Thing #16 WIKI-share!

I posted a comment in the SBISD WIKI. I can see great potential for a class WIKI. I looked at one that had tests posted. That would be nice if you had enough computers in your class--perhaps use a LAB?? I would like to know if I want to create a class WIKI do I use the SBISD sign-in?? Anyone know?

http://www.wikispaces.com/ says "create a new space".

Anyone....anyone????

Thing #15 Library 2.0 - Surviving the FLOOD

Going into Library 2.0 - Rick Anderson - Away From The IcebergsI liked the images Anderson formed with his Iceberg theme and smiled at his picture holding an oar.
He felt there were three icebergs in Library 2.0 that needed to be steered away from:

1. Creating collections--don't waste time and money acquiring material that you only predict will be needed. DOES THIS ALSO APPLY TO CLASSROOM MATERIALS & TEXTBOOKS? I think maybe so.

2. Libraries (and those that provide FUNDING) must concentrate on EQUIPMENT and STAFF to help train the patrons to quickly find the research and materials that they need and not fumble around with inefficient search engines. MY CLASSROOM HAS NEVER HAD ENOUGH COMPUTERS to integrate technology on a daily basis--a standard that is waved in front of teachers but not supported by staffing, IT, and school equipment. Certain student demographics limit expectations for students to always have a computer at home.

3. Library services must shift their VISIBILITY out of a BUILDING and into the place that techno-savy people now reside--the WEB. He says, "It’s going to have to happen one library—one little boat—at a time." This could apply to the classroom also as far as how teachers present curriculum -- Can we PODCAST lessons? We've slowly moved into the ACTIV board classroom and we need to realize that the only educators that are going to survive the WEB flood that we are already in are those that steer their own boats into the current instead of against it.

Thing #14 Technor--ICKY!

I DID claim my blog on Technorati. I think I successfully added a Technorati widget (chiclet). I found that doing a search in BLOGS produced more pertinent results. I believe I said before that I found Technorati CORN-fusing!!!

Technorati Profile

Thing #13 You're It! - Del.icio.us Tags!

I created an account at Del.icio.us. I can see how you could use this to accumulate an ever-growing resource of helpful Favorites since it can connect you to other internet user's key words that match your interests as well. In other words, your searching has been expanded exponentially.

I got sidetracked to a teacher blog in Greece that had some COOL tools or widgets or whatever you call them. I used one to create the Picture Guestbook above!! Please try it! I'm trying to figure out how to move it to the BOTTOM, however.

Thing #12 Comment ZONE! No *&#@ expletives!

I commented on five blogs and found (searched) a few more to comment on that were of a more personal note. One drew my attention about Love After Fifty!! I posted my own personal story on that one.

On Cool Cat Teacher blog I found it interesting to learn about CoComment to keep track of the comments you make on other blogs: http://www.cocomment.com/

The most important rule: NEVER: Be sarcastic, rant prolifically, curse, or personally attack a person.
These are manners that our parents taught us are they not? I wish more people would follow this behavior when invading the PUBLIC space of others in the real world. For example, I was in a restaurant/bar with my fiance for a vacation toddy and a gentleman sitting in the same room was speaking very loudly to his friend about blankety *&P#*** blank *** blank ****-ing (fill in with the most horrific exletives you can imagine) at the TOP of his voice. This happened not just once but several times. If I had not been ready to leave i would have said something. I did mention it to the young son of the owner and he just shrugged. Hmmm....is it just youth? I must admit that I do not always follow ALL of these rules when dealing with corporate consumer issues but when posting blog comments on someone else's space it would seem to logically be the most important guideline.

Thing #11 - LibraryThing-A-Ma-Jigger!

I created a LibraryThing.com account and added a CHICLET (saves space) to my blog. It looks like this (above) and links to your LibraryThing catalog. (Click on the chiclet in my sidebar) I added some MATH books to my LT catalog. This is a very convenient tool for keeping a wish list or sharing curriculum resource books!

Here is the URL for all the cool LibraryThing TOOLS you can use to add to your blog:

http://www.librarything.com/tools

Thing #10 IMAGE-INE THAT!!

I tried Image Chef and it was really easy. You can search images and just replace the text to something you want. I tried a very recognizable image and applied a MATH statement to it which might appeal to 7th graders.

Here's the link! http://www.imagechef.com/

Here's another link where you can get layouts, backgrounds, graphics, generators, widgets, and a lot more!

http://gotomylayouts.com/myspace/?kw=myspace%20images&src=300250-2&gclid=CM3R4Ie25ZQCFR4sagodkG6IRA

Thing #9 Bleary Eyed After Blog Searches!

In order to remember all this stuff, I have started putting all the links I'm visiting in a 23Things folder under FAVORITES so I can go back and explore them further at a later date. I'm learning about so many things that I'm already forgetting what's OUT THERE!
I signed up on Google Reader and subscribed to several blogs using the RSS feed links. I still have to pick and choose which "Favorite Blogs" I show on MY blog because I have too many in the Reader--does that make sense??
· Sometimes it was confusing finding the RSS "sign up" on different web pages
· Technorati searches confused me
· Google Search Blog seemed to work the best

Thing #8 RSS Overload!

This could be used wisely to keep up on relevant professional subjects and things you might want to share with your class each day, OR even medical issues affecting your family. The fear, as in all this internet stuff, is WASTING lots and lots of time exploring all of this information being fed to you each day.

Thing #7 I'm All Googlie!!

So many things!! I'm frustrated about how much time this project is taking and don't think I'm going to meet my deadline. I would love to have more time to properly explore all these things.

I've set up an iGoogle page with some of the gadgets and it is really fun. I chose a designer background (see the Dolce and Gabbana theme above!) and set the tabs for subjects of interest to me and set up the windows using Places to See, Google Gram, Map Search, Fortune Cookie, Clock, Weather for two locations, & several other fun items. I also set up a Google Alert for a subject I'm interested in--it works!!

I've also switched to google e-mail to see if it is easier to manage e-mails. I've opened a Calender to see if it helps with organization and intend to explore the Google Notebook for research and school work. I'm already familiar with Google Earth!

One thing I'm doing is making a 23Things Folder in my Favorites list and adding a favorite to it for every Google application so I can remember them all and explore more when I have time.

Now, I'm all Googled OUT!