Week 7 Thing 16

Wiki Wiki -- It's summer and I wish I was in Hawaii...
but I had the opportunity to use a wiki for the very first time only a few weeks ago. While enrolled in my previous course ( ... if you missed my earlier postings.. I am enrolled at Walden University's online Masters of Education Program. I am beginning a new class this week), we were required to collaborate on a project. Since my fellow classmates are all over the United States, my group choose to utilize a wiki to generate ideas and complete our assignment. If you are interested, you may check out our first attempt at a wiki with our review of an Internet Project

I can see the potential for using a wiki within my classroom next year-- for collaborative learning projects as well as for homework help. A wiki could be created for students to add their own notes and thoughts about a specific math topic -- maybe adding some insights that could help others understand difficult concepts easier.

Week 6 Thing 15

Copyright Laws-- Right??? Copywrong...

I recently finished a class on copyright law and when my class was over, I truly believe my colleagues and myself were as confused-- if not more confused--by the copyright laws. If as Davis Guggenheim (Academy Award-winning director) states, “Even most legal experts who work on the issue have to roll the dice trying to interpret where the current line of fair use is drawn,” how can we teachers make the right choice. I know I thought that as long as I was using something for teaching—it was part of fair use… but that does not always hold.

Larry Lessig talks about people taking and recreating to say things differently in How Creativity is Being Strangled by the Law “People produce for the love of what they are doing not for the love of money.” I like Lessig’s argument that competition can create a balance… just as with the history of ASCAP and BMI demonstrated.

Both videos are well worth watching—several times. I love the non-Disney Video A Fair(y) Use Tale directed by Eric Faden.

The Creative Commons concept is amazing and so in line with the collaborative nature of Web 2.0. And, after watching the short video on how Creative Commons works -- the very first item I downloaded to read... The 2008 Horizon Report ... was copyrighted in the usual manner and then permission was granted under Creative Commons to replicate the report for noncommercial purposes.


Guggenheim, D. Forward to Bound by Law? Retrieved on June 27, 2008 from http://www.law.duke.edu/cspd/comics/digital.php

Week 6 Thing 14

Technorati and Learning to Tag...

The number of bloggers and blogging entries captured by Technorati is staggering… I’m not sure I want to “get your blog listed as part of the blogosphere…” as Week 6 Thing 14 states… I am happy telling friends and colleagues about my blog—rather than blatantly publishing… but of course, as the Classroom Learning 2.0 blog continued and stated, … “your blog is probably already being captured by Technorati…”

In fact, Technorati is just too big.. way too much information…I had fun—as stated in Week 4 Thing 8 using Google’s Blog search as well.. I got lost again—spending way to much time just exploring.. sometimes not finding anything significant at all… Then I searched for Classroom Learning 2.0 on both Technorati and Google Blog Search…and actually, I had the same results with both… 1854 blogs listed with Tech… 1860 blogs.. with Google Blog search. How in the world does one get through all that??? My iGoogle homepage now has a box with just Classroom Learning 2.0 blog search data… which I can choose to look at—when time permits.. or ignore if I so choose—but it is there waiting for me… kind of nice…

I like being able to search for blogs on a specific topic—those blogs that have registered and tagged. I can definitely see the use of this as I get more proficient. Refining my blog posts to just a few key words is something I really need to practice. I’m sure as I ‘bite the bullet’ and start tagging routinely, my ability to tag appropriately will come easier… as with most things…

As I continued completing my requirement with this week's activities... #5 states "You may also want to consider claiming your blog and creating a watchlist." However, when I clicked the link to claiming I had to laugh... click and see why... I still don't know how to claim my blog... The watchlist seems to be the same idea as what I have set up with Google Blog search on my iGoogle home page...

Week 6 Thing 13

Delicious-- del.icio.us...

I have loved being able to access my Internet bookmarks from any computer—for several years… I began using backflip.com years ago (when I was teaching computers at Willow Elementary School) and was introduced to del.icio.us last year. I haven’t switched all my bookmarks from backflip.com yet but I think this summer would be a great time to organize and clean up my bookmarks. I enjoyed reviewing the del.icio.us tutorials —makes it easy for new users to understand. I need to spend time exploring the various tags, I really like the idea of categorizing items not only for my own use but for other teachers as well.

