I will definitely use Google Docs again. It will be very helpful when trying to get information for several people when I need all to see the information as it changes. I will need to explore the survey forms further. Seems like an excellent tool for worksheets, etc. for classes as well. I am anxious to talk to some math teachers that have used google docs in the classroom.

I was encouraged after reviewing both of these sites to know there is a place I can go in the future and get help and tips from the tools we are learning now. It is nice to have a resource from teachers that have used the tools in the classroom and read questions from those that are struggling with the tools. I hope to use both of these sites as I practice throughout the year in finding tools that will fit my needs. Ning in education is a site that you could spend hours reading and hope to find valuable videos and fun things to use in the classroom.

Page Flakes could be an interesting avenue to put information for the students to use and for someone that needs organization to have everything they need on one page.  I am sure with a few more hours of playing around and practicing I would be able to make a very useful page for myself to find anything I need on one screen. 

It seems that even the Olympics are having issues with internet privacy and functionality.  The opening ceremonies were supposed to be top secret – but a Korean broadcaster got into the practice area and filmed part of the ceremony.  Of course it was on Youtube for the world to see.  It has since been taken off .   Their is much debate also on what sites should be blocked for the athletes and media while in Beijing.   Many of the political sites were blocked – and after much discussion from the IOC several are now going to be available to the press if wanted.   

http://olympics.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/08/01/the-starting-line-of-leaks-blocks-and-bans/

In keeping with my interest in the Olympics this summer, I embedded a youtube video giving information about the pollution concern in Beijing during the Olympic games.

I have found Youtube to be overwhelming.  I really haven’t found classroom-type videos. I guess once again I need more direction from other teachers on valuable sites to view.  I will keep searching. 

The following is a video for finding max and mins of functions using inspire software. 

 Above is a funny video project from kids that did a rap about Vermont.  Very funny to those that grew up in that state. 

I was happy to find that making a podcast was pretty easy and painless. I used the microphone and had no problems recording. Here is my podcast.

I have been listening to some podcasts on my rss feed and I enjoy the radio sites that I don’t always get to hear when they broadcast live on the radio.  I am sure I will be able to answer the questions of usefulness in the classroom after I actually make a podcast.  I would think it would be nice to podcast lectures in the classroom,  parents day messages,  information for teams, etc.  All of these podcasts would be helpful to the parents that can’t get to meetings or kids that miss class.  Although I think it may make it too easy for parents and kids to start missing things if all they have to do is a click on a website and listen to the 30 minutes of information.    I personally would love to use the podcasts to learn another language.  I did listen to a few lessons on italian.   I had a lot of trouble figuring out itunes once I had everything downloaded.  I would have to get a few lessons in that software before I do much more with podcasting. 

I love LibraryThing! I usually spend an hour at the bookstore trying to find a book and am always asking people what they are reading. This is a perfect site for me! I love being able to read reviews and see what new books are out there. I will definitely use this site again. I doubt I will do a lot of conversations or reviews myself – but will definitely use this site and give it to others.

Setting up the delicious account was quite easy and manuevering through websites turned out to be pretty painless.  I like having all of the sites that I would look at in one place and being able to get to those sites on any computer is nice.   I am really not sure how I would use them in a class setting, but I know I will use it in my professional side of the job – preparing for classes and keeping up with my favorite sites.   My page

This blurb shows that our ( China and USA) youthful cultures are not that much different.   As a group of over 1,000 women formed the olympic rings in bikinis to break the Guinness World Book of records.  See article or video .