Just Playing Around

I know I finished but now I am starting to play further and practise embedding video clips etc that I had no time for before. I'm pretty excited because I went to a 3 day conference over the weekend on 'Identity in Catholic Schools' and saw a couple of great video clips that spoke to me. I was inspired because I now have the technology skills to come home and seek them out for myself. So here goes....

Finish Line

Wow! Who would have thought it at the beginning that I would be sitting here confidently blogging for the last time - or is it??? Thanks Dione for the great course. I really did enjoy learning a bit more about what's out there and while it's a bit daunting to know that it is changing by the minute, it's not rocket science and with a bit of time for exploration I can gain greater understanding. I loved having the weekly tasks. It was very difficult in the beginning to manage my time with little access to the computer. Going wireless, and reclaiming my laptop from the family made all the difference. I also liked the weekly emails with extra websites to check out. They gave me a greater understanding of the set tasks.

Thanks to all the participants. I loved reading your blogs and learnt just as much from you, (or quite possibly more)  from your insightful reflections than just doing the set tasks. Thanks also everyone for the great sites you put me onto. I have bookmarked, on Delicious of course, (but may move to Diigo) many of these for future reference. I especially liked the 34 Interesting Ways to use Google Docs in the Classroom (sorry can't remember who's blog it was on).

I undertook this course as I have been out of the classroom for 5yrs bringing up 3 small children. Whilst I would never consider myself a technology guru, I now feel confident that I could enter a classroom and know what some of these web.2 tools are and how to apply them. So in terms of the success of the course, for me it was highly successful. I fully intend to spend a bit more time checking out the Web 2.0 tool Directory. Good luck everyone with future blogging and/or application of web 2.0 tools. Thanks again Dione

# 22 Audiobooks and # 23 Downloadable Media

Yesterday I stumbled into Borders to see if they had any nice bookends I could purchase for my brother-in-law, who has just completed his PhD. No they didn't, in fact it was their last day of trading. It was with tears in my eyes I broke the news to my 5 yr old son that there would be no more sojourns to (airconditioned) Borders on those long hot summer afternoons when we'd lounge around reading books. Well he would lounge around absorbed in books whilst I perused the shelves for what's new. Meanwhile I clutched my bargain purchases (80% off) of Aussie Bites, Steven Axelson and Artimus Fowl audio books to hide for birthday gifts. I just love audio books. I get a real thrill when I hear my 3 year old reciting great passages of Roald Dahl's 'The Enormous Crocodile' brilliantly read by Stephen Fry. Mind you when my kids are riding their scooters round the outside of the house and I hear "Steer, you big Wally!" I have Michael Rosen to thank for extending my children's vocabulary. I loved the LibriVox website. I personally don't mind that volunteers read all their audiobooks. I know not everyone can read like Stephen Fry, but that's the joy of the whole experience, when you come across an unexpectedly well read story. It's also a great teaching point with students to illustrate the importance of great diction, enunciation and expression when reading aloud, especially when you can compare to poorly read stories. I actually like the idea that anyone can volunteer to read. What a great project for a class. Even the poorer readers could polish part of a text for publication. Thanks Dione for the great sites to look up this week. I found some great children's short stories to put on my ipod for those extended trips. Project Gutenberg taught me the difference between 'free' of charge (read only) and 'free' as in freedom (can do whatever you like with it). I guess with all downloadabel media, you need to be mindful of copyright.

Okay, who would use audiobooks apart from me: They're great for the sight impaired, and for students with reading difficulties. No longer are they restricted in what they can read/listen to. I have in the past used audiobooks in class as a change for the students who must get sick of hearing my style of book presentation. I think they're great for developing listening skills (and not just in the primary school context).

