So simple most of us would never even consider it

How do you teach students to "google" effectively (because, like it or not, they all "google")?

Check out this link.  It offers a simple strategy that is very usable for elementary students.

Rolling Along

My blog is actually starting to resemble something aesthetically pleasing. I am getting the hang of the features, or gadgets and streamlined the appearance of some of the blogs I am following. I also managed to import my feed subscriptions (I knew there would be a way) and add the link to my autobiography (I wonder if I could embed the movie...hmmm). 

Like I said, signing up for Google Reader, breezy, actually following it, not so much. I have actually avoided it like the plague because the thought of reading 66 posts was a bit too much too handle, needless to say, when it reached 91, I was feeling more than a little overwhelmed. Some of the best advice I have been given on this journey (Thank you, Joanne) was to mark them as unread and start fresh. 

I literally gave a sign of relief when I did this, I feel so light and giddy now...I actually look forward to reading some posts when they come in.  I am mastering the art of skimming for interest or relevance and have found a few things of interest. I have also come to the realization that there are probably some blogs on there that I would not choose to follow so I will do some tweaking; and I still need to add some that interest me.
If you love random facts (I do) Stephen Abram's posted a great video on his blog Stephen's Lighthouse debunking 10 myths; worth the 4 minutes to watch it.

Say Cheese

In keeping up with my investigation of 2.0 tools, I have downloaded from CNET photoscape software to begin editing photographs. This is a very new endeavour for me.  Other than rotating an image, and to be honest, usually I just tilt my head to the side for viewing, I had never used photoediting software but, I think I have found my new hobby! I have been exploring the software quite regularly (a great procrastination tool) and have printed many and even framed one of the photos I edited.  I also updated my profile photo with a picture of me in Arizona (which I enhanced and cropped). That's one item off my to do list.  Even with no knowledge of the different terms used in photography, I was able to easily manipulate my photographs, starting with trial and error and progressing to ease and some proficiency. 

This is my first attempt:

In addition to editing individual photos, photoscape offers a myriad of other tools.

Using Animated Gif I made a little Western movie.

It was as easy as clicking on animated gif, dragging and dropping images from my computer and setting the time for each picture to display.

Step One

Well, here it is, the first Sunday in February and what have I accomplished.  I explored blogger a bit and found lots of fun features.  By choosing design, and then add a gadget, the options for enhancing a blog are bountiful.

I added the blogs for my group members and a little heading above them. 

I have a Google Reader account just like Richardson (Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, 2010) said I would.  Will (hopefully he doesn't mind me calling him that) actually walked me through the whole process (p. 73 - 75) and it was pretty easy.

My "how-to" manual

I am excited to think that finding information may not be like panning for gold anymore. I put in a few test search phrases and then got really off track reading various blogs and websites. 

But, I reeled myself back in (not wanting to be up all night outweighed my desire to wander) I subscribed to the recommended list and even made a folder. The tough part will be actually following them.