My definition
To me Web2.0 is any website or tool that promotes the sharing of information and collaboration and does so through the internet. I think that Web2.0 can be any website where you interactively share information with one another. It could be anything from Facebook or Twitter to blogs or Wikipedia.
TinyURL
TinyURL is a very cool tool that takes your long URL's and condenses them into a small URL. The website is very easy to use. All that you do is copy the URL that you want to be condensed and then paste it into the box on their website. It then turns your URL into a very short, condense URL. I really like that it gives you the option of customizing your URL as well. This way if you want something that you can easily remember or want a URL that relates to your page, you can easily do so. I also like that you can very easily add the tool to the toolbar on your browser. Then all you have to do is click the toolbar and it will make a URL for the website that you are visiting.
As far as increasing productivity, this website allows you to condense URL's that often times don't always work because of their format. You then eliminate a lot of the hassle that is involved with sharing a lengthy URL with others. Additionally, TinyURL makes things look much more professional in an email or blog. This is very important when trying to make a good impression.
ScreenToaster
ScreenToaster is another very cool tool that can easily and effectively be used in the classroom. ScreenToaster allows you to record all on screen action that you are doing on your computer. For example you could easily record a PowerPoint, or record how to insert a chart in Word. Once you are done recording you are given a few options. You can either save it to your computer, save it on their website, or upload it to YouTube. ScreenToaster is also very easy to use and very straight forward. You also have the option of viewing other videos that have been produced using ScreenToaster.
The uses of ScreenToaster in the classroom are seemingly endless. It is such a neat thing that so many teachers and students can easily utilize. Anything that you do on your computer can be easily recorded, which I am absolutely amazed by. Say, for example, that a student misses school because they are sick. The teacher can simply upload what they did in class to YouTube and the student can easily catch up on what they missed. Teachers could also post lessons captured by ScreenToaster to their blogs for students to review. You can use it to record presentations, demonstrations, webcams, literally everything that you can do on your computer. ScreenToaster is an amazing tool that I plan on utilizing in my classroom.
Monday, August 30, 2010
Google Drawing
Brief description of the tool:
My learning curve with drawing was very quick. I had used Microsoft Paint a lot in the past so it as a pretty easy transition for me. I like Drawing much more than Paint though, because there is a lot more that you can do with it. I wouldn't consider myself particularly tech savvy, and I had no problem figuring out what you can do with the program. I also found Google's Drawing blog very helpful in figuring out what exactly you can do with the program.
I contributed to the project by first just playing around with Drawing on my own. It is a very easy way to kill a bunch of time just playing around with it. After I got familiar with the program I detailed the basic features of it on our document. I also contributed my thoughts to the reflections portion of our document.
Here are the links for our work:
Drawing
Document
- Create drawings and diagrams that can be easily transferred to other Google apps
- Import and edit images
- Can search for images through Drawing
- Share with others and allow others to edit the drawing
- Can use pre-made lines and images or can create your own
- Add text to your images
My learning curve with drawing was very quick. I had used Microsoft Paint a lot in the past so it as a pretty easy transition for me. I like Drawing much more than Paint though, because there is a lot more that you can do with it. I wouldn't consider myself particularly tech savvy, and I had no problem figuring out what you can do with the program. I also found Google's Drawing blog very helpful in figuring out what exactly you can do with the program.
I contributed to the project by first just playing around with Drawing on my own. It is a very easy way to kill a bunch of time just playing around with it. After I got familiar with the program I detailed the basic features of it on our document. I also contributed my thoughts to the reflections portion of our document.
Here are the links for our work:
Drawing
Document
Monday, August 23, 2010
Post #2: Specific Applications of Blogging Cont.
When completing this assignment I came across a number of blogs related to the Physical Education and Health fields. A couple of the better ones that I found are listed below. These two blogs are interesting in the fact that they are kind of on both ends of the spectrum. One uses technology to cover the basics of his classroom whereas the other really pushes the envelope as far as the use of technology in PE.
Mr. Loftus' PE Website
http://www.mrloftuspe.com/
This was the first PE blog that I came across. It is done by Mr. Loftus who evidently is a middle school PE teacher at Virgil Middle School, wherever that is. This blog is straightforward and is easy to navigate. Mr. Loftus uses it as a way to post homework assignments, a calendar, syllabus etc. All of the basic things that you would expect on a teachers blog. Along with this it also appears that he has students enter their times for physical fitness tests such as the mile run. Students are also expected to create their own blogs for the class.
