#9--The final post

Wow, it's finally here, my final post! Technology is fascinating! That's my overall opinion. Deep isn't it? Let me share some of my thoughts with you. Like you're really that interested, but here it goes anyway. I am sometimes overwhelmed by the possibilities that technology allows us now a days. We are able to type something into a keyboard the the world is literally opened up to us. Back, way back, when I was in high school I was introduced to a computer for the first time. It was an Apple II and let me just say that we were taught how to write the programs that ran this computer. It was the only way you could get it to do anything. Wow, have we come along way baby!
We, as a society, don't go to books hardly anymore for information. We just sit down at our computer and Google, search, Wikipedia, whatever, but we don't really have to "search" for anything anymore. My son, who is 11, doesn't really know what an encyclopedia is and what it is used for. I can remember doing research papers in middle school and most of the information was gleaned from an encyclopedia. Now, my son asks to use the computer to find out any information he needs to know. It is amazing!
Could you imagine being a person from 100 years back and seeing a flash forward of today? They didn't even have telephones on the wall, now we've got them almost growing from our ears. Someday, they probably will really look that way. Earpieces will probably be fitted like hearing aids, unable to be seen, and the phone part may be attached to watches? Who knows.
Technology is opening all kinds of doors. Although I'm not creative enough to invent anything, I'm glad that others are. The Internet. What a fabulous invention.
Website capability is something that I will use in my teaching career. I'd like to get a grasp on Podcasting to be able to utilize it also. My students will probably know more than I will sometimes about technology. We need to be able to learn from each other. Total classroom instruction on computers? Happening now isn't it? Great possibilities.
Well all, it's be fun, glad to be done. Look forward to seeing all of you next Fall. Thanks for the kicks and giggles. I commented on Bryce's and Josh's website designs.

#8-Learning Experiences

So here we are again. We (the class) are supposed to share some of our learning experiences that may help others. Let me just say this about the subject, it was definately interesting, frustrating, and sometimes fun over this quarter. Thankfully I already had this blog set up from last quarter so I didn't have to tackle that project again. I've stated previously that blogging is not my thing so after these last few required blogs, this blog will be going dead.
I was really interested in Podcasting when I read that we would be learning about it, but for anyone who read my blog before you know that my experience with it was horrid! I was to the point of throwing my computer out of the window. Here is what I did learn from that. Leave it. Go away from the computer, do something else, and come back later. Isn't that what we should do when we get frustrated with anything? I think that is an important thing to remember, especially as a future educator, my students are going to become frustrated too. As the teacher, I need to let them have the opportunity to walk away from it for awhile, and then come back later, maybe it will be easier then.
Building of the website wasn't as frustrating. I actually enjoyed it once I got started. This website was very helpful in locating some information that I didn't know. It was actually very user friendly. I used SeaMonkey because I knew it could be a program I would be able to use with students. The only problem I really incurred and couldn't fix myself was trying to get it loaded onto the Internet correctly.
Overall, I enjoyed this class. I always do when it is a hands-on course which I'll be able to utilize the knowledge in the future. I commented on Karl's and Josh's blogs this week.

#7-Video websites

Alright an assignment that I can handle. You see I'm going to share with you three websites that I frequently use that contain video. The first is probably one that some of you have had to use since you are students here at The Ohio State University. The videos are done through Carmen. These are typically used when doing distance learning courses. I've had alot of experience with learning in this fashion. If the course is available through the regional campus at Marion it cost me less, so more bang for the buck. Some people may not like this style of learning, but I've grown accustomed to it and like it. I can access Carmen any time I like and watch the video of the instructor to learn. I'm not able to link it right now because I'm not currently taking any courses this way right now.
A second website that uses video really well is 10tv Columbus news channel. I'm sure most of you are familiar with this local news station. I like the fact that I can watch the video of a news event that I may have missed for some reason. Here is a great example of using the video. When I got up this morning I turned on the TV to watch the morning news. Well when I did I caught just the tail end of a story where a church had caught fire and burnt last night. I heard the church's name and thought I knew where it was, but wasn't sure I heard it right. So, I jumped onto the 10tv site and watched the same video I had just missed on the TV. Turns out this little small church was one that my best friend in high school used to take me to every once in awhile. It's heartbreaking to think that this country church is no more.
The last site I'll share with you is one that it a must for me. Since we're in class on Thursday nights learning the wonderful things that Fawn is teaching us, I'm not able to watch my favorite television show. I love this website to catch up on Grey's Anatomy. This seems to be a new trend with television shows. The use of the Internet for them is huge. You're able to access their site and watch episodes in whole. It's great! Every once in a while there is like a 30 second ad, but other than not no extra advertising which cuts down the actual viewing time. I love it! Try it out.
Whew! I'm glad this is over for the week. An assignment that I actually knew something about. Now I need to go surf and see what you guys are saying. Will post later on who's site I found interesting for this week. Commented on Kern's and Tia's websites.

#6 Podcasting

This whole idea of the blogging thing is to share feelings with others right? Let me just tell you for the first time using my computer for any of these assignments I want to pick it up and throw it through the window. I am FRUSTRATED to no end. I'm in the beginning of trying to do what Fawn wants for this blog and I can't even get iTunes downloaded properly. Podcasting, great idea, not for me. I'm so frustrated and angry by the time that I get to search for different podcasts that I decide I need to seek out some religious help. Forget about five different podcasts, for me it's trying to get one. So after about 20 minutes of messing around trying to figure out how to get to the "podcast" page, I don't care anymore. My process stinks. I really didn't find iTunes that user friendly even after watching/doing what Fawn did in class last week. Ultimately, I did finally get the thing downloaded on my computer. Went and downloaded one podcast which was Joel Osteen, he's a Christian minister. Started to listen and had to turn him off, I'm still ticked off that I couldn't get this to work better. So I've decided to check out what a few of my classmates had to say about podcasting and then I'm hanging it up on this one for today. Maybe when I get brave enough I'll go back and see what all the "hoopla" is really about when I'm in a better mood. I went and read about what Laura and Scott had to say on the subject.

#5 del.ic.io.us

Well this week we were introduced to the idea of social networking through del.ic.io.us. I posted a few of the sites that I like to frequent and also found a couple of blogs that I felt were pretty interesting. I'd like to share them with you here. I hope that you'll find my entries interesting.

I'm really not much of a blogger and haven't gotten into the habit of reading other's blogs. I guess I always felt like blogging was like a diary to somebody. I never understood why people would want to share their feelings like that with people on the Internet that they have never meet. I understand that it is quite the rage now a days. Oh well, it's my choice whether to access them or not. What are your feelings about blogs?