Thing #7 - Video Resources

Okay - this is one where I spent several days checking out all of the links and then the links from those links...needless to say I have watched more video in the past 4 days then I care to admit....but I really liked some of the resources...a few I was even able to cut the clip down from what they posted...that was nice...the embedded information changed as I cut the video down. I think I'll have to create a few more wiki's for classes to be able to embed and link more video. Since the students live in a video world...we might as well provide good sources for them.
When I played with TOTLOL - I was sad to see that it is possible that it will be gone...possibly on July first...I wish I could find him a sponsor... I really like the NeoK-12 - It cuts your searching time by a lot to find the videos to support curriculum....next thing...get youtube open for us in SBISD!

Let me go back to the top of the lesson - creative commons...I attended a session at TCEA and came back with the idea to share creative commons with my school in the coming school year...I think it will help the students begin to understand the importance of copyright and giving credit...etc to original sources. I know that this next school year we will begin to create and send to the various sources videos the students make...how important it will for the students to understand copyright as they select music and probably make some parodies....the video on the creative commons site is great....somewhere in my notes I have the link to a great presentation on creative commons...she gave us full rites to share and use with students.

Back to the video - found some neat things to share with students....here are two of my favorite authors that I always share...can't afford to bring them into RCE...but here's a video interview...almost as good.

Tomie dePaola

http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid26961813001?bclid=26973384001&bctid=26068125001

Mo Willems
http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid6904330001?bclid=6811832001&bctid=6801852001

I'm on a roll with this one! Can't wait to share some of this with my staff!

Thing #6 ITouch Apps

This is a really cool resource...I'm glad there is a whole page to refer back to as I get into this more and more. I was very fortunate to take part in a class on how to use the Itouch....very cool. At first I have been very reluctant and hesitant to use the itouch. My nephews - yes plurals - have been trying to teach me for several month....after my class I showed them a few things. Anyway...the amount of free apps is unbelievable...math, science, note taking and more...not only can these be used for research but for reteaching and "drill and kill". In the summer school program - the day we used the itouches with the students they were so excited...we had a couple of brain game apps loaded and they could have played all day trying to improve their levels (just think how much math practice they got that morning!) The students loved playing the games and didn't mind the "drill" they were getting. They also loved using google. One of my students had created an animoto...but we learned that an app had to be downloaded to be able to view...but we were successful in watching some videos...How neat to have an individual learning environment for a student...if you set it up well...you could have a student go through a learning experience just on the Itouch....set up a wiki and let him link to videos, links and more for almost a "private" individual lesson. Once I let go of my limitations...I see this as a real positive piece of equipment...not to mention the "cool" part of using one. I can't wait to get my itouches up and moving at RCE....I know that searching out good apps will be important...we'll have to share what we learn and find. This is going to be FUN!

Thing #5 Microblogging

I know it looks like I'm going through these things really fast...but actually...I played with them the last few days...weeks if the truth be known...but didn't take time to write in the blog...I'm finally taking the time to write in the blog...

Microblogging....I really want to get a facebook account...and this almost made me do it...but I've promised my college daughter that I won't until she's ready for me to be out there...(I think she's afraid that her friends will friend me!)...anyway...I know that facebook is the place to be...through my sisters...they have rediscovered long lost friends and relatives....my daughter keeps up with her college friends although she's here for the summer...and all of her events are scheduled through facebook. I think it's a wonderful resource...and I see how having "it all" in one location is great. I'm not so sure about twitter...the few twitters that I've actually paid attention to, sometimes gave me too much information....I'm not so sure I want to post everything that's going on in my life...but....I guess it has a place depending on what is going on. (Okay...i thought I was done...then I got lost reading more blogs...I happened upon a library blog about how they use twitter for quick announcements....perhaps I need to rethink...not a personal account...but a school library account to let the members know when new books or materials arrive....maybe a twitter for the different groups I have to remind them of our monthly meetings....just had to get out of "the box"....maybe I'll revisit twitter....)

I really do like the backchanneling....I think it adds to the depth of a meeting...my pastor has had the kids text him during a sermon for feedback...I think I need to reccommend backchanneling as a way for him to know their thoughts. I am planning to use backchanneling in some of my trainings next school year and hopefully during faculty meetings. If possible I'd like to set it up for some lessons in the library....it might help me know when students are actually getting what I say.....I think is a great way to keep up with the thoughts of people attending a meeting. Perhaps if backchanneling is going on...a meeting/training would move faster and provide more for the needs of the learner....I'm definitely going to use these.

Thanks for finding all of the readings for us...especially with twitter...I was glad to know some of the "rules" I need to pass it on to a few of my friends!

Okay...I think I'm done for the day....it's been fun!

Thing #4 Video Hosting

This time the Library 2 Play has been a lot of review for me...the video hosting is one of them. I actually learned how to do this by a student...we had made animotos at school and one of my students uploaded his animoto to YouTube....he proudly brought me the link to school and then showed me how he created the animoto and uploaded it. I thought it was great that he had done it all on his own!...and then taught me!
Then my church had a video contest....the way the videos were "graded" was to post them to YouTube...I worked with a group of 7th grade girls to take video, edit and then post...again...they taught me much more than I taught them...we used a flip video cam to take the video, edited it with movie maker and then posted...unfortunately...we DID NOT win the competition! But it was fun learning....
I think this will be a great way for students to share...and learn about copyright....one of the big discussions I had with the girls was the music to use behind the video....they just wanted to put music from a CD....we ended up creating a piece on audacity and then putting that music behind the video....
I have gotten LOST and HOOKED in watching videos....my daughter is always sending me a link...I can see that this is definitely a way for students to learn and share their work. I think this makes learning so much more fun and engaging!

Thing # 3 Like Skype

I experimented with skype...most excited to see it on the list...I had planned to check it out anyway...my daughter will be moving away soon and this is how we may keep up...depending on how far away she end up. My "outlaws" used this while their son was in Iraq...worked like a charm. I'm now set and ready to use it...I think I will try to hook up with some other schools...how much fun would it be for students to talk to each other during the day....could be a real expansion of learning...especially if across the country....it's time to locate my "teacher friends" around the world.
Loved reading all of the tips....I know this will save me in the learning curve...it was worth reading!

Thing #2 Image Generators 2

I've spent the last few nights just playing with these items....I am most familiar with wordle and animoto...use these almost weekly with my students. I could see pairing wordsift with wordle...similar, yet very different. If students were working in pairs, one did a wordle and one did the word sift, it would be interesting to see where the two would end up. I did like that photos popped up as well on word sift...helps with visualization. I had fun playing with gloster...I think it will definitely be a new choice that I offer to students. I played with bookr, however after seeing what is available on a mac...I may be more inclined to use the software on the mac. It may be down to what is available. Made my voki....I want to play with ways to use a voki...I think it may be very motivating for students....we'll just have to see how to play with it...It may be an interesting way to get students to visit a website or wiki everyday/everyweek if the voki changed with a new question...just thinking. I added a voki to my blog...

11.5 Thing #1 Inspiration and Registration

I've decided to keep the same blog, much easier to remember and I don't have to think of another name....my students did such a good job the first time around. I'm in on PDLC...so I'm ready to go.

I watched the video...I feel like a librarian would be the perfect person to be the teacher for that student. I feel like I already help students in creating the learning environment...just need to be a little more proactive on the organization and sharing...as I learn more 2.0 tools I think that will happen. Right now we're using web pages, but as students and teachers become more comfortable with wikis and social networking...this will change and we'll update things daily, hourly and possibly even sooner.