Ponderings of Web 2.0

More great Voicethread Stuff!

I am getting so excited to begin the year again with Voicethread!  Here is a publication I found from last year with some great tips:

http://sharetheaddiction.edublogs.org/2010/08/25/voicethread-gets-better-and-better/

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized August 26, 2011

A year later: work and reflections from the TLC group 2011-2012

So it’s a whole year later….and now I am enjoying more Web 2.0 discussions at Waynflete in our new tech support group,TLC   Although I missed the first meeting, I made it to the last two days, and the learning and collaboration have jump-started the year on a positive note. I look forward to learning and sharing all year in this group and beyond!

Here are some of the tools we used to guide our discussion:

Our Reading: A New Culture of Learning: Cultivating The Mind for a World of Constant Change

Ted Talks: Mike Wesch and Sir Ken Robinson

PBS video: New Learners from the 21st Century

Here’s a new GLOG I will use to share what I have learned about VOICETHREAD:

why-voicethread

And the journey continues!!

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized August 25, 2011

Thing Twenty Three: Reflections and Looking Forward

I am so grateful for this online course!  Initially, I thought that an online course would be difficult and that I would miss the interaction with fellow classmates and the instructor.  However, the organization and nature of  “23 Things” was perfect for self guided instruction and study.  I have picked up a lot of tips, learned about new, useful tools, created a Blog and a Wiki, collaborated with other educators grappling with the same Web 2.0 material, and continued my lifelong journey as a learner.  It has not been without challenges and frustrations; technology can be time consuming and hugely frustrating, especially when you are learning to use a new tool or navigate a new site.  I am determined to use a few tools well,  implement them into my courses, and teach my students to use them well, too.  Here are the tools I plan to incorporate this year:  Voicethread, Wikis (for classes), and a Blog (for professional reflection).  Other “fun” tools will be used only when time allows and when they add depth to content and help me reach a curricular goal.  As a second/third language teacher, I would really like to address some of what Xian-rong WANG, Associate professor said about Globalization in an article he wrote entitled, The Leapfrog Principle and Paradigm Shifts in Education:

Globalization refers to the transfer, adaptation, and development of values,
knowledge, technology and behavioral norms across countries and societies in
different parts of the world. Some examples of globalization in education are:

• web-based learning;
• E-learning
• international visit/immersion programs;
• international exchange programs;
• use of the Internet in learning and research;
• international partnerships in teaching and learning at group, class, and
• individual levels;
• interactions and sharing through video conferencing across countries,
• communities, institutions, and individuals;
• curriculum content on technological, economic, social, political, cultural, and learning globalization.

I am excited and hope that Shelly will allow us access to the “23 Things” when we need additional support!  Thanks for a great summer course!  Let’s keep collaborating and sharing

Here is a link to a thought provoking Voicethread conversation about 21st Century Skills

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized August 5, 2010

Thing Twenty Two: Nings!

When I discovered Nings at a conference last year in NH, they seemed like an appropriate, professional social networking option.  Since then, there are a few that I have found to be informative, helpful and collaborative.  They are quite easy to join and there are often subgroups within the larger group.   I try to participate whenever possible (which may be as much as once a day or as little as once a week):

Independent School Educational Network

Classroom 2.0

Voicethread (now a group inside Classroom 2.o)

Profesores de Español (future unknown now that Ning.com will charge!)

EdtechTeacher

I have also had a Twitter account for about a year (and have even tried the TweetDeck), and I have to admit that I am not convinced that it would be useful in a HS curriculum, and certainly not in a MS curriculum.  I have used it very little and for personal use only.  Perhaps some day, once I get a better handle of the other more useful and appropriate tools, I will investigate further.

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized August 2, 2010

Thing 7c: Sharing from the Reader

Of Interest from my Netvibes reader this morning (while my son plays with a neighbor ):

1.  Info about Zachery Jones’ Blog: Actualidades and an actual post from yesterday on Mexican “murales”

2. An article by David Pogue from Personal Tech (my favorite tech writer from the NYT) on Cyberbullying

3. I like this reflection from an English teacher on the Voicethread for Educators Ning: Utilizing MP3s in the College Classroom to Facilitate Learning

4. A nifty slide Show with Creative Commons License that I found posted on the ISE Network Ning: Twenty Two ways to Use Google Docs in the Classroom

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized July 25, 2010

Thing Twenty One: Netvibin’ Again!

