Thing #16

I chose the iGoogle start page because I already have a Google account and would not have to create or sign up for something else. It was simple, fast, and easy! I did not like that it gave me about five different options for backgrounds, but one was purple and that is all I need. I love purple everything!! I was quite happy when I figured out how to change my blog background. If I play around even more with iGoogle I am sure I can figure out how to make changes and do other things. I use Google all the time so was the best option for me and it is nice putting news and other interests I have on the start page. When I am at school I tend to feel behind on current events and news of any kind really. Even with that said I will probably not use iGoogle as my homepage. My main email account is through Yahoo! They also allow personalized home pages and you can put whatever you want on them just like iGoogle. I am not willing to part with my Yahoo page because I use that address for everything and check it several times a day.
The online calendars can be useful the same way that calendars on Google can be used, as I discovered in a previous activity. Parents can see it more publicly and know what events are happening at the school or in the classroom. It allows teachers to keep track of important dates and can easily access their calendar online. In this day-and-age where technology is advancing so quickly and everyone is getting online, it seems to be more practical than having wall calendars. Those can be ignored pretty easily when a teacher is extremely busy and rushing around. Teachers would be reminded when they open their email of appointments, meetings, etc (like Google calendar). There are many benefits to online calendars.
The to-do lists applications would be helpful, but I also think they would be too much work. I do not see the point in keeping my to-do list online, when sticking post-it notes to my desk has been working just fine. I spend enough time on my computer that these notes would be hard to forget, they are brightly colored in right at eye level. It was fun using an online to-do list, I just would not use it on a regular basis. Actually I think I would forget that's where my to-do list is. I found tools that are definitely useful for school and some that may be useful at home. I would recommend online calendars, and Google Docs (or Google anything!).