My favorite tools from this training are 'photostory' and 'google.docs.' Photostory was fun (and relatively easy) to use and I think students would like to make a photo book report about one of their books. I especially like 'google.docs' to use for team planning.
I am amazed at the number of technology tools that can be utilized during a lesson. I think my classroom learning will be more fun for the students using these tools to supplement their activities.
Unexpected outcome from this training? I am excited and actually looking forward to incoporating more technology into my planning, instead of being 'afraid' to try it! :)
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Friday, July 16, 2010
Tool 11
Digital Citizenship
Understanding 'digital citizenship' is a huge part of all technology use! After reading about the different facets of digital citizenship, it perhaps should be the first thing we think about before using any internet site/device. When I first started this blog, being digitally safe was one of my main concerns.
Students using technology as part of their overall learning should definitely be taught about digital citizenship. Three things about digital citizenship I would want to make sure students know about are: digital security(personal safety), law (responsibility and respect), and etiquitte (netiquette:). I would teach these through modeling and explaining that even in the digital 'world' we are responsible for our safety and actions.; our 'community circle' becomes vastly larger on the internet, but same societal rules apply.
Understanding 'digital citizenship' is a huge part of all technology use! After reading about the different facets of digital citizenship, it perhaps should be the first thing we think about before using any internet site/device. When I first started this blog, being digitally safe was one of my main concerns.
Students using technology as part of their overall learning should definitely be taught about digital citizenship. Three things about digital citizenship I would want to make sure students know about are: digital security(personal safety), law (responsibility and respect), and etiquitte (netiquette:). I would teach these through modeling and explaining that even in the digital 'world' we are responsible for our safety and actions.; our 'community circle' becomes vastly larger on the internet, but same societal rules apply.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Tool 10
Exploring Mobile Technology & Apps
I reviewed some math and language arts apps: math drills, alphabet/phonics/spelling.
I downloaded a few on my Iphone to practice. I thought the 'math drills lite' was good because it showed a number line to help explain the problem. I also liked the immediate feedback that these apps had. However, a few of the free apps were only short samples. If you wanted the full app, you had to buy it.
I think students (of all ages) will love to use the ITouch/Pad in class. If it is like the Iphone, it is relatively easy to use. In my classroom, I would probably use these for warmups or independent practice.
I reviewed some math and language arts apps: math drills, alphabet/phonics/spelling.
I downloaded a few on my Iphone to practice. I thought the 'math drills lite' was good because it showed a number line to help explain the problem. I also liked the immediate feedback that these apps had. However, a few of the free apps were only short samples. If you wanted the full app, you had to buy it.
I think students (of all ages) will love to use the ITouch/Pad in class. If it is like the Iphone, it is relatively easy to use. In my classroom, I would probably use these for warmups or independent practice.
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Tool 9
Sharing Information through Jing and Skype
Wow!........both of these are pretty amazing, although very confusing to someone who has never used them before. The Skype reminds me of the old Jetson cartoons when George could see Mr. Slate or his wife, Jane, when they called him!
Jing: The screencast on Jing could be used for students to practice problem-solving skills. A sample of the steps of the problem-solving model could be made and the students could follow along with it to solve their own problems. They could view it as many times as they needed.
Skype: If students had access to Skype communication, this could be used to actively communicate with other students or teachers on projects/assignments. The direct access to authors, or other professionals, to make presentations in the classroom is awesome (given the connections and necessary equipment). I think students would like to use Skype to 'take a field trip' anywhere in the world and then write about it or make a photostory:)
Wow!........both of these are pretty amazing, although very confusing to someone who has never used them before. The Skype reminds me of the old Jetson cartoons when George could see Mr. Slate or his wife, Jane, when they called him!
Jing: The screencast on Jing could be used for students to practice problem-solving skills. A sample of the steps of the problem-solving model could be made and the students could follow along with it to solve their own problems. They could view it as many times as they needed.
Skype: If students had access to Skype communication, this could be used to actively communicate with other students or teachers on projects/assignments. The direct access to authors, or other professionals, to make presentations in the classroom is awesome (given the connections and necessary equipment). I think students would like to use Skype to 'take a field trip' anywhere in the world and then write about it or make a photostory:)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Tool 8
Video Resources
This tool is totally new to me, but I can see how it would be very useful to include videos in your lessons to supplement your teaching. Videos can appeal to visual and auditory learning styles and help demonstrate objectives and expectations.
