Tucker's23Things

7.2 of Thing 7

2012-02-05T20:10:00.001-08:00

100_0652, a photo by violetflutter on Flickr.

Also at my house.
See post 7.1 of Thing #7 for thoughts today!

7.1 of Thing #7

2012-02-05T20:08:00.001-08:00

Untitled, a photo by violetflutter on Flickr.

This was taken in my backyard.

Also the picture of Stormy Day was done from my backyard. I had never used Flickr or any photo hosting services before. I found it quiet enjoyable though. I did a few quick searches over the weekend and there were just to many photos for me to choose from. I think students in all grades would find great uses for Flickr. It allows them access to photos that can be used for various projects as long as they give credit to the artist. This is very important in this day and time. There are many different pictures that can be found on the internet but they are all copyrighted and if you are found using them, you are hit with a hefty fine. Yet Flickr tells you ahead of time that other people will have the opportunity to use your photos with you still receiving credit. Plus you can always add photos but leave the private and only seen by those you choose. That is great since you can add different groups or people to follow.

#6 of the 23 Things

2012-02-05T19:39:00.000-08:00

I have to say that so far this is the best "23 Thing" I have had to do. Dropbox is the coolest site I have ever seen. Yes I kinda already know a little about it, but that doesn't change the fact that I still LOVE it. Dropbox is similar to a digital portable filing cabinet. It allows its user to upload and store information/files to a digital storage account, and here is the best part IT IS FREE!!! That's right I said it, F R E E, FREE! The user can actually earn,by recommending the site, up to 2Gigs of storage. What is so nice about the site is that the user has access to the files they upload at any computer, or phone. This is handy for those of us that have a bad habit of not printing our papers out before we leave home. That's okay with Dropbox. I can run to the library and print a copy of the paper out there because I saved it to my Education Folder.You can also store pictures, music, and even share those files with other Dropbox users. This is a great feature for teachers, students, and parents. If a child is sick, their teacher can upload the assignment to a folder and share it with the parents and student. That way the child never falls behind. The only thing is a teacher may actual need more than 2 gigs of storage but the can pay for additional storage space. Or they just need to keep their files updated and change out the older ones and then they maybe able to stick with the free space. Either way you go, free or paid storage, Dropbox is a great tool and did I mention it is FREE!

Thing #5

2012-02-05T19:10:00.000-08:00

One of the articles I read was the Web 2.0 is Not About Version Numbers or Betas. I have to say I understand where Richard MacManus is coming from. Web 2.0 is not a new version of the web but a name given to show all the new advances of the web. The web has become a place for great knowledge for all people. Even if you are a book loving rocket scientist, if you are surfing the web you will stumble upon some new morsel of information you did not know, only because of Web 2.0. The average person is able to upload, download, email, blog, twitter, facebook, chat, shop, research, and even receive a college degree because of the new exciting information found on Web 2.0.

The second article I read was Web 2.0: A Guide for Educators by Susan McLester and boy did I learn new things. I like most people was aware, (0r so I thought) how much the web influenced our everyday living . Blogs, social networks, emails, businesses, video conferences, and YouTube, these are just a few of the sites that are used on a daily bases for varies different tasks by individuals. Now schools are using these same features plus a few more to enhance teaching. I have to say that is wonderful.

I have three children of my own and boy can they run circles around me when it comes to technology. Just the other day my youngest, she is 6, told me how to bring up videos and games that they play on the computers at school. I remember at six years old learning how to write my name on the straight line and here 22 years later my daughter is learning how to use a computer.

My middle daughter, whom is in the third-grade, had to do her first research project this past weekend. The note her teacher sent home informed the parents that the students were to research Space Shuttles and then build their own. Now that sounds normal enough right? Here's where things have changed, when I was in school we did all our research at the library with big thick books. Oh no, not now! Now the teachers expect the students to use the internet and conduct research on past shuttle. My daughters teacher explains that if they, the child, are not able to work on it at home that is fine, she will designate time for those individuals to work on the class computer.

These are just a few ways that the schools are making an attempt to work with the changes society/the web have evolved. Technology is there we must find a way to embrace it. A way to use it to our advantage. Children, students are going to use these tools whether we like it or not so we should show them the proper ways to use them. We must find new ways to keep students involved with classwork and this, the WEB, is the way to do that.

