Thursday, November 17, 2011
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Journal #6
Parr, B. (2011, July 16). Google+: The complete guide. Retrieved from http://mashable.com/2011/07/16/google-plus-guide/
The article, "Google+: The complete Guide" first introduces the reader to what Google+ is and later offers step by step instruction on how to use the neworks tools to your benefit. The article also answers the question, "Why would anyone want to use Google+?" Google+ can be considered a social media rival to Facebook and an improvement from their previous attempts to dip into the social media world: GoogleBuzz and GoogleWave. However, it does have many features that Facebook does not like Sparks, Hangouts, Circles, and Huddles. Some reasons that people seem to favor Google+ in comparison to Facebook is that it has an overall "cleaner" look to it. One reviewer mentioned that distractions like games on Facebook are not available with Google+. Another reviewer thought that it was a more adult way of being involved in Social Networking. Google+ also gives users the opportunity to sync other socail sits to their profile like Twitter, Facebook, Linked, or even a personal website or blog. Another benefit to using Google+ is the amazing privacy features. Photos and videos are automatically private after an upload until the user changes the settings. Circles offer users the opportunity to limit what is being shown to certain people linked to their profile and all profiles are automatically private.
Q: What is a "Circle?"
A: A circle is a feature on Google+ that allows you to separate users into different categories. For example, you may have a family circle, a friend circle, and a business circle. This feature is so important because it allows for the user to limit the content of their page to certain groups of people. You may not want someone from work to see what you may be showing your friends, which allows for more opportunity and less stress in sharing information.
Q: Can you "like" things using Google+ like you can with Facebook?
A: Similar to Facebook, Google+ offer a "+1 button" that they are trying to push. The +1 button gives users the chance to express interest in any subject without actually writing a comment about it.
Brogan, C. (2011, Sept 30). Educators – Google Plus is for you. Retrieved from http://www.chrisbrogan.com/gpluseducators/
The article, "Educators - Google Plus is for you" was very useful as a future educator. Using the circles feature on Google+, an educator may separate their classes, offering specific information to each one. To share class content, you simply click on the "share this circle" button. Using the stream feature, similar to a status update on Facebook, an educator can post lessons for each class that can be easily accessible to students. And a way for teachers to know that their students have read the material is by "checking in" to the assignment. Another way that students can communicate with each other and their teachers better is by engaging in online chats or "hangouts."
Q: How does a "hangout" work?
A: First, you create a "hangout," then type in your name and then simply invite people to join. When the computer notices that someone is talking into the microphone, the attention is then on that person, so everyone involved in the chat can see that person speaking. However, one limitation to these online chats is that it only has a ten person capacity, so it cannot include an entire class. The article also suggested to invite special guests to chats.
Q: How does Google+ help a classroom?
A: Google+ has many features that can benefit a class in different ways. If a student is to miss class, they can simply check into the circle and observe the teachers feed to check for any assignments they missed that day. Students are also connected to each other, so it a good place to create a forum where they can discuss any difficulties or interests they have in class.
The article, "Google+: The complete Guide" first introduces the reader to what Google+ is and later offers step by step instruction on how to use the neworks tools to your benefit. The article also answers the question, "Why would anyone want to use Google+?" Google+ can be considered a social media rival to Facebook and an improvement from their previous attempts to dip into the social media world: GoogleBuzz and GoogleWave. However, it does have many features that Facebook does not like Sparks, Hangouts, Circles, and Huddles. Some reasons that people seem to favor Google+ in comparison to Facebook is that it has an overall "cleaner" look to it. One reviewer mentioned that distractions like games on Facebook are not available with Google+. Another reviewer thought that it was a more adult way of being involved in Social Networking. Google+ also gives users the opportunity to sync other socail sits to their profile like Twitter, Facebook, Linked, or even a personal website or blog. Another benefit to using Google+ is the amazing privacy features. Photos and videos are automatically private after an upload until the user changes the settings. Circles offer users the opportunity to limit what is being shown to certain people linked to their profile and all profiles are automatically private.
Q: What is a "Circle?"
A: A circle is a feature on Google+ that allows you to separate users into different categories. For example, you may have a family circle, a friend circle, and a business circle. This feature is so important because it allows for the user to limit the content of their page to certain groups of people. You may not want someone from work to see what you may be showing your friends, which allows for more opportunity and less stress in sharing information.
Q: Can you "like" things using Google+ like you can with Facebook?
A: Similar to Facebook, Google+ offer a "+1 button" that they are trying to push. The +1 button gives users the chance to express interest in any subject without actually writing a comment about it.
Brogan, C. (2011, Sept 30). Educators – Google Plus is for you. Retrieved from http://www.chrisbrogan.com/gpluseducators/
The article, "Educators - Google Plus is for you" was very useful as a future educator. Using the circles feature on Google+, an educator may separate their classes, offering specific information to each one. To share class content, you simply click on the "share this circle" button. Using the stream feature, similar to a status update on Facebook, an educator can post lessons for each class that can be easily accessible to students. And a way for teachers to know that their students have read the material is by "checking in" to the assignment. Another way that students can communicate with each other and their teachers better is by engaging in online chats or "hangouts."
Q: How does a "hangout" work?
