This is the most amazing Web 2.0 site I can find!!! I use Pinterest multiple times a day weather it is looking up recipes, outfits, crafts to do with my kids, big projects to tackle, you name it...Pinterest has it! I love the ease of use for this site, the search tool is great when you need something specific and in a hurry. This Web 2.0 site is very user friendly offering categories to search, and specifics to do those searches.
I can see myself definitely using this site for classroom design, activities, among many many other things. There are often links to blogs posted here that are extremely beneficial to teachers to learn from, and utilize. When ideas run out, or you are stumped on what creative thing to do or make, there is something for everything on the Pinterest website. I have used it for so long not knowing what type of Web interface I was dealing with, now knowing it that more interesting to me!
http://www.pinterest.com
School 2.0 ?!? What does that even mean...School 2.0 to me means innovation and endless learning possibilities. Starting with the options in distance learning schools, there are resources at every corner for the students of today. Opportunities to learn are available to virtually every type of student. Web 2.0 offers a multitude of free websites, apps, and blogs that aide in teaching and learning. The use of these resources provide a different perspective to teach students, and for the students to utilize these skills and practice for comprehension.
What does all of this mean for the future? Well it means that Web 2.0 will only get bigger. More options will surface with this programming. In todays classroom it is not uncommon to see 5 or 6 computers in each learning environment, on top of that computers labs are present in most schools. Therefore the technology is at a students fingertips. Finding what works for you as a teacher, and what works best with the objectives you are teaching are easily accessed right there in you own classroom. Many Web 2.0 sites offer interactive games that aide the students in learning without them knowing that they are learning. Web 2.0 engages students in ways that teachers cannot. It gives them hands on application, which is more stimulating than sitting and listening to the teacher talk.
Commenting is something I got in the habit of when starting Facebook. I always read the comments underneath products I plan to buy, or recipes I plan to make, just to see how they have turned out for others. After going through this exercise I have uncovered commenting is so much more than simply voicing your opinion about something. Commenting creates a community where you can relate with others, tell them that their post helped you, offer advice on a problem, etc. With there being so many different types of blogs, the possibilities are endless.
From the reading I liked the parts about constructively criticizing. There is no need to get onto someones blog and bash what they are saying, or creating, or cooking. I have seen this a few times on food blogs where people find a recipe, make it and then come and comment back with all of the things that they did differently, and how bad it tasted before they added this and that in. Although the person who created the recipe may not mind what they are saying, there are nicer ways to throw these things in..such as, great recipe I added a few touches to make it my own...something along those lines. Another point from the reading is commenting builds relationships. You may not know the person whose blog you are following, weather it be craft blog, or history blog, whatever the case...you are reading with them daily or weekly whatever the occurrence. This creates a bond and a relationship with that person, commenting on their posts lets them know first of all that you are following them and they are talking to someone when they type and two that you care about what it is they have to say, which probably makes them feel even better.
The blogs that I commented on for this exercise were Natasha Long, Stephanie Fortner, Nicole Petrik, Alexa Aguilar, and Whitney Butts from class. The other blogs I commented on were from Makes and Takes, and Salsa Pie. The comments on the classmates blogs were all related to the subject matter in their post...some were early in their stages of blogging only on step 2 or 4, others were on step 10. With each comment I personalized what I got from their particular post and let them know they were doing a great job. Its hard to put something out there and not know what others think when they read it, or even if they are reading it! The other blogs I commented on are two that I have looked at before, both craft, recipe and family blogs. There are some interesting crafts always handy, and easy go to things for spending time with family, and creating things at home. I chose to comment on a post about crafts for teachers, because I love to make things for people and I wanted to thank them for sharing the great idea. The other was for a place card craft that I could make for my children to add a little happiness to their day!
Starting to comment has made the process even more fun than I thought it was going to be! Now I am not "scared" to comment!
