Social Bookmarking

Social bookmarking is like having your favorite bookmarks all in one place.  It allows you to organize, store, manage and search for bookmarks of resources online. 
Just like everything concerning the Internet, the more you do something and become comfortable with it the better you become at doing it.  It seems very simple, but sometimes trying new things can seem a little strange or even difficult.  I think the more one uses a social networking site to manage all their favorites, it will become more beneficial for both students and teachers.  There isn't much better than having everything you need on one page whenever you need it.  One can have all their research websites, teacher aiding websites, and/or websites that pertain to any specific subject.  Social bookmarking can be very helpful to both teachers and students.

Switching to Google Docs?

I think the biggest differnce between the Microsoft products and Google docs is the ability to instantly send the information via e-mail with Google docs.  With that being said, I DON'T think that is a great arguement to move away from Microsoft Word and Excel.  Everybody everywhere had to make the shift from typewriters and basic word processors towards Word and Excel, and if I remember correctly, it wasn't an easy transition for everyone.  Everybody would have to learn something new with Google docs and go through more training on something that is generally doing the same thing. Sure, Google docs saves your work automatically, but it also prohibits you from seeing what you type in real time.  People are still learning new and interesting things with the Microsoft products and do the job quite well. The only difference is you must:1)Save your work 2)Write an e-mail 3)Attach a file... It's as easy as 1,2,3. Let's keep Word and Excel.

EXCEL Reflection

I think that Excel is a good program and has a lot of uses.  It is a great way to have things very neat and organized. I used to think that most of the things done on Excel could be done easier just by writing it out.  I guess my hang-up used to be, not really wanting to learn a new program when I could just write it out or do it on Word and space it out how I wanted.  Looking at that now, obviously I feel as though I was quite ignorant because Excel is pretty easy to use and does have a lot of great benefits...
As for the 5 ideas for how to incorporate Excel in a Kindergarten classroom, I would go with the following:
1: Student's bus numbers
2: Birthdays
3: Favorite Activites
4: Favorite Books/Stories
5: Favorite Colors
I think this could help the children see who they have things in common with and could possible help develop their social skills...

Perspectives on Tech Language

First of all, I have rarely ever come across a professor or boss like the one in the intro of Chapter 5. Even starting my college education in the year 2000 technology and especially e-mail was driven home as a necessity.  "You have to check your e-mail, I will send you information that is crucial for you to pass this class", is something that I remember hearing a whole lot more than, "I don't know how to work e-mail." That was 11 years ago, how can anyone be computer illiterate now?  I can understand how a teacher who has been doing something the same for so many years could be frustrated by, what seems to be, an overwhelming overload of new technology.  On the other hand, my belief is that if 'everyone' is doing it, it can't be that hard.  Everything is easier to do, all in one place. You don't have to right checks, or subscribe to newspapers, or even go the mall to buy something.  We as educators must move with the times and faster than the students in some cases.  Nobody wants a student teaching the class how to do something.