BP_Diigo Group

My Diigo Group page...in process!

For my Diigo group page, I have started some research in regards to my Action Research Project.  I have found some useful items via Diigo, such as a Web2.0 group.  Many of the followers of this group are in the education field, and contributed to the site with what they have found online to be useful.  

One of these sites are documentarywire.com.  This site allows its users to watch documentaries for free online.  As a history teacher, I can use this website in my classroom as a follow-up to lessons from class.  There are documentaries of the Nazis, the African Slave trade, and even about Hurricane Katrina.  I have always found that video lessons have been enjoyable to most students and we are able to have meaningful discussions afterwards.  This website will be a great tool to have. 

As far as Diigo in general, it is alright.  I think that by bookmarking my websites on a web browser, like Safari or Firefox, that I would be more apt to use them than Diigo.  I do like the sense of sharing these links with others who are interested, but again, I can do that from Facebook or similar websites.

BP2_iGoogle Screen Shots

iGoogle Home Page

FSO Page

AR/CBL Page

ETC Page

Here are the screen shots from my iGoogle Page.  Setting up my PLE, or Personal Learning Environment via iGoogle was interesting.  Many of the widgets such as Google Docs, Google Reader, and Facebook are very familiar and I use on a daily basis.  I have heard of Linkedin and Flickr but never thought to use them.  These items along with Twitter and some others I will definitely need to read up and learn about.  Google has made the integration of these other sites fairly easy and have many gadget that will fit many people's needs.  I remember I used iGoogle several years ago.  I did not keep up with it, probably due to lack of knowledge.  Seeing that many of the EMDTS courses encourage us to use it, it is probably a worth while tool.  Perhaps I can use this in my classroom?  Only if they would unblock some of these sites so the students can fully utilize it...we will see!

BP1_Google Reader

My Google Reader on USHistoryBlog.com's feed.

Orlando Sentinel

I subscribed to this site because seeing that I am a Social Studies teacher living in Orlando, I like to provide the latest information to my students.  I do not always have the time to sit and watch a newscast or read a newspaper, so this is the most convenient way to stay connected to my community.

Free Technology for Teachers
I like this blog as it infuses teaching with the latest technology.  One of the latest blogs on the site deals with alternatives to YouTube.  I believe YouTube is a useful technology tool but is blocked in many school districts, including mine.  As a teacher, I believe it is important to find engaging, meaningful activities for our students, and I think that this site provides information that will prepare myself for such activities.

iLearn Technology
This is another site that encourages technology integration in the classroom.  I chose this one because, again, I want to find as much information as possible on the topic. The site gives you ideas on building lessons with your students the old way, such as word sorts, and integrating technology tools with it, such as pictures and links to related sites.  This site will be especially helpful to myself because I can use my old paper and pencil lessons, and implement similar technology-based lessons.

The Modern Historian  
This site will help further my knowledge of history and have talking points with my students.  Each day the site provides a snippet of what happened that day in history.  My students and myself can discover these nuggets daily in out reader without hesitation. 

US History Blog

This site is similar to the Modern Historian site, but also provides lesson plans and Twitter updates on history.  I subscribed to the site not just because of these ideas, but for the categories the site provides on the left navigation panel.  It is quick and easy to use in this manner, and makes impromptu discussions with students easy to have.  I have subscribed to this site due to its content in History.