Google Earth (Week 8 Thing 19)

I've been using google earth for a while now. I always get it out when we talk about the 13 original colonies. We look at Jamestown and the other surrounding areas. Usually the activty progresses to looking at our homes nearby etc. and the students love it. It certainly makes the earth look smaller and larger at the same time.

Slideshare (Week 7 Thing 18)

I'd never heard of slideshare before learning about it here in this class. I found a slideshare about the human body which is a new unit for fifth grade that we are looking at teaching in February. This is a human body fun quiz. While the quiz itself is probably meant for oler students than my fifth graders, I liked the idea. Once I've organized what I am to teach (I'm still learning myself about the human body systems) I would like to create something similar for my class.

The Human Body...A Fun Quiz

View more presentations from Bro. Oh Teik Bin.

Podcasts!! (Week 7 Thing 17)

Podcasts- I love podcasts. I discovered them about a year ago and have several that I listen to regularly and eagerly awaiting each week for another installment. I've wanted to figure out how to create podcasts in my class. I love listening to Stuff You Should Know. (It is already added to my Google Reader.) I love how Josh and Chuck research the same topic, then sit down and have a conversation, sharing what they have learn. And I always learn a ton. I believe by just listening to my students hold a solid conversation about a topic, I could learn who understands what about that topic. We tried it with the first English colonies.

Please note this was our first try and we learned a lot. I would like my students to listen to a TON more examples of podcasts and to try and learn how be more relaxed. Of course, I am not sure I would be more relaxed if it were me being recored. It sure was fun, though, and my students loved listening to them at home.

The Tubes (Week 7 Thing 16)

Youtube and TeacherTube.

This is certainly not the first time I've played around in Youtube. It is a little overwhelming because there are a lot of useless material out there. The trouble is sorting through everything thing to find the diamond in the rough. Usually I see something from someone else and use it. For example, I've used the escalator clip in my class before. It is fun to have the student talk about the thinking that wasn't going on in that video and how easy it is to fall into the same trap.
I've never really looked at TeacherTube before and enjoyed what I found there. It is a little easier to look through and find something.
I've embeded a few colonies videos from the two sites into my wiki since we are working on the 13 original colonies right now in social studies. Here is one of the videos:

Harvest of Love Part III

Fun Facts and the reason behind it all

Harvest of Love video Part II

Field Trip to Care and Share Warehouse

Harvest of Love (Week 6 Thing 15)

Okay, this video has been a long time coming. I've been bribing my kids with the video recorder when I had to leave them with a guest teacher to attend this class. They've been waiting and waiting and finally, I gave them a chance to try it out.

I have a leadership group in my class who wanted to help out this year with the Care and Share Harvest of Love food drive. The following video, finally completed after weeks of talking and discussing and filming, was filmed and put together through the efforts of both student and teacher. The film was long enough that I could not upload here, so I broke it into three parts. The first one is here.

What is Care and Share

Challenges: It took a LONG time to get this video together. The students did most of the filming and I realized afterward how many clips we couldn't use because the middle part of a sentence or answer was missing from the video. Also, it is a little jumpy. Also, we recorded using Audible a couple of parts and realized during the assembly performance that the sound file doesn't stay with the video clip it is supposedly linked to if you change other things. Easy to fix once you realize, but sometimes it takes time to realize what the problems might be. I admit, the thought of trying this with a class of students, all at once, even group projects, makes me want to pull my hair out before I've even begun.

VoiceThread (Week 6 Thing 15)

VoiceThread was fun to play around with. I can both see myself using VoiceThread and not using VoiceThread. I imagine after taking the time to teach the process to my class, I could simply assign a picture with a question or comment to start the student's thinking and assign it as homework. It is one of those hurdles you need to sow in order to reep the rewards.

We are starting a biography project soon and would love to have the students comment on a picture of a famous historical figure. Also, I can see it being used in reading and science. Just the idea of getting the students THINKING is the important part.

Here is my 'beautiful' voice commenting. (Please read the 'beautiful' with a touch of irony.)

Google Docs (Week 5 Thing 13)

I did enjoy learning about google docs. I can see myself using this professionally and for fun. I would actually love to use this in my classroom and can see myself doing just that in the future. The problem is the availability of technology at the moment. Wouldn't I just love to write a grant and see 15 permeate computers in my classroom. Then I could see myself creating assignments on a more regular basis for my students that involve the computer. As it is, computers tend to get used more often on the BIG assignments that happen every once and a while.

Right now, as Brittney wrote on her blog, I can see us using this in a professional capacity when colaborating with collegues.

