I searched Yahoo Widgets [http://widgets.yahoo.com/] and found a vast array of widgets to add fun and functionality to my desktop and blog. All of my widgets came from Yahoo Widgets. Yahoo Widgets is a searchable database of both Yahoo-created and private-entity created widgets. I searched the top-rated widget downloads for interesting widgets, along with the newest widget creations. I found 7 widgets that may be beneficial to my daily life and my profession. These widgets automatically downloaded onto my desktop in a navbar on the side of my screen. With each new widget I download, comes a new icon on my widget navbar. None of these widgets were so important that they have permanently placed themselves on my 'do no remove' list.
10 Minute Lesson of the Day
This simple Widget gives a list of audio files on a separate page that tell stories of interesting events in history. Students enjoy hearing facts about history. It's a great way to get their attention before a lesson.
Calvin and Hobbes Fetcher
This fetches the famous comic series, one for each day of the year. It's just a pick-me-up at the beginning of a day.
History Slideshow
This widget is a skinny movable bar that is a slideshow timeline of major historical events, selectable from the 20th century BC to the 20th century AD. Again this is trivial knowledge that can be added to any lesson to spice it up.
Math Kards
These are flashcards for elementary basic facts in +,X,/,-. They are selectable by level and amount and time. I may used a widget like this and download it to each of my classroom computers as a quick review for students who have finished their work early.
Sun Clock
This is a world map in projection view that shows how the sun travels across the land. I may want to use this when I discuss the Earth, Sun, Moon relationship.
Today in History
The name says it all. It what you find in newspapers near the comics. It gives you a searchable database of historical events based on the current day. Kids would love to look up historical events and deliver them to the class in the morning.
Werewolf Monitor
No like it sounds. This tracks the movement of the moon around the Earth. This will be a great addition to the Earth, Sun, Moon unit.
Additionally, I found 3 gadgets that could increase productivity. I placed these gadgets on my iGoogle page. The gadgets include a large clock with date and time, local weather, and a Google Maps search window. It's nice to have a large and easy to read clock handy. I'm always interested in how the weather is so I can prepare for the conditions. Google maps is amazing. I'm looking for real estate at the moment, so this comes in handy when I don't know the road the property is on.
Widgets and gadgets have potential for being helpful in my personal and professional life. Right now I can live without them. I haven't found any that I can't live without. Maybe some day there will be one.
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Social Networking
I joined three social networking sites, Classroom 2.0, a network of teachers and resources for the classroom, eastofanchorage.net, a forum for outdoor enthusiasts and those who love to climb, kayak, and kite, and Facebook, a social network designed for use outside of a work-related environment.
At first glance, Classroom 2.0 has an overwhelming amount of resources for members. It is built on top of Ning software. The main page of CR 2.0 has many features on the top menu. These include adding friends, photos, video, start a discussion, and edit your profile. Additionally, CR 2.0 has navigation links to wiki resources, My Page, members, news, forums, groups, and FAQ, videos, and photos.
It's important not to look too closely at the big picture when you first get started or you'll get overwhelmed. Take one feature at a time, check it out, and decide if it's something valuable. Personal settings are found at the top right when you log in. You can add or drop items from your personal page. Disussion are easy by way of a discussion box at the bottom of nearly every page in CR 2.0. There is a nice video tour given by the creator, Steve Hargadon, using Elluminate.
eastanchorage.net was created as more of an online journal by T. Kelsey. He prefers this format over the traditional blogs. The site encourages outdoor trip reports for all to read, but most of the posts are from T. Kelsey himself. eastanchorage.net functions much like our blackboard discussion forum. Most of the features on the UAS blackboard can be found on eastanchorage.net. I can post text and photos of my trips and view other posts from other members. To become a member, you must send the creator an email and he must approve your request.
Facebook.com is a fast growing network of social groups. I joined this one because I belong to an organization whose members get together and communication through Facebook. It's a very easy site to use and has many user friendly features, like viewing member photo galleries, using new web apps, joining new social groups, posting video, photos, and text. One of the most impressive qualities of Facebook is its' intuitive nature. Facebook recommends friends, notifies you of important information, and has an expansive cross-referencing database of friends. All of these features work in unison to create a highly interactive social experience.
