For my last big project in US history this year, I've created a research assignment where students choose a person that they believe have had the most positive impact on the Us and then create a blog about them. While introducing this project during my last observation, I showed students how to create google web addresses and how to set up their blogs on blogger.com throught the use of videos on screentoaster. It was so easy to make the videos! I found that the students really utilized them when I wasn't immediately available in the computer lab when they were doing their setup, and again when I was gone one day. It was huge!
I really liked how easy it was to create the movies and post them to my website. This summer I'll have to play around with it more!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Spring has sprung
I find myself having an increasingly harder time of remembering to blog lately. The weather may have something to do with that!
I was driving home from school last week and was listening to WCCO on my drive. At this point, I am much younger than their normal demographic, but sometimes I find it really comforting to listen to, as it reminds me of long family drives as a kid or eating pancakes in my grandmother's kitchen while we listened to the crop reports. But I digress. Don Shelby was interviewing Paul Douglas (former weatherman for WCCO) about a new technology venture he's been working on.
Apparently, Douglas not only has created a website that gives personalized weather forecasts, but has teamed up with Conservation Minnesota to produce a series of short videos with "an environmental spin." The site has information on current weather, weather forecasts, and how the environment and weather affect each other.
While this may not be helpful for all lesson plans, if someone wanted to do a lesson that needed information regarding the environment or just wanted to check Minnesota's ever-changing weather, it might be a good site to check out.
The interview article can be found at : http://wcco.com/specialreports/paul.douglas.venture.2.987003.html
And Paul Douglas' joint venture with Conservation Minnesota can be found at: http://www.conservationminnesota.org/
I was driving home from school last week and was listening to WCCO on my drive. At this point, I am much younger than their normal demographic, but sometimes I find it really comforting to listen to, as it reminds me of long family drives as a kid or eating pancakes in my grandmother's kitchen while we listened to the crop reports. But I digress. Don Shelby was interviewing Paul Douglas (former weatherman for WCCO) about a new technology venture he's been working on.
Apparently, Douglas not only has created a website that gives personalized weather forecasts, but has teamed up with Conservation Minnesota to produce a series of short videos with "an environmental spin." The site has information on current weather, weather forecasts, and how the environment and weather affect each other.
While this may not be helpful for all lesson plans, if someone wanted to do a lesson that needed information regarding the environment or just wanted to check Minnesota's ever-changing weather, it might be a good site to check out.
The interview article can be found at : http://wcco.com/specialreports/paul.douglas.venture.2.987003.html
And Paul Douglas' joint venture with Conservation Minnesota can be found at: http://www.conservationminnesota.org/
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Gcast
After the neat things we learned about at our last mili, I was excited to begin the process of using gcast as part of my curriculum. That is until the email I received last week. Unfortunately, they are ceasing to be a free service due to covering the costs of calls to use the service. You may continue to use gcast's phone podcasting for a fee of $99, and will be limited to 2 hours of recording every 90 days beginning April 1.
I was planning to use this with my students during 4th quarter utilizing their cell phones as part of class. Does anyone know of any other free podcasting options where students can call in their recordings?
Thanks!
I was planning to use this with my students during 4th quarter utilizing their cell phones as part of class. Does anyone know of any other free podcasting options where students can call in their recordings?
Thanks!
Monday, March 23, 2009
Toilet technology
Not to brag, but I was in Japan for spring break--and it was awesome! Some of the interesting technology things I found were:
1. People don't text on their cell phones, they send emails. All the time! Japanese cell phones are awesome, too. Not only do they have the same features as ours, but you can also watch live tv with an extendable antenna on the side of the phone. Wickedly cool.
2. The subways/trains all have tv screens that show you when you will arrive at your station in addition to playing constant advertisements. This in addition to the giant Times Square type tv screens blaring at all the major intersections will have you buying their merchandise when ever possible.
