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Another Cool Thing

Wow! I feel like Rocky Balboa at the top of the stairs. Can you here the music? This has been such a wonderful experience for me. First, I would like to thank the academy. . .oh, wait that was a different speech. I would, however, like to thank everyone in my Education 5540 class. I have enjoyed reading your blogs, watching your videos, and just getting to know all of you better, really, thank you. And many thanks to Dr.Wall for giving all of us way more than what we paid for, really, thank you.

Thanks to the "thing" experience I've learned so much more about myself. Things like: I really want to be a Mac, I can survive on very little sleep, I enjoy having a blog, I really enjoy exploring the net, Facebook is not as bad as I thought it would be, Animoto is way too cool, Google has tons of cool features that I can't imagine having to live without, mashups are fun! Flickr rocks! Zoho writer is awesome! And I am so thankful for creative commons, wiki's and RSS feeds.

I will continue to keep up on the latest web 2.0 developments by reading blogs and by playing around on the internet. I have also subscribed to the RSS feed for the learning 2.1 blog. It's important for me to keep up with all the new developments because of all the awesome tools it provides for me as a teacher, a student, a lifelong learner, a social being and as a human being.

I would like to keep this blog but with different content, you know, re-fashion it into something else. And I hope that I will because I believe it is therapeutic; it's a means for expression and heck it makes me feel sorta artistic and even a wee bit smarter, and how bad can that be. Will anyone read it, you ask? Well that's not really the point is it. Is it? Nah, I don't think so. I mean sure, I really want others to share their comments, but if I am the only one who answers my questions I will never be wrong. On the other hand, if I should connect, now and again, with another soul who gets my insanity, that would be way groovy also. Either way I consider this knowledge, about blogging, that I have obtained from working the 23 things program, to be a gift, for which I will always be truly, truly thankful for.

Cool Thing #23

The original 23 things was created by a library technology director named Helene Blowers. She designed this program as a way to encourage her staff to explore technology. Since then 23 things has gone global! There are a hundreds of people and a plethora of sites that are using modified "things". In fact, 23 things has gone global!
So, as a result of Helene Blower's ideas and cool teachers like Dr. Wall, here we are actually doing, actually exploring and actually learning about technology, isn't that cool! But the coolest thing about these "things" is that we get to give all of this knowledge away. We get to help our future leaders get excited about learning all of the awesome unlimited number of ways they can succeed by using technology. We will help people obtain their dreams my friend. . .isn't being a teacher cool! Need I say more? Seriously. Okay, let me end by saying this: As teachers, I believe that Creative Commons will help us and our students to create and to collaborate in ways that may seem unimaginable to us now. We need to continue to explore. Are you with me? Come on, the sky's the limit! Free at last, free at last. Thank God almighty, we are free at last.
Let us create, let us share, let us remember that we are one!
Man, I'm having fun! How do you feel?

Cool Thing #22

A podcast, hhmm. I never even considered listening to or researching what a podcast was because I just figured that I needed an iPod. Well, thanks to this awesomely cool thing, I am dumb no more! Because today I learned that podcasting is available to me, as a PC.*
Of all of the directories listed in the discovery exercise I really (and I mean REALLY) loved the site LearnOutLoud.com. This site offers many podcasts on a variety of different subjects. AND in addition to the multiple podcasts offered, they also have a wide selection of audio books on the cheap. So, I listened to several snippets and added the rss feed to my Google homepage. There is so much content on this site I'm thinking of withdrawing from the university, and life, just so I can listen and learn and learn and listen to all of the cool stuff on this site. . .seriously. And who knows maybe in the future, after listening to some more self-help stuff, I will be ready to venture out into the world of podcast making, but until then I must listen to this personal growth podcast. Will you join me? You don't have to stay for the whole thing, just listen for a couple of seconds (by clicking on the link).
PERSONAL GROWTH POD

Lets Have Some Fun!

*Disclaimer: I'm not proud to be a PC. Someday I will be a Mac!

