Challenge #15

Online Calendars

Last year when Kelly taught us about google calendars in a common prep, I added the calendar to my igoogle homepage.  It sends me notifications for special events like birthdays and holidays, but I haven't updated it too often, so that's about all it does.

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Challenge #14

I haven't really had a need in my classroom to use google docs since most of the work we could do with spreadsheets, we do with the graphing calculator.  But now that I am teaching College Transition Math, there is a need to learn more about it.  I can see how it would be useful for Mr. Powers and myself to work together on a document for classroom use.

I thought I would share this bi-weekly budget spreadsheet.  I wish I had used this spreadsheet the entire year so preparing my documents for taxes would be a whole lot easier.

Challenge #13

The Math Dude Quick and Dirty Tips to make Math Easier

I subscribed to this podcast so it will automatically update any new podcasts from The Math Dude.  Maybe I will take the time to show them in class.  A few people reviewed this podcast and had positive feedback, so maybe it will help my students too.

Challenge #12

Browser Add-ons/Extensions

I tried to download these:
Web Snapper, TV Live Stream, Forget Me Not, Macte Toolbar, Safari Stand, and Safari Zoom

ForgetMeNot is pretty nice. It remembers the windows I had open in Safari the last time I closed the browser and reopens them when I start Safari. So now when I close my browser, I can leave the windows that I use everyday open, and when I start Safari again, they will be there already.
Macte Toolbar allows me quick access to weather, google calendar, docs, etc...

Here is a screen capture of my toolbar:

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Challenge #11

I finally got back to looking at the kkchallenge website and was excited to see that I can now use Screenjelly to show students different things. I started with a simple tutorial an how to find assignments in teacher websites in the TRF Schools website, but when I have access to my smartboard, I plan to screen capture the process of solving equations so the students can have access to that as well. Maybe I need to start a new blog and invite students to visit it to access these tutorials... Sounds like I have a lot to do!

Challenge #10

I started a Flickr account and added a few photos.  In my classroom, I have always been nervous about posting photos of kids, so I don't do it.  For my personal photo storage, I keep my photos on iphoto and upload those that I want to share with people to facebook, so that's probably what I will keep doing.  But I can see the benefits this -not having to back up copies when rebuilding the computer, and having photos available from any computer online.

Challenge #9

I don't really see myself using Skype in the classroom, but maybe it would be kind of cool if we talked to a classroom in another country, like Germany, and students could compare the math they are doing there to what we are doing here.... but that's a stretch.  I took German in high school but I couldn't communicate with anyone speaking German.  I'm sure there are many ways that any teacher could use Skype in the classroom.

Personally, I am not one to talk on the phone, so I don't think that Skype will encourage me to start communicating on the computer.  One benefit of the telephone is that you can sit in your PJs with messy hair and no make-up and no one will know.  But with skype, I would have to shower, change and "get ready" to communicate.  Not going to happen...  

But seriously, this will one day be a good tool for me.  My niece and her new baby use it to communicate with her mother/grandmother in New Hampshire.  When my kids are older and moved away from home, and have their own families, it will be an option for us.  

The most difficult thing about this challenge was taking the time to actually do it.  I haven't been blogging since October 26th!