Wiki's (Week 5 Thing 12)

Actually, I have been enjoying wiki's a ton. It took a little while to really get going, but once I really realized how quick and easy it was to upload files (word documents, audible bits, etc.) I have found I am using it a ton more. As it linked now to my class website, I've made it a focal point to major assignements. Everytime I load something new for an assignment in class, I've shown my class where it is and how to get at it. It is exciting to hear the students tell me when they've been on and site, even more excitement when they get to see their own work on the site.

I loved looking at other wiki's. I have to add that Laura L.'s wiki is fabulous. I love how organized it is. It gives me motivation to continue working until my looks as clean and user friendly.

Wordle

I think sometimes I'm just too tired. After my computer stopped last night, I got on to another and all the sites I was trying to work with got "stuck". I took a break and this evening was able to figure out how to get wordle into my blog.

This got me thinking about patience. When you use a lot of technology, you have to rely on that technology and everything is not always a bed a roses. I've had those moments when you are in the middle of a lesson or the student it almost done with a project and the computer or the site or whatever QUITS and you are stuck

But this is part of the new world, isn't it and all a part of the bargain. I suppose it's just another teaching moment.

TagCrowd/Wordle (Week 4 Thing 11)

TagCrowd vs Wordle. I've decided both have merits. It was much easier to get my tagcrowd embedded into my blog but wordle is much "prettier" and visually more appealing. The problem with Wordle is that my computer wasn't capable of pasting my screen print.

ages alternately amazing becoming best burst castle conversation different em ended enemies everything exactly following friends funny given golden imaginations--one laughing live love lower made-up morning overheard play point rainbow rock seems serious singing song sung tune upgraded wanted worst zee

created at TagCrowd.com

As for use in my classroom- It would be great to enter all my students questions about a topic then print it off to see what is most prevalent. Maybe I could have the students submit two or three words that they feel represent the topic we are studying, again to see what comes up. It might be interesting to see what we notice and what we miss and how similar or different we are from each other. We study biographies every year. I think this year, I will have the students create their own wordle or tagcrowd representing the person they are studying.

delicious- yum, yum (Week 4 Thing 10)

I was reading Brittney Warner's blog post about delicious and realized I had much the same experience. At first, delicious drove me crazy. I couldn't figure out what was what and sudden;y I had all these bookmarks all over and didn't know how to organize them all. Finally, I actually sat down and read about it and followed some of the links to posts about it. Then I went back and worked with delicious some more. I was halfway through tagging everything to organize when my computer quit. (That's another problem).
So, I got onto another computer and thought I might re-sign in and try again. Only then, I realized I don't have any bookmarks on this computer. So, I kind of started over, only this time, I worked with some personal bookmarks since this was personal computer. Nice still.

As for using delicious in my classroom-- We are starting exhibition next weeks. As teachers, we never know exactly what topic our kids will be working on until the day before we need to start researching. In one night, I start looking for sites to help guide their research. I love the idea of being able to organize all these different places and have a way find them quickly.

Glogster

Just Twittering Away (Week 3 Thing 9)

Okay, so I will be honest. This was probably my least favorite activity thus far. I did not have a twitter account until this class. I set one up while downloading everything I needed for the class about three weeks ago. I did not get back on until today and found I was following 20 people and had 3 followers. I did not know any of the 23 people. And most, based on their brief descripions, really didn't want to. I deleted (asked not to follow or be followed) most of them and started over. At first I couldn't find enough and I was struggling to get 20-30 people/organizations to follow. I started thinking about what I was going to be teaching in the next few months and searched those subjects. Soon I ended up with 23 places to follow. I have to admit, I am still not exactly sure how helpful this will be in the future or how often I will be back. In the mean time, I have a week of following before before I can determine exactly how useful I will find this.

Reach Out and Touch Someone (Week 3 Thing 8)

This was fun, a learning experience and a chance to laugh with my sister.
My sister is a mommy blogger. I love reading about her life and I think she is a great writer. I am often in awe of what is able to say with mere words. In any case, earlier today when I was attempting to subscribe to her blog on my google reader, I read her current post and laughed at the imagination of my little niece and nephew. I already posted a blog commenting on this. When I continued with my Web 1.0 work, I realized I needed to comment on another blog and that this would be perfect.

Here is the link to that comment on Momma Volcano.

The comment was is two parts. I wrote the comment and uploaded the post, then realized I forgot to leave my blog's link. The directions say that most blogs have a place to paste a URL. Only my sister's blog did not. So I called her. Over the phone, we problem solved and she talked me through the process. After I returned to write this post, I realized what we did was simply type by hand the same paraphernalia that is written above by blogger when I push the link button.

Please read my post labeled Reasons for Learning for the reasons I decided to comment on that particular post.

Time is Precious (Week 3 Thing 7)

Time is the first thing I thought of when reviewing PLN and RRS and learning to use Google Reader. At first, I seemed hard pressed to find sites to link, but then I began linking everything I usually look at when I have a moment to sit down at the computer. Then, without realizing it, I had a ton. I remember reading I don't have to look at everything, every time I sat at the computer and can unsubscribe any time I want. So, I left everything I added.

