Twitter Chat

I was unable to participate in the class chats to get the hang of twitter chats, which put me a great disadvantage during my first twitter chat.  The one that I joined was with special education teachers, and it was a very fast paced and intense chat.  There were lots of things going on and I found that it was hard to try and follow the many different things that were going on.  I would try and answer one person and they would already be on to something else.  So, the thing that worked out best for me was to sit back and just read what was going on and try to gain some ideas from other teachers on how they do things in their school.  This was my first chat, but not my last. 

Moodle and Dipity

This week we are looking at Web 2.0 tools.  I will be looking at two different ones, Moodle and Dipity.  I have used both, and I have different opinions on both. 

First, let's look at moodle.  Moodle is an online classroom and course organizing site.  I had to create an account for a different class, we had to setup a moodle account for a class that we taught, or would like to teach.  It took me several days to gain access to the site, then once I was in I had a lot of trouble getting things setup.  I found it very difficult to navigate, and get my assignments entered.  I found the site very disappointing regarding user friendliness. 

Now let's look at dipity.  This an online timeline creator, not only can you create your own, but you can search ones that have been created by others and use them as resources for your lessons.  I think that this would be great for a history teacher, but you could use this in a literature class, you could document a writers life and literary works in a chronological order.  Or in science to list the dates of famous discoveries or scientist.  So this website is great for many different subjects, and it is easy to navigate and use. 

So, in closing, just because it is a great tool, you need to make sure that it is easy to use, because as we all know, our time is very precious, and could be better used doing something productive rather than struggling with a tool that is supposed to make our job easier. 

Social Networks

I joined Facebook to just keep up with friends, but after connecting with some teacher friends, I was working with them and i saw some good ideas. Now that I have changed jobs, this is the only way that I keep connected with them. This connection keeps me up with things that they are doing, or ideas that they have seen.

I also joined Pinterest while I was doing my undergrad degree, I got a lot of ideas from here. I used most of them as projects for classes, but I have also implemented several in some of the classes that I have worked in. I have found some inspirational quotes that I feel would be great to use in the classroom.

Looking at ideas for diverse leathers, one website I like is www.boardmakershare.com this has a lot of templates that can be printed out, or modified if you have access to the board maker software.

Week 4: Networked Classrooms

After spending much of this week on some powerful medicine, and a trip to the ER, and ending up at an oral surgeon, I am finally sane enough to write. After looking over the materials in the book, and the lecture, I have decide that the most important thing that a teacher can do in a networked class is to stress safety. Students need to be taught how to use the Internet, and other social networking tools safely. I feel that they put to much of themselves out there. I use several different types of social media, but when I do I don't list my location, I especially don't checkin, no matter how private you have your settings people can still see your things. If they see you have checked in somewhere then that means your not home and put you at risk. That is the aw reason that I don't post pictures of myself or my family, I don't want them to bece a target if a student becomes upset.

With some much cyber bulling going on we need to teach the students how to respond and the correct steps to take if they do become targets.

Also, there needs to be a way for parents to see what is being said, and taught , if that is by giving them a separate login that they can view the information, but not make changes or comment. This way it prevents the parents from possibly billing a child they feel is bulling their child. You see reports about parents bulling children, so this will help keep this from happening in your classroom, but it gives them the access to make sure that their child is safe, and doing what is expected of them.