Social Bookmarking

Social bookmarking is becoming increasingly popular, and no wonder; it has wondrous advantages over antiquated bookmarking in the form of the "add to favorites" option on PCs.  Its power lies in the easy accessibility of these bookmarks at any location where there is an internet hotspot.  As social bookmarks require the users to include the URL, title, brief description, and tags per each added bookmark, they efficiently allow websites to be organized and stored.  Whether one chooses to create a free social bookmarking account at Diigo or Delicious (among others), teachers and students will benefit from such a technological transformation.  They can use these bookmarks to manage important internet resources (i.e. assignments, lesson plans, research projects, rubrics and assessments, particular interests/hobbies, etc.).  Social bookmarking helps to eliminate quandaries and wasted hours of, "I forget what site I used!"  In addition, students and teachers will both benefit from the instant collaboration. Students can share sites with one another, as well as teachers with students, and teachers with other teachers.  In this way, teachers can access educational sites that other teachers are using, thereby gaining insight and innovative ideas for their classrooms! 

As a teacher-in-training, I happily made the acquaintance of this new world of social bookmarking and plan to continue to use it for the rest of my existence for this reason: it is an efficient way of organizing noteworthy educational sites.  Thus far, I have been able to organize 18 sites based primarily on lesson plan content areas, use of technology in the classroom, and resources for teachers.  I will no longer need to rely on Google for my every "jot and tittle"; instead, I will utilize the reputable sites I have bookmarked!

Blogging and Google Apps

1. Give some specific ideas of how you could incorporate Blogs into your classroom.  What are the advantages and disadvantages to using this technology in your classroom?

• Based on our class articles on blogging, there is a large variety of ways in which blogs can be used in the classroom.  My future students will benefit from blogs artistically (i.e. formatting and designing the blogs), academically, socially, and emotionally.  I will allow my students to use them as journals, writing porfolios, methods for sparking discussion topics, brainstorming ideas, homework assignments, and contests, among others.  I may also use blogs to give my students additional information and/or updates about particular classes.  I believe that blogging will help my students to create a sense of unity in the classroom and build their confidence and self-esteem in ways that "paper" writing will not.
• Disadvantages:  It will take time for the students to learn how the blogs work and what tools to use.  Blogging also requires that students know how to type which may exclude young children from blogging.  Teachers have to be careful that their students do not accidently publish personal information (i.e. real names, addresses, etc.) for the world to see.  Teaches will have to allot extra time to regulating the sites to ensure that the content being published is appropriate.    
• Advantages:  The students are more inspired and motivated to write as they have a "live audience" (namely the teacher and their peers) waiting to read their posts.  Writing in the form of blogging takes on a whole new meaning; it allows students to impact those around them.  Also, blogging is FREE and fairly simple to set up.  Blogs allow students to collaborate with their classmates with particular group assignments and projects while in the comfort of their homes.  Students will be able to gain constructive criticism and learn from the comments that people leave on their blog sites.             

 
2. What is your opinion of GoogleApps?  What are the advantages/disadvantages of using GoogleApps over traditional Office apps?  List as many as you can.

• I believe GoogleApps is a genius online tool that combines blogging, documents, chatting, email, etc., into one navigable online account.  All these services are convenient at the click of the mouse.  It certainly appears as though Google has the power to "rule the world!"     
• Advantages:  A GoogleApps account is free and can be accessed from virtually any place where there is internet access making it extremely convenient.  Office apps, however, can only be accessed through the computer on which it is stored.  One's documents are automatically saved every few seconds and can not be lost with Google.  On the contrary, one must manually save all data while using Office apps and my lose important documents unless they are backed up on a memory device.  Also, Google's applications are in one location making them easy to use and navigate.  Students can also use GoogleApps for group writing assignments as it allows them to collaborate simultaneously with each other to complete the specific project.       
• Disadvantages:    GoogleApps is much more complex and difficult to learn how to use with its large array of applications.  In addition, GoogleApps contains fewer options for the creative formatting of written documents.