Thing # 18: Online Tools

Google Docs is very good, I tried opening, uploading, and importing the files as document, spreadsheet, and presentation. It is very user friendly, and it has all the basic features.

Advantages of using these tools is accessibility, we can access from any computer any where, sharing the files are also very easy. And most of all it is absolutely FREE!! One disadvantage is that you have to be online to see the files, most of the time internet is available, but when it is not available, you won't be able to access it.

I did not download the Open Office, since I use google for lot of other things as calendar, photos, etc.

Thing # 17: Rollyo

Rollyo is great way to create our own search engine. Registering and adding own search engines was easy. This will also keep the students on task with research, should be a lot easier, less time consuming, and also safe way to surf the internet.

It is nice that there are preselected sites and then we can add or delete from the list. Students and even us teachers have to spell the words correctly to search the sites.

Thing # 16: Wikis

Wow! I did not know that there so much to Wikis. I often use the Wikipedia, to get the supplemantary information and often wondered about how much information there is.

I can see how useful a wikispace could be in my classroom. This would be a great thing for them to do when they are working in teams and can work collaboratively on their projects. By creating a wikispace, teams would be able to share research, ideas, add and edit content without having to email or even meet together after school.

I also added my entry to the Learning 2.0 Sandbox wiki. That was very easy to use. I was concerned about changing or deleting other peoples comments.

Thing # 15: Web 2.0 and Library 2.0

The video about the Library of the future: "A Vision of Students Today", is great. I agree that Libraries of tomorrow, even five or ten years from now, will look substantially different from Libraries today. I feel like SpringBranch ISD is a great district to work for because we are already learning about the new technology, and can introduce it our students as well, so they will ready for tomorrow.

I like the idea of OCLC, Online Computer Library Center. Connecting people to knowledge through library cooperation. The world's libraries, Connected.

I read all five perspective on library 2.0. What I understood about Library 2.0 is that you can use it any time of the day, and also eliminating the barriers between patrons and the information they need, so they can spend as little time as possible with search interfaces and as much time as possible actually reading and learning.

Thing # 14: Technorati

Technorati is a great website to search for blogs. I searched for Library2Play and found the site immediately. I was not able to search my blog on Technorati, may be I have to register and claim my blog to do that. I did not register my blog though, as it was optional. I have already registered myself to so many things since I have started doing the 23 things, I do not want to register any more.

Thing # 13: Tagging and Del.icio.us

It is a great way to bookmark pages, and we can use it on any computer. I always add pages that I visit often to my favorites, but when I am using a different computer I have to search for them again. This is wonderful, I don't have to waste my time searching for it.

Tagging is a very nice way of organizing the bookmarks. Del.icio.us is great, and it also gives popular tags and recommended tags.

Thing # 12: Creating Community Through Commenting

Commenting is definitely an important part of blogs.

I liked all the Ten Commandments of Blog Commenting. The two points that I thought were important are to Be Polite and Don’t be condescending. Some times people think that if they don’t see each other they can write mean things, since they don’t know them, and nobody will know who wrote that comment, but that is not true. We should always be polite and also saying it nicely when pointing out errors.

I also posted comments to our Learn2Play community members and also outside this community.

Thing # 11: Library Thing

This is a great website. I don't read a lot of books, but this year I started listening to books on CDs because of my long commute, and got hooked on to it. I have added 10 book titles to my account, and will add more later. This is a great idea for the book lovers, and they can share ideas, rate them, add comments etc.

I joined two groups, Hogwarts Express and Science Fiction Fans.

Thing # 10: Online image generator

Comic Strip generator is really cool. My students can get really excited about this, with all their creativity.

I liked all the image generator tools, Body Switcher was fun and I tried playing around with my husband's picture. Scrapbooking, adding props, and special effects was great as well. Lots of fun stuff.

Thing # 9: Useful Library-Related blogs and News Feed

Google Blog search was easiest for me to use, and I was not even able to open the Syndic8. Technorati was easy to use as well. Bloglines is a winderful way to search for blogs.

Topix.net was good, as it focuses on news and media outlet RSS feeds for information.

I have not explored Atomic learning that much, but I am thinking I will give my students informtaion on this so they can get quick answers to their questions.

Thing #8: RSS Feeds and Reader

I like the concept of RSS feeds. That way the news and the blogs will come to us, instead of us searching the web. It is an easy way for to be alerted when content that interests us appears on our favorite Web sites. Instead of visiting a particular Web site to browse for new articles and features, RSS automatically tells when something new is posted online.

I have added the Science news and blogs on my account and also some bollywood sites for my personal interest. I was little confused by the orange icons. I can use this in my class to get the latest Science News.

Thing # 7:Cool Google Tools

I didn't know google had so many cool tools.

Google Calendar is great. I added friends and families birthdays, and some appointments. I am going to add the SpringBranchISD grading dates, progress reports and report card pickup dates also.

I was already using Picasa Web Albums to share my pics with friends and family. It is very friendly and easy to use.

Google Earth is awesome. My husband had showed this to me few years back and I had fallen in love with it. I looked for my old school, and our special hangout places.

Google Advanced search was good, I had not used this before and it will be very useful for my students when they are looking for very specific information.

Thing # 6: Mashups and 3rd party sites

Wow! The possiblities are endless. I created the photo mosaic, it took me some time to replace the pictures and edit them. My students can use the mosaic or the trading cards when we are covering periodic table. They can select an element or a group and describe its properties and put the pictures with it. Mappr is a great tool, I still have to figure it how I am going to use it in my Science class.