Monday, June 20, 2011
Thing 17: Claymation
So I know this isn't on the list of 16 Things but I am going to continue posting things that I am learning in class on this blog. This week we had to create a claymation or stop-motion video. I decided to go with something that I would be teaching at the beginning of the year. In science we always start the year with tools, safety rules and the scientific method. I found this short song from Shake-n-Learn Science about the scientific process. I was able to make my figures to go with the video and it was really easy. I think the most difficult part of the whole process was figuring out how many pictures to take.
I had so much fun with this I am planning on doing it with my kids during the first few weeks of school.
Friday, June 17, 2011
16 Things Final Evaluation
1. What were you favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I think one of my favorite things was creating and using this blog. I really enjoyed going through each "Thing" and talking about what I learned. I have also really enjoyed visiting my classmates blogs to see what they were learning or finding for each topic. Another thing I have really enjoyed using is the RSS feed. I don't use bloglines because I didn't have much luck with them, but I am using Google Reader. I have downloaded an app for my phone and my computer so I can easily keep up with whats going on in education in the US & Texas, technology, some others. Hopefully I can add to this list so that I can stay up to date with current events.
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
I am really interested in checking out the 23 Things website and completing some of the activities that we didn't complete in this class. I think there are tons of tools out there to discover and I am sure there will be plenty more made over the coming years.
3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I was surprised at how easy it was for me to talk about what I was learning and thinking. I don't usually like to write, but this blog has really been an awesome experience. A few times as I was looking over my blog and posts I would ask myself "Am I being to long-winded" - but I really had a lot to say because I enjoyed this so much. I hope to continue using this blog to complete the other 17 things from the list....to bad I can't change my blog address :(
4. What could I do differently to improve upon this programs format or concept?
I would have liked to have the Things spread out over the course of the class and maybe incorporate more of the "things" from the original list. You also might want to check some of the links on your blog because a few of them are broken.
I think one of my favorite things was creating and using this blog. I really enjoyed going through each "Thing" and talking about what I learned. I have also really enjoyed visiting my classmates blogs to see what they were learning or finding for each topic. Another thing I have really enjoyed using is the RSS feed. I don't use bloglines because I didn't have much luck with them, but I am using Google Reader. I have downloaded an app for my phone and my computer so I can easily keep up with whats going on in education in the US & Texas, technology, some others. Hopefully I can add to this list so that I can stay up to date with current events.
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
I am really interested in checking out the 23 Things website and completing some of the activities that we didn't complete in this class. I think there are tons of tools out there to discover and I am sure there will be plenty more made over the coming years.
3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I was surprised at how easy it was for me to talk about what I was learning and thinking. I don't usually like to write, but this blog has really been an awesome experience. A few times as I was looking over my blog and posts I would ask myself "Am I being to long-winded" - but I really had a lot to say because I enjoyed this so much. I hope to continue using this blog to complete the other 17 things from the list....to bad I can't change my blog address :(
4. What could I do differently to improve upon this programs format or concept?
I would have liked to have the Things spread out over the course of the class and maybe incorporate more of the "things" from the original list. You also might want to check some of the links on your blog because a few of them are broken.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Thing 16: Facebook
Well I have been using Facebook since 2003...so I feel like a veteran, but it seems like every time I log on something changes. I love Facebook! I love being able to see what my friends are up to and what is going on in their lives. I also like being able to connect with people I haven't seen in a long time. I am actually friend with a group of girls that I met at Young Life camp when I was a junior in high school. Something that irritates me though is how open some people are about the personal business. Its like verbal vomit and I don't want or need to know that much about them (and these are adults).
As for using Facebook with student or parents - I don't necessarily want my current parents/students to be able to see all of my personal business or pictures. Not that I post anything inappropriate on my page but I would hate for something to be misconstrued into something it isn't. I have friended some of my former student parents that I formed a close relationship with. I like to talk to them and keep up with some of my former students. I wish I could create a "teacher" account where I could be friends with some of my former students. I would love to be able to keep in touch with them and see what they are up to. But since some people have inappropriate relationships with students this isn't really publicly acceptable.
As for using Facebook with student or parents - I don't necessarily want my current parents/students to be able to see all of my personal business or pictures. Not that I post anything inappropriate on my page but I would hate for something to be misconstrued into something it isn't. I have friended some of my former student parents that I formed a close relationship with. I like to talk to them and keep up with some of my former students. I wish I could create a "teacher" account where I could be friends with some of my former students. I would love to be able to keep in touch with them and see what they are up to. But since some people have inappropriate relationships with students this isn't really publicly acceptable.
