I completed the survey, and now am officially done with 23 Things. I'm ready to start working with staff here in Edina.
Click here to view the Edina 2008 23 Things on a Stick homepage.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Thing 23: The End!
I completed the survey, and now am officially done with 23 Things. I'm ready to start working with staff here in Edina.
Click here to view the Edina 2008 23 Things on a Stick homepage.
Thing 22: What did I learn today?
Despite the fact that I had used many of the tools for the 23 Things on a Stick project, I learned a lot!
I hope that while continuing to explore these tools that I will be able to help the staff that I work with sort to find the wheat from the chaff and utilize these tools with their students.
Now that I see this site, I've got my work cut out for me this summer!
I hope that while continuing to explore these tools that I will be able to help the staff that I work with sort to find the wheat from the chaff and utilize these tools with their students.
Now that I see this site, I've got my work cut out for me this summer!
Thing 21: Other Social Networking sites-NING
I had joined Ning earlier in the year, but hadn't logged in much. For this thing, I joined the 23 Things on a Stick group on Ning.
I added a couple of comments on people's pages, and updated my profile page to include some photos and the sound file I created for my podcasts.
Next school year I will try to utilize Ning more as I look to expand my network.
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Thing 20: Social Networking sites
Thing 20 asks you to join Facebook or Myspace and add some friends and then write on a few walls.
I joined Facebook earlier this year, and now have around 15 friends. I also figured out how to connect my Twitter tweets to my Facebook posts, which has made things much less complicated. I like Twitter as a networking tool, because it forces you to get to the point, in 140 characters or less! At first I didn't get it, but once you start following people, like Will Richardson or Steve Dembo, or things, like the Mars Phoenix lander, it's pretty cool!
I've also created a Ning account this year, but have yet to really use it much.
I joined Facebook earlier this year, and now have around 15 friends. I also figured out how to connect my Twitter tweets to my Facebook posts, which has made things much less complicated. I like Twitter as a networking tool, because it forces you to get to the point, in 140 characters or less! At first I didn't get it, but once you start following people, like Will Richardson or Steve Dembo, or things, like the Mars Phoenix lander, it's pretty cool!
I've also created a Ning account this year, but have yet to really use it much.
Thing 19: Podcasts
For this thing, I explored some of the Minnesota Public Radio podcasts, my favorites being the 89.3 the Current Song of the Day and Mike Mulcahy's Policast.
This year I have created several podcasts of tech tips, and also assisted staff with student podcasts. I think it is a great way to create authentic learning opportunities for students.
This year I have created several podcasts of tech tips, and also assisted staff with student podcasts. I think it is a great way to create authentic learning opportunities for students.
Thing 18: Youtube
I found this video that makes me realize how much I will miss our current president.
I struggle with Youtube as an educational tool, as there are many good applications. Unfortunately, Teachertube is too unreliable, with limited content, and Schooltube, which I signed up for over a week ago, has not given me access!
I struggle with Youtube as an educational tool, as there are many good applications. Unfortunately, Teachertube is too unreliable, with limited content, and Schooltube, which I signed up for over a week ago, has not given me access!
Thing 17: ELM Productivity Tools
I had never accessed the Electronic Library for Minnesota. Wow! What a great resource, and free to all Minnesotans!
Several databases that I have used before now available for free!
I searched the consumer guide and was able to access articles from Consumer Reports for free!
Thing 16:Student Research Tools
The University of Minnesota Assignment calculator is a great tool for students conducting research to organize their time. It allows you to put in the date the project is assigned and when it's due, and the subject matter and then it generates a step-by-step guide for completion.
I think I like the format of the "Research Project Calculator" better.
Here is a video project that I put info in. It includes more detail.
Both allow you to have e-mail reminders for each step sent to you. NICE! I can see teachers using this to create timelines for big student projects.
I think I like the format of the "Research Project Calculator" better.
Here is a video project that I put info in. It includes more detail.
Both allow you to have e-mail reminders for each step sent to you. NICE! I can see teachers using this to create timelines for big student projects.
