Del.icio.us

I think that this site is interesting and could possibly be helpful for those who are very busy or doing a project of some kind. I don't think I would be one to use this site though. I don't have many things saved in my favorites, and the things in there are familiar to me. I know the websites for them, or I could just google it. I usually have my computer with me, so if I was working on a project that had a website I bookmarked, I wouldn't need the Del.icio.us website.

Spreadsheets

I think that spreadsheets have many different uses for schools. They work well for teachers to use as a gradebook. They can be used to make a rollsheet, to make a syllabus or to do anything that needs counting and keeping track of. It can be used for students to do assignments such as timelines or charts and graphs. It can help with mathematical formulas and projects of all kinds. I would definately use it in my classroom for a multitude of projects and daily tasks. I think spreadsheet is both better and worse than a calculator. With a calculator, you have to remember the equation and be very careful not to enter the wrong numbers so that you get the correct answer. If you're good at math then the calculator is your friend. If you're like me and are not good at math, spreadsheet is a big help. You just enter the data and push a button and it does the calculations for you. I will definately use this function.

Inspiration and Microsoft Word

I think that Inspiration could be a great tool for the classroom. I personally would have my students create mind maps and charts to help them in the topics we are studying. When creating a mind map the student can add hyperlinks, pictures, movies, music and text. I like that it works and looks the same on Mac's and PC's. I like that everything that might need to be done is simple and on the toolbar. Luckily students are usually very computer savvy. I also like that when making maps or charts, they can be color coded. I use color coding in my projects and readings to help me keep like ideas together. It also has an outline form which could be useful for the beginnings of papers in the classroom. By having students create an outline, their thoughts are automatically grouped together by topic.

In my classroom, using Microsoft word and potentially Inspiration would be very useful. When in and English classroom, typed essays and stories are a must. Inspiration could be an excellent resource for creative outlines and brainstorming maps for the beginnings of an essay. In the classroom, these mind maps and outlines will be easy for other students to give each other feedback. By creating online and printing them out, students can trade with one another in small groups to peer-evaluate.