This site is so cool. I love the idea of making it a digital cafe filled with teacher resources.
I looked under desserts and found a really interesting resource about virtual field trips. This is a fantastic idea especially with all the budget cuts that limit field trip opportunities. The site offers a zoo, aquariums, etc. for virtual field trips however I imagine there are several opportunities out there on the web.
Another way to do this is using a virtual world such as Second Life. This site is becoming more and more popular and a great resource for virtual field trips and bringing experts into the classroom.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Music tools in the classroom
Jamstudio.com or BBC virtual studio allow students to create music. It can be just for fun, but it can also teach students what sounds good together and what doesn't. It allows them to explore music and
Jamglue.com is also kind of fun. You can take your own track or make your own song and them mix it anyway you want.
I think music is so important for students and with budget cuts it often is one of the first to go from the school curriculum. Students can explore different instruments as they tie in to a lesson surrounding culture for example. Possibly experiment with drums when learning about Native American culture. Could also upload a podcast and add music, synthesizers, beats etc to it. Just fun to experiment with!
Jamglue.com is also kind of fun. You can take your own track or make your own song and them mix it anyway you want.
I think music is so important for students and with budget cuts it often is one of the first to go from the school curriculum. Students can explore different instruments as they tie in to a lesson surrounding culture for example. Possibly experiment with drums when learning about Native American culture. Could also upload a podcast and add music, synthesizers, beats etc to it. Just fun to experiment with!
2 lists for future educators
***Projects to enhance the classroom:
Student video creations, Google Tour, story bird, photo story, creating quizlets to quiz each other.
***Projects to promote learning:
1.Students can use "http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/workbooks" to create an online novel.
2. The whole class can work on an wiki together. For an example: a history class can create a class wiki on a certain event in history.
3. Record an audio of a written assignment.
4. Blockposter.com can help you display your projects online. Therefore anyone could have access to viewing the project.
5. Webquest is a good way of having the entire class access certain information through the web.
6. Glogster, an interactive poster that could also be accessed through the internet.
7. Students can create an online newspaper/magazine creation to display their ideas.
8. Creating a smart board game, so that they entire class can play.
9. An introduction to the class with using photo story, at the beginning of the year.
10. Have students create an online recipe book using mixbook.com
Student video creations, Google Tour, story bird, photo story, creating quizlets to quiz each other.
***Projects to promote learning:
1.Students can use "http://ywp.nanowrimo.org/workbooks" to create an online novel.
2. The whole class can work on an wiki together. For an example: a history class can create a class wiki on a certain event in history.
3. Record an audio of a written assignment.
4. Blockposter.com can help you display your projects online. Therefore anyone could have access to viewing the project.
5. Webquest is a good way of having the entire class access certain information through the web.
6. Glogster, an interactive poster that could also be accessed through the internet.
7. Students can create an online newspaper/magazine creation to display their ideas.
8. Creating a smart board game, so that they entire class can play.
9. An introduction to the class with using photo story, at the beginning of the year.
10. Have students create an online recipe book using mixbook.com
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Final blog post
There is no question that children are changing along with technological advances. Today's children are obsessed with social networking, online games (like webkinz), nintendo DS and any other new technology that comes out. These children, even more so than myself, are growing up with these new and exciting technologies and are learning new things everyday.
As future educators it is our job to grow with our students and with the technology in order to make the classroom more modern and exciting for the changing times. Technology is a great way to bring what children enjoy into the classroom as a tool for deeper learning. By taking their interests and incorporating them into curriculum we may be able to reach students in a new way and engage students who may have otherwise checked out mentally.
As a student for many years now I personally would have loved to be introduced to some of these tools in the classroom. The same old textbook, paper, test routine gets very old very fast. There are new ways to learn, explore and present information. At the rate technology is growing if we do not embrace it we are going to be left behind.
I fully intend to introduce students to technology. I feel this is especially important for those students who do not have access at home. Computer skills are so important in our society and students should have access to these tools. I also believe that students learn better when they are a part of their learning and have that hands-on opportunity. Technology provides just that while still incorporating something they already love into everyday curriculum.
I have really enjoyed this class and have made a rather hefty list of all the resources I find interesting as a future teacher. I can't wait to implement them into my curriculum.
Thank you for the resources! Any more you find I would love to have and I will also send you sites I find useful!
As future educators it is our job to grow with our students and with the technology in order to make the classroom more modern and exciting for the changing times. Technology is a great way to bring what children enjoy into the classroom as a tool for deeper learning. By taking their interests and incorporating them into curriculum we may be able to reach students in a new way and engage students who may have otherwise checked out mentally.
