Comments for Teaching with Web 2.0 Spring 2009 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org Learning to Integrate Web 2.0 Technology into the Curriculum Mon, 11 May 2009 17:54:22 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.2 hourly 1 Comment on Course Reflection by mesmusic http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-107 mesmusic Mon, 11 May 2009 17:54:22 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-107 I enjoyed having the opportunity to expand on web applications I already had some experience with and learning many new ones. The most useful tool that my students have really started catching onto was the blog. Now that I spruced it up and streamlined it a bit, they are checking and commenting on it regularly. The wiki tools are interesting and I plan on implementing these more thoroughly next year with my general music classes at the middle school. Since a large part of my job is marketing, I plan to use some of the more flashy tools such as animoto, photostory, etc. for my recruitment presentations and parent information. I have collaborated with two teachers at M.E. Small to use photostory to present a piece of expository writing in which students describe how to assemble their instrument. This will be useful next year with my beginners. I enjoyed having the opportunity to expand on web applications I already had some experience with and learning many new ones. The most useful tool that my students have really started catching onto was the blog. Now that I spruced it up and streamlined it a bit, they are checking and commenting on it regularly. The wiki tools are interesting and I plan on implementing these more thoroughly next year with my general music classes at the middle school. Since a large part of my job is marketing, I plan to use some of the more flashy tools such as animoto, photostory, etc. for my recruitment presentations and parent information. I have collaborated with two teachers at M.E. Small to use photostory to present a piece of expository writing in which students describe how to assemble their instrument. This will be useful next year with my beginners.

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by Tina Andre http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-106 Tina Andre Thu, 07 May 2009 22:38:22 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-106 Over the last several weeks you have been exploring and learning about new emerging technologies to use with your students. Please reflect on what you have learned and the new tools you have used and answer the following questions in this post: 1. Do you see relevance for their use in the classroom? Can they be used to enhance the learning environment for your students and provide more engagement? I have computer lab on Friday afternoon, the day after our course, I have tried so many of the technologies the very next day beginning with Wordle. Wordle has been such a wonderful way to look at vocabulary in a different way. The children love it! They have a wonderful time watching the monitor as the fonts and styles change, all the while reading the words over and over. I love the exposure. My blog has really come along during this course. I use it in so many ways during the school day with the students as well as a tool to try to motivate them at home. 2. How do you envision using these tools? If not, why? Having already used many of the tools as we have been learning about them I envision using them more next year as I grow more comfortable. I hope to grow with my blog. I loved the idea Maura used with Animoto as a way to communicate with other classrooms as a way to say thank you. My wheels began to turn with so many other ways to use it as well. It was like her idea was a springboard for me. 3. If you have used them with your students, what have been your successes, your failures? My failures have been with time. Every time I plan a lesson using the technology it always takes me more time than I allow and then I have to wait for another lab time thus losing momentum. It drives me completely crazy. This is where I think becoming more comfortable with the technologies will make me more efficient with my time. I believe my Math Night Photostory has been my biggest success. It was very powerful for students K-3 to hear each other talk about math. 4. How did your students respond to using these tools? They love anything technology. They are fresh to everything still. They loved wordle! It was their absolute favorite. We are creating an end-of-the-year celebration for parents and they have asked to do a photostory. We started last week putting all of our photos in order. 5. If you are not a classroom teacher how can you make these tools work for you? 6. Can you provide any anecdotes of your experiences using these tools? Over the last several weeks you have been exploring and learning about new emerging technologies to use with your students. Please reflect on what you have learned and the new tools you have used and answer the following questions in this post:
1. Do you see relevance for their use in the classroom? Can they be used to enhance the learning environment for your students and provide more engagement?
I have computer lab on Friday afternoon, the day after our course, I have tried so many of the technologies the very next day beginning with Wordle. Wordle has been such a wonderful way to look at vocabulary in a different way. The children love it! They have a wonderful time watching the monitor as the fonts and styles change, all the while reading the words over and over. I love the exposure. My blog has really come along during this course. I use it in so many ways during the school day with the students as well as a tool to try to motivate them at home.
2. How do you envision using these tools? If not, why?
Having already used many of the tools as we have been learning about them I envision using them more next year as I grow more comfortable. I hope to grow with my blog. I loved the idea Maura used with Animoto as a way to communicate with other classrooms as a way to say thank you. My wheels began to turn with so many other ways to use it as well. It was like her idea was a springboard for me.
3. If you have used them with your students, what have been your successes, your failures?
My failures have been with time. Every time I plan a lesson using the technology it always takes me more time than I allow and then I have to wait for another lab time thus losing momentum. It drives me completely crazy. This is where I think becoming more comfortable with the technologies will make me more efficient with my time. I believe my Math Night Photostory has been my biggest success. It was very powerful for students K-3 to hear each other talk about math.
4. How did your students respond to using these tools?
They love anything technology. They are fresh to everything still. They loved wordle! It was their absolute favorite. We are creating an end-of-the-year celebration for parents and they have asked to do a photostory. We started last week putting all of our photos in order.
5. If you are not a classroom teacher how can you make these tools work for you?

