Is It the End or Only the Beginning?

  

My favorite discovery from this learning experience was all of the things Google has to offer.  There are many different websites that do many different things, some charge and some are free but Google puts everything in one place and the most important thing is that it is all free. 

I may use a blog when I start teaching but for now no more blogging. I need all the time I can get to finish all of these assignments for classes.  I see the importance of all the Web 2.0 tools and I plan to use many of these ideas once I get my own classroom! 

This has been a awesome learning experience.  I am glad that I took this class even though I was not required to take this class.  Math majors must take C++ programming but I thought that many of the tools learned in this class would be useful for the future. 

Thing #23 - YAY!!!

I just finished Thing #23! So exciting! This one was easy because I already created my Creative Commons assignment for EDUC 3040.  The first example I thought of was Dr. Wall changing the 43 Things to the 23 Things.  Dr. Wall took a great idea and made it ''do-able" for a class that only last one semester.  I would have pulled out all my hair by now if we would have all these assignments and 43 Things.  So I am glad Dr. Wall modified it for the 23 Things!

I really think Creative Commons is important for teachers to understand.  I think that many teachers (not knowing) break copyright laws all the time.  After looking into Creative Commons, I realize that I have broken copyright laws more than once.  (OOPS!!)  The idea that I had originally was to have the students create something and use Creative Commons to create a copyright for it.  I think that students actually obtaining their very own license will help them truly comprehend copyrights. 

Thing #4 (Out of order!)

I just finished Thing #4, which is Why is Commenting Important?  This "Thing" was a lot of work!  I think that blogging does create a sense of community because people with the same interests can get together and discuss things that interest them.  I really like blogs because mathematics blogs are usually very informative.  With educational blogs, commenting is very important because you can assist each other. 

I think commenting is very important to blogging.  People like to be reassured in their thinking.  It is always nice to hear that someone agrees with you or likes what you have to say.  The main thing about commenting is that people should always remember the power of words.  I do not think people always realize how people can interpret what they say in a blog. 

The first blog I commented on was Math-Blog.  I really like the title "Mathematics is wonderful!"  This blog also has many different areas of mathematics posted on it.  I also signed up for the RSS feed from Math-Blog.  The comment I made was that I thought the blog was great and I plan on using it when I begin teaching. 

The second blog I commented on was Wild About Math!.   I really enjoyed this blog because different math problems are posted.  These problems would be good for bell-ringers.  The blog also provides followers with the math contest links from many different cities and states.  The comment I made was the fact that I thought the cartoon that is posted was hilarious. 

The first classmate's blog I commented on was Sarah Jones.  I was amazed with the video she created on Animoto.  It created with pictures of her wedding!  I thought it was beautiful. 
The second classmate's blog I commented on was Skylar Riley.  I discussed that I experimented with iGoogle too. 
The third classmate's blog I commented on was Mallory Morris.  I noticed that she enjoyed Zoho.  I really had a hard time making it work!
The fourth classmate's blog I commented on was Katharine Green.  She used mashups and made a really beautiful mosaic.
The fifth classmate's blog I commented on was Rebbecca Dean.  I was looking through her blog and she used Image Chef to create a Help Button on a computer keyboard.  I could really use a help button after doing the 23 Things. 

Thing #22



I just completed Thing #22, which is Podcasts.  I looked at two Podcast directories: Educational Podcast Directory and Podcastdirectory.com.  Of the two, I liked Educational Podcast Directory the most.  I went on the site and found math podcasts immediately.  The second, Podcastdirectory.com, was very umimpressive.  I never found any math podcasts but somehow I found pornographic ones (BY ACCIDENT!!).  As soon as that happend, I stopped looking! 

My favorite podcast I have found is The Math Dude, which is attached above.  He is funny, informative, and educational.  I signed up for RSS feeds through The Math Dude because I would actually use these videos.  They can be used for supplementary activities or just review.  If I end up teaching Algebra, I will use The Math Dude. 

Listening to different podcasts helped motivate me when completing the assignment for my course project.  I listed to a few different podcasts by men and women and decided what I like and disliked about each.  Then I sat down to decide on how I would record my podcast.  I recorded my podcast on Garage Band.  It was a lot of fun and a great learning experience.  I could use podcasts to record my lectures and post them to a Wiki page.  This would be great for students who are absent.

Thing #21

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

I just completed Thing #21, which is Animoto.  I was amazed! It was the easiest and most exciting "Thing" so far.  I used pictures from our trip to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, Minnesota.  The pictures are mainly of the Lego store because my son loved it! 

Animoto is the most user friendly website I have found.  The hardest thing was deciding the theme of the slide show and picking out the pictures.  I have shown my son how to use it and he has been going around the house taking pictures of the cat to put in his video! 

Thing #20

I just completed Thing #20, which is YouTube.  I have used YouTube many times to see music videos but this may be the first time I sat down and looked at educational things.  I found this hilarious video called Mr. Duey - Fractions.  This is the link to the video.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V96_PjlrVQc It is for younger students but I still really liked it.  Mr. Duey is very funny and I think students would actually pay attention because it it so funny.  Well I finally figured out how to add links to the post! Now I am going back and adding things to the post instead to the bottom of the blog! DUH!

YouTube has it's positives and negatives.  I am a mother of a 10 year old boy and it scares me to allow him to browse YouTube.  There are many inappropriate videos on this site.  If I were to use YouTube in the classroom, I would find the links ahead of time and share them with the students. I would not allow them to look at the site on their own.

Thing #19

Visit TeacherPop

I just completed Thing #19, which is also on social networking.  I set up an account with Teacher Pop.  After I set up the account, I posted a comment on Dr. Wall's page.  I also added my badge to this blog posting.  I think that Teacher Pop is a really cool social networking site because it's focus is on teaching.  One thing that caught my eye first was a Teacher's Guide to Facebook.  I think that every teacher/teacher candidate needs to read this.  I skimmed through it and there was a lot of interesting information.  I downloaded it to my computer, so I can read it over Thanksgiving break. 

The online communities that I am a member of are Teacher Pop, Facebook, and Classroom 2.0.  Other than Facebook, I do not find any of the other appealing.  I think that social networking is extremely time consuming and I barely have time to update my status on Facebook just one time a month. 

I found most of the information on Teacher Pop interesting and useful.  I think that Dr. Wall puts time and effort into this site and wants teacher candidates to understand the importance of social networking.  I really do not know if I will use social networking once I start teaching.  I have been debating on deleting my Facebook account when I complete student teaching.