As a student for many years now I personally would have loved to be introduced to some of these tools in the classroom. The same old textbook, paper, test routine gets very old very fast. There are new ways to learn, explore and present information. At the rate technology is growing if we do not embrace it we are going to be left behind.
I fully intend to introduce students to technology. I feel this is especially important for those students who do not have access at home. Computer skills are so important in our society and students should have access to these tools. I also believe that students learn better when they are a part of their learning and have that hands-on opportunity. Technology provides just that while still incorporating something they already love into everyday curriculum.
I have really enjoyed this class and have made a rather hefty list of all the resources I find interesting as a future teacher. I can't wait to implement them into my curriculum.
Thank you for the resources! Any more you find I would love to have and I will also send you sites I find useful!
Creating a website
The task to create a website proved to be harder than expected. I decided to create my website as a digital portfolio that I can share with future employees.
I started out using google sites and got frustrated mainly with the navigation bar and lack of creativity with templates. I looked at several different sites (and half probably a dozen half finished sites around the web now). Each site lacked something I thought was important. One thing I noticed a lot was the sites often offered the links to other pages lining the top. Because I had so many links, it would cut them off and very few sites allowed the links to go down the side.
My favorite site (and I'm still very sad I could not use this one, it was beautiful) was wix. It did not support html so I wasn't able to insert any of the activities we have done throughout the term. It also was very slow and often crashed causing me to lose all of my work. Anytime I would right click it would freeze up and it was not compatible with my computer, I can't speak for any other computers. The links also 'broke' after you added your own information. I could not figure out how to solve this problem.
I also was disappointed with a lot of the templates. Most of them were plain and simple and didn't allow for personal creativity.
I finally landed on yola.com to create my site. It was the easiest to navigate and very user friendly. However you couldn't customize the templates to fit your needs. The biggest issue I had was with the headings on my pages. It had a set text that was too similar to the header image and if the text was too long, it would blend in and be unreadable. I had to shorten my headings to fit the empty space without reaching into the image.
Overall I'm fairly happy with my site. I like the way it looks, but am a little sad I couldn't use my wix site. I liked the overall professional look of it better.
My unfinished wix site if you want to check it out.
My website!
I started out using google sites and got frustrated mainly with the navigation bar and lack of creativity with templates. I looked at several different sites (and half probably a dozen half finished sites around the web now). Each site lacked something I thought was important. One thing I noticed a lot was the sites often offered the links to other pages lining the top. Because I had so many links, it would cut them off and very few sites allowed the links to go down the side.
My favorite site (and I'm still very sad I could not use this one, it was beautiful) was wix. It did not support html so I wasn't able to insert any of the activities we have done throughout the term. It also was very slow and often crashed causing me to lose all of my work. Anytime I would right click it would freeze up and it was not compatible with my computer, I can't speak for any other computers. The links also 'broke' after you added your own information. I could not figure out how to solve this problem.
I also was disappointed with a lot of the templates. Most of them were plain and simple and didn't allow for personal creativity.
I finally landed on yola.com to create my site. It was the easiest to navigate and very user friendly. However you couldn't customize the templates to fit your needs. The biggest issue I had was with the headings on my pages. It had a set text that was too similar to the header image and if the text was too long, it would blend in and be unreadable. I had to shorten my headings to fit the empty space without reaching into the image.
Overall I'm fairly happy with my site. I like the way it looks, but am a little sad I couldn't use my wix site. I liked the overall professional look of it better.
My unfinished wix site if you want to check it out.
My website!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Alternative website creation sites
weebly was a nice alternative to google sites. It was really easy to use. One thing I didn't like was the lack of variety for page layouts. I would like to see more variety or maybe a customizable option. I also would have liked more designs and fun colors.
Here is what weebly sites look like. Very easy to use and I LOVE the tabs to each page along the heading. Easy to navigate.
Can I possibly use this site to create my final project instead? I already started my google, but it is a lot harder to do and I like the ease and look of these sites better.
Here is what weebly sites look like. Very easy to use and I LOVE the tabs to each page along the heading. Easy to navigate.
Can I possibly use this site to create my final project instead? I already started my google, but it is a lot harder to do and I like the ease and look of these sites better.
technology newsletter
Our PLN created this newsletter using powerpoint and then compiled them together and created this newsletter.
newsletter
Newsletters are a great way to communicate with families or even other staff members in the staff room about upcoming events. It's a quick and excellent way to get information out there about upcoming events, concerns, funny stories, whatever you can think of!
I would love to start a newsletter in my new school. Only 1 more year before I'm a licensed teacher..
newsletter
Newsletters are a great way to communicate with families or even other staff members in the staff room about upcoming events. It's a quick and excellent way to get information out there about upcoming events, concerns, funny stories, whatever you can think of!
