The End is here . . . Wait! It's the beginning!?!

    I found keeping this blog and learning about the joys of the interent to be very informative.  I never knew so many sites existed that could aide me one my trek to become a teacher.  Generally, art classrooms do not use computers until high school, and if they do, there are only a handful.  This is because every student needs a computer for long periods of time and many times the computers given may not have the softwear needed for specific projects.  So, the things that I found most benefitial for me were the ones that helped teachers educate themselves and interact with co-workers.  I will uses many of the sites I have learned about to help me become the teacher I want to be and the teacher that students need.
   

Thing # 23 :D

    From what I know, APSU's 23 things is based on the idea of http://www.43things.com/.  I believe that another university started the educational 23things and APSU tweaked it.  Although I am not positive.
   
    Teaching students about creative commons and copyright is espically important in today's society.  As an art teacher, it is very important that students know about copyrighting.  I have visited some classes where students simply find a work they like on the internet, print it, and copy it.  Firstly, students need to know if they can use this image (has CC) or they need to contact the maker of the image. And secondly, they is NOT creativity and only shows me that they can copy someones work.  I believe that is alright to be inspired by a piece as long as it does not look exactly like someone else's work.

Thing # 22

Art lessons

The titles of my livejournals are:
1. Ceramic instruction- Contains references for when I begin to teach students about ceramics and clay.
2. Art Education1- holds information for me on many different art education websites.
3. Art Lessons- Is shown above and has many lesson plans for art in elementary school.

For the classroom, I can see students using livejournal to easily view websites I have collected for them.  Some could be informational, discussing different artists and media, while others could be a storehouse for interactive websites.  I could also have them do research for a project using the sources I found.  This way I can be sure that the sites are appropiate and easy for them to understand.

Thing # 21

http://animoto.com/play/2QcVoW4NlA11qNmUUDw7Fg#
Being an artsy person, I really loved this site.  It was very easy to navigate and I think that even elementary school children could use it.  Animoto produces professional looking videos with very little effort for the maker of the video. The major downside to using this is that, like most amazing things, it costs to do anything substantial.  Anything over 30 seconds you have to pay for.

Thing # 20

I love youtube!  It is a great place to learn about new subjects and sometimes lose time.  It is very easy to locate information with the search bar but you do get flop videos.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kapm9e6y2hA  This video I found will really help me when I begin teaching students how to throw the wheel.  There are also informative videos on artists and artistic movements that I could show during a lesson.  I will definately use this site when I teach in the future.

Thing # 19

    I am no currently a member of any online community but I do look at IMBD from time to time.  From the list, I liked craftster.org.  Craftster is a site that showcases others crafty hobbies.  I enjoy seeing what creative things others are into.  Good Reads is another site that I could use in the future.  I could use it to find personal reads as well as books that children would like.  I could base an art lesson around a popular book or have students choose a book that inspires them.

Thing # 18

    It is very important for teachers to know how to use social networking.  It is slowly becoming the prefered communication method over email.  This is a link to my profile http://www.facebook.com/#!/profile.php?id=844110071.  I have been a user of facebook since highschool and it seems to be the only way one can "talk" to those they do not see.  I can see using facebook and twitter with other teachers or learning about teaching methods.  I believe that it is highly inappropiate and unprofessional for a teacher to "friend" a student.  This crosses the boundry for a correct student- teacher relationship.  Facebook is a personal place.
     Twitter can be a good place for students to learn about the world and others point of view.  They could follow a news site or and organization.

Thing #17

    After searching for educational technology, I found a tag for Art Education.  This tag had 5 links that I can see myself using when I start to teach.  It was simple to find things in Delicious and easy to navigate.
I really like Delicious and think that it is a great aide to teachers.  For students, Delicious is a good site to collect research.  Teachers can save time by using Delicious and not having to search through sites to see if there is something that they like.  They would also be able to see how many people have already saved a site, which shows how many people found it use full. 

Thing # 16

    I chose to use my stickies.   I already have a program downloaded like this on my laptop.  They are very hand, especially for someone who tends to be forgetful like me.  The are very easy to use and you can post them where ever you want.  This way you don't have to scramble to find a piece of paper and pencil to write a small thing down.
    Online calenders would be very useful for me as a teacher.  I would be able to access it on any computer that has the internet and not have to keep up with an agenda.  Many of them also send reminders about events that are coming up.  At first, setting up a calender online would take some time but after that, I believe they would be every useful.
    I would recommend stickies to others and have already converted my roommate to them. She uses them to keep track of her tests.

