Thing #7

Google has some extremely interesting applications. I explored several of them. Most of the applications were fairly easy to use. Many of them interfaced with other Google applications. I explored the Picasa pictures and created a photo album.
I also looked around at Google docs. Picasa pictures could be used much like Flickr in the classroom. Google docs will allow you to take any document and post it on the web making it more easily accessible.

Thing #6

Mashups were very interesting. I spent way too much time looking around at all of the different applications. I really liked the retrievr where you drew an image in a certain color and it matched photos. I'm not sure how I could use it in my classroom or librarian but it was great fun to see what images would come up!

The Trading Card application would be good to use for promoting books. An application like Mappr would be beneficial in tracking places that have been read about or explored in the classroom or library. The Motivator could be used as a response to reading.

I did try to use Motivator but I think my old and slow desktop could not handle it. I will try again on another one.

I did notice that Big Huge Labs had a link for free educator things. I will definitely look into that too. It looked like you could let your students use products without them having to have a separate sign-in. Another project for another day.

Thing #5

I thought these photos would be useful in teaching my second grade class about the food chain. I love the photo of the flower with the grasshopper.

The possibilities with Flickr are endless. It was easy to get lost in the search and follow related tags.

Thing #3

Putting the blog together was easier than I anticipated. Of course, this is only the basics. Now I need to spend some time making it "my" blog so it reflects my ideas and personality. I am looking forward to getting familiar with blogs and more comfortable with the process of adding new posts and other things.

Making the avatar was fun but I think they need more options like the WII has!

Thing #2

I have always considered myself a life long learner and look forward to new challenges and opportunities. The easiest thing was to have a good toolbox. I believe I have lots of resources, tools and people, available to help me in the learning process. The hardest is to see every problem has a challenge and not just an issue that has to be dealt with. I'm looking forward to expanding my thinking in this area.