Ebooks....mmmm I'm excited by them and also saddened to see the effect they have on mainstream booksellers. Before this task I had no idea what a Kindle was, now I want one (I think). As an avid, avid reader, I love the idea that you can download multiple books onto something so light and small it'll fit in your handbag. Fantastic for travelling, commuting on public transport, waiting in traffic jams (anytime really). However, I don't enjoy reading from a computer screen and always like to have a hard copy of text. Besides, nothing quite beats lying on the couch in front of the fire with a good book, or in the hammock in Summer. I also can't bear the thought that a time will come when we can no longer wander into book stores to while away many happy hours. I think being able to download ebooks would be great for students. No longer would they have to carry heavy backpacks full of texts. Wish they had them when I was at uni. I could never afford all the texts and the ones I needed for assignments were always 'not available' in the uni library. Much more equitable for students.

I love the idea that you can download just about anything from magazines to newspapers, music, TV shows, games, videos and radio programs. However, I just can't imagine reading Country Style mag online. I just love when it arrives each month in the post, sitting down with a brewed coffee in the sun and whiling away a few hours.

# 21 Youtube and Teachertube

I have tackled this activity over a number of weeks, so consequently have forgotten half of what I've investigated. I like the fact that you can find just about anything on Youtube. People sometimes email me podcasts or are they vodcasts??? and I think where do you people find these things? Well now I know. I must say a lot of time is absorbed just sifting through the good, the bad and the ugly on Youtube. There was some great stuff on Teachertube but again very time consuming finding something relevant that I would use in a teaching capacity. Teachertube seems a much safer option for students and I can certainly see why schools limit access to Youtube. I think there's lots of value in using something with students from either of these sites, especially when it can demonstrate or explain something better than I can. However, you'd have to weigh up the benefits of time for resourcing and technology should always be used to enhance effective teaching, rather than replacing it. I would be more likely to use resources from Youtube and Teachertube that have been recommended to me by others who have successfully used them. However, I will endeavour to find more great stuff in the weeks and months to come.

I love this clip of the Sound of Music - very entertaining. I hope you do too.

# 20 Podcasts

Until this task I didn't really know what a podcast was, although I had heard the term bandied around a lot. I thoroughly enjoyed the 'Amazing Presentation', how very true. Years ago whilst travelling round Australia in our camper trailer, my husband and I listened to Radio National on our car radio (when there was reception). I loved that we had a running commentary as we passed through each state. How great would it be to download to the ipod for those times when there was no reception. I investigated quite a few of the 'Educational Podcasts' and could really see the value of some of these in terms of both professional development and use in classrooms. As I am not currently teaching, I haven't an immediate use and know that I will need to continue on the technology learning curve if I am to continue to stay in touch with the technology students are using in today's world.

# 19 Rollyo

I must say, I couldn't really see myself using this tool on a personal basis. I do like google search and seem to find what I need fairly easily. Having said that, I can see the value of creating your own search tool for just the websites you want your students to use for research on a particular topic. It would eliminate access to unwanted sites and certainly save time. The negative side of that though, would be the limitations set by the search roll. Sometimes an advanced search uncovers unexpected treasures.

# 18 Wikis

I like how Wikis are quick to build, easy to edit and you don't need any knowledge of html to set up, which levels the playing field. Having a website where all members or users can write, edit and rewrite is very useful for collaborative writing, pooling knowledge and exchanging ideas, especially with subjects that change or frequently need updating. I also like how it can eliminate the need for emails back and forth. Everyone has access to the same information so there is no doubling up. What does concern me however, is if someone changes what you have contributed and their information is wrong, also you would have to ensure only members have access to the Wiki. I think there's lots of scope for the use of Wikis eg setting and posting agendas for meetings, planning projects, collaborative editing of documents, debates, open ended taskes where there are many possible answers or ways of arriving at a given answer. Curriki was easy to navigate with some great resources for teachers (will have to bookmark on delicious). There was also some great stuff on the Educational Wikis - too much to absorb now. I'll have to come back to it. Our family has a wiki for weekend jobs at my mother-in-law's house which works really well. We know who has done what job, when and what needs to be done.