Thing #20--Goggle docs

I really enjoyed learning more about Google docs. I have already been using google docs as a way to share files with our Spanish Department at JHHS.

Today I created a document/lesson plan to help me as I am introducing blogging to my upper level spanish students. I had them create a blog and then they must write a post at least once a week...in Spanish of course.

I also like the fact that you can create presentations on google docs. It offers a solution for those that do not have microsoft programs on their home computers. I assign a lot of presentation projects for my spanish 4 & 5 classes and I plan to have them use google docs this time so that they can collaborate together.

Thing #19--Voicethreading

Well, I explored in voicethreading but I think I'm going to have to play around with it a lot more before I really enjoy it. I think it could be used to make photo albums since people have so many digital photos instead of printed photos. I was thinking about how to use it with my students. Possibly I can have them record themselves and do some projects with it. I think it is nice that a group can collaborate and create one voice thread. That would be handy for group projects. Overall, this is probably not something that I will use this year.

Thing #18--Youtube & Teachertube

My videos:

1. Two videos related to my content:

• I found a video that included spoken poetry by Gustavo Adolfo Becquer. I really liked that video had the poetry spoken, included the poetry written and also included pictures that helped the listener to better understand the poetry.
• I also found a video that showed the indigenous music/dances of the Kunas of the Caribbean. They are an indigenous tribe that live on an island off the coast of Panama. I plan to show this video in class so that the students can see the dances.

2. Video that teaches "how to do" something

• I found a video on how to make a Tres leches cake. This is a traditional hispanic desert that is often prepared in Mexico. The video was in Spanish and it was simple and easy to follow. I might consider using it when my students learn commands in Spanish.

3. Video for fun

• I love watching music videos on youtube. My favorite singer is Marcela Gandara and I love to listen to her music!

4. Video from TeacherTube

• I found a video created by students that covers the chapter that my Span 2 kids just finished. I think it is really neat and I think I'm going to let them see it so that they can be challenged! I embedded the video for everyone to see!

Thing #17--Podcasting

I looked at the techpod site and also at coffee break spanish which is a podcast for learning spanish. I really enjoy podcasts and have used them in class to help students here authentic spanish. I especially use them for upper level spanish because it helps them to here various dialects of spoken spanish. I mainly use itunes to find podcasts because I have itunes already on my computer and I already have subscriptions to a few of the spanish podcasts. It is easier to search in itunes because I think that the content is better. Like I said earlier, I already use podcasts in the classroom to help the students with their listening. I am going to have my upper level students create a podcast at the end of the year that is about their favorite author. They will read a short selection of their work and discuss the work in Spanish. I am also considering having them create a video podcast as well.

Thing #16--Library Thing

I know exactly how I will use this site! It is a requirement for my upper level students to read in Spanish daily and for that reason they are always on the look out for good books in Spanish. I will have my students explore this website and explore all of the Spanish books that are out there. I think that I will have them look up some books by authors but also by themes that they like. I searched for books written by my favorite Mexican author Juan Rulfo and found some good information about his books. I also like that you can just click on the right box to buy, borrow or swap the book that you are looking at. This makes finding good books to read very easy.

Thing #15--Delicious

Wow...I really needed this site about 6 months ago when I moved and had issues w/saving all of my precious bookmarks from my old school computer! I really love this site and the fact that it is accesable from the internet! This makes searching for quality content a lot faster as well. When I searched for "AP Spanish V" I actually got some good sites that I can use. I also like the fact that the organization makes the site user-friendly. Plus you can keep bookmarks private if you want. I went ahead and imported my bookmarks from my computer and I will definitely be using this site almost daily!

http://delicious.com/amberhernandez

Thing #14

I explored the whiteboard (http://writeboard.com/) and I think that this site would have been really useful when I was in college. lol Well, at least I can use it when I work on my masters.

I like the fact that it is password protected and that it is really easy to share information and have other people contribute to a group effort. I can see my students using this in class as they work on group projects and also with my Spanish Lit class as we brainstorm about the various works that we are reading. This could be an excellent way to make lesson plans within a team. For example, the Spanish 2 teachers could share and create plans on this site for the upcoming 6 weeks.