Thing #15

I found using a wiki very easy to use and edit.  A wiki would be a good idea for students to use in a large group project. It is simple enough that students would catch on easily.  They would be able to post massive amounts of information to everyone without having to send multiple emails.  This way I also would be able to follow information and see how far along everyone is and if they are on the right track.  I do not believe that wikis would be suitable for younger children.  I think they would be best served in a middle school or high school.

Thing #14

To me, flow charts would be best used when talking about one specific topic and then digging a little deeper into it.  Flow charts are good for showing the main ideas of things and not going into too much detail.  They are similar to powerpoints where you give a few words about a subject and then the speaker/reader elaborates.  I used giffy to create my flow chart.  I did not like that you could not customize the item or color them.  The controls were a little hard to find.  I used shapes to show the relationship of Monet and Impressionism.

I use mind maps when looking at broad subjects and them slowly narrow it down with more details and specifics.  I think students could find this handy for tests to analyze data.  For my mind map I used Mind Meister.  I found it easy to use and rather fun to create.  I think students could catch on quickly.
I used the mind map to look at different artists of the Impressionist movement and the important works they created.

Thing # 13

    After creating an account at zoho.com, I went to the zoho writer.  I really liked this application because it is easy to use and very similar to word, which I already know.  I think that this would be a great site for students to use instead of hoping they remember to bring an assignment in on a flash drive.  They could share their writings with me or each other for proof readings and help.
    Google docs would also be a good tool to use for a group based activity.  Students could share information easily by just logging on to google.
    I personally like zoho more than google docs because it seems to offer more options when creating a document, much like word.

Thing #12

I love Google!  There are so many things that you can do with it.  I personally use Google Translate for my Spanish classes.  However, I don't use it to translate every sentence.  That's BAD!!!  I use it to figure out words, which is much faster than a dictionary, and to figure out short phrases or sayings.  When I teach, there is a very good possibility that I will have a Spanish speaking ELL student.  They may not yet know all the English to carry on a conversation, so I could use the translator to help me put directions into Spanish.  The other application that I chose was Picassa and the best part is it's free!  It gives you an incredible selection of choices for fixing an image.  I used it to tweak a picture I took of my dog.  I is a little confusing to use, but it is nothing that a little time can't fix.  As a prospective art teacher, I could used this if there happens to be money issues and I cannot afford to buy photoshop. However, it is a little simpler than Photoshop, so I would be able to use it with middleschool students in a photography project.

Thing #11

Google Blog Search and Technorati are so far my favorite search sites for blogs.  I like that google gave you a brief description of the site before you clicked on it.  Technorati caught my eye because of its easy to spot groups at the top of the page.  All that you need to do is click one broad topic and then you start refining your search.  I also found it amusing that they had a special tab for women and not for men.  I did not like how Topix would boot you off their site once you typed something in the search box.
Using Technorati, I stumbled across a "green" site called Clean Technia which deals with topics on how to live a green life to the newest technological advances in green energy.  Personallly, I am starting to get into the "green culture" and I feel that sustainable practices should be passed on to children.  I found this site a nice surprise.  I did find another search site for blogs called simply Blog Search Engine.  Although, after looking around, I found the layout annoying.  They do have a seach bar, but it sends you to google.  So, might as well just start there.  I think the better search sites I've seen are Google and Technorati.

Thing #10

This assignment was very informative for be because I have never heard of RSS or Google Reader. I subscribed to CoolcatTeacher, Pioneer Woman, BBC, Adelle, and Art Paper Scissors.  I found Google Reader fairly easy to use and I am excited to find a site that can combine all of my interests. I like that RSS and newsreaders keep my interests organized.  I do not have to go searching for the things I follow because they are all in one place.  For my personal life, it would make things convenient where all I need to do is log on to one site and look for updates for all of the sites I frequent.  If there is something that I want to show my students, I can quickly locate it.  Teachers would also be able to use Google Reader easily expand their knowledge with new sites and blogs.

Thing # 9



http://www.comicstripgenerator.com/creator.asp?title=CHANGE+THIS+TITLE%21&text=If+I+can+paint%2C+so+can+you%21&tag=October+4%2C+2011&fontsize=14&font=comic&color=black&move=&move2=&cartoon=african-elephant&time=0946&cartoons.x=110&cartoons.y=19

I had fun creating this image that would inspire children to create.  I found this generator easy to use with the instructions given.  I believe creating images would be easy enough for elementary school children to use.  Image generators can be a great way to add some interest to a classroom or blog.  These customizable images can be used many different ways.  Students could use them in a project that revolved around a given theme.  This would also be a fun way to involve technology.  As an example, a teacher could instruct them to design a comic strip based on the subject of biology.  As a teacher, I can see myself using them as inspirational images (like the one above) or as a light-hearted way to show rules.

