I'm using Google Reader as my RSS. I kind of set it up already without even knowing I had. I like the ease of use. I'm a google fan. I've used them as my email and search engine of choice for a while now. I understand how to word things to make google find what I want it to.
I think it's a great idea to have the news come to you. I like to read the money articles on msn.com, however, they re-post articles sometimes and I don't like having to sift thru them. On the flip side, I like going out on the internet to find new things. I think this tool kind of makes you go the other way and stay in your little hole and wait for stuff to come to you. Some of my favorite articles are ones that I didn't plan on reading, but they caught my eye. Articles that I never would have seen because I didn't know to look for them.
I do see benifits for teachers like the senario mentioned of students updating and the instructor wanting to be notified of when they have, instead of having to search them all. A teacher could also create a class reader and subscribe them to readings that the teacher requires for them. In a way, their assignments would come to them.
Overall, I think this tool has specific pros and cons.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thing #9
This phrase is really the theme of my entire music class. I have a banner in the room with this written on it. My principal told me I needed to pretty up my room and had a friend of hers create some artwork for me. I put it with a smiley face because I am generally a pretty smiley kinda person and I feel like this represents me well. :)
I'm not sure that it needs restating at this point, but just in case, the visual arts are not my forte. I'm not sure how I would incorporate these tools. Printing these off to post in my room would probably be too small. However, I could use some stuff like this to spice up a power point.
Thing #8
I really don't see many uses for this in my music classroom.
I could see using this for scrapbooking, if I did that...
My brother-in-law put together a slide show for his parents 50th wedding anniversary. And I think I remember seeing some visually creative things like this in it.
This just really isn't me. I don't pick out paint colors, or furniture designs, and I have virtually no fashion sense when it comes to clothes. I understand chord progressions and harmonization and how to make that sound good to others. I'm not saying I have no visual opinion. Only that I don't know that my views transfer seamlessly to what others would like.
I love being able to see other peoples pictures on Facebook, and giving them the option to peek into my life. However, that's only because I know them. I'm not scared of someone putting my head on another body... I just really don't know what interest someone who doesn't know me would have in my personal photos.
Thing #7
Flickr
So I clicked on the "beach" tag and saw a picture that looked like a tether ball. I know, I know, it's a lamp. The picture was smaller before I clicked on it. Don't judge me... Anyway, that made me want to find a picture of a tether ball (cause it's fun) so I typed that in. No tether balls to be found, something caught my eye.
This picture stood out as a little different. I couldn't quite tell at first what was so unique about what I was seeing, and then it hit me. The awning ends straight out over the water, and yet, there is a gutter along the edge to make it funnel down first.
Somebody named Mitch happened to catch this rare construction fopaux.
So I clicked on the "beach" tag and saw a picture that looked like a tether ball. I know, I know, it's a lamp. The picture was smaller before I clicked on it. Don't judge me... Anyway, that made me want to find a picture of a tether ball (cause it's fun) so I typed that in. No tether balls to be found, something caught my eye.
This picture stood out as a little different. I couldn't quite tell at first what was so unique about what I was seeing, and then it hit me. The awning ends straight out over the water, and yet, there is a gutter along the edge to make it funnel down first.
Somebody named Mitch happened to catch this rare construction fopaux.
Thing #6
MOG
The Complete Music Solution
Those are their words, not mine, but they are actually very fitting. (hence my use of them) I chose a site from the list that dealt with music because that's what the voices in my head instructed me to do. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am a music teacher...
I looked at a few different sites that made music available to people and decided on this one because it has the best features. There are plenty of forums that give you the ability to purchase music and give reviews on it, but this one has gone a step further.
The site actually lets you set up a blog to give your opinions (and comment on others opinions) about what is heard. There are articles that deal with the music industry, recommendations by the editor, and there's even presorted playlists that other users have created.
It's free to join, of course, you do have to pay if you want to download a song. However, this is standard, and I hardly see supporting an artist you like as a downside.
This site would work well for a music appreciation class. Students could log on, share their thoughts, and get feedback as well. Communication seemed to be MOG's focus and that's why I liked it the best.
(I also discovered I like hyperlinking things as well)
The Complete Music Solution
Those are their words, not mine, but they are actually very fitting. (hence my use of them) I chose a site from the list that dealt with music because that's what the voices in my head instructed me to do. It had absolutely nothing to do with the fact that I am a music teacher...
I looked at a few different sites that made music available to people and decided on this one because it has the best features. There are plenty of forums that give you the ability to purchase music and give reviews on it, but this one has gone a step further.
The site actually lets you set up a blog to give your opinions (and comment on others opinions) about what is heard. There are articles that deal with the music industry, recommendations by the editor, and there's even presorted playlists that other users have created.
