The Power of the Internet in Education!

     This week's topics centered on extended and improving our use of the internet.
    First, we 'powered up' our internet searches with Google. I have always been a Google-Lover, but this was a new level of love. I have even created a board in Pinterest solely for Google information in the classroom, click here. I am referring you to my Pinterest board (which is a lot of YouTube tutorials) in lieu of embedding any videos to save space, and to not limit my post to my knowledge of today. Check it out, some of the titles/topics of the posts include but are not limited to:

• Great Google Searches-learn how to expertly use the Google search engine to harvest the vast amounts of information on the web.
• Google's Hidden Dictionary
• Improving your Search Results
• Filetype Searching-Extra Cool-this is my personal favorite, great if you are looking for a PowerPoint to tweak, sound file, document, etc.
• Keep Up-to-Date with Google News-this would be great for a current events section in a Social Studies class.
• Use Google as a Calculator-It All Adds Up!-watch out Math teachers I plan on sharing this in the lab.
• Google Book Search-great resource I am going to share with my librarian and LA teachers. However, they are wonderful, so they may already know about it.
• Searching a Single Site-I haven't used it yet and I am not sure of the application for me, but I added it to board for future review.
• Google Search by Reading Level-Another great one to share with my librarian and LA teachers.
• NonVideos
• The Google Cheat Sheet-love it and a definite must have
• EHow-actually more videos, but another nice concise collection

    Second, I was introduced to Wolfram/Alpha. According to my Google search: 

1. Wolfram. | Alpha is an engine for computing answers and providing knowledge. It works by using its vast store of expert-level knowledge and algorithms to automatically answer questions, do analysis, and generate reports.
2. This is an impressive site. Watch the video:
4. 
   

    With that being said, I didn't get it. I couldn't really get it to work, so I do not have any application ideas. However, I have not given up. We have a discovery day in my classroom periodically. I think I will post a link to the above video and the website, and see what my phenomenal students will do. In addition, I will create a collaborative document or slide in their Google drive, and have them respond to some reflective questions or prompts about the site. If you have suggestions or ideas, respond below.

    Next, we reviewed Creative Commons and how to find Google images that are in the public domain (see the videos below). I do a large unit at the beginning of my course with copyright, fair use, and public domain, because of the direct impact an validity in my course. Following through and giving them ample areas to find the correct image, sound, or video file to use is a challenge. I cannot wait to use this knowledge early and often next quarter/semester.

   Finally, we created a collaborative project.  Which is too cool, I do 1/2 slides of information, but gain more than 20 slides of information. All the information that has been submitted by my classmates has been added to my Google Pinterest board, and as more students complete I will add them. Here is a taste of the topics or click here to check out the presentation yourself:

• Search within a Specific Website-using Google or the Google sponsored site sitecomber.com.
• The Currency Calculator-I am hoping to be a world traveler soon and need this.
• The Conversation Search-Caution: I had the microphone on and was talking to my daughter, scary things came up in my search. WHOOPS!
• Google Scholar-
• Measurement-
• Using Symbols in searches

    Finally, Finally, as I reflect back over the last 7 weeks. I must say a big Thank You

to my instructor (get it, it was a big thank you). I am so glad to have a professional web presence in my blog, and I have great plans to continue. I can say this is the BEST class I have taken, while in my masters program.  This course has had a positive and a very significantly positive impact on my classroom. Again, Thank You. I hope you all enjoy and find the benefits as well.

Signing Off, put hopefully only temporarily,

Lori

Social Networks & Media in Schools.

It was a busy week with a lot of learning, our class started off with this inspirational video. What are your thoughts when you watch it?

As educators, it is important for us to embrace the social media/networking world we live in. However, we must do so wisely and not blindly. Educate ourselves, model for our children.

Here is a quick video with tips for using Social Media, it is simplistic in nature but effective. If you, your students, or your own children are or want to be involved in social media have a plan, educate, and practice safety.

Our second topic is one I hold near and dear to my heart, Pinterest!

