Google alerts is a very cool idea! I have email updates on my phone, so this would help me keep current on a news article based in a Spanish-speaking country or a Website update. I could receive the alerts on both my teacher email account and via my cell phone. It looks fairly easy to start the alerts. I have marked it on my to-do list for when the Spanish department meets again. This way we could share sites and get the updates and have more tools to help teach. I typed in some searches and the results were okay. Nothing caught my eye as of now, but I'm going to keep looking.
Google translate is a good tool to use. For those that are not learning Spanish and would just like to have something translated quickly, I would recommend this tool. If you're going to post or print the translation, you need to run it by someone who is fluent in the language first. The tool is just a machine and therefore can have very crazy errors that could be embarrassing, insulting, or just down with wrong. For those learning Spanish (i.e. my students), Google translate is a tool equal to that of your dictionary. If you're learning the language, a translator such as this is only going to get in the way of your progress in learning the language, it will not help it. Also, it merely translates the words; it doesn't interpret them or explain the multiple meanings of the word(s). A $7 dictionary does though.
That being said, Google translate is a pretty good tool when used for the correct reasons.
My dopple ganger
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Thing #11
The easiest method for me was to go to the websites that I regularly visit and see if they have a RSS feed. I figured that if I'm going to set up my RSS right, I'd need to first add the people/Websites that I keep up with already.
Google blog search was the easiest tool. The problem I was finding is that the people that I wanted to follow hadn't updated their blogs in a really, really long time.
I would have to say that the most confusing is topix.net. As soon as the page popped up, there were words, images, and colors strewn about. It was not at all as clean and simple as Google's blog search. I wouldn't have even tried to use this site if I didn't have to.
An unusual blog was Charlie Sheen's Fans' blog. Yes, it's real! I was just typing in celebrities' names and I thought of his. I guess people will pretty much blog about anything for any amount of time. Maybe there are some blogs that people shouldn't comment on, so as not to encourage more posts. :)
I didn't find any new ways to find other feeds. I found all the ones of interest by way of Google or by going to the site and seeing it they had the RSS icon. In my case, less was more.
Google blog search was the easiest tool. The problem I was finding is that the people that I wanted to follow hadn't updated their blogs in a really, really long time.
I would have to say that the most confusing is topix.net. As soon as the page popped up, there were words, images, and colors strewn about. It was not at all as clean and simple as Google's blog search. I wouldn't have even tried to use this site if I didn't have to.
An unusual blog was Charlie Sheen's Fans' blog. Yes, it's real! I was just typing in celebrities' names and I thought of his. I guess people will pretty much blog about anything for any amount of time. Maybe there are some blogs that people shouldn't comment on, so as not to encourage more posts. :)
I didn't find any new ways to find other feeds. I found all the ones of interest by way of Google or by going to the site and seeing it they had the RSS icon. In my case, less was more.
Thing #10
The thing I like about RSS and newsreaders is how they save so much time. It's a hassle to check many different sources. If those many different sources all have something new, it's going to take time to read all those new posts. This is like a giant bookmark that updates you as to when you need to read the new posts. It's nice when things work for you instead of the other way around.
This will save me some time everyday in my personal life. I have friends from around the world. It's nice to stay in touch with them and know what's going on in their lives. What's even nicer is to have a reminder pop up and tell me, "Hey! So-and-so has posted something new!".
Teachers could take advantage of this by receiving current updates as to when sites and blogs that they follow have something new. The sooner you know it, the sooner you can check it and add it into your lesson plan to share with your students or share with your colleagues.
This will save me some time everyday in my personal life. I have friends from around the world. It's nice to stay in touch with them and know what's going on in their lives. What's even nicer is to have a reminder pop up and tell me, "Hey! So-and-so has posted something new!".
Teachers could take advantage of this by receiving current updates as to when sites and blogs that they follow have something new. The sooner you know it, the sooner you can check it and add it into your lesson plan to share with your students or share with your colleagues.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Thing #9
I think this is hilarious! As you can see, I could have a lot of fun with this. Personally, it would be for ironic laughs (as shown in the above images). I could use this in my classroom to make my own posters for teaching vocabulary or phrases. Here's an example: 
Thing #8
I don't know how much I could use the Spell with Flickr in my Spanish classes, but in my personal life it could be a nice way to send a creative email to someone or make invitations to a party. It's very simple to make one of these.
