Thing 23-You Made It!

(Image by APT) During grad school ten years ago, I had a professor who encouraged her students to constantly improve writing skills. She felt that with the influx of emailing and Internet usage that writing would be one of the greatest means of connecting with other professionals.

It's true. As a student of this class, my writing is the only way the other students know me and visa versa. The same goes with blogs and Personal Learning Networks.

So many of the Web 2.0 sites were simply words that I heard before, but had no idea what to do with them. Not anymore. I really enjoyed keeping a blog and will be adding one to my school Web-site. I also will be creating concert posters and other creations using Big Huge Labs. Del.icio.us was another useful site for me. I look forward to spending more time exploring the other Web 2.0 technologies to fit the best way into my professional, and possibly personal, life.

In the video a valid point was made. Students need to be able to search, find, and synthesize information and then collaborate with a community. That is the making of a life-long learner, which is an educator's goal for our students and ourselves.

Thing 22-Online Video

(Image by CruiterTalk) Because of YouTube, my 5 year old son has seen trains from around the world. We are talking about the ICE, TGV, maglev, monorails, bullet trains, you name it! I do sit with him to quickly click out of a video that was supposedly about trains, but instead contains inappropriate material for a child. For that reason, I completely understand and agree with our school district's loyal St. Bernard banning YouTube from school use.

Teacher Tube and School Tube are commendable educational sources and a welcomed addition to my Del.icio.us site. I do not have access to a computer or the Internet in the rooms that I use for teaching. But, I do have access to a TV and a DVD player. Is there a way to put the videos on a DVD?

Thing 21-Your Heart Will be All a Twitter

(Image by trends update) Twitter would remain as a professional technology source for me. I searched the Music Educators National Conference (MENC) Web-site and learned about a couple new happenings in that area. But, most exciting, I saw the movie trailer to a movie coming out in May that I really want to see. Being a rather private person, the social aspect of Twitter just isn't for me. Given the time to search for pertinent information, Twitter can be useful.

Thing 20- Bookmarking with del.icio.us

(Image by Dinner & Dessert) You say delicious. I think brownies.

Not exactly in this context. Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking Web-site where you store your 'delicious' bookmarks to share with others or for your private personal use.

My user name is bandmusic4u. It clearly states the Web-sites on my account. If you want to introduce your students or children to orchestral music, visit SFSKIDS or NYPHILKIDS. Many of my students have asked for blank staff paper to write music, so now they can following the sheetmusic tag. I am especially fond of the free metronome on-line being that a steady beat is at the heart of successful music making. Instrumental music students can use it while practicing. The Web-sites mentioned were found through entering tags in the search box.

At work, I use computers in two buildings. Plus, I have a personal computer at home. Now, there is one commonplace to store my bookmarks and to share with others!

Thing 19-Introduction to Social Bookmarking

(Image by marcofolio.net) Hallelujah!! That was my first thought about tagging. It is a useful way to organize digital resources with a system of clarification. My second thought about organizing online digital resources was that I have a safe place to keep my bookmarks. Over the summer, our work computers are ghosted and all information in the C-drive is deleted. Furthermore, collaboratively creating and managing tags with other educators gives a sense of community within each subject.

On the contrary, Web-sites may be labeled with different tags than I would use or someone may misrepresent a topic of interest. That can create a challenge! With the latter in mind, more common tag names are the best choice for effectively guiding viewers to a refined search.

Thing 18-Building Your Personal Learning Network

In regards to personal learning networks, I am very grateful for the people who join them. They engage themselves in specific topics and get answers from other people in the field. Ideas, thoughts, and suggestions are shared by people of all experience levels. With a forum, the reader may need to further investigate the answer if doubt plays a part. I encourage all readers to continue researching the answer.

On a positive note, personal learning networks are a great way to further your knowledge on topics of your choice. I did locate some useful resources on mel.org in a search for music education. From the latter website, I read forums on the MENC Web-site for about 45-minutes while completing this assignment. It was interesting to read the questions posed and the answers given.

Thing 17-More Web 2.0 Winners

(image by simplerandomness) Using Web 2.0, I discovered a music site called Pandora.com. I was a fan in the first minute. In the search box, I entered Paul Simon, my favorite artist! Pandora then created a personal radio station for me. I could choose between an all Paul Simon station or Paul Simon interspersed with other similar artists. When the song plays, you can click on the thumbs up or thumbs down. With that information, Pandora narrows down your choices to a personalized radio station.

I can definitely see using this application in school. Many styles of music and many pieces or songs within each style are just a click away. Create the station of your choice and have it readily accessible to the students.