Biology for Dummies

The End of Learn & Play...

2008-11-18T14:41:00.000-08:00

I am thrilled that I got to take part in Learn & Play. I have learned about so many great resources that I can use in my classroom. My students will be amazed by my technology skills! I enjoyed the wikis and podcasts, but my favorite was del.icio.us. I have been able to access my bookmarks from every computer I come into contact with thanks to what I've learned through L&P. I look forward to continuing my education regarding discovery programs and to trying out the different resources from Learn & Play on my students. Hopefully the skills I have learned will help cut down on my stress levels as a new teacher!

The format of this program was user-friendly, and I would definitely participate in discovery programs in the future. Well done!

MOLDI

2008-11-18T14:35:00.000-08:00

I used to make fun of my husband for always listening to audiobooks, but recently I have become addicted as well. MOLDI will be a great source for finding audiobooks. I have been listening to Nicholas Sparks books, but I found several James Patterson books on MOLDI that I will have to download. I will have to introduce my husband to this resource as well - he will be thrilled!

Podcasts

2008-11-18T14:23:00.000-08:00

I spent some time browsing around podfeed.net. I found a podcast called Storynory that would be excellent for the library. It's basically storytime via podcast and would be a great resource for kids.

I could use podcasts in my classroom. I found lots of science-related podcasts. I could also create my own podcasts that my students could access. For example, I could give lectures via podcast so that students who are absent do not miss out on the material discussed in class. Students could also use the podcasts for reviewing for tests. Actually, this sounds like a fantastic idea! It would allow me to sleep in instead of getting up early to hold review sessions before school. I think I am going to try it!

YouTube

2008-10-30T14:27:00.000-07:00

It's easy to get lost in the word of YouTube. There are so many great videos out there for entertainment as well as education. It would be great to be able to use YouTube at school to show my students great videos like the one here. I wonder if I embed the video in my blog if I can play it at school - legally?? People have gotten very creative when explaining complicated concepts in biology. It would be a great tool to use.

YouTube could be a useful tool for the library. For example, we could have YouTube storytimes for people who cannot make it to actual storytimes. We could also have tutorials for how to use our website and perform catalog searches.

CML's Power Tools Page

2008-10-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

StumbleUpon is a site that is new to me. It could keep one entertained for hours. I'm glad to have stumbled upon this site, since now I have something else to distract me while I'm surfing the web.

Discovering Web 2.0 Tools

2008-10-09T15:35:00.000-07:00

Lots of great stuff here. I love the Im Cooked site. I'm not much of a cook (my sister got those genes), but having the option of following along while watching others make things could help me with my techniques and confidence in the kitchen. My husband keeps talking about having a spot in the kitchen for a laptop so that I can view recipes online while cooking. I've always thought that this was a goofy idea, but after seeing these cooking videos, I've changed my mind.

As a newly married woman, I am looking forward to owning my first home. Even though my husband and I can't afford a house yet, I still like to look. The Web 2.0 award-winning real estate site Zillow is going to be my new best friend.

Playing in the "Sandbox"

2008-10-09T15:16:00.001-07:00

It's fun to look at everyone's "Favorites," especially to get ideas for places to visit, books to read, etc. I can see myself using this feature at the beginning of a new school year to get to know my students better. I could set up a sandbox similar to this one on which students post their favorite sports, hobbies, music, subjects, restaurants, etc. It's a great way to incorporate technology while learning about my students.

Google Docs

2008-10-07T17:49:00.000-07:00

I wish I had known about this feature when I was a student in college (and in high school - if it was around)! It would have made group projects, presentations and reports sooooo much easier! Now that I am a teacher, I will share my new knowledge of Google Docs with my students so that they can work more effectively on THEIR group assignments!

Wikis

2008-10-07T17:08:00.000-07:00

A few of the library wikis were overwhelming. The links on the wikis were not always clear regarding the direction in which they were going. There were a few links that led me to library catalogs, but I'm not sure why. Also, I am so used to using Wikipedia that it kind of threw me off when several of the library wikis looked like Wikipedia, just with different subject matter.

In the future, I can see libraries using wikis for book clubs. This would be a great way for customers within a library system to connect with one another and share their thoughts. Libraries could have a variety of book club books from which to choose, and as customers read the book of their choice, they can post information on a wiki.

Library 2.0

2008-10-01T16:45:00.000-07:00

I vaguely remember using a paper card catalog when I was a kid. For most of my life I have been using computers to search for library materials. However, it is amazing to me how far libraries have come in the past 20 years. Not only can I look for materials from the comfort of my own home, but I can reserve materials and have them sent to libraries across the country. The perspective "Away from the 'Icebergs' " definitely highlights major changes libraries will see in the near future as a result of Library 2.0. For me, Library 2.0 means that I will be able to view science journals free of charge (hopefully!), access books via the Internet, and download book discs onto my Ipod. Although these things already exist, I think they will be more accessible when they are more connected to the library system. I am excited to see how the library changes and develops in the future, but I hope it doesn't change so much that my kids will not know what it is like to browse through rows and rows of books.

del.icio.us is a "tastey" tool!