3. Most museums and shrines have you purchase tickets to enter, but only from machines, not people. In addition, there are the famous vending machines everywhere where you can put in the equivalent to $50 and it'll give you change. Pretty cool when you put $100 into the subway ticket machine, only to have it run out of cash and they instantly fill it for you.
4. Finally, the title of this post. The toilet technology. Where else in the world, when your only other option is the squat toilet, can you find a toilet that is priced at over $1000? The fabulous features include: heated seat (awesome when you're at an outdoor park), "music" feature that plays the sound of a toilet flushing so no one else can hear you do your business, a bidet to spray your backside, another spray feature to wash all the naughty bits, and an automatic air freshening sensor that determines what is being deposited and counteracts the odor appropriately! My only question is why is it not automatic flush? All this technology in a piece of porcelain and you still need to push a button to flush? Maybe in next year's model.
Twittering
So with all the recent posts about twitter, I have one question--is it a one trick pony?
I have not yet checked out Twitter (I was literally on the other side of the world during spring break, jetlagged and sleepy all last week, and getting ready for this week's observation) which I know would help me. But seeing as I'm already on Facebook, would I really need to be on Twitter too? Aren't the status updates on FB what Twitter is really all about?
Would someone care to tweet and enlighten me?
I have not yet checked out Twitter (I was literally on the other side of the world during spring break, jetlagged and sleepy all last week, and getting ready for this week's observation) which I know would help me. But seeing as I'm already on Facebook, would I really need to be on Twitter too? Aren't the status updates on FB what Twitter is really all about?
Would someone care to tweet and enlighten me?
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Computer therapy
I have not been the best at blogging lately--for some very good, personal reasons. And because of these reasons, I find myself needing to mention some of the awesome things I learned about technology.
First, is that when someone goes through a loss, there are so many places to go to find support. I was able to find blogs, wikis, websites, and videos all devoted to what I was going through. It was terrific to find that there were others with the same emotions I was feeling, and it was amazingly comforting. I was able to be inspired by the words of others, without paying a copay for some awesome therapy.
Secondly, thanks to webmd.com and other reputable medical websites, I could become a well informed patient. Not only could I learn about what to expect when it came to my feelings and symptoms, I also found out about the range of things to expect following surgery and everything else. Although this doesn't sound good for all the hypochondriacs in the world, it is a nice substitute to calling up the doctor and asking a million questions in the middle of the night.
Finally, when you just can't bear to talk to someone in person, and need to convey a message, the Internet provides a way of talking to other family and friends when verbal words fail. I could tell people what was going on, from the comfort of home, and not need to take breaks because of how I was feeling.
I guess technology can function as therapy after all.
First, is that when someone goes through a loss, there are so many places to go to find support. I was able to find blogs, wikis, websites, and videos all devoted to what I was going through. It was terrific to find that there were others with the same emotions I was feeling, and it was amazingly comforting. I was able to be inspired by the words of others, without paying a copay for some awesome therapy.
Secondly, thanks to webmd.com and other reputable medical websites, I could become a well informed patient. Not only could I learn about what to expect when it came to my feelings and symptoms, I also found out about the range of things to expect following surgery and everything else. Although this doesn't sound good for all the hypochondriacs in the world, it is a nice substitute to calling up the doctor and asking a million questions in the middle of the night.
Finally, when you just can't bear to talk to someone in person, and need to convey a message, the Internet provides a way of talking to other family and friends when verbal words fail. I could tell people what was going on, from the comfort of home, and not need to take breaks because of how I was feeling.
I guess technology can function as therapy after all.
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Cite your source
Like the good little Mili student I am, I am starting to be vigilant with my students about their citations. In fact, they've actually called me on it a few times with things I've shown them in class. It's surprising the times you see things in the media that aren't necessarily cited, or that are cited incorrectly.
I made sure that when I found information for my students to look at in class today on religions of the world that I included all the citations at the bottom of the page. At least I'll try to show them what they should do, even if I don't always.