Searching for the videos was a bit challenging - there seems to be many duplicates and some had 'ads' that were connected to the video.
I chose these two videos/songs to use in my classroom for the upcoming year, both from YouTube: The Mini-book Song and I Can Write My Numbers.
"The Mini-book Song" - YouTube
This video gave me the idea of having students make a video or photostory reading log after reading a set number of books to show their progress at a certain level.
"I Can Write My Numbers" - YouTube
I would like to use this video at the beginning of the school year to refresh student handwriting skills and/or counting of numbers. The students could watch the video, practice making the number 'in the air' or actually write them on whiteboards.
I love the 'EMBED' feature on YouTube for these videos, but I did have help from my son!
On to Tool 9 ;-)
This tool is totally new to me, but I can see how it would be very useful to include videos in your lessons to supplement your teaching. Videos can appeal to visual and auditory learning styles and help demonstrate objectives and expectations.
Searching for the videos was a bit challenging - there seems to be many duplicates and some had 'ads' that were connected to the video.
I chose these two videos/songs to use in my classroom for the upcoming year, both from YouTube: The Mini-book Song and I Can Write My Numbers.
"The Mini-book Song" - YouTube
This video gave me the idea of having students make a video or photostory reading log after reading a set number of books to show their progress at a certain level.
"I Can Write My Numbers" - YouTube
I would like to use this video at the beginning of the school year to refresh student handwriting skills and/or counting of numbers. The students could watch the video, practice making the number 'in the air' or actually write them on whiteboards.
I love the 'EMBED' feature on YouTube for these videos, but I did have help from my son!
On to Tool 9 ;-)
Friday, July 9, 2010
Tool 7 Complete!
I really like photostory and have (crudely) used it in the past for student projects: illustrating student stories and word problems. I would like to use it more in the classroom for introducing new concepts and/or reinforcing strategies. Hint: the more I use it, the easier it gets! I guess that's true for all technology...
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tool 6
July 6, 2010 - Wikis
When I viewed the training video for the use of a Wiki in the classroom, it seemed very similar to Google.docs (Tool 4) as far as creating a page that can be collaborated on and edited by others. It would be useful for team planning of activities. I like the idea of creating a story or poem and have students add to or edit it for fun. I might also use it for a type of 'scavenger hunt' where students would have to research different items related to a topic and write about their findings on a wiki page to share with others.
Personal note - All of these tools seem very interesting and could be utilized in the classroom, but at this point in my Tool training they are starting to 'overlap' a bit.
Nevertheless - on to Tool 7!
When I viewed the training video for the use of a Wiki in the classroom, it seemed very similar to Google.docs (Tool 4) as far as creating a page that can be collaborated on and edited by others. It would be useful for team planning of activities. I like the idea of creating a story or poem and have students add to or edit it for fun. I might also use it for a type of 'scavenger hunt' where students would have to research different items related to a topic and write about their findings on a wiki page to share with others.
Personal note - All of these tools seem very interesting and could be utilized in the classroom, but at this point in my Tool training they are starting to 'overlap' a bit.
Nevertheless - on to Tool 7!
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Tool 5
Tagging & Social Bookmarking
These tools will be useful when searching for lesson activities. Being able to 'tag' certain sites to view at a later date or share them with team members will possibly save time in lesson planning.
I used the following tags to search for information in Delicious and Diigo: reading; science; lesson plans
The two sites I viewed both have interactive games/activities. The read/write/think site also has poems and graphic organizers.
Delicious - read/write/think
Diigo - gamequarium
These tools will be useful when searching for lesson activities. Being able to 'tag' certain sites to view at a later date or share them with team members will possibly save time in lesson planning.
I used the following tags to search for information in Delicious and Diigo: reading; science; lesson plans
The two sites I viewed both have interactive games/activities. The read/write/think site also has poems and graphic organizers.
Delicious - read/write/think
Diigo - gamequarium
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Tool 4
Google Docs & Google Reader
Google Docs: I created a sample document and shared it with my family. It was actually easier than I thought it would be - :). This tool could be used for team input to update and collaborate on various activities/planning. It is also helpful by not having to remember to attach a document to an email!
