I have not found blogs to be very useful to me in my career. It seems like just an online journal. Perhaps teachers could use a blog to replace a weekly newsletter for parents if the district does not block the site. I have also learned that when we learn to use a tool for our personal benefit, we are more likely to find a way to use it in the work place. (calculators, digital cameras, memory sticks, and jump drives etc.)
However wiki's seem to be more useful to me. They can be used for collaboration in writing grants or planning curriculum.
Share your thoughts on this question here:
Can blogs and wiki’s be a useful tool in education and the world of work today? Please explain your answer.
Then set up your own blog and send me an email inviting me to ready your comments. Please keep them tasteful and professional.
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Monday, July 16, 2007
Library of Congress- Day One
Today was very busy. We went to the Ford Theater where Lincoln was shot. There were many artifacts on display. Primary source documents related to this monumental event in our nations history. The chairs in the theater were wooden chairs with pads tied to the seat and back. The theater was very small, however there were two levels of balcony seats above the level where Lincoln sat. So I guess it was quite large by the standards of the day.
After looking at the Ford Theater, we went to the Peterson Home, where he was taken after being shot. It too was remarkably small. The home was filled with period furniture, however, none of it was original. The only thing original was the home. Even so, you did get a feel for how it would feel to live in such a home. This home was about 20 feet wide, had low ceilings, and had 4 floors (levels). It was narrow and tall. Hallways and stairways were very level.
The paintings in the National Art Museum were beautiful and there was a wide variety from impressionistic to modern art. There was also an exhibit of famous Britions. On the fourth floor, you could watch the curators and scientist working together to restore a wide variety of artwork from folk art to paintings.
Union Station was also a remarkable experience. It is a very old building, but very will maintained. We just missed attending an exhibition on Belfast, Ireland, where the Titanic was built. (They were taking it down.) Someone had created a model of the town as it was when the Titanic was built. There was also a display of the Titanic with primary source photos that gave you a very realistic feel of the disaster.
A highlight of the day, was the International Spy Museum. Artifacts, stories, films and audio files documented the history of spies from the beginning of time to the present. This museum would be a wonderful place to bring a class for a field trip. Kids would love it. Great exposure and information on career in this field.
Julia
After looking at the Ford Theater, we went to the Peterson Home, where he was taken after being shot. It too was remarkably small. The home was filled with period furniture, however, none of it was original. The only thing original was the home. Even so, you did get a feel for how it would feel to live in such a home. This home was about 20 feet wide, had low ceilings, and had 4 floors (levels). It was narrow and tall. Hallways and stairways were very level.
The paintings in the National Art Museum were beautiful and there was a wide variety from impressionistic to modern art. There was also an exhibit of famous Britions. On the fourth floor, you could watch the curators and scientist working together to restore a wide variety of artwork from folk art to paintings.
Union Station was also a remarkable experience. It is a very old building, but very will maintained. We just missed attending an exhibition on Belfast, Ireland, where the Titanic was built. (They were taking it down.) Someone had created a model of the town as it was when the Titanic was built. There was also a display of the Titanic with primary source photos that gave you a very realistic feel of the disaster.
A highlight of the day, was the International Spy Museum. Artifacts, stories, films and audio files documented the history of spies from the beginning of time to the present. This museum would be a wonderful place to bring a class for a field trip. Kids would love it. Great exposure and information on career in this field.
Julia
Monday, July 9, 2007
Web 2.0 Resources for ASU EDU 560
Web 2.0 is a term often applied to a perceived ongoing transition of the World Wide Web from a collection of websites to a full-fledged computing platform. There are many web 2.0 resources that support teaching and collaborative learning. The following are a few web 2.0 resources that can be used for collaboration activities:
Gliffy (http://www.gliffy.com) is a web-based collaborative graphic organizer that allows students and teachers to create many types of diagrams such as
➢ Flowcharts,
➢ Floor plans,
➢ Network diagrams,
➢ Idea Maps
➢ Other graphic organizers
Graphic organizers support visual thinking techniques. Students can use this tool to brainstorm, create a flow map to diagram the plot of a story, as well as a variety of other graphic organizers. Not only can students work collaboratively to create organizers and diagrams, they can link to published Gliffy drawings from wiki’s, blogs, podcasts and web pages
Google Docs & Spreadsheets (www. docs.google.com) is a free web-based word processing and spreadsheet program that promotes collaboration. This web resource allows you to import your existing documents and spreadsheets, or create new ones from scratch. You can also revise, edit and update your documents and spreadsheets from anywhere. You can invite others to collaborate on these files from their own computers sharing changes in real-time. When you are finished creating the document, you can export it in a variety of formats, RTF, Word, HTML, PDF’s, etc.
You can, use Google Docs to coordinate your student group's homework assignments, access your family to-do list from work or home, collaborate with colleagues while writing a grant or creating a unit. Students can brainstorm together, then collaborate on a report or presentation.
Google spreadsheets can be used to collaborate on such projects as spending a million dollars, while keeping track of expenses; tracking the progress of the Iditarod mushers, creating graphs for a report, tracking the value of stocks in a virtual portfolio, or tracking personal progress toward an individual goal.