I made sure that when I found information for my students to look at in class today on religions of the world that I included all the citations at the bottom of the page. At least I'll try to show them what they should do, even if I don't always.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Go Gadget, Go!
I haven't posted in two weeks (bad Emily!) and I just found something rather nifty as I was puttering around on blogger. I keep looking at the other blogs in Mili and am envious as to how beautiful the other blogs are. But I just found my swan!
I uploaded the "webcams from around the world" gadget. Now, it does sound a little voyeuristic looking at things across the planet from the comfort and safety of my computer, but it's also pretty darn cool! You never know what image will pop up next, so there is always the element of surprise and being completely amazed at the images in front of you.
If you would like to check it out, check out my blog. Otherwise, I am on the lookout for more technology for a make-up post.
I uploaded the "webcams from around the world" gadget. Now, it does sound a little voyeuristic looking at things across the planet from the comfort and safety of my computer, but it's also pretty darn cool! You never know what image will pop up next, so there is always the element of surprise and being completely amazed at the images in front of you.
If you would like to check it out, check out my blog. Otherwise, I am on the lookout for more technology for a make-up post.
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
I get by with a little help from my friends
I found this great website this afternoon for history teachers, people wanting to integrate history into their lessons, and anyone who wants to be a history teacher because they realize how cool we are! The site is http://www.besthistorysites.net/ and it has 1000s of links to historical websites and education sites dedicated to helping teachers. You can find lesson plans, games, links for art and oral histories, and history of every type and era. Even if you aren't a history teacher, take a minute out of your day to check it out. It's pretty darn cool!
Monday, January 19, 2009
Inauguration Day
On the eve of President Obama's inauguration, I am very excited to see all of the various ways technology will be covering the events of the day. Long gone are the days of listening to the President's first speech over the radio proclaiming "there is nothing to fear, but fear itself!"
Tomorrow is a day which will live in infamy, but in that so many people will be able to watch events on tv, streaming over the internet, and live on the radio. It makes me wonder that in 60 years, we've come from being able to listen on the radio, to being able to watch live over the net. How will we be able to view it in another 60 years? Smell-o-vision? Virtual reality tablets which make you believe that you are there?
I frequently think about what has happened with technology over a lifetime and am constantly amazed. My grandfather turned 90 in October, and in his lifetime there have been two world wars, the advent of movies and television, antibiotics, and even sliced bread (1928, when he was 10!) Maybe I'm waxing a bit too poetically for a Monday evening, but with all this recent change, I can't help but wonder what the future has in store.
Tomorrow is a day which will live in infamy, but in that so many people will be able to watch events on tv, streaming over the internet, and live on the radio. It makes me wonder that in 60 years, we've come from being able to listen on the radio, to being able to watch live over the net. How will we be able to view it in another 60 years? Smell-o-vision? Virtual reality tablets which make you believe that you are there?
I frequently think about what has happened with technology over a lifetime and am constantly amazed. My grandfather turned 90 in October, and in his lifetime there have been two world wars, the advent of movies and television, antibiotics, and even sliced bread (1928, when he was 10!) Maybe I'm waxing a bit too poetically for a Monday evening, but with all this recent change, I can't help but wonder what the future has in store.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Facebook Addict!
Facebook! How I love thee! Let me count the ways . . .
(Following my last blog, Karen asked me to elaborate on my Facebook experience, and I am pulling myself away from FB for 2 minutes to tell you why I admire it so.)
1. It's a great way of connecting with pals from work, sports, band, etc that you don't see on a regular basis. The primary reason I joined was to find "friends" from high school before my 10 year reunion last summer. Thanks to FB, I saved myself at least $90 and the embarrassment of proclaiming to friends from high school that I'm not the First Lady of the US. (yet!)
2. Along those same lines, the voyeur side of me can see how others have fared from high school and you don't have that awkwardness of trying to remember their name in the middle of the grocery store. (Trust me, some people should not put those pics on FB!)
