Module 3: Assignments 1 and 2 "Photopeach"

I have fallen in love with Photopeach!  It was indeed extremely easy to make a slideshow and share.  I am currently waiting to see if my slideshow was successfully sent.  I received one email from Photopeach that was all in html code, so I'm anxious to see if I can view my slideshow in a future email.

My husband has often made slideshows of our pictures, but the last year he completed was 2007!  This would be a practical way to share special occasions, holidays, and other events that you may not want to post to Facebook or Twitter.

Educationally, I would like to use Photopeach to share pictures of field trips, classroom activities, etc.  Another new technology friend!

Little Doesn't Last! on PhotoPeach

Voice Thread

Liz Motley and I created the following voice thread today!  It is about measuring tools that first graders need to know.

Module 2 Assignment 7 "Pinterest"

Time!  That's all I need to really get into Pinterest!  I am enjoying "pinning" things, especially educational ideas.  Now that's the end of the year is here, I am so busy that any new ideas just get put aside.  With Pinterest, I envision myself pinning things of interest now, and making it "happen" this summer.

I also like being able to take a home project (my little girl's room, for instance) and save ideas to Pinterest.  This is much easier than bookmarking or retyping web addresses.

To see all the ideas I have thus far for my daughter's bedroom, click HERE.

As I find more TIME to explore and use Pinterest, I think I will continue to use it often.

Module 2 Assignment 6 "iPad"

Well, I am getting better at finding educational apps!  I love reading the reviews to see if it's worth my time to download a specific app or not.  I downloaded 3 different apps this evening:  Mad Libs, StoryKit, and Khan Academy.

I found all three to be useful in different ways.  We in Henry County are fortunate that many, many apps have already been downloaded onto our iPads so we don't have to wait for the downloads.  All we truly have to do is open different apps to see if they suit our needs.

As I continue to become more comfortable with the iPad, I plan to use more specific apps to supplement my instruction.

Module 2 Assignment 5: "Wordle/Tagxedo"

Using Tagxedo proved to be easier than Wordle.  I liked that Tagxedo repeated words to make the image fuller and more interesting.  It was also convenient that I could save a Tagxedo file as a JPEG and copy it where I would like.  Below is one image I made this evening.  Using the names of the family's grandchildren, I created what I think would make a neat gift for my dad, their grandfather.

Of course, I would like to discover ways to use Tagxedo with my students.  Ideas I have include using it with spelling words, science/social studies vocabulary, and math terms.  I think some students could handle typing in their own spelling words to create their own "Wordle."

This was definitely one of the most fun activities simply because I felt like I was "playing a game."  I can't wait to use this in the future!

Module 2 Assignment 4 "Twitter"

I'm still a little in the dark about "Twitter."  Because I'm a fairly private person, "tweeting" about mundane things in my life seems pretty useless.  I enjoyed, however, the videos about how to use "Twitter" in the classroom.  If I were a teacher of middle or high school students, I could definitely see the benefits of using Twitter as a message board.  Students that normally would not speak out in class felt more confident to "tweet" their thoughts and answers.  Unfortunately, I wouldn't be able to use Twitter in such a way with first graders.

I do believe that Twitter could be a way for parents, other teachers, and community members to follow the happenings in my classroom.  Could Twitter be used as a mini-blog?  My only reservation continues to be the lack of parents with the technology to follow me and the classroom on Twitter.  I also would want to be sure I had permission to post pictures of the children.  (no names, of course!)  Something to think about as I prepare for next year!

Module 2 Assignment 3 "Blogging Just for Fun"

Taking this "Web 2.0" class has required me to catch up with the latest technology and trends.  Blogging is something I haven't done much except for a few book studies required by our principal.  I am actually enjoying it!  It reminds me of journaling, but I love the "blog" template.

Our instructor told us to blog just for fun; well, below are the reasons I do everything I do!  While I've enjoyed the homework I'm doing, I still miss any time away from my family!  I'm always a wife and mom first!