I think sharing photos online is a very handy thing. There are many possibilities and potential uses for photo sharing. It'll be helpful to me while putting together a PowerPoint presentation for my class. The Flickr Color Pickr would be very nice for developing a color theme for presentations. It would also be helpful for me when I teach colors in Spanish. Instead of just showing a boring red colored square, I could show many different textures of red colored objects.
Thing #7
My experience with Flickr was a good one. It's fairly easy to find a picture. The keyword search was accurate which makes it easy to find almost what you're looking for. After the keyword, you begin your search for the right picture. The downside is that time goes by so quickly while searching through all these pictures. I would recommend giving yourself a time limit and sticking to it or else you could be in front of a computer for hours looking for pictures.
click here to go to photo site
this picture was taken by Mark of David Crowder Band
Tuesday, June 12, 2012
Thing #6
When I saw the list, hands down I chose Skype! Shortly after graduation from college in 2007, I moved to Mexico and stayed there for three years. I made a lot of friends while living there. Skype has been an important tool in keeping me in touch with those friends. I can talk with them and see them at the same time. We can be talking about some funny video I saw on YouTube the other day and I can send them the link and watch them watch the video and see them bust out in laughter. We have even hit the play button at the same time so we could watch it together. It's the next best thing to actually being there with them. Also, if we are too busy to talk, we can chat. Since most of my friends there have smartphones, we can use the Skype app like a type of international texting.
For example, my friend Donald came to visit me and my Spanish students this past semester and talked to them about the importance of broadening your horizons by learning another language/culture. One day I noticed that he had sent me a message via Skype chat. (Admittedly I forgot to turn my phone to vibrate that day.) My students asked what the noise was. When I saw that it was Donald chatting, I read it. The message said something like, "Hey bro! I know you're in class. I'm waiting on a meeting and thought of your students. Do be sure to tell them hello from me." I read it to my class. You should have seen their faces. They instantly remembered Donald and started talking about some of the things he had said in class a few weeks before.
I think Skype could be a useful tool in a class such as Spanish. Students could practice their Spanish with someone who is in a Spanish-speaking country. The idea of an "exchange class program" could take place to where an English class in Mexico could communicate weekly with a Spanish class in the U.S. They could both help each other learn the other person's language. It would be like having a study buddy. This could all be done for just the price of a webcam and some microphones. In my opinion, it's a very cheap price to pay for a great and practical learning experience.
For example, my friend Donald came to visit me and my Spanish students this past semester and talked to them about the importance of broadening your horizons by learning another language/culture. One day I noticed that he had sent me a message via Skype chat. (Admittedly I forgot to turn my phone to vibrate that day.) My students asked what the noise was. When I saw that it was Donald chatting, I read it. The message said something like, "Hey bro! I know you're in class. I'm waiting on a meeting and thought of your students. Do be sure to tell them hello from me." I read it to my class. You should have seen their faces. They instantly remembered Donald and started talking about some of the things he had said in class a few weeks before.
I think Skype could be a useful tool in a class such as Spanish. Students could practice their Spanish with someone who is in a Spanish-speaking country. The idea of an "exchange class program" could take place to where an English class in Mexico could communicate weekly with a Spanish class in the U.S. They could both help each other learn the other person's language. It would be like having a study buddy. This could all be done for just the price of a webcam and some microphones. In my opinion, it's a very cheap price to pay for a great and practical learning experience.
Thing #5
I would define Web 2.0 as the version of the internet that actually works for the rest of us. I had to remember a little ways back, but I can remember when the internet was spoken of as the next big thing. I went into the library at my high school and "surfed" the web for about 5 minutes tops. I was let down. I thought, "Is this it!?!" All it was was a bunch of loud, screeching, hissing sounds that sounded more like demon possessed robotic cats in an alley fight than "the next big thing". All this ruckus was followed by words slowly brought to the screen in the most boring of all fonts. Needless to say, I wasn't impressed. That memory will from now on be known as Web 1.0. Then Web 2.0 came along and actually worked. It happened so quickly and seamlessly to me. I can get down with Web 2.0 being this being called the next big thing. When you stop and think about it, it's amazing that I can be in the U.S. and upload pictures to Facebook, be watching a YouTube video with someone else in Mexico via Skype and be having a great time all the while I'm in my pajamas.
