PhotoStory

I found that PhotoStory is very user friendly.  I had never used it before yesterday.  I went to a workshop a couple years ago on PhotoStory but we didn’t actually use it there.  I think that computer programs need to be used in order to fully understand them.  I can’t just listen to someone talk about a program and fully understand it, I am one of those people that needs to just practice.  I think many people are like this.  I think that I could use PhotoStory in my classroom.  My computer is hooked up to the TV in my classroom, so I can show anything through my computer.  This program could be used for many activities in the classroom.  You could really do it for many subjects as well.  I want to play around and find some activities for my students.  The only problem is that I don’t have enough computers in my classroom so it would take while.  We have a computer lab but there are not enough computers in there for my students either.  We only get so much time a week.  I really do want to try it this year in my class.  I think students and parents will like it.  I’m not sure yet how to upload to the internet.  I tried to put my PhotoStory onto my blog but I couldn’t get it to work.  I saved in to my desktop to make it easier, but everytime that I upload from my computer every other file shows up but the one I need.  I just need to keep working on it, maybe Jing it.  If I figure it out, I would love to put my students’ creations on our class website.  This would be great for parents and I think the students would love to see each others work as well.  My school loves doing all sorts of technology activities, so I’m sure that they would love this.  Schools love technology, the only problem is that we are not really trained so it becomes difficult to use.  I don’t have much free time, I don’t have any at school.  It’s hard to just sit down at school and try the programs.  With PhotoStory, it just walks you through.  It’s pretty common sense.  I didn’t add music because I wasn’t sure about the whole copyright thing and I didn’t want to get in trouble.  I couldn’t find the music that was preloaded, I’m not sure if isn’t installed in my version or if I just wasn’t looking at the right place.  I need to make another one and I’ll look around more.  I want to make more with pictures of my nieces and nephew.  I think my family would really like it.  I do like PhotoStory and I plan on using it the future.  I’m glad that we had to make one for class because I do think it will be useful.

iGoogle

I am super excited about my iGoogle.  I have had a gmail account for years but I had never explored the iGoogle option.  I added so much stuff to my homepage and it makes me really happy.  My background itself is pretty exciting.  Who knew that polka dots would make me so happy?  I added the calendar and weather which is very important.  Apparently my husband had set up an iGoogle account under my name years ago when we were living in Mooresville.  I never even knew about it.  I went in and changed the locations to Claremont to make it a little more accurate.  I added the places to see box and the first picture to show up was of Rome.  I’m planning on visiting Italy next summer as a graduation present for my husband and I so we can see some family friends.  I love the fish that swim around as well.  I added several games just in case I ever get free time.  This probably won’t happen until next summer, but who knows?  The translator and the money convertor boxes may come in handy too.  I could have used them when I went to Costa Rica.  Several people tried to rip me off, luckily I can do math fairly quickly.  Hopefully the word of the day will improve my vocabulary.  I added news boxes so I will be informed of what’s going on.  I really like history, so of course I added the Today in History feature.  I know, I’m a dork.  Being a teacher, I had to add the box that counts down the days of the school year.  Overall, I think I will use iGoogle.  I don’t know if I’ll use it in my classroom, I need to keep exploring and see how many of the features I can use.  I think it could be very benifcial in my classroom.  I’m going to keep playing and seeing all of the features that are available.  I went through 27 pages and I got tired of looking.  I need to see what else is available.

Don’t Do Drugs

drugs3.swf – don’t do drugs – BADONGO

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Skype

I really like Skype. My mom told me to sign up for it months ago, but I never did. I honestly did not think that I would use it. Now that I have it, I love it! I had instant messenger in high school and I have Facebook which does the same thing. I told my mom that I got Skype and she added me. I also found out that my friends in Italy are using Skype. I have been talking to them. I haven’t used the video aspect yet but I might. I even went out and bought a web cam. I used the audio and actually talked to a few people. Last night while working on homework, I talked to some other people in the class for help. I also have been talking to some people who work for my parents and trying to help out when I can. I would like to use this in my classroom. A friend of a friend teaches in California and we are planning on being pen pals. I would like to do this using Skype. We can find a common time and chat for a few minutes a week. I think this is something that my students will really like. This would also be a good way for students to ask for help on homework. You can just get on-line when you have the time to help. I could tell my students that I will be on-line for 30 minutes or so a night if they need help. Many of my students do not have computers at home though. The kids who do usually already get help from parents. I would still like to try and see if there is any interest. Maybe they will surprise me.
I’m still excited about using Skype because now I can plan that trip to see my Italian friends I’m trying to get my other family members to sign up as well. This could be an easy way to pass along news and information. I would love to talk to my nieces and nephew using this since I do not get to see them as much as I would like.

Amos

Tweeting

I’m not sure about this whole Twittering thing.  I’m willing to try it for a while.  I think that a lot of people get on Twitter just to follow celebrities.  I don’t really care what people are doing all day long.  Some people take it too far.  Sure, I’m curious to see what my old friends from high school and college are up to.  It’s a good way to keep in touch.  I already use Facebook, which has more of my friends on it and it provides more information.  I’ve noticed that many of my friends who use Twitter do not actually tweet very often.  CBS news tweets a few times a minute it seems like.  If you want to follow what a particular celebrity is doing, this is great.  I’m following a few as well.  It’s interesting to read every  now and then.  I think that I will get tired of it before too much longer.  I’m not big into knowing who is going to the grocery store.  Who knows, maybe I will get more used to it.  I might even start to love it.  I would probably like it more if more of my friends were using it.  Of course, the week that I decide to sign up there are difficulties and all of my followers are gone.  At first I thought that no one liked me anymore, it was good to hear that everyone was having problems and not just me.  I think that I just need to play around more on the website and I might actually enjoy it.

Classroom Blogging

I think that blogging in the classroom can be great.  It gives students a way to share their thoughts, this could be very beneficial to shy students.  I know of several students who would not speak out in class and this is a way for them to participate.   A problem that I would have in my class would be that many of my students do not have computers at home.  I would have to arrange computer lab time for students to blog.  I think this would be great for a novel or literature circle type activity.  Teaching fourth grade this would be much easier than teaching lower grades.  Most of my students would be able to do this on their own or with very little help.  My school uses gaggle, so I could easily do this next year.  We tried a school wide blog last year, but it never really took off.  I would love for all of my students to have a computer and be able to do this.