As I was droning on and on in my post about Pinterest, I thought "Maybe I should have done an entire post about Pinterst!".  So that is exactly what I did. Click the Pinterest label below to be taken to my Pinterest post.

Did I say I LOVE IT! Check it out, use it. With all the time you save using it as a tool, you will have time to create one of the many craft ideas or cooking ideas you see.

On of our final activities, or topics, this week in class was "Pros/Cons of Social Media & Networking in Schools".  Through the research, I found tons of information, linked below:

• Pros and Cons of Social Media in the Classroom
• How Students Benefit from Using Social Media
• Benefits and Drawbacks of Social Media in Education
• Social Media Usage Provides Educational Benefits Research Shows

But the most powerful piece in this activity, to me anyway, was the Google Drive tool for research. I have already shared it with one coworker, and plan to revise my Google Drive post (or possibly a Google Drive Board on Pinterest) and share it with my building.

Social Media/Networking

scary:yes

necessary:yes

possible:yes

educatable:yes

unavoidable:yes

the future:yes

Embrace it,

Lori

Pinterest! Join Me!

Okay, I started this as part of my Social Media and Networking page, but I clearly had too much to say. Therefore, it received a post of its own. Enjoy!

This topic is one I hold near and dear to my heart, Pinterest!

Pinterest is a visual discovery tool that you can use to find ideas for all your projects and interests

I was introduced to Pinterest several years ago, and weirdly enough, had a hard time getting an account. At the time, you had to be invited, or link it to your Facebook.  I had not and still do not have a Facebook page, luckily I had a coworker who invited me to join. I LOVE IT!

Why I love it, and how I use Pinterest.

• Primarily as a bookmarking tool. When I find something I like: clothes, hairstyles, decorating ideas, recipes, websites, blogs, school projects, quotes, gift ideas, holiday ideas, organizational ideas, ideas, ideas... I pin it to a board to easily find it later. I am a visual person and the image bookmark appeals to me.  In this class we have learned a lot of bookmarking sites, but I still find Pinterest to be the one that appeals to me most. It is easy to Pin something you find online, click here for a tutorial on how to add a button to your browser. Here is a tutorial for how to add a pin to safari for your ipad. So as I am doing research for my projects in my classroom, decorating ideas for my home, gift giving ideas for Christmas, etc, I pin it and come back later.
• Click here for a tutorial for keeping your board private, so your followers wont know what you are getting them for Christmas.
• Click here for a tutorial for sharing your boards, if you are working on a project with others and want to have a collaborative board.
• Inspirational or research tool. I use it to research for new ideas and inspiration. I can search the entire Pinterest site, I can peruse or search through themed public areas (I think the mobile version is the best for this), I can search through my boards, or I can follow people with similar likes and interests. For example; I have a pork loin and I want a creative new recipe.  I can search pinterest public, or pinterest 'food & drink' (which allows me to further specify; desserts, healthy eating, sandwiches,...), or I can search my boards for something I previously pinned (I currently have almost 4000 pins).
• Professional Learning Community.  I follow many educators and gain powerful ideas and knowledge through their pins. I am the only teacher in my building that teaches my particular content, so the abilty to collaborate on my content within the building is limited. Therefore, a social media tool such as Pinterest lets me collaborte virtually. When I see something one of my followers pins, that I am inspired by or would like to use in my classroom I can repin it. Or as mentioned above, we can share a board and be co-contributors to the items on a particular board.
• Networking. Several years ago my sister and I started a blog, just for fun. My sister is amazingly creative and crafty, and this seemed like a great way to showcase her 'stuff' and my attempt to emulate her. Linking your blog posts on social networks such as; Pinterest, twitter, Instagram, and Facebook increase your community, visibility, and traffic.  We will never be the Pioneer Woman, but we do have our own little niche in the blogging world. 

I would like to end with a final tip: organize, organize, organize. 

Keep your boards appropriately labeled and organized as you progress through your pinning experience. If you visit my boards, please be patient as my OCD has me often creating and resorting boards and board content.

click here to return to the Social Media & Networking in Schools post

Pinning away,

Lori