Wiki’s are great places for teachers, students, and educators to work together. Use a wiki for easy web pages that let you collaborate. Wikispaces for K-12 education use is completely free, and free of advertising. Teachers can set up the wiki and determine who is allowed to view and edit this space. Worries about safety can be reduced because students are given a log in name and password, providing them a safer environment in which to collaborate. Wikispaces (http://www.wikispaces.com/t/x/teachers100K) is a good location for secondary students and PB Wiki (http://pbwiki.com) might be a better site for elementary students.
Wikis can be used in a variety of settings, classrooms, work groups, families, sports teams, book and fan clubs, and more. Teachers looking for an easy way to put your syllabus online can use this environment. Students could collaborate on a big project, create a web page advertisement or travel brochure that promotes travel to an assigned state or country.
Slide share (http://www.slideshare.net/) Looking for a place to post your PowerPoint slide shows online? Slide share allows you to post PowerPoint presentations and share them with a limited audience or provide access to the total on-line community. This is a great place to find presentations others have created, post presentations you are planning to use for a conference or to provide students with access to lecture notes.
Imagination3
I have not tried this tool from Brett but thought I would include it in case you wanted to explore. They are coming at me too fast.
From Brett
Here is another tool (ala Gliffy) I ran across. Kind of neat as well though I haven't explored it like I had Gliffy. Let me know what you think..
http://www.imagination3.com/LaunchPage
Just click Skip when it gives you the flash intro stuff, then you'll get to the cool part of the tool.
netTrekker d.i
This is a limited trial. Just received it at NECC 2007. Give it a try if you like. Info from netTrekker follows:
Dear JULIA,
I enjoyed meeting you at the NECC conference and appreciated the time you spent learning more about netTrekker d.i. netTrekker d.i. is helping educators in districts all across the country just like yours differentiate their instruction to help every child achieve.
Here is the username and password you requested for your free trial.
Username: NECC2007AZ
Password: guest
(*Above are case sensitive.)
To access the product, please go to http://school.nettrekker.com and login. Feel free to share your free trial account with others in your district that would be interested in exploring netTrekker d.i. Your account will remain active until 8/1/07.
Please make sure to explore the exciting features in netTrekker d.i. including:
• Safe, Fast Worry-Free Searching
• Over 180,000 Educator-Selected, Standards-Based Online Resources
➢ Search for Resources by Readability Level
➢ Customized ELL/ESL Content
➢ Dictionary/Translation Hot Key
➢ Safe, School-Friendly Image Search
➢ NEW! Read Aloud Feature that Reads Text to Students
www.vocabulary.com (Another one from NECC 2007)
Hi Julia -
Jan and wanted to say hello to you and remind you and your colleagues
again about the free educational resources at
http://www.vocabulary.com
The information about the poster session is as follows:
http://www.vocabulary.com/necc2007page1.html
You can see our 60 thematic features on our home page site. Feel free
to request one/many of our 165 word lists at
http://www.vocabulary.com/alphalary.html We certainly permit and
encourage linking to our site. Please don't hesitate to email Jan or
me with questions. Hope to hear from you. Carey
--
Sincerely, jan & carey cook jancook@vocabulary.com -
http://www.vocabulary.com Vocabulary University, POBox 7727, Menlo
Park,CA 94026 ph&fax650-854-9698 -- grade level interactive word
Puzzles
That is all I have for now. Have fun exploring.
Julia
Gliffy (http://www.gliffy.com) is a web-based collaborative graphic organizer that allows students and teachers to create many types of diagrams such as
➢ Flowcharts,
➢ Floor plans,
➢ Network diagrams,
➢ Idea Maps
➢ Other graphic organizers
Graphic organizers support visual thinking techniques. Students can use this tool to brainstorm, create a flow map to diagram the plot of a story, as well as a variety of other graphic organizers. Not only can students work collaboratively to create organizers and diagrams, they can link to published Gliffy drawings from wiki’s, blogs, podcasts and web pages
Google Docs & Spreadsheets (www. docs.google.com) is a free web-based word processing and spreadsheet program that promotes collaboration. This web resource allows you to import your existing documents and spreadsheets, or create new ones from scratch. You can also revise, edit and update your documents and spreadsheets from anywhere. You can invite others to collaborate on these files from their own computers sharing changes in real-time. When you are finished creating the document, you can export it in a variety of formats, RTF, Word, HTML, PDF’s, etc.
You can, use Google Docs to coordinate your student group's homework assignments, access your family to-do list from work or home, collaborate with colleagues while writing a grant or creating a unit. Students can brainstorm together, then collaborate on a report or presentation.
Google spreadsheets can be used to collaborate on such projects as spending a million dollars, while keeping track of expenses; tracking the progress of the Iditarod mushers, creating graphs for a report, tracking the value of stocks in a virtual portfolio, or tracking personal progress toward an individual goal.
