Thing #17

Delicious

While watching the tutorial on Delicious, he explained the advantages for teachers who use the site very well.  Teachers within the same discipline can use each other's webpages for their own use and share their findings as well.  Organization becomes easy with the use of tags, which makes finding specific bookmarks simple.  Delicious appears to be an extraordinary website for people with loads of bookmarked webpages who need easy access.

Unfortunately, I am not one of those.  I am sure as a teacher, I may want to keep track of several sources; however, Delicious will not be the method I use for doing so.  The webpage is not attractive to me, and it does not work as smoothly as I would like.  If I need to find good sites, Google and other methods can make the process much easier.  This tool is just too much for a simple thing.  Although delicious, it falls short of appetizing.

Thing #16

Customized Start Page - iGoogle

I chose iGoogle because I use Google as my primary search engine.  Since I use the cite regularly, it only makes sense for my to use it as my customized start page.  The date and time along with the weather are some gadgets I left on the page, but I removed the other standard ones that I felt were distracting and did not meet my needs.  Instead, I added two webpages that provide me a word-of-the-day, as I am one seeking to expand my vocabulary seeing as I'm wanting to teach English.  Then, I finished with a quote of the day and sports updates.  I do not think that I will make this my homepage, however.  I do not want to become too distracted when I hop onto the internet.

Online Calendar - Google Calendar

 

I do not have a lot of events to add to my online calendar at this point in my life, but I understand the usefulness one can have, especially in the busy life of a teacher.  With the use of computers and the Internet on the rise each passing year, it becomes greatly convenient to have access to a calendar of events right online.  Google Calendar is easy to use, and edits are a walk in the park.  The hectic life of a teacher can be partially remedied by the organization of an online calendar.

To Do List - Remember the Milk

 

I think to-do lists online can be useful because they can force one to put a deadline for the tasks he or she seeks to accomplish.  By putting completion dates for several jobs on different days, one does not become overwhelmed with the total amount of work but rather can concentrate on the smaller portion of tasks for just that day alone.  However, activities can have a deadline of "never," which may reinforce the idea that it will eventually become completed and procrastination takes hold.  All in all, online to-do lists can be useful if used properly, but a pen-and-paper list can be just as effective.

Thing #15

The YouTube video in which the guy explains Wikis through the analogy of planning a camping trip is very useful.  Wikis would be especially beneficial for students when it comes to group work assignments.  Anyone in the group can add and edit the information they accumulate in real-time rather than depending on email from each group member.  I also liked the idea of literary discussion as exampled by the English 10 Literature class where they discussed George Orwell's 1984 and Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451.  I think this would be a great tool, especially if students are reading different novels with similar themes.

For the Sandbox, I posted by Thing #07 involving the exploration of Flickr.  I enjoyed seeing other students' posts from previous classes and their approaches to the various Things assigned.  I like the idea of Wikis for class use because it can allow students to add and edit information with their classmates.  This allows many perspectives to come together, which can alter previous beliefs and misconceptions on information.  When it comes to discussing literature, many interpretations can arise based on the text, and each student can notice something different that can enhance everyone's understanding of it.  Wikis provides the opportunity to easily allow one to give their input on the subject without the fear of running out of time or not being called on in class.

Thing #14

Gliffy

This flowchart website works great.  After reading a few brief tips, handling the shapes and connections became easy as pie.  Mine only uses the classic shapes and connections, but the site provides several tools for people to use to make an attractive and effective flowchart.  I based my chart on a TN State Standard that involves figurative language in the 9th Grade.  I plan on speaking about this subject in my podcast.

 

MindMeister

Mind maps are great for brainstorming ideas, especially when planning to write a paper.  One general subject can branch out into several ideas that can have their own sub-connections.  Relationships are everywhere, and a mind map help make a visual image of those connections.  I made a simple one of the many subjects that lie within being an English teacher, such as teaching poetry, Shakespeare, grammar, MLA, and more.  I did not find as much freedom or user-friendly controls in MindMeister as I did with Gliffy.  The website still works well.

Thing #13

Zoho Docs

Zoho works great and is very similar to Microsoft Office.  I made a quick document and presentation, which were simple to use.  The best part about this online docs site is having access to one's documents wherever one may be.  All the information is stored online, which can be accessed from any computer with an Internet connection.  Perhaps I am doing something wrong, but I do not like that it saves multiple copies of my work, as seen in this screenshot:

 

Google Drive

I found several similarities between Google Drive and Zoho Docs.  They both are great online substitutes for Microsoft Office and are simple to use.  However, Google Drive did not save several copies like Zoho Docs had done for me, which I like.  Another advantage for Google Drive is that it is Google.  When I sign into my Google account, I have access to all my Google applications, which is a major convenience compared with going to a separate website for my documents.  Google Drive is also more colorful, as seen here:

Here is a link to my Google document I typed up:  Beyond the Rise

Thing #12

Google Alerts

This is a great tool that can especially be utilized by educators.  The latest results concerning a specific topic can be emailed straight to the individual without having to search and find regularly.  For fun, I put the subject "JaMarcus Russell" in as my Google Alert.  He is an Oakland Raiders quarterback draft bust who is seeking a second chance in the NFL.

It allows me to choose the volume of results, which I chose "Only the best results."  I also selected to be notified "As-it-happens."  Therefore, I am always up to date on the latest news.  This is an excellent tool that assists people on the latest and best in their areas of choice.

Picasa Web Albums

This tool is very similar to Flickr and just as easy.  Someone can easily search for images with specific tags, and uploading pictures is made easy for the user.  Since my Blogger is connected to a Google account, all of the images I have uploaded in my posts are on a Picasa Web Album.

Google provides several tools to its users that are interconnected and user friendly.  It helps with organization, and resources are right at people's fingertips.  Google is certainly more than just a search engine.

Thing #11

Of the three search tools, I find Technorati to be the most accessible for my needs.  It allows me to search for a specific posts or blogs in general.  By clicking on each result, a brief description is given in regards to the blog.  I find this feature to be quite useful as I attempt to decide whether or not viewing the actual site will be worth my time and fit my interests.

When using the Google Blog Search, I was often lost and unsure at what exactly I was looking.  I wasted a lot of time clicking on sites that did not match for what I had searched, and I it continued to fail even when I allowed it several chances to work for me.

The final searching tool called Topix provided slightly better results than Google, but I still felt lost in the results as I searched for blogs in which I may be interested.  Another reason Topix failed to meet my needs was the large number of advertisements, and I even experienced some popups.  This was not the type of search site that I wanted.

I found an interesting blog that is very political, but at the same time, it has wonderful photography of birds and nature.  Also, the blogger throws in some poems with the other random topics that are covered.  Crime poetry is interesting to say the least.  On the other hand, I discovered some useful blogs, like Notes From A Homeschooled Mom and Teacher Beat.  They both offer important information and useful tips for teachers in the field and preparing for the field.

One way that I enjoy finding other blogs is by clicking on "Next Blog" at the top of the Blogger browser.  I am randomly transported to a whole new world:  some strange, some great.  So many blogs, so little time. . .