A Learning Journey

I've just finished taking a course called Integrating Technology into Curriculum and I learned about some fantastic tools that can be used to enhance learning and your success in the classroom. We've been exploring Web 2.0 which is this concept on the web now that anyone can contribute their thoughts or ideas on a subject and post these to the web. The web is allowing us to communicate with people across the world and we are all learning from each other. It's a pretty exciting concept and I really enjoyed getting involved in it. So I'm choosing to post the tools that I've been introduced to and in some cases I even have examples. Check them out and you might find your own interest growing!

Blogging

We practiced a bit with blogging which is an idea that allows you to post information about a subject as well as pictures and a number of other fun options called gadgets. This blog is a product of that exposure. I found this background on a website called http://thecutestblogontheblock.com/ and I am using this website (http://www.blogger.com/) as a host for this blog. I got to create the title and the web address of this blog as well as choose the layout of the information. I've kept it simple because I like simple things but you can really get involved with different bits and pieces of information added to a blog.
I did some practice with what is called a widget which is a customized piece of information that you create and then transport to your own site. These can be put on websites you create or blogs or social networking sites like http://www.facebook.com/ I put a widget in the upper right hand corner of this blog that has information on the weather conditions in Cheyenne. I got this off a site called http://weather.weatherbug.com/
Just for the sake of interest you can always check out other blog hosts if you don't care for the blogger site I suggested. I know of one other site that hosts blogs called http://www.typepad.com/
Otherwise try googling blog hosts and see what comes up!

Website Creation

I created a small website which you can take a look at here http://mewalker2.webs.com/ This was a real simple site meant to inform a small audience. I used a web host called freewebs which can be found at this address http://www.freewebs.com/ Working with the navigation of freewebs is pretty intuitive and satisfying. I didn't find myself spending a lot of time trying to understand what the site had to offer.

Sliderocket

I came across a presentation program online called Sliderocket. It's similar to Powerpoint although it has better graphics and creates more impressive presentations. A great feature of using this program is that when you need to pull up a presentation you simply get online, sign in and pull up your presenation. No more jump drives needed to carry around your presentations. When you need to share the presentation with another teacher you can give them the web address of the material and they can log on to view or share the same presentation. Also, all presentations can be downloaded onto a jump drive if you prefer to have a hard copy of it.

http://www.sliderocket.com

Voicethreads

Voicethread is another tool that will enhance the classroom. With this program you can upload pictures or screen shots and put audio behind the pictures explaining them. These programs you create will be kept on your account with the program so you can access them anywhere online. Again, no need for a jump drive to carry things around. You can also embed these programs into your computer so that you don't have to be online to access them.
I have created two voicethreads that you can view. The first one is a short tutorial I created on how to use Sliderocket. You can find it at this address: http://voicethread.com/share/249135 This tutorial is filled with screen shots I took of the website and include in the voicethread.
The second voicethread I created has pictures of my family that I uploaded and put audio behind. You can find it at this address: http://voicethread.com/share/272534

Podcasts

Here's a tool for the auditory learners in the classroom. Podcasts are audio pieces of information that can be used to enhance a lesson or presentation. They are also helpful as tutorials. A podcast tutorial series was recommended to us by a classmate on how to teach with the smartboard. These are valuable teaching tools on how to use a great piece of technology in the classroom. I am much more inclined to listen to these and learn about using the Smartboard than I am to open a manual and read about it.
A large library of podcasts can be found on itunes.

Wikis

Wikis were my favorite discovery in the class. A wiki is a document that can be edited by anyone who accesses it. Anyone who participates in a wiki is an authorin that wiki. We worked with a site called Zoho (http://zoho.com/) in a previous assignment where we had to create a slideshow. I noticed at that time that zoho also allows you to create a wiki. I gave it try and created a recipe wiki that I have invited my friends and family to participate in. This allows all of us to contribute and share our recipes without having to bother with snail mail. I took a screen shot of applications that zoho has to offer so you could take a look at them and see if anything interest you. Youtube has a great video tutorial on the purpose of a wiki and I have included the link in my Youtube post down below.

Youtube

Youtube is a website I haven't explored as much as I probably should. I've been introduced to great tutorials on Youtube that have taught me about wikis, copyright, blogging, search engines and many other things. I found a great tutorial on the ease and convenience of a wiki. I'm including the link here so that you can learn for yourself the value of this tool. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-dnL00TdmLY) I have learned to check Youtube for tutorials when I have a question about using something on the web. When I was learning about widgets I went to Youtube and searched for a widget tutorial. It helps to watch a video versus weeding through a program by yourself. I've also found some great tutorials on the use of a Smartboard.

Geospatial Tools

Geospatial Tools are sites meant to turn written information into visual format. We recieve so much of our information visually and creating visual representations of information in the classroom can increase student learning and success. Several different sites were passed on to us to explore that create visual representations of information. I was really impressed with Google Earth which gives you an ariel view of anyplace in the world. I thought this was a valuable tool for making geography come to life.