24!! Orduh numbuh 24!! Pick up 24!!

Well good gracious!! Where to begin... First of all, I am completely tired of making new profiles, usernames and passwords. Secondly, if I never seen another flickr image it'll be too soon and lastly, I am in no hurry to create a folder, file, image, video, mashup or anything else that requires any kind of technological thought. Now, that being said, let me say I learned a ton going through these 23 things. I know there will be incredible opportunities to use these tools once I have my own classroom. I love the animoto feature for creating classroom projects. I believe that Google and all the tools it has to offer are awesome to help with organizing a classroom and making classroom information accessible to students and parents a like. Social media can be invaluable to teachers who are new as well as those who have been around a while. I know I need to delve deeper into all the 23 things to really see what they can bring to my classroom. I know in order to have a classroom that keeps up with the times, I need to be fully versed in all that the 23 things has to offer. I look forward to giving each one a closer look and tailoring them to be the best possible tools for my exceptional students.

Lucky 23!! Okay, not really but I'm done so I think I'm lucky? Do ya buy it?

When I searched the internet for 23 things, I found that there are many colleges and universities who have employed the 23 things in their curriculum. Creative commons plays a big part in the spreading of 23 things because it enables all the different institutions to use the graphics and images involved in the explanations of the 23 things. After studying about Creative Commons and all it can do and has to offer, I realize how important it is to stay true to the copyright laws of images and quotations. I will absolutely made sure I teach the copyright laws to my students and even though my plan is to teach exceptional students, I will definitely teach the copyright principles in a way they can understand.

11 x 2 = 22!! yay!!!

•What are the titles of your binders? Classroom Ideas, Exceptional Students, and Communication Tips •Embed one of your binders in your post. Click on the Options button under the binder you have selected to share, and then click on Embed. Copy the code and paste it into your blog post.

Classroom ideas

•Discuss how you might use LiveBinders in the classroom, including possible lesson ideas for students. I can completely see that LiveBinders would be an awesome way to communicate assignments and information with students. I love how LiveBinders can fill your binders for you and you're ready to go.

I'm legal!!! No. 21!!

Try our slideshow creator at Animoto.

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I DID IT!!! This was a very cool experience!! At one point I even texted my son to see if he knew about this awesome tool. I haven't heard back from for him it's only 1pm in CA so chances are he isn't up yet. I could easily see how cool this would be for a classroom to make a project and see it in action. I think maybe the coolest thing would be to do something that has a progression, like a comic book or action, like writing a story, or climbing stairs, or seeds growing. This was a good one!

No. what?? That's right...20!!

Please be aware this video is not quite on the same rating scale as a Disney movie. 

Although this video may seem to be inappropriate, I chose it because it is one of my son's first jobs in Hollywood as an extra, so it has special meaning to me.  In fact, before it even came out, he told me, "Let me watch it first, and I will tell you if you can watch it or not, but I don't want Grammy to watch it at all."

You tube is an incredible tool that can be use for a great deal of educational material that students can use to learn more about our world, how things are done or made, and especially speeches delivered by historical figures.

Thing "not that thrilling" 19

So, I get onto the Teacher Pop thing and am completely unimpressed.  It seems very sterile, and I have to be approved before I am a full member?  Now what strikes me funny about that is, isn't education supposed to be all inclusive without restriction?  So here I sit and wait for my full acceptance.  BUT what's interesting is how many social networking sites are out there for educators that just take your info and you're in. 

BUT the silver lining in this assignment was Gather.  I totally signed up and am in!  I love that on Gather you can just say what you want and people will respond or not, but at the same time it's interesting, informative and get all kinds of different perspectives on current events and subjects that interest you.

So I fully promote Gather!  The jury is still out on Teacher Pop.

I can vote!! Thing No. 18!!

