BP5_2010042_Web2.0Tool2

Mind Mapping with bubbl.us

Mind mapping, or concept mapping as it is sometimes referred to, is a powerful tool in the educator’s toolbox. I love the way it allows the learner to apply what they know about a specific concept and then arrange it in the larger context of a given theme. Each placement requires prior knowledge to be accessed and then real-time decisions to be made concerning how it might fit the given map. Not only does mind mapping reveal an understanding, or lack thereof, of concepts at hand, but for me it seems to tap into the multiple intelligences that Howard put forth in his book Intelligence Reframed. (Howard, 1999) The linguistic intelligence would be a shoe in for this type of project, but perhaps not the only one. For me, arranging objects in a certain pattern in a given space brings into play the spatial intelligence as well. Speaking of the spatial intelligence, Howard (1999) said it provides, “the potential to recognize and manipulate the patterns of wide space as well as the patterns of more confined areas” (p.42). It is this connection between the intelligences that, I believe, helps make mind mapping such a great tool. Another great aspect of this educational tool is its accessibility. Only a chalk or white board is needed to bring the map to life.

That was then and this is now. With today’s generation of digital natives it is almost necessary to translate the tool into the digital realm in order to avoid extinction. In order to take this idea to the digital platform one would need to make sure that a few elements were not lost in the translation. That’s where http://bubbl.us comes into play. This excellent Web2.0 tool makes mind mapping a breeze to use by keeping the interface simple and the output gorgeous. The next time you need a mind map or you want your students to create one be sure to check it out!


References

Howard, G. (1999). Intelligence reframed. New York: Basic Books.

BP4_2010041_RSS Feeds

The video short on RSS feeds was excellent. Here are the five RSS feeds I am currently subscribing to:

Gigaom
“Trusted Insights and Conversations on the Next Wave of Technology”

This helps keep me abreast on technology related developments. There was an article this week I was able to use in class as it connected the 700Mhz range of the EM spectrum to potential profits by the US government.

Apple Blog
“News, reviews, walkthroughs, and real-life application of Apple products”

I always appreciate tips to help make my technology as efficient and productive as possible.

Web 2.0 in the Classroom
“Welcome to my blog where I explore everything Web 2.0 in the classroom”

I’ll let her do the exploring and pass on the nuggets to me!

Adobe Education Technologies
“Information, insight, and tips from Adobe’s technology team dedicated to education”

Getting into the Adobe Master Collection requires a pretty steep learning curve. This blog may help span the divide with some useful tips from time to time.

Science in School
“Highlighting the best in science teaching and research”

This journal for science teachers is produced in Europe and has some really great hands-on ideas for the classroom.

BP3_2010041_Web 2.0 T1 - Wonder Wheel

Google Wonder Wheel

If you enjoy a good diagram over bullet points, then internet searching is about to get a whole lot more productive and fun. "Wonder Wheel" is a new search tool that Google has brought out of the lab stage and onto the main scene. (OK, maybe not the main scene but still pretty easy to find.) Let me demonstrate:
















Here I Googled the phrase "EM spectrum" in the traditional manner. Lists of sites and also some images appear in the results. Now lets use the Wonder Wheel. First click "show options" under the search input pane. The screen will have options listed down the left side of the page as seen below:

















Now scroll down until you see the "Wonder Wheel" option and click on it. You will then see your search organized as if it were a concept map! Check out the screen shot below:















The center of the wheel is the main search phrase, and links to this center are listed on the right side of the page. The spokes of the wheel have related concepts and may help you narrow down your search before landing on a website link. If I click on the spoke titled "microwaves" another wheel is added to the page and the concept map is extended:













I went ahead and clicked on a spoke titled the "History of microwaves" and it became the center of a new wheel. I am now able to see an updated list of search results on the right side of the page that relate to this wheel. I found a NASA site that looked like a good option and clicked on it:













Hope you and your students find this Web 2.0 tool useful in your searching!

-josh

(I discovered this tool through the "Making Teachers Nerdy" blog. You can see her original blog at http://mrssmoke.onsugar.com)

BP2_2010041_EduUses4Blogs

The educational blogosphere is getting broader every day. With more and more educators getting their technological prowess up to snuff I expect this trend to continue. The essence of a blog is sharing your thoughts and ideas digitally over the internet, and who doesn’t think they have something worthwhile to say? Although this has proven very beneficial for building a broad knowledge base, it also leads to one of the basic dilemmas of the internet: sorting through the fluff in order to connect to something with real meaning. Talking about educational uses for blogs is like talking about trees. What kind, color, size, and purpose do you prefer, because chances are it’s out there!

The Online Education Database published a list of the ‘Top 100 Educational Blogs” in 2006 (http://oedb.org/library/features/top-100-education-blogs#specialty). Topics included college, E-Learning, education news, education policy, internet learning, library and research, specialty, teaching, and technology. This is an extremely brief list. Chances are, with a good Google search you can find a blog dealing with anything you want in education.

I wanted to check out some education technology and engineering blogs dealing with more “old fashioned” technology. (You know, build-it-out-of-stuff type technology) It’s there. I found some unique project ideas being shared for high school engineering classes. In the process I stumbled upon a blog created by a tech integration teacher, http://mrssmoke.onsugar.com. Her blog has this statement at the top: “Tech Integration Tips and Web Links to Increase Your Teacher Nerdiness Levels.” This is an absolute gold mine of information that will be useful to me as a teacher and a Full Sail student.

The educational uses of blogs are the same as a personal use of blogs; sharing information with a wide audience. Whether it’s a student sharing his thoughts on a poetry reading or a tech teacher sharing her insight on a Web 2.0 application, the blog is all about sharing!

BP1_2010041_iGoogleScreenShots

Here's my "Home" tab. Notice the FB, Twitter, and To Do gadgets in the three column layout.













On my "Profile" tab I have a simple calendar gadget. (I haven't figured out how to get a picture of myself posted in this tab yet. Any advice?)












For my "FSO" tab I have a box of links to important sites within the EMDT program.














The "AR/CBL" tab has two columns with my Box of Links, My Listy and Delicious gadgets.














My final tab, "ETC", is the busiest! With Blogger, Google Docs, Google Reader, Google Bookmarks, My Listy and Flickr. I added an extra Flickr feed from the Academy of Sciences.