Cool Thing #21

These "things" just keep getting cooler! Animoto is a terrific site! It was incredibly easy to set up an account and equally as easy to create a short video. I wish I had more time to play! This site is also way cool because it can access my photos from flickr.
I uploaded a song from the Animoto library because I haven't done my creative commons homework yet and I was unsure about using other music. . . I mean I don't want to end up in the poky for violating some kind of copyright legal mumbo jumbo stuff.
Here is another great excuse, albeit it's true: I don't have a lot of photos on my computer yet because I have been too busy playing on the internet, um, I mean doing research, so the video is composed entirely of my dog, Gilda. I do plan on making videos in the future, with like real video footage, because it is so much fun. I usually use Windows Movie Maker but I hope that Santa will bring me an Mac, I mean Santa is real, right? Don't tell me, I don't want to know.

Cool Thing #20

YouTube Rocks!! It is where I go to escape. On the Tube, I can watch movie trailers, check out videos of my favorite motivational speakers, like Zig Ziglar, Tony Robbins and Joyce Meyer; I can chill out while watching my favorite bands such as, U2, Coldplay and The Killers; I can watch funny shtick, created by my favorite comedians, or funny stuff, created by crazy people, from around the world. Oh yeah, and I can even research various stuff for school. What's not to love? If I was ambitious I could become a member and upload my own videos but. . .well you know how it is, right?
Anyway, I found this video about Cyber Bullying. It's a serious problem that we, as teachers and parents, desperately need to be aware of. Let's be part of the cure. Please watch this short video.

Cool Thing #19

OK I signed up for TeacherPop and left a message for Jessica Watson, who is way smarter than I am, and I posted two pictures of my Corgi, Gilda. It's a cool site, I like it a lot but I am not sure what will happen with it after this class. I mean don't get me wrong, I really want to continue on with the social networking thing, hoping that I will be able to converse and share stuff with awesome teachers, but who knows.

I love to read and watch movies so it's no surprise that my favorite online communities are GoodReads and Film Crave. Have you seen any good movies lately?
I think I will start my own online community! Yes! What a great idea! As soon as I figure out what it is I will let you know.
Until then,
HAVE FUN!

Cool thing #18

For this "thing" I decided to create a Facebook page. Social networking is fun but it can be addictive. Since creating my page last night I have done little else.
Facebook is a cool way to stay connected to friends and acquaintances and as a way to make new contacts. It's a small world after all, and by using Facebook we can really test the theory that there are only six degrees of separation. Have you heard of that before? Like, we are only 6 people away from everyone on earth. Am I making any sense at all? Tell me what you think, please.



Anyway, instead of posting a link to my page [here], I decided to create a Facebook badge that is visible to the left of this text. See it? It's right there above my picture. Click on that and it will take you to my page.


I think that it's important for educators to know how this stuff works because for students it's as common as talking on the telephone, and we want to understand how their brains work, right?
I believe that Facebook would be a great place for a classroom site (as a way for students and parents to connect), I think. I will need to explore social networking further before coming to a final decision.
It is my opinion that teachers need to be professional when managing their own personal sites. That is, I believe it is inappropriate for teachers to invite students or to accept students as their friends on these sites.

I have to go now, I must get back to Facebook, uh, I mean to work.
Later

Cool Thing #17

On my computer, I have extremely long line of unkempt sites that I have bookmarked. It's so messy and unorganized that I may never be able to look you in the eyes again because of the shame that I feel. But there is always hope, and today I saw hope spring eternal from a site that I originally thought was a mail order bakery. That site is called del.icio.us. I have never used del.icio.us before but, when I saw how it can be used to learn and share new information, well, it's so cool that I must begin to use it immediately! I especially like the fact that the bookmarks are easily accessible from any computer. Yes!

Del.icio.us also has the another fun and helpful quality, and that is that friends can not only use a shared account with links and tags that are pertinent to their topic but, they can also find other people who are interested in the same topic (and how bad can that be).

Teachers could use del.icio.us to tag sites that they want students to look at. It would be a good way to organize resources and make it easier for students to collaborate with others and to retrieve quality information. What say you?