I would love to start a newsletter in my new school. Only 1 more year before I'm a licensed teacher..
Podcasting in the classroom
This week we tried podcasting. I think podcasting is a great resource for the classroom, especially with younger students. They love to hear their own voices and enjoy playing with computers so why not combine the two!? Students can share information using their voices in a variety of different projects. Teachers can also use podcasting to keep in touch with families outside of the classroom or even to make daily announcements. I think it would be a great tool to keep in the back of your mind as you plan your curriculum. I think students would really enjoy this.
(My podcast coming soon)
Below are a few sites that offer educational podcasts to listen to:
http://education.podcast.com
http://epnweb.org has several links to podcasts based on a variety of topics. There is also a section for student work within the classroom. These are separated by elementary, middle and secondary school.
(My podcast coming soon)
Below are a few sites that offer educational podcasts to listen to:
http://education.podcast.com
http://epnweb.org has several links to podcasts based on a variety of topics. There is also a section for student work within the classroom. These are separated by elementary, middle and secondary school.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
wikis!
Wikis are a fun way to create classroom type websites for a variety of topics. I started to create one for my future classroom for parents and students (and myself) to communicate outside the classroom and share ideas. I quickly realized that I was setting it up much like I am my final project! I have attached the link for a general outline (which I'm sure I'll come back to later) but ideally I'd like my final googlesite page to be the same type of idea!
I love the idea of creating a wiki for a classroom website and adding my blog to it for daily updates for families! I want my students families to be active in their education and will use tools like these to invoke as much participation as I can!
Wiki
I love the idea of creating a wiki for a classroom website and adding my blog to it for daily updates for families! I want my students families to be active in their education and will use tools like these to invoke as much participation as I can!
Wiki
Puzzle and Crossword makers
There are so many sites out there that allow you to create your own puzzles and crosswords. I think this is a great way to assess knowledge that is a lot more fun than taking a test. Some sites even allow you to make the puzzles/crosswords into a fun shape which is different and fun for students as well. I think sites that allow you to create your own word puzzles are a great resource for teachers to have.
They could also be fun for students to create. Say they are working in small groups and each group is assigned a certain topic to research and relay back to the class. They could then as a group create a fun puzzle for the rest of the class to do to show what they've learned!
I strongly believe in fun and interactive games in the classroom. I personally like games that have hidden messages or meanings. For example, creating a puzzle that makes a certain shape (ex: a heart) in the end, when all the right words are found and colored in! Just a little something to look forward to in the end to keep students engaged on the task!
They could also be fun for students to create. Say they are working in small groups and each group is assigned a certain topic to research and relay back to the class. They could then as a group create a fun puzzle for the rest of the class to do to show what they've learned!
I strongly believe in fun and interactive games in the classroom. I personally like games that have hidden messages or meanings. For example, creating a puzzle that makes a certain shape (ex: a heart) in the end, when all the right words are found and colored in! Just a little something to look forward to in the end to keep students engaged on the task!
classtools.com
This website offers some more game templates for teachers to use in the classroom! It was fun to see the different templates they had. I had a hard time picking a template because I had to create and envision my topic first. Once I came up with a topic it was easy to find a template that worked for me. There were a lot of different games than I've seen anywhere and I really appreciated the variety.
Since I am interested in teaching the younger grades I have made a simple matching game. I figured it is a great way to assess knowledge as well as improve their fine motor skills as far as moving a mouse and sorting on the screen goes! Here it is! Simple!
proprofs.com is another fun site for making games. Here is a fun little hangman game I made for younger children with the theme of colors! Could be a fun rainy day activity or even a TGIF game in the classroom
Since I am interested in teaching the younger grades I have made a simple matching game. I figured it is a great way to assess knowledge as well as improve their fine motor skills as far as moving a mouse and sorting on the screen goes! Here it is! Simple!
Click here for full screen version
proprofs.com is another fun site for making games. Here is a fun little hangman game I made for younger children with the theme of colors! Could be a fun rainy day activity or even a TGIF game in the classroom
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Classroom newsletter
I used letterpop.com to create a digital newsletter for my future classroom! It is a lot of fun. The site offers several templates, both fun and professional.
The most frustrating piece was trying to figure out how to get it into this blog. I couldn't figure out how to save the image or get it to embed. Once I saved the image it saved the template without the words. Even when I tried to copy the link and add it here it would redirect you to the wordless template again. I was finally able to take a screen shot (although it is missing a little of the top and bottom)although when added to this blog it was tiny (as seen).
I TRIED! SO FRUSTRATING!
