Summary

One of my favorite parts was learning about the awesome signs you could create with the online image generator. I also like the Deli.icio.us account that enables you to access your bookmarks and other people's bookmarks from any computer any where. The RSS feeds were cool too. (This will save so much time.) Another favorite, all the free open source software like ZoHo Writer and iGoogle that allows you to store documents on the web and retrieve them from anywhere. As I think back, I have learned so much and everything was easily accessible and the assignments were all attainable. I could literally go on and on about the many different applications I have learned through this experience.
I loved the way the staff development was set up. I am also thankful that I did it in the summer when I had plenty of time to explore the different aspects of web 2.0. I have spent hours looking and exploring all the online learning tools available through this staff development. (I would look at the clock and could not believe I spent so much time exploring because I was having so much fun)Thank you for taking the time to put this together. I would definitely consider taking another course set up in this style.
My goal is to help my campuses become more familiar with web 2.0. Teachers, please if you are on my campuses, Austin, Cannaday, McKenzie, Tosch, or Tisinger, please give me a call so we can work together to help our students become the best they can be with technology using web 2.0.

Thing # 23 - Creative Commons

I noticed in the side bar, the following: Learning 2.0 is a discovery learning program created by Helene Blowers and adapted by the California School Library Association and others. Content and style for Learning 2.0 - 23 Things has been borrowed and duplicated with permission, under a Creative Commons License. This gives credit to the original author and uses the Creative Commons License.
I did not know about the Creative Commons License site. I will use it when I am creating blog pages and want to barrow and duplicate things for my page or other technology endeavors.

Thing #22 - Podcasts: no iPod needed!

Podcasts are so exciting for students. Last year students at one of my elementary schools created podcasts in 3rd grade and 6th grade. We posted them on Powermedia Plus. Students and parents were able to listen to the podcast from home. Click on the link above and you will be able to listen to some of the podcasts. These were very simple podcasts to let students learn how to create them. You will need to login to PowerMedia Plus. Remember your login is your email address and the password is your school's name. After you login, type in Austin in the search field and choose Mrs. Vasquez class or Special People in my Life. Students can login to Powermedia Plus, but I have slept since then and can not remember the student login. Next year we hope to have our own server that students will be able to save their podcasts to in our district.

I have subscribed to several podcasts, but my favorite is from my church. They use podcasts to put the sermons online every week. Therefore if I miss a Sunday, I can still hear the sermon.

Thing #21 - Animoto

I created a 30 second video of my daughter and her new husband. It was from the slideshow I made of them for their wedding. It was fun am simple to use. I was not aware of this site. I will use it in the future for short videos. This would be really fun for students to use in 4th grade while studying our great state. After students create a brochure on the state, they could use this to create a short video about their brochure.

Thing #20 - You too can YouTube

I love You Tube and God Tube. There are so many funny videos. You can spend hours looking at the different videos. At school, you could video your students and add them to your library web page. Of course, you will need parental permission before posting the video. (Very important) This is one of my favorite "Cannon Ball Baptism". It is on You Tube and God Tube.

Thing #19 - Beyond MySpace: other social networks

I have joined the 23 Thingster on Ning. I uploaded some pictures. I loved the different social networks you could join. I looked at Fuzzster. It was a fun site to check out and learn more about your breed of dog. Here is a picture of my dog Cricket. Isn't she cute????

Thing #18 - Explore social networking

I have accounts on My Space and FaceBook, but I rarely use these accounts. After this class, I will delete both accounts because I do not like information about myself on a social network. I know with My Space you can choose to have your account marked private with a password, but I am not sure about FaceBook. I can see how this may be used to acquaint yourself with other people who have common interests or want to keep up with friends who live in other places. I also realize that every teenager probably has an account on My Space. Students today are not afraid of technology, they live in the digital age. It is second nature to them to post things on blogs, add music, and pictures to their social network. They use My Space to keep up with their friends. As a parent, I would become very familiar with both social networks because these sites can be unsafe if students do not set up their accounts to insure their privacy.
I noticed that My Space had more options to customize your page while FaceBook had a more business appeal to its page. I am not convinced that My Space belongs in an educational setting. We have too many other options to use with our students like Wikis, but I feel it is very important for us to stay informed about these sites because our students do use them frequently.
This is my FaceBook account.