Thing 13 ~ Del.icio.us & Diigo

I chose Diigo. Ultimately, it seemed as though more was possible in Diigo. It also seemed that many Del.icio.us users switched once they were comfortable with social bookmarking and tagging. I felt increasingly more confident as I read through the articles that were linked to the Thing 13 blog.

At school, once we get comfortable and efficient with social bookmarking, I think we will wonder how we ever survived without it! We will be able to more effectively collaborate with one another, share freely, store information, and be mobile. We will be able to communicate with one another as well as with students and their families.

I hope social bookmarking revolutionizes how we approach research projects and papers. Good-bye, "hot lists" stored in the school computer's "Student Folders." Hello, ways of engaging the 21st century student!

PS: You can find me on diigo as kdinfinities.

Thing 12 ~ Tagging & Social Bookmarking

I like this quote from the 23 Things Blog; it seems thorough, insightful, direct, and informative.

"Tagging is very “Web 2.0” because it supports social networking, sharing, and empowering users as well as producers of information. Tagging represents a significant shift in the way digital data is sorted, saved, searched, and shared in the 21st century."

Although the word looked hokey at first, "folksonomy" is a wonderful example of why we practice Word Study in Language Arts.

I look forward to knowing more about and practicing Tag Clouding. It seems up my alley: visual representation and organizing my organization.

Overall, I am psyched about bookmarking in general and tagging and sharing in particular. The Common Craft video, Educause article, and 13 Tips article effectively outlined the advantages of social bookmarking and tagging as valuable ways to organize your own resources and collaborate with others. Although there are a few disadvantages, thoughtful tagging and privacy options can eliminate most.

Thing 13, here I come!!!!

Thing 11 ~ Widgets

One guess for why I created the question I did...

I thought it was amusing how the voki kept following the mouse with her eyes. I tried to make my own but was unable to access the choices that would make it look more like me. I thought it was possible to make one like we did for the avatars, but I wasn't able to figure out how. When I use a Voki for school related initiatives, I want it to be advertisement free. I wonder if I should sign up now.

Was Polldaddy on Time’s 2009 list? If not, it should be. I may even try to add it to my Netvibes page and monitor responses from there.

Here are a few additional thoughts.

• How do I add the Google b-day reminder to Netvibes?
• Widgetbox…nah
• Is PBS NewsHour Extra too mature for my students?

Thing 10 ~ Twitter

What is the value of Twitter?

Do you mean other than my friends thinking I am one step closer to creating a Facebook account?

I see the concept of Tweeter being valuable in my Language Arts and Social Studies classes. For example, perhaps students would not see summarization as so mundane and/or difficult if they had only 140 characters in which to do it.

The Best of the Web 2008

My 1st experience for this part of Thing 10 was an article called "Secret Vault of Words Rejected by the Oxford English Dictionary Uncovered." Here are some of the notables.

• Wurfing, polkadodge, and nonversation
• Optotoxical – a look that could kill, normally from a parent or spouse
• Pregreening – to creep forwards while waiting for a red light to change
• Quackmire – the muddy edges of a duck pond
• Whinese – a term for the language spoken by children on lengthy trips
• Wibble – the trembling of the lower lip just shy of actually crying

Because del.icio.us appeared a few times on the 2008 list, I checked it out. I explored others, but they did not interest or impress me as much as del.icio.us.

Times 50 Best Websites of 2009

I liked and appreciated the Times 2009 list. I recognized or used many of sites, which shaved off a few minutes from completing Thing 10. I also deepened my understanding of sites that were newer to me. For example, I learned about Skype and Academic Earth. I discovered Popurls and will definitely be telling my husband about that one.

Although I started looking at winners with cool names, I eventually went through the entire list. Here were some of my thoughts as I went along.

