What is Cloud Computing and Web2.0?

There are many ways one could go about trying to define Cloud Computing and Web 2.0.  The easiest way I can define it is in one word which most people are all familiar with, Facebook.  Facebook is one of the most common tools of Cloud Computing.  You didn’t go to the store, purchase Facebook on a disc, get in your car, drive home, and then insert the disc into your computer.  To get Facebook you simply opened a web browser (ie Internet Explorer, Google Chrome, etc.).  Most of the time, you are using Cloud Computing and Web2.0 whenever you have to “log in” to something or whenever you are “streaming” or “uploading/downloading” something.  G-mail, Hotmail, Yahoo, MSN, Facebook, and Youtube are probably some of the most known Cloud Computing and Web2.0 applications.  In Cloud Computing, you do not have to go to the store to purchase the update of any of these applications.  Cloud Computing and Web2.0 applications make it so we can access any information we put “into the cloud” from any other computer or web device from around the world.  I can upload pictures onto Facebook or Flickr and if I lose those pictures on my computer, all I have to do is go onto Facebook or Flickr to retrieve those pictures.  Cloud Computing and Web2.0 is still very young, we are constantly seeing the emergence of new Cloud Computing and Web2.0 applications.

Google Forms Project

The purpose of this project was to do some research and discover one of the many great tools Google has to offer.  My group was given the task of researching Google Forms.  I only have one way to describe it, AWESOME.  There are so many fun things we could use this for in the classroom.  The obvious being quizzes and surveys for the students to perform at home or in the classroom.  We could also use Google Forms for spelling tests, reading diaries/questions, etc.
It took a little bit of trial and error to learn some of it, but not as long as you would think.  It really is simple once you make a few mistakes you learn from them right away.  If not, then Google provides a lot of information through Help.  There are LOTS of videos and information on the internet as well to help you with any questions as well.
I "got the ball rolling" with our survey about technology in the classroom.  I started the document and got the survey's first couple questions down.  In our presentation, I added the 4th and 5th slides.  I found some great resources for help online that I included in our "Resources" slide.  I also gave my opinion about Google Forms in the Reflection slide.  Overall, this was an easy and very helpful group exercise.  I am really enjoying learning the new technology available to us in this class.

Before taking the survey, take your time to view our simple and helpful presentation about Google Forms.


When finished with the survey, feel free to take your time and do our SURVEY!!!

Social Media Revolution and Education

WOW!!!

That was the first word that came to my mind when hearing some of the statistics in the video Shift Happens- Social Media Revolution.  To think that Facebook would be the 3rd largest country in the world is astonishing to me.  With over 60 million status updates on Facebook daily, there is no denying that technology has taken over our lives.  Like it is stated in Vision 2011- Tech Impact on Education, "We no longer have the luxury to choose whether or not we want to participate in a digital life."  It would be unfair to our students to not accept that this change is happening and not use the new technology at our fingertips to help prepare our students for the future.  In order for the education system and the quality of education we provide students to continue to grow, educators need to embrace the new technology available and utilize it to its full potential.  

"Research: Blogging in Education"

    There are many ways to use blogging in a classroom.  Many of these ways are new to me and when I read about them it was like a light bulb going off in my head.  I could have used blogging for so many things in my teaching experiences in Korea.  Things like classroom management and maintaining student portfolios are two of the most significant ways I see blogging being helpful in the classroom.
    Using a blog is not only helpful for students, but it is also helpful for the parents.  The blog will keep parents up to date on what is happening in the classroom.  Parents will be able to find out what their students' are currently studying, what assignments the students should be working on and when they need to be finished.  With the blog, a teacher will never have to hear the excuse, "I didn't know that was due," or, "You never told us we had to do that."
    The blog will also help show the students and parents what kind of progress the student has made through the year.  There is no better way than being able to look at the math or writing the student was doing at the beginning of the school year and seeing the progress that student has made by seeing their work they have completed at the end of the year.  The work the students keep online is much easier to keep organized than keeping a file in a cabinet on every student.  This is, after all, the age where more and more things are becoming digitized.  Blogs make it easy for students to have a portfolio of all of their academic work through their life.

Personal Biography

Hello!!!!!

   My name is Scott and I'm excited and nervous at the same time to get this adventure started!  First, I'm going to tell you my life story.
    I was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest.  I grew up in a town just north of Seattle, Washington called Marysville.  After high school, I left Marysville and went to college in Pullman, Washington, home of the COUGS!!!!  In college, I majored in Criminal Justice and Sociology.  College was great and after graduation I thought I would get into the field of Law Enforcement.  Well, I quickly realized I was not interested in pursuing a career in that field.  So, I started working in a special education classroom in Colorado.  I loved my job but I still wanted to do new and exciting things.
    So, I left to Korea to teach English and do some travelling.  I only was going to teach for a year and then do some travelling before coming back to America.  Well, 5 years later here I am.  I filled my passport with stamps all over Southeast Asia and some of Europe and decided it was finally time to come home.  Now, I'm teaching in a special education transition classroom in Portland.  I truly love my job.  It is sickening that on Sunday night I get excited to go to work on Monday.  Hopefully, one day I will be able to work in a resource classroom in a high school.
    If there were only two things for you to remember me by, they would be travelling and soccer.  Soccer is passion.  I have played it since the age of 4 and I have played it year round since the age of 11.  If I go longer than a few months without touching a soccer ball or seeing a soccer game, I will become depressed and lost.  Most Saturday mornings I will be up at 5am to watch soccer games on TV and on my computer.  Ultimately, I hope to coach the soccer team at a school I eventually find a teaching job at.
  This was just a little about me.  If you'd like to know more about me, ask me about places I've been, or see some of the pictures I've taken while travelling, then feel free to ask.