Voicethread.com
voicethread.com is a site for interactive voice messages. This is a great classroom tool for in the computer lab or even for families to communicate from home. One thing to be aware of is the fact that not everyone has access to computers and the tools needed to access this kind of site (much like it was in our class today).
Could also be used as a tool used to get to know all the students in the classroom on the first day of school. Students can all have their pictures taken and record themselves talking about there interests. Students can go home and share these with their families.
I'm sure there are other ways to incorporate this tool into the classroom. Just need to be creative and try it out!
Could also be used as a tool used to get to know all the students in the classroom on the first day of school. Students can all have their pictures taken and record themselves talking about there interests. Students can go home and share these with their families.
I'm sure there are other ways to incorporate this tool into the classroom. Just need to be creative and try it out!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Glogs
Glogs are a fun way to make interactive posters. glogster.com allows you to create one of these posters. These can be fun to use as an online bulletin board for students and their parents to keep up with what is going on in class each week! I chose to use the site to create a classroom bulletin for students to participate in classroom jobs. I thought this would be a fun way to get students involved in the classroom! I also have job "applications" to go along with it!
I like the way it turned out for the most part. I just wish I had legitimate information to add to the bulletin board instead of theoretical ideas at this point. Since I do not have my own classroom it is hard to create useful classroom tools that I can use again, however I do see how to tie these resources into everyday lessons!
I like the way it turned out for the most part. I just wish I had legitimate information to add to the bulletin board instead of theoretical ideas at this point. Since I do not have my own classroom it is hard to create useful classroom tools that I can use again, however I do see how to tie these resources into everyday lessons!
Alternatives to online story telling
There are so many sites out there that allow you to create animated stories, story books, etc to relay information. I love the idea of incorporating these into the classroom both for personal use and for student creations. It provides new and exciting ways for children to share what they know with the class. I am excited to be able to use all of these sites and resources in my own classroom. Most of the classrooms I have been in, observed in and taught in have not used technology and resort to the typical text books, quizes and book reports for student assessment and work. How boring. I know I love using creativity to show what I've learned. I get excited when I get to use powerpoint, imagine how excited students would get with these new options!
Of course, you do need to be careful about content. And there should be class rules about what is appropriate and what is not for the classroom. But students and teachers should have fun with learning and assessment. School should inspire you to continue to learn, not put a damper on your learning and creativity.
Of course, you do need to be careful about content. And there should be class rules about what is appropriate and what is not for the classroom. But students and teachers should have fun with learning and assessment. School should inspire you to continue to learn, not put a damper on your learning and creativity.
Rubric creation sites
I really liked rubistar.com It was very simple to use. Had multiple pre-made rubrics and categories as well as allows you the freedom to create your own. Very helpful and final product looks really nice and easy to follow. I like how simple and quick it was. Much easier than creating a new one from scratch for every assignment. A handy resource tool for teachers to have
There are several other websites out there for rubric creations. You can just google it and find one that works for you. I just liked the ease of this one.
Here is a sample I made for critiquing google sites.
Jogtheweb.com
I was not a fan of jogtheweb.com. I prefer stumble upon. The one thing I did like about jogtheweb is that it shows the upcoming sites in the left hand column. With stumble upon I like that you can choose multiple interests at one time and it will pull up sites from any of those categories. Jog the web didn't seem to have this option. It appeared to have one topic and if you wanted a new one, that you would have to go and create a new search.
Maybe I need to research more into jog the web, but I am comfortable with stumble upon. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Maybe I need to research more into jog the web, but I am comfortable with stumble upon. If it ain't broke don't fix it.
Online voice messages
There are several sites out there that use sounds/songs that you can add your own personal message to. I think this would be really fun for all ages. I really liked http://www.kakomessenger.com. I like the idea of personalizing the message.
I also really liked acapella.tv they have fun animated vocals as well for you to personalize.
My favorite site so far would have to be xtranormal.com. This site allows you to create your own movies with automated voices to vocalize whatever you would like it to say. Could be a great way to begin a class, teach a song or introduce a lesson. In my case, I will be using this video as the opening for my google site!
Could also be fun for students to use for presentations! Just a fun way to incorporate technology into the classroom!
Enjoy!
I also really liked acapella.tv they have fun animated vocals as well for you to personalize.
My favorite site so far would have to be xtranormal.com. This site allows you to create your own movies with automated voices to vocalize whatever you would like it to say. Could be a great way to begin a class, teach a song or introduce a lesson. In my case, I will be using this video as the opening for my google site!
Could also be fun for students to use for presentations! Just a fun way to incorporate technology into the classroom!
Enjoy!
Google Earth Tour
Google earth provides a lot of opportunities for students to explore the world from the comfort of the classroom. Teachers can create images for students to place on the map (ex: habitats) or students can create their own tours and placements! Can be a lot of fun for students because it provides a new and exciting way to learn.
