Happy Sunday everyone! I am very excited about some of the new technologies we have learned about so far! I really liked learning how to use Google docs. I had never used them before we started class and enjoyed the compare/contrast assignment. I often find myself "playing" with a new technology to learn about it. I appreciate how easy Google docs is. I would love to use them more in my classroom to minimize the amount of storage space used at school and also to minimize the amount of paper being used. In one of my classes we do a chapter on ethics and social responsibility in business and their project for that chapter is to research green businesses in WI. If I am promoting businesses that have gone green, it would be nice to lead by example with my students. However, I believe Google docs is currently unavailable to students because of needing to access email. Our students do not have access to email accounts at school. But, if I could find justification, I may be able to convince the administration and computer tech to allow the tool. That might be a goal of mine by the end of the school year.
I also am excited to learn more about the webcams and use them more. I met with my study group on TokBox this week. We have 4 members in our group and all were able to get in and talk. We really enjoyed seeing each other! I found it very simple to get an account and invite people into My Contacts. It was very nice to have multiple people on the call at once. I sometimes forgot though that I was visible to three other people! I can make some weird facial expressions sometimes and need to be aware that others might be able to see them!
I am still learning more about the social bookmarking and online storage. I could see myself using the social bookmarking in many of my classes. I reference many different websites in my classes and either have to include the web address on the assignment or have to write it on the board. Inevitably, at least one student tells me that it didn't work, which is because they didn't type it correctly. Social bookmarking could definitely cut back on those errors. I think the online storage could also help our district cut down on the amount of storage space our students use on the network. It also would be helpful for students who choose to complete work at home. They wouldn't have to worry about using a flash drive or some other storage device.
I am very excited to learn more! We have a lot of restrictions on what the students can access at school and I am excited to see if they will be able to use any of the new tools I have learned about!
