Thing #11

Here is the link to my map:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&ll=42.875461,-85.571136&spn=0.057742,0.110378&t=h&z=13&msid=102697519608467156154.000484feaa59376b50ac5

Admittedly, it isn't as cool as some others, but it really is a route that I like to run.  And it's kind of neat to see all the twists and turns from a different viewpoint.

I've used Google Maps before and I like the features, especially the 3D terrain feature.  It allows you to get a good grasp of the hills that you are about to run.

Thing#10

I started my google reader and noticed that all of the blogs I'm following already feed into it.  I can definitely see the benefit in my personal life to have blog posts and articles that I enjoy reading anyway sent directly to me instead of having to check them.

I also can see huge benefits as a teacher.  I can have new technology updates sent directly to my reader.  I can create a specific google search that will send me links that satisfy my search requirement.  For example, I can type in "high school math technology" and every time a new article pops up with those words, google will send it right to my reader.  Nice!

Thing #9

I joined the middle school math group!  So many memories :)

Thing #8

This video is kind of cute, although the music is extremely repetitive

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=128179

Overall, I think youtube and other "tubes" can be very useful in learning.  If nothing else, they give teachers and students more options for conveying material.  We know that students learn in different ways, and maybe for some, visual learning is the only method for them.

There are clearly some issues to bring up though.  Appropriate use can be an issue with youtube because there is soooo much other crap on there besides educational material.  Thus, it is currently blocked for most of our computers at the high school. 

Teachertube is an awesome resource though and one that I am sure to go back to.

Thing #7

I have had some experience with Wikis.  In fact, I joined a Wiki that was set up by my Aunt (a teacher at East Grand Rapids High School) that was all about the MACUL conference.  We shared all of our notes on each presentation that we visited.  After reading everyone's notes, it was like we visited 30 presentations instead of 6!

I've also explored the KentISD Wiki.  Their Wiki provides tons of links to resources.  They use it as a fluid resource center.  I think it has great advantages as such.  It is quick to edit and allows the ISD to post new resources quickly and easily.  The way they use the Wiki reminds me of a delicious site with editing and commenting powers.

I viewed the "Let's Go West" Wiki from the Web 2.0 homepage and noticed how the teacher used the Wiki as a whole class assignment center.  Students were posting pieces to each section.  Altogether they created an informational website about the Oregon Trail.  All the while the teacher could edit and make suggestions about their posts.

Wiki's are great for sharing information, and editing.  Actually, they are great for editing.  I love how you can look at the editing history as well.  I'm imagining a student submitting a paper, and peers as well as teachers editing the paper.  All the while, the student can view the history of the edits and who editted, making corrections as needed. 

I also love the Wiki statistics feature.  Anyone signed in to the Wiki can look at the history of views and edits and get an idea of who has been there and what they did. 

I think it's a little too free though.  Maybe there is a locking feature that I'm not aware of, but it seems that anyone signed in to the Wiki could do some reckless editing and ruin the whole site.  If I had to do it differently, I will allow users the option to lock out the editing feature. 

Thing #6

Here is the link to my presentation:

http://prezi.com/xuxcpnhavduf/

I used prezi and loved it.  It has a really slick interface and allows you to create some amazing presentations.  It is not like PowerPoint at all though, so it does take a bit of getting used to.  I wish it was easier to change fonts and font sizes and I wish there were better drawing tools, although you can import pictures from other software.  Overall, very cool

Thing #5

Here is the link to my Google spreadsheet

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Ag7BRRmda1fBdHVDaXQwVy1aeThDM2szdl9ObDFvT0E&hl=en

I think that for my math classes, presentations and spreadsheets would be the most useful and helpful.  I could imagine having students create spreadsheets and presentations, and invite me to share so that I could provide ongoing feedback AS they create them.

I'm not sure if GoogleDocs will replace Microsoft Office, but I do think that free document software will run Microsoft Office down.  Open Office is another free office suite that mirrors Microsoft.  It actually opens Microsoft documents and it's docuements can be opened in Microsoft.