I gotta tell ya, this was a rough one because I have had my you-know-what burned by people who didn't quite understand me or my love for exceptional kids on facebook, and now my facebook is under my maiden name with no reference to anyone or anything that I currently do in life.  I do have a fun twitter that also has no reference to my name or what I do, it's purely fun and to keep it that way, I will introduce you to my boring twitter. Now, my boring twitter account is under the name Kim Burnard.  Very boring.  Says the right things, etc. almost makes me nauseous, and with that, here is the link to the boring one.  https://twitter.com/#!/KimBurnard

I do love twitter, and quite honestly, I enjoy it more than facebook because it's a statement that can be done right then.  Someone's bugging you, BAM! you can post it right then.  I love it because it's in real time. 

Okay, now from the educational perspective, I can see how creating a facebook page for a classroom would be a lot of fun because people in the news could be subscribed to so the class could follow their travels or thoughts.  I can see how posting experiments or classroom thoughts on a facebook page would be awesome to bring a cohesive element to a classroom.  Twitter would be a huge benefit because political figures, sports figures and academic figures and institutions could be followed and updates appear constantly.  I do think social networking has a place in the classroom, but it has to be closely monitored with strict settings.

On the edge of thing 17

Okay, in all honesty, Delicious is very overwhelming to me.  I can completely understand it's incredible usefulness and how it can connect educators throughout the world, but it is intense when you first pull up a search.  The results for "educational technology" were enormous!  Over 77,000!!  That's a lot to process.  Once I have my own classroom, I can see the benefit of being connected to so many resources and other teachers and having all that at my fingertips to help me be a better teacher, and to provide the best experience for my students possible.  I do look forward to exploring Delicious further when I can really get into it and use it for my own "kids".

No. 17-1=16

This is my google home screen.  I love the water and especially when there's a dock that leads me out to it, like my own personal peninsula!  I can see how having a customized start page is helpful because I can load it with all the things I want to see first thing in the morning like news, sports, stocks, etc.  This tool is a very cool thing, and I can absolutely see how this would be great using in the classroom because the class could collectively have a home page and place on it all the things the students need to know about current events or even sports teams to follow for the sake of stats and mathematical situations.

Okay, I am officially sold and a big fan of MSN calendar!!  I logged in and added an event, and then looked at the calendar on my phone for my hotmail account and there was the event!! I could totally get into using this tool because with age comes a certain level of forgetfulness and if I can be reminded of the events in my life everywhere I look? Well, then that's a very good thing.

I absolutely love Remember the Milk!!!  I even got the app for my phone just to keep my you-know-what straight!  As a teacher I can completely see how important this tool/app can be because there is so much to keep track of and so many things I want to do, and I know I hate when I forget to do things. 

So to summarize thing 16, I love my Google homepage, my MSN calendar and Remember the Milk.  I can see how using all three of things tools/apps will help keep my world productive and my you-know-what straight.



My journey into a Flowchart Nightmare (aka Thing 14)

Okay, this was a horrible experience.  So many buttons, colors, boxes and THEN after I create this poor excuse for a Design Chart, I'm told I joined a collaboration!  Seriously?  So at this point I'm laughing, but I will grudgingly admit, this is a pretty cool program once I settled down and started exploring I could absolutely see the benefits this would have in a classroom environment.  I tried to copy and paste my chart, but alas to no avail, but this link should take you there should you want to see my Flowbee.

http://flowchart.com/editor/#e655656e21a9e451:101889

The Wacky World of Wikis (aka Thing 15)

Well, first off, what the heck?  This was not a thrill a minute, BUT I can see how it's very cool and would make an awesome class project.  I did not accept that challenge at this time, only because this class and math, I am on a slight overload of information.  I will though, create one at a later time when this part of my academic adventure is complete.

The sandbox activity was interesting, but I had trouble navigating, hence the post of absolutely nothing, but then I was able to get a picture up there.  Here's to hopin' it's correct!

Lucky 13

                                   
This is my attempt at google docs drawing.  It was not wonderfully user friendly and navigating it was not my favorite thing to do.  I was going for the punch effect in the old Adam West/Burt Ward Batman episodes.  The choices of fonts is not that great, so I think it's missing the true BAM impact.

My zoho experience...

