Last Blog!

Like a Jeff Karstens fastball, this puppy is out of here!  I can't say I've enjoyed blogging, cause well, I haven't.  As Austin Powers says, "That ain't my bag baby."  However, I can see me trying some new techno stuff in my classes this year.  Why not?  After three years in the same setting, I'm getting bored.  Definitely going to keep up the www.edmodo.com site, it's a proven winner.  Doc, you should take a look at it see if you could add it to your next class.  I was thinking about taking some of my older power points and flipping them into a prezi or something else.  We shall see! 

So, this is it for me.  I'm writing my last blog!  I've also completed all of my assignments for both classes this summer session.  Making it official, I'M DONE WITH GRAD SCHOOL.  Thank the heavens.  Never realized how much I hate being in school.  How I made it is beyond me.  Well, I know how I made it, my wife would yell at me and tell me to stop complaining until I finally shut up and did my work.  Thank you my dear, you're an inspiration.  Alright, I'm gone...

JClare

List Serve

I'm a member of an AP list serve that is the coolest thing ever!  Everyday, even in the summer, I get anywhere from 20 - 30 emails a day on various topics in and around AP World History.  Now, I rarely do I read them all (those of you who know me, are not surprised by that) however, I usually pick one or two per day.  The other cool thing is, being able to post questions on the list serve and have other AP teachers answer them!  When I first started teaching APWH, I was lost.  This list serve saved my life, a teacher in California gave me the a bunch of resources that I used all year!  Take that Google!

Google's Picasa

By the way, I'm hella pissed right now, cause I just typed out an entire blog and the stupid thing vanished into some google time space continum.  I don't remember all that I said...but here goes the really short version of it.

Go check out Google's Picasa website.  It's a really cool way to store and share pictures.  When our son was born we set one of these up.  We use it so our relatives all around the country can keep up with Jonah and his travels.  Ok, that's it.  I'm done, go see for yourself!

http://picasa.google.com/

Check out my little man at T-Ball! Hat to the back!!

Prezi n' Stuff.

We spent our last class working on Prezi...I have to say it's a cool website.  There are alot of neat little things you can do when making a presentation.  However, I teach 5 different classes.  I generally don't have 3 hours to sit down and spend all that time on one class.  No lie, if we used some sort of power point on this assignemnt, I'd been done in 10 minutes.  Now, would it have spun around in cute little circles?  No.  But do I care?  No.  At least the Pirates are in first place. 

JClare

Yesterday's Class

Ouch.  Talk about a lot of information.  My head is still spinning.  I don't understand the need to try to jam so much info into such little time.  I understand that it's a five week course, we only meet four times and there's a an online component.  I get all that.  It's just that I think it would be more effective to present two or three well thought out, well put together ideas.  Think about it, honestly, how many of us have time to browse through a couple of hundred websites?  And if you do have the time, when are you teaching?  Just sayin...

That being said, tomorrow is my last grad class!  Never thought I'd make it this far!  Certainly would not have done it without my wife...so big ups to you my dear...

JClare

Google Maps

I got to be honest, I'm not a real big fan.  The last thing I want to do when I teaching is wait for a computer program to catch up to what I'm trying to do.  I think it's a cool idea, but it makes me feel like I want to set myself on fire.  Just sayin'.

So, Google Rules The World...

After thinkging about all of the "stuff" we looked at in class, I can to this one simple conclusion:  Google Rules The World!  It's scary to think how much you can do with Google!  Here's the only question I have:  How pissed is Bill Gates?

Blog You Right In The Face!

Alrighty folks, here's goes my first attempt at blogging.  Let me begin by saying that I had to miss my son's T-Ball practice tonight to be here, so shed a tear for me so we can all move on...

Doc says we must reflect on what we have talked about/learnagated in class.  Well, I had never worked with Google so close before, so that was something very cool.  Luckily, I have a smartboard in my classroom and I can see how this would be a great tool to introduce.  I'm thinking that I'll give this a try with my seniors this year.  Also, this will give me a way to spy on my wife, she's reading this over my shoulder right now...love you dear!  Is this appropriate blogging?  Oh, time will tell...

JClare