Monday, November 9, 2009

Conclusion and Feedback

I have really enjoyed sampling so many on the Web 2.0 technologies.
I now have two iGoogle pages - one for work and one for home! Love Google. I can't wait to set up Blogs for classes next year and include visuals and online videoes (from YouTube especially - stil so proud I was able to put one on my page).

I am still thoroughly impressed with Rollyo and will use that next year with stage 5! What a great way to organise research for topics!
Still love and use Facebook and other social tools- but I am still very aware of social issues that are involved in their use. So much so, I have enrolled in a PD day on Internet safety which will look at ways I can help/teach students to use the internet and variety of applications in a school context.

Still not sure about virtual worlds, but I have been speaking to more students who use Warcraft and discussing how they take the complicated stories from this world and use it in narratives in the classroom. I had not realised how interesting and complex some of these stories are.

Really want to use Wiki spaces, just waiting for the day students will have access to them as well as teachers!

Thanks again for the great tutorials, I plan to continue on my journey into the World of Web 2.0

#22 Ebooks & #23 AudioBooks

I really like using Audio Books in the classroom. I have used some audiobooks, last year and this year to help support low literacy students. It is a great way to support their reading skills and help them follow the story. To often when reading a novel in class, some students are left behind, or they are not sure what is happening in the story. With Audio Books you can pause, discuss, complete activities on paragraphs, chapters, characters, re-listen to sections to encourage student understanding of the novel.
The World Ebook Fair is a great site that I would like to explore in greater detail, especially areas on poetry.
LibriVox was a great site to browse. Was very excited to see Shakespeare listed. This is such a benefit in the classroom when a class is reading a play after or before viewing it on film. I have used a Romeo and Juliet Audio Book in the past, but have (until now) not been able to find other plays.

I have not used Ebooks in the classroom, but this has a lot of potential in low literady English classes. In one of my classes I have noticed that the students are very visual. Using an Ebook could help them achieve what most beleive, that "They cant' read a book". This 'pressure' could be relieved through the use of Ebooks. Also finding books out of print or hard to find books could be found on Ebook sites. These Ebooks could be used through a data projector or even an Interactive Whiteboard!

I am going to share the Ebooks with my faculty as a new way of engaging low literacy level students in a thematic (novel) study as an alternative to outdated books that they are not engaged in. :-)

#21 Online Video

I am so proud that I have learnt how to put a video from YouTube on my blog!!! I chose a commercial from Thailand that I completed an analysis on with my year 9 class. It is a wonderful ad that students have not seen and therefore enables them to think about the tecnhiques used in a more objective light.

YouTube and TeacherTube are wonderful tools to use in the classroom. I am able to use YouTube a lot in the classroom, for example, film, advertisement, poetry analysis just to name a few!

I don't think teachers can ignore YouTube, students are familiar with it and a lot upload their own creations. They are exposed to a lot of material, good and bad through YouTube. As a teacher you also have the opportunity to analyse YouTube as a whole, discuss what students have viewed, make evaluations - and connect the evaluations to the wide world.

#21 Online Video

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

#20 Podcasts

After a professional development day which looked at Podcasting I started to use Podcasts in the classroom with a year 8 class. We were listening to different radio stations programs, including Hamish and Andy, the Kyle and Jackie O show. The Podcasts were easy to access and easy to use and it was great to be able to analyse the radio programs students would listen to outside of school hours.

Audacity is easy to understand and use in the classroom. The only problem is lack of equpiment in school. It would be great to have students record their own mock up of a radio program and put it on the net.

I am now using Podcasts of documentaries I have missed and key speeches etc for a unit on 'Australiana'.

Podcasts are a great innovation!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

# 19 Rollyo

Was amazed at how easy it was to create a search roll. Wish I had found this tool earlier on in the year. I had my year 10 and year 9 English classess create an internet list of sites for Shakespeare and a director study. I then gave the lists out to the students, when it would have been more beneficial to put them into Rollyo and allowed students to search using Rollyo, rather than having to sift through 3 pages of web addresses!
This would also be a great group work project in the library for the beginning of each new unit!

Have to say that this tool is one I will most certainly be using next year!!

http://www.rollyo.com/emmy21/

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

#18 Wikis

Loved the video by common thread. So easy to understand and process. I went on to view some Educational Wikis for English and they are amazing. Not only do they have discussions, but they also include videoes, updates, photos, news, weekly/monthly tasks etc.

One wiki I viewed also had a rules page, which was really interesting to see. I had a glance through the discussion and it was great to see that students could discuss and reply to specific posts. They could also tag it.

I would love to set up a Wiki in the coming holidays for next year and have students actively use it throughout the year. It need not be topic specific, but as the year progresses, different discussions could take place etc. It would be also great to see the progression of students discussion skills over 4 terms.

A Wiki could be used across KLA's in schools. What a great innovative collaborative website!