At first glance, Classroom 2.0 has an overwhelming amount of resources for members. It is built on top of Ning software. The main page of CR 2.0 has many features on the top menu. These include adding friends, photos, video, start a discussion, and edit your profile. Additionally, CR 2.0 has navigation links to wiki resources, My Page, members, news, forums, groups, and FAQ, videos, and photos.
It's important not to look too closely at the big picture when you first get started or you'll get overwhelmed. Take one feature at a time, check it out, and decide if it's something valuable. Personal settings are found at the top right when you log in. You can add or drop items from your personal page. Disussion are easy by way of a discussion box at the bottom of nearly every page in CR 2.0. There is a nice video tour given by the creator, Steve Hargadon, using Elluminate.
eastanchorage.net was created as more of an online journal by T. Kelsey. He prefers this format over the traditional blogs. The site encourages outdoor trip reports for all to read, but most of the posts are from T. Kelsey himself. eastanchorage.net functions much like our blackboard discussion forum. Most of the features on the UAS blackboard can be found on eastanchorage.net. I can post text and photos of my trips and view other posts from other members. To become a member, you must send the creator an email and he must approve your request.
Facebook.com is a fast growing network of social groups. I joined this one because I belong to an organization whose members get together and communication through Facebook. It's a very easy site to use and has many user friendly features, like viewing member photo galleries, using new web apps, joining new social groups, posting video, photos, and text. One of the most impressive qualities of Facebook is its' intuitive nature. Facebook recommends friends, notifies you of important information, and has an expansive cross-referencing database of friends. All of these features work in unison to create a highly interactive social experience.
Google Reader - RSS
My Google Feed Reader is a handy creation for teachers. After spending the weekend preparing for next week's activities, and teaching all day, there is little time to pour through the endless research, lesson ideas, and innovations in education to keep me up to date and informed. With Google Reader, I can select from a wide variety articles across the educational spectrum and subscribe to their RSS feed. I have several feature at my fingertips; starred items, tips and tricks, manage subscriptions, friend's shared items, new trends, and quick access to all of the features in the Google family.
Now, at the end of a long day, my feed reader has filtered the articles that are important to me and condensed them into bite-sized chunks. I plan to continue using my feed reader next year. As we teachers know, every minute saved feels like an hour of prep.
Now, at the end of a long day, my feed reader has filtered the articles that are important to me and condensed them into bite-sized chunks. I plan to continue using my feed reader next year. As we teachers know, every minute saved feels like an hour of prep.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Personal Web App Picks
ClusterMap.com
This is a clustermap. It will show me where users who visit my site live.
Neave.com
The interactive designer Paul Neave, has quite a interesting site. This is both an interesting site personally, and could be used instructionally. In particular his FlashEarth and Planetarium pages have great educational value in the geosciences.
This is a clustermap. It will show me where users who visit my site live.
Neave.com
The interactive designer Paul Neave, has quite a interesting site. This is both an interesting site personally, and could be used instructionally. In particular his FlashEarth and Planetarium pages have great educational value in the geosciences.
Tuesday, July 1, 2008
I am testing an embedded story book from lookybook.com. Click on the book and it will come alive!
There are hundreds of children's books available for viewing before you buy. You could even send your students there to read a story and then respond to the text. Students could also recommend books to one another. This may also stimulate the reluctant readers to get involved. The Website will suggest 3 stores from which you may buy the books. The website is seachable by author and illustrator, and with a free registration, you can save books on a virtual bookshelf.
There are hundreds of children's books available for viewing before you buy. You could even send your students there to read a story and then respond to the text. Students could also recommend books to one another. This may also stimulate the reluctant readers to get involved. The Website will suggest 3 stores from which you may buy the books. The website is seachable by author and illustrator, and with a free registration, you can save books on a virtual bookshelf.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
Posts