As far as education goes, I can see the day when a teacher is still needed, only not in a school building. I can see students from around the country and world being a part of an online school. Instead of walking into class half asleep, they are logging onto the school website. Everyone is wherever they are in the world, but they are all together on the same website using webcams, microphones, computers and maybe some other things that are just now on the verge of being invented. It's not that far fetched of an idea seeing as how at APSU we are uploading all of our work onto "LiveText". What else do you think the next step could be? Heck! Next, let's get rid of those desks that feel more like a slab of rock the Flintstones would sit on than a "desk". I do feel confident that teachers and professor would still be needed just as much, if not more, than they are today. School 2.0 could be a more comfortable environment for students to learn and teachers to teach. If only I had enough plutonium to jump into the future at 88 m.p.h., but I'm fresh out. Only time will tell.
As far as education goes, I can see the day when a teacher is still needed, only not in a school building. I can see students from around the country and world being a part of an online school. Instead of walking into class half asleep, they are logging onto the school website. Everyone is wherever they are in the world, but they are all together on the same website using webcams, microphones, computers and maybe some other things that are just now on the verge of being invented. It's not that far fetched of an idea seeing as how at APSU we are uploading all of our work onto "LiveText". What else do you think the next step could be? Heck! Next, let's get rid of those desks that feel more like a slab of rock the Flintstones would sit on than a "desk". I do feel confident that teachers and professor would still be needed just as much, if not more, than they are today. School 2.0 could be a more comfortable environment for students to learn and teachers to teach. If only I had enough plutonium to jump into the future at 88 m.p.h., but I'm fresh out. Only time will tell.
Thing #4
"If you don't have anything nice to say, no say nuffin' at all." -Thumper (as forced to say by his mother)
Commenting on blogs is more than just standing on a soap box and throwing your two cents into the air for any old passerby. Leaving comments on blogs is important for many reasons. When someone writes something, they may get the feeling that they're "talking" to themselves or making some sort of online dairy that apparently no one seems to care to read until... TA DA! A comment is left! Comments can make someone feel important, even down right famous if someone like Snoop Dogg or Jason Drumm drops by and writes something. Also, commenting could give the writer a different perspective to consider. Then the writer grows curious as to how someone could feel the way the commenter does. So, the writer comments back. Before you know it, you have a conversation going on in which other people could drop in and comment. After very little time at all you could very well be hosting a Guiness World Record-sized powwow and all this because you decided to write down what you were thinking. That's pretty cool stuff when you think about it. I mean, what other place could you just say something, some little something and have people from all over the world writing about it? Like I said, that's pretty cool stuff!
Okay, enough of me. As for the readings, what stuck with me was the "Darth Commenter". We've all seen that little Darth Doodie-head "Sith" all over someone's Facebook page, YouTube video, and/or blog. Before their "dark sided" comment is deleted, the whole universe usually joins in with their own versions of "Geez dude, get a life!". I personally don't understand why someone would take time out of their day to insult a complete stranger and then, somehow, feel empowered or important! It's blows my mind. The second thing from the readings that I've already touched on was that comments can be the fuel that keeps writers writing, connecting, and keep conversation going. I guess before blogs, whenever people from around the world could just sit around and talk was during a U.N. summit meeting. However, today this can happen many times by the minute. Did anyone else just feel the world get a tad bit smaller?
The five blogs that I'm following from our group are:
1) http://educ5540meganmetz.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 8. I commented on how I am addicted to these new tools online. I'm following her blog so that I can have another perspective on the 23 things.
2) http://23thingsbyme.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 9. I said how I enjoyed making the signs and how we could use these to decorate out classrooms. I'm following his blog because we always have good conversations and come away knowing just a tad bit more than before.