• Open Table…This is such a cool concept! Most of the participating restaurants seem to be high end and expensive, but I liked how they had search options such as "kid friendly."
• Craiglook…This bells and whistles type Craigslist is a neat idea, but it is clear that it is not as popular. When I compared the two, I found more and current information on Craigslist. I will stick with the old school Craigslist until Craiglook is more plentiful and up-to-date.
• Shop Goodwill...This option is a wonderful alternative to sites such as Ebay. The items, however, are more expensive than the same that can be found in the actual stores.
• Etsy…I had already heard of this website. I was disappointed when, for me, it did not live up to the hype. There were too many choices, it took too much time, and their merchandise was too expensive.
• Kiva…This organization seems worthy of a more in-depth look. I like the idea of helping others be independent and successful.
• Consumer Search…For myself, I just wish I'd known about this awesome site sooner...For my students, I think there may be ways to tie the artciles into the lessons on "Reading for Life."
• Facebook...I was surprised that the description called it a "glorified address book." Hmm...I doubt that.
• Pandora and Last.fm...These stream for free AND identify music I like? Sweet! I will be adding those to my Netvibes page.
• Spotify…I want this when it reaches the US.
• Supercook…Considering I create recipes based on the ingredients in the house, this website will spice up my dinners when my brain is too fried to think.
• Visuwords...Hmm...I will be thinking about how to incorporate this into my Language Arts classes.
• Couch Surfing…What a fabulous and cost effective idea! I wonder, however, if it is safe? It makes me think of too many drama shows on TV.
• Baby Name Wizard...I am already a HUGE fan!!! I started with the book and expanded to the website. The map feature is the best.
• Mint…Although I like the idea of al of my finances in one spot, I do not think I trust this service.
• TripIt…This service is definitely something to try when I am a seasoned traveler. (I really hope that time comes BEFORE I retire!)
• Drop.io…Is this better than Google Docs? It IS better than transporting my work files in Outlook email drafts.
• OMGPOP…I refuse to get addicted to this site and the games unless they have a rip-off of Dr. Mario.
• Fonolo…Whoa! Not wasting time on hold? Not wasting cell minutes while on hold? Not dealing with layers of automated messages and choices? Wahoo!
• Musicovery and Photosynth are two sites I will need to explore another day. Meme fits in that category as well. The latter seems like a mix of E's The Soup and Comedy Central's Tosh.O. Let's all say it together...BLACK HOLE!

I was grateful when there were sites I knew well enough that I did not feel obliged to share my reactions. What a spectacular list! I was relieved when I hit 50 because, had there been more, I am sure I would have extended my explorations another couple of hours.

Thing 9 ~ Copyright & Creative Commons

How do you see teaching and learning changing as a result of Web 2.0?
Web 2.0 is going to bring educators closer to effectively reaching the 21st century student. Teaching them will truly begin once we establish that connection.

It is not enough that Web 2.0 exists, however, or even that teachers know about it. We need to be able to use it. This PD is unique in that we can proceed through these lessons and “things” at our own pace. We can take the time to truly learn and strengthen our grasp of the concepts and the successful application of the Web 2.0 concepts.

What opportunities do you see emerging?
Web 2.0 will not change teaching and learning if we do not maximize our use of it. The opportunities that can emerge are infinite. I cannot even fathom what teaching will look like in ten years. Or even five!

I imagine students internalizing and utilizing critical thinking skills. I see them as global citizens who are positively collaborating with others and contributing to the world. I visualize my students thriving as they take ownership of their education, become independent thinkers, and value the role they play in their own lives.

What can educators do to practice and teach ethical use of these interactive resources?
I am a stickler for referencing and giving credit where/when it is due. For example, any time I use images from the Internet, I always include the links where I found the images. Some of my colleagues have teased me about doing that on worksheets, agendas, and even invitations I have made. I am not wavering, however.

I expect the same diligence from my students. Whether they use Internet images on a Word Study assignment or quotes from sources in the media center, they must acknowledge the work of others. During projects that incorporate research, I work very closely with Nicole Kuca to make sure the students know how to and can produce accurate works cited pages.

Now that I am more aware of the in’s and out’s of Creative Commons, I am sure I can find additional ways in which I can correctly use others’ works as well as share my own. And, although it perhaps should not matter, I also hope my colleagues extend the same courtesy to me and the work I have authored.

Thing 8 ~ Embedded & Download Video

Connections...they are so important in our growth, academics, and relationships. Music is a powerful way to forge and strengthen connections. This video clip is from a TV show called Between the Lions. My students remember (or at least have heard of) the show. Many have even seen this video, "The Homophone Song."

When they watch this video and learn the lyrics, they are deepening their understanding of homophones in a pressure-free way. I have used this clip in a variety of ways: to tap into background knowledge, to kick off an extension activity, to reteach the concept, etc. I used it just last week during a tutoring session.

Warning: This clip has the tendency to induce it's-stuck-in-my-head experiences.

Thing 7 ~ You Tube & Video

I liked what it says on the Web 2.0 blog about the impact of You Tube and similar programs/communities. “The result is a worldwide community that is connecting, collaborating, and communicating through video.”

You Tube is as much a valuable tool for education as it is a black hole for time. Once hooked on a particular video and then its menu of related choices, precious minutes are usurped, never to be heard from again.

This “Thing” was worth it. I reflected on the messages in the Free Hugs Campaign and In My Language. I giggled along with the Carol Burnett outtakes, and I marveled at the artistic montages of Noah Over Six Years and Women in Art.

I also looked up some old favorites. They are not the most professional choices, but they sure make me laugh! Here is the link to the one where I completed the assignment. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TtjMOffC6dM

Here is another link. To me, this one is classic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8s7ZkrnAC0

A brief review of TeacherTube and SchoolTube showed me that there are more time zappers out there waiting for me. For content, variety, and consistency, I wonder how they compare to Discovery Streaming.