THING 18: Social Networking

Social networking is all around of us. Most commonly we see it through Twitter, and Facebook. Educators need to know how these sights works to keep up with the technology their students are using. I basically knew how these two sights work since I have an account with each one. This is a link to my Facebook account. Overall I like how easy they are to use, you can connect with friends, share pictures, have group chats, and create events. Personally, I prefer to use Facebook  and get more from using it. I can see application on Facebook in the classroom, but as a future elementary teacher I could not use social networking sites. I personally think it outs people in positions, and there needs to be some kind of separation of the classroom and personal lives . 

Social Bookmarking! Thing 17

Social Bookmarking definitely has some potential. Exploring the website Delicious gave me insight to the online tagging system. One link that caught my eye had the tags video education, teaching, tools, and Web2.0. This link was Teacher Tube. It has lesson plan videos  and links to specific grades and subject areas. If teachers come together and share resources and there is success in the classroom that can be tracked Delicious is a great tool to get the ideas out there. Teachers can share collaboratively what works! If more people catch onto the idea of social bookmarking, it can make lesson planning less stressful, and more productive.

tHiNg 16 Getting Organized

I Google: A place for many different Widgets to come together. You can choose which ones you want, and where you want them. However, I did have problems trying to get my other emails to load besides my G-mail account. I think I Google is a neat idea; However, I personally would not use it. I would consider using it as my homepage if I could figure out how to utilize it more, but for the time being its not for me.

The second part of getting organized is using an online calender. I decided to try 30 Boxes. 30 Boxes allows you to keep track of everything and anything, but it allows you to share it with certain "buddies." This is a neat ideas for teachers to use with parents. Only the teacher and parents can access it and it is a good tool to communicate with. As far as personal use is if I was still baby sitting I could use it to show my "customers" what dates I am booked and what dates I am available. However, as a current student I find it easier to use my planner book, or the calendar on  my I Pad simply because these two items are very accessible throughout my day, and its quick and easy. With 30 Boxes I would have to log in and go from there. I think its an awesome idea however for my current use it is just not practical.

WIKI WIKI thing 15

Before completing thing 15, I was confused about the idea of a wiki. When hearing the word wiki, I thought of Wikipedia but Wikipedia is just only one example in the realm of wiki. A wiki is just a place where several people come together and can edit or update posts. I would not use a wiki for formal things, but I think its an excellent idea for group work. Students can help one another out, edit small mistakes, and post their ideas. Its an easy way to see who has edited what and when.I think it would be a neat idea for a group of teachers to be able to share their ideas with projects, tests, standards, and worksheets. Then edit if they think it can improved. It does worry me that almost anyone can edit in a wiki. Personally I probably would not use a wiki, but its not a terrible concept; It can be rather useful. In the APSU 23 Sandbox Wiki I was able to share an idea.

Mind Maps and Flow Charts.. Are they the Same? Thing 14

In a sense a mind map, and a flow chart are the same. They both organize your ideas, and gives you a path to follow. However a flow chart is used to follow a process, or a certain line of thinking; Whereas, a mind map allows your thoughts to go in multiple directions. I see a min map being used more for brainstorming ideas. The big question is how do I choose which one I want to use? It's easy it just depends on your topic, and if it is for your reading or for an audience  The former is more for the mind map, and the latter is more for a flow chart.


I chose to play around with Gliffy flow charts, and MindMeister's mind maps. The neat thing with Gliffy is that you could create your own flow chart or go off a template. It was slightly complicated to use at first. I liked how it offered many different shapes. Lastly, you could print your flow chart. and share it with your class. Then I tried MindMeister and really enjoyed it. It was quick and easy. I could add an idea by holding my mouse to the button and clicking it for a new idea typing what it was and repeating.For a fast thinking person this is a great tool.Also, it was easy to drag one idea to another. The mind map could also be made colorful. Furthermore you could link things to it, and upload files. Personally I enjoyed MindMeister more.

Zoho Versus Google Docs Thing 13

Thing 13 is all about working with different word processors. It asked us to complete to compare Zoho to Google Docs. I found that Zoho was easy to create an account and a document. However, after I created it the account they called my phone, and that was a little strange. I noticed that Zoho has many features in its word document that Microsoft, and Google docs has. Personally I would use Google Docs and Microsoft before Zoho. Furthermore, I was able to play with the drawing feature on Google Docs so I created a "Sketch" of my living room. I also noticed it has many of the same drawing tools that Microsoft offered. I would use Google Docs if my Microsoft Word doesn't work, or is outdated. Furthermore, Google Docs allowed me to make a document private, share with only those who have the link, or to publish it on the web. I think this is a good way for students to interact, because they can access it anywhere with a computer and the internet and can set the setting to where only the groups members see it. If the group was making a presentation and they needed to add slides as needed or edit different parts they can. I think Google Docs is a worthwhile tool. Here is the link to the sketch of my living room. DRAWING