Adventures in Teaching and Learning

There is a very interesting article in the Guardian Weekend about the changes made in technology over the past decade. It got me thinking about the websites and applications that had most changed the way I do things using ICT. First of all, here is the Guardian list:

1. Google – I would 100% agree. I don’t think I really used search engines before Google came along.

2. Wikipedia – This is now so useful that it is often my first port of call, nevermind my pupils’.

3. Twitter – I believe this is the best source of CPD that I’ve had over this past year. Although it’s probably stopped me blogging so much!

4. Comment is Free – A particularly Guardian inclusion which I’m not sure I’ve ever used.

5. BBC iPlayer – I don’t use it that often, but when I do, it’s great – and its existence would encourage me to get rid of the TV at some point in the future.

6. iPhone – I don’t have one, but I know many people who do, and it did start that whole era of touchscreen phones. I’ve just got a BlackBerry, and I can see that being a big change. In fact, I’m typing this post on it now.

7. Craigslist – Never used it.

8. Facebook – Of course I’m on it! But I don’t use it so much these days. However, I still use it to keep in touch with old friends.

9. iTunes U – Need to look into this one.

10. Spotify – I think I’ve signed up to this but I’m not so much into listening to music. Don’t get me wrong – I like music, I’ve grown up playing the violin and I love to dance. But my husband is the DJ round here so I pretty much let him get on with it! A pretty eclectic mix anyway!

So, that was the Guardian’s top ten. What about mine? Of course, there’s bound to be an overlap!

1. Twitter – I’ve ‘met’ so many members of the education technology world through this, and they have shared so much in terms of resources and ideas. I can’t imagine trying to find out so much on my own. Definitely best CPD this year.

2. YouTube – Couldn’t believe it when I read that YouTube was founded AFTER the Indonesian tsunami. That is an event that I remember clearly because my husband and I were on an amazing Italian winter holiday. Surely YouTube must have existed before that holiday?! But it didn’t.

3. Google – The homepage on many computers I’ve worked on! Also the standard search button at school. I use Google at school and at home to find quick images and basic facts.

4. Wikipedia – First source of information. Normally the first item that pops up on Google as well!

5. Flickr – I love Flickr. Almost all my photos are up there. One of the few Web 2.0 apps that I pay for – I’ve had a Pro account for a couple of years. Still remember the first time I heard of Flickr – from a stranger who was taking pictures of the same smouldering warehouse as me – and now I’m shocked when other people haven’t heard of it. My favourite site to search for Creative Commons Flickr photos is www.compfight.com.

6. Facebook – I think I was one of the first of my friends and colleagues to be on Facebook (after much prompting from @victoriaellis!). The novelty has worn off – I don’t send people flowers any more! – but it’s still great for keeping in touch.

7. Blogs – To think I’d never heard of them three years ago. I enjoy writing them (when I have the time) and have learnt loads from reading them.

8. Online banking – I was probably one of the first to use phone banking, as I worked for Direct Banking when I was at uni, but it took until about 4 years ago to finally sign up for Online banking. And it’s so useful. I love being able to see my transactions, and being able to transfer my money when I want to without having to discuss it with anyone.

9. WiFi – I’m so glad the days of plugging in to dial up are long gone! And I can talk to someone on the phone and be online at the same time! Bliss.

10. BlackBerry – I’ve only had it a week, so I suppose it’s too early to say what sort of impact it will have on my life. But it’s already got me blogging again – this post has been typed on my BlackBerry – and I can send emails and texts on the tube and it sends them when it has a signal! Fantastic.

So, that’s my top ten. Now, what’s yours?

Note: You can also read @janeinjava’s post here.

Terry Freedman often has very interesting articles on his blog, and as an active Twitter user, these are well advertised to other Twits with too much time on their hands. Like me. At the moment. (Snow Day 2!) Anyway, the topic of Social Networking: the Pros and Cons with emphasis on safety is one that has been covered in a variety of other places, so if that was all it was, I probably wouldn’t have mentioned the article here, even though it is quite interesting in itself. But what caught my eye was Terry’s admission that he belongs to 63 social networks! Which made me wonder … how many do I belong to?

