Tool #7 Digital Storytelling

I use this journal in my class and will have my students create one and use it during the first semester of year 2010-2011.

I really like podcastin and creating videos, I prefer to use my own photos because there are no copyright issues, but we can also flickr http://www.flickr.com/ . The music in my video is courtesy of incomtech --> http://incompetech.com/m/c/royalty-free/ and you should try freeplaymusic also @ http://freeplaymusic.com/index.php. The music places are royalty free and flickr is CC friendly.

I use digital story telling in my classrooms all the time, some times i make them to facilitate comprehension of a concept, and sometimes my students create them to demonstrate the knowledge, comprehension and their point of view on a topic or task!!! I love videos and podcasts!!!!

Tool #6 Wikis

What is a wiki? thats the first idea that popped into my head; so i needed a definition. It is a website to create and edit interlinked web pages HUH? what is that again--> so it is a place where we could create and edit collaborated work and websites. and wiki is a synonym for quick, so its a quick link = ).

So people can add and modify information and the admin of the site will check the information. Sometimes the information is inaccurate, but it is a cool way to share knowledge and opinions. Of course there should be rules, and this is where informing our students of the unsaid rules, ethics and responsibilities that come with these great tools.

I envision using wiki as a classroom link to unlimited information; where students can share their ideas, questions and doubts and they could also investigate those and find proof of their thoughts.
Everyone will be able to view the wiki. Only members will be able to edit it and students, parents, staff and invited guests will be able to join.
Still a little doubts on creating one due to the time needed for moderating and updating.

I would like to collaborate with my new team and check if we could have one for all of us, and in turn we could rotate the administration of the website.

Tool #5 Social Bookmarking

I browsed through delicious and diigi; I really liked delicious (given that i already have a yahoo account), therefore I created a bookmarking account there. I added the new toolbar and tag button to my toolbar for easy access,I do think this makes bookmarking easier. I always bookmark websites and I forget why i bookmarked them, this makes it easier for me to categorize the sites with games for my students and the sites with information for myself. It has a small check-box field if you don't want to share the site just incase you find something useful for yourself but may not apply to others.
I found sites that I liked, about math [the bookmarks are in my delicious account if you would like to check them out] and science. I bookmarked and tagged them. I have a link to my social bookmarks on delcicious on the right side for easy access. I think social bookmarking will be very useful for students, when they visit my bolg they can easily access the indicated website or choose one that ma fit the requirements using the tags!!

Tool #4

I had a little trouble with tool #4, specifically with google docs http://docs.google.com/ . Only because it is difficult to share if with out peoples e-mail, but once we have that down everything should be ok, =). I also like google reader it makes reading google info easier, like blogs that I am following; and I liked google reader play so much i added a link on my blog!!! check it out on the left, its a little random, but its cool, =).

Tool #3

First of all I found this pretty elaborate, =). I have used other image enhancers and i found these quiet difficult, I do although recall using HTML graphics when using myspace that that was a blast from the past.
As an image enhancer I used Big Huge labs, it was the easiest to manipulate the pictures (once you have them); With this I created the robots mosaic pic (its on the leftside in a widget). I chose my theme to be about robots since i love robots! a note i wanted to add was that we need to make sure we have a theme when lookig for pictures, that will lessen the time and also when using the pictures, I prefer to use the Attribution Non commercial share alike license. It is less restrictive on the user.

I also used animoto, to create a couple of videos and am seriously considering an upgrade from the free account. The theme on the videos where academic, one being math and the other science. These videos are located at the bottom of my blog, just scroll down to see them)

These three are educational eye candy for the students, the robots one gives the child insight on the teachers personality, and videos are short and sweet and educational. Something the students could look at before the lesson.

I will continue working on the word puzzels i want to add a few of those.

Mel tool #2

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

I think building an online education community is accessible to SBISD teachers is pretty cool. I think it is very important for us (teachers) to learn how to use tools that our students will be using, if they aren't already, in their future education and careers. I also think participating in a PLN is super exciting, because it gives us time to observe other teachers thoughts, ideas and so much information we can provide each other and it provides us the opportunity to comment about their thoughts, feel better about our insecurities through observation and support each other through the comments.

2. What point stood out to you from the commenting advices?
Like Mrs. Green,"the lurker", lol. I felt like OMG thats meeee!!! I like to look at peoples profiles and i never comment, well sometimes I do, but very little. I will work on changing that part, because we all love comments =).

3. What five blogs did you select for your comments?
So far I have just selected Mrs. Green, because I was just lurking ; ]
and lurking : \... and that is why this is taking me so long. I will be back to comment on this last question.