6. Can you provide any anecdotes of your experiences using these tools?

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by mrsdemango http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-105 mrsdemango Thu, 07 May 2009 22:35:02 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-105 1. Do you see relevance for their use in the classroom? Can they be used to enhance the learning environment for your students and provide more engagement? Since returning to the classroom after 8 years in support and part time work I’ve loved the opportunity to share my love of technology with students. So much has changed and when I began this course I felt completely overwhelmed and at times frustrated. Having the time to work on my blog and have my questions answered was crucial. I tried to use things immediately the next day even if only to demonstrate the site or application. My class loved the wordle site and we’ve used it many times since. 2. How do you envision using these tools? If not, why? My blog has been my greatest accomplishment with this class. I felt that I needed to “jump right in” and share it with my students while it was still a work in progress. I was able to post not only websites for my students to visit that were related to our curriculum I could also post directions for science projects and book reports. I envision using this more next year as I would like to have all of the class’ homework assignments posted. Ms. Gary the reading teacher and I tried out our new skills with students every Friday morning and the children looked forward to finding out what I learned. I envision using voice thread with students to share thoughts about the literature we read and google docs will be great for revising and editing. 3. If you have used them with your students, what have been your successes, your failures? My greatest success has certainly been my blog. While it is far from perfect it is the skill I use the most and now feel most comfortable. As far as failures go I can’t say. Things didn’t always go as planned but I wouldn’t call them failures just learning experiences. 4. How did your students respond to using these tools? The loved it. I was regularly greeting on Friday mornings with, “what did you learn last night?” I had a couple kids who really grabbed onto the idea of the blog and will post every chance they get. 1. Do you see relevance for their use in the classroom? Can they be used to enhance the learning environment for your students and provide more engagement? Since returning to the classroom after 8 years in support and part time work I’ve loved the opportunity to share my love of technology with students. So much has changed and when I began this course I felt completely overwhelmed and at times frustrated. Having the time to work on my blog and have my questions answered was crucial. I tried to use things immediately the next day even if only to demonstrate the site or application. My class loved the wordle site and we’ve used it many times since.
2. How do you envision using these tools? If not, why? My blog has been my greatest accomplishment with this class. I felt that I needed to “jump right in” and share it with my students while it was still a work in progress. I was able to post not only websites for my students to visit that were related to our curriculum I could also post directions for science projects and book reports. I envision using this more next year as I would like to have all of the class’ homework assignments posted. Ms. Gary the reading teacher and I tried out our new skills with students every Friday morning and the children looked forward to finding out what I learned. I envision using voice thread with students to share thoughts about the literature we read and google docs will be great for revising and editing.
3. If you have used them with your students, what have been your successes, your failures? My greatest success has certainly been my blog. While it is far from perfect it is the skill I use the most and now feel most comfortable. As far as failures go I can’t say. Things didn’t always go as planned but I wouldn’t call them failures just learning experiences.
4. How did your students respond to using these tools? The loved it. I was regularly greeting on Friday mornings with, “what did you learn last night?” I had a couple kids who really grabbed onto the idea of the blog and will post every chance they get.