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

#17 Delicious

What a great way to organise, note and keep track of websites visitied. It was easy to create an account and access, and pretty wasy to naviagate.

As a teacher this would be great to share with other faculty members, especially when designing a new program and the resources for it. Most resources are online nowdays, especially information. It would be great to use Delicious to organise resources (websites) as a facutly, tag them and add notes (what was good, what was used, any other additional information). More websites could be added as the unit progresses. And access is great, as you can access Delicious on any computer anywhere!

With students this could be a great way of organising individual and group research tasks. Most tasks that require research now use the internet. Students regularly find a good website one lesson, but can't remember it for the next lesson. Delicious is a great way for them to be organised. It also can be used as an online bibliography.

#16 Subscribe to some blogs

I subscribed to the blogs listed. Really liked browsing through the Blog "Unshelved". I also subscribed to "The Age News Headlines", and have used this in class on an activity looking at Headlines.

Subscribing to the Blogs is a great way to sift through quickly unwanted information and find what you are looking for. Quick and easy to understand headings provide easy access information.

I also added Cooking recipes - which I enjoy browsing through. So much easier when the recipes are already sorted under headings!

I still feel that, after this course is completed and holidays are here it would be beneficial to go back through and enhance of my understanding in this area.

#15 RSS

RSS is an invaluable tool. I really like that I can customize it to my needs, my likes and dislikes. It helps filter through so much information. It is a great time saver.

In the classroom it would be great to use this application for students blogs. You would be able to read relevant blogs when new posts have been added.

Students would be able to create their own through Google Reader and keep track of key developments and information for projects, assignments and tasks!

Really enjoying this application. Will look at implementing it in the classroom sometime this term!

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

#13 MySpace & #14 Facebook

I have to admit that MySpace does not appeal to me in any way. I originally tried to set one up last yar, but struggled with the design and understanding. It seems at the moment that most libraries are American dominated. It is hard to see how this can benefit our school at the moment as access is denied due to student misuse. If it was to be used, students would need instruction on the appropraite use of MySpace.

I have been using Facebook for awhile now. Even in the classroom I use it to show discussions of film directors (M. Night Shyamalan) and radio programs (NXFM - Hamish and Andy). Through careful selection, viewing posts on the wall and discussions can encourage students to think about ideas differently. But even with facebook teachers need to select carefully appropriate material. Facebook can also be subject to misuse. But as I am familair it would be wonderful to set up a class Facebook and have students completed research tasks, discussions and presentations. However, as MySpace facebook is also unable to used by students in school.

I am now off to investigate Twitter. Heard a lot about it, not sure what it is all about. Always hearing about it on T.V and the radio and in Magazines (although I must admit I have not heard students discuss Twitter in class.)

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

#12 Flickr

I really enjoying using and exporing Flickr. The range of pictures/photos and visuals are amazing. I am not sure about putting personal photos up, as I am a person who does not like to place family/friends pictures on the net!

Flickr pictures are great for school presentations in English and in religion. Lots more exploring to do!

Il mare colore del vino


Il mare colore del vino
Originally uploaded by meghimeg
I chose this photo as it is very peaceful and calming. It is from a group title "Beach Photography". I enjoy viewing photos of the beach and at certain times in the day!

P7110098


P7110098
Originally uploaded by Emmy 2107
I am blogginy my puppy! This is my 2 year old puppy Jazzie. She has just been groomed and has a pretty ribbon in her hair hehehe :-P

#11 LibraryThing


Really enjoyed using this site, adding books I have read and adding others to my wishlist. It was great to see interesting discussions on one of the book series I have been reading and the speculation on the release ofthe next book!

This would be a great site to use with students who are avid readers and enjoy sharing, discussing and reading new and different books.
It is great how you can search the site by title, genre, author and topic. Information is easy to access. The recommendation and review sections are a great idea when you are looking for something new to read.

I wish there were enough hours in the day to to properly use this site. I would love to be able to put in all the books I have read/own and take time to browse through new releases and recommendations.

http://www.librarything.com/home/Emmy21

#10 Image Generators

I have had a lot of fun using the different image generators to manipulate images. I particularly liked the idea of turning photo's and other visuals into puzzles. This would be great to use with lower ability classes, you could create out a puzzle out of anything - a text type, visual text, picture book, film review. It helps to make the lessson more fun and engaging - rather than just reading a text - students in groups or as individuals put it together first. The site I turned my photo into a puzzle is http://bighugelabs.com/jigsaw.php

There are also lots of different other options, students can create posters of themselves as movie stars, pop stars, create magazine coves, calenadars etc - the opportunites are endless.

Also I liked using http://www.imagegenerator.org/ It had a lot of different ways to manipulate images with text and photos.

I also played with cool text http://cooltext.com/ and played around with it a bit. Though I feel I need to spend more time with all the links!

