Web 2.0 Tool : Bubbl.us

Bubbl.us

Bubbl.us is an online tool for creating mind maps, webs, and other diagrams. It's a nice light little tool that has one job and does it pretty well. You are able to create mind maps using bubbles and connecting lines, both of which have some customization features. You can add text to your bubbles, and customize the text's size, color and font. A nice feature is that you can add pictures to your maps, making it more versatile and something even lower grades can use. 

Bubbl.us is also a collaborative tool. If you have a group of students working on a project, they can brainstorm and start a map, share it with others in their group who can then add and edit the maps as well. 

I've found Bubbl.us to work reliably, and to be quite stable. The drag to move features are also very smooth, which you can appreciate after using some tools that have jaggy dragging. 

Overall it's a nice little tool, that does one job and does it well. If you are working on brainstorming or mind maps with students, it is a great tool to check out. 

Web 2.0 and the Symantec Web

Web 2.0 applications
Web 2.0 applications are often useful tools. There are pitfalls however. One pitfall is that you usually need an internet connection, a connection is not always a given when you live here in Saipan. Another pitfall is that these applications are often built by independent small companies or by individuals as a hobby and may not always be supported. You may use an application you love for one school year, and find it broken, or gone the next.

I trust web 2.0 applications that I have tested, seen been used by others with success, or that are well reviewed by other professionals. Also I tend to trust applications that don't ask my for any personal information. Saying your app is free, but then asking for my address or credit card info is questionable and not worthy of my trust.

Free apps are an acceptable solution for many needs. However I feel that for word processing, and other frequently used office applications, a widely used paid application is probably the way to go. With office applications, formatting and the compatibility of files is very important. Also with paid application you get support when having issues, which is not always the case with free applications.

The Power and Peril of the Web
I think the most difficult leap will be essentially rewriting the web. In order to reach the semantic web ideal, all the coding that makes up the existing web needs to be added to if not rewritten. I think the most simple will be getting people on board when that happens. The only concern i have has to do with bias. If the code has to be rewritten and all this information sifted through and tagged. The information is open to interpretation by the people tagging it.

Article Reflection: Why Digital Natives Need Help with Technology

Article found here.

This article talks about the idea that children today, often called digital natives, have an innate sense of how to use newer technological tools. It responds to the statement that some have made that the need for technological instruction in schools is unnecessary because children are already "immersed" in it. 

I think the author of this article has a great point. Children are growing up using various forms of technology. However, using many of these tools in ways that are meaningful for learning require more "old-school" skills. Skills like being able to look at information critically, to determine quality and credibility of information they see, and to use alternative tools when their preferred tool is not working for their needs. These skills are often learned in the analog world before they are put to use in the digital world. That may change, however for that to be true students need to be taught those skills explicitly and practice them. 

How important is it for digital natives to receive technology integrated instruction?

Do you think the use of technology starting when children are very young, has any impact on their critical thinking skills, or problem solving skills?

If so, for the good or for bad? 

Blogs

What is a blog?
A blog is a website that displays content in chunks. These chunks, called posts are recorded chronologically. The posts are displayed to readers in reverse chronological order, with the newest content read first. The word blog is a short version of the phrase web log. There are blogs about every subject and interest you can think of. Many people use blogs in the same way journals and diaries are used. They boomed in popularity in the late 1990's due to the proliferation of easy to use blogging publishers.

What is the purpose of a blog?
Generally speaking the purpose of a blog is to give out content in chunks (called posts), recorded chronologically, with the readers seeing the newest content first.

2 Examples of using a blog:

1. As a preschool teacher my students are not ready to read or write a blog yet. However a blog would be useful as a tool to communicate what is going on in our classroom with my student's parents. I could post upcoming events, and reminders of things to bring in. I could also update the blog with what we are learning in the upcoming weeks, and some things they can do at home to support their learning. 
2. I can use a blog as a professional development tool. I can use it as a place to reflect on what i have been doing in the classroom. To collect and post activities and other tools I want to use and try. I can also use it as a way to connect to other educators and share ideas.           

What are the benefits of a blog?

• There are a myriad of benefits to using a blog. For the writer of a blog, it is a reliable, relatively easy way to get the information you want out to a large audience. Modern blogging tools make it easy for anyone with relatively basic knowledge of internet use to publish content on the web. 
• For readers, blogs give you shorter more concise chunks of information. They are usually easy to navigate and search, and you get to see the most current information first. 

What are the drawbacks of a blog?

• Blogs are generally a publicly viewed medium, which in the field of education may pose some problems when it comes to confidentiality, students taking part, and displaying work. Teachers should ensure that they comply with any acceptable use policy, and that it is conveyed clearly to students. Parents should also be consulted and permission needs to be granted when students are involved (Keesee). 
• Blogs are also time consuming. To be most effective, blogs need to be updated regulary which can take up time, something that is always in short supply.

Keesee, Gayla. "Blogs in Education." Teaching and Learning Resources /. Teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com. Web. 12 Oct. 2014.