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by Maura http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-104 Maura Thu, 07 May 2009 22:32:38 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-104 I have been able to immediately use many of these applications in my second grade classroom. The iGoogle page is filled with gadgets that support my students as they learn to tell time on analog clocks, identify phases of the moon and continents on the Earth. The blog keeps families informed of classroom activities as well as provides links to games and sites for students to extend their learning. Jing has allowed me to record math algorithms and embed them in the blog so students can review at home. We’ve used Googledocs in our PLC meetings to create power standards in math from the state frameworks. I was particularly surprised the how the class responded to using the wiki. They were so enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge of continents, they asked to do the same with their study of the planets. I didn’t have too many problems creating user accounts for them, although I keep a list of usernames and passwords on hand! The Jeopardylab site has been wonderful for reviewing content, although sometimes they get a little cut-throat with the competition! Thank you Lory! I have been able to immediately use many of these applications in my second grade classroom. The iGoogle page is filled with gadgets that support my students as they learn to tell time on analog clocks, identify phases of the moon and continents on the Earth. The blog keeps families informed of classroom activities as well as provides links to games and sites for students to extend their learning. Jing has allowed me to record math algorithms and embed them in the blog so students can review at home. We’ve used Googledocs in our PLC meetings to create power standards in math from the state frameworks. I was particularly surprised the how the class responded to using the wiki. They were so enthusiastic about sharing their knowledge of continents, they asked to do the same with their study of the planets. I didn’t have too many problems creating user accounts for them, although I keep a list of usernames and passwords on hand! The Jeopardylab site has been wonderful for reviewing content, although sometimes they get a little cut-throat with the competition! Thank you Lory!

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by schucke02648 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-103 schucke02648 Thu, 07 May 2009 22:26:32 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-103 Do you see relevance for their use in the classroom? There are endless ideas that these tools can help promote. In the library especially there is such a wide range of curriculum. I see these as support for the areas the children now find a bit boring. I see these tools as an interaction fortifier. Can they be used to enhance the learning environment for your students and provide more engagement? My students enjoy learning new programs on the computer. For my kinesthetic learners this form of instruction helps them to shine. This is an area where they can use their special gift. How do you envision using these tools? I plan on using a lot of these tools while teaching in China this summer. As part of instruction and social sharing between our two countries. I also plan on using them in my classroom as soon as I can get some of the technology to implement them. I see using these tools to teach teachers in my building. If you have used them with your students, what have been your successes, your failures? Failures include technology not working as planned, having internet problems or programs blocked that I would need to implement my lesson. My students loved going onto my blog and using the resources there. I enjoyed helping some of the teachers in my school with using some of these tools. How did your students respond to using these tools? They loved going on the computer and using these tools. They constantly asked to use them whenever we had class. If you are not a classroom teacher how can you make these tools work for you? As I said in the beginning, my curriculum supports all areas of the curriculum so there are endless possibilities. I have thought about doing a tutorial movie for next year's students on library use. Wouldn't that be cool! Can you provide any anecdotes of your experiences using these tools? Students have mostly gone on the blog and used it to support certain areas of the curriculum. They loved using the math and English sites and I was not about to tell them that they were learning… Do you see relevance for their use in the classroom? There are endless ideas that these tools can help promote. In the library especially there is such a wide range of curriculum. I see these as support for the areas the children now find a bit boring. I see these tools as an interaction fortifier.

Can they be used to enhance the learning environment for your students and provide more engagement? My students enjoy learning new programs on the computer. For my kinesthetic learners this form of instruction helps them to shine. This is an area where they can use their special gift.

How do you envision using these tools? I plan on using a lot of these tools while teaching in China this summer. As part of instruction and social sharing between our two countries. I also plan on using them in my classroom as soon as I can get some of the technology to implement them. I see using these tools to teach teachers in my building.

If you have used them with your students, what have been your successes, your failures? Failures include technology not working as planned, having internet problems or programs blocked that I would need to implement my lesson. My students loved going onto my blog and using the resources there. I enjoyed helping some of the teachers in my school with using some of these tools.

