I have so loved the opportunity to get lost amongst the layers of the Web 2 World. I can honestly say I never realised just how huge and how invaluable its features are. Web 2 certainly provides everyone with the ability to do so much with actually very limited knowledge. So many fabulous tools - from being able to make social comments and accesssing maps and locating destinations overseas, making learnid contributions to group workshops via googledocs and the ability to gather and store information for future use!! and the list goes on!!
I still have so much to learn but i look forward to utilizing and fine tuning many of the features introduced by this course!! thankyou for providing the opportunity to become a little more technology proficient!!
WOW!
Saturday, 28 May 2011
Downloadable Media (#22) and (#23)
My family have always been a big fan of the audio books . They have made many a long distant journey an absolute joy. (A particular favourite being the Harry Potter series.)Such a brilliant tool also for the visually impaired and the elderly.
The electronic books are also a fabulous creation . I can see lots of merit in their usuage particularly being so portable and so at your finger tips. (I have a friend who loves to download books onto her I-phone and reads them whenever she gets the opportunity.) Personally i am old school.I am an avid reader and i like nothing more than sitting with my book in hand or perusing the lovely bookshops we are so lucky to have. ( although i am concerned for their future because of the online buying and of course the electronic downloads!)
Once again i believe it is all about balance and respecting the new technology that is exploding before us. Whatever the mode, the most critical factor is that our new generations are reading!! If that just happens to be electronically so be it but hopefully they will also get to enjoy the delights of having a book in hand.
The electronic books are also a fabulous creation . I can see lots of merit in their usuage particularly being so portable and so at your finger tips. (I have a friend who loves to download books onto her I-phone and reads them whenever she gets the opportunity.) Personally i am old school.I am an avid reader and i like nothing more than sitting with my book in hand or perusing the lovely bookshops we are so lucky to have. ( although i am concerned for their future because of the online buying and of course the electronic downloads!)
Once again i believe it is all about balance and respecting the new technology that is exploding before us. Whatever the mode, the most critical factor is that our new generations are reading!! If that just happens to be electronically so be it but hopefully they will also get to enjoy the delights of having a book in hand.
Youtube and TeacherTube(#21)
Enjoyed looking at Teachertube site. So many resources for us to employ in the classroom.eg watching the Endeavour space shuttle blast off for the last time Great stimulus for a Space unit of work.The Presentations like these make a valuable learning tools, providing variation in the way we teach enabling us to capture childrens interest levels.Lets face it - so many children are so responsive to visual learning and practical sites like Teachertube are invaluable.
Like everything though, there are pitfalls .How many times a day do we hear " I saw that on Utube". Utube usage can absorb a lot of time and one must question whether this time could be spent in a more effective way!!!
It is all a matter of the user managing time and finding appropriate presentations!!
Like everything though, there are pitfalls .How many times a day do we hear " I saw that on Utube". Utube usage can absorb a lot of time and one must question whether this time could be spent in a more effective way!!!
It is all a matter of the user managing time and finding appropriate presentations!!
Podcasts (#20)
Really like the podcast features. For example it is great to be able to tap into your favourite radio shows when you want to listen to them.Time is so precious and to be able to listen to what you like eg love the Hamish and Andy talkback programs, when time is available rather than having to endure programs you don't particularly enjoy. Podcasts really give you the control on want you want to tune into. I believe yu can be more effective with your time.No advertisements is a real attraction too!I am loving my new ipod nano given to me for mothers day!It is really allowing me to listen to what i enjoy!!!
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
Rollyo (#19)
Enjoyed looking at the rollyo search engine. i think this would be a valuable tool. i can see myself using this with students by setting up a selected search roll for them to view. It would enable close monitoring as students would not be rquired to "surf the web" for the required information. It reduces the risk of children uncovering inappropriate material.
Tuesday, 17 May 2011
Wiki's (#18)
I believe the Wikis are a handy tool. Especially because it enables the everyday user to be able to produce their own wiki website. All users essentially having the eopportunity to be authors and edit and undate the knowledge bank.
A great tool for being able to pool various users expertise in given domains. A very useful and helpful tool particularly for collaborating information about given topics. I like the example given for conferences. People could access the wiki for the up and coming Conference to find out about locations, restaurants,places to stay etc.
There is of course the downside and that is that the information being given is valid and not incorrect. The information is very subjective and the user needs to be aware of this.
A great tool for being able to pool various users expertise in given domains. A very useful and helpful tool particularly for collaborating information about given topics. I like the example given for conferences. People could access the wiki for the up and coming Conference to find out about locations, restaurants,places to stay etc.
