8 reasons why I am annoyed with Google Blogger...

Images from http://www.flickr.com/photos/91883096@N00/3766009204/ and http://www.flickr.com/photos/75823237@N00/4517201939/

1. Whenever I press enter the spacing shows up funny in my post. 
2. Even though Google owns Blogger my blogs are not in Google's search engine but only in the blogger search engine.  
3. There is no easy way to insert a YouTube video, I had to copy and paste it into the Html, then divide the dimensions and edit these until the video fits into my post.  
4. There is no way to put a border around images.
5. You can only size a picture according to their small medium large and extra large options.  
6. There are only a few nice templates to choose from.
7. Templates that can be installed from btemplates.com are somewhat glitchy.  You often have to go in an edit the HTML code to make the buttons link to where you want them to link.  
8. There are few fonts to choose from.  

Using Technology in a Student-centered Way

Image from http://www.flickr.com/photos/45688888@N08/4191381737/

I have been thinking about how I want to incorporate technology into my upcoming internship.  In my pre-internship I incorporated technology into the classroom but did not do it in a way that involved the students.  I set up a blog, I showed video clips to enhance their learning, and I created an iMovie of their learning at the end of the three weeks.  I am not saying that I would have done anything differently.  In the context of my pre-internship these were appropriate ways to incorporate technology.  However, in my upcoming internship I want to work towards involving student more with technology.  Here are some of the possibilities I have come up with:

- Have students setup a classroom wiki, blog, or website.  

- Have students take pictures  

- Have students take video footage

- Have students create a digital story 

- Have students create a slideshow 

- Have students set up their own website, blog, wiki, or glog .  

- Have students use digital tools to create timelines, mind-maps, charts, comics, pamphlets, posters 

- Have students collaborate using a wiki or Google Docs

- Have students find interactive games to teach a concept or provide information

- Have students find video clips to teach a concept or provide information

- Have students use Internet resources to research a topic

- Have students set up a projector, Smarboard, etc.


Yes, I will be interning in a grade 3/4 classroom so some of the things I listed may be more appropriate for older children.  However, I think we often underestimate younger children who are becoming exposed to technology at a younger and younger age.  Kathy Cassidy's grade one class blogs regularly.    They use Class Blogmeister a great way site for blogging in primary classrooms.  So don't be scared to provide opportunities for young students to use computers and other tech devices. 


I don't think there is anything wrong with teachers creating slideshows, websites, etc. for their class.  I just think that it is important to additionally give students the opportunity to do these kinds of things.  Here are some of the reasons why I think that allowing student to use tech tools/devices is important:

Skills and abilities
- To develop skills and abilities students need experience.  
Empowerment
- The Internet allows students to share their work with a wider audience.  Nothing is more empowering for students than having many people read their work.  
Engaging  
-  Using technology is exciting for students allowing them to be creative, communicate their ideas, and collaborate in different ways.  * Here is an interesting article on how using technology can enhance engagement and learning for students at-risk.  
Memory
- If students create a slideshow, digital story, or video on  a topic it will involve synthesizing a large amount of information. This process will increase the likelihood of retention.  

I Love Technology

video from YouTube 

This video on social media got me thinking about ways I use social media and technology in general.  I have to say I am not sure what I would do without my laptop and the Internet.


How cool is it that...
-I can find accurate information on almost any topic with sites like Wikipedia and Britannica.
-I can find how to videos on almost anything with YouTube or google video.
-I can find pictures of anything ranging from different flower species to types of interior design with flickr.
-I can create my own videos using helpful tools such as animoto, or one true media.  
-I can publish my videos on YouTube where anyone can view them.
-I can publish my own website at ease using sites like weebly or snappages.
-I can create a blog using wordrdpress or blogspot and share my thoughts and ideas about any topic and have people from around the world read and comment on what I said.  
-I can ask any question to Google ranging from how long to cook a boiled egg, to what time zone is Saskatchewan.
-Using allrecipes I can find recipes, read other peoples reviews and suggestions, and create a customized shopping list based on recipes I choose.  With Cookthing I can search for recipes according to the ingredients I have in my house.
-I can visit my Goolgereader account and find out what is happening in the world, read my favorite blogs, and read about the latest fashion all in one spot.
-I can find simple directions on how to get to anywhere, check current traffic conditions, and virtually explore the image of the place I want to go to using Googlemaps.

-I can type in a friends name into Facebook who I have not seen in several years and be able to communicate with them, see their pictures, and find out what they have been up to.  

-I can follow teachers on Twitter from around the world and ask them for advice and opinions and receive quick replies.  

