Thing #4

For the next two things, we're going to take a look at some of the amazing things Google has to offer us (did you know it is so much more than just a search engine?).  If you do not already have a Google account, you'll need one for this thing and thing #5.  Many of you created Google accounts when you became followers of the 13 things blog, but just in case you joined some other way, in the upper right hand corner of the Google home page is a "sign in" link.  Use it and create an account if you haven't already done so.

One neat feature of a Google account is the ability to use GoogleDocs.  In essence, instead of storing your documents on your computer's hard drive, you are storing them on a server somewhere so that you can have access to them wherever you are.  That means you can also share them so that if you are working on a project with multiple people, all members of the group can revise the same document.  Watch the video below for an explanation of how GoogleDocs works.



You'll see on the sidebar to the left under the Interesting Links heading two different Google documents.  One is a spreadsheet in which I am keeping track of the participants of this web 2.0 tutorial and which of the things have been completed.  If you notice I have missed something you've done as we go along, please let me know.  The other document is one in which I've made public so everyone can make revisions to it.  It is an Idea Sheet where I'd like us to add our ideas about how we might use the web 2.0 tools we experience during these 13 weeks with our students.

To get to GoogleDocs from the Google homepage, once you've signed in, click on the "more" link in the top bar, and scroll down until you get to Documents.

To complete Thing #4, first add an idea to the Idea Sheet on how you might use blogs or GoogleDocs in your classroom.  Please add your initials at the end of your idea so I know who contributed each idea (for record keeping purposes only).  Then, using Thing #4 as your heading or title, post your reflections on GoogleDocs and what benefit (or not) you think using the service might have in the classroom. 

Just for fun...zoho.com is another web-based document-creating service.  Go there and compare what you find with GoogleDocs.  Do you find one or the other easier to use?  Can you see how one or the other might be easier to use in a classroom?

Thing #3

Congratulations on creating your own blog!  Under the Blog List on the left side of this page, you'll see those of us who have created blogs so far.  Since creating and customizing a blog can be a fairly large undertaking, for this week's thing we are going to add to our blogs.
Blogs can be a great way to stay updated on each other and communicate.  One part of thing #3 will be following your colleagues' blogs.  (Some of you are already following each other!)  You'll notice I have followed all of your blogs.  When I became your follower, I began receiving notices when you updated your blog.  But blogging can be kind of intimidating when you feel like you're just talking to cyber-space.  I've learned how fun it is when someone makes a comment on your blog!  The next part of thing #3 will be to make a comment on someone else's blog.

Most importantly, I don't want us to lose sight of why we're working with these web 2.0 tools.  The big question is how a tool can positively (or negatively) affect our teaching and interactions with students.  Many teachers and administrators around the country and world are using blogs as another communication tool with the people they serve.  Take a look at the following blogs to see how other educators use blogs (I'll try to remember to have Kevin unblock the blogspot addresses that are normally blocked at school, but in the meantime, you may want to look at some of these at home):
speakingofhistory.blogspot.com (8th grade history teacher in Missouri)
woodlandrm3.blogspot.com (kindergarten classroom)
gillum.edublogs.org (5th and 6th grade classroom in California)
blog.mtlsd.org/cybrary (elementary librarian)
millersenglish10.blogspot.com (10th grade English teacher)
ghsprincipal.edublogs.org (superintendent in western New York)

To complete Thing #3, first choose at least two of your colleagues' blogs to follow.  To follow them, simply click on the Follow button like you did to become a follower of the 13 things blog.  Then make a comment on one of the blogs (not necessarily one you chose to follow).  Finally, on your own blog, making your subject or heading Thing #3, post about an educator's blog you have found you think is especially helpful for what you do with your students.

Thing #2

It is time to dive into the world of Web 2.0.  In order to keep track of your thoughts, impressions, and learnings as we go along, you will create a blog (online log).  To do that, you may use one of several free blog hosting sites.  I use Blogger for both the 13 things blog as well as the blog I have for the libraries.  You may also choose to use WordPress or Edublog (although I believe that unless you choose to pay for a subscription, Edublog includes ads on your blog).  Although I haven't used either of the other two programs, I believe they work in much the same format.

Thing #2
To create a blog for yourself, follow these steps.  (And then feel free to customize as much as you're comfortable!)
1. Create an account.  If you choose to use Blogger, you should already have an account from when you became a follower of the 13 things blog.  In that case, your email address is your user name and your password is the one you already created.  If you choose WordPress or Edublog, you will probably have to create a new account. 
2. Name your blog.  Since your blog name will be out there for all to see (although you will be able to customize some privacy settings), you may want to make the name of your blog something that doesn't completely give away your identity.  Your address (and blog name) will look like the following examples depending on which hosting site you use:
Blogger: http://(youruniquename).blogspot.com
WordPress: http://(youruniquename).wordpress.com
Edublog: http://(youruniquename).edublog.org
3. Select your template.  Each of the hosting sites have a variety of templates from which you can choose, so have fun and make your blog something you'll enjoy looking at!
4 (optional!). Customize your settings. Once you have your blog set up, you might want to go in and change some of the settings.  For example, you can prevent Blogger from listing your blog on a blog list or allowing search engines to find your blog.

To complete Thing #2, create your blog and add your first post.  Your first post can be as simple as a hello or a paragraph about what you hope to gain from this Web 2.0 experience.  Once you've done that, email me the address to your blog.  I will add your blog to the list on the 13 things blog.  In addition, IF you tell me you'd like me to do this, I will ask Kevin to unblock your blog address so you can edit your blog at school.

Thing #1

Before we begin looking at different Web 2.0 tools, we need to spend some time thinking about how Web 2.0 differs from what we traditionally think of the Internet being, and how that change can make a difference in what we think about the way we teach.

Thing #1:
Read through some of the articles and websites below (and watch the video).  What does all of this mean for us in and out of our classrooms?
First, a definition (from Wikipedia!).
Shift Happens--Now What?
Digital Kids. Analog Schools.
Moving Toward Web 2.0 in K-12 Education
Web 2.0-savvy teachers testing old assumptions
Pay Attention (a video from a school district in Utah)

To complete Thing #1, once you've read (or at least skimmed! :) ) through a couple of these, respond with a sentence or two of your thoughts regarding something in the articles or your thoughts about Web 2.0 in general by adding a comment to this post.