 

Okay, so with both programs I can see the benefits, especially if students do not have computer access at home, but they use a library computer or a friend's in order to access these programs and do their work.  That's a very cool feature of both.  To me Zoho offers a little more in terms of creativity and it is more user friendly.  I would probably push for my students to use Zoho before google docs.  However, having only poked around these programs for a short time, in all fairness I would have to take more time to really get to know them.

Annnnnnnnd onto number 12!

I found google alerts to be very cool, and I even set one up just to test it out and right after I set it up I did get an alert, so obviously it works.  I just want to be very choosy about what alerts I do set up so my phone isn't blowing up. Then I did get in to google calendar and that also was easy to use and inputting dates and events was a breeze which was great.  I have used Picasa web albums in a previous class and loved it.  It seems like google apps are for the most part user friendly and make you want to keep using them or at least find out more about them.

As far as education, I can see how alerts would be fun because a class could keep up with current events in real time, and also a teacher could appear to be a genius by knowing the latest about whatever her classroom by receiving updates on subject which interest his or her students.

http://www.google.com/alerts/manage

I set up on alert for the St. Louis Rams because my husband loves the Rams, and I like to know what he's talking about when he updates me on what they're doing and who they're drafting and so on.  I like them too, and am trying to up my knowledge of them and football in general.  After 20 years of marriage, I figured it's about time.

https://www.google.com/calendar/render?pli=1

I set up a calendar and put a couple things on it in March just to get my feet wet in it.  It's pretty cool, but there are so many way to keep track of my schedule that I just don't know if I want to deal with another one.  This was pretty cool though, and I could see how having everything concentrated onto one calendar would be pretty nice especially when it seems like there is always something happening.

Thing No. 11

*Which method of finding feeds did you find easiest to use?

For where I am at right now in my technology journey, I liked google the best because I could just type in a word or phrase and it searched for me. 

*Which Search tool was the easiest for you?

Google blog search because it was a very simple search page.  I didn't like the busyness of the topix and technorati pages.

*Which was more confusing?

Okay, I think I answered this in the previous question, but here we go again, topix and technorati were the most confusing.

*What kind of useful feeds did you find in your travels?

I found sever on emerging writers and great ones on Special Education law and literacy.  I'm looking forwarding to receiving updates from these feeds because information to those subjects is always changing.

*Or what kind of unusual ones did you find?

I really didn't poke around enough to notice anything unusual.  I will need to take more time and really look, because I have no doubt the way the world is today there are those out there posting and blogging about things that would probably leave me wondering, "What the heck is going on in this world?"

*What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds?

Most websites that provide information give searchers the opportunity to subscribe to what they have to say.  So I have seen newsfeeds on various websites.

I've hit the double digits! Thing 10!

What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?

Okay, so here's my take on this RSS and newsreaders stuff.  I cannot believe in the world of higher technological powers, RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication".  That blew my mind.  I was expecting some long drawn out title.  As I started to dig deeper into this whole RSS thing, I realized you almost have to be subscribed to something to keep up with all that is out there.  Information is updated constantly, and in order to stay in the loop of whatever your world is centered around, subscribing to one feed or 20 can make a world of difference.
  

How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life?

Okay I admit, it is pretty dang cool, and I could see how it can keep a person informed about not only world events, but the arts, science, and any other subject a person is interested in.  I think this would be awesome to use in a classroom because as a class it would be possible to keep up with different causes and subjects.  As far as my personal life, I can see how I could keep up with special education topics and different organizations where I can get information on challenges I may be having or the latest strategies in teaching exceptional kids.

How can teachers use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?

Teachers can use RSS technology to keep informed of all things related to the discipline of education and their particular subject area.  I think it would be important to subscribe to a few RSS feeds in order to keep up with changes in education at the national, state and local level, but I can see how subscribing to too many would seem overwhelming.

As far as creating a public page.  I am interested in doing this, but I need a little more time to figure out what kind of blog I want to do and whom my audience will be.