It could also be fun for recreational purposes. Perhaps someone wants a tour of where you live and what your city is like, this is a great way to show them around. Or even to explore places outside the US that you've always wanted to visit.
Here is an image of my tour, with push pins for my sites. The places are listed on the left!
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Jigsaw puzzles!
Jigsawplanet (and other sites) allow you to upload photos and create a jigsaw puzzle. This could be a great way to wrap up a lesson. Create a coloring sheet jigsaw that children put together on the computer and then print out and color. Could even be for a journal cover for a specific lesson! I love this site, not just for teaching, but it is a lot of fun to play around with!
Go check out one that I made!
JigsawPlanet.com - Free Online Jigsaw Puzzle Games
Go check out one that I made!
JigsawPlanet.com - Free Online Jigsaw Puzzle Games
Alternate homepages
Pageflakes is an alternative to Google home pages. You can customize what you want on your homepage just like Google. The thing I didn't like was that you couldn't customize layout, colors, etc. to fit yourself. It was very boring. I prefer Google, or even Google chrome because you can change colors and themes!
Here is what pageflakes looks like:
Here is what pageflakes looks like:
Spelling help!
http://www.spellingcity.com/teacher-spelling-resources.html is a great way for students to practice spelling at home or at school! A nice alternative for students who really enjoy technology and like interactive study tools. The site provides sentences and says the word for you! It's just like being in class! A great way to prepare for the way tests are actually delivered!
Online study tools
Quizlet allows you to make flashcards and create a mini quiz. Could be used in the classroom or even at home for students to study on their own! I think online study tools are a great resource for all students. I just became familiar with them now (my senior year of college) I wish I had known about them sooner!
Animal sounds
There are a lot of websites out there that allow you to create study guides. My personal favorite is flashcardmachine.com. I like that you can add images as well as just text. It has been very helpful throughout college.
One great way to incorporate online study tools in the classroom, especially with older grades, is to create classroom study sets so students can log on at home and know what is expected for them to study for upcoming tests/quizzes. It takes out the element of guessing what is important!
I'm not sure how I would incorporate this with younger grades. Perhaps create flashcards to assess what kids already know prior to a lesson. Could be used with smart board or iclickers to make them interactive! Could also be a fun "get to know you" activity on the first day of class! Put names/photos, or fun facts on cards!
Animal sounds
There are a lot of websites out there that allow you to create study guides. My personal favorite is flashcardmachine.com. I like that you can add images as well as just text. It has been very helpful throughout college.
One great way to incorporate online study tools in the classroom, especially with older grades, is to create classroom study sets so students can log on at home and know what is expected for them to study for upcoming tests/quizzes. It takes out the element of guessing what is important!
I'm not sure how I would incorporate this with younger grades. Perhaps create flashcards to assess what kids already know prior to a lesson. Could be used with smart board or iclickers to make them interactive! Could also be a fun "get to know you" activity on the first day of class! Put names/photos, or fun facts on cards!
Webquests!
Webquests allow students to explore the internet to learn about new topics, resources, etc. There are a lot of websites out there that present school appropriate webquests.
1) http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic4.htm#2: I like this site because they have pre-made collections for all grades or even has the option to break down webquests by grade level. You can then see webquests broken down by subject! These are great as they are, or you can explore them and create your own based off of ideas that you see!
2) http://bestwebquests.com/: This site is broken down by subject and age in a table format which is really easy to maneuver. Gives directions for what students should be exploring in regards to each topic!
3) http://questgarden.com/author/overview.php: This one is community based and allows people to share their webquests and constantly build webquests they already have! The only downfall is you have to subscribe. Has a great way to search for web based curriculum.
I think webquests could be a great way to get students to explore topics while safely surfing the web. By giving them specific sites and an agenda to follow it ensures students stay on task and visit appropriate sites. It's a fun way to get students to explore topics in a hands-on way while also incorporating the internet!
1) http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic4.htm#2: I like this site because they have pre-made collections for all grades or even has the option to break down webquests by grade level. You can then see webquests broken down by subject! These are great as they are, or you can explore them and create your own based off of ideas that you see!
2) http://bestwebquests.com/: This site is broken down by subject and age in a table format which is really easy to maneuver. Gives directions for what students should be exploring in regards to each topic!
3) http://questgarden.com/author/overview.php: This one is community based and allows people to share their webquests and constantly build webquests they already have! The only downfall is you have to subscribe. Has a great way to search for web based curriculum.
I think webquests could be a great way to get students to explore topics while safely surfing the web. By giving them specific sites and an agenda to follow it ensures students stay on task and visit appropriate sites. It's a fun way to get students to explore topics in a hands-on way while also incorporating the internet!
