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Monday, January 25, 2010
BP11_2010013_Link to my comments on Joe's blog: Youblisher
Click on this link to view my comments on Joe Huber's blog: Youblisher
BP10_2010013_Link to comments on Elijah's blog
Here's the link to my comments on Elijah Duncan's blog on Vanilla:
BP9_2010013_Web2.0Tool3 Stribe
If you've always wanted to create your own social network from the privacy of your own website, a customizable plug and play service that offers freedom of choice for its users, then Stribe is the tool for you! I found Stribe to be resourceful in that it offers users the ability to integrate logos, links, and color to create a unique visual appearance within a simple user-friendly interface that offers comfortable social interactions with all of the up-to-date engaging social features! The world is on the web which is now the main communication place--the scene for socialization, interaction, and collaboration. Stribe is an excellent enhancement to make such an experience more enjoyable with the special features that it offers its users.
Community connections are enabled with Stribe as it allows users from various social networks to participate globally as one global social ring with accessibility from any website that is Stribe-enabled. The engagement opportunities are endless since users can access their chat and personal messages, check out who's online and interact with other visitors who may be online.
The Back Office, Stribe's most dedicated feature, allows the creator to track the social activity of the site by identifying the most significant and active users, measuring marketing efforts and aligning community-to-business targets with informed decisions that are factual, not estimated. Stribe is the perfect two-dimensional portal that is cost effective because it's free to sign up and to maintain, therefore benefitting the creator because in the long run, it can yield financial gain.
Stribe will be perfect to enhance my own personal website. My intention is to use this tool in connection with my AR project which (at present) is to create more effective communication for intercultural exchange students, their parents, and host families during the transitional process while living and attending school abroad. There’s no place like home! But when you’re away from home, there’s no place like Stribe—the ideal place to communicate more effectively.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
BP4_2010011SettingUpGoogleReader
The five educational sites that I've subscribed to are listed below with their active URL's. I've chosen each one because I believe that in some way they will be resourceful toward my professional development as an Educator. 1) Bible in the Schools
This was my first AR topic, but because of its vastness and extensive amount of research, it would be too overwhelming to finalize its implementation before graduation. I was also advised that a topic of this type is basically "a change of policy", not new research and should not be pursued. I would still like to pursue having Bible curriculum in the public schools in my county and will eventually begin petitioning my neighbors, local Pastors, etc. who can direct me in this endeavor sometime in the future after graduation in Oct '10
2) Net Family News
Since the topic of media literacy is still a relatively "hot item", it is in my best interest to stay abreast of current issues related to it. Informative blogs on the subject are available here and the author shows concerns about cyber safety for kids on the net and other internet concerns associated with the family.
3) Edutopia
Edutopia provides great discussion topics and forums that generate healthy debate. Any Educator who wants to stay on top of current events in the field of Education should be a subscriber! It's like a daily newspaper for Educators.
4) Little fun, Little learning
Since Kindergarten is my area of experience (and maybe expertise), I subscribed so that I can benefit from the ideas, creativity, and lesson planning from other K teachers. It appears that there are discussion topics as this is a blog forum, so being able to collaborate with other teachers on my grade level will be advantageous for me.
5) Go2Web2.0.net--Web Applications Index
This site is just fascinating! I had no idea about the number of web tools that exist (and are being created) for specific applications everyday! As a subscriber, I will receive the latest updates on the newest tools available for use. And the nicest thing about it, is that most of the tools are free!
Monday, January 18, 2010
BP7_2010012_Link to comments on Abby's Penzu blog:
Follow this link to my comments on Abby's blog on web 2.0 tool: Penzu
BP6_2010012_Link to comments on Kathy's Blog
Follow this link to my comments on Kathy Kellen's blog featuring web 2.0 tool: Wordle
BP5_2010012_Web2.0Tool2 Shidonni
Imagine a web tool that allows the creative abilities of young, inexperienced artists to come to life; one that transforms works of art that might appear to have potential (although scribbly and maybe lacking connectivity) into unique characterization that later becomes live animation! The award-winning web tool that offers such capability is Shidonni--a virtual world of fun and games, activities, and various learning exercises for children ages 4-10 years old. Shidonni was founded in 2008 by Nachshon Peled and Mazursky, the former CEO of Toys 'R Us Israel and to date has accumulated approximately $1.5 million. (Shidonni, Ltd. July '09) )
Shidonni claims that it mimicks the creativity and imagination of a 5 year old, allowing their creativity to come to life and the user the ability to design new worlds for their animals, feed them, play with them, and share them with friends! Through Shidonni, young learners are exposed to internet-literacy and the promotion of values such as frienship, cyber-citizenship, responsibility, and creative expression.