How did your students respond to using these tools? They loved going on the computer and using these tools. They constantly asked to use them whenever we had class.

If you are not a classroom teacher how can you make these tools work for you? As I said in the beginning, my curriculum supports all areas of the curriculum so there are endless possibilities. I have thought about doing a tutorial movie for next year’s students on library use. Wouldn’t that be cool!

Can you provide any anecdotes of your experiences using these tools? Students have mostly gone on the blog and used it to support certain areas of the curriculum. They loved using the math and English sites and I was not about to tell them that they were learning…

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by 1889starry http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-102 1889starry Thu, 07 May 2009 22:26:07 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-102 Checking out my new avitar! Checking out my new avitar!

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by Darlene http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-101 Darlene Thu, 07 May 2009 22:24:43 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-101 All of the tools that we have learned have relevance in the classroom. Some more than others depending on the subject and grade level that you teach. I clearly see how all of the web tools can provide for more engagement in the classroom. The only drawback is taking the time to set up the tools and to utilize them. I have had success in the classroom with my students creating projects using jing and photo story. The students really enjoyed using these tools. It was great to see the group effort and comraderie. Their finished products showed clear understanding. The students needed no introduction as to how to use these tools. They navigated the set up modes without any questions. My blog site is an excellent resource. The homework pages and comment site offer great ways to stay in touch and provide reinforcement. I need to work on the actual blogging aspect of the site. It would be great to get the students commenting on a regular basis. It would also be nice to have the blog site linked to our school website. I envision regular and more consistent use of all of the tools. I will continue to work on google docs and the google tools to make the most of them as well. Thank you for all of the great information and the opportunity to explore and create! All of the tools that we have learned have relevance in the classroom. Some more than others depending on the subject and grade level that you teach. I clearly see how all of the web tools can provide for more engagement in the classroom. The only drawback is taking the time to set up the tools and to utilize them.

I have had success in the classroom with my students creating projects using jing and photo story. The students really enjoyed using these tools. It was great to see the group effort and comraderie. Their finished products showed clear understanding. The students needed no introduction as to how to use these tools. They navigated the set up modes without any questions.

My blog site is an excellent resource. The homework pages and comment site offer great ways to stay in touch and provide reinforcement. I need to work on the actual blogging aspect of the site. It would be great to get the students commenting on a regular basis. It would also be nice to have the blog site linked to our school website.

I envision regular and more consistent use of all of the tools. I will continue to work on google docs and the google tools to make the most of them as well.

Thank you for all of the great information and the opportunity to explore and create!

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by Sandy http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-100 Sandy Thu, 07 May 2009 22:19:08 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-100 It has been fun learning things! I guess that is exactly how students feel in school! Yes, I have been able to use many relevant tools to teach. Photo Story and my blog have been used in the classroom several times. I am not sure how much engagement I will have in the future...but the technology I have used so far has been exciting for the children. Photo story will enhance my field trip to MFA, the children love seeing themselves on T.V.! Already it has been a great tool to get them excited. Photo Story was not saved as a wmv. file...so I spent a lot of time loading and disappointed children. They love movies so you can just imagine how much they enjoy these new tools I have learned. As a specialists (art teacher) visual tools are right up my alley. I enjoy a challenge and these tools only add to my teaching. The students will listen and watch with more attention sometimes if it is a source other then moi! Other than a former student commented on my blog I do not have any anecdotes. Thank you for helping us! It has been fun learning things! I guess that is exactly how students feel in school! Yes, I have been able to use many relevant tools to teach. Photo Story and my blog have been used in the classroom several times. I am not sure how much engagement I will have in the future…but the technology I have used so far has been exciting for the children.
Photo story will enhance my field trip to MFA, the children love seeing themselves on T.V.! Already it has been a great tool to get them excited.
Photo Story was not saved as a wmv. file…so I spent a lot of time loading and disappointed children.
They love movies so you can just imagine how much they enjoy these new tools I have learned.
As a specialists (art teacher) visual tools are right up my alley. I enjoy a challenge and these tools only add to my teaching. The students will listen and watch with more attention sometimes if it is a source other then moi!
Other than a former student commented on my blog I do not have any anecdotes.
Thank you for helping us!

