Google Presentation

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Google Drive! I had my own personal account already but using it again just goes to show me why I love it so much. The accessibility and ease of use is enough to make anyone swoon. I love that Google Drive provides applications for virtually every internet capable device you have. It is ridiculously easy to sync all over your documents into one safe place and access them wherever you may wind up. And boy, do I know what it's like when you have that one brilliant idea and then you frantically search for paper and pen - with Google Drive there's no need. Just whip out any internet capable device, log on, and you're set. What more could you ask for?

Glogster

This was my first time ever being exposed to/using Glogster. As you can see (under the Web 2.0 Applications tab) I tried to create a general inform poster about the danger of banning books as a means of censorship. I can definitely see how this is a fun and interactive way to work with information. What's really great is it can hold all the information a PowerPoint presentation can but in a quick one-stop shop accessibility that I love. I will definitely be utilizing this new resource at the start of the next school year.

Delicious - Social Bookmarking

This was my first time using this website, the interface does not really seem user-friendly and can be quite confusing. The search/discover feature on the website is confusing to use as it resembles that of making a general Google search with keywords, it brings up virtually everything. Seems a bit dangerous to me. I doubt I'll make much use of this resource.

Write with Your Audience in Mind

Writing is not a "one size fits all" formula and it certainly is not formulaic (that's why there are so many genres that cross each other), so one of the biggest failings I can see with my high school students is that audience is not stressed enough when students begin to write. By the time they make it to high school the only piece of advice they have been given is not to use slang in academic writing (which they still do).

We as educators (English teachers in particular) struggle with getting them to put down words on a paper that we often forgo the niceties to get them there. Here is a quick and fantastic video about how to work audience into your writing and how it changes depending on the piece of writing you are working on. 

This is a great way to work in audience in writing with little effort and more importantly saving on time. Purdue Online Writing Lab is easily one of the resources I keep readily available because the way they explain the minute details in writing is so accessible.