Useful Web 2.0 Tools

AmCharts

AmCharts has a large selection of different graphs, charts, and study tools that can be posted on web pages. The charts are very easy to customize into exactly what you need. They make pages look more professional.

I would use the charts on my class web site.  The call could use this tool to track weather patterns or I could post study cards for the next test.

DOGO News

Dogo News is a kid friendly news site that informs about discoveries, funny videos, and good books. The articles are colorful were interesting enough to distract me for a couple hours.

I would definitely use this site in my class as a starter. I would give them one of the articles and have them answer questions about it or create a journal recording their thoughts over the year.

Teachers.TV

This is a video sharing site that contains education content collected by the Department for Education. The videos are easily found and I played one to see how it ran and it was very smooth and did not need to buffer.

I would use one of the video to show an example of an experiment. If I was talking about iron turning to rust, I could find a video of it and show the kids.

Speachable

This site allows you to take photos and add text and speech bubbles. It also helps you share your new comic with friends through email or social media sites.

I love comic projects and this one does not require drawing skills! I would let the kids use the class iPads / camera/ whatever we have to take pictures then they could use this site to create a cartoon about the lesson.

Grammar Girl

Grammar Girl is a site of articles and pod casts that teach about grammar and different styles of writing. It is a resource on could use to check themselves.

I would use these videos for examples of good essays. This site has an excellent podcast about writing a developing a theory that can be used as an example.

Confusing Words

Confusing Words is a collection of often misspelled or misused words. The site also has a translator.

I would print of some of the posters for my classroom.  I could also use the site to look up tricks for learning complicated words.

Big Huge Thesaurus

Big Huge Thesaurus is, well, a thesaurus, but it is also a story plot generator.  It is a tool to help writer’s block.

I would use it to help my kids with essays. I might even assign them to write a historical fiction about one of the fathers of science.

Classic Cat

Classic Cat is site dedicated to sharing classical music. You can download over 6000 different songs to your iPod of mp3.

Classical music helps me focus, so I could play it while students are working on projects. I could also play it while I’m grading papers.

Quizlet

Quizlet is a site made to be used as the ultimate study tool. It has notes on thousands of subjects and you can add your own to make flashcards or play study games.

I would let kids who are finished early in class use the computer to play study games for the next test. I would also use it to print out large flash cards of the skeletal system for study in class.

The Lure of the Labyrinth

This helps students learn pre-algebra with a narrative game that contains puzzles and math obstacles to overcome. The site also has lesson plans to be paired with the game.

 I could assign the game as homework once a week. I like the idea of giving bonus point to those who finish the game. 

Social Networking, Improving Culture

In Alexandra Smith's blog post, ReevaluatingImportance of Social Media, she discusses the anxiety created by social networking and questions whether or not social networking is worth the irritation it causes. Honestly, I agree with a lot of the points she made. I personally avoided my Facebook page for around two years because of how people acted on the site. However, I believe that social networking can be used to bring people together and enrich cultures. 

An example of this is the blog you are currently reading. I doubt I would ever have learned how to crochet without social networking. Between Pinterest boards, Raverly Patterns, and YouTube tutorials I have endless crafting resources and knowledge to teach myself with. Just today I saw a stitch on a vintage blanket I wanted to copy. All I had to do was look up crochet stitches on Google Images, look for the correct stitch, learn its name, and then look up a tutorial on how to complete the stitch.  Being able to learn skills this easily is a blessing. Before social networking we had to learn these skills from friends or family, which sounds good in theory, but may not always work out in practice. 

You may not know anyone who knows the craft or at least anyone who is a good teacher. Even with a good teacher, you may be a slow learner. I am a slow learner. Seriously, road kill could memorize facts faster than me. YouTube tutorials allowed me to rewind, pause, or slow down the teacher until I was ready to move on. Sometimes the internet can be the best option for learning and with out it many people would never learn crafts like crochet.

Another great aspect of social networking is that crafters  have a place to meet and discuss about their craft. Online chat rooms, Facebook pages, Esty shops, and more can be used to communicate with other crafters. I have even heard of a quilting group who meet over video chat.  Social media teaches us and brings us together, but what do we do now that we have made these crafts?

We sell them! We have online stores dedicated just for crafters to sell their crafts such as Esty. According to Jess author of Create and Thrive and small online business owner, " ...small online business create jobs and boost the economy..."  Wait a minuet...

Social Networking  offers to teach us  skills. It gives us a place to communicate about these skills, and it "boosts" the economy. If more people used social networking for learning and improving their lives instead of taking selfies and causing flame wars we would have a very large population of skilled and well rounded people. 

Hello Blogger!

 

In retaliation to the ever growing acrylic yarn monster under my bed I, Jessica (Jessie) Lockwood, have accepted the 30 Day Crochet Challenge! In this blog I will be discussing each of the thirty challenges proposed by the Facebook page, 30 Day Crochet Challenges. Each challenge post will contain: the challenge, my finished work, my thoughts on the challenge and a question to my followers. Surely thirty crochet projects will tame the beast!

Now, for the introductions,

First I would like to introduce you to my roommate and the author of The Crazed Astronomer Blog, Alex Brantley. Alex will often appear to model the latest challenge or to just help out with the challenge in question. Because of this, Alex will be getting a lot of crocheted gifts in the next few months. Lucky girl right?  (Space and art fans, please give Alex’s blog a visit! )
 

Second, I would like to introduce myself.  My name is Jessie and I attend Henderson State University where I study middle school education. My favorite subjects are Biology and Public School Art. I am a very messy crafter.  The yarn monster (I'll call him Max.) is a result of my messy habits and perhaps the radiation from the microwave that keeps going out on my dorm floor. I haven't really looked into what has given him life yet.


 Life as a college student can be fun, but with 18 hours on my plate, I need to unwind and take a few minutes to myself.  Crochet, or almost any crafting for that matter, helps me relax and feel refreshed after I have bogged my mind up with the troubles of the day. Crocheting before bed clears the mind and helps me sleep. That is why I chose this 30 day challenge to help me in my battle against Max.  If you would like to join Max and me and take the challenge with us, follow this link:  30 Day Crochet Challenge Facebook Page
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