Evaluation

My favorite discovery this time was with Second Life. They have really come along with explaining how to participate in that world. The site owners offered really nothing in terms of access a few years back. Now, I felt comfortable going in because I understood what to do before hand. I printed the pdf and went into the help world before actually visiting the different lands. They have really improved that site! I plan to use it more.

Library "Play 1", in my opinion was geared more for the elementary level learners. "Play 2" was for the middle to high school students. As an adult, "Play 2" appealed to me not just professionally but personally. I could use Skype, Twitter, YouTube in my daily life. So I appreciated the personal/professional learning that I received. This encouraged me to search out for other web 2.0 + tools to use in both areas. Back with "Play 1", I found a website I now use quite a bit, http://www.go2web20.net/. Doing these exercises have made me seek out sites for myself, family and school evironment.

What was unexpected but a good thing is that I felt "less" spoonfed with "Play 2". With "Play 1", it not necessarily being a bad thing because anytime something is new we want to make sure others are successful, everything was spelled out. With "Play 2" you had to read and figure things out yourself. What was great was that just enough information was provided for you to do so. The creators I realized knew what they were doing and actually took to heart the suggestions made with Play 1. I thought about this while completing the exercises.

What I would do the next time is allow participants to select one or two of the tools and make tutorials using Camstudio, etc. In doing this we can have something to give to the teachers, develop a library and share them with others via TeacherTube. Maybe we could work in groups so that we are not so redundant. We truly would have something to take away! Also, we would meet the StarChart requirement that requires us to provide this type of learning.

Animoto.com

Digital Citizens

In reading the various articles provided this is what I would want my elementary students, staff and teachers to understand about being a digital citizen and as a result do:

1. Use Technology - We must learn about and use technology to communicate with others in the digital society.
2. Respect Technology - We must use technology based on its purpose if we want to continue to use it freely.
3. Practice Self-Protection - We must protect ourselves, computers and information from forces that can cause harm such as identity seekers/thieves, viruses, cookie attachments, etc.
4. Understand Our Civil Responsibility - We must understand that we are breaking the law if we steal or damage another person's work, identity or online property.
5. Be Able to Identify Free and Protected Works - We must learn about the different copyright symbols.
   

Virtual Worlds

Second Life is a virtual community that imitates a real life one. Many of the things done in your community, such as go to restuarants, coffee houses, libraries, resorts, special events, meetings, can be done in Second Life. As Moll Monaron, I visited the American Library Association, Winter Wonderland, Pooley Stage, Out of Control, and various coffee houses.

I enjoyed visiting. The creativity and the knowledge base needed to build the various "lands" is admirable! The detail used in building some places is unbelievable! The churches and cathedrals are worth the visit.

Converting real cash to Linden dollars and buying and selling wares is how you build the financial base to buy land, shop etc. On your land you can build a home, business, organization, etc., and as an avatar visit them by teleporting. Some places are private and/or require a fee or "special welcome pass" to visit, while most are open to the general public.

It will appeal to middle and high school kids because of its "gamelike" appearance and avatars. From the classroom perspective, students could have building projects that are curriculum based. The point being that they demonstrate knowledge on a synthesis level and beyond that of traditional tests.

Since these kids are still "becoming" or developing physically and mentally, school pychologists, parents, etc. need to play in part in developing curriculum to ensure the best interest of students is not jeopardized as I can see where an imbalance between worlds can occur.

Slideshare

Although I liked Slideshare, I could not see the immediate benefits for elementary age children. The site is really for adults, but you can download slides for students to use. There is a great slideshow called "Native Americans of Texas". Fourth graders would enjoy it.

Presentations I think 5th graders and up will enjoy are "50 Useless Yet Interesting Facts" and "Mr. X Saves the Earth". They are great! "Mr. X" is about a stick figures journey to find answers about the world's problems, overpopulation, pollutions, etc.

Since reading slides are like reading books, I wish there was a Slideshare for kids or education. I would like to see students share slides in a medium specifically designed for them. They would benefit from learning what and how much information to share. If it's created like the adult version, students would have immediate access to similiar presentations and be able to comment on their experience.

Another interesting thing about Slideshare is that you can download movies. I almost downloaded "Planet of the Apes".

Screencasts

It took me a while to realize that in order to record with Screencastle you need to have the page on your toolbar. You can't open up a "new" browser window.

Jing was more user-friendly. Attached is my screen capture. I definitely intend to use this tool.

Camstudio was not as user-friendly because you have to download Camstudio and the Codec. Once downloaded you would need to unzip these. Too many steps for me. But in watching the tutorial I realized you can make some great tutorials! The system has great voice clarity and I like movement of the mouse. Also, there were not a lot of ads which means student friendly as well.

I see screencasts as offering students alternatives to taking traditional tests. They can demonstrate understanding by showing you how they solved a particular problem.

Video Resources

I agree with not having specific percentages when it comes to fair use but individuals having guidelines or best practices that allow them to use just enough of an authors information to make a point.

I like Hulu. There a several tv programs that support the curriculum. Cosmos, Cosmic Journey, Space Rip and Cosmic Voyage (teaches about the solar system). Fifth graders have to pass this area of the science TAKS to be promoted. Animal Exploration uses an animal expert to teach children about the world of animals. Dinosaurs: Giants of Patagonia teaches about the history, evolution and extinction of dinosaurs. This program supports the Kindergarten and 3rd grade curriculum. Harold and the Purple Crayon (uses drawing/art to express thoughts), Electric Company (music to teach phonics and grammar) and Mrs. Piggle Wiggle (language play) can be used to support reading and writing. Atmospheric pressure would be great for 2nd graders who have to learn about the weather. Young Hercules can be used as an extension to teach 5th graders Greek mythology.

