Aggregating Pages

Protopage

Using web 2.0 tools today can help you create a customized space to collect resources, tools, and experiences.  

In order to create a custom space, I used Protopage.  Protopage is a tool that allows you to create a personalized dashboard of information relating to any topic you wish.  

I am a complete novice to Protopage.  I found that as soon as you go to the website and sign up it has a premade dashboard already made, which made the creation aspect of my dashboard very easy to set up.

I first began to customize the widgets I wanted on my home screen to include basic things like a calendar, clock, a link to both my Twitter feed and YouTube playlists, and a link to my ETEC blog.

The set up was a smooth drag and drop system.  

There were also tabs where I could add useful information like web 2.0 tools and resources.  This is the only place I found it difficult to know how to add information.  I did a YouTube search of Protopage tab tutorials and within 5 minutes I was able to add links to web pages for both my web 2.0 tools and resources tabs.

Overall, I found using Protopage to be easy and fun to customize without needing to spend all day personalizing it.  I easily added in a fun educational theme and color details.

I know in the future this tool can be useful when organizing resources for web 2.0 technologies.  Thinking about how to use this in the classroom, I thought about when my first-grade class does research in the early part of the first semester.  If you have never worked with a classroom full of 6 and 7-year-olds and trying to allow independence while logging in the class to the playlist on my YouTube channel-imagine herding a truckload of feral cats into a small container!  It's not an easy task!  Being able to access a Protopage will allow me to set up in advance some great tools and resources all in one spot for the class to access.  The page can also be sent home to parents to have access at home as well.

I can see Protopage as a useful web 2.0 tool in my classroom!
Here's a link to check out my Protopage...
https://www.protopage.com/amandawoods

Adventures in "YouTubing" plus a little Twitter update

This week our lesson of practice was to learn and explore YouTube!  Let me just tell you, I am not very Tech Savvy-but I love a good YouTube session!  Pretty much our family motto is "when in doubt-You Tube it!"

 For someone like me in education-I scan Instagram and Pinterest daily and see these amazing ideas for my classroom.  I always go to my trusty YouTube and watch countless hours of videos that usually lead down a rabbit hole and before I know it, instead of watching videos on teaching a guided reading lesson using the new Jan Richardson book, I'm watching a beauty video on how to candle my husband's ears!!  

So today I stayed on course (most of the time) and logged into my account I use for school use only!  I do have a separate account for personal use.

I have many playlists for all areas in my teaching position.  Today I added some new playlists to include Twitter and Twitter tools!  I am actually starting to like Twitter, which I swore I would never like.  The most useful Twitter tool I found was a tutorial on using TweetDeck.  Again, I was resistant to using this TweetDeck when I could not wrap my brain around Twitter.  But after watching the YouTube video  

VIOLA...

I have a TweetDeck and I even learned to add a column to add our #etec527 for class.  This a much easier way to see our class hashtag!

I also added a Wikis playlist, but haven't spent much time investigating these yet.  

There is also a playlist for Web 2.0 tools and each day as I check out our Twitter feed I am learning and adding more tools to check out!

Another new playlist I have added is a Library section.  This section has some great TedTalks about librarians and their purpose in our ever-changing world!  I have watched a few that are so inspiring!

My Zumba/Yoga playlist was one I already had established.  This past school year my school introduced clubs that were built into our Mondays.  This was used in hopes to promote attendance and meet the needs of students who had no extracurricular opportunities outside of school.  My club incorporated Zumba and Yoga and it made waking up every Monday a treat!!

Overall, I love YouTube for so many reasons.  As an educator, I know that there is and never will be enough time to read all the books or study all the curriculum.  YouTube is my life anchor when I need to know quickly and for that I am grateful!

Twitter Adventure

I am not new to Twitter.  Now that being said, I don't really use Twitter.  I made an account out of peer pressure during a PD session several years ago.  Your ticket out was to "tweet" out something you learned during the session.  Being a rule follower I quickly created an account, completed the ticket out, and never really used it again.  My first social media experience was MySpace.  I would spend hours "decorating" my space and then I eventually moved over to Facebook.  Over time, I found that scrolling for hours on Facebook and Google searches was more than I should be using my precious time for.  So, what's better than quick, fast, limited text that still gets to the point-Twitter!!!

I will say that the "lingo" used in the world of Twitter is overwhelming and makes me feel really old.  This awesome blog is my roadmap when navigating Twitter-speak!

https://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/34-twitter-terms-defined-list 

My current apps on my phone that can be used with Twitter include Pinterest, Facebook, Instagram, Fitbit, and Uber.  Websites that I frequent that have a Twitter button are the Texas A&M Commerce site, my school district website, and Stitch Fix.  

Through the Twitter adventure, I did start to see some fun ways to incorporate myself more into the social world of Twitter.  I love the "Who to Follow" and the "Trends for You" sections.

So, I hope to continue on with this Twitter adventure and will use the #etec527 to link up with other fellow Tweeters from class!  If you see me TMB.

BFN

Vanity Search

www.lifewire.com


Vanity Search
Having no clue about the term vanity search, I was eager to Google my name.  It took several attempts, changing my name around and using the advanced feature, but I found my very own digital footprint.

My vanity search included my Facebook page, a background check, my Twitter and Instagram accounts, my personal and school-related blogs, a NISD video on You Tube when I was chosen as the Profile of an Educator, and my school related webpage.
The most surprising and weird link about me was on a site called My Life.  It gave specifics about me and even included a reputation score.  I'm not sure what I think about a reputation score or how that was established!! (Luckily, mine was high:))
Pictures of me included some from my blogs and school webpage.

Doing a vanity search is proof that what you put out on the Internet can always be found, relatively simple and with no real effort. 
In a matter of seconds I found out my age, the city I live in, my husband and parents names, my profession, and what I look like.

We live in a time of display-putting our life out there for anyone to see.  I think self-editing and thinking before you post is critical.