-I can view products in online stores such as Amazon and Ebay in the comfort of my home and order them to be dropped off at my doorstep.  

How are you using social media and technology? 

My Experiences with Twitter

(image from twitter.com)

I started using twitter after Alec Couros introduced it as a professional development tool during his visit to one of my classes.  He showed us how he could pose a question and receive many replies in a matter of minutes.  Needless to say, I was impressed, so I decided to create my own twitter account.  

I have been slowly working at following anyone connected to education and I have been gradually accumulating followers.  However, now that I know how twitter works I will need to continue to work at gaining followers if I want to be able to pose a question and receive unlimited replies.  Right now I only have about 170 followers.  This doesn't begin to compare to Alec's over 7,000 followers (I am sure that he has been on twitter longer than I have).  

So although I may not be able to tweet a question and receive unlimited replies, I still have found twitter to be quite beneficial.  I follow many educators since the reason I started twittering was for its potential as a professional development tool.  Many of these educators post excellent websites, articles, and other resources related to the field of education.  One of the articles tweeted by a teacher, I later used in my education math class.  Several resources posted were valuable during my pre-internship.  Many other resources shared have potential in my upcoming internship.   

Another benefit to twitter is receiving feedback.  I posted my teaching portfolio on twitter and received encouragement from others and I also received tips related to a collection of technology resources I started compiling in the form of a blog.  

In addition to connecting to educators on twitter who I only know through twitter, I can also connect with my peers from the University.  During our pre-internship twitter was a place where we could ask each other questions and share valuable resources.  

I would recommend using twitter to anyone involved in education.  It's a professional learning community on steroids.  Once you start following the right people you will find all sorts of interesting tweets on issues in education, valuable resources, quotes, anything really, and you will be connected with people who you can ask questions and learn from.   (And of course you can use twitter for personal interests following celebrities, companies, or sports networks.) 

twitter by Seung WoonLee CC

Questions about Facebook...

Image from facebook.com

Gill recently wrote an interesting post titled "What have I done..." about her decision to commit facebook suicide after considering some of the disconcerting privacy issues.  Her posting definitely got me thinking.  I am an avid facebook user myself and find it a great way to stay connected with people. However, sometimes I find myself wondering what facebook does with my pictures, who can view my photos, and whether I waste to much time on facebook.  

Several friends have told me before that once you upload pictures, facebook owns all the rights to those photos.  What does facebook do with the pictures?  Do I really want to give away my pictures for free to some large company?  Or does it really matter?  

I also wonder who can access my photos.  I have a setting that only allows friends to view my pictures.  However, I was speaking to a distant acquaintance who commented on how lovely my wedding pictures were.  They were not on my friend list on facebook so how did they view my pictures?  Also, when other people upload pictures of me, who can access to those photos?  Should I really care who views my pictures?  

In addition to these issues how much time do I waste on facebook... I too am guilty of browsing through endless pictures.  Its interesting to see what people are up to, but is it really time well spent?  

Also, facebook makes it super easy to connect with people.  Is it too easy?  I have a friend who decided that if someone actually cared about their birthday or getting together they would call or email them. They felt that facebook makes it so easy to communicate that it is less meaningful.   

Despite all my questions, I am not quite ready to give up facebook.  I really appreciate being connected to friends and family, sharing pictures at ease, and staying updated on who is doing what.  

well, I better go check my facebook now...  ;) 

Facebook by Mike Stimpson CC

Why Technology is Important in Todays Classroom...

Monday's lecture had some great points on why technology is important in education.  I have come up with a list of reasons why I think technology is important: 


- It is a great way to engage learners
- It is something students are growing up with (cellphones, video games, computers, television etc.)
- It can help address multiple intelligences (computers provide, visuals, spoken, and written forms of information, Smartboards are great for kinaesthetic learners).  
- Computer programs can allow students to work at their own pace and level
- Computer skills are becoming extremely necessary in today's world.
- Using computer programs to create graphs, lesson plans etc. can save teachers and students time
- The Internet provides access to information at a global level.
- With a computer you can learn just about anything you are interested in (eHow, YouTube etc.)  
- Blogs, Glogs, or websites can be excellent communication tools for sharing students work and activities with  family, peers, and other classes around the world  
- Assistive technology can help students with special needs 
- Online spaces can help to create a community of learners allowing students to share, comment, and edit each others' work.  
- Online software such as Google Docs, Springnote, or Wallwisher make collaboration that much easier.  


... Anything else?

image from www.1clipart.com