When my school librarian forward me the flyer for this training my first reaction was what could I lose. I have time this summer to do these activities and I might learn something.
Well, that is definitely and understatement. I can not believe how much I have learned in the 9 weeks of activities and the fact there is still more available out there. Many times when I would see our librarian I would let him know how much I am learning and enjoying what I am doing.
At first, I felt strange about it since it seemed geared to librarians. However, once I started researching the sites and creating various things I looked at it differently. I teach reading so why shouldn't I be doing Web 2.0. I especially like the Zoho Writer and have been using it since it was introduced, and I LOVE it. It makes life easier when you work with the need for files at work and your jump drive is at home. I will be setting a lot of my files on Zoho Writer throughout this school year as I need them.
Overall, I have enjoyed all the Web 2.0 training and have talked to many of the teachers I work with. Just sharing what I was doing with my colleagues and in the participants blogs made me want to spend more time searching and learning. Several of my colleagues even asked where did you find that sight and what is it's address.
I knew there is a lot of information out there but with this set up I became overwhelmed to the fact that there is even more out there. I searched other Web 2.0 sights and was amazed at how long this program has been out there. I will continue to take more time to research and see what is new to enrich my job as an educator.
I truly appreciate all the setup and work put into this training and I would definitely continue to work with this program and would joyfully participate in it again.
Thanks for allowing me to participate in the WEB 2.0 program it was tiresome at times but well worth it for all the knowledge and information made available, as well as the end product we created-the Blog!
Thanks:)
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Week 9 #23 Copyright
The Youtube video on copyright was great. For Elementary students they could relate to the characters, I am not sure if they would all understand the concepts but it might make them think about it.
The links for the online copyright comic book developed by students would definitely be of interest to students, Creative Commons website, “Wanna Work Together?” video about Creative Commons, and Piracy all provided meaningful information and concepts.
After watching the videos and searching the previous list of sites I searched for other sites especially for children. These are a few that I found....
http://www.ctap4.org/cybersafety/ip.htm This site has a lot to offer educators, parents and kids.
http://www.playitcybersafe.com/ This site is also for educators, parents and kids. what I liked about it was the kids section. It provided games and quizzes pertaining to use of the internet. I think this would be a great tool for the students are school.
Basically, I think children understand some of the guidelines about copyright, but find that their friends copy things with no problem so why can't they do the same. Peer pressure is a very hard thing for many students even when they realize they should not do something.
It is the same when Copyright is brought up in training for teachers, we know the guidelines, yet when we start looking for things such as graphics, music, etc. do we always remind ourselves what is right. Especially when it comes to the percentages of what we can copy for fair usage.
The links for the online copyright comic book developed by students would definitely be of interest to students, Creative Commons website, “Wanna Work Together?” video about Creative Commons, and Piracy all provided meaningful information and concepts.
After watching the videos and searching the previous list of sites I searched for other sites especially for children. These are a few that I found....
http://www.ctap4.org/cybersafety/ip.htm This site has a lot to offer educators, parents and kids.
http://www.playitcybersafe.com/ This site is also for educators, parents and kids. what I liked about it was the kids section. It provided games and quizzes pertaining to use of the internet. I think this would be a great tool for the students are school.
Basically, I think children understand some of the guidelines about copyright, but find that their friends copy things with no problem so why can't they do the same. Peer pressure is a very hard thing for many students even when they realize they should not do something.
It is the same when Copyright is brought up in training for teachers, we know the guidelines, yet when we start looking for things such as graphics, music, etc. do we always remind ourselves what is right. Especially when it comes to the percentages of what we can copy for fair usage.
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Week 9 #22 Ebooks and Audio Books
In working with this objective I could not believe how many sight have ebook items. I did find it interesting that many of them said "free" but there was a catch to come. When browsing the sites provided with the training I found that most of the books available were the classics. Which for me was great but the search for current elementary materials became the challenge. I did enjoy a lot of the Aesop Fables that I found in many sites, which would benefit a class study of fables.
I continued to view various sites and these are a few of the ones I found that could be useful.
Kids Audible has books that support RIF
Ebook88 provides numerous listing of ebook links
Candle Light Stories I especially enjoyed the Simon's Cat series
The following site caught my attention because it used a familiar name for it's site!
Libraryelf- I was impress with this link because it provides links to numerous libraries throughout the United States. When I browsed several of the ones in Texas it amazed me as to how much they would put into their sites. And the fact that several of the sites offered online book clubs which I thought was a great idea.
Overall, I did get a little frustrated with some sites because a lot of them are misleading by saying they free ebooks but they are very limited or older titles which does not help when you teach elementary students. I enjoyed many of the classics and looking at the Project Gutenburg site intrigued me with how the originals actually look like. I have used many audio books over the years provided by the school which really help a lot of our non-readers, so I do realize the need for ebooks and audio books. It just takes TIME to find what you want.
I continued to view various sites and these are a few of the ones I found that could be useful.
Kids Audible has books that support RIF
Ebook88 provides numerous listing of ebook links
Candle Light Stories I especially enjoyed the Simon's Cat series
The following site caught my attention because it used a familiar name for it's site!
Libraryelf- I was impress with this link because it provides links to numerous libraries throughout the United States. When I browsed several of the ones in Texas it amazed me as to how much they would put into their sites. And the fact that several of the sites offered online book clubs which I thought was a great idea.
