Web 2.0

This has been a class of ups and downs.  I work long hrs with Coaching and when I look at the work load I can’t help but feel over loaded.  However, when I start working in the class and looking at the different websites I will admit I’m kind of interested.  I do feel that this class should give more credit when thinking of the hours that are put into the class.  I know that I’m not very savy with computers but I have spent 40 to 50 hrs on this class.  It needs to be set up more for Teachers that work.  The price of this class is what really interested me and I’m sure most of the other teachers.  But the class is really set up like a college course, I mean for people that don’t work 60hrs a week.  I did however learn a lot about different websites and about bloging.  I guess I may not be the old geezer that doesn’t know what the kids are talking about.  Over all it was a pretty good learning experience,,, 

I have heard of Ying Yang Twins before but I havn’t heard of Ning until this project.  And just like the other websites it turned out to be very helpful.  Not at this momment but eventually could.  The one thing that impressed me the most about this website is how Teachers can help each other.  If you have a question about something or need help with a student’s behavior you could post this question and someone will answer it.  Or you can help someone by  answering their question or at least give your opinion.  I also like the live chats that are actually on educational topics.  Unlike some chats where you go to it and it says education and when you get their you don’t wont to hear what they are talking about.  I’m also interested in the articles on different Teaching Ideas,,,Not that I agree with all,,but you get to see where people are coming from and like I said they are ideas.  It never hurts to read about ideas from other people.  You may go in thinking one way but after you read an article you may change your mind,,,If I have learned anything over the years it is to “NEVER SAY NEVER”

I can’t believe all these websites on the internet and I don’t know about them.  I know I have hated looking all these websites up, but once I get their it turned out good.  PageFlakes is great because you can include different blogs,,podcast,,and other websites on this site.  The page I set up I had the weather channel,,just for my golfing days.  I also put Facebook,,but I didn’t put myspace since I’m not a member.  One way I thought I could use this for school or my classroom is I put the National News on it.  I also included a scheduler.  I thought this would be good for parent conferences or even if you wanted to put a baseball or softball schedule on it.  Then you could allow other people access. 

This is a great website,,its just like Word on my computer.  The only difference is you can save it on a computer and pull it up from another one.  Whereas with word documents you have to save it to a disk,,then carry the disk with you.  I could or anyone could use this in a school setting.  What is so great is the students could work on an assignment at home save it to Google Docs and they could access it from school.   

Back to the Reader!!!  Well as everyone who has read any of my post know that I love sports.  March is no exception,,,March Madness!!!  The NCAA Tournament,,the greatest tourny of them all.  Its kind of like the Masters of Basketball.  So, what I’ve read about is this Tournament.  Their are a total of 64 teams that enter this tourny and only one can win.  What I have been reading about thought is the Teams.  Some did get in that I do no approve of and some didn’t that I thought should have.  But who am I,,but an avid sports fan that has nothing else to do during March Madness but to watch Basketball all day.  Who got in and Who didn’t.  Their are some great point for both sides of the fence.  It all comes down to who you played,,wins and loses,,and your conference.

This is a video that I found on Teachertube and it really seems to be a great video.  This works well with my class, because we just finished talking about slavery.  And how Harriett Tubman was the “Conductor” of the Underground Railroad.  Check it out

Underground Railroad

First of all let me say that anything can be found on YouTube.  So, if you are letting your students or kids use this website you need to watch them.  I have seen some of the funniest video’s on YouTube.  However, I have been looking for certain video’s and found some of the nastiest video’s as well.  This Teacher-tube seems to be a great site, and dont’ get me wrong I love YouTube also.  Its just the teacher-tube is a little more monitored or censored.  What is so funny about YouTube is even celebs use it.  Profesional basketball players have put themselves on there trying to get votes for AllStar selection, some even have themselves rapping.  I guess showing off different skills.

When I first read about this assignment I wasn’t sure about it.  I have an Ipod and listen to it everyday.  I have never thought about using it in my classroom.  I use itunes and find it pretty easy.  I have no cluehow to incorporate existing podcasts into my classroom or my professional learning.  I have heard other schools in our area are using the podcast where the students put podcast on the website of their school.  This way their parents can go onto the website and check on their kid and see what they have been learning about.  We had a class discussion on podcast today.  Some students new what it was and others were just like me and had no clue.  It seems really interesting and I cant wait to see if I can really get into it.  It seems like I have trouble when trying to make a video on my own or even posting it. 

Ok this was not my thing.  I’m sorry and I’m not being negative at all.  However reading is not something I enjoy doing.  Now I have lots of friends and family members that read every chance they get.  The Library is a neat website.  It has things just to check out books and groups.  If you really were into books this would be a great website.  It would be great for students during the summer, or just to put on a reading program, and learning about books.

I first got on Delicious this morning.  It took me all day to figure this one out.  However once I started playing around on the site,,it was pretty cool.  On this site I started tagging all the things that interest me.  To look at the tags I put on my Delicious website just click on any of these links.  A few things that I tagged was sports, News and History websites.  This website is pretty neat.  I could see where one could use this in an educational setting.  It just wouldn’t be very easy for me to use.  However, it will be something where I could look up things very easy and quick when I need.

I really like the Google Reader.  I read the paper everday and I like to be up to date on different events.  My favorite thing to read is the Sports page.  So the Google Reader I have kept up with is the NY Time.  I have saved the Sports page on my Favorites, so all I have to do is click my Favorites and click NY Times.  Today I read about the NCAA Tourny and Alex Rodriquez and how Rodriquez has to have surgery.  I also skimed over an aritcle about the Mets pitching staff.