Cool Thing #16

I have Google as my start page. Google is my also permanent homepage. . .it's where all my stuff is. I can check the weather, view spotlight videos, keep track of my favorite sports, see what's in my inbox, get today's joke from comedy central, get recipes, see the top news stories, check the television listings and so much more; it's all on one page!

For the online to-do list, I created an account with Ta-da. It was so easy to do! I just created a user name and a password and BAM! I was all ready to create my first list which was entitled: Tech Stuff. I used this list to write down all of the assignments I have left to complete for EDUC 5540. After creating the list, I became somewhat overwhelmed and a little depressive, So, I had to go lay down with some tissues, a warm compress and some milk chocolate. You feelin' me? Holla!

Moving on. . .

I had already set up a calendar on Google for an earlier assignment, but I am ashamed to say that I haven't used it too much. I guess I still prefer the "old school" method of writing stuff down in the Mead calendar that I purchased at Wal-Mart. I do like the Ta-da to do list though, and I feel that it will be beneficial to me (and you if we ever have to collaborate). It's a fun tool that I will use to stay organized (so my lights don't get shut off) and to keep up with my various lists. Seriously, if you haven't checked out the Ta-da list yet, do it now! And let me know what you think, alright? I mean it! Don't make me put you on my Ta-da list!
Peace!

Cool Thing #15

What another great collaborative tool. A wiki, huh. . .who would have thought that this odd sounding thing could benefit so many people. It's a cool thing for large group projects because members can just "jump in" and edit work. . .brilliant! I enjoyed the video that explained the wiki in plain English. It makes so much more sense to use a wiki instead of email when working in groups. I will definitely introduce this concept during my next group project.

In the classroom, this would be a great tool for students and teachers to use to share their ideas. Teachers could even use it with other teachers to coordinate field trips.

But the best thing about a wiki is that you don't have to be some technological genius to use one. It's a quick and easy tool that allows everyday people the chance to work together and to share their ideas.

Cool Thing #14

For this cool thing I chose to create an account with Gliffy and Mindmeister. I have never used an online flowchart or mind map but I will now! I liked the fact that it was so extremely easy, fast, and free to set up these accounts.

I liked Gliffy because it was easy to use and, although I didn't actually create a flowchart, I see myself using this tool in the future (I really do).

I chose Mindmeister because hey, what a cool name. But also, I like Mindmeister because the idea of being able to work simultaneously on the same map with friends is so awesome. I love brainstorming and when Santa brings me an iphone this Christmas, I'll be able to access my mind wherever I am. . .how about that for creativity.

But while flow charts and mind maps are both collaborative tools, I like the mind map better. Flowcharts to me are more stuffy, used for analyzing and managing where as a mind map is more creative, intuitive and non-linear. What do you think?

Cool Thing #13

5 Reasons Why I Dislike APA Style
By

Anita Hicks

1. It makes me feel psychotic. (Is that why it is from The American Psychological Association?)

2. Boredom. I feel like I am in a writer's prison! APA style is boring, boring, boring.

3. Dread. I dread writing assignments (see number 2).

4. Possibly a waste of life. Do teachers even read the content of your paper or do they spend all of their time checking the APA style rules and regulations?

5. Headings, tone, length, punctuation, abbreviations, proper alignment and spacing, citations of references, in-text citations, presentation of numbers, statistics, figures and tables, margins, font type and size, hanging indents, page headers, paragraph indentation, title page, abstract, paraphrasing, table of contents, order of references (see number 1).

The above document was created using Zoho Writer. Then I published it to this blog and added this red text. Zoho is so simple to use. A great tool for collaboration! I also like the fact that you can begin creating a document from your desktop but then are able to modify, view or print from another computer. I definitely see Zoho in my future.

Life is too short for APA. . .Have FUN!

Cool Thing #12

Hi. How are you? Me? I feel as smart as Einstein! Why? Because of my newly acquired knowledge of Google tools. And you know what? Learning about Google tools was easy and FUN!