I have already begun searching for sites for my class. We will be starting our big exhibition project next month. We will be studying a current issue in the world. I am hopeful this will save time in the long run as my students and I search for information on-line.

Reasons for Learning (No weeks or things)

The following has nothing to do with homework- but everything to do with our reasons why... This conversation between my 5 year old nephew and my 4 year niece was overhead by my sister and thoroughly enjoyed...

"They love to play and have amazing imaginations--one morning I overheard the following conversation:

Em: (sung to a made-up tune) I live in a rainbow rock castle...
Zee: (sung to a different, but still made-up, tune) I live in a golden rock castle...
Em: (still singing) But everything is not right!
Zee: (still singing, the song becoming lower and more serious) Because our castles need to be upgraded!

And which point I burst out laughing, and that ended the song because they wanted to know what was so funny."

... To Our Ungraded Future and to those teachers who need to learn how to teach those who will lead the way...

Glogster (Week 2 Thing 6)

For the most part, I thoroughly enjoyed my time spent on glogster. Other than a little frustration when something did not do what I wanted to do, I enjoyed working with the program and creating a glog. After seeing some of what my school colleagues were doing, I am excited to see the end result. The links don't work quite yet (as of 11:45 AM Saturday, September 19, 2009) because I still want to work on my wikis. But soon, I hope!!
Until then, here's what I've done.

Class of Miss Tobler

Fun with Toys (Week 2 Thing 5)

I was having fun with toys this evening. I actually played with quite a few things, the motivator, the frame, the badge maker, and the trading cards. Mostly, I can see myself (like many others) using the trading cards with my class. I've had been making trading cards with my class for years, characteristics of a main character, profile of an European explorer, etc. How fun to have them create the same idea on the web. I also like the idea of the motivator. With a picture representing a book or a selection, with a title and main idea attached. FUN!!

Umm.. is this right? (Week 2 Thing 4)

I am not sure I've followed the directions correctly. There were two choices and I think I've combined them and an not sure I actually did what I was suppose to. I found an interesting image on Flickr (which could turn into a great time waster if I'm am not careful) and blogged briefly about it but I didn't need to Edublog to upload the photo to my blog, I used my Flickr account, which was part of the second option. (Boy, is this one long run on sentence or what?) I was originally going to try the second option, get an account, etc and download pictures, only it is the weekend and I am not at school and I don't have permission to upload any of the students pictures I have here. I have uploaded some personal nature pictures and will try to attach a link here to see if it will work.

KISS OF AUTUMN

KISS OF AUTUMN
Originally uploaded by Aspenbreeze

I was born in the summer and in a land of autumns that last as long as a finger snap! But since discovering the season after leaving for college, it has become anxiously awaited, thoroughly enjoyed and finally mourned each year.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Lesson Learned (Week 1 Thing 3)

I had an interesting experience last week that firmly brought home the idea of copyright. It opened my eyes in a way that the reading couldn't. Copyright is not only a legal issue (not that that isn't enough) but also of ethical and moral concerns and a decidedly of common courtesy. As I was reading the material for this assignment, I was amazed at how often we strayed into gray areas, except in real life, there are defiantly times of stark black and white.

I do find it amazing that there are many people out in the world willing to eager to share. This is to our great benefit- as long as we are careful not to take advantage.

Ask!! This seemed to be an underlying theme. If you can, then ask. If you can't, find out if is there another way to solve the problem. If not, then be aware and acknowledge the hard work and effort the original creator put into the project. Having a list of guidelines helps, but in the end- YOU are the one who determines what choices will be made and YOU are the one who is accountable.

Of Avatars and Copyrights (Week 1, Thing 2)

I told a group of my students of creating my first avatar and a cutie of a ten year old blurts out, "I make them all the time!" Well, that put me in my place (and generation).

So, I've taken a new step into the wide world and my blog address is sent out for the eyes of others. (Shiver)

Now, about that little background information at the Fair Use Harbor before thing 3. Yikes!! I find I am both stricter in my interpretation and more lax than I expected. I realized this is only the beginning, only the background. Obviously there is more to come. So, later.

Thrilled (Week 1 Thing 1)

Frankly, I am thrilled for this class. Years ago, I felt pretty techno savvy, then life happened and everything got away from me! I woke up one day and realized I had no idea was an avatar was or a wiki or a million other things. Mostly, I began to worry about my students who were miles ahead of me, yet in need of learning more.

I cannot wait to get this into my classroom. That is probably the most important outcome of this class- transforming from student to teacher while my class transforms in the same direction.

Post: The First

WOW- I've made it. Here it is! The FIRST POST! It is the end of life as I've known it.