I really enjoyed this task, as I have been meaning to check out websites that allow you to build blogs for free and quite easily. I found this to be very user friendly, and I like the fact that you can use a simple template or take the templates and spice them up and adjust them a bit. I did not have a problem with any of this and found the initial video to be helpful as well.
I can definitely see areas where I can use this in my current curriculum, especially my 7th grade curriculum. We currently build websites and are introduced to video editing in grade 7. Both programs (Publisher and Adobe Premiere Elements 8.0) did not work to my expectations (for a variety of reasons out of my control unfortunately), but it was a learning experience for my students on how technology does not always work as planned. Instead of a website, we had to switch things up and create a blog with Publisher. I would really like to use a "real" blog service to do this, but I know I may encounter some roadblocks with our IT department, and perhaps a problem with having to sign on with an email address. I will have to look into this further.
The avatar piece was fun. I think the options could have been categorized better. I did a lot of clicking to find my background. Other than that, it was fun and would give students a chance to personalize their blogs in a fun creative way. They obviously would enjoy this. I can use this piece for other things my students create in class as well.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thing 1: Learn About Web 2.0
Ah....what a great new world we live in. There is so much possibility for digital learning and just not enough time to explore it all and be on the top of the game. Things are constantly changing and improving. But I am so motivated after reading the article "A Day in the Life of Web 2.0" by David Warlick. How amazingly efficient they are at that school due to the use of today's technology among staff! I look forward to the day when we get to that point here in Newington.
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