3) http://mreese7.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 12. I posted how I used Google Maps a lot in my travels. I'm following this blog because she most always has great, positive things to say.
4) http://fairclough23things.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 8. I commented on how seeing what he did with these tools gave me new ideas of how I could use them. I'm following him because he sits next to me in class and I enjoy his input.
5) http://killebrew123.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 5. I said how I wish schools had the funds to afford these great technologies and how I'm all for School 2.0. I following this blog because she posts in detail. She offers more to think about.
The two blogs from outside of our group are:
1) http://www.loveisking.blogspot.com/f
I chose this blog because he is a missionary friend of mine that I made in Mexico. He commonly inserts pictures and keeps you up to date with what he is doing. I couldn't comment on his blog. I tried many times. I think he might have disabled the comment section. I'll try and ask him what's going on with his account. I've followed his blog for years before this class.
2) http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/blog/
I follow this blog because he is very inspiring. He and his church do very good work. My comments wouldn't stick. It might be because a lot of people might post inappropriate things since he is such a well-known Christian figure. I still read it though.
Commenting on blogs is more than just standing on a soap box and throwing your two cents into the air for any old passerby. Leaving comments on blogs is important for many reasons. When someone writes something, they may get the feeling that they're "talking" to themselves or making some sort of online dairy that apparently no one seems to care to read until... TA DA! A comment is left! Comments can make someone feel important, even down right famous if someone like Snoop Dogg or Jason Drumm drops by and writes something. Also, commenting could give the writer a different perspective to consider. Then the writer grows curious as to how someone could feel the way the commenter does. So, the writer comments back. Before you know it, you have a conversation going on in which other people could drop in and comment. After very little time at all you could very well be hosting a Guiness World Record-sized powwow and all this because you decided to write down what you were thinking. That's pretty cool stuff when you think about it. I mean, what other place could you just say something, some little something and have people from all over the world writing about it? Like I said, that's pretty cool stuff!
Okay, enough of me. As for the readings, what stuck with me was the "Darth Commenter". We've all seen that little Darth Doodie-head "Sith" all over someone's Facebook page, YouTube video, and/or blog. Before their "dark sided" comment is deleted, the whole universe usually joins in with their own versions of "Geez dude, get a life!". I personally don't understand why someone would take time out of their day to insult a complete stranger and then, somehow, feel empowered or important! It's blows my mind. The second thing from the readings that I've already touched on was that comments can be the fuel that keeps writers writing, connecting, and keep conversation going. I guess before blogs, whenever people from around the world could just sit around and talk was during a U.N. summit meeting. However, today this can happen many times by the minute. Did anyone else just feel the world get a tad bit smaller?
The five blogs that I'm following from our group are:
1) http://educ5540meganmetz.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 8. I commented on how I am addicted to these new tools online. I'm following her blog so that I can have another perspective on the 23 things.
2) http://23thingsbyme.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 9. I said how I enjoyed making the signs and how we could use these to decorate out classrooms. I'm following his blog because we always have good conversations and come away knowing just a tad bit more than before.
3) http://mreese7.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 12. I posted how I used Google Maps a lot in my travels. I'm following this blog because she most always has great, positive things to say.
4) http://fairclough23things.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 8. I commented on how seeing what he did with these tools gave me new ideas of how I could use them. I'm following him because he sits next to me in class and I enjoy his input.
5) http://killebrew123.blogspot.com/
I commented on thing 5. I said how I wish schools had the funds to afford these great technologies and how I'm all for School 2.0. I following this blog because she posts in detail. She offers more to think about.
The two blogs from outside of our group are:
1) http://www.loveisking.blogspot.com/f
I chose this blog because he is a missionary friend of mine that I made in Mexico. He commonly inserts pictures and keeps you up to date with what he is doing. I couldn't comment on his blog. I tried many times. I think he might have disabled the comment section. I'll try and ask him what's going on with his account. I've followed his blog for years before this class.
2) http://www.jentezenfranklin.org/blog/
I follow this blog because he is very inspiring. He and his church do very good work. My comments wouldn't stick. It might be because a lot of people might post inappropriate things since he is such a well-known Christian figure. I still read it though.