Wednesday, September 30, 2009

#9 Virtually Online

It is absolutely amazing explore virtual worlds online. I never knew that they existed.
The ideas of being able to visit a virtual library or attend university in a virtual world could be really appealing (as are the money making possibilities).
Some students in the classroom are already engaged in Virtual Worlds online and are keen to spend some of their break time and home time in this world.
I feel that there is huge potential for virutal worlds in the classroom, but I am not sure how to go about it yet. I know I would need to do a lot more research in this area and maybe ask the help and guidance of the students in the classroom.
Though I am concerned about some peoples (children, teenagers and adults) ability to become completely absorbed in the virutal worlds, to the point of neglecting their own. We can not allow these virtual worlds to effect our communication and social skills inside and outside the classroom. Where is the happy medium?

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

#8 iGoogle

I really like iGoogle. I already use this at school on my work account. It's fun, interesting and engaging. I like adding different gagdgets, such as the Google Calendar, which lists homework and tasks that need to be completed. The 'To Do' list is another great gadget which both teachers and students can use to keep up with tasks and activities.
Everthing is just a click away and it is easy to begin setting up a page and adding gadgets. iGoogle is very engaging and innovative. It attracts all ages.
Maybe creating a gagdet about a classroom which could connect students and teachers together (like a portal) and you could leave messages etc.
Google looks like an intersting, vibrant, exciting place to work, where an atmosphere of collaboration is fostered and people are able to challenge each other in a positive way for the benefit of the company and become innovative. The best quote from an employee was, "You are in a position to make a difference to people you have never met!". This quote is what Google is about. It also seems the company ensures the comfort, saftey and health of it's employees. It would be extremely exciting and motivating to work at Google.

#7 Google Books

After viewing Google Books it is wonderful to learn how versatile Google is. I know that some of the worksheets and presentations I create will not be done through Google rather than Microsoft. Not only is it more convenient, but it seems to be easier to use.

Google Books (being an English teacher) is very very exciting. As all my classes spend one lesson a cycle in the library I am always challenged to help find interesting books (even up to the point where I purchase some to share with my classes). How fantastic it is to learn about a program where you can not just search for library books, but topics and magazines. It is also a great idea to allow students to go through themselves and search for what they may like. Each book selected provides a synopsis and also different reader's opinions. Students could also add their own review of the book as well!

The Library is a great idea to keep track of books that students have shown interest in or have read.
I can't wait to start using this application at school!

#6 Google Maps (& Whereis.com)

Google maps are really good to use. It is easy to find locations, such as towns, suburbs and streets. The directions section is great and really easy to understand.

Google maps will be a great tool in class. As an English teacher finding locations in novels, articles, reports etc is always a benefit as it helps to increase a students understanding. From the maps it is easy to make a transition to Google Earth to see a more detailed picture, especially in other countries.

Using Google maps and Google Earth helps to make the content in class more relevant to students.

#5 Check out Google Docs

Really enjoyed learning about Google Docs - especially the presentations. To create a presentation that is easily made, can incorporate video's and graphics (which was not complicated) and readily designed and styled is great for the classroom. Really loved how easy it also was to create the extra notes down the side!!

It is so handy that they can be saved in Google's database, making it easier to access in the classroom.

It was also very easy to create a simple file, and the symbols in the toolbars were easily recognisable.

I would like to explore the Spreadsheets in greater detail and learn more about how to create one that would benefit a classroom!

Monday, August 31, 2009

#4 Web 2.0

Through the readings I learnt about the transformation from Web 1.0 to Web 2.0. For example, the transition from Ofto to Flickr, Britannica to Wikipedia and Double Click to Google AdSense. It is also important to become familair with Web 2.0 as students are (mostly) not familiar with the original Web 1.0.

The importance of Google is something teachers need to acknowledge in and outside of the classroom. It was really intersting to learn that Google is not just software, it is a database full of useful tools, options and information. Classrooms and libraries need to adapt to the way information is exchanged - through Wiki's, blogs, Facebook, MySpace.
But as educators we still also need to explore with a class what Web 2.0 is with students and discuss the use of, for example, Wikipedia and learn about how interactive some of the sites really are (how information on Wikipedia can be changed).

#3 Let us know

This registration process was very easy to complete - I am not just waiting to make sure it has all gone through!!!

#2 Create a blog

Can't believe how easy it was to create a blog! The benefits of creating a blog for a class are obvious - as a facilitator for discussion and different/new ideas!!
Can't wait to try this out with a class - especially a discussion topic to begin with - it may take time for a class to get used to this medium - but in the long run it will be well worth it!!

#1 Introduction to this program

Really excited and keen to begin - found the links really useful, especially the Video. The Video was a great way to highlight the needs and concerns of technologically advanced Students in a classroom that needs to keep up!!
Can't wait to continue!