#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?

#4 Licensing

All right I'll be the honest one. I didn't come across any licensing problems because I just chose clipart that was available on yahoo and I'm using SeaMonkey making my own backgrounds and templates. When I did research on Google this is what popped up during my search about Creative commons. As far as fair use my understanding has always been that you can use something for your own purposes as long as you weren't distributing it to others. Apparently I wasn't too far off because Wikipedia pretty much says the same thing. That you can use materials without having to worry about copyright issues. When I read other's blogs about this same topic I felt that Josh did a really good job of explaining the differences. I also commented on Kern's site this week.

#3 My website ideas

My intentions for my website is a site that allows my students, parents, family, and just anybody who might be interested to access information about me, courses I teach, or other educators. I'll have four main links available-one for my high school students, one about OSU, one for my family (if I can figure out how to passcode it), and one that sends you directly to email me. I'm working with SeaMonkey, which is a whole new experience for me. I chose to go ahead and work with this program because it is a free download from the Internet and I thought that in the future my district may not be able to afford something like DreamWeaver of FrontPage. This will allow me to learn how to design a site that I could potentially teach tostudents one day. I intend to keep my site simple and easy to navigate. I want to be able to show students that a site can be appealing without too many flashy icons and that anyone can actually create a website. The site will be in my home school colors of Orange, Black, and White.


There may also come a time that I would like to design a website for an organization that I am the advisor for at school. I enjoyed reading about Josh's intention of designing a site for his FFA program. I also enjoyed reading about Scott's idea of keeping his site more personalized for family and friends.

Post #2 My Favs

Alright, well I guess this week we're supposed to talk about our favorite websites. Well I'll share with you a couple and explain a little bit about why I like them. One is JJHuddle, this is a website that is geared towards those who like sports. I particularly like the discussion board where you can read and discuss with others your opinions about the different sports from high school to college forums. This discussion board really has nothing fancy about it, but it is very easy to navigate. The second site that I frequent on a daily basis is our local newspaper, The Marion Star. To be quite honest, I read the paper online because it is free. Sometimes I wonder how a newspaper can have a free website and stay in business actually. I mean I realize they make most of their money from advertisement, but just think of how much revenue they're losing in subscription fees. This site usually has a leading story including a picture in color and other articles below that. I really like the tabbed "Breaking Story" and "News Updates" links that allow me to access the latest news. The last site that I like to look at is a photography site dedicated to sports. Oh boy, here is the sports thing again. Well for those of you who don't already know both of our children are involved in sports and Momma got a new camera last summer. I absolutely love to shoot sports photos, but I'm still in the learning process. This site, as you can see, has a menu option on the left side of the screen that allows me to easily surf it's contents and read others comments and suggestions about how they are taking or shooting their photographs. One thing that I don't particularly like about this site in the black background with white lettering. After you have read the context in this color formattion for a while your eyes tend to get weary. It's kind of like when someone takes a picture of you using a flash, you know that blue haze kind of feeling? It's kind of that effect. Anyway, those are a few of my favorites sites. I'm going to go comment on Tia's and Janet's sites now. Bye!