Packing up to Head Home from Camp: Thing #11.5

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I already love Facebook. But I did like the screencast which was something new for me to learn.
2.How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
Screencasting will allow me to better deliver instructions in technology to my class.
3.Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I was slightly surprised that there was little interaction with other bloggers.
4.What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I would have liked to learned more advanced web 2.0 concepts.

Stories Around the Fire: Thing 11

I visited the DigitalCitizenship.net
The site discussed about the Nine Elements of Digital Citizenship: Digital Etiquette, Digital Communication, Digital Literacy, Digital Access, Digital Commerce, Digital Law, Digital Rights & Responsibilities, Digital Health & Wellness, and Digital Security.
I think I would start the year based on these elements to build on their overall Internet Etiquette. I think the students do not intentionally and maliciously enter the Internet realm in order to reek havoc on fellow users. Sometimes the students experiences stem from what they see at home. I have a question a quick Google and get the first answer that pops up. Mom and Dad causally enter email addresses, usernames, and passwords.
I believe we can work on each Element as we visit the lab by incoroporating it into the actual content that we are learning.

Gone fishing! Thing 10

Second Life is not children at all. Sure they can visit places around the world but I hesitant to let children or even teens on the site. I, myself, think that it is okay for social networking. The lag and delay on the site is really annoying and others there expressed the same concern. The only people I met on there (who I do NOT personally know) were shady. I prefer YoVille at Facebook.

Biking around the sites. Thing #9

Slideshare is a great way for the students to support their oral language presentations. The oral language is the foundation of all of language arts. A better presentation with high quality graphics and features will encourage and motivate students to actually do a better job. It is also allow students to commune presentations in order for them to raise the bar.

Cool Splash and Swim in the Lake! Thing #8

Screencasts are great tool for the computer lab. A few teachers hand write cookbook style of intructions for their computer lab lessons. A few teachers type up cookbook style of instructions. Personally, I bullet a projected Word Document or Flipchart with instructions. This will take my computer lab lesson to another level. Not only is it paperless it has visuals as well. I would like for it to show on the page as the students are trying to access the page they are working on.

Early Morning hike with the Kiddos! Thing #7

On Sundays, PBS plays Nova science videos which my family likes to snuggle down and watch. Little did I know that PBS actually lets you watch them on their page. Cool! I could definately use the Butterfly Migration Video on how the butterfly travels around the United States. The pictures and video images are done very well.

Waking up to Camp breakfast.MMMMMMMmmmmm....Thing #6

There are many applications that can be used in the classroom. I like the photography applications that can enhance students projects. Students don't just try to break copyright laws and Google image a picture. Students can take a picture and use the iTouch applications to make a unique and creative picture for a project. It brings a new level of work ethnic to their projects.

Cuddling Down Into the Sleeping Bag: Thing 5

As I am writing this, I have been on Facebook. It is the tool I used to keep in touch with my love ones and friends. It has been an awesome tool to reconnect with them while I am able to continue on with my everyday life. I can do the dishes, post, mop the floor, post, and feed the kids. I can keep in touch with my mom and my favorite band (who actually writes me back) while I am able to keep living! I'm on it so much that I do not dare share the number of ...hours per days.
Twitter, to me, is pretty useless. I have not yet met a person who likes it. It also seems pointless. If you are celebraty chaser, then Twitter is for you.

Roasting Marshmallows for Dessert: Thing 4

The advantages of having www.youtube.com available to students are the easy access to other students' book reviews. I have seen students make reccommendations and book reviews on books that we are reading. Other students also make reinactments of books with an interesting twist. Atherton by Patrick Carman has excellent videos.

Making Dinner over the Fire: Thing #3

I downloaded Skype with no problemjust held the control button down most of the time. I tried it and called my mom in California. I was so thrilled! But I realized that I was leaning into the monitor talking to the screen. Microphone, not there! Why I was doing that? Not sure. However, I went to call Texas Techie and then they wanted me to buy Skype Credit. No thanks. I guess it would be great for me to keep in contact with my friends and family from around the world.
Students could use this as a video chat session with other classroom who might be learning the same or similar concepts.

Setting Up Your Campfire: Thing #2

I have used Wordle for Poetry. It allows the students work to be a piece of art as well. I have used Animoto for a start of an unit to capture the students attention and interest in the new concept. Students could use the Animoto for Texas Hero project or even cause and effect. Bookr is a neat little device because students do not have to search, save, and upload pics. Flickr provides that for you.

My son says the Voki is strange and looks like a confused woman. Thanks, Son.

Start by Pitching Up Your Tent: Thing #1

Online learning and multi media learning is incredible because the learning is self-directed. If you want to learn more you can and share that knowledge with others. It motivates you to go more in depth with your own personal learning. Students will be the expert of a topic in class whether it is a part of the Water Cycle or Texas Hero. Teachers can always go back to the student throughout the year and refer back to their "Resident James Bowie Expert." I guess that is the one of the benefits of jigsawing a topic and online learning takes it a step further by sharing their research and knowledge with the world through blogs, podcasts, and wikis.