Thing 12

http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=EN
This is the link to Google Translate.  I translated a portion of my Spanish textbook.  It was not entirely accurate, but I could mostly understand it.  I also made a calendar on Google Calendar, but I do not wish to share it with the world.  It's mine.

Thing 7

This photo was taken by a friend of mine named Melanie Perry.  She was kind enough to allow me to use photos from her flickr page, which I really appreciate because all the photos I wanted to use were protected by copyrights.  I did not like trying to find an image to use on flickr, but writing this blog has been even more troublesome because it won't let me publish it!  Obviously, if you are reading this now, the problem has been solved.  We'll see, or rather we now see. 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/melperry03/

Aaaaaahhh!

Blogger is not letting me post thing 7!
Okay, now it let me post it, but only the first couple of letters are showing up.
Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!  Problem solved.
As you can probably see, it is now not showing the photo I posted.  Oh joy!

Thing 11

I found this less enjoyable than some of the previous assignments.  This was unpleasant.  There was really no method I preferred for searching for feeds.  I mostly just googled things.  I looked up an art ed. blog on Google Blog Search.  To be honest, I found the whole thing a little confusing.  As to what useful feeds I found; define useful.  I don't know that I will find most of this useful.  If anything I feel it will consume valuable time I would otherwise spend finishing the book series I'm attempting to read.  I can see how some people might appreciate such technology, but I prefer to leave it alone.

Thing 10

So, maybe if I was more interested in current events and trends I would be more excited about RSS and newsreaders, but as it is, I feel like it is just another thing I have to remember to check everyday.  I am also quite worried I won't be able to find my Google reader in the future.  It is a good way of keeping up with information if there's something you want to keep up with.  I am thrilled I was able to subscribe to G4, though!  I haven't seen G4 since Directv dropped them a few years ago.  That used to be how I kept up with the latest news in gaming and technology.  I'm not yet sure how this might be useful in a school situation. 

Thing 6

Well, since it appeared in nearly all of the lists of Web 2.0 winners, I decided to just pick Google.  It is also one of the few sites on the list I have ever used.  I like that it provides its users with categories to choose from (images, maps, etc.).  I know I have used Google Images a lot!  I mean a lot!  Unfortunately, to avoid inappropriate content, public schools usually have the whole category blocked.  This can be frustrating for art students trying to find a particular image.  I'm so thankful for the unrestricted Internet available to me here.  Anyway, as a search engine, Google is obviously useful to any student who is trying to find anything, though it does have the annoying habit of giving you far more information than you asked for.  For example, just googling Google gives you around 15,190,000,000 results!  Why?  Google Maps is also a helpful feature although I don't think it is really useful in a classroom.  Overall, Google is very useful.  Its the only search engine I use, but that is probably because it is the preset search engine on all the computers I use.
https://www.google.com/

Thing 3

How might I make use of a blog in my future classroom?  

Well, once I have more experience, I could use a blog to provide guidance to newer teachers who are just starting out.  I intend to make full use of more experienced teachers' blogs and chat rooms, myself.  I could also use it as a sort of reflective diary; one that helps me make decisions on how I can improve my lessons in the future, and because blogs are not private like a diary, I can get feedback from readers who might have some interesting ideas.  The blog could even be used as an important resource for students.

Thing 2

Well, the avatar creation process was fun, but the web site did not give me enough clothing options.  The process of just creating the blog, easy though it may be, was frustrating for me.  I don’t know why.  It was not nearly as hard as I made it. 

I just used my first initial and my last name for my blog name…I think.  I tried to make the avatar look a little like me, but a very annoyed me (the smiling face was too creepy and I did not like the other faces).  He does not reflect my personality so much as he reflects my attitude toward social networking sites.  Well, it’s really the attitude I have toward the people whose entire lives revolve around having no life but the one they created on Facebook.  This was fun though!
Okay, yeah, my blog name is S Forrester.  It is right there at the top of the screen and I did not notice..................

Thing 9

I made this image on ImageChef

I used ImageChef to make this.  It is really easy.  You just need to choose the shape and the words you want to make up the image.  It also lets you choose the colors and preview your creation.  There are a lot of options available on ImageChef.  I just chose word mosaic because it looked fun.

Also from ImageChef

I wanted to personalize a bowl of soup.....................so I did.  This was another of the many activities on ImageChef.  It is so easy, I had no trouble doing it.

This is a fun way to send a message to someone, and the first one would make interesting posters for a classroom.  

Thing 8

I made this on the Spell with flickr site.
 

While I doubt I will make much use of flickr or flickr mashups in my personal  life, I think it could potentially be used for some art lessons in the future.  I enjoyed using Spell with flickr because it really did all the work for me.  I also liked the Jigsaw site, but I did not upload the one I made.  I really like online photo sharing, or at least I like sharing other people's photos.  I often feel inspired by images I find on the Internet, but I never upload my own images.  This is partially due to the fact that I rarely take photos and, until recently, did not participate in any social networks.

Thing 5

Thing 5 is all about Web 2.0, for which Wikipedia gives a very wordy description.  Web 2.0 is basically the interactive online environment made up of websites and applications that allow audience participation.  It includes social networking sites, blogs, wikis, video sharing sites, etc.- pretty much anything that allows users to participate in the content.  I also read the Web 2.0:  A Guide for Educators article.  I hated the sentence in the first paragraph stating the Web has replaced things like libraries, bookstores, and classrooms.  I like those things!  Why are we happy these things are being replaced?  The article also claims the Web has replaced the need for paper.  I guess those big printers in every computer lab are just for decoration.  I would be impressed if the Web could eliminate the need for toilet paper.  As for “School 2.0,” I see the potential for something good.  It is nice for teachers and students to be able to contact each other and interact outside of the classroom, but as an art teacher in training, I value the in-class production time more than the idea of a high-tech future.  Future schools will probably benefit from the integration the Web into the curriculum, but I hope it is not at the expense of all the good aspects of today’s classroom ( or is it already yesterday’s classroom I’m thinking of? ).

Thing 1

Of all the 7.5 Habits of Lifelong Learners, the hardest for me is definitely using technology to my advantage.  Whenever I try using one of the many technological innovations available to me, things tend to go wrong.  I am almost convinced that there is some great conspiracy to see to it that I never become proficient in the use of technology.  On the other hand, I have confidence in myself as a “competent, effective learner,” which is the fourth habit.  I am sure I will eventually figure things out, as I usually do, but with my luck, whatever it is will no longer be relevant once I understand it.  I hope that by "playing" with Web 2.0 tools, I will learn to make better use of the technology that is available to me.  This process is slightly frustrating for me, but I am beginning to enjoy parts of it.