Deborah+DeJong



I have set my web browser's home page to my iGoogle page which is set up to show my Google Reader feeds. This provides immediate access to the new articles that I find interesting or helpful when looking for additional resources or activity ideas to use in my classes. When I have a minute or two of down-time, I peruse my Google Reader for new ideas.



Another resource I am using to build my PLN is The Educator's PLN. This is an excellent site to use for making connections with teachers all over the globe.Here I can join groups, converse with other educators, read and/or post blogs, watch videos, participate in Twitter EdChats, and make connections in many other ways.

The biggest piece in my PLN is my connection with educators around the world through Twitter. I've spent many hours building my Twitter network and it has been well worth it. It is amazing what you can learn through the expertise of others. TweetDeck is the application program that I use to keep my Twitter account organized. The thing I like about TweetDeck is that everything I want to see if right there. It makes it easier to follow # hashtags, and see tweets, mentions, and direct messages. After several months of actively using my Twitter account, I cannot imagine life without it.

media type="custom" key="8648340" align="right" I stumbled upon Voki quite by accident one day. Once I created my own, I was instantly hooked. This Voki is being used as the "welcoming committee" on the home page of my 6th grade class wiki. As for uses with students, I will have students create their own talking avatar when we do our Internet Safety unit. The avatar will make it much more entertaining for students to learn Internet Safety tips. I can then embed the various avatars in the wiki so that I can share the link with elementary teachers to use as they prepare their students for safe surfing.

media type="custom" key="8650100" align="left"

Speaking_Image is a web 2.0 tool that I recently found has great potential. This tool allows you to upload a photo then add buttons on the image that pop up to reveal more information. I have not tired this with students yet, but can see the potential in many areas. Students in my photography classes could easily use this as a tool to comment on photos - what is good about this? what is incorrect about this? what changes in composition could be made to improve this? It could also be used as an assessment tool - for example: have students label the parts of a cell. The possibilities are endless.



Recently I created an Edmodo account to use to connect with my 7th & 8th grade students and parents. Edmodo works (and looks) very similar to Facebook, so is an alternative method of communication since Facebook is currently blocked at our school. Not only can I send messages to students, but is also allows me to post assignments that students can access from home. I can upload documents they will need for assignment completion. I've also found that this is a great way to communicate with my students when I'm absent. Students can turn in assignments through Edmodo. It also has a grading feature which I have not used. Another cool feature of Edmodo is the connection I can make with other teachers. On the site, I can connect to groups as well as individuals, and can access hundreds of lessons that teachers (or groups) have posted to the site.



Glogster is another incredible web 2.0 tool. I have only used Glogster to create a colorful poster which I've placed here on my wiki page. This Glogster page is an interactive page. Students simply hover the mouse over one of the links, click, and it takes them directly to the linked page. Glogster could be used as an alternative to traditional reporting. It has endless possibilities.

This picture also represents my use of wikis in my classroom. This one represents my 6th grade daily wiki. Students are instructed to log in to the wiki immediately upon entering the classroom. From there they can quickly go to pages I have linked that contain handouts, links, lessons, or other things students will need for class. A wiki is a great way to keep students engaged and on-task.

Skype is a tool with GREAT potential for opportunities students might not otherwise experience. I used Skype two different times with a project over the U.S. national parks that I do with my 6th grade students. My niece teaches 6th grade in a small school in northwestern Arkansas. They became a 1:1 school shortly after the beginning of this school year, and the idea of doing a Skype collaboration project came to fruition in late October and again in February. The students had a great time working together through Skype and TypeWith.Me (a program similar to PiratePad). One of the most amazing transformations I saw in some students was the fact that they worked so much more diligently than ever before. I'm sure the pressure of wanting to make a good impression on their partners played a huge role in this change.



Blogs are another great web 2 tool to use for professional or student use. I have a "professional" blog that I use (albeit not as often as I would like) to talk about things I'm doing in class or issues that are important to me. At this point in time, I'm not sure anyone by me reads it. No matter. It is an outlet for me to vent, share, or just plain write.

Blogs are also great tools to use with students. I use Kidblog.org with my 6th graders, and they love it. I have also registered the class blog with Comments4Kids. This site connects classrooms with one another so that students can comment on one anothers' blogs.





Diigo is another incredible web 2.0 tool that allows me to bookmark those sites I find especially interesting or useful. It also allows me to connect with other people and see what they find worthy of bookmarking. I originally used Delicious as my bookmarking tool, but have found Diigo much more suitable for my needs.

A great tool to use for having students turn in projects electronically is DROPitTOme. I set up a Dropbox account and then have students log on to DropitTOme and upload their projects. This allows me to grade their work from any where I am that has Internet access.

Here is another example of the use of a wiki. I am trying to encourage the other teachers in my district to integrate technology into their current curriculum. As a result, I put together a Tech Integration Resources wiki that provides links with ideas for every subject (aside from foreign language which I still need to add). I'm a firm believer that a teacher doesn't have to start a whole new unit to this, rather they can revamp what they already do to incorporate technology into their units. I wanted to do what I could to make tech integration as easy as possible and hope that this wiki does a little bit to meet that goal.

Animoto is a fun tool to use with students. They can easily upload photos and create short videos like these I made for myself.

media type="custom" key="8740184"media type="custom" key="8740224"

PhotoPeach is another fun tool that I anticipate using with my students. I would love to have my 7th grade photography students share their photos using a slideshow program like this one. This incredible tool has a multitude of possibilities. This example highlights my photography from my recent trip to southwest Colorado.

media type="custom" key="8743114"

=// Web 2.0 Lesson Plan - Digital Storytelling //=