Anderson’s Web 2.0 Blog

OK……….so it did seem to get better the more I navigated through the program, but it was not as easy as Google Images.  I searched for Kids and Technology, and I had to go through MANY pages to get 5 that I liked.  There were multiple pictures of the same “kids” over and over with different poses…..did not like having to go through all of those.  In using Flickr in teaching and learning, I can see many uses including presentations, digital storytelling, video productions, etc.  I have not been a “user” of Flickr before this class so I can’t wait to get more familiar with it.  I know that LOTS of people use it because I have received many links to people’s “stuff” in Flickr.  This photo that I have added to represent Kids and Technology—WOW!!!  How young we are starting…..  This photo was taken by Leonid Mamchenkov and the link to the picture is http://www.flickr.com/photos/mamchenkov/371926925/.   

Creative Commons—what a concept!!!  In researching more about Creative Commons (CC)….there are so many various licenses that you can choose under the big umbrella of CC to protect your work “exactly” the way that you want to.  As an educator, I  LOVE the Creative Commons concept of “sharing and tweaking” and WITH PERMISSION—WOW!!!  All of the things that we have access to with the magic CC emblem on them-AMAZING!!!  I have begun to notice more and more websites with CC on them, and I had a little knowledge about CC to know what is was but not what it meant exactly.  I definitely think that this concept will impact the way students learn and create projects.  They are so Web 2.0 these days that there are many uses just awaiting them for digital storytelling, video production, etc.  In my classes, I LOVE to include digital images, audio, and video clips so I will greatly benefit from CC.  I have not really “shared” content, but I hope to begin doing this. I make many “handouts” for our school trainings, and I guess “I” own them.  These are the types of things that I foresee “sharing”.  Some negatives for CC include the alteration of your work in a way that you do not like……..I can see this happening.  I am such a perfectionist that I think it would be hard to turn over my “stuff” to the world. 

In my Stretch activity this week, I decided to check out something of a personal interest.  My little one may have to take IVIG therapy for his immune system, and I have been doing a lot of research on this lately.  When I looked at the Wikipedia information on IVIG, I found it to be very valid, thorough, and well-written.  It was a GREAT place to get the basic information stated in a way that you can understand.  In looking at the History tab, it seems as time has “flown by” more and more information has become available on IVIG and revisions or additions have been made.  I really like this feature because how many sites do we go to were updated YEARS ago……..  In the Discussion tab, there seems to be no looming controversies…..a GOOD sign if we need this!!!   

WIKI, WIKI—is how this class seems to be going.  I am LOVING every “thing” that we get to do.  How inspirational is the Cool Cat Teacher—she could really rejuvenate some teachers that I know—I will not name any names.  I definitely feel that there will be a wiki in my future.  I would love to create one for one of my schools to use with the staff members to collaborate and “teach each” other on the technology tools that I support them on.  I feel that many of them would get as excited as the kids and want to go ONLINE and contribute to a WIKI.  Many of the teachers I support are WONDERFUL…..they just need the know-how and encouragement and they can DO ANYTHING!!!  OK—I could go on and on with my ideas…..let me share with you all some of the things that I read about in the wiki examples.  1.  Let’s Go West-AMAZING!!!  I loved the Oregon Trail adventure.  The wiki was very well organized making it easy to navigate.  It was also PACKED with very good information.  The teacher and students did a WONDERFUL job.  2.  Grazing for Digital Natives-PLC Wikis-OVERWHELMING!!!  There is so much information on this site that I was astounded.  It is a great resource that I have bookmarked for later.  I could spend a day there just scratching the surface.  3.  Primary Math-Very simple site, but I can see many of my teachers using this site.  It is always nice to STAY SIMPLE.  This wiki could easily expand to cover more content, but I really like the simplistic style of it now.  WIKI, WIKI-WOW!!!  The wave of the future is among us………  I can’t wait to get started!!!

 WOW!!!  After a few days of checking the Google Reader……it can be OVERWHELMING!!!  I just keep reminding myself of Jerrie’s advice that I do not have to read every article…..the “good” stuff will continue to appear.  In using the Stretch activity with Google News, I found out almost immediately the importance of being very specific in what I really wanted.  I started out with (Georgia and Education)….  In one VERY INTERESTING article dated November 5^th from The Spectrum, the author is questioning Georgia’s commitment to
 Education.  This article uses the example of three counties in Georgia cancelling Friday classes the day before the Georgia-Florida game as an example to how we tend to think that “football is king”.  After a brief description about why the counties had to be off on Friday, the article further goes into the facts that Georgia has one of the lowest state education rankings.  This was a VERY INTERESTING article.  If you are intrigued and want to check it out………here is the link.  http://spectrum.buffalo.edu/article.php?id=38000