Is it the end.. or only the beginning?

I have enjoyed this journey through 23 things so much! It is amazing to look back now and remember all the things I have learned from 23 things this semester. My favorite new resources were diigo, LiveBinder, the mental map sites, Twitter, Flickr, and animoto. I also love that 23 things taught me that some of the tools I had already been using could be used in the classroom such as Facebook, Youtube, and Skype. Before this class, I may not have used much technology in my classroom, purely because I didn't know much. Now, I will definitely use technology as much as I can. I will fit it into my classroom any time it is possible. Technology is no longer the scary word it used to be.. I've learned it can be fun and even convenient!

Thing #23

http://plcmcl2-about.blogspot.com/

This is another variation of 23 Things which shows me that this is a program that was not originally created for this class by the APSU Education Department, but instead is a program that has been modified and used for several different people and places.

I enjoyed learning about Creative Commons. It is important for teachers to know the copyright laws and follow them. Not only is it the right thing to do, it also sets a good example for our students. I will definitely use Creative Commons because it will give me a group of images, videos, and sources that I know are okay to use in my classroom.

Thing #22

I really enjoyed using LiveBinders, but I will have to play with it a little more before I fully grasp it. I like being able store several websites together in categories. That could be very useful in the classroom. I chose to create 3 binders. One is titled "Education at APSU" and it is for sites that I have learned about that will be useful for lesson plans and ideas for my classroom. Another is titled "23 things" and I used it to store some of the interesting sites I learned about while doing my 23 things so that I can use them in the future. My final binder is titled "School stuff" and it is a few different sites I use regularly for school such as the google website my reading professor created for our class. Here is my 23 things binder:

http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=376984


I would use this in the classroom several ways. For example, I could have personal binders to help me keep up with lesson plans, schedules, and sites that can improve a lesson. I could then have public binders for the students to use as resources for websites and projects.

Thing #21

I loved using animoto! This was really fun! I wish I had known about this before! I think I might even buy the full version just so I can make longer videos! I made a slideshow of pictures of my daughter. She is three and a half. Honestly, making the video was a little sad.. I had forgotten how small she used to be! I wish I could have made a longer video because this one is rushed. It was really easy to make it, though. I just used the music and layouts they already had. I'm proud of my video.. here it is!


Lilyan Grace

Thing #19

 I really enjoyed using Teacher Pop. It reminds me of Facebook, except that it is for teachers only. This makes it a great resource to learn about upcoming events, to relate to others who are going through the same process I am, and to get ideas. Here is a link to my Teacher Pop, where I have uploaded some photos:

http://teacherpop.ning.com/profile/ElizabethThomas

This was really fun!! The only other social networking sites I use are Facebook and Twitter. I will definitely continue to use Teacher Pop. I can use it for the things I mentioned above and also to keep in touch with those who I have or have had classes with! I tried to upload my badge, but the link would not work.

Thing #20

I enjoy Youtube. I use it quite frequently to find funny videos, or music for my three year old.
I even use it for information sometimes. It is a great resource. I could see myself using Youtube for instructional videos or for fun songs for the students. I could also post videos for the students for extra help. I found this video that has second grade sight words. This looked like something great to use in a classroom. If I had children who were having trouble with their sight words, they could go to the computer individually with headphones and listen and repeat the words. I could see where Youtube might get someone in trouble if they aren't careful. Some things on Youtube are copyrighted and shouldn't have been posted. If a teacher used one of these, she could get into trouble with the person who owns the video.

Thing #18

I currently have both facebook and twitter. I have actually had facebook since 2005. When I joined, you had to be a college student to be eligible for a page! When I tell people that, they usually have no idea it used to be like that. I sometimes can't believe how different it has become! I just recently signed up for twitter. I didn't have one until a few months ago. I prefer facebook, that's where I connect with friends and family. My twitter is more to keep up with celebrity gossip and my favorite shows. Here is a link to my facebook:

http://www.facebook.com/groups/414831745198002/420510154630161/?notif_t=group_activity#!/lilysmommy009

I think social networking sites could be great resources for classrooms. In the past, I have had professors who set up facebooks or myspaces for our class. This way, if we needed help with assignments or anything we could post questions and help each other. I think it is important for educators to know about social networking sites and how they work because they could be used as great resources but only if they are used by people who know what they are doing. Personal information should be kept private. Privacy settings must be kept a certain way so that no personal information is public.

Thing #17

I really enjoyed using Delicious.com! I never knew things like this existed! I can see myself using this right now for research papers. I can tag websites I think will be useful instead of having to print everything. I can access the sites anywhere on any computer. I can also see this being great for a classroom. My students can use Delicious or sites like it to tag sites that have been helpful for them and other students can see the websites and use them as well. I could also access the sites the children are looking at and leave comments to give them insight on the information they are looking at. I am excited to use these sites!!

Thing #16

I used the iGoogle starter page. It appealed to me because I already use Google for so many other things and I can link them all to this page. I do plan to make this my home page because it will help me stay more focused by arranging it so that all the important stuff is organized in one spot. Here is my page:

http://www.google.com/ig

I used 30 boxes for my calendar. I really liked being able to schedule out my month. I plan to continue to use this! My life is very busy with a baby coming, keeping up with my little girl's school events, and we are remodeling a house which we plan to move to in a couple of weeks. I could use a little organization!
Here is my calendar:

http://30boxes.com/widget/8407319/ElizabethThomas/ccb777b88dd0fc72103d8d590c0a368b/0/

I used tada lists for my to do list. It was awesome! I really love making to do lists for everything. I have to do lists everywhere at my house! I can use this site and I won't have to use so much paper! This is an amazing tool. Here is a link to my to do list:
https://bamamama86.tadalist.com/lists/2177375/public

I would recommend any of these tools to my friends. I really think they could be extremely helpful. I also think they would be great for the classroom. I could post to do lists for projects for my kids. That way they have a step by step list of things to do. I could post calendars for them to keep up with due dates, special events, and quizzes. Parents could have access to the same calendars and to do lists so that they can keep up with what their children should be doing. These are great tools!!

Thing #15

Working with wikis is really fun! I can see how they could be used in the classroom for homework assignments, discussions, quick notes, or discussions. They are really good to use because they are full of quick little notes. Wikis are good for information and for discussions. I liked looking at the Book lovers Wiki. I could see how something like that could be used for a reading class. The children could post their book talks on a wiki and other students could go into the wiki and edit parts or add parts they liked about the books. This would be great because it wouldn't take up class time and it would be great information for the students.