Thing 12 GOOGLE GOOGLE GOOGLE

Do you know anyone that has never used google? People that are not computer illiterate do not count. Google is the largest and most well known website to turn to when a question is needed to be answered. Just the other day I asked a random question, the response I got was "to google it". google-ing has become a word that people use to describe the action that they are finding out an answer or a way to do something, or just bored and need something to occupy their minds. I am a member of Google email louisa.p.murray@gmail.com I use this email to forward my apsu.edu email things as well as important things I choose to sign up for. Since being a member I have now learned about the Google Docs part in which I can save important presentations and pull them up on any computer anywhere! As for fun I decided to add a history paper of mine, a family photo in AMELIA ISLAND 2009, and a photo of Sophia Loren who is an idol of mine. Now I can easily go to school, the library, local bar (kidding) but basically anywhere with internet access and pull up this three things. I can also share them on the internet so I choose to share them with my mother.
I am also signed up with the Google Calender in which I can sync my Ipod with it and while I am walking to the mall or mailbox I can be notified of an upcoming event. Having the calender also sends me email notifications and my mother or friends can upload their calenders to mine so we can all share important dates together and set up says to spend with each other!

For the Calender I can link to my students and students parents emails or calenders to inform them about upcoming homework, holidays, projects, and much much more. Not only can you share the Google calender but you can also share the Google docs so that parents can have access to any learning worksheets or information the student is given during class. Children lose everything so this would be a good tool for everyone so that there is no way they can lo the important material!! Everyone can now be involved in the students success and learning with the class room!!!


The one negative thing I did find was that I tried to sign up for the Google notebook and it informed me that it is no longer being supported and I must go through the Google docs. Now this could be negative on Google's part as well as the APSU 23 things for leading people to the Google Notebook site when it is no longer in use.

Thing 11

While looking around at the provided blog sites with RSS, I personally enjoyed the topix.net. When I first opened it, I noticed it had the Clarksville area's most important news to the left and it easily caught my eye. Not only did it have important news it also had other Clarksville stories as well as world wide stories. I was a very easy website to access and navigate through when compared to the Technorati which had way too many things going on for me. When I first clicked to view the website it had a picture of the KISS band member with his tongue stuck out. I thought this was not interesting nor appealing to my specific taste. The colors and links and just about everything with the website was just crazy and out there. I didn't find it to be easily navigational like the topix site. I really enjoyed the topix site because it similar to the leafchronicle.com which I visit everyday since I am not subscribed to get the local newspaper.


You can blog on topix and since theleafchronicle.com was not listed on the 23 Things website, I just want others to know you can sign up for it as well as post comments on the stories going on in Clarksville and other areas. http://www.theleafchronicle.com/

Thing 10

RSS ( really simple syndication) is something that I have personally never heard of before 3040. I have never blogged before and have only read others blogs just because they said it would be fun. I have now learned that not only do I have to read myspace or facebook blogs I can also read and sign up for blogs on websites that actually interest me. Before taking 3040, I only thought blogs exsisted on social networks like myspace and facebook, I now know blogs are all over the place and cover many more topics. Now that I understand what RSS is and what blogs typically do, I can sign up for educational websites and other blog sites to help me, as an educator, and as a person understanding the world around us. Google Reader, Bloglines and others offer very easy steps to signing up for RSS with the websites and blog spots I am interested in pursuing. This could help teachers and students in keeping up with what is going on in today's world as well as what is going on the the classroom blog. Very helpful!!

Thing 9

Like I have said before, I have spent so much time on this "thing". Being able to put in different sayings like I did on thing 8 is what I did on this one. I used the image chef poetry blender to put one of my favorite quotes in and let others know what I like. Sophia Loren is perfect in my eyes and the quote I love is from her and it is a motivation quote that lets other women know they are pretty if only they believe in themselves that they are. Since I am going to be a history teacher I can put in famous historical quotes on a blog that I use for a classroom. They can reflect on the quote or whatever I choose to use as an assignment. This will make things more fun for the students as well as the teachers.


ImageChef.com Poetry Blender

http://www.imagechef.com/ic/final_widget.jsp

Thing 8

Using flickr mashups was completely fun and very interesting. I choose to mashup my name for when I get married which will become Louisa Murray Coslow. I am very excited to be getting married but while I was messing around with this "thing" I typed in quotes I love and many more words or sayings. I choose my name because I had spent way too much time typing in random words. Having different styles for words can be very helpful because it catches the eyes of people. Having a class room, a teacher can type up famous quotes and post them all over her room or names of wars and so forth. Teachers can help students feel comfortable in their classrooms/ learning environments with this specific "thing". People can also use this to make cool flashcards, invitations, scrap booking, decorations, etc. using flickr mashup can help make anything interesting and appealing to anyone. These different tools are completely habit forming and addicting. I was having a blast doing the mashup and the other things listed for thing 8.

