Flickr---Anna+Camburn

**__What is Flickr? Not a gadget designed to flick people!!__**
Flickr was originally created in the early 2000 as a chat room for a gaming site. However, it soon began __being used to upload and share photos and videos.__ One of the best features of this specific site is the ability to upload any type of photo or video and allow people to see them. In order to protect privacy, one can restrict who is able to see these photos or if you don't mind one can let the whole world see your photos. In 2008 Flickr was acquired by Yahoo!Photos which allowed for more space for people to upload images because the original Flickr site had become so heavily used they were running out of room.

Now, in 2011, Flickr has continued to evolve. They offer the service for free (but with a limited amount of storage space) and a service you can pay for that offers you more options. I think one of the best features of this technology is the ability to upload photos from mobile devices. So often I take pictures on my phone and then never transfer them to my computer. This takes out that step and simplifies my life....Yay!!!

__**How would I use this technology in TESOL?**__
A great way to use this technology is to allow your students to take pictures of things they like: flowers, teams, dog, etc. Have the students upload the pictures into the Flickr account created for your class. Next, have students look at the pictures with a partner, verbally describe the pictures to each other and then, using a class list, try to guess who posted what picture. At the end of the lesson, each student would stand up and point out their picture and explain why they chose to upload this picture.

Valerie Jablonski--My idea is that this is a great way for students to share images with each and with the teacher. It is also a great place for a teacher to post a huge number of pictures without having those same pictures take up storage space on any one computer. In addition, these pictures can be accessed from anywhere.

Lainey Bryde- I think that Flickr would be an excellent way to promote cultural pluralism by allowing students to share photos of family gatherings, celebrations, and native countryside, etc.

Rebekah Hoorn - I could also see this being a valuable tool in creating relationships between classrooms (ie. a more modern take on the traditional "pen pal"). The teachers/students could create a common Flickr account and begin albums for a variety of topics (transportation in our city, what my home looks like, etc.) and allow students from both (or all!) classrooms to contribute.