Videos in the classroom
I am uncomfortable downloading videos for teaching purposes. I love the idea of streaming video and using videos appropriately. There are several interesting sites for videos for teachers!
www.schooltube.com
www.teachertube.com
www.discoveryeducation.com
These are great sites for educational videos to stream or download if you feel comfortable doing so. There are all kinds of resources out there for videos that are classroom appropriate! Search around. These are just the few I liked.
www.schooltube.com
www.teachertube.com
www.discoveryeducation.com
These are great sites for educational videos to stream or download if you feel comfortable doing so. There are all kinds of resources out there for videos that are classroom appropriate! Search around. These are just the few I liked.
Web based bookmarks
I think it is great to have alternative ways to bookmark websites. However I prefer having them bookmarked through firefox for the convenience of having them on the page I'm looking at. I don't like the idea of having to open a new site to get to my links. I understand that computers crash, but that is why I keep a copy of all of my bookmarks in my Google documents! Online bookmarks are just not for me! But I encourage people to look into other alternatives since everyone has different things that work for them. You need to find what works for you and is comfortable!
Readfresh!
I really like readfresh. It is a great alternative to bookmarking sites. It gives you a visual of the site and is a great way to organize sites you visit often. Especially blogs you follow. It helps keep them all in one place!
Readfresh
Readfresh
Livebinder
Here is a livebinder I have created! You can add sites that you like. Honestly I think it is just like opening tabs in firefox. It was fun to explore, but I don't think I would use it in the future.
Simplybox.com
This is a site where you can place bookmarks to sites. Unfortunately I was not allowed to 'box' anything. I kept getting an error sign and it would not work. It seems like a great idea if you can get it to work!
Custom Google searches
Google allows you to create a customizable search engine that allows you to choose the sites you search from and in a way filters material for you. This could be a great idea in the classroom to allows students don't come across inappropriate material. You can always add sites to your custom search engine to encompass the topics being covered that day.
Here is one I created for helpful teacher websites!
Here is one I created for helpful teacher websites!
Alternative search engines
There are a lot of alternative search engines out there besides Google. Some of them focus on just images, videos etc.
Here are a few of my favorite alternatives that I have found:
1)http://uk.forestle.org/: I liked this search because it is also for a good cause! It is set up just like Google however each search saves a rain forest!
2)http://www.mugurdy.com: My favorite thing about this site was that it doesn't just give you the website to click on but it shows you the page! I feel like this is very helpful and can save a lot of time going to useless sites.
3)http://www.spezify.com: This search engine is kind of fun. It is set up like mugurdy as far as showing you the page, but I like that it looks more like a bulletin board! Includes music, tweets, articles, etc. Has a lot of alternatives to just web pages.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
smartboard resources
There are several resources out there for smartboards. Most are flash animation or interactive ways for students to learn the material. I really enjoyed the sites that used music where I got to compose (maybe that's because I was a vocal major for 2 years prior to deciding on education). My goal is to teach and incorporate music into my teaching in new ways, and these sites/games are a great way to do this!
http://www.artsalive.ca/en/mus/activitiesgames/ --> let's you compose songs! But only for 3 measures and without proper time signatures!
http://incredibox.fr/ --> we were showed this in class, not very educational but definitely fun!
http://www.artsalive.ca/en/mus/activitiesgames/ --> let's you compose songs! But only for 3 measures and without proper time signatures!
http://incredibox.fr/ --> we were showed this in class, not very educational but definitely fun!
Thinklinkr!
We used thinklinkr.com to create a collaborative document. It's a nice alternative to google docs which is fun! It worked much better than the collaborative whiteboards. It could be fun to incorporate in the classroom, or even in PTA or similar meetings to get all different view points heard. Interactive writing is fun!
We used it to define differentiated instruction as seen in the classroom! Take a look! Apparently you can still collaborate and change the document in this blog. I feel like I'm going to screw it up on accident! So be careful.
We used it to define differentiated instruction as seen in the classroom! Take a look! Apparently you can still collaborate and change the document in this blog. I feel like I'm going to screw it up on accident! So be careful.
Scriblink!
There's this fun link called scriblink.com it's an interactive whiteboard! It is kind of fun, but I'm not sure how practical it would be in the classroom. It's more for fun. Could possibly be adapted for younger children to teach them shapes, colors, etc. Or maybe to create a type of poster to share with the class? I'm not really sure how I'd incorporate it into the classroom, especially at the elementary level. But it was fun to play with!
