Tool #5

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

I really like this text-to-movie website. I have used it for over a year and has allowed me to use as part of staff development at different campuses. This would be a perfect tool for students to do creative writing, summarize concepts, and a way to use specific vocabulary. A great tool for Second Language Learners!

Does anybody know if you can have groups of students working on the same account at the same time?

Tool #4

Gotta love Google Docs! I really like this tool. The biggest thing is that my documents are "right there" accessible 24/7 365 regardless of the computer infront of me. From an administrator's point of view, this tool would be great for scheduling, preparing agendas, share notes from meetings, minutes, etc... Just imagine the paper we can save in schools!

The implications for the classroom are huge. It allows students to work together without having to be sitting next to each other, streamline presentations, go over the writing process... endless!

Tool #3

In my opinion, the advantages to having videos on sites such as YouTube or TeacherTube, again is collaboration and a way for teachers to receive staff development. Furthermore, videos can be created for students to learn a specific concept or skill and have it available to view it as often as needed. When using YouTube teachers will need to be vigilant as the videos and comments are unfiltered, but I think that if one is careful, there opportunities to find a wonderful video to introduce a concept and/or to use as a writing prompt, etc are unlimited.

Tool #2

The internet and everything it has to offer at times a bit daunting, but I have no doubt that when used effectively it provides schools with an excellent opportunity to engage the community we serve. I am all about creating an online community in a school but not only for teachers. I believe in also using these tools to create opportunity for a school to connect with families and share information rapidly. I find that one of the great things about being a part of an online community is that all members can be flexible in how they participate in the activity... I am interested in moving from being a "lurker" to a more active member when it comes to people's blogs, the same way I am in my Facebook account. I really like that most social tools are free!

11 Tools...

Completed the 23 Things a few years back, now I am back for 11 more Tools. I am going to be adding to an existing blog! A slow start, but finally on track... I appreciated the simplicity of the Common Craft video, the quality of the production and of course the message- A very easy way to understand .... Connectivism in plain English!

Thing #23

Please give specific answers for each question.

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

My favorite discoveries were those that allowed me to connect with others. For thousands of years we have learned through stories, today, we can tell our stories with creation tools on the web. The impact is deep. Our students have many different tools to articulate and represent what they know, why not allow them to use them all?

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

No Future Left Behind by learning to survive in the 2.0 World. It exposed me to so many different things that otherwise I wouldn’t have discovered. All 23 Things presented me with fascinating opportunities and habits for lifelong learning.

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

It was way more fun than I expected. I enjoyed expanding my learning by reading and writing blogs and interacting with others more so that I thought I would. A BIG aha, virtual communities are real!

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

Convince the rest of the district to provide their staff development in a hands-on format such as this one. How about conversations taking place face-to-face, but also across platforms? I really appreciate the fact that this format of staff development allowed me (as the user) to develop my own style and preference around the different resources

5. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?

Yes! The emotion of learning new things in this format vs the traditional way of staff development has connected many of us and has made our ideas more contagious.

6. How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?

To try to describe this experience in one word is madness because it was beyond description. However, what about UNFOLDING?

7. Now go and comment on some of the other Players' blogs? ... Hmmmm ok...

My advice for those who will do it in the future- this process is not only about learning the tools themselves, but understanding what they are best used for. Learn the how and why and contexts of all of them. Your life will be changed! A huge thanks to VB for her patience, modeling, and sharing with me her personal and professional experiences when I first started doing this.

Thing #22

Thanks for opeNING my mind to all of this. I had a great time searching Educator Ning and Ning for Teachers. I learned that Ning, like Facebook and Myspace is another form of social media that can be used in the classroom to increase student learning and motivation. However, in my opinion, Nings would be more beneficial in education that Facebook or Myspace- Ning would allow the teachers/students to create a group based on special interests and learning topics vs Facebook and Myspace are more general networks with no specific interest other that people wanting to connect with people. The creation of a network in Ning would promote discussions beyond the social aspect- How about that for a new way of teaching and learning?

I found the sites above mentioned easy to navigate and that virtually anyone can use. At first I had a hard time getting my head around the concept that after you create a community, it can live beyond you, and that it connects diverse communities and demographics. What are the implications for business here? Someone’s money can grow very fast by using a platform such as Ning.