There is of course the downside and that is that the information being given is valid and not incorrect. The information is very subjective and the user needs to be aware of this.
Delicious (#17)
Very impressed with the functionality of the delicious website. Being a teacher and being able to tag relevant resource sites is just fabulous. The tags are a great way to organise the information and enable easy access . The fact that you can be on any computer is very beneficial as well. I loved using the "favorites" bar but i can see this web site has so much more to offer. The ability to share resource information is attractive. I still however feel a little apprehensive about the "public sharing " of information but i can certainly see the benefits in this situation!!WoW!!!!
Wednesday, 27 April 2011
RSS and Subscribing (#15 and #16)
Had a lot of fun playing with this function. Found the video simple and informative. I really think i will benefit from using this google reader feature. A great way to keep up with new ideas without having to go searching the different websites that you have already established as trusted sources. Excellent way of keeping updated. Look forward to playing more with this.
My Space and Facebook (#13 and #14)
I thought the Myspace homepage a more appealing one to look at but I found reading about the security options available to Face book users informative. I am amazed that so many people get caught out with sharing comments and photos etc with friends they did not want to share with.It is my understanding that by establishing the "Only Friends" option that that should be prevented!
I found the quote "Feels private but You are Being Public" a good one to remember!
I also liked the advice given by the Grammer school lecturer for students to keep sound and email notification off whilst studying!! I wonder how successful that advice is?
It was interesting reading about the advantages created by Facebook for those students who want to study abroad and how making the connection with others allowed a lot of information and learning to take place before embarking on the unknown!
There are many pros and cons about social networking. I can see by looking at the various sites like Myspace and Facebook that they provide a fabulous opportunity to connect with people with common links. In particular when parties are travelling o'seas and yet staying in touch.As highlighted in one of the articles i read it does concern me that there is an addictive tendancy for people to spend a lot of time with no real goal.
It is great to know that users are encouraged to use technology in such creative ways. We just have to remember it is all about balance!!
I found the quote "Feels private but You are Being Public" a good one to remember!
I also liked the advice given by the Grammer school lecturer for students to keep sound and email notification off whilst studying!! I wonder how successful that advice is?
It was interesting reading about the advantages created by Facebook for those students who want to study abroad and how making the connection with others allowed a lot of information and learning to take place before embarking on the unknown!
There are many pros and cons about social networking. I can see by looking at the various sites like Myspace and Facebook that they provide a fabulous opportunity to connect with people with common links. In particular when parties are travelling o'seas and yet staying in touch.As highlighted in one of the articles i read it does concern me that there is an addictive tendancy for people to spend a lot of time with no real goal.
It is great to know that users are encouraged to use technology in such creative ways. We just have to remember it is all about balance!!
Thursday, 21 April 2011
Flickr (#12)
Have had some time using the flickr website. I seemed to be signing up to an awful lot of sites!! It is easy to get a little confused with all the URL's and passwords! Great advice at the beginning of course to keep a record of them all!!
I hope I have successfully attached link to this site!
mhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/wowscona/y
Will then attempt to copy my beautiful picture to my blog site as well!! Fingers crossed!
I hope I have successfully attached link to this site!
mhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/wowscona/y
Will then attempt to copy my beautiful picture to my blog site as well!! Fingers crossed!
Library Thing (#11)
After having a small break away from exploring technology, I am back on board! Have spent some time playing around on the Library Thing website and found it interesting.I don't believe I will have a use for this site however and it amazes me that people have time to catalogue and chat etc. I preferred the google books site. Its features are more suited to my needs!
Wednesday, 6 April 2011
Image testing!!!
Tuesday, 5 April 2011
Image Generators (#10)
Tuesday, 29 March 2011
virtual worlds (#9)
WOW!!!I had a look at the some of the virtual world programs available,however I was reluctant to actually purchase any. It does concern me that these "games " give users, particularly children, false ideas on how life actually works. eg In the second life program the focus on shopping and "buy anything" "Unlimited purchasing" and "You have total Control" concerns me! Being in the education game I am all too aware of the lack of resilience a lot of our young learners have and I do question whether these "Virtual World" programs have positive impacts on them.
My thirteen year old daughter has some of the Sims PC games and enjoys them immensly! A far cry from the good old cardboard cut outs and paper clothes!!! I think in this technologial age that we are in , time allocated to these games must be heavily monitored. It is a lot different to playing barbie dolls for hours and creating plots and settings.The Virtual world games require making choices rather than being creative!!!