Sunday, June 10, 2012
Thing #3
After dusting off my old blogging skills, I can most definitely see some great advantages a class blog could have in my Spanish classes. I want to create two blogs for this coming semester. I'll create a Spanish I blog and a Spanish II blog. The first thing that came to mind was for me to post some additional assignments such as links to news articles in Spanish. I could also hint as to what out next class session will be about so that some students feel as if they have an advantage by checking the blog. I would also post pictures of students' projects to show them off so their family and friends could see their handy work. The possibilities are endless and making these blog ideas a reality would be super easy.
Thing #2
As I said before, setting up this blog was a rather easy experience since I had one back in 2009. It didn't take too long to remember which way was up when dealing with blogger. Choosing the name for my blog was a process of finding ways to integrate "teacher", "Spanish" and "gringo" into a clever name (clever as far as blog titles can go). I would like to think that I've accomplish a few ounces of cleverness.
The avatar was a lot like setting up an avatar on Nintendo Wii. It was fun searching through the different options to try to make my own little "mini me". I tried to make mine look like me. It's a little avatar look into what I look like at work: a shirt and tie, pants, cool shoes and COFFEE... lots of COFFEE! (I am convinced that I have been legally dead since year two of college and that coffee has been the only thing sustaining a heartbeat.)
The avatar was a lot like setting up an avatar on Nintendo Wii. It was fun searching through the different options to try to make my own little "mini me". I tried to make mine look like me. It's a little avatar look into what I look like at work: a shirt and tie, pants, cool shoes and COFFEE... lots of COFFEE! (I am convinced that I have been legally dead since year two of college and that coffee has been the only thing sustaining a heartbeat.)
Thing #1
I would say for me that the most difficult of these 7.5 habits would oddly enough be Habit 1: Begin with the end in mind. I start off thinking, "Oh man! This is it! This is going to be great! This is going to be what changes things!" (Well, maybe not with that much enthusiasm.) But I do start off thinking about the end and what the benefits of learning something will be to me. However, after some time has gone by, I tend to loose sight of the end. Maybe it's because I get so caught up in learning it that I'm not taking time to see how far I've truly come. There are those times when I take a deep breath, look up and say, "Dang! When did I get this good at _____!?!" Those times are the best, but I don't think I have enough of those moments.
The easiest habit for me would be Habit 3: View problems as challenges. Maybe it's because as a kid I was always the one in Sunday School asking, "Why?" until I got an acceptable answer, or maybe it's because I'm the youngest of five boys who thrives on being the underdog (even though I don't often stay the underdog for long :P). Whatever the case may be, I not only love figure out the "why", but to own it and apply it after I've figured it out.
I hope to be brought up-to-date with the Web 2.0 tools. I hate to think that I might be heading toward getting stuck in a rut. It's always fun to learn about a little something new that can help you with your teaching or just help you as a person.
My experience setting up this blog was good. I already had a blog with Blogger before, this just made me dust off my account and put it to use again. I was shocked when I saw that I last used my old blog in 2009! The avatar is just down right fun. Who would have thought that a little cartoon me would make me think, "Man! I look a little weird as a cartoon."? Overall, fun stuff.
The easiest habit for me would be Habit 3: View problems as challenges. Maybe it's because as a kid I was always the one in Sunday School asking, "Why?" until I got an acceptable answer, or maybe it's because I'm the youngest of five boys who thrives on being the underdog (even though I don't often stay the underdog for long :P). Whatever the case may be, I not only love figure out the "why", but to own it and apply it after I've figured it out.
I hope to be brought up-to-date with the Web 2.0 tools. I hate to think that I might be heading toward getting stuck in a rut. It's always fun to learn about a little something new that can help you with your teaching or just help you as a person.
My experience setting up this blog was good. I already had a blog with Blogger before, this just made me dust off my account and put it to use again. I was shocked when I saw that I last used my old blog in 2009! The avatar is just down right fun. Who would have thought that a little cartoon me would make me think, "Man! I look a little weird as a cartoon."? Overall, fun stuff.
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