Thing #12

I recently explored some tools on Google, including translate and alerts.

First I explored the Google tool of Alerts. This tool allows people to get alerts daily from Google. Google asks you for the key words or words that you would like to receive alerts about and then sends you daily alerts on that key word. I chose the key words art education and now Google sends me alerts daily about the best news on art education.

The second tool that I explored was Google translate. I have used this tool before in my Spanish class. I used many sited that were written in Spanish for reports and this site will help you translate entire sites. No matter what language the words are written in this tool can translate for you, weather it is only one word or a entire passage. The only problem with this site is that some words don't translate quite right, but that is to be expected with any translation site.

Thing #11

I thought that the Google blog search was the easiest search to use. It is most likely the easiest for me to use because it is much like using just regular old Google!


The most confusing search would have to be technortati, this is because there was allot of clutter on the home page and although the actual searching process was fairly easy you have to look for a minuet to actually find the search bar!


I tried to find some feeds that I could actually use when I start to teach, this would include feeds about art, art history and teaching!! Which were easier to find than I thought they would be.


Like any search engines there were some random results that came up with the results that I was actually looking for. I found an article about how police found stolen art in the trunk of a car, during a routine traffic stop.

Thing #10

The thing that I like about RSS and newsreaders is that you can choose a selection of news feeds that you want to keep up with and subscribe to them. This way when you log onto Google reader and all of the places that you subscribed to are up and waiting for you when you log on.


This took is one of my favorites of the 23 things. The reason being is that I think it is one of the most educational. A teacher could have all of their students create a Google reader account and subscribe to specific news feeds. This way all of the students would be able to view the same current events by just logging onto Google reader.


Students could also use this to find their own current events very easily to share with the class. As well as just to use for personal use.


I personally subscribed to many sports news feeds. This way i will not have to go searching every day. This information will all be in a organized place for me to go and read.

Thing #9

This image was super easy to create. http://www.imagechef.com/ was the website that I used. All you have to do is go to the website and choose a application that you want to use. I chose the soup, so I clicked on the link. Once I got to the application that I wanted to use I just typed the phase is the text box and clicked preview. BAM it was created, pretty easy huh?


I made this image the exact same way as the above.

This entire website was very easy to use and definitely easy enough for my students to use!

I like the idea of using these kind of images in power points. For a students who has not used these kinds of websites before, this would be very interesting. I personally have never used these kinds of websites before and think that they are very cool.

Thing #8

I really enjoyed exploring these websites. They would be nice to use in my classrooms to make fun signs about lessons.  I am planning to be a elementary art teacher and this would be a good inspiration for art projects. The students could explore these websites and then make their own signs using art materials rather than the websites.

Thing #7

I chose the group Pink Think. I used the key work pink under the group section. This group posts pictures of pink nature, they allow their group members to share photos that they have taken that are anything to do with pink.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/pinkthink/

I enjoyed looking through these photos because there were so many different kinds of items in the photos, but somehow they all have something to do with pink :)

This website was VERY easy to use, you can find any kind of photos using key works. Also you are able to find a group with any kind of interest. Which means that you can find a group that you can relate to and join if you want.

Thing #6

I chose to explore firefox. The reason that I chose this is because this is the browser that I use day to day and prefer it to other browsers that are out there. This is a free browser, that has been working hard to remove many of the bugs that they have encountered.

My dad owns his own computer repair shot and he recommends this browser. He says that there are less bugs, less viruses and that it is on over trust able browser.

Something that I dint like about his browser, is that you cant type your search directly in your address bar, like you can in google chrome.

Many websites will not run of off this browser which is inconvenient. I have have to keep an internet explorer as well to work many of the websites that are required for my schooling.

Thing #5

Web 2.0 is a little over kill to me. I believe that people today put to much social emphasis on computers and technology.  I am not a very social person and perhaps that is why I do not understand the hype behind it all. I understand the benefits, but their has to be a point when we are like, HEY this is too much.

