Week 4: RSS & Newsreaders

Okay, I created a list on Google Reader of RSS feeds. I also put a widget on my i-Google page linking me to Google Reader. I am really glad I am learning about all these things because, despite the fact that I am considered a "super user" at my school when it comes to web 2.0 technology, I never really explored RSS feeds. I have to admit I don't like them. My eyes just glazed over when I read the instructions on how to use Google Reader and, trust me, if my eyes are glazing over my students will just avoid it all together. Frankly I use Twitter as my RSS feed. I only follow people I want to get information from which include; social networking gurus, news sources, library sources, some individuals, and people with just really great tweets. I look at one page and if I want to read more, I click on the link. It's sort of like only reading the headlines in a local newspaper (which I do, by the way) but it's a newspaper of my own design in which I only have stuff I'm really interested in.

Week 3 - Flickr and Mashups

I did my best with Flickr and created a slideshow of my kids. I guess I did this right. I also signed up for my own LTC (library trading card). I can't say I really like Flickr. I think it is too complicated and I prefer simple and down and dirty like Animoto which I use as part of an audience exercise for my Public Speaking Class. I have the students pick images, words, product shots, and music that go with selling a product to a specific audience. My high school students love this application and use it for other classes.

Thanks to Michelle for turning me onto Shutterfly. I like it so much better than Flickr. I created a poster combining FACEinHOLE, one of my favorite mashup sites and Shutterfly's poster creator. I am definitely going to use this for my public speaking sales speech.

Week 2 - Blogging

Hi, welcome to my blog about the 23 things journey we are all going to participate in this class. Blogging is actually the application I feel the most comfortable with. I use a blog for my public speaking class. I like using blogs because they are so straight forward. I also like using Blogger on Google because when I sign kids on I can introduce them to all the things Google can do like Google Aps.

For the purposes of this class, I decided to try some things I never did before like changing the font color and size on the pre-designed background. I have made several avatars before and just love the MadMen avatar maker so that's what I used for this exercise.