Thing #8

         
   

Using mashups are addictive!  There are endless possibilities and many uses.  I could see myself using Mappr more in my classroom.  It would be useful to show students where art through the years were being made and where artists lived.  I could even show famous art museums such as the MET and Louvre.  I would also like for students to create something using mashups such as this word generator.  On the question on using personal photos online, I feel that children should not be posting photos of themselves until they are about 16.  They should also let their friends know whether or not it is alright to post photos of themselves.  For me this is just basic internet safety that every child should know.

Thing # 7

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bluebeedesigns/4692488941/

I stumbled across this photo in my experience using Flickr.  This photo was uploaded by BlueBee~Karen.  This was my first time using Flickr and I found it very easy to use.  It is similar to Google images where you refine your search by changing the word choice you use.  By clicking on the groups category, you can easily find people who are devoted to the particular word you searched for.  I think this site is good for using images in Powerpoint and the visual elements will help students learn.  I chose this photo because it shows a child independently viewing art from their class.  It shows the appreciation this child has for her own work and that of her classmates.  

Thing #6

The web 2.0 tool I choose is www.youtube.com.  I have been using this site for many years.  Although it is known for its silly and senseless videos, there are actually many educational videos.  This site is very easy to navigate and once you sign up for free, you can actually save videos.  This will save time when you go to view a video in the classroom.  After you start viewing videos under a certain topic, youtube starts suggesting new videos related to that topic.  As an art teacher in training, I could use this site to show a video on an artist that gives a brief description on their life.  There are also many interesting videos on the different movements in art and art basics.  Some people make how to videos that show a project step by step.  I could use these for project directions and find ideas on new projects.  Youtube will be a great addition for a classroom.

Thing #5

After reading about School 2.0, I believe that it is a good thing that we are headed in that direction.  School 2.0 is about using technology to your advantage.  For me, the pros out weight the cons.  The students now have never know life without a computer and it seems the be way to grab their attention to encourage learning.  The modern world that we live in is so technologically based it is almost impossible, and unrealistic, to teach without the aid of so many amazing things.  Through the internet, information is more available and global.  They can learn about life, history, culture, ect. all through many view points.  I believe that eventually most of the students in the United Stateds will have their own personal computer or be loaned one.  Through scholorships and donors, this will be possible for even the most impoverished child an equal chance for success.  The computer is just another tool for learning that I believe that all teachers should use.

Thing #4

Commenting is basically the reason why blogging exists.  Without it, it feels like the author is out there on their own in cyber space.  Commenting shows that they are really reaching people and there is a reason for their blog.  A blogger should interact with their viewers and comments back.  This shows the readers that you care about their opinions.  As a commenter, it is better to leave comments that have meaning other than just "This is cool!".  Telling the author the reason you liked their blog lets them know what their viewers like and to keep posting about.

Amber Schmidt-  I like her post about how to use blogs as a teacher.  Specifically, how she wants combine technology with student interaction. 

Seirra Bruner- She also had good ideas of using blogs in the classroom. I agree that they are a great way to let parents know about important dates.

Ernyce Smith-  She had an amazing idea of using a blog for homework help.  It is good for students to get help at home and there is internet, they would see tutorials on how to do it.

Bridgette Elmore- I liked her post about web 2.0 and You-tube.  Many students, like me, are more visual learners and using videos are a great way to further student learning.

Hannah Shingler- She had good ideas about using a blog as a way to share ideas.  With technology, it has become so much easier for teachers to share thoughts.

Thing #3

I think using a blog as a teacher is a great idea!  It is a great way for teachers to share ideas with each other and connect with parents.  As a prospective art teacher, I would love to show parents what their children are doing in the classroom.  I would like to post pictures of students projects and tell about easy art projects that the family could do together at home.  I could also post about events in the community and near by towns that have kid friendly art exhibits and such.

Thing #2

I decided to name my blog simply Sarah's 23 Things because that is the main topic of this blog.  Since this is my first blog that I have ever written, it was a little difficult for me figuring everything out.  I had to learn what all of the tabs mean and how to post.  Now that I have been on blogger a few times, it's easier.  I really like the different ways that you can customize your blog.

I decided to use my picture for this blog.  I looked through a few avatar sites and did not find any that fit me.

Thing #1

The 7 1/2 Habits

1. Begin with the end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
5. Create your own learning tool box
6. Use technology to your advantage
7. Teach and play and mentor others
1/2. Play!

For me, the hardest of the habits to have enough confidence in myself.    I tend to feel overwhelmed with something at first and feel that I am not able do it well.  I am also have very high standards for my self and want everything close to perfect when I do them.

The easiest habit for me is to begin with an end in mind.  I am a very goal oriented person and work best when I know what I am working toward.  I know what steps to take when I can invision the outcome of a problem.