Kim’s Ventures in Educational Technology

Alas, I have finally written the last part of this four part mini-series on awesome technology tools that you can use in the classroom or create instructional materials for use with your students. This blog post features the recently discovered website, www.jogtheweb.com. A few weeks ago as I was reading the plurks of my professional learning network at plurk.com, someone plurked about a track created at jogtheweb.com so I decided to venture to the site and see what jogtheweb was all about.

Jogtheweb started in 2007 and allows users to create a ‘track’ at the website. Details and comments about the websites featured in a track are displayed as the user jogs along the track of websites. Tracks are generally created around a theme, skill or features of a specific website. Two tracks are featured below:
Exploring New Worlds by ProfB
Web 2.0 by Yennyg

Source: Jogtheweb.com

The image to the right shows a basic track. Viewers ‘jog’ along the track from website to website with a description of each part of the track displayed. At jogtheweb.com a variety of tracks have been created. Many have been created for educational purposes so you may want to look the tracks in case one has already

Source: View of a track at Jogtheweb.com

been created on your topic. One user in my PLN created one about the features of her district intranet and where to find district resources. I created one on technology tools that can be used in the classroom and once finished I will send the link out via Twitter and Plurk. Next time you are searching for a creative way to display content or technical information, consider creating a track at Jogtheweb.com. I think you will find this a great resource to add to your technology toolbox.

As I stated in the previous two parts of this four part series on instructional technology tools that can be used in the classroom to enrich learning, I actively participate in a personal professional learning network using Plurk and Twitter. Through these two web services I have learned copious amounts of information, training and resources in the past six or seven months than I have in just about all 19 years of teaching. It is amazing and I wanted to share some of the tools that I deem extremely useful to enrich learning in the classroom.

The third tool I want to share is Dabbleboard. I have written about this unique tool before but I wanted to share it again with you. At first glance, Dabbleboard looks like a limited version of Inspiration or CMAP. While that may be partially true, the biggest asset of Dabbleboard is the ability to collaborate and share a diagram with a team of students. Students can be at different computers, different locations, and work on the diagram at different times. Dabbleboard diagrams are shared by the use of an invite via email and now a URL generated by the site. Several enhancements were made with the most recent release.

Within the Dabbleboard layout, any previous diagrams created are stored in the library and can be reused and imported into new diagrams. When I logged into Dabbleboard, the diagram that I originally created back in July was automatically loaded for me. I can continue with that or begin a new diagram.

Dabbleboard is an excellent way to brainstorm story maps for digital storytelling, generate a hypothesis to test as part of the scientific process or create a flowchart depicting a process or steps of a group project. You can create a template for students to access with the capability of adding weblinks, images, and sharing with others in real time. New features have recently been added such as rotating or flipping images and auto detection of shapes drawn by hand to create resizable, neatly drawn objects.

To the right is the original diagram I created in July. If you click on the thumbnail image, it will take you to the public link of the diagram. Take a few moments and experiment with the diagram and move items, change colors, etc. to see the full capabilities of Dabbleboard. Dabble with Dabbleboard!

Requesting help for assistance or aid from Hurricane Gustav just went high tech. If you know of someone that may be in the path of Gustav, please text or forward this information to them.

According to the GustavTracker page, tweets may be sent to request assistance or rescue and report if someone has safely escaped the destructive forces of Gustav.

All messages received at the “gustavhelp” or “gustavsafe” Twitter accounts will be re-posted for public viewing here. PLEASE follow this public page if you are in a position to help. An RSS feed is forthcoming as we bring the site online.

Those affected by Gustav must first add “gustavhelp” or “gustavsafe” to their Twitter profile. This can be done using the internet or a cell phone if power or outages are in effect. The GustavTracker page continues with,

Due to Twitter’s limitations, there is no way for the public to personally respond to these messages. If a message does not have contact info, please email marina@marinamartin (dot) com and she will send a direct message back to that person.

The above may need to be explained to someone as well as how to use Twitter if the person is not familiar with the social networking tool. With the evacuation efforts and the use of Twitter, hopefully many lives will be saved. Additionally, if you are trying to locate the whereabouts of someone affected by Gustav, make sure to search the Red Cross Safe & Well site.

Speaking of blasts from the past, I recalled a Twitter tweet last night regarding the origin of Twitter. Twitter is one of my new pastimes and I have gleaned a great deal of new ed tech information the past few weeks that I directly attribute to reading Twitter posts.

Originating as Twittr, Twitter has evolved into an awesome tech tool reaching millions of Twitter users each day. The founder shared how this concept evolved into the ‘Twitter-verse’,

We’re calling it twttr (though this original rendering calls it stat.us; I love the word.ed domains, e.g. gu.st). It’s evolved a lot in the past few months. From an excited discussion and persuasion on the South Park playground to a recently approved application for a SMS shortcode. I’m happy this idea has taken root; I hope it thrives.

We hope this blast from the past thrives as well. Tweet tweet!

As I was reading some of the Twitter tweets from people I follow, I came across this post:

Click on the image to access the referred to website and make note of the date the article was written as shared by Digimom. Digimom authors a blog entitled, “Tech Chick Tips” thinks the article missed the mark. What do you think?

No, I am not quoting lyrics from the Rockin’ Robin song. I was referring to ‘tweets’ sent by the people I follow on Twitter. Initially I wasn’t that impressed with Twitter and didn’t keep up with it until I met Topher Ziers who is the author of the blog, “Muve Forward“. We started talking about Twitter and I shared my initial impressions with him. He told me how he uses twitter and how informative twitter posts, or tweets, are for him. He shared how when he has needed information on a particular topic or educational issue he posted a question on Twitter. Within minutes, he had responses that he would not have been able to find via email, phone calls or posting to his blog about Second Life. After talking with him I decided to give Twitter a second chance.

After using Twitter for a few weeks now, I can definitely see how useful Twitter can be. The people I follow are educators and I have seen some very interesting tweets. There are tons of applications that make Twitter easier to use although it isn’t necessary to use those applications. You can post your Twitter tweets and follow others’ posts directly from your desktop, cell phone, or within a Firefox/Flock browser. A relatively new service that is now in beta is Twitterfone. Twitterfone allows you to use your cell phone to call a local number and have your voice tweet posted to those that follow you on Twitter. I received a tweet from someone who was accepted to use the beta version of Twitterfone and it sounds like a really innovative communication tool. If all of my students used this communication after school hours would be a lot easier and more convenient using Twitter.

The Twitter application that I currently use is Twitterbin which allows you to post and read tweets from within the Firefox/Flock browser. It is very convenient and accessible when I am reading the tweets from all of the people I follow. I have learned of new tech tools, software applications, blogs, websites, and a whole host of other useful and humorous information. So if you see me around feel free to send a tweet to @kcaise on Twitter. I doubt you will be disappointed if you give Twitter a chance!