Mr. Robbo - The P.E. Geek
http://mrrobbo.wordpress.com/
This one was by far the coolest blog that I came across. Mr. Robbo has some really creative ideas as far as ways to incorporate technology into PE. He did one post about iPhone apps that are useful in the PE classroom. I really liked his idea about using instant replay in class, similar to how they use instant replay in the NFL or other professional sports leagues. While Mr. Robbo is really creative and a lot of his ideas are awesome, he is obviously at a very affluent school where they have a ton of technology available to them. Regardless his blog has really inspired me as far as different uses of technology in the PE classroom.
After looking through a number of PE blogs I now have a much better idea of how I can incorporate technology into physical education. The majority of the blogs were similar to Mr. Loftus' blog, simple and straightforward. They did the job for what they were looking for. It was really cool to see someone like Mr. Robbo though, as he is really pushing the envelope in technology and PE.
Mr. Loftus' PE Website
http://www.mrloftuspe.com/
This was the first PE blog that I came across. It is done by Mr. Loftus who evidently is a middle school PE teacher at Virgil Middle School, wherever that is. This blog is straightforward and is easy to navigate. Mr. Loftus uses it as a way to post homework assignments, a calendar, syllabus etc. All of the basic things that you would expect on a teachers blog. Along with this it also appears that he has students enter their times for physical fitness tests such as the mile run. Students are also expected to create their own blogs for the class.
Mr. Robbo - The P.E. Geek
http://mrrobbo.wordpress.com/
This one was by far the coolest blog that I came across. Mr. Robbo has some really creative ideas as far as ways to incorporate technology into PE. He did one post about iPhone apps that are useful in the PE classroom. I really liked his idea about using instant replay in class, similar to how they use instant replay in the NFL or other professional sports leagues. While Mr. Robbo is really creative and a lot of his ideas are awesome, he is obviously at a very affluent school where they have a ton of technology available to them. Regardless his blog has really inspired me as far as different uses of technology in the PE classroom.
After looking through a number of PE blogs I now have a much better idea of how I can incorporate technology into physical education. The majority of the blogs were similar to Mr. Loftus' blog, simple and straightforward. They did the job for what they were looking for. It was really cool to see someone like Mr. Robbo though, as he is really pushing the envelope in technology and PE.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
Post #2: Specific Applications of Blogging
The most obvious application of blogging to me is that it serves as a place where students can easily access important course information. The syllabus, handouts, announcements, homework assignments, etc. can easily be put on the blog and students can easily view this information. Another application for blogging would be to have students comment on posts that you make. Students could present their views on an issue and as a teacher you can easily keep track of who has and hasn't posted. You could also post links and videos that apply to what students have been learning in the classroom. Blogs can be used in a myriad of ways and are useful for any teacher.
Post #1: Personal Bio
Hey everbody!
My name is Matthew Banta but I typically I just go by Matt. Really anything works though. I grew up in Baker City, Oregon a small town in Eastern Oregon. I did my undergraduate work at Willamette as well. I was an Exercise Science major and I played on the football team for four years. This is the first year that I have not played football in fifteen years so it has been kind of a weird adjustment. I plan on getting into coaching in the near future though. Along with football, I love to play and watch most sports. My other main hobbies are skiing, fly fishing, and hunting. Basically I love to do anything in the outdoors.
As far as teaching goes I will be endorsed in K-12 Physical Education and MS and HS Health. I am also planning on adding a science endorsement somewhere down the road. I am really looking forward to starting student teaching and I am hopeful that I will enjoy it as much as I think. Along with teaching I really want to get into coaching and it is one of the many reasons that I have chosen to teach. Eventually I hope to relocate back to Eastern Oregon and ideally back to Baker City.
My name is Matthew Banta but I typically I just go by Matt. Really anything works though. I grew up in Baker City, Oregon a small town in Eastern Oregon. I did my undergraduate work at Willamette as well. I was an Exercise Science major and I played on the football team for four years. This is the first year that I have not played football in fifteen years so it has been kind of a weird adjustment. I plan on getting into coaching in the near future though. Along with football, I love to play and watch most sports. My other main hobbies are skiing, fly fishing, and hunting. Basically I love to do anything in the outdoors.
As far as teaching goes I will be endorsed in K-12 Physical Education and MS and HS Health. I am also planning on adding a science endorsement somewhere down the road. I am really looking forward to starting student teaching and I am hopeful that I will enjoy it as much as I think. Along with teaching I really want to get into coaching and it is one of the many reasons that I have chosen to teach. Eventually I hope to relocate back to Eastern Oregon and ideally back to Baker City.
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