Thing 7

I stayed on flcikr.com way too long. I enjoyed being able to look around at beautiful and fun photos that people can easily share with one another. I surfed random things I am interested in first but then I decided to look for things I really love and miss. I typed in Amelia Island, Florida. Ever since I have been born, Amelia Island is a place my family and I have visited. It is honestly like a second home to my family and me. We know our way around, what places are fun and where to shop and eat. This is a photo of the beautiful sunset right behind one of the many sand dunes. I absolutely love this picture because it brings back tons of childhood memories. This picture captures the quietness of the beach. Amelia Island is not like Orlando or Panama City, it is a very quiet and relaxing place to just get away from your everyday busy lifestyle. It is the most beautiful and less stressful beach that my family and myself have ever seen. I miss it and I can not wait to go back on June 13, 2010. I am counting down the days.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/8791152@N04/4286876826/

Thing 6

I choose to select from the winner's circle to see if the choose winner deserves that "title". I selected to view the Google Maps because they honestly do deserve to be first. I have recently began looking for a house because I am getting married soon and the Google Maps helped out tremendously. I am born and raised in the Sango part of Montgomery County therefore, I do not know what is around exit one and the Ft. Campbell Post area. I saw tons of houses I really liked and I would type the address in the Google Search bar, click on maps and Google would bring up a picture of the house. I could look at the surrounding area of the houses I liked without having to drive to the other side of town. The Google map made me feel as if I was walking around the house when in fact I was just sitting at my computer. The Google map also gave wonderful and very clear driving directions to the houses I was interested in pursuing. This discovery Web 2.0 tool deserves to the first place title because it is the most coolest, interesting, and above and beyond helpful search tool.
I just used it to search for houses I liked but other people can use it to look for things they may be interested in that are located in different states. They can get the driving (and even WALKING!) directions to the places that spark an interest.
I recommend this site to anyone that wants to get a house, go on a road trip, or anyone that just wants to travel around USA without leaving home.

Thing 5

School 2.0 is a very technologically based learning system that will be able to stretch out the minds of students and teachers. Having everything done by computer makes things easier for anyone and also lets children, students, learners, teachers, middle aged people.. pretty much anyone be able to learn something more than just reading in a boring book. School 2.0 will be the school of the future and it will continue to grow and expand to every school in this nation. The test scores will probably improve because it will have more fun and interactive ways for people to learn when compared to books and worksheets. School 2.0 gives more options to writing about things than paper and pencil. Web/ School 2.0 is preparing the learning students, in a fun way, of what is really out there in the world. I wish this would have been available a long time ago because I feel that children will learn more in the Web 2.0. This is helping the newer teachers learn how to teach their students in creative ways that the students will remember for a longer time period than just copying notes down with paper and pencil.

Thing 4

Commenting on a person's blog is very important and lets the blogger know what else needs to be reflected upon and if what they are saying is important. Commenting is a fun way for people to express their own opinions in a fun and creative way. While reading what was posted to read, I learned that a blogger must have an open mind about the comments that are being posted. The blogger also needs to ask questions so that the people commenting can further their opinions also, asking questions will probably bring more attention to their blog therefore, more people will comment. I selected Alice Everett, Bridget Waldrop, Morgan Wolf, Wendy Matheny, and Della Proctor. (the five for the APSU 23 things)

** Alice Everett # 8: I commented on this thing of hers because I was unable to view the image she was adding to her blog. It may have been my computer, I am unsure. I told her I liked her idea for the mosiac maker but I wanted her to know the image was hidden and having it visable would let others understand her ideas better.
** Bridget Waldrop # 9: I chose to comment on her thing 9 because she chose to decorate the saying "teachers rule". I thought it was cute that she chose to do that. I also agreed with what she said about sparkle words standing out children. The sparkle in "teachers rule" did not show up but her saying she tried was enough for the imagination.
** Morgan Wolf: I commented on her blog page because it was different looking. I like her page layout and the colors she choose. It was interesting and it caught my eye because of it being different.
** Wendy Matheny #10: I commented on her blog because she put the five RSS things she added in a clear and easy accessible list of links. Her doing so, helps other followers learn more about different links in an easy format.
** Della Procotr # 12: I liked how she included a picture of the Google calender. People may have not chose to use the Google calender for thing 12 and if they did not they can look at her blog and understand what it is about and how it looks. Having a picture of it also can help clear up any questions someone may have regarding that topic.

(the two that are not APSU 23 things)

**8 months and counting..: I found and commented on this website because it is about a young woman getting engaged and how she is "stuck" she has all the major plans out of the way and is just left with small ones that have too wait. I am in the same position with my wedding. I commented telling her I agree with her as well as asked her a question of advice. I am now waiting for her help. This is great. An online blogger who can help me with wedding planning!!
http://bigspoon-littlespoon.blogspot.com/2010/02/8-months-and-counting-or-why-do-i-feel.html?showComment=1268703788058_AIe9_BG5JE2FgbH637D5AHD99SQ0facx8IMpnKLkUafq6BRDKuoQv8gQJowT-UDM8uRh2BEYvo7crgwOGPX__T-x75u7lWhySQ09WxPbT2bwyOXx-p_VYiCebLz-3w6_Xv9x45DCoPZSfIq05V_YHKLeb2FIeOwsrzIc-78AeGJQS0SecAP8zBSDmgdX13vGXP9v2zELOiY3-s-FXnb61e4TZhV_L-36Rpl4GSmxDBVFn_XGGGoGUgQbR-i6QS1jsTjhpKm-SMEQ#c2749906432164409284

** Me, Myself, and anxiety..: I choose to comment on this blog because I suffer from anxiety and this specific blog like many others helps others cope with their friends, family members, and loved ones disorders. Anxiety is not fun to live with and it stops you fro enjoying things you once loved. This helps spread the knowledge of anxiety and lets people understand more about it.
http://anxiousangst.blogspot.com/

Thing 3

Blogging is a very simple and fun way for a teacher to keep in touch with their students or the parents. Having a blog site can be similar to a helper for the students. A teacher could post the blog and the students could write about the things they understand or do not understand and can communicate with everyone. Blogging will become a future tool since our classrooms are becoming more technologically advanced. Teachers can post upcoming dates, assignments, projects, ideas, games and much more for the students to stay active in the learning processes.