Google Reader: I subscribed to 6 sites to follow (Technology & the Classroom; Mrs. Green's Blog Spot; Technology is my Challenge; Mary's Art Spot; Serenity Now; Kirina's Closet) - also easier to do than I thought. This tool could be helpful for saving time by having all the sites you follow in a central location.
Question: Do I need to 'hot link' any of these sites? and how? Thanks!
Google Docs: I created a sample document and shared it with my family. It was actually easier than I thought it would be - :). This tool could be used for team input to update and collaborate on various activities/planning. It is also helpful by not having to remember to attach a document to an email!
Google Reader: I subscribed to 6 sites to follow (Technology & the Classroom; Mrs. Green's Blog Spot; Technology is my Challenge; Mary's Art Spot; Serenity Now; Kirina's Closet) - also easier to do than I thought. This tool could be helpful for saving time by having all the sites you follow in a central location.
Question: Do I need to 'hot link' any of these sites? and how? Thanks!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tool 3 Complete
I have completed Tool #3, but I have to say that I still don't understand this. In order to get these images on my Blog, I had to go through different steps for each. I would love to use these Tools in my classroom, but I fear that without a lot more practice, I would have trouble 'getting them to work.' These are on my Blog with the help of my family.:) I used the boxer and cube example to create "A Boxer on a Box" just for fun. In the classroom, the Cube picture and Word Cloud could be used in a math lesson in which the student could first 'create' a Cube and then write a sentence using math vocabulary to describe it on a Word Cloud.
Credits: Flickr.com; Dumpr.net/Rubik's Cube;Worditout.com/wordcloud
Monday, June 21, 2010
Tool 3 Again
This is my second attempt using Tool #3 Image generator/mashup.
Both of my images are just for practice, as this is VERY new to me. It is still confusing - it seems that for every image you want to create, there is a 'different' set of 'rules' in order to actually have appear on your blog. Maybe it will be easier tomorrow........
Tool 3
Two hours for one sample....but I'm learning!
However, I don't like or understand why I have to sign up/register/log-in/etc. on so many sites.(I couldn't get BigHugeLab to work even though I thought I 'uploaded pictures' to it and had to register for an account:( Does anyone know why?
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Tool 2
I have to admit that this is 'kinda' fun..............
Commenting on building & participating in a PLN: Like I said, this is 'kinda' fun, but at the same time a little 'scary', which is mainly why I've never really investigated into doing this until now. Therefore, half of me wants to jump both feet on the bandwagon and start 'creating', while the other half, well, you know-
My biggest concern about creating a PLN is of the unknown......who might read this, who might comment back, who might...etc., in fact-I'm thinking about that as I type this. However, I can see where this tool can connect you with others (hopefully with common interests/goals) on a wider scale than just down the hallway. I am trying to be 'open' to the positive aspects of building relationships and increasing my knowledge base.
What stood out to me from the 'commenting advice' was the possible need for boundary-setting in your blog, for obvious reasons--
I made comments on these Blogs: Serenity Now, Technology is my Challenge, Mrs. Green's Blog Spot, Teachin' in Flip Flops, Mary's Art Spot
2 Down, 9 To Go........
Commenting on building & participating in a PLN: Like I said, this is 'kinda' fun, but at the same time a little 'scary', which is mainly why I've never really investigated into doing this until now. Therefore, half of me wants to jump both feet on the bandwagon and start 'creating', while the other half, well, you know-
My biggest concern about creating a PLN is of the unknown......who might read this, who might comment back, who might...etc., in fact-I'm thinking about that as I type this. However, I can see where this tool can connect you with others (hopefully with common interests/goals) on a wider scale than just down the hallway. I am trying to be 'open' to the positive aspects of building relationships and increasing my knowledge base.
What stood out to me from the 'commenting advice' was the possible need for boundary-setting in your blog, for obvious reasons--
I made comments on these Blogs: Serenity Now, Technology is my Challenge, Mrs. Green's Blog Spot, Teachin' in Flip Flops, Mary's Art Spot
2 Down, 9 To Go........
Friday, June 11, 2010
Tool 1
I did it! (But my computer-savvy son was sitting next to me:) I'm still at the stage of being a little afraid of "clicking on" computer buttons...........but I am determined to be ready for 21st century teaching!
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