Credits:

WG Things is designed after “Learning 2.0 ~ 23 Things” developed and by Helene Blowers, Technology Director of the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County NC. Helen was inspired by Stephen Abram's article, “43 Things I (or You) might want to do this year” (Information Outlook - Feb 2006) and the website “43Things”.

Monday, July 18, 2011

Week 1: Introduction
1.  To understand why this program is important for you and your students watch these two videos:
          A Vision of K-12 Students Today  
          Teacher Education and 21st Century Skills

2.  To find out about this program view our video WG Things 4 Teachers

3.  WG Things is a learning journey into the world of Web 2.0.  If you aren’t completely convinced yet, here is another short video on Learning to Change - Changing to Learn

Week 2: Blogging
4.  There are a number of free online blog hosting services out there. Pick a blog service and create an account.  This program is built within Blogger, another wonderful Google product.

      a.  Click here for a tour of Blogger and to get started if this service is for you.

      b.  Kidblog.org is a great tool to use in your classroom. Click here to Learn Kidblog.org in 5 minutes or less.

      c.  Edublogs is another service developed for teachers and classrooms. Click here for a short tutorial on How to Sign Up for Edublog.

5.  Consider the videos you watched week one. Add your first blog post; share your thoughts.

6.  Register your blog and connect to your colleagues. How might you use blogs in your classroom?  Share your response ~ add another post, comment on your colleagues post.

Week 3: Photos & Images 
There are numerous Photo sharing websites available today.  Flickr was one of the first to turn “sharing” into a full blown online community. Flickr makes finding and sharing photos easier by using keyword “tags” to create associations and connections between photos and users of the site.

7.  Explore Flickr and discover what it has to offer.  Find out how tags work, what groups are, and all the different ways teacherslibraries and education groups use Flickr.  Take the Flickr Learn More tour (6 steps); watch the Mediamazine Flickr Tutorials; check out Flickr's Popular tags and Interesting- Last 7 days.
         Choose one of these Flickr Activities:
     
          a.  Play around and find one or more interesting images to share on your blog.  Include a link to the image or create a Flickr account and use Flickr's blogging tool to add the image in your post.  Or use Blogger's photo upload tool.
    ---OR---
           b.  Create a Free Flickr account and upload a few of your own pictures to your account.  Tag at least one of the images “WGThings” and mark it public.  Add a post in your blog about your photo and this experience. Be sure to include the image in your post by using Flickr's blogging tool or using Blogger's photo upload feature.

    PS: Photo Posting Etiquette - When posting identifiable photos of other people (especially students) you MUST get permission before posting their photo in a publicly accessible place like Flickr (check with the main office for a parent permission form).  Never upload pictures that weren't taken by you (unless you have the photographer's consent) and always give credit when you include photos taken by someone else in your blog.

    8.   Flickr is part of Creative Commons.  Creative Commons is changing the way we look at copyright.  Follow these hyperlinks to find what Creative Commons is and what the different copyright licenses are.

    Week 4: Get Connected
    9.  Learn about twitter. Read Daniel Needlestone’s blog, Twitter – an Introduction for Teachers (make sure you watch his short video). Read Sue Water’s blog, A Twitteraholic’s Guide to tweets, hashtags, and all things Twitter.  You don’t have to implement all the suggestions right away.  Bookmark the site and be sure to refer back as you become more comfortable using twitter.


    10.  Sign up for twitter.  Watch this short video How to use twitter or follow this starter worksheet.  Spend a few minutes each day on twitter; read and post.

    11.  Post your twitter name on this blog so your colleagues can follow you. “Follow” your colleagues. Begin to build your twitter network. Review Sue Water’s “Tips for who to follow” As you view your twitter feeds, “unfollow” people that post “snow.”  Search for followers that will contribute to your PLN.

    12.  Search for a twitter list. Share your List with your colleagues. Although this useful twitter guide is directed at Social Studies teachers, there is information for everyone; Twitter for the Social Studies Teacher.

