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Still confused about blogs, Google Reader, and RSS? This video should help clear up a few things!
http://youtube.com/v/0klgLsSxGsU
The blog has now been active for a couple of weeks and we have 19 posts and 28 comments! Nice work WC! people! I love to see your comments and posts!!
Today we were working on our blogs and posting to each other’s blogs. I sent a comment to Kay’s blog. Cathie had noticed that you can be at the dashboard for your blog and click on comments to have it show you if you have any comments that are “Awaiting Moderation”. This way you wouldn’t have to wait for the emails. My comment showed up under “Awaiting Moderation” so we went to it. There is a button that allows the you to edit any comments that are sent to you before you accept it. I noticed that I had made some errors so we changed the wording and then accepted it. At first, I thought this was great because once it was published, I couldn’t go back to make changes. So I was happy to have Kay make the necessary changes for me and I was part of the whole editing process. Then it occurred to me that this could be scary too. You could send a comment to someone’s blog and they could completely change what you said. However, your name would still be attached to that comment! Without being an administrator on the blog, you couldn’t delete your “changed version” either. Just something to consider when you are leaving comments on blogs out there in the digital world.
This is a great YouTube video defining Web 2.0!
Go to www.YouTube.com and search for Web 2.0…The Machine Is Us/ing Us”.
What a visual explanation! Enjoy!
Did anyone else have trouble finding and accessing podcasts? I did.
I listened to two podcasts. The first was on a topic of personal interest dealing with a hermit who lived in the Adirondacks. Noah John Rondeau lived in the North Country for a number of years. The podcast came from North Country Public Radio. Of professional interest, I listened to 60 Second Science. This had a number of short podcasts dealing with many scientific topics.
As I was reviewing the statistics in this article, I was amazed at how much has changed since my daughter was in high school four short years ago. Then I see that one of our teachers is listening to podcasts with her six year old and I wonder what the world of technology will mean to her over time in school. It seems that keeping up with our children and their technology growth is a daunting task. As educators, what responsibility do we have to keep up with this growth and use technology in our teaching? What criteria do you think we should use to select technology tools to use with students?
My professional podcast is one from the Activated Storytellers website(http://www.activated-storytellers.com/folktales/davy_crockett.html). This touring group presents folktales to students at school assemblies and in a variety of different settings. This link will let you listen to a story about Davy Crockett which they have “Activated” and have an interactive website where you can follow along and read the story as you listen to the Storytellers and move a small group of animals around on the screen with your mouse. The actual story begins at the 5:15 mark in the podcast with other background information about the story tellers location and purpose to this podcast. I would rate this podcast ***. http://media.libsyn.com/media/activated/DavyCrockett3.mp3
For my personal interest podcast I found a fantasy football podcast giving information about selecting widereceivers and tight ends for my fantasy football team. Eric Karabell and Tristan Cockcroft share tips and strategies in selecting these positions in a draft. I rate this *****!http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/podcast/archive?id=2967163
Professional Interest:
Teachers Teaching Teachers is “a weekly webcast on the EdTechTalk channel of the WorldBridges network”. Discussions take place between teachers from all over the United States – New Jersey to California to New York City (August 1st podcast) and Maryland to Massachussetts to the Hudson Valley (August 15th podcast). Teachers communicate about various technology matters – much like what we have discussed or will discuss in WilliamsonConnects. The August 1st episode specifically talks about blogging in a social networking and creating projects so that it fits into a curriculum. Teachers bring their concerns to the table and talk about what they may do in their own classrooms. Rating: ****
http://teachersteachingteachers.org/?p=128
Personal Interest:
I found this site through a number of different searches that I completed. Christopher Fredrick – a graduate student at Colorado State University – is responsible for the different podcasts discussing real life topics and the mathematics involved. I listened to a particular podcast “Behold, the factorial!” Probability is not one of my favorite topics to teach. The explanation behind this topic was both descriptive and realistic. I envision using this podcast later this year while introducing factorials. Rating: ****
For my professional podcast I found this to be very insightful since art therapy is an interest of mine. It demonstarted how art therapy could be extended through the internet to reach those who are homebound and/or disabled. Dr. Kate Collie emphasizes that this approach is not intended to replace face to face therapy sessions…simply to offer it to a broader population. As I watched I could understand how beneficial this would be to those with social/emotional challenges. Small group communication/interraction takes place in a “safe” environment as participants create pictures on ther computers. I’d rate this ***** Check it out! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvbhO-2xWmk
The personal podcast I found was http://www.rvnavigator.com. The RV Navigator is your digital home for RVing information. The guides will be providing audio reports (podcasts) covering the RV lifestyle from an on the road perspective. Your guides (Ken and Martha) are avid travelers and spend 6 months a year or so in their RV moving around the country as the mood hits. They have been to all 50 states (only 49 in the RV) as well as numerous foreign countries. They will share their thoughts on RV travel tips, technology for your RV, destination ideas and experiences and news for RVers.
I found this podcast to be very interesting because I enjoy camping in our fifth wheel camper just like the guides in this podcast do. It was very enjoyable listening to them.
My thought (more than a question is) — It is truly amazing to me that RVers traveling throughout the United States can broadcast an audio podcast from their campsites. Technology is bringing campers together. Who would have dreamed that was possible? (But the campfire is still a great place for conversation with fellow campers.)
