I’ll Never Lose My Documents Again!

I’ve been a user of Google Docs for about a year. I introduced it last year to my 10th grade students when they started their English/Global 10 research project. We used this as a way for them to share their essays with me so I could give them feedback on how to improve them before submitting them to their core subject teachers. Google Docs proved to be an invaluable tool; not only did they get a review of their rough draft, but I got to see in what areas they needed help. I was able to tell their Global Studies teachers that the students actually knew their content, while I had to break the news to the English teachers that the students were struggling with writing. This experience informed both the teachers’ and my practice, but also taught the students a new tool.

 

Now that I’ve had the experience of using Dropbox, I have a new tool that I am promoting to my students. This is an amazing tool that has forever transformed the way I think about my tasks. I created folders for work, home, my creative writing endeavors, and my small business. I’ve stored my monthly report in Dropbox so I always have access to it. Today I taught a lesson and mentioned Dropbox as a way for students to collaborate on their project. My assistant principal was observing my teaching during the lesson, and afterward he asked me about Dropbox. I love learning new things and sharing them. I especially enjoy when people get as excited about learning something new as I do. I intend to follow upnwith him to see if he’s tried it. I also plan to offer my Lunch Bytes sessions next year to give teachers a chance to try it. 

Connecting with Edmodo and Google+ Hangouts

After looking at the capabilities of Google+ Hangouts, my first impression is that it would be a great tool for collaborating with my librarian colleagues, even if we can’t leave our buildings. Meetings could be carried out more efficiently and more frequently in a hangout. I would also encourage my students to set up a hangout any time they need to work on group projects. I would love to meet up with some writers in a hangout as well.

Google+ Hangouts might also be a way for me to convene my Teen Writers’s Workshop, but I think Edmodo would be a better option for this purpose. I plan to set up a page and have it serve as a “virtual workshop” where we can discuss ideas, and post writing-related links and writing prompts.

You Can Win an iPad 3

Would you like to read your next book on a brand new iPad? (via The Masquerade Crew)

Justin, from Dragonblogger.com, is hosting an awesome giveaway. The one product that everyone wishes to own: the all new iPad 3rd generation tablet. With the great retina display with 2048×1536 resolution, the A5X quad core processor, 5MP camera having a 1080P video recording and Bluetooth, who wouldn…

Putting What I’ve Learned into Practice

I’ve spent quite a bit of time lost within Pinterest. I love all the different, beautiful images out there! I’m slowly starting to search for ideas for my library, especially reading and book promotion.

My favorite tool after Pinterest is Evernote. I spent this weekend creating a webquest by typing my plan in the Evernote app on my tablet. I love having the ability to jot things down and not have to drag my laptop around!

As part of the webquest, I’m going to direct my students to some of the tools I’ve learned from the online course I’m taking. I think they could benefit from using Evernote, and probably VoiceThread for their collaborative project. Wish me well as I venture out into unfamiliar territory with students following my lead!

Using Pinterest for Work and Play

A few weeks ago I started seeing Pinterest pins showing up in my Facebook feed. I soon began hearing that it’s a huge time waster, so I wasn’t really interested in getting involved in it. But for the web 2.0 course I thought I’d give it a try.

I’m hooked. Yes, I knew this would happen. I’m finding all these amazing photos about home decorating, cooking, traveling, and painting my nails. And I won’t even get into the images I pinned of Gerard Butler! Ummm, yeah.

Pinterest is currently blocked in my district, so I’m not sure that it’s use is even a possibility any time soon. However, I could see teachers and students using it as an organizational tool as part of their research. They could create boards for their ancient civilization, or author study, or science project. Perhaps open access is on the horizon.

As a writer, the images are awe-inspiring. I could imagine using the images I pinned to help me describe a scene, the color and textures of an Irish cottage, or even a strong, handsome, male character….named Gerry.

Pinterest will be fund to continue exploring, but it is definitely a huge time-sucker.

Now where was I????

Adding a New Dimension to my Blog

I’ve started an online Web 2.0 workshop because I want to learn more about these features in order to be more up-to-date with my technical knowledge. My immediate focus for these new skills will be for my teaching, with the side benefit of being able to incorporate them into my writing life. So, I’m eager to get started (and need to catch up actually), and am looking forward to learning new things. You’ll see updates on my progress posted here. 

I’d love to hear what you think.

Review of Dead of Wynter by Spencer Seidel

Prepare yourselves for a murder mystery/thriller that grabs you from the Prologue and refuses to let you go until the last word. The main character, Alice Wynter, is in constant turmoil over her past as well as her present. The sudden death of her father, and ominous disappearance of her twin brother draws her away from her broken marriage. She reluctantly returns to her childhood home in Redding, Maine to help her mother, but finds herself involved in helping to figure out who killed her father. She tries desperately to keep the pain of her past buried deep inside, but as she resigns herself to solving her father’s murder and finding her brother, her secret starts clawing its way back. Seidel has crafted a story that is both engaging and disturbing. His characters are complex and realistic. This debut novel has made Spencer Seidel a new author worth following. My only regret is that I let this book sit buried in a stack of other books for almost a year!

Disclaimer: I won this personalized autographed copy of Dead of Wynter in a giveaway in May 2011.