I started by setting up my home page with iGoogle. I was surprised that it only took 30 seconds. . .how cool is that. . .I know, right. Now, I am able to view my inbox, the local news headlines, Comedy Central's joke of the day, weather forecasts and sports scores (Go Saints!) all on one page. In the classroom, iGoogle could be used to quickly access appropriate sites for students and to view a multitude of news sources.

Next, I used Google calendar. This tool allows me to keep track of important dates, tasks and events. I love Google calendar and I will definitely use it as a teacher. I will use it to stay organized and to keep parents informed. This tool is also accessible by mobile phone. Yeah!

Then, I explored Picasa and was able to view the all of the photos and creations that I have uploaded for this blog. But I didn't add any new photos and I'm not quite ready to share. . .yet.

Lastly, I believe that these other Google tools will work great in our classrooms: Google books, Google Earth (I love Mars!) and Google groups (so the students will be able to collaborate on group projects when they are not at school). As I continue on in this journey of Google, I feel like the world is getting smaller. Does that make sense? How do you feel? Do you love Google as much as I do?

PEACE

Cool Thing #11

I'm seriously considering changing my name to Anita Google. . .seriously. I love Google and that's why I mainly used Google Blogs to search for feeds. And while I must admit that I liked using Technorati as well, Google wins. I looked briefly at Syndic8.com but I found it to be, well, yucky. I like sites that are easy on the eyes, plain, and navigable and Syndic8 was maybe too tech-y. I don't have all the terminology down yet, so please feel free to help me, please.

Some of the blogs and sites that I chose were: Teacher Lingo, NPR Topics in Education, Webblogg-ed, The Happiness Club Blog, Kid's Lit, and The Wayne Dyer Blog. I think all of these feeds will be useful to me in the areas of educational research and stress management.

I have learned a great deal from this thing, but I found the Cool Cat Teacher post "How to Create Your Circle of the Wise" was the most helpful. I like how she encourages us to look for people that will inspire us and warns us to stay away from the negative naysayers. She is definitely an inspiration to me and I consider her blog to be a most important resource. How do you feel about her blog?

LIFE IS SHORT-HAVE FUN WITH GOOGLE READER

Cool Thing #10

What a time saver! I am always looking for ways to become more organized, so I am really excited about using Google Reader. The Google Reader will help keep me informed about the things that I care about without my having to search all over cyberspace. And as a teacher, being organized and informed are crucial elements for success and sanity. And I like sanity, don't you?

It is so very cool, this thing #10, because now, I can keep up on my classmates blogs and have the websites, that I view daily, both in the same place. Plus, by learning this thing, I was motivated to subscribe to some new blogs and sites (see blog 11).

This tool will be extremely helpful in: exchanging ideas with teachers and parents, keeping the students up to date on current events, and for collaborating in classroom and professional projects.

In the future, I may consider a public page. . .maybe.

Cool Thing #9

All of the images for this cool thing can be accessed by using this link: customsigngenerator.com
Custom sign generator gives you access to a plethora of different sites where you can create personalized images. For instance, this Albert Einstein image was created using the "Famous People Message Generator" option #19 under "Make Graphics with Text". This generator has over 500 different faces to choose from, and allows you to create any message you would like.




Did you know that Albert Einstein took Education 5540?





This image was made the same way using option #1"Sign Generator"







I had never heard of image generators before this thing. . .it's really a fun tool to play with on a cold rainy day. I'm still pondering how I can incorporate some of these into my classroom. Perhaps I will let the students use them to create and post the classroom rules.

Cool Thing #8

My Corgi is a movie star! This was a fun adventure but it took hours out of my life, literally. I couldn't stop playing at Big Huge Labs. My only disappointment there is that I wanted to make a Andy Warhol type of pop art poster, but the final product just looked weird.

I also liked the motivational posters on Big Huge Labs but I'm still looking for a photo to create one with. It would be neat for the students to be able create motivational posters to decorate the classroom with.

The calendar option would be a great way to keep parents informed about monthly classroom events.

I also think that Spell with Flickr would be a cool way to get the students to play with vocabulary words. I had some difficulty with that site but I plan on revisiting. I love all of these fun tools. I wish I had more time to play! How about you?

