Bookmarking

Last week, I had to wipe my computer in my dorm, because it was infected by a virus... I lost so many bookmarks. I was so angry at myself that i hadn't known about this website before hand. There are websites that allow you to bookmark website, on it. The one i am currently using is diigo.com (look on the right side for a link to my bookmarks) Now, not is diigo wipe proff. in other words if you have to wipe your commuter you can still access what you bookmarked. BUT BUT BUT!!! YOU CAN ACESSS THAT CONTENT FROM ANY COMPUTER! (as long as you know your password). You also can access other bookmarks that people have posted (so long as their public). But this allows you to collaborate at get access to so many website, and you can also check them out, and use them. Instead of everytime you need to find something going to google(or your search engine of choice) and typing in that topic, and getting 128,347,783 results reported and then having the time consuming, task of sifting through all of that information to find the website you really want, or even that is good to use.... There are draw backs such as people's definition of good, and if things are tagged properly. (tag are keyword that help you find the websites you want when there is a long list).... Luckily for me i may be able to find those website again. because i had to save them in a bibliography for a Unit (15 days worth of lesson plans and activities one 1 subject)...but it will take me so much more time, that if i had know about diigo.

Inspiration

I am a person who thinks that she knows Microsoft Word program pretty well. I took a computer application class, and learned some helpful shortcuts. How to bold, and other task from your keyboard. One cool thing that did learn was about Smart Art, it is something in the New 2008 version of Word. It allows you to organize your information into some graphic organizers, which is really cool. There are pie charts, and cycle charts (that you can use for the life cycles) and just so many other organizers, so you don't have to sit there and manually draw, the life cycle chart. Which is great for me because my artistic ability is how we say not so great.

Another cool program that i got to work with was Inspiration. That allows you to make a concept map. Which was awesome! I tried to use it last year, and got so frustrated with it that i went and found a different program. You can type in information in an outline and it will format it into a concept map, or you can work with the map on your own, and you can get an outline from that. It really allows you to make graphic organizers for you students to study from, or use as an assessment. I LOVE Inspiration. Now that i know how to use it, successfully.

What is a blog?

A blog is basically a website, with journal entries. ANYONE can create one. ANYONE can read them. ANYONE can comment on one.

A blog can be used in the classroom. Students can read blogs that give them diffrent perspectives on current events, and comment and ask questions. Students can also keep their own blogs about what they have learned in the classroom over a period of time, or what they thought of school events, such as assemblies. In that way the teacher can treat it like an essay, but the students are gaining valuable computer skills such as typing, as well as working on their writing skills.