Is this the end, or only the beginning???

NO! NO! I do not want it to be over!! It been about 2 weeks since I wrote anything on my blog because I knew this day was coming. Don't get it twisted! I'm glad this class is almost over but, I really enjoyed the 23 things assignment. I was so excited to start a new thing, I was like a kid in a candy store. WOW the things I learned!

I have gone picture crazy, literally. Some of my favorite things to do was Animoto, flickr,picasa web album and,smilebox I already had a facebook account but this is also one of my favorites. I facebook everyday.I have a igoogle page I find this very useful in my day to day activities.

Many of the programs that I learned about I will continue to use because they were very useful. My igoogle page has all my needs right at my finger tips. I have all my RSS feeds on my igoogle page. All my google alerts, and when I'm searching I just bookmark anything I want to keep. I store all old work in my live binder because I do not use that often just for storage to look at something I did not want to get rid of.

I really did not expect to learn as much as I did. I thought it was just useless work to fill the day but, it was an excellent program. The only thing I would change is some of the things are redundant and could be better used if they were all applied to the same source so a student would not feel like wow I just done that!

Overall for me personally I wish it could be a little longer, maybe not for the class but maybe if a student who choose to continue to work the program, Give them ideas on how to keep advancing while learning new technology. I plan to keep searching and using new technology as it come along I have google alerts on my igoogle page to inform me about the latest and greatest technology.

Again, this was an excellent program. I recommend it to anyone. Formular to technology or unformular its great for all.

Thing 23

Creative Commons help you share your knowledge and creativity with the world. When it comes to Creative Commons copyright and licenses they have stepped outside the box from the traditional "rights reserved".

Our 23 things assignment is called 2.0 23 things for teachers is a staff developed program for the Mesquite Independent School District. Content and style have been borrowed and duplicated with permission under creative common licenses.

As  an educator I find this tool extremely useful. When it come to copyright our students are bombarded with extremes on what they can can cannot do. One major problem our student face is plagiarizing their work in school. With creative commons I see a vast number of students improving their skill while working with a legitimate proven source to help over come this problem.

I will use and support creative commons daily as I teach and educate my students in the classroom. There are many useful creative challenges that I can use to inspire my student with creative commons. Allowing my students to discover new ideas using blogging technology. Understanding the importance of commenting on someones blog. The possibilities are endless. I know becoming and English middle school teacher is a challenge within it's self but I'm so excited, I just can not wait to get started.

Thing 22

I created a live binder account. One of my binders is called educational resources. I used some information that I received from my Google alerts and made a binder for this class.

I also have a binder with children games and other resources for middle school students. The last binder that I made is just called Janie's amazing sites. These are just the site that I am personally interested in.

Having access to live binder in a classroom environment would be great for students to have and learn from. I could share with my students on how to create a binder but I think there are a lot of more interesting technology for now. Live binder is a great resource for college students or someone continuing education. Right now I do not think live binder is a particularly good resource for middle school or grammar school students. This is just my personal opinion, I'm sure if a grammar or middle school teacher found a good way to Incorporated this technology this would be a great resource.

Here is my Educational Resource Live Binder enjoy

http://livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=214622

Thing 21

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

HAY CHECK IT OUT!!!!!!!!!

I did it! I set up an account with Aminmoto, made a 30 second video with my grandchildren.

I really enjoyed doing this exercise. Everything I learn I teach my sons everybody want video cameras for Christmas. We have created a video of our family, up loaded it on a CD and instead of Christmas cards we will send out this video. I can not wait for Thanksgiving we plan to add those pictures as well. I think this was the best exercise of all the 23things.

OH YEA I FIGURED OUT HOW TO EMBED THE CODE :)

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

I kind ah went crazy and made two this is fun I need some new up to date photos we took these pictures about 3 summers ago when I was in Chicago

Thing 20

Here is my video that I found from You tube. It is nothing professional I just thought it was kind of cute.

While exploring I realized that some of my family member that I will not name had already introduced me to You Tube. At the time I did not know what I was watching, they would just say hay Janie come look at this. Some of the things they had me to look at were kind of crazy. GIRL FIGHTS were some of the first videos that I saw but I did not know they were YOU TUBE this big fantastic place where people uploaded all kinds of interesting and crazy stuff.

I have an account on You Tube now, I had to get it if I wanted to watch some of the videos. I don't know if I will be uploading anything other than pictures but, my boys still want video cameras.

I embeded the code check out one of my favorite cartoon characters. CANDANCE

Thing 19

I am a member of APSU Ning network, Teacher pop. This was a very interesting site. I will try and continue to use it after this class but I have joined so many different sites I wonder how will I keep up. HOW ON EARTH DO SOME PEOPLE KEEP UP?? Teacher Pop is a good site for educational material but I think it's just for socializing with teachers and classmates.

I joined a site called Gather, and in this site there was another group called Kids In The Kitchen! Yea! something I enjoy. My husband and I are both chef's and our oldest son is an excellent cook. My 11yr old son is on his way. This summer we sent him to camp with the YMCA and the theme was Kids in the kitchen. He really enjoyed it. So when I saw this group about kids in the kitchen I was very curious. My son reads the post with me and we work together on finding good easy recipes that he can try. Wow I will continue with this group for sure.

I have to work on taking some photos of myself, that's something I do not have a lot of.I do have a lot of family photo's because I'm the one taking all the pictures. I put a photo on my Teacher Pop about 5 years old but I think I'm recognizable. I committed on Dr. Walls post about unwritten rules, and I also wrote on the community post. I wanted to send everyone in my class a gift, but when I saw it was not for free. WELL YOU KNOW! I placed a chat widget on my blog and facebook popped up. I guess that mean you can chat with me where ever I'm at. COOL!!


Now finding and making a video, this is my biggest challenge yet.

Thing 18

I currently have a facebook account, I use it to keep in touch with friends and family. I also signed up forhttps://www.facebook.com/groups/137494276493/ I

 will use it to learn what is going on in the Claxton building. I also have a twitter account, but I do not really use it.

Facebook has become an essential part of student life for most college students. It serves as a way students can communicate with teachers, classmates and different type of clubs. 

However social networking sites may be a way to reach students I think that there should be a sense of maturity while using this as a learning tool for students. I like the litle skit that Fieneas and Furb use on the Disney Channel about internet safety. Yea I watch cartoons:).

I learned that everyone on facebook does not use twitter and everyone on twitter does not have a facebook account. Thank goodness, I thought I was the only one that did not use twitter.

I would have to say that I like facebook better. My reason for this is prior to actually learning about posting and social networking I like the games. I played farmville everyday until I made a city. Yea you can check me out and become my neighbor on cityville, I'm totally addicted. I'm still trying to figure out what exactly to say on twitter other than hay come and be my neighbor or friend on my facebook account I just love it. I have conversations all the time with people I do not know. 

This is were maturity comes in. Our children are very vulnerable we need to watch and monitor there moves.

This social networking site could be very useful in a classroom but like I said previously SAFETY before TECHNOLOGY is a TO DO!!!!!!

If you want to look me up my name is Janie Walker I friend everybody.