Thing #12

I've used Google for a while... but I decided to go a bit further with it for this assignment.

I entered data into my Google calendar and linked it to my website via iWeb.  Now my students can see dates of upcoming events, fundraisers, etc. long before I even remember to remind them.  :-)

I also browsed around on iGoogle, setting it up to show my calendar, local weather, and news.  I'm not sure how to share this... so if anyone can comment and let me know, I'd appreciate it!  For now, I'll just attach this screenshot:

Thing #11

Google blog search is the easiest for me... but I'm a big fan of most things Google does (short of stupid things, like the phone it tried to market against the iPhone... *deep sigh*).  Generally searching for topics of interests seemed an easy enough way.

The most confusing was probably Topix.net... it took me a while just to figure out what I needed to type in the search bar to get a relevant result.

Lots of great feeds out there - SEVERAL on technology... others just on general good advice (found a great one on ways to communicate with parents in/outside of school).

Searching for usernames sometimes has surprising results, and gets you to were you want to go a little faster, too.

Thing #10

The obvious bonus of RSS feeds is the ability to have so much information available so quickly without having it take up so much room.

I subscribe to several feeds (esp. the technology ones) already.  It gives me a "leg up" on the students at school with new tricks, tips, and such.

If nothing else, I know how to flip the screen back around on a desktop, invert colors back to originals on the laptops, and get around other such things our little angels like to find to "torment the teachers."  :-)

I used ImageChef for this one.  I love Wordles... and the options on this site are nearly limitless.

HIGHLY recommend this one.

I think my students might be able to do something like this as part of a unit... maybe have them take one idea from this graphic, expound upon it, and then make another one for a word wall?

Thing #8

My thing #8 - my dream car, sliced into pieces for a game/puzzle.  Hat tip to Jigsawed.

I think these "mashups" could be a great thing for the classroom.  The idea of the Google map with actual pictures superimposed is a cool one - gives the student more than just a bunch of colored states to remember by giving them associated images with each state, etc.

I am always cautious of sharing photos online.  Between privacy (though setting can help this) and just the creep factor of those that COULD find things... I'm hesitant at all times... but I love the IDEA of being able to store photos online.