Blinkx seems to contain many YouTube videos. But you can do searches and find great videos such as Bill Nye, Magic School Bus and Texas Native Americans. I found that when you add "kids" or "children" to your search terms you are more apt to get a relevant hit.

Blip.tv would be great to use in animotos. It was designed to assist those who want to create their own videos.

It was good see that the recommended video search engines were Alexa ranked. Many of them could be eliminated as immediately viable.

itouch and Wikipedia

I like the itouch. Their are a few free applications that can be used in an elementary classroom; such as Facebook, Google Earth, Chess, Speller, BBC Reader and Backgrounds.

Facebook I would use for as a way of communicating with a primary source or to conduct a project portfolio. Google Earth, Chess, Speller would be used as curriculum concept or skill supporters. BBC reader or the national and international news application(USA Today) would be used to discuss current events.

What I enjoy most is the tools on the itouch that can be used in the classroom. You can use the "Notes", which resembles a real note pad to to do spelling, math, writing and reading tests. It can be used to keep research notes or to make a to do list.

With your Mac, you can use "Keynote" and "iphoto" to make flashcards for the itouch. You would use Keynote to build the presentation. Then export this to iphoto, create an iphoto album and then synch the iphoto album with the itouch.

I found it interesting that Wikipedia doesn't censor and will allow information that might be offensive to be posted if it can be supported in text. Interesting to see how this would be received if the information was considered racially insensitive!

Twitter and Facebook

The uses of Twitter and Facebook at the elementary level would be limited given the age group and the need to be careful regarding a student's anonymity and privacy.

However, I would use Facebook to collaborate on group projects or as a resource in gathering primary and secondary resources. Facebook is great way to talk to authors or "people" resources about research, books, both existing and upcoming, etc. A librarian could get an author to join her facebook page as a friend and then the class could have a discussion with the individual.

I would tinychat in place of twitter. I would feel more comfortable as it is a little more people specific and the chat or comments are disposable. So I would use it with fifth graders to have discussions around curriculum topics or concepts.

Video Hosting

Uploading to the various "Tubes", specifically You Tube, is very easy. Although the content is managed it is not moderated. Hence for elementary school children this would not be as viable a tool as it for the older grades. Students would have access to inappropriate materials.

But this would be a great tool for teachers who could choose excellent videos for these students. Students could see different applications of a concept being taught as no two teachers teach the same. From a library perspective money could be saved on the purchase of DVDs. Quality videos can be found here and a list built and given to teachers.

A moderated "school tube" site that allows students access and upload vidoes has been created. This is great although I wish videos on You tube were given a "movie" rating to allow these to then be placed in School tube. But School Tube does provide students a forum for demonstrating their understanding of information. Also, their would an increase in the quality of students work as these kind or forums allow students to see the quality work of others thereby establishing expectations.

Skype and Web - Pals.

I like Skype for personal reasons. I like the fact that one can make free long distance phone calls to individuals who have Skype. If you have a webcam you can see individuals as you speak.

As for Skype for elementary users if it were not for thier disclaimer that it is not a cite for a younger audience as they in some cases have adult material on thier site, it would be a great tool. Students using a webcam could speak and learn from students in other cities, states and continents. It makes the idea of "pen-pals" obsolete. Students could have a "web pal". Imagine a student learning from a student in China and both being able to show each thier information, picture, objects, etc. If both students had Skype the call would be free or the cost nominal.

Also, all learning would be real-time! Eastern, Standard, Central and International time might pose an issue but it would be workable.

It's so user friendly. I love the phone or yellow page feature. You can search for people who use skype and add them to your contact list.

Image Generators 2

I like the idea of using word clouds such as Wordle or Wordsift to express the attributes of a concept. However, I do prefer Wordle over Wordsift because of its user-friendliness, graphics and I did not want my elementary age students having access to the web pictures that might possibly be inappropriate. I was able to create this Wordle at http://www.wordle.net/.

I like Glogster. It took me a while to figure out that in order to add the text you have to click the edit icon. Anyway, this particular medium will allow students to share their works beyond the classroom wall. Teachers can have student to make a poster for the classroom as well as one online to share with those who do not have campus access.

Voicethread was my favorite because I saw how the skill of teaching a student how to appropriately evaluate another student's work as well as accept criticism could be taught and learned. It would be great with the 4th grade native american projects. Students could take a picture of a particular tribe and discuss various aspects of it. Also what a wonderful way to evaluate writing samples.

Since we are concerned with internet safety, a Voki could be used by a student as a way of ensuring anonymity.

I attached my animoto in a separate posting. It was done quickly to meet the requirements. Animotos can use as a way of sharing knowledge learned.

Bookr is good tool for telling a story through pictures or for making a wordless picture book. It would be great one if it allowed you to use pictures from other sources. It allows pictures from Flickr only.

Connectivity

I see connectivity as the building of a online network or community. An individual with the help of a librarian/teacher is taught how to use technology or web tools to learn, create and share/comment via the use of information. Since the student has a degree of ownership, I see constructivism at work as well.

In working with children, I see the possibility of this "less" teacher-directed type of learning being possible. Given students can teach themselves how to play video games, it tells us that we have been sorely wrong about some of our teaching methodologies and need to move into the 21st century.

I also appreciate the idea of learning being less textbook and one dimensional. Students are taught how to evaluate, use and learn from other online or electronic mediums. The skills taught, beyond the academics, are not only invaluable but transferrable.