Thing # 18

I think that it is important for educators to know how social networking works because we have to network to become better at our jobs.  If we stay inside our own little bubble of friends we may not learn the different ways that others are teaching.  I am not a fan of social networking.  I don't really care where any of my "friends" are at and what they are doing all the time.  I do not like the fact that employers, educators, and money lenders can look at my site.  Social networking is something that could get me fired, not hired, or not invited into certain clubs.  I must watch my step on these sites.  I can see the usefulness of them.  Setting up pages for your class or the school of Education.  This gets the information out to the students in a way that they will recieve.  To be honest they cannot say they did not recieve the information because you get a notice when something new pops up!  I think that eventually I will have to accept social networking because it is the wave of the future (unfortunately the future is now!).

Facebook link!

http://www.facebook.com/#!/  I don't know if this will work, but if not just look for Mellissia Troyer on

Facebook!  It is not a very interesting page, though!

Thing #17

I enjoyed using this tool.  I can see the use for it in the classroom. As an English intstructor I will probably use a lot of web sites.  This will make it easier to connect to them.  I can tag them for different things, which will make it easier to pull up things about grammer or different authors.  I like the fact that it does not have to take up space on the computer because it is saved on the internet.  I also like that I can look at what other educators are using.  I will most likely use this site in my classroom.

Thing # 16

I really liked the Igoogle start page and I may make it my home page all the time.  I found the to-do lists easy to do, but I can add a to-do list to my igoogle home page.  Having that in the same place as my home page would make things easier.  I looked at the educator apps.  I liked many of them.  I think that if I use any of these things they will be through google because then I will have it all in one spot.  I did like the chalksite and may use it.

Thing #15

I did not have as much fun with this thing.  I was taught to stay away from wikkis, so I was already biased against them.  It did not help that I could not update the APSU 23 things sandbox.  I had a lot of trouble with that one!  I have to be honest that because of my bias against wikkis I probably will not use them in my classroom.

Thing #14

Flow charts and mind maps.  This was an interesting exercise.  I did not even know that these programs existed! I did not like the fact that some you had to pay for, however the free ones were very interesting.  I think that I liked Gliffy the best.  I had fun making the flow charts, venn diagrams, and floor plans.  I found it easy to navigate.  I could have used it a month ago when I had to make a Venn Diagram for class!!  I tried Bubbl.us for the mind mapping.  I liked it, but not as much as Gliffy.  I thought this would be a good tool for people who like to brainstorm.  Start with one topic and then build off it.  I think having students to do this could be useful and fun in the class.  I think that having them create their own diagrams could be fun too!  I definately will keep these sites in mind for when I begin to teach.

Thing #13

I explored both zoho and google docs.  I think that I like google docs the best.  This is probably due to the fact that I have been using google forever.  All my accounts are linked to google.  I found it easier to figure out how to share my links.  I really enjoyed exploring these two sites.  I think that setting up my students into groups on these sites could be a valuable teaching tool.  Students can look at each others work, have discussions, develop spreadsheets and artwork, and set up an agenda.  I would probably stick with google because it is what I am used to, but also because I believe that most people have a gmail account.  I like the fact that I can save my documents on these sites.  I have a habit of losing my jump drives.  I also save things to the computer instead of the jump drive.  Using these types of apps would enable me to save my documents and have access to them everywhere I go.

Thing #13- Drawing

https://docs.google.com/drawings/d/1r5Zggd6uxP2GWSTw5zqj0LGd2p99ZFsLoj9UAG36m-o/edit




Link to my picture in google docs