Thing 14

Using MindMeister I created a Mind Map for 3rd grade writing on the steps of the writing process. I found using MindMeister was easy. I also used bubble.us. I found that easy as well. Mind Maps are useful for creating webs for lesson plans or for teaching concepts in the classroom.
The Writing Process


Flowcharts are good for organizing something in order for a lesson. They can be used in lesson plans or to teach cycles such as the water cycle or the writing process. I found MindMaps more fun however, for kindergarden and first grade students a Flow Chart will make more sense and be less confusing.

Thing 13

Zoho Writer to me was a little confusing at first but the more I worked with it, the more I understood it. Zoho had pretty much the same tools at Word but I still find it difficult to use. When compared to Google Docs, I would have to say that Zoho is more difficult and more confusing.
 I really like how it is like Microsoft works online. I was able to make a powerpoint presentation in google docs and it was so simple. I can also copy my slides from my presentations on my desktop to my google docs and have it available. This way I can have something prepared even though I may not have internet at the time.
Google Docs
I prefer Google Docs over Zoho. I couldn't really figure everything out that well. 

Students can use Google Docs to share their works and to give each other feedback about their work. If students are working in groups this is a good way to create a presentation online when group meetings are difficult. 

Thing 12

This was interesting. I created an iGoogle homepage. It was fast and easy.
The google translate was cool. I searched for something in French and had it translated to English. I can also have English translated to Spanish. This could be really useful as a teacher. I can turn assignment and tests into an understandable assignment or test for and ELL student. Also for when I need to right a letter to a parent that does not speak English I can have it translated and then send it to them or if they send me one and I can't understand it I can have it translated and be able to work the parents better.

Thing 11

• I found using Google Blog Search the easiest to use. I had a hard time figuring out how to find the blogs I wanted. I wasn't wording things right. I was looking for educational blogs so I typed into the search box "education" that didn't work I got like 1 blog that was useful. When I typed in "educational techonology" or "learning 2.0" I got a lot of blogs. It isn't hard to find blogs you just have to know what you are looking for.
• They were all confusing at first but once I figured one out, I got the idea of all the other search tools.
• I found a website that gives information about video games and children and how to work with the techonological generation of our time. This was eye opening. It's funny because a lot of stuff is true. My daughter understands technology better than me and she is 7.
• I had fun looking for blogs and newsfeeds to read about. There are many useful blogs and newfeeds out there. I will definitely be using these search tools again to find anything I need in the future.

Thing 9

I made this at HappyFaceGenerator.com and for anyone who really knows me, well, this sign totally makes sense and is completely me. I talk a lot. My husband tells me to shut up a lot or he just tunes me out cause I "Babble" a lot.

This was easy to make and I picked something Madison would like. I used the comic strip generator to make this. The hardest part is picking the right frame or template. It is fun to get creative though. 

These Logo signs were easy to make at SpiffyText.com. There were so many fonts, styles, tricks and backgrounds to choose from. I played around for a long time before I found the perfect layout for me.
The first one is my husband's nickname (still don't understand that one), but he likes gold and wild stuff so I made one with gold lettering and a wild background. The second one is my name and I really like colorful stuff so the style of my name was easy to decide on but it was hard to find a background that worked with it without masking it.

These websites and image generators would be really useful for the classroom. I can make signs and posters for the walls. I can also make fun games with them if I get creative enough. These generators are funny and handy.

Thing 10

• After messing around with RSS and newsreaders, I have learned a lot. I really like how I can keep up with several different blogs on one page. This makes it easier to keep up with all the blogs I like and want to subscribe to without having to search for them and then read them. I can even read them on my if I download the application. \
• This will be useful in school in that I can set up blogs to subscribe to that give good advice and information about school things. They can keep me updated better than the news I am sure. I never watch the news but I am always on my computer.
• It is a good way to communicate with students. If you have students set up a blog and them subscribe to all their blogs they will all be right there at your fingertips and you can also have them subscribe to your blog and you can put up helpful hints or tools for homework and studying. It can also be used as an updated planner online. You can post reminders and parents should be a part of it all as well. Teachers can also share information for classes and post ideas for teachers all over to use and apply in their classrooms.
• I feel that blogs are a faster way to communicate than through email.

Thing 8 Mashups

Bubbles

I found this image using flickr color pickr. I really like this shade of blueish green so I picked it and I love bubbles so when I seen this picture I was so excited. This was a great way to find things in a specific color. This would definitely be useful for projects that deal with colors, especially for a kindergarten or first grade class. This would make learning colors fun and it will also teach what things your child's favorite color.

I think sharing photos online is ok if used the right way. When people start putting pictures up that should be kept to themselves, they just degrade themselves to less than what people saw them as. Photo sharing online is a good way to share photos with family members that live far away.