Thing #4

2012-02-02T09:38:00.000-08:00

explain why commenting helps create a sense of community and interaction

Cool Cat Teacher explains that like any author a blogger wants to know that the are being heard. Commenting allows people from all around the world to take part in a conversation. It allows people with similar interest to be brought together even though thousands of miles may be between each person. Blogging and commenting brings new ideas or perspective to our own opinions. Some may call it a conversation or a debate, but I call it learning and life. At any point and time someone can enlighten someone else and what better way then 24/7 on a blog.

discuss two other points from the readings about commenting that you found important

When reading through 10 Techniques to Get More Comments on Your Blog I was really surprised to see #5. Set Boundaries. Personally I thought it would discourage readers from commenting, but according to Darren Rowse it encouraged many people to respond to his blog. He thought it may be due to people knowing exactly what was excepted from their comments. I will have to think about that when and if I set a class blog when I am teaching.

I was not really surprised but intrigued that one of the things that he recommended was #9 Rewarding Comments. I was already aware that we as bloggers should take the time to acknowledge our readers and let them know that we appreciate the time they took to read our blogs/post. I enjoyed the way he recommended to "highlight" a reader that left a great comment. I believe that will be a great technique to use with students since children are always in competition with each other. It would require them to take their time and make relevant comments and not just through random thoughts around.

give the names of the seven blogs (5 from our group + 2 others of your choice) you selected to read and comment on and tell why you selected them

discuss the comments that you chose to make and why you made them

Things#3

2012-01-24T18:03:00.000-08:00

2. For your Thing #3 post, write about ways that you might use a blog in your teacher education program or your

future classroom.

Since creating my own page I believe it would be a nice class project for older children. Most children in grades 4 and up would be able to setup a blog and record a weekly post. Whether about a current event, a general class discussion, or to ask lesson questions.

Plus I believe it would be a great tool for teacher/parent communications for all grades. As a teacher I could post a weekly agenda blog, as to activities and lessons that would be covered in class. Parents would then have access to my blog page and could keep up with what their child would be covering. Parents would also have the ability to ask questions and be actively involved with the child's schooling.

Thing #2

2012-01-24T17:49:00.000-08:00

How did you decide on your posting name and the name of your blog?

My blog title is just what it says, Tucker's23Things. It is a collection of my thoughts on 23 different ideas. As far as my display name goes, it is how I am referred to for school activities. It is not personal or silly, but refined and straight to the point.

What was your experience in creating the blog? Was it hard for you or easy? Why?

When I heard I would have to start a blog, agony is the only word that came to mind. I was sure this would not go as planned,so I began preparing myself to battle one or two of the same challenges Hercules himself had to endure. I was sure I would have my very own nine-headed hydra to take down, called the cyber world. But, I was pleasantly surprised when I began the process of registering and designing my blog. With each step written out, in detail, I was zipping through it like an old pro. Picking templates for the layouts and adding an avatar of myself, you would have thought I did these things everyday.

How does your avatar reflect your personality? Did you create an avatar that looks like your real self or someone totally different? Why?

Now lets get one thing straight, I won't say there wasn't a few bumps in the process. Have you ever tried to make an animated character of yourself? Not always the easiest thing to do. Then there was the copy and pasting. Sounds easy enough right, yeah except if you are not able to find the "add a gadget" space that is hidden with in other sidewalks(tabs). But, as you see I was able to come up with a mini me. I have always been told that "I am the bubbly one", so of course I gave her a big cheesy grin. Plus my "Hallie Berry" cut was best suited with the bejeweled headband. Then came my books!! I love to read! I can not say enough how there is nothing better then to open a brand new paperback book and to get the smell of the fresh ink on paper. I made my avatar as close to me as possible. I like me, just the way I am. I believe that for you (the reader) to best understand me, you have to know. Even if it is just a animated character it is me. My style, my outlook on life, and most importantly my thoughts.

Thing #1

2012-01-24T17:05:00.000-08:00

Once I finished watching the tutorial 7 1/2 Habit of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners I began to realize that like most college students, myself included, need new techniques to better understand material. This tutorial was able to highlight some of those new techniques.

Personally I found that the easiest habit to implemented would be #1, begin with a goal in mind. Like most students, I start each new semester with the same goal in mind. A's in all my classes, and just like an alarm there is always a bump in the road. Some how I am always find my way back on target and keep trucking through the semester. I have found that the best way for me to work through a problem is to teach someone else, habit #7. By talking another person through the same problem I am most generally able to figure out where I went wrong.

The hardest habit for me would be to learn how to play. Ever semester I seem to become a big grump and no fun, according to my family. I stress and stress over keeping on task and not falling behind, that I tend to forget to enjoy the experience of college.

Hopefully as this semester progresses I will learn more about Web 2.0 since in all honesty I don't have a clue as to what it is. When it comes to technology I like it, but it doesn't always seem to like me. Then for some reason one of us usually ends up with our feelings hurt and laying in a hep on the floor(me). Hopefully since this first blog hasn't turned out to awful, things are looking up. Only time can tell!