Sites like Google and YouTube are so commonly used. They are amazing resources that can keep you connected to the outside world. I personally use Google all the time. Google has so many applications and programs that can be used for professional or personal use. Many students are already using some of these cloudware programs which can make instruction in the classroom a little easier. Sites like screencast and snag it can also be extremely beneficial in the classroom. Teachers can now create their own videos or engage the whole classroom with creating videos to help motivate during instruction. Using these tools also helps all students become familiar with the cloudware programs that they may use outside the classroom setting.
For our assignment we had to use many of these programs to re-create a fairy tale story.
Here is our version of Jack and the Beanstalk:
http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsWmzQ5rSPXmyyAnyOSTd_5CyaVjwvMf2
It was really fun. I decided to take all my own pictures because I didn’t want to hassle with citing my images. I found this a little easier, and I also thought it made it more interesting. I was able to make relations using images of objects in the “outside” world. Â I think that also helps students make connections, and it was cute to see that the images were not always the same throughout the story.
I can definitely see myself using many of these programs, especially when I become a teacher. I believe that bringing in a variety of resources for students can help them not only become familiar with these programs, but it also helps to keep them interested to learn. Besides the obvious fact that they are creative and helpful tools, most of them are also free which makes it all the better!
JCarmell's blog 
I feel the same way, all of these apps and cloudware at a freemium price is rather mind blowing. At first this class was very daunting, looking at the syllabus I was a bit overwhelmed. However, after finding a grove with the content and technology, I find myself excited to learn new things and ways of utilizing technology. It is very interesting how using and hopefully quasi-mastering technology is good in two ways. First it is useful because it adds to the students learning, second, it exposes students to technology and its benefits. I cannot wait to have a classroom and utilize google docs. I love how the privacy is customizable. I like your idea of how tools should be creative and helpful. That should be the rock team 2 motto, “creative and helpful.” I am glad you like my dogs. I am also glad that I made it clear I did not choose their names. I cannot wait to get a big dog, I miss having a big dog. Way to go on your section of the fairy tale, I think you win MVP for this round.
I will definitely be using a lot of these tools in my future classroom too. There are many reasons why, but I think the most important reason is to connect with as many students as possible. After all, not every student learns but just reading material and spewing out knowledge from what they’ve read. A lot of these tools allow teachers to present information in many and formats and students are able to demonstrate their knowledge in many ways too. And there are lots of programs that allow all of this to happen free. I also find this to be quite wonderful!
I’m with Joe… I really liked your section of our fairy tale =) It was super cute how you transformed all of your original photos! Great job!