Toolkit

Web Toolkit

I try to incorporate as many of the cool tools afforded by the advances in online applications commonly called, Web 2.0 Tools. In this section I will provide resources and explanations for how and why these tools can enrich your website content and reduce your updating requirements in some cases.

Weebly

How is using Weebly like a breath of fresh air? The interface offers beauty and simplicity. You can spend more time creating content and less time fussing over the design aspects. After all it's a communication tool.

Google - I am a HUGE Fan

I cannot live without:
Picassa - I use this downloadable program to manage all of my images because it is fully integrated with blog posting and gmailing. It is seamlessly simple to use.
Blogger - Blogger also known as Blogspot is the built in blogging function that enables you to post easily and offers many layout features to customize your blogspot page including the very necessary comment controls.
iGoogle- Set your homepage to this feature and customize it to include gmail, blog posts, Google docs, news, weather, RSS feeds and much more. It is your mission control when it comes to managing your online tools.
Google Reader - So many interesting blogs to read on your favorite subjects such as politics, educational technology or off the beaten path travel blogs. Google Reader will allow you to subscribe and receive every new post in chronoligical order. It shows you an portion of the post and you can click through if it interests you.
Gmail - If you want a great spam filter, the ability to turn any attachment into a saved online editable, collaborative document then this is an invaluable tool for you. Your mailbox will never fill to overflowing and all of your improtant documents can be saved online for easy access and sharing.
Google Docs - Why save onto your c-drive when you can safely save any word, powerpoint or excell in here? You can also use spreadsheets to create forms. All of the programs offer full scale editing, collaboration and are embeddable in your web pages.
Calendar -

In addition to using a variety of web based tools, I also keep up with the latest innovations in classrooms by following teacher blogs and ed tech specialists. I have grown to appreciate the role of the ed tech specialist more and more since we have no such animal available as a resource in my own school. They cannot be a classroom teacher. They cannot be a regular ed teacher who has no assistant at any rate.

A person with the freedom and capability to stay on the cutting edge of tech integration is invaluable to a teacher. I follow the blogs of numerous edtech specialists because they have the time to devote to experimentation, research and can build relationships to sustain projects. I am thankful for people who write and post regularly about their experiences so that I can incorporate the best practices into student learning.

Hey, isn't that Mrs. Briggs?

July 2008 Photo by k. shields

PB Wiki

Podomatic

Post and maintain video podcasts.

Wordpress

For professional blogging.

SpongeCell

Manage and embed calendar events.

Widgets

To embed the functionality of providing current blog feeds and just plain fun.