Thing 15.5: Twitter
I have actually used Twitter before, but mainly for personal use to follow my friends and for celebrity gossip (don't judge me). But this summer I was thinking this would be a great way to keep my parents updated about what's going on in my room. I could tweet my homework, reminders, or ask for donations for science experiments.
http://twitter.com/MsSavvyScience
The following are some people that I am following on Twitter
The following are some people that I am following on Twitter
- educationweek - Education Week, American education's newspaper and website of record. http://www.edweek.org
- educationnation - Examining and redefining education in America this September. http://www.educationnation.com
- USNewsEducation - U.S. News and World Report: Education news and rankings http://www.usnews.com/education
- EDPressSec - Official twitter account for Department of Education Press Secretary Justin Hamilton http://www.ed.gov
- usedgov - News and information from the U.S Department of Education. http://www.ed.gov
- TheScienceGuy - Bill Nye, Science Educator seeks to change the world. http://billnye.com
- weirdscience - Science, space, energy and robot sharks with lasers. Hosted by the Wired Science team: @betsymason, @9brandon, @davemosher & @astrolisa. http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/
- Discovery - News and much more from Discovery Channel U.S. Press info at press.discovery.com http://discovery.com/#mkcpgn=twdsc1
- ScienceChannel - Thought-provoking updates, insider news and more from Science Channel. http://science.discovery.com/#mkcpgn=twsci1
Thing 15: Things like Skype
I use Skype to chat with my mom and some friends at home. I actually just used the video feature the other day to show my mom the room I just painted and some decorating that I did over the weekend. Since she lives in Colorado we don't get to see each other very often. So this was the best way for me to show her what was going on at my house. I also use it to chat with my friend who lives in Indiana and see his beautiful 1 year old daughter.
Recently I found out that we are allowed to use Skype at work, which surprises me. Next year since half of my team will be inside and half will be outside I think it might be a great way for us to communicate with each other since we won't be able to poke our heads out in the hall anymore to chat. We wouldn't necessarily use the video feature, instead we could use the chat feature.
One thing that I also use that is like Skype is FaceTime on my iPhone and I have used it on my computer. The only thing that is limiting about FaceTime is that you can only talk to people with Mac products. But the other day two people in my graduate class were talking about a program called Tango. The difference between Tango and FaceTime is that Tango allows you to call people with different devices.
One way that I think Skype could be used in the classroom is to do video conferences with it. If you have a friend at another school in the district or even a pen pal in another state Skype could be an easy way for two classrooms to communicate with each other.
One thing that I also use that is like Skype is FaceTime on my iPhone and I have used it on my computer. The only thing that is limiting about FaceTime is that you can only talk to people with Mac products. But the other day two people in my graduate class were talking about a program called Tango. The difference between Tango and FaceTime is that Tango allows you to call people with different devices.
Thing 14: Podcasting
My first experience with podcasting was actually this year. I started going to a new church and they record all of their sermons (which I'm sure it not uncommon) and post them on iTunes and on their website as podcasts. So when I have to be out of town or am unable to make it to church I usually listen to the sermon to make sure I am caught up before the next Sunday.
I think podcasts would be a great way to communicate information with parents from events like open house or TAKS night. Since they can't always make it my partners and I could record our presentations and post them on our school website (or the website I'm building for my classroom). Then parents can listen and email us if they have any questions.
I would say that I could record my lessons but I don't think that my 5th graders would listen to it if they were absent. That might be a better idea for high school teachers.
As I was looking for information on podcasts I came across The Education Podcast Network. It is an effort to bring together into one place, the wide range of podcast programming that may be helpful to teachers looking for content to teach with and about, and to explore issues of teaching and learning in the 21st century.
I decide to subscribe to a podcast from NSTA called Lab Out Loud which is a biweekly podcast on science teaching, science news, and anything else with “science” in it.
I think podcasts would be a great way to communicate information with parents from events like open house or TAKS night. Since they can't always make it my partners and I could record our presentations and post them on our school website (or the website I'm building for my classroom). Then parents can listen and email us if they have any questions.
I would say that I could record my lessons but I don't think that my 5th graders would listen to it if they were absent. That might be a better idea for high school teachers.
As I was looking for information on podcasts I came across The Education Podcast Network. It is an effort to bring together into one place, the wide range of podcast programming that may be helpful to teachers looking for content to teach with and about, and to explore issues of teaching and learning in the 21st century.
I decide to subscribe to a podcast from NSTA called Lab Out Loud which is a biweekly podcast on science teaching, science news, and anything else with “science” in it.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Thing 13: Using YouTube
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