I found that the Google site creator was pretty easy to use. I got confused a few times though but was able to figure out what I was doing wrong. I am sure I will create a class website when I am actually a certified teacher, however the school that I work at requires us to use a program called Haiku to create class websites. I would like to create a website for my daughter using the Google site creator because that would be a good way for out of state family to keep in touch. I don't know that I will ever find the time to do that though. Overall my experience using Google to create my site was positive. Here is the link to my website: http://sites.google.com/site/mrsbaliuskindergarten/home

TurnItIn

It was very interesting to see how the TurnItIn website worked. It amazes me that there is an online source that scans and reviews virtually everything to prevent plagiarism. That indicates to me that plagiarism was becomming pretty prevalent so it is good that there is now a way to help stop it. I think that is great. I know that I would not want someone to take a report or article that I worked hard on and try to pass it off as their own. I think that the website was very easy to use and it yeilded the percentage results very quickly and I like that it showed the specific areas that had been copied or plagiarized. That way you have solid evidence if you had to confront a student on such an incident. Here is the link to my report https://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B6WQt3h1tTLFYzk5MzRkZjUtNWYyZC00MjgxLThjODItZDhiNjY4MmFkZDM1&hl=en

Web Tools Assignment

I enjoyed doing this assignment, all 3 of the websites were easy to use. We really don't use rubrics for grading in Kindergarten though, but the RubiStar website was very user friendly. I really liked the quiz maker at BigBus, I definately will use that again. I made a list of extra help websites for parents to use with their children at TrackStar. I am really excited to be learning about all of these programs, there are so many resources available to help teachers! Here are links to my assignment submissions: https://southernmiss.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc570892304031.tp579993003021/RelativeResourceManager/sfsid/1640494770031

https://southernmiss.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc570892304031.tp579993003021/RelativeResourceManager/sfsid/1640494772031

https://southernmiss.blackboard.com/webct/urw/lc570892304031.tp579993003021/RelativeResourceManager/sfsid/1640494771031

Google Group Assignment

I have had a Gmail account for over a year and I did not know that there was so much that I could do with it. I was a little overwhelmed at first since all of the group postings were mixed in with everything else in my inbox, but then I found where to click to go to our group page. That was much easier.. I was able to post my reflection and website list and edit my profile to include a picture. I can see myself using the Google Group in the classroom to either keep up communication amongst my grade level teachers or possibly as a way to keep in touch with parents. I will continue to explore my Gmail account. Here is the link to my website list from the Google Group assignment http://groups.google.com/group/it-465/web/useful-educational-websites