Cool Thing #7

Beware! This is my cat, Thurber and he is mean!

I enjoyed contributing his picture to the apsu23things group. I also enjoyed viewing the other member's pictures. In the past I have used Photobucket, but only to be able to post furniture photos on Craigslist. I think I like Flickr better because it was easier to upload the photos. Also, signing up for an account to Flickr was simple because I already had a Yahoo account.

I don't know why, but it feels kind of creepy knowing that my photos are on public display. I think I have some kind of crazy fear thing, in my subconscious mind, handed down from my mother (she is a very private and fearful person). But hey, option number 2 in this discovery exercise was the most fun and I don't have any real concerns. Just don't tell my mom, OK?

I'm not really sure how much I will use Flickr in the classroom. I do love creative expression and believe that it will be a great tool, I'll just have to give it some more thought.

Life is short-Have fun with Flickr!

Cool Thing #6

I chose the site donorschoose.org
On this site, public school teachers, from anywhere in America, can request items needed for various class projects. Individuals can peruse the various requests and donate funds in any amount they wish, to whatever project they choose. Next, once a project gets full funding, the materials are delivered to the classroom. Then, all of the contributors, to that particular project, receive a cost report for the project, photos of the project in action, and a thank-you note from the teacher (give at least $100 and you'll get hand-written thank-you notes from the students). On some of the projects, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation will fund 50% if one donor chooses to fund the rest. The requests that I viewed ranged from pocket folders to digital cameras.

This site also has a blog, an impact page,(where you can check key statistics), a store where you can purchase advertising products and great ideas on how to get the word out.

We all want our students (future leaders) to be able to learn and explore the greatness of Web 2.0 tools but, let's face it, there are a number of schools that are at a disadvantage. This Web 2.0 site is the "real deal"; it can help us make a difference. Now, it is not my intention to persuade poor graduate students to spend their grocery money to help purchase school supplies for others (even though it would be cool if we all gave something. . .even a dollar would help), but please check out this website and see if it resonates with you, OK?

Cool Thing #5

For me school 2.0 means a new way to analyze, a new way to critique, and a new way to share. It's about thought combined with action. It's media used constructively! It's a cool new way for us (the world) to break out of the old stale mind-sets of merely "good ideas" and step into endless possibilities of really, real solutions. I am excited about the future of education! We are now entering a thrilling new time, a time where we are no longer limited to our classrooms, to our schools, or to our districts; we can collaborate, plan, and create with anyone and anywhere in the world and fast. School 2.0 is not about regurgitating answers for a test that only measures how well a person can take a test. . .no way! I believe School 2.0 is the new and true NCLB. It's the way learning should be.

Everyone one I know has a page on a social networking site or uses other web 2.0 technology. And I truly believe in the great potential of these applications. I think they can be especially useful as a way to raise awareness about the problems that plague our world (like the genocides in Darfur). Web 2.0 is exposing us to ourselves. It's showing us that our actions (no matter how seemingly small) make a difference. WE ALL MAKE A DIFFERENCE! What a beautiful thing that we can all be a part of the cure. So, I am thankful that Web 2.0 is forcing us to be aware, to be better communicators and to be a solution oriented society. And soon 2.0 will be a natural part of life just like using the telephone. Let me know your thoughts.


Life is short-have fun!

Cool Thing #4

It's not that I dislike commenting on other people's blogs, it's just that I have this fear that I will, unintentionally, say something ridiculously stupid. And then, I will have to avoid eye contact with my classmates and slump around in the hallways like some type of abused animal for fear of being rejected. But I am willing to change. I am willing to face this blog thing head on. Not only because I have to, but more importantly, because I know that it is important for me not to stay stuck in my head and fail to do one of the most important things in life-GIVE. And this is why I feel that thing #4 is so cool. Because we can give a part of ourselves away; we can leave a part of ourselves behind, like "The Cool Cat Teacher explains in her blog,"How to comment like a king (or queen)!" And while blogging and commenting can be a little scary, it forces us to "put ourselves out there", to become more open, and to get to know each other better. Yeah!