Week 5 Thing 12

Rollyo-- Rolling where??? rolling why???

Okay, This assignment has me baffled... I must be missing something here. I spent too much time exploring Rollyo... and I'm sorry, I am not impressed. I attempted to create my own Rollyo search engine listing all sorts of useful websites for math help. It turned out okay- but I am not sure of the point. I took the URL's for these great sites from my backflip account-- which I have access anywhere as well. I attempted to add my newly created Rollyo search engine here but it appears as if the Rollyo pix below links to the main website...I need to think about this one to see if I can come up with uses for rollyo in my classroom.

Select...Middle School MathSearch The Web

Okay, more thoughts on Rollyo.. I can see how this tool could be advantageous in the classroom and on my classroom website. Students do tend to get lost (or waste time) on the Internet when searching for information... so do adults... so Rollyo could be a way to keep students focused on a selected search radius for a project. It SHOULD really be helpful... now to figure out how to get my specific Rollyo linked!! Any suggestions??:)

Week 5 Thing 11

Exploring...
I am in the middle of this one... I want to check out all sorts of things on this long list... not the short list so this post may be edited a great deal...

First.. I checked out "Im Cooked" ... a web community for video recipe sharing
Cook It, Film It, and Share it... I absolutely love this... I usually watch the Food Network show on TV-- whenever I am walking on the treadmill ( but I haven't been doing that much since I began doing Wii Fit...) but Im Cooked is great... anyone can post... and some of these have great recipes... others are quite comically...

Actually, I just realized that for the last two weeks I have been using a PB wiki for collaborating with other teachers across the United States. One of my assignments in my current class (With Walden U) was to collaborate with others on an Internet Project. I could not believe how easy it was to add as well as edit information on our document we were creating for our class. It was a great way to learn how to use a wiki -- and to realize how easily I can add this format to any team effort project assignment I might give to next year's classes. If you haven't checked out PB Wiki-- I really suggests you do!!

Google Docs is another incredible tool for collaborating with colleagues. I really want to introduce Google Docs to my students next year-- In fact, I think we need to introduce this to our fellow colleagues at LVUSD. I can think of a myriad of uses for Google Docs across the curriculum. Students and teachers would benefit from knowing how to use this fabulous tool.

Week 5 Thing 10

OMG-- online image generators.. what is next????
I had fun creating my own comic-- A Simpson's nerd asking a simple question.. using Comic Strip Generator. At first I had trouble getting the comic strip to post to this blog but with a little perseverance ... and luck.. I managed...

I know, I know... it isn't very funny... I'm a mathematician... what do you expect???.... but he is suppose to be the Simpson computer nerd ... so shouldn't he have a slide rule in his pocket?? What.... you don't know what a slide rule is used for... OMG... you are just too young...




Then I explored FD Toys and clicked on jigsaw...and created the puzzle from a photo taken the day the 8th graders went to Universal Studios-- the Friday before the huge fire at Universal Studios...


Had to keep going-- so I experimented with adding a double matte finish with beveled edges (using "Big Huge Labs") to a photo taken at the old Helm's bakery...

Week 4 Thing 9

Locating a few MORE blogs..

...and I thought I had found enough blogs to keep me busy!! Luckily summer vacation is around the corner. I spent way too much time looking at all the fabulous blogs recommended in Thing 9.
k-12 Online Conference impressed me-- as did Ed Tech Journeys... and I found a fabulous Internet Project- Flat Classroom

I had already added Technorati to my Google Reader and have experienced difficulty keeping up with all that comes via Technorati.

Google also can add a Blog Search on any topic I choose-- I added "Classroom Learning 2.0" just to see what blogs are out there... So now on my iGoogle page not only do I have my Google Reader but I also have a Google Blog search just for this class...

I am amazed by the BlogPulse-- and its ability to track and find web blog conversations. (that technology is scary) ... it came up with 2007 different blogs that mentioned Classroom Learning 2.0 ... too many to check out so I used advanced search and narrowed the field a bit.. to just 23 ...