3. There are actually some fun games and activities to play where you can interact with friends. I play Scrabble, challenge my friends to Geo Challenge (I beat them all--awesome being a social studies teacher), and occasionally "Kidnap!" someone to a far off land. (I am trying to take the Kidnap application and have it lend itself to the classroom. It's kind of hard without the technology component.)
4. It's awesome knowing what the students are doing for "fun" with technology at home. Knowing about FB, MySpace and others allow me to have a connection that others may not have. Not that I allow students to visit my site or be my friend, I can talk to them about applications and then they try them and find out that they are cool. (Exact thing happened with Kidnap and Geo Challenge!) Plus, I feel it's a huge advantage into staying hip and cool and trying new things that interest the students.
5. Finally, FB is what connects me to my best friend who lives in Las Vegas. I can send her a message, we can instant message, post pictures each other can see, or I can write on her wall. It's cheaper than a long distance call and has the potential to be instantaneous. What's not to love?
So there are a few reasons why I love FB. Now, I need to move my car on Parking Wars so it doesn't get ticketed by a fellow band nerd from high school.
(Following my last blog, Karen asked me to elaborate on my Facebook experience, and I am pulling myself away from FB for 2 minutes to tell you why I admire it so.)
1. It's a great way of connecting with pals from work, sports, band, etc that you don't see on a regular basis. The primary reason I joined was to find "friends" from high school before my 10 year reunion last summer. Thanks to FB, I saved myself at least $90 and the embarrassment of proclaiming to friends from high school that I'm not the First Lady of the US. (yet!)
2. Along those same lines, the voyeur side of me can see how others have fared from high school and you don't have that awkwardness of trying to remember their name in the middle of the grocery store. (Trust me, some people should not put those pics on FB!)
3. There are actually some fun games and activities to play where you can interact with friends. I play Scrabble, challenge my friends to Geo Challenge (I beat them all--awesome being a social studies teacher), and occasionally "Kidnap!" someone to a far off land. (I am trying to take the Kidnap application and have it lend itself to the classroom. It's kind of hard without the technology component.)
4. It's awesome knowing what the students are doing for "fun" with technology at home. Knowing about FB, MySpace and others allow me to have a connection that others may not have. Not that I allow students to visit my site or be my friend, I can talk to them about applications and then they try them and find out that they are cool. (Exact thing happened with Kidnap and Geo Challenge!) Plus, I feel it's a huge advantage into staying hip and cool and trying new things that interest the students.
5. Finally, FB is what connects me to my best friend who lives in Las Vegas. I can send her a message, we can instant message, post pictures each other can see, or I can write on her wall. It's cheaper than a long distance call and has the potential to be instantaneous. What's not to love?
So there are a few reasons why I love FB. Now, I need to move my car on Parking Wars so it doesn't get ticketed by a fellow band nerd from high school.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
All Apologies
I hate to say it . . . but I am rather technoed out right now. After being home for two weeks surrounded by Facebook 24/7 and all other forms of computer things, I just am not feeling the blogging bug at this time. With so much in the news about the inauguration coming up, trying to get grades done prior to the end of the quarter, and getting pumped up for 4 preps during 3rd quarter . . . I'm just not feeling like blogging. I am sorry.
The only thing that is really hitting me right now (pardon the pun) is the reminder in my "Today in History" gadget on iGoogle that today is in fact the 15th anniversary of Nancy Kerrigan's clubbing incident. But would we remember Nancy Kerrigan as much if that event had not happened? Probably not. So, in terms of her notoriety, happy anniversary!
The only thing that is really hitting me right now (pardon the pun) is the reminder in my "Today in History" gadget on iGoogle that today is in fact the 15th anniversary of Nancy Kerrigan's clubbing incident. But would we remember Nancy Kerrigan as much if that event had not happened? Probably not. So, in terms of her notoriety, happy anniversary!
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