I tried bubbl.us for my mind map application, and I like it much better than mind meister. I chose bubbl.us because I found it much easier to use than mind meister.
I used Gliffy for my flow chart, and found it to be very similar to Powerpoint. Although the drawing tools work a lot like Powerpoint's, being an online application may make it easier to publish and share. I chose Gliffy for the familiarity reason; I'm familiar with PowerPoint, and the tools are similar.
Monday, March 29, 2010
Thing # 13
This Thing could be very useful. It is a quick way to diseminate information, and could be very useful with regard to communications between students and parents alike.
I didn't post my test document to my blog, but I did publish it to the external world, as Zoho calls it. Click here to see my test document.
I didn't post my test document to my blog, but I did publish it to the external world, as Zoho calls it. Click here to see my test document.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Thing # 12
This Thing was not impressive. I created an alert and a calendar within my iGoogle account, which I have only because of this class, and I don't think it will be extremely helpful. Don't get me wrong, calendars are very useful tools, if you use them. I just don't use them. [I am retracting my last statement, but am leaving it up so you'll know what it said.] The Google calendar is a great tool. I just received email notifications about events in my calendar, and that can be a very valuable tool. I will be using this tool from now on. I said what I did earlier because I never carry a calendar around, nor would I go online to read one; but now I don't have to.
I do like the alerts though. I made my alert for math education news. This can be very helpful since I don't have to know what I'm looking for, or what Web sites to visit, but I'll be updated on any noteworthy events involving math education; my future career.
I do not see many benefits using these tools for education. A calendar is only effective and useful if used, and I don't use them. An alert for news related to math education can keep me well-informed , but I can't think of a purpose for it within my lessons.
I do like the alerts though. I made my alert for math education news. This can be very helpful since I don't have to know what I'm looking for, or what Web sites to visit, but I'll be updated on any noteworthy events involving math education; my future career.
I do not see many benefits using these tools for education. A calendar is only effective and useful if used, and I don't use them. An alert for news related to math education can keep me well-informed , but I can't think of a purpose for it within my lessons.
Thing # 11
I have been checking out RSS feeds, and made a very convenient discovery. I no longer need to access Netvibes to add an RSS feed as I thought. Internet Explorer has a place for RSS feeds right on the favorites bar. This will now make it much easier to add and later view my RSS feeds.
With that said, let me get back to Thing 11. I found Google Blog Search to be the easiest to use, and Edublog's award winners was unappealing; not confusing, but unappealing. I noticed no pattern of indexing that would allow me to search for a site that interested me. I would have to just keep looking aimlessly until I stumbled onto one I found interesting. I am too busy to waste that much time.
The site I found through Google Blog Search, Education Next; Teachers and Teaching, seemed very interesting. I have not had time to fully explore it, but it seems to have commentaries, blogs, and comments from readers, that address current and pertinent educational issues from how are we to replace the expected loss in teachers when the baby-boomers retire, to what President Obama is trying to do with regard to educational reforms. I look forward to following this news feed.
Now that I have found an easy way to add RSS feeds to my browser, I'll be looking for that little RSS feed icon on every website I find interesting.
With that said, let me get back to Thing 11. I found Google Blog Search to be the easiest to use, and Edublog's award winners was unappealing; not confusing, but unappealing. I noticed no pattern of indexing that would allow me to search for a site that interested me. I would have to just keep looking aimlessly until I stumbled onto one I found interesting. I am too busy to waste that much time.
The site I found through Google Blog Search, Education Next; Teachers and Teaching, seemed very interesting. I have not had time to fully explore it, but it seems to have commentaries, blogs, and comments from readers, that address current and pertinent educational issues from how are we to replace the expected loss in teachers when the baby-boomers retire, to what President Obama is trying to do with regard to educational reforms. I look forward to following this news feed.
Now that I have found an easy way to add RSS feeds to my browser, I'll be looking for that little RSS feed icon on every website I find interesting.
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
Thing # 10
I now know why I could not get Netvibes working during "Thing # 6." Netvibes is an aggregator for my RSS feeds, and I had none; until now. I like that I don't have to visit all the sites I want to follow, unless I want to comment on them. What I don't like is how simple the directions in D2L make it sound. I still can't find the button I'm told to click so I can share. I'll keep looking around.
I created a public page, because I thought it would lead me to the elusive 'share' button, but I still can't find it. I've added the blog sites from my class-section that I follow, and now I can see which ones have added updates, for all of them at the same time. This is nice. I can see this as being helpful in both my personal life and as a teacher. I can subscribe to education blogs, create blogs for students and parents, and find out when they are updated, all at the same time.
I created a public page, because I thought it would lead me to the elusive 'share' button, but I still can't find it. I've added the blog sites from my class-section that I follow, and now I can see which ones have added updates, for all of them at the same time. This is nice. I can see this as being helpful in both my personal life and as a teacher. I can subscribe to education blogs, create blogs for students and parents, and find out when they are updated, all at the same time.
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