Blog Post #6

Most schools require teachers to maintain a set of class pages on the school website.  I looked up different teacher’s website from my old high school.  Most class pages were pretty basic, but had pictures relating to their specific subject areas.  The information was easy to find, the website was easy to navigate, and everything was labeled.  I did not have to use any login information but was able to click into power points, videos, contact information, find out room numbers, and view class rosters in some cases.  This specific picture is of a social studies teacher at Winter Park High School.  He teaches Standard World History, Honors World History, and AP European History.  All these classes are intended for sophomores. 


 

I know that when I become a teacher, I will be super busy and need software to make my life easier.  A productivity software can “assist educators in tracking student information, computing grades, and preparing plans and IEP’s” (147).   This sounds overwhelming now, but with helpful software, I will be able to do all of this work in a quicker and easier manor. These productivity tools will help me finish everyday tasks a little better(podcast).  An example of one I would use for this is the Microsoft office suite tool.

 My group for my most recent project worked together via skype and google docs before we uploaded our project onto our wiki.  I enjoyed learning about how to judge a site and whether it is worth using in the classroom.  I had fun working with my group on this project and getting to collaborate.  I will definitely use  the way we collaborated on our project without having to meet up face to face in the future.  We looked at different websites to find resources to use for teaching students about Standard SC.4.P.12, Motion of Objects.  This is the form we used to evaluate our sites.  

Blog Post #5

Web 2.0

Web 2.o technologies are a non-optional support system for teachers to use to further learning in the classroom.  YouTube is an awesome wed 2.0 tool I would use in my class.  You can share and find important information through the use of YouTube videos.  It is important to cater to all learning styles, so as a teacher giving some information through videos for students who are visual and audio learners is key.  

Blogs are a 2.0 tool that I used to not like for classroom use, but since taking this class see the usefulness.  They give students a chance to share their opinions and information they find interesting in a fun and unique environment.  Students can also get information for the class through looking at a teacher’s blog.  You can effectively use these tools without any specific tools.  Basic internet enabled devices like computers, smart phones, tablets, etc. will be perfectly capable of accessing YouTube and blogs.    

Network equipment necessary includes a WiFi network and server.  Blogging can be done on a simple computer, but making YouTube videos might require the periphery equipment of microphones.   Both require a smart board or projector (would be sufficient) for sharing student’s projects/work with their fellow classmates (Lever-Duffy 124).  If the device does not have enough storage they may also require a hard disk to save date(Lever- Duffy 98). 

For Web 2.0 tools, I do not like using public social media in the classroom like Twitter.  Student safety is my number one concern and I feel like those sights will expose students to too much.  A safer alternative like Edmodo could suffice.  

Web 2.0 Technology Review

I am reviewing a Web 2.0 technology called Scribd.  When deciding what technology to review I was really drawn to Scribd.  Emphasizing the importance of reading and individualizing help for students reading has always been important to me.   Scribd is a digital library that is cheaper than having to buy paper books.  Scribd makes students access to assigned reading and fun reading easy.  Students can also use scribd for research.  

Students can make a library of books they are reading or have enjoyed reading.  They can even use and app on a phone so that reading can be done on the go.  Scribd gives students access to audiobooks, e-books, comics, and PDFs.  I have grown up really attached to listening to audio books because as a dyslexic, listening to a book while reading along is supposed to be very helpful in overcoming the problem.  By providing audiobooks, Scribd allows students with learning disabilities and auditory learners to have access to help and solid learning material.  

Tentative Concept Map

At first I did not like this concept mapping tool.  It was moving really slowly and shutting down a lot.   I still had technical issues with it, but found creating a concept map very fun.  I created the top half of my concept map and think it looks really pretty.  My partner and I are still tweaking some things, but I find the color coating and labeling very useful.  I also liked that I was able to find pictured of the leader of the Allies and the Central Powers on the mapping tool.  I actually feel like I would make these and use them as a teacher to share information with my students and make study guides.  There are so many ways you could use these maps in a classroom.  It’s cool that something I so adamantly did not like at first has turned into a tool that I would really use.  Hopefully next time it won’t work slowly.  It would also be cool if more than one person could work on a map at once.  Every time my partner was on there it would not let me work.  I really appreciate how pretty and color coated the map part I created is.  It just looks so pleasing.    