Everyone wants to be heard. Everyone wants to belong. A life lived for oneself is indeed a dreary existence, and I don't think we are here on earth to shrink back and to not participate. But, while I strongly believe this, often times I have found that it is hard for me to be the one that takes the first step. I am actively working on this.
But I want you to know, reader, that I appreciate your blog entries and your comments . . . I really mean it. But I am still working on the procrastination thing, so if I fail to respond please don't perceive me as rude or uncaring. I'm probably just in a "blogging funk",( as was identified by Darren Draper in the "Drape's takes" blog), busy writing a paper for Dr. McMahan's class or doing something really daft like watching Project Runway. But we will discuss forgiveness in another blog, OK?

Stay tuned. . .

UPDATE

For this thingy, I am following ALL OF YOU. . .Yeah! But I am instructed to only list 5, sorry. Anyhows, here they are:

Jessica Watson-Because she is way smarter than me, she is totally funny and she takes cool pictures. Plus, I am hoping that by reading and commenting on her blog I will magically become smarter (or at least people will perceive me to be when they read this)

Eddie Barnes-Because he speaks Latin. . .need I say more?

Natalie Dean-Because she loves the YouTube and because she makes awesome videos.

Dusty Brady-Because his blogs are interestingly funny. (I think he warped my brain with a technology laser beam).

David Rawls-Because he uses both sides of his brain at once. How does he do that?

Morgan Conwell-Because of her awesome imagination and creativity.

And Here are two of the blogs that I chose to follow outside of AP:

The Dr. Dyer Blog-Because he inspires me to be a better person.
And
Kid's Lit-To keep up on the latest and greatest children's books.

So, there you have it. I really hope all of you keep having fun and please, please keep blogging. Please.

Cool Thing #3

Who invented blogging? What a great idea! I think that I will use the blog, in the teacher education program, as a fun thing to do for myself. It seems like a cool way to journal out loud, and a great alternative to talking to myself. This blogging thing could also be a way for me to share my trials and tribulations (in technology and life) with others, but what I look forward to the most is learning about others through their blogs.

In the classroom, I would love for my students to set up blogs so that they can learn to communicate effectively with their peers, teachers, and parents and/or guardians. I think it would be an enjoyable exercise; a great accessible tool that will enable our community to grow in awareness, knowledge and understanding.

Here's to the blog! What a wonderful way to share information and ideas.

Life is short-Have FUN!

Cool Thing #2

Wow! Setting up this blog was easy. The instructions were straightforward and I am so thankful. I decided to use my last name as my posting name because I was clearly having a very uncreative moment. However, I made the decision to name my blog "Ms. Hicks Has Fun" because I believe that life is too short not to enjoy every moment. There are so many great things in life to do, to learn, to enjoy, to explore. So, I made the decision long ago to focus on all the good things in life and to have fun being alive.
My avatar looks kind of strange, but so do I (big head, funny haircut), so it may be pretty close to my outward appearance, but I'm not too concerned. I'm more into a person's spirit than ego stuff. I chose to wear the T-shirt with the recycling symbol because I am very diligent about recycling and taking care of the earth for future generations. I guess you label me as hippie or a tree hugger, but that's OK with me. I am happy to be an idealist! I love music so I am sporting some headphones (most likely listening to U2 or Coldplay) and I like peace so the background I picked is the ocean scene with the palm tree. Isn't the ocean great!?

Life is short-HAVE FUN

Cool Thing #1

I love learning! And I am excited about using technology (my biggest challenge) to my advantage. I have a great deal to learn in this area, but I know I will enjoy the journey. I haven't kept up with all the new gadgets and terminology but I am willing to learn.
My favorite habit, the one that resonates with me the most, is item 7 1/2-Play. It's a habit and a half! I always make sure that each day I take the time to do something fun. It could be reading a chapter in book, meditating, walking, listening to great music or playing with my dog, Gilda. I believe that this habit is very important because if we don't take time for ourselves, to fill ourselves up, then we will not have anything of value to give to others. I want to live a life of service and it's great to know that I am not alone. Teachers Rock!

Life is short-Have Fun