As far as how I would use this technology, I would be able to see how my students are communicating and what kinds of technology they are using. I could keep in touch with both my students and parents. I do think that this technology could be used to keep the parents involved and informed about their children, without very much effort on the parents part.

Thing #4

• The reason that I believe that commenting and blogging presents a sense of community is because people feel more comfortable sharing their true thoughts and feelings on the computer rather than face to face. It is much easier to get out your opinion and feeling through typing then talking. When commenting on another blog, it is as if you are having a conversation with another person and are more likely to be more honest and upfront about what you have read because you don't have to look that person in the eye when leaving a comment. Blogs can also be a place where people can express themselves, when they may feel awkward doing so in the real world.
• These are the blogs in our group that I chose to comment on:
• http://jacketsteacherpc.blogspot.com/2011/06/thing-12.html?showComment=1308503863516#c2374245878044272612
• The reason that I chose this blog to comment on is because I thought that I could help him out with sharing about Google scholar, which I use all the time for school papers.
• http://kelleyskontemplations.blogspot.com/2011/06/thing-5.html
• The reason that i chose this blog is because she went a completely different way with her post than I did and I found it very interesting how people can have such different ideas about the same information.
• http://jenjacksonk-6.blogspot.com/2011/06/thing-3.html?showComment=1308504441354#c5040945949840636253
• I chose this post to comment on because there were some good ideas in the post, that I would like to use when I become a teacher.
• http://rocksbywheels.blogspot.com/2011/06/thing-9.html
• I commented on this post because the creative frames caught my eye!
• http://jessicasmanysplendidthings.blogspot.com/2011/06/blog-post.html?showComment=1308504796971#c7015463127931604713
• The reason that i chose this blog is because I shared her opinion on the matter!
• These are the blogs out side of our group that I decided to comment on:
• http://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=602308357579541618&postID=8841516392787545711&page=1&token=1308505027356
• http://mappchik.blogspot.com/?expref=next-blog
• I chose both of these blogs, because both of them seemed to have something in common with me !

Thing #3

A blog can be a great tool in the classroom. I plan to teach Art, and a blog could be a good way to keep parents informed about what their children are doing in the classroom. As a teacher I could create a separate posting for each art project that the students will be working on. The blog could include what materials are being used and an example of what the final project will look like. Some art history about the projects could also be involve as well.

Posting these before each lesson, would inform the students and parents about what projects are coming up. This allows students to dress appropriately and make sure that they have all the special materials, if any needed for the project. This will allow the parents to become involved and know what I am teaching their children.

A blog would also be a good place for students to post suggestions, on what they would like to learn in the classroom, what materials they would like to try or any other ideas they may have.

Thing #2

To be completely honost I did not put much thought into my posting name or the name of my blog. I chose the posting name of Aaaa because my name is Amanda and obviously it starts with an A. As far as the name of my blog, I used my last name and first initial because I have a fairly unique last name and knew that it would not be taken for a blog name.


My experience in creating this blog was a pleasant one, the directions were very clearly outlined and I did not have any issues following them. Creating this blog was over all very easy.


My avatar does resemble me, or at least I tried to make her resemble me. She has brown hair and eyes like me, but other than that, I am not sure that she represents me very well. I like to think that I am unique as a person and my avatar is pretty generic. Overall I am happy with her :) 

Thing #1

I believe that for myself habit #2 is the hardest of the habits. Habit #2 is accepting responsibly for you own learning. I am a procrastinator and have to constantly remind my self to stay on task and keep up on all of my school work. I am a mother and that in it's self is a full time job. My education is very important to me and I know that I will be able to keep my self on track, even if I have to constantly remind myself that I am responsible for my own learning.

The easiest of the habits would have to be #1 because I already know where I want to end up and have my end goal in mind. I want to end up teaching in a Art classroom and I know what I need to do to end up there.

Personally I am not a "tech " kind of person. I have never had a blog before and don't know if I will keep one in the future. I hope to learn about the kinds of technology that my future students and going to be using. This blog was easy to set up, so far I am encouraged and ready to complete my 23 things!!