    Week 5: Photo Presentation Tools  
    There are many Web 2.0 tools that allow your and your students to create & communicate using pictures:

    13.  Let’s have some fun.  Explore each tool by watching the demo/tutorials and playing with each one.  Select 2 of the tools and create short presentations for your classroom.  
              a.  Create a photo video using Animoto.  Watch this Animoto tutorial or follow this starter worksheet.
              b.  Picnik allows you to edit your photos, add text, special effects and more.  Take the Picnik Tour (from their home page).  Watch this Picnik tutorial.  Be sure to explore the Picnik Library for more ideas and ways to work with your photos.
              c.  Create photo books, cards and calendars with Mixbook.  Watch this Mixbook demo or follow this starter worksheet.  
              d.  With Imagechef you can create sketchpads, poetry blenders, word mosaics and add picture frames to your photos.  Watch this Imagechef sketchpad tutorial to see how easy it is.
           14.  Post a message on your blog and describe which tools you used.  Share the link to your photo creations or upload them onto your blog.  How can these tools can be used in your classroom?  Share your ideas on your blog post.
         

        Wednesday, July 13, 2011

        Week 1: Introduction

        1.  To understand why this program is important for you and your students watch these two videos:  A Vision of K-12 Students Today 

        2.  To find out about this program view our video: WG Things 4 Teachers 

        3.      Educators are lifelong learners.  WG Things is a learning journey into the world of Web 2.0.  Before you begin this discovery journey, take a few minutes to review Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners as a refresher on what it means to be a lifelong learner.

        If you aren't completely convinced yet, here is another short video:

        Tuesday, July 12, 2011

        Week 2: Blogging

        4.  There are a number of free online blog hosting services available.  I've focused on three options below:

        This program was built within Blogger, another wonderful Google product.  Click here for a quick, easy tour of Blogger and to get started.

        Kidblog.org is a great tool for students in your classroom to use.  This site is NOT blocked by our district filters.  Click here to Learn Kidblog.org in 5 minutes or less.

        Edublogs is another service developed for teachers and classrooms.  Click here for a short tutorial on How to Sign Up for Edublog.

        5.  Pick a blog service and create an account.  Consider the videos you watched week one.  Share your thoughts ~ add your first post

        6.  Register your blog and connect to your colleagues.  Do you think you will use blogs in your classroom?  Share your response ~ add another post. 





        Tuesday, June 7, 2011

        Week 3: Photos and Images


        There are numerous Photo sharing websites available today.  Flickr was one of the first to turn “sharing” into a full blown online community.  Flickr makes finding and sharing photos easier by using keyword “tags” to create associations and connections between photos and users of the site.

        7.  Explore Flickr and discover what it has to offer.  Find out how tags work, what groups are, and all the different ways teacherslibraries and education groups use Flickr.  Take the Flickr Learn More tour (6 steps); watch the Mediamazine Flickr Tutorials; check out Flickr’s Popular tags and Interesting- Last 7 days.

        8.  Choose one of these Flickr Activities...
         
        a.  Play around and find one or more interesting images to share on your blog.  Include a link to the image or create a Flickr account and use Flickr's blogging tool to add the image in your post. Or use Blogger's photo upload tool.

        b.  Create a Free Flickr account and upload a few of your own pictures to your account.  Tag at least one of the images “WGThings” and mark it public.  Add a post in your blog about your photo and this experience.  Be sure to include the image in your post by using Flickr's blogging tool or Blogger's photo upload feature.

        PS: Photo Posting Etiquette -
        When posting photos of other people (especially students) you MUST get permission before posting their photo in a publicly accessible place like Flickr (check with the main office for a parent permission form).  Never upload pictures that weren't taken by you (unless you have the photographer's consent) and always give credit when you include photos taken by someone else in your blog.

        9.  Flickr is part of Creative Commons.  Creative Commons is changing the way we look at copyright.  Follow these hyperlinks to find what Creative Commons is and what the different copyright licenses are.