Google Docs (and a look back at my Google Reader)

OK, I'm still working on how to use Google Docs in school or in life. Right now, many of the other options (Wikis especially) come to mind to use for planning purposes. (Planning parties, planning themed lessons, ...)


As for my Google Reader, I had Michael add a shortcut to it on my desktop at home. I really like that I can click right on it this way. I think I look at it more often because of this. (I wonder if there's an app for it now that I have an iPhone!?!?) Anyway, I have a few blogs on my reader that I enjoy looking at. I have Mary Ruth's food blog, I have the one from a mother who has a daughter with Down Syndrome, and I have the Happiness Project which in theory I'd really like to read but haven't really, and I read Daily Worth.

This is where I found something interesting.... in the post about Offermatic.
I'm interested but leery of it. I'd like to know more before signing up, but it sounds like a great idea ("freak love child of Mint, Groupon and Blippy.")

Social Bookmarking

OK, to be honest, when I first saw this, I thought -- oh, so it's bookmarking a page. BUT, I like the idea of being able to bookmark pages for others to see or for me to see from other computers. I can see this being very useful at school. I could find and bookmark lots of helpful sites for parents. My goal: to try and actually accomplish this during the 10-11 school year. Here's what I have for me. I think it would also be helpful to have for ECP teachers to access and use. See what sites others like. I wonder if I could do it like a Wiki where everyone could add theirs instead of everyone having their own sites?

As a side note, I also went into Goodreads. I like it though it's not always user friendly, but I did like it. I was going to add it as a sidebar/widget to my other blog, but I can't figure out how. I'm also afraid it could become just one more thing I need to do.... we'll see.

PodCasting

OK, I have put off podcasting because I have NO desire to have my voice or face up on a video. I finally sat down to do it, and I can't. I have to get Michael to look at it -- my computer says there is no microphone (well, essentially it is saying that).
I looked at some of the podcasts. I think it's a neat idea, although I don't think I would use it in my classroom (at least not to make them). I do like the stories (Storynory) and may use this at home or school.

I think I'll move onto social bookmarking and come back to podcasting later.

PhotoSharing with Slide.com

I love taking and sharing pictures. I had never heard of slide.com before. I think slide.com would be a great way to share pictures with parents. Because of confidentiality, I will have to get permission from everyone to share the pictures. It would be fun to make short slide shows of special activities we do and share it with the parents. I did notice something about having to be invited to see the pictures. I think this will be a necessary step to use it at school. Here's my first try.