For my professional podcast I listened to SMARTBoard Lessons Podcast at http://pdtogo.com/smart/ This is set up like a talk radio station and you can select which episode you would like to listen to. I listened to SMARTBoard Lessons 87: Pin Page and Visualization for Google. Joan Badger and Ben Hazzard are from Canada and are the hosts for the podcasts. They provide links to information that they will be covering during that episode. The first topic they covered was regarding Touchgraph a Google Visualization. When you do a search, it comes up like a concept web rather than a list. Very interesting! What I also found interesting about the SMARTBoard Lessons Podcast was that it is also a place for people to ask questions as well as share knowledge that you have. In this episode, Wayne Basinger, from Los Angeles, California, shared a lesson in which he used the pin page feature on the SMARTBoard. They have his lesson there so you can click on it to see what he is talking about. He talked you through the process of using the pin page feature so you could see exactly how to use it and then could easily implement it into your lessons. I would rate this podcast as **** and I look forward to listening to more episodes found at this site. A quote that was found on their site is also intriguing. It is “Digital ink doesn’t stain…it leaves a mark in the mind. Go leave a mark!”
For my personal podcast I wanted to see how to help my dog, Cody, deal with his aggressive behavior around other dogs. So I went to www.digitalpodcast.com/detail-Dog_Whisperer-15480.html and found a couple of video podcasts from the Dog Whisperer. I needed to download them and they opened in iTunes. The Dog Whisperer is a show which is on the National Geographic. I was able to get a few ideas of how to handle Cody when he is around other dogs so that hopefully he will be able to socialize with the other dogs and have fun! I would give these podcasts a rating of ***.
1. Hello everyone.
I am trying to do my WilliamsonConnects! homework so here it goes.
I was not sure how to find a podcast so I went to google and searched “librarian podcasts”. I found one titled “Check this out!” I thought that I had a good one about Mr. Rogers (from the TV show) but alas it was posted by a law librarian whose friend’s cell phone was stolen by her neighbor named Mr. Rogers. The podcast was about all of her legal problems. Boring.
So I tried another one titled “Authors on tourlive.” I found one on Tracy Chevalier. It was a good one. I started thinking that this site would be good for the students when they are researching authors for their Engish projects. They could listen to a podcast by their author.
The web address is http://authorsontourlive.com
I hope I did my assignment right so far.
Now I have to find a personal podcast to listen to.
See you all on Thursday, August 23rd.
From,
Kay Gray, HS Librarian
My question is “Would the HS English teachers find this author podcast a valuable resource for their students?”
I found this article to be both reaffirming and daunting at the same time. It reaffirms so much of what I believe our teens and tweens are able to do in the technology arena, while at the same time creates a sense of chaos in terms of “how does it all get managed while at school”? There were a few key points in the article that I think would make for great dialogue here and elsewhere. One point that I found positive in light of the controversy surrounding teen use of technology was on page four….Internet access is associated with improvements in grades and school attitudes. I think what I walk away with, after reading this article, is a question for all of you…Is there a place in school for social networks and should schools have rules against social networking activities? Food for thought:)
I listened to the professional podcast Guided Repeated Oral Readings by the National Center for Family Literacy (NCFL). This organization is recognized nationally and internationally as a leader in family literacy. As a first grade teacher, I feel literacy development is vital to the success of each and every student in school. Unfortunately, not every student has the same pre-literacy experiences before coming to school. This site gives listeners a variety of strategies in working with literacy students as well as popular children’s books that can be listened to and discussed. I think many teachers, parents and administrators could use this site in a variety of ways. I rate this podcast ****.
http://www.literacycampus.org/fileadmin/technology/Guided_Read.mp3
Group 2 Assignment
After listening to this podcast, what are your thoughts on how reading fluently (or NOT reading fluently) effect the students in your class?
Can you think of a way you might use podcasting with your students or in a lesson?
For my personal interest podcast, my 6 year old daughter and I listened to a live podcast of the High School Musical 2 interview on Radio Disney. This media phenomenon has captivated audiences of all ages (including myself) and broken many viewing records. I was so excited at her reaction as she heard her favorite fictional characters talking on her computer. As a first grade teacher in the 21st century it is so important to motivate young learners through new and exciting experiences. As students get excited about learning, they will strive to have more and more positive learning experiences and become life-long learners which is what I hope for MY 6 year old! I rate this
podcast ****.
http://radio.disney.go.com/artists/podcasts/
(August 14th episode)
I listened to a professional podcast featuring Gifted/Talented education expert Joseph Renzulli. The site offered various segments of a 2006 interview with Renzulli. Although my main focus in the district is Enrichment, I am confident that this podcast offers information that can be utilized by everyone in the district. I would rate this podcast as ****
www.londongt.org/homepages/index.php?page=podcastss
I created a current event activity for the 6th grade ETC (Enrichment That Challenges) class in the middle school based on the popular Survivor television show. Because of that, the personal interest podcast I selected to review deals with current event trivia for middle school students. The podcast I listened to is a fun and creative way for students to review current events from the previous week by challenging the students with a bit of a trivia competition. I will be incorporating this podcast into the current event challenge activity in ETC beginning in September. Rated ****
Group 3 Question
What classroom advantage(s) does podcasting provide for you as opposed to blogging?
How is Web 2.0 different from Web 1.0? Describe how you might use some of the Web 2.0 tools in your classroom (social bookmarking, Flickr, You Tube, etc.)?
Logistically, how might I utilize Web 2.o in my classroom, such as blogging with my students and conferencing/chatting with other classrooms around the world?
Think back to when you were reading the article. What ideas were going through your mind as you read Will’s column?
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