It's free to join, of course, you do have to pay if you want to download a song. However, this is standard, and I hardly see supporting an artist you like as a downside.
This site would work well for a music appreciation class. Students could log on, share their thoughts, and get feedback as well. Communication seemed to be MOG's focus and that's why I liked it the best.
(I also discovered I like hyperlinking things as well)
Monday, March 1, 2010
Thing #5
School 2.0 means to me that a lot of schools out there are gonna need funding to be able to keep up. I find it extremely ironic that much of society downplays the importance of the people that have the most influence on it, their teachers.
I also think that communication with others is a huge part of education. It's my biggest argument against homeschooling. Social interaction is one of the most important aspects of public school and one of the most unmentioned. I think it's great that there are so many more ways for students to get involved with each other, especially in different countries and cultures. I hope the future is filled with more diverse assignments that focus on the importance of being a person who learns and is able to contribute to society. It's especially important to steer clear of doing something just because someone, somewhere, decided it would be tested on. The future should provide motivation to educate oneself in useful endeavors.
I also think that communication with others is a huge part of education. It's my biggest argument against homeschooling. Social interaction is one of the most important aspects of public school and one of the most unmentioned. I think it's great that there are so many more ways for students to get involved with each other, especially in different countries and cultures. I hope the future is filled with more diverse assignments that focus on the importance of being a person who learns and is able to contribute to society. It's especially important to steer clear of doing something just because someone, somewhere, decided it would be tested on. The future should provide motivation to educate oneself in useful endeavors.
Thing #4
Blogs allow people to publicly display their thoughts. It's a forum that lets you interact with an unlimited number of opinions. You have the opportunity to communicate with people that could be half way around the world, and yet have views that are the same as yours. It gives us a chance to see how small the world is at times.
I thought it was interesting that is was recommended to not try to comment on everything note that is left on your blog. I would feel somewhat obligated, yet it was suggested that it's not necessary. I also thought it was interesting that it was proposed that you should purposefully leave your blogs open ended and not cover every topic so that there is room for others to comment.
Sam's Blog
I chose to comment on Sam's blog because I related to something he said. He plays video games (as do I) and he preferred making a mii more than the avatar's for the blog. I agreed.
Debbie's Blog
I commented on Debbie's blog because I liked the way she tried to relate her avatar to herself. I enjoyed that she put a tux on her female avatar. :)
Carita's Blog
I commented on Carita's blog because I liked the look of her avatar. She chose to put it in a wedding dress based on her recent experience, and i like that she shared that with all of us.
Amanda's Blog
I commented on Amanda's blog because I enjoyed reading about how she likes to smile. I think her attitude will definitely rub off on her students and help create a great atmosphere for her to teach in.
Chad's Blog
I commented on Chad's blog because I could relate to his tendency to begin with the end in mind. I think that this is usually the best course of action.
Thayne and Erika's Blog
These are extremely close friends of mine that are currently living in Japan. I commented because I was curious what they did when faced with less than desirable foreign food.
Some Guy
I posted anonymously on this guy's blog because I have no desire to start up a random relationship with someone I don't know just because this course requires it. I congratulated Canada for their win in hockey because I really got into these Olympics and thought it was very fitting for Canada to win, despite preferring the gold to have come home to the U.S.
I thought it was interesting that is was recommended to not try to comment on everything note that is left on your blog. I would feel somewhat obligated, yet it was suggested that it's not necessary. I also thought it was interesting that it was proposed that you should purposefully leave your blogs open ended and not cover every topic so that there is room for others to comment.
Sam's Blog
I chose to comment on Sam's blog because I related to something he said. He plays video games (as do I) and he preferred making a mii more than the avatar's for the blog. I agreed.
Debbie's Blog
I commented on Debbie's blog because I liked the way she tried to relate her avatar to herself. I enjoyed that she put a tux on her female avatar. :)
Carita's Blog
I commented on Carita's blog because I liked the look of her avatar. She chose to put it in a wedding dress based on her recent experience, and i like that she shared that with all of us.
Amanda's Blog
I commented on Amanda's blog because I enjoyed reading about how she likes to smile. I think her attitude will definitely rub off on her students and help create a great atmosphere for her to teach in.
Chad's Blog
I commented on Chad's blog because I could relate to his tendency to begin with the end in mind. I think that this is usually the best course of action.
Thayne and Erika's Blog
These are extremely close friends of mine that are currently living in Japan. I commented because I was curious what they did when faced with less than desirable foreign food.
Some Guy
I posted anonymously on this guy's blog because I have no desire to start up a random relationship with someone I don't know just because this course requires it. I congratulated Canada for their win in hockey because I really got into these Olympics and thought it was very fitting for Canada to win, despite preferring the gold to have come home to the U.S.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