Overall, I did get a little frustrated with some sites because a lot of them are misleading by saying they free ebooks but they are very limited or older titles which does not help when you teach elementary students. I enjoyed many of the classics and looking at the Project Gutenburg site intrigued me with how the originals actually look like. I have used many audio books over the years provided by the school which really help a lot of our non-readers, so I do realize the need for ebooks and audio books. It just takes TIME to find what you want.
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Week 9 # 21 Podcasts
I have never searched for Podcasts and not really sure that I will do so unless it fits an academic need. I did take time to search and listen to several Podcasts and truthfully all I could think of was how they remind me of the radio talk shows. Many of the Podcasts did not make sense to me. I guess they could grow on you but most of the time I just listen to 70-80’s music on the stereo/radio. I am not one to use my cell phone for a lot of texting, picture taking, games or music. It is basically a phone for me so I do not think I will go to the more advanced phones with all the bells and whistles.
I will continue to browse the sites, who knows something may catch my interest and open a new world for me.
I did find a few a podcast on the oceans that I subscribed to and really enjoyed the sounds and factual details presented. Ocean podcasts
And one website called Just One More Book, it provides a variety of children’s books and interviews with the author podcasts. Very pleasing set up.
I will continue to browse the sites, who knows something may catch my interest and open a new world for me.
I did find a few a podcast on the oceans that I subscribed to and really enjoyed the sounds and factual details presented. Ocean podcasts
And one website called Just One More Book, it provides a variety of children’s books and interviews with the author podcasts. Very pleasing set up.
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Week 8 #19 Library thing
This time when I returned to Library Thing I created a book shelf with a few books for display in the blog. I think this would be a way to introduce a book that we would be working on for the six weeks, to provide a list of reguired books to be read during a six weeks, or even to display new books in the library as well as the Texas Bluebonnet titles for each year.
I did find that certain books that I use in my classroom were not listed in the site but I know I can find plenty to work with and add to my file.
I did find that certain books that I use in my classroom were not listed in the site but I know I can find plenty to work with and add to my file.
Week 9 #20 YouTube
This task has been amazing to me. I have never adventured out to view video clips like this before. I have seen clips that were sent to me by friends and family through emails, but I never took the time to explore.
I was intrigued by how much is out there in video forms for students to see. Of sourse one needs to explore the videos first for inappropriate content and language. Sometimes we so not always catch the picture or language, but if there is anything in the video the kids will catch it and let us know. I will definitely search for videos that I can use in content areas to introduce or further the studies for enrichment to the lessons. It will take time but is well worth it. Over the last few years we have had access to UnitedStreaming which provides academic concepts, but I think YouTube may be enlightening to our students and provide fresh ideas.
I laughed repeatedly at Introducing the Book and thinking can anyone be that dumb! But then it made me wonder how students feel when they are introduced to various books or skills. I think it would be a wonderful way to introduce reading and the use of books in our everyday life. . I would probably show it using the subtitled version first and let them laugh. Then discuss how they feel when learning something new in school and are not sure what to do- do they just sit there or ask for help. This may help students to understand it is not degrading to not understand something- but to ask for help which so many do not like to do.
Teacher Tube is user friendly and has less clutter than others. The video clips are relatively short and structured to the topic. Once you learn how it is set up, you can definitely find items of interest. The channels tab provides you with basic academic topics and educational levels. This helps to target what level or topic you might be looking for and narrow the search. Saving time searching is a plus for this site. I was even impressed with the student developed projects as well.
As I browsed through more videos, I found this one to be interesting because it effects so much with our daily scheduled routines at school
Flexible schedule video
I was intrigued by how much is out there in video forms for students to see. Of sourse one needs to explore the videos first for inappropriate content and language. Sometimes we so not always catch the picture or language, but if there is anything in the video the kids will catch it and let us know. I will definitely search for videos that I can use in content areas to introduce or further the studies for enrichment to the lessons. It will take time but is well worth it. Over the last few years we have had access to UnitedStreaming which provides academic concepts, but I think YouTube may be enlightening to our students and provide fresh ideas.
I laughed repeatedly at Introducing the Book and thinking can anyone be that dumb! But then it made me wonder how students feel when they are introduced to various books or skills. I think it would be a wonderful way to introduce reading and the use of books in our everyday life. . I would probably show it using the subtitled version first and let them laugh. Then discuss how they feel when learning something new in school and are not sure what to do- do they just sit there or ask for help. This may help students to understand it is not degrading to not understand something- but to ask for help which so many do not like to do.
Teacher Tube is user friendly and has less clutter than others. The video clips are relatively short and structured to the topic. Once you learn how it is set up, you can definitely find items of interest. The channels tab provides you with basic academic topics and educational levels. This helps to target what level or topic you might be looking for and narrow the search. Saving time searching is a plus for this site. I was even impressed with the student developed projects as well.
As I browsed through more videos, I found this one to be interesting because it effects so much with our daily scheduled routines at school
Flexible schedule video
Week 8 #18 Google Site tutorial
I have never explored Google and all that the site offers. The tutorial was inviting and explained the site set up so that anyone could understand. I find that is one reason why many do not try new programs because we fear them due to not knowing what to do. It seems to be very user friendly and would provide a easy set up for students to use and respond to.
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