Daily web use

Here are the sites I find invaluable in my classroom:

www.google.com

I can find anything I need within minutes. It is very helpful when the kids ask a question I don't know the answer to.

www.unitedstreaming.com

You need an account, but I highly recommend it. It is powered by Discover Education, I can find full videos, video clips, lesson plans, audio clips and images for many topics. I have used many of the videos to support a social studies lesson.

www.youtube.com

I, sort of, bypassed the system so I can still access this valuable site. I love to show my class SchoolHouse Rocks videos to support my lessons.

http://www.renlearn.com/

I use this for accelerated math and accelerated reader programs.

These are only a few- but I use them daily. They are great resources for the classroom.

Ode to my iPhone

I have become one of those people. You know the ones- the ones who are forever clicking away at their phone. The ones who- at the mere mention of a question or request for information- pull out their phone with a flourish and produce the app that satisfies the need. The ones who have the new apps the day they come out.

Yes, I have become one of those people.

My name is Joann...and I am an iPhone addict.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/

Check it out! if you don't already have one- I highly recommend it.

I never cease to be amazed at the apps they have to fill almost every need I have. 

Another Second Life/Office clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXuvww4UmUk&NR=1

Ha ha ha ha ha. :)

I guess size DOES matter...

http://mashable.com/2009/04/23/one-billion-iphone-app-downloads/

1 Billion iPhone App Downloads in Perspective

April 23rd, 2009 | by Adam Ostrow10 Comments

Apple has announced that there have now been more than one billion apps downloaded for iPhone. The milestones comes just over three months after the company surpassed 500 million downloads, and about nine months since launching.

While it’s certainly an enormous milestone, how does it compare to some other massive numbers that various Web companies have reached recently? Here’s a look at a few huge stats:

Facebook now has 200 million members. It reached that mark just 8 months after hitting 100 million members, and has become the world’s biggest social network by a significant margin.

In November, Twitter passed one billion tweets. That number has since swelled to close to 1.6 billion, according to GigaTweet.

YouTube now reaches 100 million viewers in the US every month. The site has better than 40 percent marketshare of all videos watched online.

Which milestone do you think is most impressive? Share your thoughts in the comments.

I thought this article- or statement of statistics, really- was eye-opening. With such staggering numbers, it is interesting that these forms of networking still meet with such resistance in some business and educational settings. 

While I find it interesting, unfortunately, I do not find it surprising. It has become a "few bad apples situation" where the entire experience or possibility of use is completely forbidden due to the mere possibility of inappropriate use. We work in a better safe than sorry environment that has been taken to extremes.

Perhaps someday...

For SL and/or The Office Fans

So we just finished our SL tutorial and I settled down to watch a little TV before bed. We put on The Office and I look up to see Dwight in SL!! He was talking about how he looks just like he does in real life- except he can fly.

It was amazing!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U3d_fqDcN1s

Check it out!

Netvibes

I am developing a new appreciation for Netvibes. I must admit, in the beginning, I was viewing it as simply another thing to sign up for and monitor, but I am really starting to find it invaluable. I really like having all my information in one place. My next step is to truly streamline it and see if I can put absolutely everything I use on a daily basis on there. 

Ha ha...look at me...I'm growing!

My Netvibes Page

The over-worked teacher

I have a hard time saying no. This is especially true at work. I suppose I am under some misguided delusion that someone will actually notice and appreciate my self-less nature. Ha ha. I almost couldn't keep a straight face while typing it. 

I am concerned that my inability to say no to my colleagues and my superiors is becoming detrimental to my life that (barely) exists outside of school. I am constantly being talked into extra weekend activities and volunteer situations.

Have I mentioned that our contracts are not signed yet??