Blog Post #4

I went to CPalms and started clicking on the different standards and decided to use standard number MAFS.K.MD.1.  This standard is wants students to be able to compare measurable attributes.  This is a standard for kindergartners so when figuring out the activity, I had to keep in mind it was meant to be at a very rudimentary and basic level.  I google searched “MAFS.K.MD.1. computer games” and found a PBS game featuring Clifford the Big Red Dog and friends called Measuring Up.  Students have to identify the item that fits the description they are given.  For instance, at one point Clifford shows three different crayons and the student has to identify which one is the thinnest.  This online game can be classified as an educational game software.  Measuring Up “Presents and reviews instructional content in a game format” (Teaching and Learning with Technology page 188).

   http://pbskids.org/clifford/games/measuring_up.html

When I was in school, if I wanted to use a source for a project or just go on I would pay attention to: the quality of the sight, if my computer started moving slowly, reliability of the author, and the quality of the work presented to me.  I did not realize it when I was in school but I was basically using ABCDT: Author, Bias, Content, Design, and Technical Elements.  This is basically something most people do without realizing it but is helpful for picking out good technology sources.  It is important to keep internet safety in mind now that I will be teaching students soon.  When picking and using websites with my students I vet them to the point where I know the Sight Stability (if they are likely to move content and links or stay stable and user friendly), Out links( Follow links to make sure it doesn’t lead to something inappropriate for students) Advertising (can bring undesirable content and take students to other pages). 

When we started learning about all the different standards we have to reach in the classroom while teaching, it was very daunting and nerve racking.  I was like, “Wow!  How am I supposed to be able to do all of these standards?  It does not seem feasible.”  This web hunting assignment really helped me to realize that it is not impossible to find sources to complete these standards and keep a fun and functional learning environment.    

Mini Web Hunt

You want your students to play game for CPalms standard LAFS.1.L.1.  Find an Educational Software Game for your students to play. 

Your students are learning about a balanced diet.  Find a website where you can make meal plans based on age/height/weight. 

Your students are learning about Biology.  Find a website where you can virtually dissect a frog.  

Blog #3

ELA Technology Standards

I am terrible at technology, but as it turns out, I learned the ELA technology standard “RI.7 “Multimedia:” Informational Text” in my ENC 2135 class.  A main part of my ENC 2135 class is focused on genres and how you use certain mediums to convey information.  At the end of our class we had to create a project that included different mediums and how they were the best choice for our project.  I feel confident in my ability to compare information shown in different mediums.  It will be fun to read poems and then listen to an audio recording or watch a movie version of a book we have read for class.  

I wish I had more preparation on SL.5 “Use Digital Media”.  When I was in high school, my go to project was writing parody songs and they would have been much better if I had the knowledge to put them to videos.  My Spanish teacher used to always make these flashy videos and I would love to have the knowledge to be able to create for my future students. 

 Future Classroom

There were so many cool software applications in chapter 9 of Teaching and Learning with Technology.  I want to use the Library of Congress Recorded Sounds Collection.  Having digital recordings of books and historical document recordings to help my classroom learn.  I really like audio recordings for educational purposes.

In regards to digital citizenship concepts, I would like to go over how students can protect themselves, personal information, and others.  It is important to make sure my students are safe while using the web.  I am hoping to be an elementary school teacher (second grade) so internet safety is something very important to instill at an early age. 

Newsletter Design Assignment

 I waited too long before I started my Newsletter Design assignment.  I enjoyed making it and creating articles and announcements for the students to bring home to their parents.  My favorite part was creating a fake field trip for my students to go on and get permission from their parents for.  Next time I would plan more indepthly before creating my Newsletter.  I had so many awesome ideas that I wanted to include but did not have room for.  I will have to write a lot of Newsletters in my future as a teacher so this is an important lesson for me to learn.