Week 4 Thing 8

Personal RSS Feed Reader

Whoa!! I had added Google Reader to my iGoogle right from the beginning of this class but at the time only added those in my cohort (from LVUSD) for this class. After Week 2 I got a little daring (yeh, right!?!) and added two of my favorites … But with this week’s assignment I went ahead and added several more that I had originally set up with Bloglines, one of the myriad of tech stuff I had learned about at CUE (March 2007, I think!!). I love getting notices on my iGoogle page letting me know who has a new posting.

In addition, I love Google's Blog search! I’m playing with this new search system and finding all sorts of interesting blogs—comics, educational, recipes, etc. As Dave Warlick states in his blog, “My aggregator just got bigger, and rivets are popping out in all directions.” And similar to my email in-box where I hate having unread mail, I feel guilty if there are any unread items in my rss reader in- box. Now, to keep up with all the new items coming my way…

I thought the video about RSS feeds was entertaining and educational so I checked out Lee LeFever at Common Craft Show and watched... Social Media in Plain English, Pod Casting, Twitter... I enjoyed each one... Check them out... if you haven't already at ... Common Craft Show


My favorite thing about Google Reader is the button called "Manage Friends" .. now if it could only ...

Week 3 Thing 7

Technology-
It is rather difficult to choose one topic around technology... so first something FUN and then something EDUCATIONAL (not that educational isn't FUN) but I think you'll see what I mean with the following

First something FUN and new with technology…

My son gave me Wii Fit for Mother’s Day… and I can’t stop raving about it. I have always enjoyed exercising to … first the TV, then videos (Jane Fonda Workout), then CD’s and DVD (Slim ‘n Six, Kathy Smith, Power 90), so this latest technological gadget is right up my alley… There are activities in the areas of aerobics, yoga, strength training and even balance games.

I’m really working on the balance games—I am just horrible with a soccer ball – I was taught to pull away when something is thrown at me so trying to have my head hit the soccer balls just doesn’t make any sense to me at all!! At first I could not walk the tightrope but just yesterday I completed the walk—even jumping over the trap—in record time.

Wii Fit keeps track of your time and score each time—which normally is a good thing!! (My entire family is participating in this activity, except for Rick—we have created a Mii for him but he hasn’t started with Wii Fit. He prefers to go to the gym!!)

My absolutely favorites are found in the aerobics area. The step aerobic sessions are a good workout and I repeat them usually three times with each workout. I have never been a runner, but I am becoming one now!! I love the island run!! Just for fun, I ran ahead of my ‘trainer’ and then had to follow a cute little dog all around the island…

The strength and yoga areas are really amazing!! A demo is included to teach you how to do each pose or exercise—if you need instructions. There is even a meditation pose where you must attempt to sit still for 3 minutes—the wii fit board will track your ability!!

Wii Fit is really a remarkable technological gadget!! It is totally engaging!! You unlock more activities the more you workout. You really do get a workout!! It will calculate your BMI and present you with your Wii-Fit age ( most of the time it really makes me feel great!!)

I really recommend the Wii Fit--- go for it!!

Now something EDUCATIONAL.. and on my mind...

... since I am in the middle of an online class on using the Internet with students-- I think I will address effective instructional models using the web: Internet Workshop, Internet Project, Internet Inquiry, and Webquests!!


Although I had heard of-- and even created my own --Webquest (Summer of 2001 at Teach the Teachers Collaborative) I had never focused on the differences of Internet Workshop, Internet Project, and Internet Inquiry. Unless students have a clear purpose each time they sit down to use the Internet, much of the time students experience random, unconnected 'surfing' experiences. Much of it becomes a total waste of time!! Incorporating the Internet into my math classroom is something I plan on doing much more effectively this next school year. Integrating new literacies and the Internet into my math program will help realize all my students' potential for thinking mathematically. There is a myriad of incredible sites designed to engage them in noteworthy math experiences and I intend on tapping into that source. I can see how, with a small amount of time, I can tweak several of my current projects to encompass the Internet to a greater degree. The new literacies of the Internet are many times best developed in math through cross-curricular opportunities provided by the Internet Project or Internet Inquiry. My students need to develop the ability to think mathematically-- and the Internet Workshop, Internet Project and Internet Inquiry encourage them to work together to do just that!! Think Mathematically!!