Virtual World games certainly make you think about the social ramifications for our young!!!!!!
My thirteen year old daughter has some of the Sims PC games and enjoys them immensly! A far cry from the good old cardboard cut outs and paper clothes!!! I think in this technologial age that we are in , time allocated to these games must be heavily monitored. It is a lot different to playing barbie dolls for hours and creating plots and settings.The Virtual world games require making choices rather than being creative!!!
Virtual World games certainly make you think about the social ramifications for our young!!!!!!
igoogle (#8)
WOW! As each set task is addressed I am becoming more and more amazed by the power and the tools available to the Google consumer.Before starting this course I was purely a "Googler'" unaware of the scope of the Google applications and search engines. I learnt a lot by looking at the google chrome browser. As I created my new igoogle home page i could not believe the array of fancy gadgets at my fingertips and how easy it was to add and delete them as i experimented my way through the task.
Looking at the "what" and "at" video footage of what it is like to work at Google, i was surprized at the unified workspace of the software engineers and at the flexiblity of the work conditions. The relaxed, casual and flexible work environment enabling energetic and innovative thought processes to take place.
I imagine if you were lucky enough to have the required engineering and problem solving skills (which i don't!! bugger because "Fifteen" sounded very impressive!!) it would be an absolute brilliant place to work. Young , vibrant and motivating!!!
Alas it is not to be!
Looking at the "what" and "at" video footage of what it is like to work at Google, i was surprized at the unified workspace of the software engineers and at the flexiblity of the work conditions. The relaxed, casual and flexible work environment enabling energetic and innovative thought processes to take place.
I imagine if you were lucky enough to have the required engineering and problem solving skills (which i don't!! bugger because "Fifteen" sounded very impressive!!) it would be an absolute brilliant place to work. Young , vibrant and motivating!!!
Alas it is not to be!
Monday, 21 March 2011
googledocs (#5)
Have enjoyed making new documents on google docs. The idea of being able to have a shared document that can be updated and reviewed by all users on the same document ( as opposed to emailing and changing and resending) is incredibly powerful. I can see many advantages in using this facility.
I am impressed by the constant updates and new features that the software writers produce. It appears to be an everchanging system with little improvements been introduced all the time e.g quicker way to change row height and column width by dragging line!!!Interconecting lines for shapes!
I can see that the more you use it, the more powerful the system is as you become more aware of all the shortcuts and the functions that you can perform!
WOW!!!!
I am impressed by the constant updates and new features that the software writers produce. It appears to be an everchanging system with little improvements been introduced all the time e.g quicker way to change row height and column width by dragging line!!!Interconecting lines for shapes!
I can see that the more you use it, the more powerful the system is as you become more aware of all the shortcuts and the functions that you can perform!
WOW!!!!
googlebooks (#7)
Googlebooks seems to be yet another amazing site. I had never stumbled across it before but now that I have , I fear it is going to consume a lot of time!!!. From novels, to teaching texts , to magazines! To be able to tap into information about a book before buying is a real advantage! In my investigating I was able to view garden ideas and house ideas without having to even make a purchase!
I do however, feel a little anxious about the impact sites like this will have on our book retailers. I don't know how they will be able to compete with this online resource . Yes it is informative and efficient but will we lose that opportunity to peruse book store shelves? This is an enjoyable pastime which we may not have the pleasure of in the near future!!!!
I do however, feel a little anxious about the impact sites like this will have on our book retailers. I don't know how they will be able to compete with this online resource . Yes it is informative and efficient but will we lose that opportunity to peruse book store shelves? This is an enjoyable pastime which we may not have the pleasure of in the near future!!!!
Google maps (#6)
I have enjoyed investigating the googlemaps website .I found it quite easy to use and I am confident I am yet to discover all the things it can offer. I am amazed at just how much visual information it can offer i.e photos of special places and the ability to give directions from A To B is a very useful function. I currently have a nephew living overseas and it was great to zoom in and have a look at the area that he is living in!!! WOW!!!!!
Tuesday, 15 March 2011
Web 2 (#4)
Well , this technology that we are experimenting with is very powerful not to mention time consuming!!
There is soooo much to learn about!
It is incredible to see just how much technology has evolved and just how important it is for us to embrace it. The alternative of being left behind is not a good one!!
Change can be difficult but through my reading I see how important it is for us to adjust and become aware of the enormous content at our finger tips and how to access it!!
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Here we go! Create a blog (#2)
Looking forward to learning all about web 2! Hope the brain can cope and remember what wonderful things it has discovered! Feeling a little apprehensive but also very curious!
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