Thing 15: Online Games in Education and Libraries
For this "Thing" I started by downloading and playing "Puzzle Pirates, an interactive game that requires software installation that may destroy your hard drive ;-), and 8 minutes of data downloads prior to play. As the father of a 9 1/2 year old, I thought this would be an interactive environment that he might enjoy trying this summer (As long as he doesn't see the "Buy Puzzle Pirate cards at Target" banner!).
After creating your pirate, in my case "Boogleyboo", you're ready to learn how to pillage!
I liken it to "Second Life meets Webkins" but with a pirate theme! It seemed very well developed and if given more time, might be a good learning tool.
I also logged in to Second Life and checked out Info Island. I have been using Second Life for about 3 months, and have found some resources that have me wondering how best to incorporate SL into 6-12 education.
After creating your pirate, in my case "Boogleyboo", you're ready to learn how to pillage!
I liken it to "Second Life meets Webkins" but with a pirate theme! It seemed very well developed and if given more time, might be a good learning tool.
I also logged in to Second Life and checked out Info Island. I have been using Second Life for about 3 months, and have found some resources that have me wondering how best to incorporate SL into 6-12 education.
Thing 14: Library Thing
Library Thing is a great social networking site for people who read books. It allows you to enter the books you are reading (up to 200 per year for free) and connect with people who are reading similar books. They also allow you to put your bookshelf on your blog, as I have done here.
Thing 13: Productivity Tools
This thing was an opportunity to explore several online productivity tools, such as calendars and countdown clocks!
Here's one I added for how much time Edina teachers have to complete their 23 Things on a stick!
For this thing, I updated my Google Calendar page so now it will sync with both my phone and my Outlook Calendar!
I also checked out the "Top 25 Web 2.0 Apps to Improve a Student's or Professor's Productivity, Online Education Database". Many are sites that I've tried, or as in the case with the grading sites, do not apply to staff here in Edina, because we use Edline/Gradequick and Moodle.
Here's one I added for how much time Edina teachers have to complete their 23 Things on a stick!
Created by OnePlusYou
For this thing, I updated my Google Calendar page so now it will sync with both my phone and my Outlook Calendar!
I also checked out the "Top 25 Web 2.0 Apps to Improve a Student's or Professor's Productivity, Online Education Database". Many are sites that I've tried, or as in the case with the grading sites, do not apply to staff here in Edina, because we use Edline/Gradequick and Moodle.
Thing 12:Do You Digg?
While I have seen Digg and Reddit before I had never done much with the sites.
For this "Thing" I decided to visit Digg and sign up for Newsvine, as I am an admitted wonk when it comes to news on politics and sports.
On Digg, I read a few of the posts on the front page, took a poll on who would win the election and learned that "Man likes woman so much, he marries her!". It's in the Onion, it's got to be true!
Newsvine allows you to create an account (Plan on waiting a half hour for the confirmation e-mail):
Cool, now I'm a reporter, and can take on the Star Tribune, and get paid!! Katherine Kersten will be shaking in her boots!
Now to come up with content...
For this "Thing" I decided to visit Digg and sign up for Newsvine, as I am an admitted wonk when it comes to news on politics and sports.
On Digg, I read a few of the posts on the front page, took a poll on who would win the election and learned that "Man likes woman so much, he marries her!". It's in the Onion, it's got to be true!
Newsvine allows you to create an account (Plan on waiting a half hour for the confirmation e-mail):
The moment you register for your free Newsvine account, you are automatically given your own column and your own web address (e.g. "yourname.newsvine.com") where you can write articles, seed links, collect friends, and a host of other things. You're free to put anything you'd like in your column as long as it follows the Code of Honor (e.g. no hate speech, no advertising, etc.). Here's a sample column. The Newsvine community loves investigative reporting, opinion pieces, and just about everything else considered newsworthy and in good taste. Newsvine also sells advertising around all content on the site and returns 90% of the advertising revenue from your content right back to you (based on page views).
Cool, now I'm a reporter, and can take on the Star Tribune, and get paid!! Katherine Kersten will be shaking in her boots!