Wiki’s are great places for teachers, students, and educators to work together. Use a wiki for easy web pages that let you collaborate. Wikispaces for K-12 education use is completely free, and free of advertising. Teachers can set up the wiki and determine who is allowed to view and edit this space. Worries about safety can be reduced because students are given a log in name and password, providing them a safer environment in which to collaborate. Wikispaces (http://www.wikispaces.com/t/x/teachers100K) is a good location for secondary students and PB Wiki (http://pbwiki.com) might be a better site for elementary students.
Wikis can be used in a variety of settings, classrooms, work groups, families, sports teams, book and fan clubs, and more. Teachers looking for an easy way to put your syllabus online can use this environment. Students could collaborate on a big project, create a web page advertisement or travel brochure that promotes travel to an assigned state or country.
Slide share (http://www.slideshare.net/) Looking for a place to post your PowerPoint slide shows online? Slide share allows you to post PowerPoint presentations and share them with a limited audience or provide access to the total on-line community. This is a great place to find presentations others have created, post presentations you are planning to use for a conference or to provide students with access to lecture notes.
Imagination3
I have not tried this tool from Brett but thought I would include it in case you wanted to explore. They are coming at me too fast.
From Brett
Here is another tool (ala Gliffy) I ran across. Kind of neat as well though I haven't explored it like I had Gliffy. Let me know what you think..
http://www.imagination3.com/LaunchPage
Just click Skip when it gives you the flash intro stuff, then you'll get to the cool part of the tool.
netTrekker d.i
This is a limited trial. Just received it at NECC 2007. Give it a try if you like. Info from netTrekker follows:
Dear JULIA,
I enjoyed meeting you at the NECC conference and appreciated the time you spent learning more about netTrekker d.i. netTrekker d.i. is helping educators in districts all across the country just like yours differentiate their instruction to help every child achieve.
Here is the username and password you requested for your free trial.
Username: NECC2007AZ
Password: guest
(*Above are case sensitive.)
To access the product, please go to http://school.nettrekker.com and login. Feel free to share your free trial account with others in your district that would be interested in exploring netTrekker d.i. Your account will remain active until 8/1/07.
Please make sure to explore the exciting features in netTrekker d.i. including:
• Safe, Fast Worry-Free Searching
• Over 180,000 Educator-Selected, Standards-Based Online Resources
➢ Search for Resources by Readability Level
➢ Customized ELL/ESL Content
➢ Dictionary/Translation Hot Key
➢ Safe, School-Friendly Image Search
➢ NEW! Read Aloud Feature that Reads Text to Students
www.vocabulary.com (Another one from NECC 2007)
Hi Julia -
Jan and wanted to say hello to you and remind you and your colleagues
again about the free educational resources at
http://www.vocabulary.com
The information about the poster session is as follows:
http://www.vocabulary.com/necc2007page1.html
You can see our 60 thematic features on our home page site. Feel free
to request one/many of our 165 word lists at
http://www.vocabulary.com/alphalary.html We certainly permit and
encourage linking to our site. Please don't hesitate to email Jan or
me with questions. Hope to hear from you. Carey
--
Sincerely, jan & carey cook jancook@vocabulary.com -
http://www.vocabulary.com Vocabulary University, POBox 7727, Menlo
Park,CA 94026 ph&fax650-854-9698 -- grade level interactive word
Puzzles
That is all I have for now. Have fun exploring.
Julia
NECC 2007- Math Presentation
I uploaded my Math A-Z presentation in to http://www.slideshare.net/
Go to this website and search for Math and it should show up. If not search for Math A-Z.
Let me know what you think. Should I add something else? I could use some good ideas for some letters. I am open to all suggestions.
Julia
Go to this website and search for Math and it should show up. If not search for Math A-Z.
Let me know what you think. Should I add something else? I could use some good ideas for some letters. I am open to all suggestions.
Julia
Wednesday, July 4, 2007
Gliffy (http://www.gliffy.com) is a free web-based collaborative graphic organizer that allows students and teachers to create many types of diagrams such as:
Julia
- Flowcharts,
- Floor plans,
- Network diagrams,
- Idea Maps
- Other graphic organizers
Julia
NECC 2007- My Presentation
My presentation on Applets-Zeta; Making Math More Than Fun, went well. There were seats for 193 people. Half the room was filled when I arrived 30 minutes early to set up. I was quite surprised and thrilled that so many wanted math lesson ideas. I had 250 hand-outs and they were all gone before the presentation was over. Several people came up after the presentation asking for more. I guess a lot of folks wanted math ideas. If you would like to look at my presentation search for NECC 2007, then go to Program Search and search for Presenter Lott. When my session Applets-Zeta; Making Math More Than Fun comes up you should be able to download my Powerpoint presentation complete with links and ideas. Hope this is helpful.
Julia
Julia
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Most of you were successful! Yeah!
Well it looks like almost all of you were able to add a comment. If you have not done so yet, please try setting up your own blog and adding comments. After you give it a try, come back here and comment on how you feel about using this new Web 2.0 tool. Look for more information to come from the computing conference next week.
Julia
Julia
Monday, June 18, 2007
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