thing #8 to http://bighugelabs.com/ which I can see being very useful in a classroom for making posters or presentations.
• Catherine Ericson: A thanks for the information on RSS feeds in her Thing #10 post and for sharing the top 3 blogs she follows.
• Natasha Long: Related to her concern about students having internet and computer access.  Commented on her Thing #22 on LiveBinders.
• Heather Ray: Posted a thanks on her Thing #11 for sharing about http://www.blogsearchengine.org/. I had not heard of it before.
• Simply Recipes: Noted how the Stir Fried Green Beans with Ginger and Onions recipe is great because it's quick, healthy, and can be made in small or large servings.
• RecipeGirl: Commented how the recipe for Slow Cooker French Dip Sandwiches is a great one to bring the crock pot out for. So many slow cooker recipes turn out looking the same, but this one looks really flavorful and different.

Thing #3: Classroom Blogging

"What was today's homework?"

"Where can I find that video shown in class?"

"How am I going to come up with a science fair project?"

These commonly asked questions among chemistry students can be answered through a classroom blog.  Students can use this tool to keep track of their assignments, explore links to interesting articles, revisit lecture resources, and post their own comments and questions.  Discussion forums for homework assistance and tutoring can be created, allowing students to work collaboratively to better understand the material.  Furthermore, students may be required to set up their own blogs to post weekly responses to discussion topics.

As a parent, access to this resource can prove a wonderful tool for viewing what their child is learning and for monitoring their participation and progress.  A blog allows for one more avenue that connects a teacher with a parent, or a teacher with a student, providing a forum for communication and a distribution of resources or materials.  A blog can serve as a virtual classroom, keeping absent or sick students up to date on their studies.

With all these points in mind, I want my future classroom blog to at a minimum have each of these components:

• Introductory message to students and parents with an overview of the course and classroom blog
• A calendar outlining each of the assignments and due dates throughout the course
• Extra practice problems with explanations for those needing further examples
• Links to all lecture resources
• Posts on current hot topics in chemistry for students to view and respond to in their own blogs as a weekly assignment

On a side note: this blog offers a wealth of resources including chemistry presentations, worksheets, and quizzes.  Here, this science teacher uses his blog to freely distribute his classroom materials and "give back" to the general commons of information that he utilizes.

Thing #1: Lifelong Learning Habits

A tutorial located here describes lifelong learning as a self-motivated ongoing pursuit of knowledge that is not limited to the confines of a classroom or particular stage of life. The seven and a half habits of life long learners described in this tutorial are as follows:

1.  Begin with the end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
5. Create your own learning toolbox
6. Use technology to your advantage
7. Teach and mentor others

And 7.5 is to play! 

Thinking back on those who I view as life long learners, they always seem to be up to date on current events and have some stockpile of informational websites they check daily, are great mentors, and seem unafraid to tackle learning a new subject or language.  The people I am thinking of were people I knew in college, previous employers, and teachers from grade school.  Of the list above, I can see how each of them abide by some, if not all of those seven and a half habits.

Of these habits, I can identify my strongest and weakest areas.  The strongest would probably be the first, beginning with the end in mind.  For instance, as I work through my courses I try to keep in mind that everything I complete and turn in could be in my portfolio that I ultimately present to a potential employer.  However, this mindset occasionally presents an overwhelming sense, and at those moments I just try to take things a step at a time.  My weakest habit would be in creating my own learning toolbox.  Those life long learners who I think back on and admire had a myriad of resources they frequented.  My hope is through these courses and my own endeavors over the next year and a half I can continue to improve and build my learning toolbox.

By discovering the resources available through Web 2.0, my hope is to build a second toolbox- a resource toolbox.  These resources will consist of information, websites, and strategies I will ultimately use in my career as a teacher.  For instance, from a teachers perspective I can appreciate the great potential blogs hold.  Just last week I was substitute teaching for an English Honors class at a local high school, and the students were expected to write a weekly blog using their vocabulary words on a given topic. This activity not only provided a venue to apply their vocabulary words, but also practice their writing skills.

Blogging is an aspect of Web 2.0, which I have never really given much consideration before this course.  Since the start of this course and my formal introduction to this tool, I have found myself looking to others in the "blogosphere" for inspiration and information.  I started by Googling "Best Blogs of 2013" and have since found great sources of information on subjects aside from teaching for recipes, decorating, fitness, and not to mention fantasy football guides!  I was surprised at the wealth of information blogs present of which I was previously unaware.

Thing #2: Intro to Blogging

Let the blogging begin!  Template... check; background... check; avatar... check; assignment started... check.  My 23 Things has commenced.

The process of setting up this blog was fairly simple, which was a quite relief for me personally!   I have very little previous experience with blogging.  Once upon a time I created one merely as a website to correspond with a resume, but it was not an interactive or frequently used forum.  I am one of many who never seems to get things right on the first attempt.  There always seems to be some unique glitch, or issue to overcome that slows the process of reaching my goal.  By introducing myself to new resources in technology, I hope to overcome those glitches now and learn from them, rather than in the future when I am using those resources professionally.

For instance, while setting up this blog, everything went smoothly until I began to create my avatar.  I created the avatar on http://www.doppelme.com to look something like my real self, and then copied the code to insert into this blog.  Google's Blogger would not allow me to follow the route Add a gadget --> Add your own --> and Paste HTML code.  Instead through troubleshooting I found I needed to go under Basics --> HML Java Script --> And paste in the box provided.  Just an example of something I learned now, rather than in the future when I am setting up my own classroom blog.