melanie1

I'm Melanie. I am a junior at Polytechnic High school. Any shade of blue is my favorite color. I love to read, write, swim, act, and send letters to my penpal. I drink too much coffee and laugh too loud. I am the youngest in my family, with two older sisters, one of them being my twin. I have a dog named Buttons. If I grow up, I hope to be a book editor, working at a publication house (Harper Collins, specifically). I love to travel and hope to go to the UK and meet my penpal someday. //Au Revoir//!

=** Topic 1: Blogging **= After watching the first video on blogging, I learned that since 2003, there have been over 70 million blogs created! The video explained what blogging was in simple, broad terms that were overall very helpful. Blogging connects people from all over the world and (on many blog host websites) it's free. The video mentioned the history of blogging and news media. Blogging has evolved a lot since the 20th century.
 * Video 1:** [|what is blogging?]

This was a short, but informative video. I liked that it was animated. It reminded me that private posts can still be seen by my friends. I know not to add any persons I do not know in real life.
 * Video 2:** [|private posts]

This video went more in depth into privacy. Although I feel safe behind a computer screen at home, I'm still susceptible to creepers or predators on the internet. It was nice hearing from teens around my age. They made important points that helped teach me about online safety.
 * Video 3:** [|social networking]

This video was the most helpful. It really brought into perspective //why// you shouldn't post certain things on the web. Even though I control things I post on my webpage, once I publish it, it is on the web permanently, even if I delete it. Which is kind of scary to think about, to be honest. But I know that if I am careful about what I post and who sees it, I'll be okay.
 * Video 4:** [|Protecting online relations]

=**Topic 2: Digital Citizenship**= This video took two classic fairy tales I know and love and used them to help explain digital footprints. On the web, everyone is constantly leaving a footprint; which websites they visited, what the looked up on google, all of their saved passwords, and data. All of this happens constantly while on the internet. Privacy is important because it protects your passwords, data, and location from online predators. In the video, Goldilocks wasn't polite and respectful of the bear's privacy. However, Snow White was. And being nice to others makes everyone happy and safe.
 * [|A Tale of Two Footprints]**

I google searched my name and there were over two million results. There was someone who shares my name for almost everything; facebook, twitter, linkedin, pinterest, foursquare, google +, instagram, etsy, and more. I did not find me. Online footprints are crucial because someone can get a hold of all of your information. If there's anything on the internet that is connected to me in some sort of way, I want it to be a positive thing. [|My Word Cloud]
 * My Online Footprint**



=Topic 4: Images and giving Credit=

Activity 1:
I watched [|this] informative video about copyright, public domain and fair use. I found that copyright is the right/license placed on a book, song, movie, video, play, picture, (almost anything) giving the exclusive right to produce or alter the material to the owner/creator. This media is not available to the public domain for editing or redistribution. A portion of the material can be bought for fair use.

Activity 2: [|Creative Commons]
Creative Commons is a great website to use. Owners of media materials give permission for people to use their materials so long as the users give credit to the owners. It is important to give credit to proper owners. I have used Creative Commons already in history and english projects. It is very helpful in finding filtered, free, safe media and information to use.

Activity 3: 3 CC Images, 1 LOC Primary Source
This image of the Boston Massacre is my primary source that I found on the Library of Congress website.

I enjoy reading.

I swam for my first two years at Poly as a distance freestyler and backstroker.

I love going to Disneyland with my family.

= = =AASL 25 Best Websites - My Five Favorites=

1. [|inklewriter]
Inklewriter sounds like a really cool website and I tried it out for a few minutes and it was a lot of fun. I think this website would be excellent for creative writing classes but it wouldn't find much use in any other class, really. I would love to use this personally. It allows you to create an interactive story with alternate endings and endless options.

2. [|Pintrest]
I do not personally use pintrest but I know all about it. I know many people who do use it and love it. It's a great way to share and find recipes, ideas, DIYs, pretty much anything. I don't know how much use teachers would get out of it, but they could probably find some creative assignments people share.

3. [|easel.ly]
easel.ly would be great for school projects and assignments. You can make all sorts of infographics such as flow charts to organize your thoughts and or illustrate an idea. In middle school in particular, we used countless flow charts and graphs to analyze books in English or map out an essay. You can use easel.ly to illustrate statist

4. [|ed canvas aka blendspace]
Blendspace allows teachers to create lesson plans easily. You can add links, pictures, music, maps, and text to enhance your page. Using a variety of media forms (music, text, images) makes education fun and not so monotonous. This website would be perfect for students and teachers.

5. [|teded]
Students love youtube. Youtube has become extremely popular for entertainments and even learning. Teded allows teachers to incorporate youtube videos into their lessons. Students love videos and teded could providea nice change of pace and variety.