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by Charlene Carey http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-99 Charlene Carey Thu, 07 May 2009 22:17:34 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-99 *I can definitely see the relavance of using the tools that we have learned in the classroom. I have seen many of the tools used in Tina Andre's class very successfully. Using the tools I feel can really motivate the students and tap into many of their strengths-not just the intellectual strengths. *As a special education teacher I have had great success using two of these tools with one particular student. I have created a blog for him to use which has several fun math games that provide him with extra practice in the basic math skills that we work on. He looks forward to going onto the blog and it is nice to have all of the games in one place for him to choose from. I also used photo story with him to create a movie of him engaging in a cooking activity. He loved it! He loves having his picture taken and after I chose the pictures for the photo story he independently typed in the text for each photo. His text was so neat-they were his own words and his personality came out in the photo story. He was so proud of it and his mom actually came into school to see it as well. I am planning to do one more photo story with him before June using another cooking activity. *I am so glad that I took this computer course. It really made me think and I worked hard each week. Many weeks I left with my head spinning. I found it really helpful to practice with the tool we had used the following day so it was fresh in my mind and I could experiment with it. My notes on how to do each tool really helped me too and I will have them to refer to. I am proud of myself for taking a course on something that is out of my comfort zone. I have not done that in a long time. I don't know who my students will be next year but I really hope that I can make opportunities to use my blog and do some more photo stories. I would also like to find ways to use Flickr next year. *Thank you Lory for giving me the encouragement to take this course. Charlene *I can definitely see the relavance of using the tools that we have learned in the classroom. I have seen many of the tools used in Tina Andre’s class very successfully.
Using the tools I feel can really motivate the students and tap into many of their strengths-not just the intellectual strengths.

*As a special education teacher I have had great success using two of these tools with one particular student. I have created a blog for him to use which has several fun math games that provide him with extra practice in the basic math skills that we work on. He looks forward to going onto the blog and it is nice to have all of the games in one place for him to choose from. I also used photo story with him to create a movie of him engaging in a cooking activity. He loved it! He loves having his picture taken and after I chose the pictures for the photo story he independently typed in the text for each photo. His text was so neat-they were his own words and his personality came out in the photo story. He was so proud of it and his mom actually came into school to see it as well. I am planning to do one more photo story with him before June using another cooking activity.

*I am so glad that I took this computer course. It really made me think and I worked hard each week. Many weeks I left with my head spinning. I found it really helpful to practice with the tool we had used the following day so it was fresh in my mind and I could experiment with it. My notes on how to do each tool really helped me too and I will have them to refer to. I am proud of myself for taking a course on something that is out of my comfort zone. I have not done that in a long time. I don’t know who my students will be next year but I really hope that I can make opportunities to use my blog and do some more photo stories. I would also like to find ways to use Flickr next year.

