Sunday, February 22, 2009
Map Mashup... What I did over Spring Break
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For this particular assignment, I saw connection with some of the third grade Language Arts GLCEs, and saw it as a piece where students could create a narrative texts, using their "voice" to tell the story of a family vacation, or trip they would like to take. It could be applied to places near and far. When I was in school, I would often take trips with my grandparents, and have to miss a week or so of school. My teachers would have me create a presentation, from pictures, artifacts and my journal entries and I can see a Map Mashup as a great way to integrate technology into a similar assignment. I am really excited about the Mashups, and have enjoyed looking over what my peers have created. I see tremendous application to Language Arts- literature trips, writing, presenting- Social Studies- immigration, war, historical landmarks, maps, cardinal directions- Math- estimating distance and time, gas mileage, budget- Science- geographical features, climate, habitat, migration patterns, and am excited about seeing what students could create with this particular technology. The possibilities are endless, and it is a great tool for an integrated lesson.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
RSS feeds for Parents
I chose the task of locating RSS feeds for parents. The Google search for "parent RSS feeds/ parents tips/ ideas for kids, children's math RSS etc. really didn't provide what I was looking for. I can see these being available in the future, they would be useful. I found one that I set-up that provides articles for parents about technology. There is a variety of topics, but the central theme is that technology can be safe and used as a great tool for learning. There is a vast divide in technology ability and attitudes today. I know many that have never been on the Internet, and have no desire to do so. With not knowing, and possibly even knowing, there is a certain level of fear and nervousness about connecting yourself to anyone in the world online. This RSS feed may help to keep parents posted with technology updates and the many great ways they can be used in education.
The second feed I added was recommended by a friend and I spent some time getting familiar with this week. I can see Shelfari being used to record the books that students read at school during the year. It is pretty neat to see the books you have read displayed with their actual covers on the screen. For me it was like looking at old friends, and fun trying to remember the books that I read in school. By having students add books to their shelf, they can share their progress and create discussion about what they read. There could be a connection with some of those books, with the students taking them home to read with their families, or add books that they read at home with their parents. If homes do not have access to the Internet, the shelf could be printed off throughout the year to share the progress- or students could show their parents when they are at the school, parent-teacher conferences etc, and students can add the books that they read at home in class.
The third feed I subscribed to was for the Word of the Day. This could be a great thing to add to a classroom blog that parents and students could talk about and learn together, when they check out the blog. It could be incorporated into classroom discussion and then become included into a classroom dictionary/ vocabulary log.
I actually prefer to add RSS feeds through Blogger. If you go to Customize, add a Gadget, and then choose Feed, you can customize the layout of the feed, and I think it makes it look more cohesive with the blog. It has the same options and I prefer the look of it rather than going through Google Reader.
The second feed I added was recommended by a friend and I spent some time getting familiar with this week. I can see Shelfari being used to record the books that students read at school during the year. It is pretty neat to see the books you have read displayed with their actual covers on the screen. For me it was like looking at old friends, and fun trying to remember the books that I read in school. By having students add books to their shelf, they can share their progress and create discussion about what they read. There could be a connection with some of those books, with the students taking them home to read with their families, or add books that they read at home with their parents. If homes do not have access to the Internet, the shelf could be printed off throughout the year to share the progress- or students could show their parents when they are at the school, parent-teacher conferences etc, and students can add the books that they read at home in class.
The third feed I subscribed to was for the Word of the Day. This could be a great thing to add to a classroom blog that parents and students could talk about and learn together, when they check out the blog. It could be incorporated into classroom discussion and then become included into a classroom dictionary/ vocabulary log.
I actually prefer to add RSS feeds through Blogger. If you go to Customize, add a Gadget, and then choose Feed, you can customize the layout of the feed, and I think it makes it look more cohesive with the blog. It has the same options and I prefer the look of it rather than going through Google Reader.
Friday, February 6, 2009
Personalizing the Internet
RSS Feeds
I started using an RSS feed on my blog for NPR- Politics and Society, U.S. Department of Education and The Record Eagle- a newspaper based in Traverse City to keep me updated with news in my home region. I have since moved the U.S. Department of Education feed to my online portfolio, and I continue to organize myself on the Internet. I found that almost any topic/ and most websites are now offering RSS feeds. I found everything from cooking to education, to a Rhianna feed for music.
I can see these being included on a classroom blog, keeping the class updated with local news from their towns, or really any topic of interest or study. There could be a pair of students that are responsible for choosing an article daily to report to the class, as a part of the morning routine.
iGoogle
I set up iGoogle as my homepage, and like that it offers a quick view of the weather, new emails and updates from my feeds. It is an instant update for me when I get online.
This could be done for the class computers as well, set up by/ with students.
Google Reader
This seems like just one more place that I would have to go to check out. I can this used as an either/ or for news, however will keep it included in my "toolbox" for future use in the classroom.
I started using an RSS feed on my blog for NPR- Politics and Society, U.S. Department of Education and The Record Eagle- a newspaper based in Traverse City to keep me updated with news in my home region. I have since moved the U.S. Department of Education feed to my online portfolio, and I continue to organize myself on the Internet. I found that almost any topic/ and most websites are now offering RSS feeds. I found everything from cooking to education, to a Rhianna feed for music.
I can see these being included on a classroom blog, keeping the class updated with local news from their towns, or really any topic of interest or study. There could be a pair of students that are responsible for choosing an article daily to report to the class, as a part of the morning routine.
iGoogle
I set up iGoogle as my homepage, and like that it offers a quick view of the weather, new emails and updates from my feeds. It is an instant update for me when I get online.
This could be done for the class computers as well, set up by/ with students.
Google Reader
This seems like just one more place that I would have to go to check out. I can this used as an either/ or for news, however will keep it included in my "toolbox" for future use in the classroom.
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