Shidonni's main features allow users to illustrate their own characters, where in the virtual world they come to life! The new character can then be transformed from an online animated character into a real plush toy! Each character is one-of-a-kind, unique in appearance, size, and color from all the rest because each has its own original creator. Parents make their child's virtual relationship with their created animal a reality when they order the plush toy, allowing it to be showcased by the child anywhere the child goes!
Shidonni appears to be a great tool for any primary educator who wants to enhance the learning environment for the students of her classroom! Experience the fun and check out all the details at: http://www2.shidonni.com/default.htm
(2010, January 18). Shidonni World: Virtual Pets Drawings Come to Life. Retrieved from Shidonni website: http://www2.shidonni.com/default.htm
Sunday, January 17, 2010
BP2_2010011_Educational Uses for Blogs
As a result of the research associated with this class, I have come to realize how popular blogging has become to the field of Education. Only about two years ago in an education class that I was required to take to fulfill certification credits for my Professional certificate, I heard the word "blog" for the first time. Previously, I had not a clue what the word "blog" even meant, neither did I really care... It was totally foreign to me in terms of my awareness because I had absolutely no knowlegde of the world from whence it came as I was too busy "teaching". It was at that time that I realized I was totally estranged from the world that seemed to be taking over the world, and that I had better wake up and smell the coffee. (And I did.)
After I became more familiarized with the online web environment I had minimal acquaintance with, I began to take part in some of the online activities like responding to discussion topics and offering commentary on current events, etc. Yet I didn't know that I was in "the blogosphere!" I was just doing what I caught on to and saw others doing...
I thought that blogging ideas on the Kindergarten level would only be doable with parents since I assumed that my students would not be directly capable. But I was so wrong... After googling Kindergarten blogs, I came up with dozens of them, but found this one to be very creative and persuasive: http://www.k-3teacherresources.com/teachers-are-people-too.html
I've discovered that on the Kindergarten level, the creativity with blogs is endless! Teachers have websites that contain blogs that primarily give parents information about what is happening in the classroom, how the class functions daily, information on upcoming events so that parents have an "eye" into the daily happenings of the class. (K-3 Teacher Resources, Jan '10). Some Kindergarten teachers create blogs for the convenience of parents viewing their child's grades! One specific blog post included details about a trip a Kindergarten class took to a farm. After their return, they wrote responses about it and the teacher created podcasts that showcased the actual children's written and illustrated writing piece; but I was astounded by the links that led to the sound of the children's live recorded voices reading their own response! (The links were their names and you could click on the name of the student response you chose to hear!) Awesome! Listen to Susan reading her response! (This is too precious!):
This idea of blogging will be immediately implemented into my lessons and will serve as an enhancement toward my professional development.
This URL shows the details of the creativity of blogging and would be a great resource for information and creative blogging ideas: http://www.eastwood.nsw.edu.au/kinderclips/
There are numerous uses for educational blogging. Look at what I was missing! Look at what I learned...
Monday, January 11, 2010
BP3_2010011_Web2.0Tool1Blurtt
How about a post card with a creative handwritten touch? One that provides the same creativity as an e-card, but so much more? That's what you get from Blurtt: a uniquely created postcard, handwritten by You! Blurtt caught my eye and seemed rather interesting to me primarily because of its name. It actually gave me the impression that this would be some web 2.0 tool that would allow users the opportunity to somehow ventilate their frustrations (personal, educational, social or something to that affect) in an online environment--thus the name: Blurtt. However, that wasnt the case! I found that Blurtt is a pretty neat tool though, because it allows users to design their own personal postcards written in their own handwriting! The only prerequisite is that users and recipients must be subscribers to Facebook or Twitter. They don't even have to know the recipients home address! Blurtt does the printing and the mailing and the postcard is delivered right to the recipients door! I would use this tool in my classroom to get students excited about writing as it provides the educational benefits of written communication, improving conventions, and grammar skills. This would make for a fine extra-curricular activity on the upper grade levels and allow students to concentrate on their own handwriting, instead of the Mac's etc., (that we're all so accustomed to today)! I only wish a tool of this kind was available for students on the primary level (and I'm sure there's something similar out there for them) as this would make great workshop lessons for creative writing on their level. But considering that Facebook and Twitter accounts have age requirements, this cancels the primaries out. Other benefits that Blurtt offers: ability to upload logos and images to postcards, payment to designers whose postcards are sold, 2-3 mailing days for postcards in the United States. No need to fight long lines for postage and searching traditional themes used by many others year after year, when you can create your own AND possibly get paid for the work you produce!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
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