Tech Potion No. 9

http://www.txt2pic.com/signs/


http://www.imagechef.com/


http://www.imagechef.com/

Okay, this one was a pain at first and then almost reached fun.  Image Chef was the easiest to navigate and the most user friendly.  I can see how creating custom signs would be a great tool for the classroom, and the students could be more apt to follow classroom rules if they were presented in signs that looked familar but were tailored to their class.

The license plate represents my home state, and a phrase that I hear often when people find out I am from New Jersey.  The buttom I created was kind of a personal stance because I hear my name literally over 100 times per day, and sometimes I wish I could wear a button for about ten minutes per day, although it is a personal wish and not one I would ever put in to effect in class.  My sign is how I am feeling at this moment in time, and thankfully, I know it will pass.  I had no idea there was so much out there to utilize as far as creativity for the classroom.  After I come off my tech overload, I know I will enjoy digging deeper into these different flickr associated websites and learning all I can offer my students.

Mashin' Up No. 8

 

I created the above inspirational word using Spell with Flickr.  Why?  Because honestly, it was the only one of the programs I could completely wrap my brain around and have it respond as it said it would. 

 

I tried to use Big Huge Labs, Mosaic Maker, Clockr, Splashr and Flickr color picker and could not get any of them to cooperate.  Yes, I am aware I am challenged and probably need to block out about a week to truly get to know each one of these programs because I have no doubt I am missing out on some amazing tools.  Maybe I am showing my age, but it seems like these programs should be much more user friendly for all. 

 

I enjoyed using Spell with Flickr, and I like my coffee Mashup very much.  I can see how using it in a classroom would be appealing to students of all ages because you can look for just the right images that reflect your personality or period of time.

 

I believe sharing photos online is good to do as far as inanimate objects, scenery, or architecture, but when people are added, I think that is where it may get a little messy.  If the pictures are of me, then I take the risk of putting myself out there for perception or being recognized, but as far as putting pictures of others even family members, I believe that without receiving their okay, it is not worth it.

My Flickr Journey also known as Thing No. 7

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7023/6818152075_b8823914ea_m.jpg

Okay, let's talk Flickr.  This was not an easy journey only because I think I was getting in my own way.  I was searching for pictures at first trying to find just the right one, and then I thought, "Well, ya big chicken, just upload your own."  So I did.  I uploaded five different images and it did get easier as I became a little more open to the process, but it is going to take a lot of practice to embrace this flickr world. 

When I was an undergrad I took a digital photography class, and we were instructed to use Picasa Web Albums in order for the class to view each others work.  To tell the truth, I still use Picasa when I want to send lots of pictures to people because then I can send them in an album and it has always worked.  Picasa took a little getting used to, but I did adjust to it easier than flickr.  I will give flickr more time and more practice because I know it's become a huge way to share images, and  the tags and groups do help make it seem not so enourmous, and I did like that aspect.  I was impressed with how schools and libraries use them.  I thought is was cool the way schools would use it either to display student's artistic abilities and also use it as a forum to present their positions in different areas of education.  The Library of Congress was very interesting because it allows people who may never get the chance to go to visit all the incredible images they have to show.

My image is my french press filled with that wonderful nectar of the gods known as coffee.  It is imported from Carmel, CA and is called "Foglifter".  I absolutely love it!  In this day and age, when luxuries are rare due to the economy, I treat myself every morning to making coffee in my press and treating myself to something that does take more effort than hitting a switch to start the dripping, but to me the extra time is worth every wonderful sip.

Thing Number Six out of Twenty-three

My tool/site of choice is woot.com.  I remember first finding woot.com in 2006 and back then, all they would sell was one item per day.  There were no wines or t-shirts, it was just one item per day, and if it was a good item, then you had to act fact because once it was gone it was gone.  I had a boss who I turned on to woot.com, and every morning I would get an email or she would call my desk and ask if I had looked at woot yet that morning. 