2008-10-01T16:27:00.000-07:00

I am so glad Learn and Play @CML introduced me to this tool! As a teacher, del.icio.us makes my life so much easier. I can bookmark websites with great lesson plans, activities, etc., and then access my bookmarks from home, school, or anywhere! I can tag my bookmarks so that they are easy to find, and I can look at other people's bookmarks for related sites. It's great!

Exploring Twitter

2008-09-26T11:49:00.000-07:00

This is kind of an odd concept, but I guess it's great for expressing concerns, opinions, comments, etc. about...whatever! People are posting like crazy about tonight's presidential debate. However, I probably won't be using Twitter. I would rather call or email my friends with news updates, and I prefer talking to people I know rather than sitting at my computer conversing with people I don't know. I try not to spend THAT much time on my computer! Here is my Twitter username in case anyone wants to convince me otherwise...

Username: mrsrwieland

LibraryThing

2008-09-26T11:31:00.000-07:00

I really like this feature since the site provides recommendations based on my favorite books. It is also helpful to read the comments from other readers...sometimes the synopsis of a book sounds good, but once I start reading the book, I discover that it does not at all interest me.

Check out my catalog!
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/mrsrwieland

Image Generator

2008-09-26T11:13:00.001-07:00

The photographer for my wedding must have used something like this on some of my wedding pictures. She replaced the license plate on the limousine with our names and wedding date. I can see where playing around with personal photos could be fun. Plus, this is a tool that my students could use to make posters, cartoons, etc. in science class. I might have to give it a try!

Newsfeed Search Tools

2008-09-25T15:24:00.000-07:00

I like the Topix.net newsfeed since you can set it to your local news information. There is also some excellent general information that can be found. My husband and I are going to be traveling to Moab, Utah, next summer to go "Jeeping". I found a newsfeed that has an updated list of trails in Moab. I am excited to introduce my husband to this feed!

Bloglines

2008-09-11T16:02:00.000-07:00

Not sure I will be using this since I already have bookmarks in my bookmarks bar, but it's definitely good to know about in case I change my mind!

Technology in the Classroom

2008-09-11T15:28:00.000-07:00

The high school I am currently teaching at just received a SMART Board. I am so excited to receive training on it. For those of you who have never heard of a SMART Board, it is basically an interactive chalkboard that connects to a computer. You can control everything on the computer by touching the SMART Board screen. I hope to use this for virtual dissections since some students object to real dissections (even though I really wish they wouldn't!).

Mappr could be fun to use but...

2008-09-11T15:23:00.000-07:00

when I went to Mappr, I encountered the following:

"Note: As of 2007, Mappr is no longer processing images from flickr. Take a look at flickr to find images on maps. "

While these maps are neat, I wanted to make my own!!! I love to travel, and I thought Mappr would be a great way to showcase where I have been. Anyone know of other mashups that allow you to do this?

Characteristics of Life

2008-08-27T16:56:00.001-07:00

Goat on the island of Kaua'i
Originally uploaded by Raedar1231

What sorts of things determine whether or not something is living? This was our first topic of discussion today in biology. Here I've listed some characteristics of life, in no particular order: 1) comprised of cells; 2) have DNA and RNA; 3) can reproduce (my high school students' favorite subject!); 4) grow and develop; 5) evolve; 6) respond to stimuli - i.e., we sweat to prevent overheating; 7) need water; 8) contain carbon (organic); 9) need a source of energy. There are others, but I will stop here. Tomorrow in class we will be learning about synthetic organic polymers (i.e., polyester, nylon, etc.) and inorganic substances.

First day of school

2008-08-26T15:50:00.000-07:00

Today was the first day of school, which meant going over lots of paperwork and passing out textbooks! Yay! Tomorrow we will be discussing the characteristics of life, so I will keep you "posted".

7 & 1/2 Lifelong Learning Habits

2008-08-22T12:15:00.000-07:00

As a teacher, one of my goals is to encourage my students to be lifelong learners. This is not easy since my students are in high school and are more concerned with text messaging and hanging out with their friends. However, they are constantly learning new things whether or not they recognize it.

As a lifelong learner, the hardest habit for me is to have confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner. I have always had to study hard, and I usually need to hear things repeated several times before I understand. My husband can remember something he hears only once, which frustrates me!

The habit that is the easiest for me is to accept responsibility for my own learning. My students will often try to blame me if they do not complete an assignment or do not do well on a test. Most of the time it is because they are not putting forth the effort and accepting resposibility for their own learning. Through educating others, I recognize that I am ultimately the one responsible for what I choose to learn or not learn.