*Thank you Lory for giving me the encouragement to take this course. Charlene

]]> Comment on Course Reflection by SMKingston http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/2009/05/07/course-reflection/comment-page-1/#comment-98 SMKingston Thu, 07 May 2009 22:14:39 +0000 http://web2dot0dyrsd.edublogs.org/?p=31#comment-98 It's easiest for me to start at the beginning and remember that it was horrifying to admit how much I didn't know. I still hate to admit my ignorance of these tools, but I'm catching on slowly. The blog was the firt hurdle. But, for a while now, it's been up and running as a classroom enhancement. I love to post a new "review" for the class, and get their comments. My disappointment is huge because the blogging assignments are still assignments ~ the students really don't do them willingly, no matter how enticing my posts might be (ahem). The few responses I have gotten have not been stellar, but I'm still at it. More blogging is done, in truth, on my personal blog ~ one on running. For ever, I've ruminated while running ~ thinking of all sorts of random things. Writing them down in a way that entices and inspires was always a goal. Now it's happening on my blog. I'm a bit envious of the clustered cluster maps of Ms. Watson, who's had hits from all over the world. Someday, that'll be me. The Wiki is promising in terms of student use. Initially, I wrote an entry and published it. The students were instructed to check it out, as it contained assignments for the topic of the week. The most interest was generated when the students were told that they might create their own entries on relevant topics. There was a flurry of activity, but nothing has been published by them. This is an extra credit option, so I'm anticipa ting completion... My most fun endeavor has been getting intimate with Google ~ the many options available for users. I love Reader! My most favorite RSS is "The Big Picture" which sends me incredible photos of all the most timely events (Lately, it was the hats of the Kentucky Derby, Masked faces of Swine Flu and Obama as Spock!). Google Docs, mentioned by Alan November, was another great tool. My students had apparently been using this (learned in computer classes), but I was thrilled to be able to use it to explore Medieval Cathedrals and to put together a slide show for my classes studying Medieval architecture. Google Earth is incredible. Using it for virtual tours of places like the Sistine Chapel, the Renaissance cities of Florence or Venice is so much better than showing photos, or looking at the textbook. It's wonderful for enticing young world travelers. The usefulness of tools such as Jing and Skype in the classroom are still being explored. I'm using them myself (and my son even is "on" Skype, so that's fun), but haven't figured out curricular uses yet. Animoto is my new favorite toy. I'm enjoying sending those little videos of my own photos to friends. This will make a challenging activity for students ~ whether they're photographing a project or a skit. Of course, they'll probably want to use photostory for a bit longer presentation. Good for them! I'm actually sending my own "China Photostory" to Elena who's going to teach in China this summer. My own memories will enhance her anticipation! This is just the "tip of the iceberg." I'm much more brave and (gulp) fearless. Thank you! It’s easiest for me to start at the beginning and remember that it was horrifying to admit how much I didn’t know. I still hate to admit my ignorance of these tools, but I’m catching on slowly.

The blog was the firt hurdle. But, for a while now, it’s been up and running as a classroom enhancement. I love to post a new “review” for the class, and get their comments. My disappointment is huge because the blogging assignments are still assignments ~ the students really don’t do them willingly, no matter how enticing my posts might be (ahem). The few responses I have gotten have not been stellar, but I’m still at it.

More blogging is done, in truth, on my personal blog ~ one on running. For ever, I’ve ruminated while running ~ thinking of all sorts of random things. Writing them down in a way that entices and inspires was always a goal. Now it’s happening on my blog. I’m a bit envious of the clustered cluster maps of Ms. Watson, who’s had hits from all over the world. Someday, that’ll be me.

The Wiki is promising in terms of student use. Initially, I wrote an entry and published it. The students were instructed to check it out, as it contained assignments for the topic of the week. The most interest was generated when the students were told that they might create their own entries on relevant topics. There was a flurry of activity, but nothing has been published by them. This is an extra credit option, so I’m anticipa ting completion…

My most fun endeavor has been getting intimate with Google ~ the many options available for users. I love Reader! My most favorite RSS is “The Big Picture” which sends me incredible photos of all the most timely events (Lately, it was the hats of the Kentucky Derby, Masked faces of Swine Flu and Obama as Spock!).

Google Docs, mentioned by Alan November, was another great tool. My students had apparently been using this (learned in computer classes), but I was thrilled to be able to use it to explore Medieval Cathedrals and to put together a slide show for my classes studying Medieval architecture.

Google Earth is incredible. Using it for virtual tours of places like the Sistine Chapel, the Renaissance cities of Florence or Venice is so much better than showing photos, or looking at the textbook. It’s wonderful for enticing young world travelers.

The usefulness of tools such as Jing and Skype in the classroom are still being explored. I’m using them myself (and my son even is “on” Skype, so that’s fun), but haven’t figured out curricular uses yet.

Animoto is my new favorite toy. I’m enjoying sending those little videos of my own photos to friends. This will make a challenging activity for students ~ whether they’re photographing a project or a skit. Of course, they’ll probably want to use photostory for a bit longer presentation. Good for them!

I’m actually sending my own “China Photostory” to Elena who’s going to teach in China this summer. My own memories will enhance her anticipation!

This is just the “tip of the iceberg.” I’m much more brave and (gulp) fearless. Thank you!

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