Now to come up with content...
Monday, June 9, 2008
Thing 11:Tagging
Tag-You're it!
Tagging allows your posts to show up in others searches. I have used tagging in my blog posts,and in fact had people I wrote about comment on the post.
I've also used Del.icio.us for bookmarking, but have fallen in love with Diigo, and it's ability to highlight and post comments on Web pages, along with social-bookmarking.
For this thing, I signed up for and tried Pagekeeper.
They allow teachers to create resource pages for students. While this is an easy way for a staff member to create pages of links, they could easily do this on a Web page for their class, and it is not as easy to create groups of links because...there are no tags!
Tagging allows your posts to show up in others searches. I have used tagging in my blog posts,and in fact had people I wrote about comment on the post.
I've also used Del.icio.us for bookmarking, but have fallen in love with Diigo, and it's ability to highlight and post comments on Web pages, along with social-bookmarking.
For this thing, I signed up for and tried Pagekeeper.
They allow teachers to create resource pages for students. While this is an easy way for a staff member to create pages of links, they could easily do this on a Web page for their class, and it is not as easy to create groups of links because...there are no tags!
Thing 10:Wiki
I've had ample opportunity this year to create wiki's using wikispaces, pbwiki and wetpaint this year. I've used them to help staff integrate technology into their curriculum and to plan a holiday party!
However, I had never logged in and updated a site such as Wikipedia or another "official" wiki until today.
The Minnesota Historical Society set up a wiki for the Susquecentenial titled: MN 150
On the site there are the top 150 topics answering this question:
I chose to edit the page on Cass Gilbert, archetect of the State Capitol. I added a link to my photos on Flickr of Statehood Day 2008, and included my photo of the capitol in the images.
I also added this information to the 23 Things on a Stick wiki.
I believe that the collaborative nature of wiki's is a perfect fit for education, from student created textbooks and study guides to authentic editing of wikis used in the "real world".
However, I had never logged in and updated a site such as Wikipedia or another "official" wiki until today.
The Minnesota Historical Society set up a wiki for the Susquecentenial titled: MN 150
On the site there are the top 150 topics answering this question:
"What person, place, thing, or event originating in Minnesota do you think has transformed our state, our country, or the world?"
I chose to edit the page on Cass Gilbert, archetect of the State Capitol. I added a link to my photos on Flickr of Statehood Day 2008, and included my photo of the capitol in the images.
I also added this information to the 23 Things on a Stick wiki.
I believe that the collaborative nature of wiki's is a perfect fit for education, from student created textbooks and study guides to authentic editing of wikis used in the "real world".
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Thing 8 and 9: Share Your creations
Thing 8 is to use different tools to share photos and other information on your blog.
On the left side of this blog, I had already added the Flickr badge, and this gave me an opportunity to try a few others.
Zoho Show 2.0 allows you to import PowerPoint files and make them available online, as I did here with my LINKS PowerPoint.
While it was nice to be able to share the presentation, none of the links are available to either Web content or the files I linked to.
Picturetrail allows you to upload photos from your computer or with the URL of the photo and create cool "Flicks" with them, such as the Photocube of my pictures from New York.
The piece I didn't like about this was that you couldn't import directly from sites like Flickr or Picassa, but the special effects were built in and kind of cool!
Both of these tools were a nice way to share my content easily on the blog. I will try to use these to make more interesting content on my blog.
On the left side of this blog, I had already added the Flickr badge, and this gave me an opportunity to try a few others.
Zoho Show 2.0 allows you to import PowerPoint files and make them available online, as I did here with my LINKS PowerPoint.
While it was nice to be able to share the presentation, none of the links are available to either Web content or the files I linked to.
Picturetrail allows you to upload photos from your computer or with the URL of the photo and create cool "Flicks" with them, such as the Photocube of my pictures from New York.
The piece I didn't like about this was that you couldn't import directly from sites like Flickr or Picassa, but the special effects were built in and kind of cool!
Both of these tools were a nice way to share my content easily on the blog. I will try to use these to make more interesting content on my blog.