Since they have added the alcohol and the section where they sell the second string items that didn't sell, the site doesn't hold the same excitement it once did.  I have to admit I do still check woot.com everyday, but rarely do I travel around the site.  I always check for the thrill of the main item and how many they have, how many they've sold and how many are left.  I have purchased some very cool stuff from woot.com and consider this one of the benefits of Web 2.0.  Commerce has become user friendly and how people can make purchases in such a vast variety of ways has made it fun to shop online at the sites that may be a little off the beaten path.

http://www.woot.com/

Number FORE! of 23

• explain why commenting helps create a sense of community and interaction

Commenting causes blogging to become more of a conversation than an essay.  People want to know they've been heard when they are speaking to someone, and I believe for a writer it is no different.  Sometimes it is even more important to be "heard" when writing because you don't see a person's expression as they read, and you really don't know if they're "getting it".  By commenting a person can get clarification, affirmation, encouragement, and the blog can become a two-way street which can benefit the blogger and the commenting party.

• discuss two other points from the readings about commenting that you found important

I read the Edublogger and the How to Comment Like a King or Queen blogs on commenting, and from both I learned there has to be a clear communication in order for comments to be effective.  In the King blog, I learned to make a thoughtful comment related to the material in the blog or do not comment at all.  In the Edublogger blog, I learned sometimes it is necessary to pick and choose which comments to respond to, and which ones to leave alone.  A response to a comment can either make or break the success of a blog.

• give the names of the seven blogs (5 from our group + 2 others of your choice) you selected to read and comment on and tell why you selected them

I have chosen the following five class blogs to follow: Miss Michelle's 23 Things, Stephanie's 23 Things, Midlick's 23 Things, These are a few of my favorite things, and Ms. Emily Mount's 23 Things.  I chose these because they are five very different blogs and by commenting on such diverse blogs, I give myself practice on making effective comments in different situations.


The two blogs outside of class I chose are: Kidlit Junkie Tells All! which provides information to aspiring writers and the unspoken rules of etiquette with regard to communicating with the editorial/publishing world and Emerging Writers Network.  I chose these blogs because one is by an insider in the world of publishing and the Emerging Writers Network is filled with tips, encouragement, connections and other resources for those who wish to have their writings published.

• discuss the comments that you chose to make and why you made them

Comment on Emerging Writers Network:

There are two things in your blog to appreciate. First, The Cupboard, itself and second, Lorraine Nelson: A Biography In Post-It® Notes. I read the excerpts from Lorraine and it is genius! I believe it is a collection of thoughts that we all have, but they are never said and David Hawkins puts all of them down on paper using a person who does not exist so anyone can relate to her. I am looking forward to getting my own copy of Lorraine and looking at post-it notes a little bit differently.

Posted by: Kim Burnard | February 11, 2012 at 09:48 AM

http://emergingwriters.typepad.com/emerging_writers_network/2012/02/book-review-2012-001-lorraine-nelson-a-biography-in-post-it-notes-by-david-hawkins.html

This blog Emerging Writers Network is wonderful because it contains so much input from so many, and this particular blog post is so funny.  I wrote the comment I did because I appreciated the blog and what it was about.  It makes me want to subscribe to The Cupboard, and also to get a copy of Lorraine Nelson: A Biography in Post-it Notes.

The response I left on the Kidlit Junkie Tells All! blog was a thank you for her direct answers and providing information for people who love to write and may want to pursue the next level.  She knows a great deal and her delivery is humorous and clear.  I will be investigating this blog more in the days to come and although it's a little older, I'm anxious to see if maybe she will start writing newer blogs.
http://kidlitjunkie.blogspot.com/

Thing #3 outta 23

I can see how blogging could be extremely useful in a classroom because it provides a forum for feedback, expression, an on-line journal and also ways students can participate and be a part of something that reaches far into the world.  Blogging to be an educational resource and also to follow other educators who blog could bring a greater sense of community in the discipline of education in a way that could enhance lesson planning, ideas, and different strategies of presenting material to one's students.  I look forward to using blogging in my classroom as both a place where I can write and gain more knowledge, and also as a tool where my students can express themselves.

