ou can connect to online resources that consistently update their information, i.e. blogs, newspapers, news services, etc. If you want to learn more about RSS feeds you can start here.
Your Google Reader will make keeping up with new information really super simple! You will simply subscribe to your choices by adding the url (address) of the site to your reader. Take a short tour of Google Reader.
This video will show you how easy it is to set up your Reader and add blogs and other resources.
For your Tool #4 Post in you blog:
1. Create one document in Google Docs and share it with at least one other person in your PLN. It could a team member, a department colleague, or another teacher with whom you plan a collaboration. It could even be a family member---maybe you are planning a reunion or trip!
2. Set up your Google reader and subscribe to at least five 11 Tools blogs that you will be following. You are welcome to add other subscriptions that you want to follow. Maybe you have hobbies or other interests that you would like to follow.
3. Briefly discuss how you think these 2 Google tools will aid you in your particular classroom or benefit your students in their learning process.
Please be sure you include Tool # 4 in your post title.
Please hot link any online resources you include in your post.
Google icon - screenshot created by VWB
Google Earth - screenshot created by VWB
Google Reader - screenshot created by VWB
How many computers do you use the same set of bookmarks? How many different groups are going to access all the information you have found? Social bookmarking to the rescue!
Click here to view the Common Craft video about social bookmarking.
You can build a list of bookmarks, organize them into groups, and update your bookmarks with online services such as delicious and diigo. And you can do all this arranging on one computer and walk over and use the information on any computer!
The key tool in having a well-oiled bookmarking machine is the tag. Tagging your information is like identifying the subjects or key words covered in the information you want to share.
On Delicious, you can save and share your bookmarks. You can also see what bookmarks are currently popular on the hotlist. Explore what you can find by doing a search for tags such as education or web2.0. Look what comes up if you search for tools and see how you can narrow your search. Even fun searches for things like frogs and fishing bring up some interesting results. Here is the tag cloud of popular tags .
To join Delicious, you will need a Yahoo ID/account. If you don't already have, it is a simple sign-up. After you sign up, you can explore creating a network or arranging your own tags.
Here is a silent video on how to sign up for delicious.
Here is a silent video on how to set up bookmarks in delicious.
Diigo is another social bookmarking site even more powerful than delicious in what it can do for you and your learning circle.
Look at this video of the basics of diigo. Then take the tour to see the special details in depth.
Click here to see the groups that are available in Diigo. There are over 1300 Education & Schools groups and 240+ k-12 groups, including one about using Diigo in schools. There are many groups about fun things, too, like PaperToys. Go here to see the most popular sites and tags.
To add to Diigo, you will need to register. You can use your Google or Yahoo information.
For your Tool #5 assignment:
1. Browse through both sites and use tags to find two websites new to you. You may choose to find educationally -related items or personal interests.
2. Join one of the sites so that you may add and share information of your choice. Consider joining or even creating a group that fits your needs.
3. In YOUR blog post for Tool #5, include the two webistes you discovered. Be sure to include hot links so that participants can visit them easily. Discuss what tags you used to locate your information. Briefly describe how social bookmarking will be useful in your classroom.
Have a few extra minutes?
This video discusses both delicious and