However, I am all for whatever motivates students.  And, if social networking will encourage students to write or participate in a project or promote their learning, then let’s do it with them.

In the Classroom 2.0 Forum, I found an article How to Use Twitter in the Classroom by Sage Lewis The article found three main improvements.  “Class Chatter” was the conversations between students on Twitter.  The students were discussing things that were going on in and outside of the classroom.  “Class Communty” discussed the increased awareness of each other as students inside and outside of the classroom.  The students were more respectful of each other and learned more about each other than they may have if they hadn’t talked outside of class.  DUH! The author of this article referred to the Sixth Sense by Clive Owen which was a very interesting link, as well.  Sage Lewis, the author, also refers to Twitter giving students more of a Sense of the World, what various things people are doing throughout the world.  This blog also had a link to Academhack, which gave more Twitter tips.

 After exploring Ning and Classroom 2.0, I didn’t like the organization of the site.  It was hard to navigate, in my opinion.  I’m pretty sure I won’t be using either of these in my professional or personal learning.  My concern with Social Networking and students is, will they be able to determine between fact and opinion with the various sources they are communicating with on the social network.  I like the colloboration aspect, but not the gathering of factual information.  I would be concerned about the validity.  However, if they are going to use it, we need to help them how to determine this.

I found several videos in YouTube, however. I found two very good videos on Integrating Technology in the Classroom that would be good to use with my teachers. “A Vision of K-12 Students Today” and “Technology in Schools”. I found a how-to video created by Lowe’s “Make a Shade Garden”. This was a very helpful video to me since I’m trying to re-landscape my backyard. Some of the how-tos looked like they had been filmed in my backyard. The video for fun that I watched was the video about the 12 year old British idol competitor, Hollie Steel. She is amazing for 12.

Video sharing and producing in the classroom can be an incredible tool for the teacher and student. I liked the comments I read that talked about the feedback students and teachers can receive from others after the video has been posted on YouTube or TeacherTube. This is another great way to colloborate with others. 

The video I’ve decided to embed is a video from TeacherTube “Code of Best Practices in Media Literacy”. This topic is coming up a lot in my trainings with my teachers. I thought I could use it with them.

I also joined the Group for the 50 Book Challenge.  I think this would be a really fun activity for a classroom.  I enjoyed the Author Cloud, as well.  I found lots of new authors that I want to check into for new reading.

I completed the Regular Task, but not the Stretch.  I wasn’t interested in importing all of my favorites at this time.  I’m going to have to give this some thought before I do this.  I think it’s a lot of work and I’m not sure I want all my favorites up there. 

I may try using Delicious with an Online Resources class that I am going to be teaching this summer.  I will add all of our Cherokee County Online Resources and see how useful this is to them.  Here is a link to my Delicious Links

1. Google Tasks  Allows you to create tasks in your GMail account and also convert emails into tasks.  Then, you can check them off when you are done.
2. Sticky Notes This is a free software download that allows you to make sticky notes for your desktop.  You can even email them.
3. Jing Project This is also a free software download that allows you to make screen capture for text.  For $14.95 a year, you can capture video and convert to MP4 format.
4. Screencast O Matic This is a similar tool to Jing, but does not require a install.  You can create a video of your screen without installing anything.
5. Zoom It This is a utility that you can install that allows you to zoom in to any part of your screen with the stroke of a key.  This is good for visually impaired students.  This is also a free download and you can put the download on a jump drive so you can use it on other computers.
6. Prezi  This is another Zoom tool that has been in beta testing, but is available now.  You can get a free version of the software.  It allows you to click on an image to zoom in or use the mouse to move around and show different perspectives.