My first smart board experience
This week we were supposed to create 3 lesson plans using the smart notebook software. While I enjoy the software, I was very frustrated. I felt as though everything took a lot longer than I thought it should. I spent 3 hours solid on one lesson. I also had several problems with the interactive tools and text motions not saving like they were supposed to. I had to redo several components and try to save again and still not getting them to work. They would work until I closed them and when I'd reopen them it all disappears..
Frustrated!
Frustrated!
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Fun animation sites for kids!
1) This website offers interactive games, brainteasers, ecards, and much more. WARNING has sound on home page...about scared myself when I realized that and my speakers were all the way up! Is a great site for kids to play around on. It's simple and easy to navigate. Hands on and fun.
http://www.4kids2play.nl/eng/
2)This site is fun because all the animations are made by kids! Could be great inspiration for students to make their own and incorporate that into the lessons in the classroom! The site also offers some animated lesson plans and also resources in case you are interested in learning more about animation.
http://www.amazing-kids.org/anistation1.htm
3) YouTube also has endless flash videos that you can tailor to your needs. The only problem is some material is inappropriate so research must be done at home/ahead of time to avoid any mishaps!
http://www.4kids2play.nl/eng/
2)This site is fun because all the animations are made by kids! Could be great inspiration for students to make their own and incorporate that into the lessons in the classroom! The site also offers some animated lesson plans and also resources in case you are interested in learning more about animation.
http://www.amazing-kids.org/anistation1.htm
3) YouTube also has endless flash videos that you can tailor to your needs. The only problem is some material is inappropriate so research must be done at home/ahead of time to avoid any mishaps!
Using smartboards
If you google smartboard tutorials the first site to come up is the one from the previous blog. However I looked a little further to see what else I could find as far as tutorials go.
The best resource I found for how to use a smartboard was a YouTube tutorial done by user name radfordeducation. If you go to his channel there are also a lot of other videos that have how to's for gmail, googlemaps, etc. Very useful to be able to see it hands on and done for you. It's nice because you can practice along with the videos
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=90EBA67C75535213&search_query=how+to+use+a+smartboard&rclk=pti
I have found another site that has tutorials more specific for individual needs. It offers pre-made notebook activity downloads as well as teaching ideas and technical tutorials.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=90EBA67C75535213&search_query=how+to+use+a+smartboard&rclk=pti
I also found a great YouTube channel that offers a lot of different uses for smartboards in the classroom! (link below) Shows a lot of sample plans, but not how to set them up! Still has a lot of great ideas to look at.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SMARTClassrooms
The best resource I found for how to use a smartboard was a YouTube tutorial done by user name radfordeducation. If you go to his channel there are also a lot of other videos that have how to's for gmail, googlemaps, etc. Very useful to be able to see it hands on and done for you. It's nice because you can practice along with the videos
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=90EBA67C75535213&search_query=how+to+use+a+smartboard&rclk=pti
I have found another site that has tutorials more specific for individual needs. It offers pre-made notebook activity downloads as well as teaching ideas and technical tutorials.
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=90EBA67C75535213&search_query=how+to+use+a+smartboard&rclk=pti
I also found a great YouTube channel that offers a lot of different uses for smartboards in the classroom! (link below) Shows a lot of sample plans, but not how to set them up! Still has a lot of great ideas to look at.
http://www.youtube.com/user/SMARTClassrooms
Smartboards!
I have been exploring the smarttech.com website and found a lot of useful tools! The site not only offers tutorials on how to use smart boards but also gives sample lesson plans! What I liked most about this site was that you could choose grade and topic based on what you were looking for! The site is a little confusing at first but once you get the hang of it is fairly easy to maneuver.
I wanted to look at kindergarten lessons because I can apply it to my classroom.
1)I found a really cute lesson about washing hands which is very important for children to learn. Especially since I am currently getting over the flu and pink eye from my students! I love the idea of making a little video about hygiene and incorporating music. However it could have been more colorful and fun! I felt as though it was kind of boring! Maybe add music/sound? More colors? The idea is wonderful!
2)I also found a really fun lesson for learning colors! It explained what the colors were and then had fun activities to use for assessment. I liked that it was interactive, but worry the teacher would still be in control of doing the activities. I would love to incorporate it and actually let the students do the hands on tasks.
SMART - Art and Design Learning Colors (SMART-created)
3)There was also a cute math lesson that used adding/counting animals. I like it because it was simple and could easily be changed to fit the classroom ideals/interests/etc. I liked that it used technology to do something you usually see on a worksheet. I wish it had been a little more creative and experimental with new ways to teach addition.
I highly recommend looking at this site to find fun lesson plans or get ideas for your own. Another helpful thing about this site is that it shows you the teaching standards that the lesson follows! That is something I have yet to find on many other websites!
http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+Activities/default.htm
I wanted to look at kindergarten lessons because I can apply it to my classroom.