So here goes. I may include some links, although others are more private, some I am dormant in, and others I may have been thrown out of by now for never having used them! I am sure there will be some I have forgotten.

Facebook
Twitter
Ning
Dipity
Friends Reunited
LinkedUp
Plurk
Classroom 2.0
Haringey Transformation Teachers’ Programme
Diigo
Teaching and Learning with Web 2.0
Web 2.0 Tools for Teachers
Slideshare
Flickr

So that’s 14 so far. Sorry, post took much longer than planned: I ended up browsing around Friends Reunited! So that’s one of the main problems of Social Networking! I was supposed to be marking!

As a Haringey teacher, it was about time I visited this local celebrity of a shop. And I was not disappointed! Although the space is small, there is a lightness, openness and friendliness about it that means I am looking forward to going back. Made a nice change to the huge superstores that most bookshops are today (although I have to confess, I like those too!). Anyway, it felt a bit like visiting a friend, which was a bit bizarre since I have never met Tim or Simon, the owners, before, but I had seen photos on their Facebook site and on their blog, and since our superb librarian is also connected to them, I feel as if I am part of the Big Green Bookshop family. So, having bought a book (the Freedom Writers’ Diary, since you ask), I am now devoting a whole post to this special Wood Green bookshop. Please follow the links above to find out more! (And, if you’re near North London on 9 August, I’m sure Tim and Simon would be delighted to see you at their Levi Roots Reggae Reggae Cookbook party … See the Facebook group for more details!) (And I should also point out that there is handy parking nearby, as long as there are spaces, of course, but you should take some cash with you for the machine so your visit isn’t as rushed as mine was!)

Well, to be honest, I don’t really know if some things are new or not, but it’s nice to be able to mention the things that are new to me! Go2web20 is “the complete Web 2.0 directory”, and has so many links on the page it’s hard to know where to start. So I’m going to have a browse around and let you know what I think of some of them.

blippr – As with many of the new Web 2.0 sites, this is a beta and you need to apply to get an invite code, so I’ve just signed up and am waiting for the code so I can explore more. However, this looks like an interesting site, where you can compile lists of the books you’ve read or the music you like, add a quick rating and a couple of lines of comment, and browse the recommendations of others in order to discover new media (books, films, TV programmes, music, games …) that you might like. The developers are also working on an application for Facebook.

MyTweetMap – If you like Twitter, and wonder where your twitter friends are twittering from, this could be the application for you. This is a mashup (the first time I have used that term …!) between Twitter and GoogleEarth.

ChitChat – This seems like an interesting idea, worth checking out. There is a video that introduces the site – I couldn’t get the video on the site to play, but they have helpfully included a link to another site that showed it without a problem. It seems to combine VLEs and blogs.

Supercook – Perhaps one for a Food Tech teacher or someone who just wants to get some new ideas for what to cook after a long day at school! You type in your ingredients, and they suggest a recipe …

VisibleBody – I’m not a biologist, so I’m not sure how you would use this, but this site, with a 3D interactive body, looks like it could prove useful in the classroom.

Yacapaca – This site has been recommended to me before, but it’s the first time I’ve got round to looking at it! It’s a bit like a VLE but has shared content as well … as far as I can see.

Wikispaces – This is where to go if you want to get free wikis for you classes or any other group.

MindBite – “The place to learn what others know”. This site has a variety of c. 15 minute “lessons” on all sorts of activities and knowledge. There is a video that shows how to construct a MindBite. You do have to pay for most of the videos though – you get a free one minute preview, then buy the lesson for “as little as $1.69″.

Right. I’ve been browsing for about three hours … that’s ridiculous! I’m supposed to be planning a powerpoint … Hope something there catches your eye. It would be great if anyone who has used or goes on to use any of these sites could leave a comment to say if you’ve found them useful or not … Have fun!