Thing 5 of 23 - Web 2.0

My thoughts about Web 2.0 are positive.  I appreciate that the internet has taken a direction that is pro-user and user friendly, especially in the area of educators.  The future of education with regard to Web 2.0 is very encouraging because it can provide opportunities for students who are technologically wired, and also opportunities for those students who are afraid the push of one button and all is lost.  It appears that those powers that be behind the creation of Web 2.0 and Teachers 2.0, are keeping those students and educators in mind who need a little more encouragement to branch out into the world of the web.  I know for myself, I have had much more positive experiences with the web at this stage of its existence that I ever did before.  I like technology - when it works - as a resource, and also to utilize it in the classroom to show our students all that the web can offer them besides games and pictures.

I look forward to further explore the difference facets the web has especially with regard to exceptional students become more comfortable with all that the web encompasses and how far they are willing to dive into it.  I know how much I appreciate the changes the web masters have made in making the web a kinder and gentle environment to navigate, so I can only imagine how my exceptional students would enjoy stretching themselves into areas they did not thing were made for them.

Thing numero dos

Setting up my blogspot for the 23 things was much more challenging than I anticipated, ONLY because I wanted to get my avatar and background just right.  I am still not committed to either, but I am letting them grow on me at this point, but I am open to change.  I have an existing blog about the goings on in my classroom, so the concept of blogging is not new to me, however, this blog is about my thoughts and not about the actions, anecdotes or shenanigans of my students, and that is an adjustment. 

I have no doubt these blogs will aid in the learning process, as well as, cause me to reflect more on the material, instruction and what I plan to do with what I learn.  Technology has added so much to the discipline of education, and it appears to be one of those, "fasten your seat belt, you're in for quite a ride" type of situations.

How did you decide on your posting name and the name of your blog?

The kids in the classroom in which I work, are all exceptional high school students who live here in Clarksville, and when they say "Kim" it comes out as "Keem" so therefore, I took their lead and named my blog, "Miss Keem's 23 Things for 5540".

What was your experience in creating the blog? Was it hard for you or easy? Why?

My blog creating experience was fun because I had created a blog before, BUT I still can get all turned around and forget where to find certain things in the deeper workings of the blog such as editing or modifying the design.  Setting up a blog is exciting because it's new.  Kind of like Christmas morning or new snow, you can't be too sure what's coming next.

How does your avatar reflect your personality? Did you create an avatar that looks like your real self or someone totally different? Why?

I tried to make my avatar somewhat close to myself.  I love the beach, so that is my background.  I have three dogs, so I added a dog with  my at the beach, and I think it's a laid back "just go with it" kind of avatar, and I have learned in my years on the earth that the more one can "just go with it" the more one can experience moments of unexpected wonderful.

Miss Keem's 1 out of 23 - Successful Lifelong Learning

When I first looked at this PowerPoint, the phrase that struck me right away was, "Attitude is everything!" Which I am definitely and have definitely been aware of for most of my life, but it is also a very easy principle to forget.  So having reestablished that attitude is everything, I proceeded to look at the PowerPoint keeping the easiest and hardest habits in mind.

I believe that Habit no. 2, "Accept responsibility for your own learning", is the easiest habit for me because my education and my success in my educational endeavors all belong to me.  Every good grade or accolade I receive is because I have put in the effort to ensure my accomplishments are successful.  I must admit, I love this part of education because no one can take those accomplishments away from me, and I can be proud of myself because, "I did it."

Conversely, Habit no. 4, "Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner" is the hardest for me.  When I graduated with my bachelors in 2010, on the 24-year plan, I graduated with Honors.  Well, I was shocked that I, me the sister who did not exactly blaze an academic trail in high school or my early years of college, graduated with Honors.  No one in my family, in any way, was surprised!  I thought, "How can you not be surprised? This is me we're talking about?" It is the same in graduate school.  I made A's and I'm completely floored.  I share the news with my family, and I get a resounding, "We're not surprised."  "Of course, you have that GPA!"  I cannot help but be shocked every time I get a good grade, or glowing remarks on a project or any kind of reinforcement that tells me, "I can do this."  So, yes, I would have to say my confidence in my competence as a learner is an area I definitely need to cultivate and accept.