1)I found a really cute lesson about washing hands which is very important for children to learn. Especially since I am currently getting over the flu and pink eye from my students! I love the idea of making a little video about hygiene and incorporating music. However it could have been more colorful and fun! I felt as though it was kind of boring! Maybe add music/sound? More colors? The idea is wonderful!
2)I also found a really fun lesson for learning colors! It explained what the colors were and then had fun activities to use for assessment. I liked that it was interactive, but worry the teacher would still be in control of doing the activities. I would love to incorporate it and actually let the students do the hands on tasks.
SMART - Art and Design Learning Colors (SMART-created)
3)There was also a cute math lesson that used adding/counting animals. I like it because it was simple and could easily be changed to fit the classroom ideals/interests/etc. I liked that it used technology to do something you usually see on a worksheet. I wish it had been a little more creative and experimental with new ways to teach addition.
I highly recommend looking at this site to find fun lesson plans or get ideas for your own. Another helpful thing about this site is that it shows you the teaching standards that the lesson follows! That is something I have yet to find on many other websites!
http://education.smarttech.com/ste/en-US/Ed+Resource/Lesson+activities/Notebook+Activities/default.htm
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Zoho vs. Google
Zoho.com is very similar to Google and Gmail. In fact you can use zoho with your gmail account. One thing that I like about zoho, is the applications! To the best of my knowledge Google has yet to come up with applications.Other than that I feel the 2 are fairly equal in there abilities. Google is just more popular. It really comes down to personal preference. Both are modeled to target businesses which is great, but both have the same things to offer in my opinion.
Web 2.0!
I used PowerPoint to create a sideshow about Web 2.0! I then uploaded it to slideshare.net to share it with the online world! Hope it at least gives you some ideas!
Web 2.0
View more presentations from Tasha MacDonald.
Google Documents in the classroom
Many people think of Google documents as a substitute for Microsoft word. While this is true, Google documents also offers several other templates that could be useful inside the classroom!
One thing I saw as particularly interesting was the idea of a resume. Making a job board within the classroom where students can see what jobs are available: Shown above. (librarian, teacher's helper and understudy, to name a few. Students then have the opportunity to take an employment application and apply for such jobs like the would in the real world. I have used this concept with a couple different age levels and it can be tailored to fit each teachers needs. Being able to create a resume could also be fun in this role playing experience!
Google documents also offers a scrapbook template for photos. This could be used as a wonderful alternative to PowerPoint! It allows kids creativity when putting together projects. Could also be for the class as a whole to show what we did that week, or even for a "student of the week" project done in a lot of younger grades.
I also found a few fun backgrounds that could be used for anything you could think of! One looks like an old fashioned book. Perhaps the class could make their own book, or recipe book with family favorites! Since this would be online, everyone could access it from home and it would be free!
Google documents also offers customizable gift certificates, statistics which would be great for polls and in class surveys, as well as a section for students and teacher. Most things are business oriented, but if you use your creative energy you can tweak it into something your students will love!
Interview with a teacher about technology
This week we were supposed to interview a teacher about technology in the classroom. (Questions below). I had a hard time with this because most teachers do not really use technology in the classroom, aside from projectors. I asked 3 different teachers to help out with this interview and got similar responses. "I don't really use technology in my classroom" - Kindergarten teacher
(1) What tools are their favorite tech and web tools to use in the classroom?
- "I really like my document camera" -Kindergarten teacher
- "I rarely use technology. Sometimes I'll use the projector for handouts I don't want to print off" - 4th grade teacher
- One teacher (a preschool teacher) even thought that using a CD player for books on tape was an innovative use of technology. When it came to learning tools she said "I'm old fashioned I guess. I get all my information from books"
(2) What are their biggest frustrations with technology in the classroom?
- The kindergarten teacher I interviewed said she is most frustrated with the smartboard because she doesn't know how to use it. When I asked if they had training seminars she said the school offers them once a month but "Who has time for that?" Another frustration for her was that the smartboard wasn't installed properly in her classroom and therefore couldn't be used without being a 'safety hazard'
- The preschool teacher was most frustrated with the fact that kids always try to touch it and she is afraid of things getting broken or mistreated.
(3) What is the biggest misconception about using technology in the classroom?
- The most common answer for this was that it's easy to incorporate technology. The teachers I interviewed felt as though it was too difficult to incorporate technology while still getting the material across. And even then, none of them knew how to use it.
(4) What are the biggest hurdles that you face as an educator using technology in the classroom?
- The kindergarten teacher said the hurdle is learning how to use these new tools. However she herself admitted to not partaking in the class to learn. