Google Maps

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This is a Google Map of South Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL.  I will be staying at the Palmer House Hilton in Chicago next weekend!! It is one of my FAVORITE places because it is one block away from my FAVORITE breakfast restaurant - YOLK!!!  I am lucky that my husband is letting me tag along on his business trip next weekend.

I have used Google Maps several times in my class to help my students visualize the setting of a certain area.  Several of my students have never been out of South Carolina and cannot picture a big city or a vast amount of land like would be found in Kansas.  Google Maps lets them see an accurate picture. 

Collaboration Tools

Honestly, I am really not sure which collaboration tool I would use the most.  I think I like the edmodo best.  I like how I can limit who is involved with the conversation.  I think it would be an easy way to do a book discussion.  Then again.... I love the Cover it Live.  Students could almost have the same experience as a socratic seminar.  Here they would be typing responses to one another instead of talking.  Middle schoolers HATE waiting their turns.  With Cover it Live they could respond immediately.

Forms in Google Docs

I think using forms will be great, especially in a language arts class.  I can ask some simple questions regarding a reading assignment, and each student will be required to write or give a response.  I love that the questions can be answered in multiple choice form or in a paragraph response.  I can immediately gain feedback even from students who are reluctant to answer in class.

Learning in Web 2.0

I have been amazed by all the interesting facts I have learned so far during web 2.0 class.  There were so many tidbits I didn't know.  For example, I didn't know that the world wide web was just a part of the entire internet.  In addition, I didn't really think about the emails as not being part of the world wide web but as being a part of the entire internet.

I also benefited from the specialized Google searches.  Those searches can really help me as I prepare lesson plans and can help my students as they work on projects.  The Behold website that had the creative commons photos will also be a huge hit with my students.

Last week I enjoyed making the avatar.  (I went home, and my 9 year old created one for himself.)  What a great tool for my 8th graders!  Not only can an avatar help with safety but at their age my students are often self conscious about their looks.  By creating an avatar, they can create themselves to be anyone they choose.