As I said in Post Six and Seven, I set up a Netvibes page in June, and I LOVE it.  I like the “widgets” layout on my screen and the organizational features like the tabs-and it is sooo easy to add feeds-just cut and paste and they are there.  So far, I am filling the following tabs:  Spanish Classes, Sam (my son), JSR (me), El País (a newspaper from Spain), Technology, Nings, Blogs, Education, Photos-Flikr, Wikis, and Podcasts (I actually listen to them more now that they are here and not hidden in itunes!).  Here is a pic of my Spanish Classes page:

Although Shelly warned us about the advertising on Pagelakes, I signed up and created a page.  It’s kinda like netvibes, but it also reminds of my yahoo or google homepage with images of the weather, news updates, links to my facebook, google and twitter accounts.  I don’t think I will use it much….we’ll see.

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized July 25, 2010

Thing Twenty: Google Docs

We switched over to Google everything at our school this year, so I feel quite comfortable moving around in my google email and using/sharing docs.  Students often use google docs to write compositions and to work on projects, although I have not had them share work with me unless there is an emergency or late work.  I know this is not paper friendly, but I ask students to edit their written work on a hard copy to catch mistakes and typos.  I find that if I don’t, they will not proof their work-a hugely important piece of the writing process.  I have, however, shared and edited documents with colleagues to do some collaborative work.  We are still working to encourage this, as not all staff are comfortable navigating the docs…but, we are getting there.  Our tech coordinator (my coach for this class) has organized a 3-day tech workshop for the past 3 years to encourage us all to explore and “play” with the new technologies!  They are fun, but I have found that using the platform for a year now has really helped my proficiency (kinda like learning a language-dive in and use it and you’ll pick it up!).

I love the filing system in docs (by color and folder)-it keeps my emails and docs organized and accessible-a must for our busy schedules!  I have also started to use the calendar to organize my personal/work schedule, and we use the public calendar at work to schedule tests, quizzes, laptop carts, and important events.  I like how they merge so I can see all of the events at once.

Overall, I am a google fan, and I look forward to learning more as I become more proficient.  One thing I have learned by lots of trial and error that I would like to share with readers is this:  make sure you use the print icon inside of google docs or your document will print in a strange format:

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized July 25, 2010

Thing Nineteen: YOUTUBIN’

I have been “YOUTUBIN”" for a while now, and I LOVE using selected videos in my classes.  I have a long list of favorites ranging from student made videos, to Pocoyo, to the Spanish Civil War to making a tortilla española.  I just added this video to my favorites after making my podcast, “Oda a la alcachofa” and posting my photo, Boothbay Artichoke on my Wiki:

The audio and visual aspects of video are an incredible addition in a world language classroom because they bring in native voices (pronunciation, colloquialisms, body language) and other authentic cultural images (clothing, places)!  I am a HUGE fan of using YouTube when goals are considered and clips are carefully chosen!

Here’s one more from my favorites file “Espacio Sideral” de Jesse y Joy (my students love this one of two young Mexican musicians):

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized July 20, 2010

Thing Eighteen: Makin’ a podcast!

OK…I made a podcast recording on Garage Band, converted to an MP3 file on itunes, posted and shared on our k12learning20 Podbean.com and on my wiki, commented (and rated some of my favorites) on other’s podcasts!  Whew!  I am a bit frustrated that I cannot move around easily in Garage Band, but I guess my students can help me with that…they always get this stuff sooooo quickly!  Looking forward to experimenting with them next year!

Note to self:  get going on class wiki pages for 2020-2011!

1 comment Posted in  Uncategorized July 20, 2010

Thing Seventeen: Podcasting

I have been using podcasts with my advanced classes for a couple of years now, but I generally don’t have time to enjoy them myself.  I did subscribe to a video podcast, Yoga Today, and to a couple of cooking podcasts, Bon Apetit and Cooking from Spain for pure enjoyment and relaxation.  I also like Ted Talks and Radio Lingua’s One Minute Portuguese Lessons.  The podcasts that I use in my classes regularly are Notes in Spanish and Coffee Break Spanish.  Here is an example advanced  podcast from Notes in Spanish with Ben and Marina, and  here is a video of them talking about their “aniversario” ( a subjunctive lesson included!) from their blog :

I plan to use these podcasts again in 2010-2011, and I’m hoping to use Garage Band to have students make some podcasts of their own!  Off to try one myself!

p.s. i also subscribed to Grammar Girl-great!

Add comment Posted in  Uncategorized July 20, 2010