A: First, you create a "hangout," then type in your name and then simply invite people to join. When the computer notices that someone is talking into the microphone, the attention is then on that person, so everyone involved in the chat can see that person speaking. However, one limitation to these online chats is that it only has a ten person capacity, so it cannot include an entire class. The article also suggested to invite special guests to chats.
Q: How does Google+ help a classroom?
A: Google+ has many features that can benefit a class in different ways. If a student is to miss class, they can simply check into the circle and observe the teachers feed to check for any assignments they missed that day. Students are also connected to each other, so it a good place to create a forum where they can discuss any difficulties or interests they have in class.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
Journal #7 My Personal Learning Network
A Personal Learning Network (PLN) is an online community of individuals in education trading information and learning together. It can be for specific purposes like a subject, or it can be more of a broad subject like education itself. Some tools that can be used in a PLN would be some social networking sites such as Twitter or Blogs.
As a teacher, creating a PLN can be beneficial when seeking information on how to better one’s classroom or one’s self as an educator. As I observed the chat between Educational Arts Integrators at #artsint on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. EST I uncovered alternative ways that core subjects in school can be taught through art and creativity. I believe that this chat could be beneficial to all teachers, because of the importance in utilizing different forms of teaching. For instance, creative learning could apply the idea Multiple Intelligences, particularly for visual learners. For example, a student that is not very good at math may do well if creativity were incorporated into the lesson plans. One lesson plan that was brought up during the discussion that could exercise these ideas was “dancing to math.” Ultimately, the arts play a huge role in the creation of the mind and in making sense of the world as a student.
One educator that I decided to follow during the Arts Integration chat was Eliza Peterson. I was originally interested in her because she seemed to lead the chat and others “re-tweeted” a lot of her comments. Her bio mentioned that she is a teacher as well as an author, which gave her comments credibility. She is the creator of The Inspired Classroom website, where she writes articles on how to integrate creativity and art into the classroom.
Another educator I decided to follow, along with others was Susan Riley. Susan is a photographer and teacher that is also an advocate of art integration. She is the creator of the website, Education Closet where, like Eliza, writes articles on the benefits of creativity in the classroom. She provides lesson plans, handouts, videos, online classes, and other resources. I also followed some other students and educators.
I used Diigo as a tool while observing the works of a few of the participants in the Art chat. It was beneficial to me because I could easily bookmark websites while following along with the chat. This gives me the opportunity to look over the articles later on, and use them as tools for my future classroom. I added both Eliza and Susan’s webpages to my Diigo as well as an article, “Visual Art as Critical Thinking” and “Sunni Brown’s Graphic Facilitation webpage.”
The Blog Video that I watched on The Educator’s PLN was #Edchat: Join The Movement. The video expresses how the chat evolved from being a small discussion to a large discussion, now involving many educators all over the world. The chat takes place every Tuesday and the discussion topic is voted for on Monday. #Edchat is open is to any educator that desires change. Creating my PLN by engaging in online chat’s using Twitter and Diigo has opened my eyes to the benefits of professional social networking. I am eager to build my PLN and use the resources I connect with in my future classroom!
As a teacher, creating a PLN can be beneficial when seeking information on how to better one’s classroom or one’s self as an educator. As I observed the chat between Educational Arts Integrators at #artsint on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. EST I uncovered alternative ways that core subjects in school can be taught through art and creativity. I believe that this chat could be beneficial to all teachers, because of the importance in utilizing different forms of teaching. For instance, creative learning could apply the idea Multiple Intelligences, particularly for visual learners. For example, a student that is not very good at math may do well if creativity were incorporated into the lesson plans. One lesson plan that was brought up during the discussion that could exercise these ideas was “dancing to math.” Ultimately, the arts play a huge role in the creation of the mind and in making sense of the world as a student.
One educator that I decided to follow during the Arts Integration chat was Eliza Peterson. I was originally interested in her because she seemed to lead the chat and others “re-tweeted” a lot of her comments. Her bio mentioned that she is a teacher as well as an author, which gave her comments credibility. She is the creator of The Inspired Classroom website, where she writes articles on how to integrate creativity and art into the classroom.
Another educator I decided to follow, along with others was Susan Riley. Susan is a photographer and teacher that is also an advocate of art integration. She is the creator of the website, Education Closet where, like Eliza, writes articles on the benefits of creativity in the classroom. She provides lesson plans, handouts, videos, online classes, and other resources. I also followed some other students and educators.
I used Diigo as a tool while observing the works of a few of the participants in the Art chat. It was beneficial to me because I could easily bookmark websites while following along with the chat. This gives me the opportunity to look over the articles later on, and use them as tools for my future classroom. I added both Eliza and Susan’s webpages to my Diigo as well as an article, “Visual Art as Critical Thinking” and “Sunni Brown’s Graphic Facilitation webpage.”
The Blog Video that I watched on The Educator’s PLN was #Edchat: Join The Movement. The video expresses how the chat evolved from being a small discussion to a large discussion, now involving many educators all over the world. The chat takes place every Tuesday and the discussion topic is voted for on Monday. #Edchat is open is to any educator that desires change. Creating my PLN by engaging in online chat’s using Twitter and Diigo has opened my eyes to the benefits of professional social networking. I am eager to build my PLN and use the resources I connect with in my future classroom!
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