Thing 10: RSS Reader!

I really like how RSS readers allow you to recieve information from your favorite blogs and sites all in one place, that way you don't have to go searching through every single one of them for information. This could be an extremly powerful tool for a teacher because they have to ability to see everything that is new all in one page, and that is a huge time saver. RSS readers like Google Reader allow teachers to create a feed of information that is composed of just educational information. I could also use this in my personal life as a site to link all of my favorite blogs together, that way I could see it all at once and not have to visit every page individually.

Thing 9: Image Generators!

Message in a bottle generator

Etch a sketch generator

Playground sign generator













I chose these generators because they were all super easy to use and pretty fun too! When I created these all I had to do was put in the text that I wanted displayed and then hit change image. It was so easy! And there were TONS of different images to choose from. They all could be used in the classroom as little reminders for the students like wash your hands before lunch, or make sure to clean up your area after craft time. Teachers could even use these to label their centers in their classrooms.

Thing 8: Mashup!

            Flicker mashups are great! I love how easy it was to creat any words you want. They could be used so many ways in the classroom! Future teachers could have their students use Spell with Flickr for their spelling words each week. Students could also have to write a story using this site. It teaches students how to use a web 2.0 tool and is something fun for them to do.

I like the idea of being able to share photos online. It's a great way to keep connected with family and friends. As a future teacher, I also think it would be a great way to share photos of students with their parents who might not be able to go to the Christmas play or on the field trip.

Thing 7: Flickr!

Flickr was a little more complicated than I anticipated! It took me a while to find this image and it did not want to upload! But with all that being said, I prevailed, and Flickr isn't too bad after all. I really enjoy that fact that I can see multiple photos related to the same subject area at once. It gives the viewer a broad range of choices. This can enable someone to pick the photo that best fits what they are looking for. Also, Flickr is a great way to keep all your photos in one place. It also allows other people to veiw, comment on or add your photo to their favorites.

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/chevywally/4627554942/

Thing 6: Photobucket!

I chose Photobucket as my web 2.0 tool. I really like how easy the site is to use. It's free, all you have to do is sign up. You can search the site for pictures. You just type in the subject of the picture that you're looking for and it will bring up pages of images related to that subject. What i found very useful was that when you find the picture you want to use you can hover your mouse over it and several different options will come up under the photo such as who posted the photo, it's image code and html code for you to copy directly. This way you don't have to continually save photos onto your computer. Teachers could use this in their classrooms as a way to have students find pictures to make a collage project or even have them look up a photo that related to their spelling words that way it's a visual to go along with the word. Photobucket is a great site, and I might just start using it myself!

http://photobucket.com/

Thing 5: Web 2.0!

Web 2.0 means the future of education to me. These tools are being created by the masses and there are thousands out there to access. So why not take advantage of a free resource? Web 2.0 tools can help you to engage your students in every day lessons. Things students might not be interested in normally may become fascinating to them through using a web 2.0 tool.

School 2.0 seems to be a wonderful thing to me. By being able to have your students not only interact in the classroom but also at home and throughout the community is a very powerful thing. Future teachers will be able to teach their students so much more than just the normal every day lessons. School 2.0 will provide a way for every student to learn in the future classroom. Students who may have struggled before will be given the opportunity to succeed with this powerful tool. Although school 2.0 might not be in every school or classroom today, I believe that over time it will eventually reach every school in some way or another.

Thing 4: Commenting!

Commenting helps create a sense of community because everyone is interacting with each other. By commenting on someone else's blog, you can let them know what you think about their post. You can also comment on someone's blog to give them advice on a problem they may be having such as  they're having a problem with a student in the classroom, you might be able to tell them how you delt with the same situation. Like the articles said, comenting lets someone know that their blog is being read and someone is interested in what they have to say. I also learned that commenting is a way to sort of put your blog out there as well. When you comment on someone else's blog, if you mention your own, someone is likely to go look at it.

I chose to comment on 23 Clark Things...Words to Live by by Kelci Clark. I commented on her blog specifically because she said she had an easy time with creating her blog. When I commented I told her that I was glad she had an easy time creating hers because mine was difficult and confusing. I also told her that I like the way that she had titled her blog because it was very creative and that when I named mine, I couldn't come up with anything creative.

The next blog I chose to comment on was Bellofatto's Blog by Sammantha Bellofatto. I commented on her blog because I liked the ways that she had said she could use her blog. She had said that she could use her blog for her students parents and students as well. When I commented, I told her I liked the idea of both parents and students being able to use the blog because it would give the parents information and it would also expose the students to blogs and how they work. She also had mentioned that she didn't know where technology would fit in in the future classroom, I told her I agreed with her, but I'm sure that future classrooms will be even more filled with technology.

I then chose to comment on Blair Evans' Blair's 23 Things.  commented on her blog about web 2.0 tools. I chose to comment on this post specifically because I haven't looked into too many web 2.0 tools yet, and she made a few statements that caught my attention. When I commented I told her that I hadn't looked at too many web 2.0 tools, but that I agreed with her about future classrooms truly embracing these tools. I also told her that I believe the reason for this is because students are always more interested in what they know, and the internet and technology  are definitly part of children's interests.

Shanna's 23 things by Doshanna Richards was the next blog I chose to comment on. I commented on her post about Flickr and how you can use it in the classroom. I chose her blog because I really liked the way she used all the different applications of the site. In my comment I told her how I liked the different activities she had come up with and that by doing all the different things she's using the site to its full potential.

Technology and Teaching with Mrs. Crouch by Kayla Crouch was the last blog I commented on. I chose her post about Google simply because I had no idea that Google can do all the things she talked about! It was crazy how much I learned just by reading her post. When commenting, I told her that I honestly had no idea that Google could do all those things, but at the same time I now know that it's a great source for planning and other things, other than just looking something up!