Is this the end, or just the beginning??

I finished all 23 things!!!! I can't believe that this semester is already over.  Throughout this journey of new tools and websites to use as future teacher, I have discovered a lot.  Doing this blog has taught me that lifelong learning is very much a part of being a human being because I learned about so much while doing this project.  I definitely started this thinking that I would learn nothing new.... I was wrong. :)  My favorite activity was using Animoto.  I thought that was a very neat website that teachers or students could use.  I will probably start using R.S.S feeds to keep up with all that is going on in the technology world because now that I know about all the cool things these tools can do, I will want to stay caught up with everything.

Right now, because I stay busy I will probably not continue blogging but once I finish school and have my own classroom I will probably pick it back up.  I can definitely see advantages to it when trying to keep parents informed.  I think it may be a good idea to keep this blog and re activate it once I have my own classroom so future parents of students can see how far I have come. 

Thank you 23 Things for teaching me lots of new tricks. 

Until next time,
          Ms.Hughes <3

Thing #23

It is way too easy to find answers with the internet sometimes.  It's crazy how fast information can be retrieved and placed right at your fingertips.  The idea from 23 Things was originally the idea of Helen Blowers, loosely based on an article entitled "43 Things I (or You) Might Want To Do This Year" by Stephen Abrams.  This assignment has been adapted and modified to fit each classroom's needs and teaching style.  Although the idea has been transformed various times, credit still needs to be given where it is due.

 Learning about Creative Commons has taught me not to be so impulsive with the keystrokes copy/paste.  Sometimes it almost seems as if those commands are embedded into my fingers.  I have learned though that credit should always be given.  I wouldn't want anyone taking my ideas, so I don't want to take theirs.  This is something I will share with students, regardless of their age.  The sooner they are informed, they will learn not to take ideas that they did not come up with.

Thing #22 LiveBinder

Education Ideas

LiveBinder is a resource that teachers could definitely use to stay organized.  I think this is a great idea so that teachers could find all that they need in one place.  This would also be convenient so that teachers could share their ideas together.  It would be good to create binders for certain subject areas and then share ideas by email the links to the binders back and forth.  In my LiveBinder account I created three different binders entitled "Education Ideas," "Personal Stuff," and "School Assignments."  I would share the first binder with any other future teacher and the other two contain things that will help me stay organized in my day to day life like my work schedule or copies of important documents that I could upload.  Overall I am a vary organized person without LiveBinder, but I think it would be beneficial when I start juggling lots of students and their work. 

Thing #21 Animoto

Try our slideshow maker at Animoto.

This is a really cool website!!! I made a 30 second video, a picture montage, of pictures of my boyfriend and I.  I think this website could be used in several ways in the classroom.  I would use it for students to make a visual for a project or I would use it to create a video collage to show at the end of the school year.  Either way, because it is so simple to use, the students could use it themselves since it is very easy to figure out.  Anyone can sign up to make 30 second videos and I think the students would enjoy playing with this.

Thing #20 Youtube

I am no stranger to Youtube.  I'm pretty sure that I am on Youtube at least once a day.  I like that I can find anything from songs, to funny videos, to lectures from speakers to use as sources for a project.  I think that like any site, Youtube does have its down falls since anyone can have an account or post a video.  I also feel as if the comment section on each video is not necessary, especially when the comments become hateful, full of spam or are not relevant whatsoever. I think that if this site were applied to library websites in a school to show a short clip of what a book may be about, the students may have more interest in reading.  The video that I have attached to this post is a classic Goofy cartoon.  And even though this clip about being a teacher is not recent, I think all the things it says about being a teacher are still completely true.  Check it out :)

Thing #19 Social Butterfly

Now a days there are so many more ways for people to become connected across the world.  Social networks are one way that help this to happen.  Besides Facebook, I am an active member of Pinterest.  I don't know if this should be considered just a social network I am involved in, or a slight addiction. :)  I have a pinboard specifically for all of the Education things I find that want to share with my followers or simply want to keep for ideas to use in my future classroom.  For this thing, I explored some other social networks that I had never heard of before this assignment.  I think that Ning Teacher Pop is a very good idea because even though it is considered a social network, I think people involved with it would be more professional in the way in which they present themselves in comparison to their Facebook or Twitter pages.  I enjoyed leaving comments posting pictures to share on this site.  Another social network that I browsed through was Bake Space where people swap recipes.  I loved looking through this site because I love to bake, especially when I'm stressed.  And since finals are coming up, I spend lots of time cooking things for my friends.  You should check out this recipe that I found... they are AMAZING! :)

Oreo Cheesecake Cupcakes

Besides the networks with yummy recipes, I think using social networks specifically designed for educators could definitely come in handy once I am a teacher.  I think one of the important characteristics that should be found in a teacher should be that they are able to borrow an idea from someone else and change it to fit their particular classroom and students.  I will definitely be spending time on these social networks when I am looking for creative lesson plan ideas.

Thing #18 Facebook!!

My Facebook Page

Social networks are all the rage these days.  Everyone has either a Twitter or Facebook account, or both!  And although their reasons may vary, the main reason why everyone is involved in these social media networks is to stayed connected with people they know.  I think there are many reasons why teachers should know how social networking works.  I think that when teachers are educated with things that their students are involved in, a deeper connection can be made.  Also, when teachers are able to use social networking units they can stay in touch with each other in a way that does not have to be as professional when at school.  It's always nice to be friends with your colleagues.  I am on Facebook everyday and I use it for different aspects of my life and I really like that.  I am "friends" with my family, professors, colleagues, and my friends.  Facebook keeps me connected with all of these people; and even if I'm not able to talk to them everyday, I can at least see what they have been up to.  I'm not sure which I would declare as more useful because I enjoy them both, I just use Facebook more.  I could see a classroom or school application with Facebook by creating "groups" for which the students to be involved.  They could create groups for different classes, homework help, or even have a daily update page for a student who might have missed class.  I think by incorporating something that the students use in their personal lives into the classroom, they become more willing to participate in activities.