This week in CEdO535 we were asked to research a new Web 2.0 tool. I chose to go the route of photo editing. I found Pixlr to look at and found it very easy to use and very similar to Adobe Photoshop. Photoshop is a program that I use in my yearbook class and I also use it in my personal life. Pixlr is a free tool and is so similar to Photoshop that if my school district ever refuses to update our Adobe Design Suite we would have Pixlr as a back up program to use. Most of the editing tools were the same and I only struggled with one tool. That tool is erasing a background to create a cut out of a picture. I had some trouble with it, but with some further practice and work with the program I could probably master it. Pixlr allows the user to upload photos from a computer and also to save it back to the computer. I found myself falling in love with Pixlr as I did with Photoshop!
I also worked on finishing my Google site. I created the site to be able to use it in my classroom. I have a page for each class that I teach. Almost every page includes links to google docs that would normally be copied and handed out in class. I was able to link up presentations that I use in Intro to Business for students who missed a day and notes. I am also hoping to have a fully functioning blog. That page still needs work, but with a little extra work it will be ready to go soon. I like the idea of students being able to be a little more independent and also be able to participate in class when they might not normally participate in the classroom.
We also finished reading the required chapters in our book about Web 2.0 tools and using them in the classroom. I found the podcasting and screencasting the most interesting and valuable tools. I like the idea of being able to have podcasts or screencasts as back ups for students who have missed class or for myself when I have to be gone from school. Every class period is valuable and it is difficult to miss time with students when they have a substitute who might not know how to teach the material. Using a podcast or screencast could minimize the loss of classroom time.
