Still searching...

...for my one new thing. I started with Rubistar4Teachers and looked at the site in Spanish. That has some interesting possibilities, but I don't know if that is truly new. Then I checked out QuizStar but it costs $$$. On to TrackStar, which I have used in the past-and it is different today. I didn't like it and moved on. I checked out a side ad for busting belly fat, something I know I could use on occasion, and was linked to an ad about a Diet Generator or Calculator. After a couple of pages I discovered that too cost $$$$$. So I am still searching for my one new thing.

Podcasts, and stuff

Very useful info at the last meeting! I am going to explore podcasts for possible future use. I personally employed the slide show comparing this year to learning how to snowboard. The learning curve was steep but once I acquired a few skills it has leveled out and I don't receive as many painful reminders of my ignorance in the field and fall on my face as often, although on occasion it still happens.

United Streaming

I am endlessly amazed how I can use united streaming to review grammar. Instead of listening to me again the students can be amused by a video clip. For me this is good stuff! Looking back I noticed how much shorter my blogs are becoming. I guess my brain is wearing out and running down as the year goes on. Sorry:)

Too bad!

This initiative will change. It has been good for me to learn about technology and literacy even if I don't use it all right away. I am storing it for future reference. Some of it I am using this year when it makes sense to insert it into a project. Too often literacy seems to take a back seat to technology. I know it has given some of my Spanish projects depth that they didn't have in a different way.

Research project calculator

I am now at the point where the calculator will be useful for a project my students will be doing after spring break. I plan on having the class use it together with the projector, as we calculate the time it will take them to complete a project using the recipes we collected before. They may decide to take off in a different direction and that will have to be factored in. But we will do it together. They will need to collect information. Decide how to present it. Prepare the material and practice. Then do the presentation.

Del.icio.us and useful

This last session introduced a delectable tool I thought might be useful in the future. I liked it's feature about collecting bookmarks on the web and not having to access them through my personal computer. The hot hits are questionable but I will have to do further research before I can render a final judgment on their usefulness for my classes. I also liked the productivity tools available through google and would consider using them if I find myself in a situation where I need to share a document or don't have access to my own computer once again. Some things to file away and retrieve at the right moment....

Urban Planet

We had a session on Urban Planet at school, that was billed as learning about how to use Urban Planet to make a web page. I was so hopeful that I could continue developing mine and adding information. We learned nothing. We looked at Harding's and at an elementary school web page and not much else. 20 minutes later it was over. I still intend to add to mine the question is when, I am lucky I remember how to enter the admin site but that is only because I have it written down.