Sarah+Ice


 * Monday, July 23, 2007**

Before lunch

This is my first day of Web 2.0 class and I'm excited, curious and a bit scared ... so much lingo to learn and tools from which to choose. Our instructor, [|Scott Merrick], is one of the most energetic and exuberant computer geeks I have ever had the privilege to know. He has his hands in many things with his main focus, it seems to me, being to educate educators on evolving technology and the resources available to them on the internet and how those applications might be useful within the classroom.

First, Joel is teaching me how to use [|NetVibes] and copy RSSs (Really Simple Syndications) so that I can check such things as my email messages, the weather and news headlines from a central location. It's fairly straight forward, but has still taken some time for me to set up...so many options! I'm not sure if I like it better than the [|mymsn] page I established many months ago. One thing I like about my NetVibes pages is that I can create and maintain a to-do list which is great for a chronic list maker like myself. However, given that I am not on the computer all the time, I am still likely to resort to good old fashioned pen and paper for my to-do lists. One disadvantage that NetVibes has compared to mymsn, for example, is that mymsn allows its users to easily create a list of stocks and quotes which it updates several times each hour. Joel did figure out a way to put stock quotes on his NetVibes page so it can be done.

After lunch

Browsing a list of Web 2.0 applications, I decided I'd check out [|slideshare]. Simply put, video : youtube :: slides : slideshare. It is a collection of slideshows ranging from people's vacation pictures to professionally designed presentations for work purposes. They are sorted by such categories as "most viewed" and "latest". Not only can I view and download slideshows, but I can also upload slideshows to share with friends and family. I assume that I can specify the people who are able to view my slideshow or I could make it public. I did see some wonderful pictures on these slideshows and some of the presentations were phenomenal...a good place to get ideas if I ever need to do a presentation of my own.


 * Tuesday, July 24, 2007**

Before lunch

I survived the first day of Web 2.0 and am back for more. I have spent a considerable amount of time this morning playing around on the website [|furl.net]. In a nutshell, it provides me a way to store my bookmarks online. In this way, I can access my favorite websites from any computer...not just my home computer. Signing up for furl.net and downloading the button are easy. Once a member, there are a few ways to search for a topic. For example, I am interested in modern furniture. Furl gives me the choice to search for the key words "modern furniture" within: (1) the entire web (what I am used to doing) (2) the websites that other members of furl.net have bookmarked or (3) my own archive of bookmarks. Once I furl a website, I can name a category for it. The interesting modern furniture websites I found all went under the category of, surprisingly enough, modern furniture. When I revisit furl.net in the future, I can go straight to the list of websites that pertain strictly to modern furniture. Yeah! How handy.

After lunch

I spent more time exploring furl.net.


 * Wednesday, July 25, 2007**

Before lunch

I am slowly making my way through [|Kathy Schrok's list of Web 2.0 applications]. Today, I chose to find out more about [|giffy.net]. It's a great website that allows me to create such things as flow charts and floor plans. Since I am moving in a few months, I tested the application by trying to recreate the floor plan of my condo. The website has a collection of commonly used icons such as: wall, sofa, table with chairs, stove, stairs, door, window, etc. to make it easy to create the floor plan and move furniture around to see how different configurations would look. Each of the icons can easily be resized to keep them in scale. There is also a palette of colors which allowed me to change the color of each piece of furniture and appliance. When I was done, the program allowed me to email my husband a link to the floor plan and gave him permission to collaborate. Wow! I can see that this tool would be very helpful for those in the business world needing to collaborate on a presentation. For example, a group of people could all access the most current flow chart without sending numerous versions via email which then need to be changed, saved and re-mailed (whilst someone else may be making different changes unbeknownst to you).

After lunch

After browsing Kathy Schrok's list of applications once again, I decided to explore the website [|Classroom 2.0]. The website summarizes it best when it describes itself as "devoted to the practical application of Web 2.0 and collaborative technologies in the classroom." Its users exchange ideas and provide updates to educators with common interests. As a middle school math teacher, I looked at discussion threads under the headings of "math" and "middle school". The post that I found most fascinating was left in the "high school" discussion area letting other teachers know of an upcoming comprehensive (as comprehensive as we can be, at least) index of species called the [|Encyclopedia of Life]. It will include pictures, video and scads of information on each species. The information comes from a long list of reliable sources and is verified by scientists. The website claims to "welcome input", but it seems as though it will not be as user-controlled as such sites as Wikipedia, for example.


 * Thursday, July 26, 2007**

Before lunch

This course has encouraged me to think about my interests (inside and outside of education) and question whether joining a wiki, blog or message board is something I'd like to do. I decided that if I joined one, I would have two criteria: (1) those currently using the site would need to at least appear educated and have spelling and grammar skills no worse than my own (2) I would need to feel that it's a site I would look at and contribute to on a regular basis; in that way, I would really get the Web 2.0 experience and hopefully make some friends with a common interest or goal. I am happy to report that I joined a message board this morning and hope to be an active member.

I received a valuable lesson from Wiz this morning. I overheard her commenting on the numerous server hogs we have here at school...an offense of which I am certainly guilty. She reminded me that one way to save server space is by deleting attachments promptly. I explained to her how I almost daily email myself attachments so that I can share documents between my home computer and school computer. She explained how I can place files in my First Class account without actually emailing them to myself. They are simple to upload and download and can (and should) be deleted when their usefulness is up...just like an email. Ask me if you want to know how. Furthermore, instead of emailing large files to friends or students (e.g. a collection of pictures) which takes up space on our respective servers, we could instead start a wiki where we place a single copy of the pictures which we can all access. In this way, we all get to see the pictures, but don't use an abundance of computing resources.


 * Friday, July 27, 2007**

Before lunch

This is our last day of Web 2.0 class and I truly believe we saved the best for last. I learned of an application today called [|voicethread] which allows users, after a simple registration process, to upload photographs and record dialogue over the picture. I created a basic voicethread of my own to make sure I understand how it works. In order to use the application from home, I will need to buy a microphone. I would love to create digital copies of old black & white pictures and have my grandmother talk about her parents, her childhood, meeting and marrying my grandfather, having children, etc. One option which I haven't mentioned is that I can record multiple dialogues for a single picture. For example, if I used a picture of my husband and me, he could speak first and I could speak second, for example. A very cool tool!

After lunch

Our small group took turns demonstrating things we had learned and/or created this week. A very clever and creative bunch of folks in my midst. Man am I glad I work here. There has been a proposal to regroup in the winter and discuss if and how we've actually implemented the things we learned this week.