Adventures in Social Bookmarking

This week's adventure has been easier than some of the others.  I like the idea of being able to access bookmarks on the many computers that I use each week.  I have previously sent site addresses from myself via email, which takes a lot more effort than diigo does.  In addition, these sites are saved for me with additional information (my notes and tags), which I love.  I would love to introduce diigo to other ALE teachers in my district and begin a group with them!  Excited about this tool! 

Aggregated Website Journey

Although I had a difficult time getting any of the apps to work as feeds, it seems that Netvibes may have more capabilities than Protopage.  However, without searching for videos or learning from someone who is a user of Netvibes, it is easy to reach a level of frustration that leaves you wanting to try the next option.  Protopage was a completely different experience.  It was easy to use without seeking additional help.  I was able to easily add everything that I wanted to and look forward to using it in my classroom.  I have already envisioned having a tab for each of my students (I only have 11) with various links to websites and media they use.  I loved how it brought all of the information from this course into one, easily accessible format.  Before putting everything into Protopage, each of the tools I wanted to explore, links for this class, twitter, the tools I had reviewed, and my blog were all open in various tabs.  This is a much more efficient and usable way to contain all of that information.  I really, really like this tool!

Continued Twitter Adventure, YouTube Adventure, and Group Project

Continued Twitter Adventure

As this Twitter Adventure continued, I consulted the person (in my house) most likely to use Twitter regularly, my 13 year old son.  I talked to him about my struggles with the tool - that it seemed to be very output only.  For example, someone from our class mentioned the use of a tool to communicate with students and I asked how other districts were responding to the use of these tools (mine has not been very positive about it).  I got no response.  Tools that I have used (before now) have more back and forth, so I struggle with this.  My son said he follows people/groups who have something to say that might interest him.  For example, the Dallas Mavericks and a person who posts YouTube videos he tends to enjoy.  I think it is possible I haven't appreciated Twitter because I was basing it on other tools.  I will continue to explore Twitter and use it in this way.  So far, however, I have not appreciated the tweets of the "friends of friends" type situation.  For example, I followed WFAA (local news) and have gotten several tweets from other people who WFAA follows.  I am not a fan of this, and would love to know if you can turn it off.

YouTube Adventure

I have used YouTube in my classroom for various videos and at home (I removed and installed my alternator with a YouTube video).  However, I had not played with the channels or playlists section.  Side note: I am a huge fan of Pinterest.  I love the fact that you can search for ideas for any facet of your life and find great ideas.  YouTube is like Pinterest squared!  I can spend hours on Pinterest, but I could spend days on YouTube.  I was a little frustrated by my inability to find videos about my specific type of classroom, but it is such a specific type of setting.  I will continue to look for these videos, but then again, maybe I will just make my own.  :)

Group Project

I will say, honestly, that I have never enjoyed group projects.  I tended to be the one to do most of the work and, even worse, be the 'nag' of the group in an effort to make progress.  However, this was so much worse.  I never had a problem contacting my group members before - they had to come to class. This was not the case.  I know (at least last week) the 2 MIA members were at least still enrolled, but that is basically all I know.  The third member doesn't respond quickly to emails and is more of a procrastinator than I am.  I am still not certain that he has added his reviews to mine.  So, I am sure there is a lesson in this, but group work is not my cup of tea.

Review of ShowMe

I recently started using a tool with my students and have truly enjoyed the outcomes.  When I was tasked to review some technology tools, I knew this is one I wanted to explore further and review.  The tool is called ShowMe and has allowed my students who struggle to understand the concepts in comprehension questions to show me (no pun was intended) they understood and appreciated the book. My review, using the tool, is here and, even better, one of my student's retelling of the book No, David is included here as well. I hope you can find a way to use this great tool in your classroom.


My Review



My Student's Retelling

My Twitter Adventure

Oh, what an adventure it has been.  I have felt lost, found, confused, abandoned, and ignorant.  I have managed to utterly disgust my 13 year old son several times.  He almost never looks at me that way.  I already knew that I had to stop referring to "The Twitter", but apparently telling him I was unable to find the "Twitter tweets" of my class was even worse.  I am not a person who is uncomfortable with technology.  I can write code in a variety of languages.  However, some of these tools have come into our world and seeing no use for them, I have let them pass me by.  Twitter is one.  So, I am still not sure that I have mastered Twitter, but I do no better than to say "hash tag" out loud.

I see how twitter could be useful to me as a learner and as an educator.  Allowing people to discuss the current training or class without having to verbally express themselves, is clearly useful.  In my old mind, it is a little like the old "passing notes" in class or the current texting during class.  Perhaps, not as harsh toward the instructor, but we could all use more practice in questioning without offending or critiquing without hurting another person.  To me, Twitter could allow that.  I am not sure that every teacher/instructor would like to know how their students feel about their instruction, but I think most of us would love to know when our students do not understand.  One of the big trends on Teachers Pay Teachers right now is exit tickets.  Basically a quick question for students to answer on the way out, often accompanied by an opinion on their confidence level with the topic.  Could Twitter not provide at least part of this?  Even a simple questions and comments request by the teacher at the end of class might allow those who need additional guidance to ask for it - before the test.

As a teacher of students who do not read and who do not have cell phones, I do not see this as a tool I could use in my current setting. However, in the future, I would like to be in a position to help other special education teachers and I feel Twitter could be a real value to me.

Thank you for making me take the plunge into "The Twitter".