Commercial Sharing Day!

Let’s Share!!!

Now that you’ve spent time exploring a communication/collaboration tool, we are going to share our commercials and learn from our classmates.

Make sure you check the blog post from the last class to ensure you have all of the required components of this task. Let’s take a moment to make sure we all know how to upload/link videos to your Google site.  After creating a new page, titled “Communication and Collaboration,” you can create a link to your video.

You will also want to include a write up for your commercial. Provide an introduction for your commercial Be sure to make a link in your write up to the tool. For example, if you are talking about Twitter, make sure to link the word ‘Twitter‘ to the Twitter homepage.

Web 2.0 Continued

Let’s look at some other Web 2.0 tools that could be helpful for supporting communication and collaboration.

Wikis are tools that allow you to collaborate on a website with other people.  Your Google Site that you are using in our class could be considered a wiki if you chose to add collaborators.  Here’s a video for more information about wikis. I’m in the process of making a wiki for my research project, titled Space & Perspective.

I’m sure you’ve heard of Twitter. I’m still trying to figure out how to use it, but will sometimes send you tweets that appear on our class page. Here’s a video about Twitter.

Podcasts allow you to record or listen to audio from a class, an event, a renowned speaker, etc. If it includes video it is often called a “vodcast.” Searching iTunes will show you a huge list of what is available. You can view this video for more information. Here’s a podcast I created as a middle school teacher.

There are many other communication and collaboration tools. One of my favorite places to search for new tools (that are free) is on the Go 2 Web 2.0 site. To see more videos about social media tools in Common Craft, check out their site.

Creativity – what does it mean to you?

We’ve talked about the importance of communication and collaboration. Could those tools also foster creativity and innovation in your students? Or are there other tools better suited for that job?

Here’s a video I made with a creative tool, called xtranormal.

What is creativity? Why are creativity and innovation important to your subject/grade level? When was the last time you had the opportunity to be creative? Do you consider yourself creative?

For Monday:

1. I’m going to ask that you start following two blogs this semester. I don’t want to give you too many parameters, but here they are anyways:

• One blog should be an educational blog (either from a teacher, technology specialist, or one that posts concerning technology in the classroom). Here’s a great place to start.
• The second blog is completely up to you. Maybe you have a hobby (i.e. mountain climbing?). Maybe a distant family member writes regularly on a blog or someone you know (or don’t) is traveling and posts photos that are enjoyable to view. Whatever you choose, make sure it’s something you like. I really enjoy knitting, so this Interweave blog is a fun one for me to follow.

2. Take a nap. Then, get up and do something creative. Be prepared to report what you did by describing it on your blog. (A photo would be awesome if you have one). This is a legitimate assignment . . .

Looking Ahead to Wednesday

Read pages 12-17 of this Learning and Leading May 2011. Write a blog post (due Friday) responding to the following questions.

1. What are the four dimensions that J.P. Guilford used to describe creativity?
2. With which of the four dimensions do you struggle the most? Provide details as to why/how this dimension is difficult for you.
3. Think about all of the tools we’ve learned about in class so far. Select a tool and describe how it might help with two or more of the four dimensions of creativity.
4. Spend 10-15 minutes exploring one of the creativity tools listed in the chart on p. 14 in the article. Make sure not to choose a tool you’ve used before. How could that tool be used to support creativity in your chosen grade/subject area?

See you all Wednesday!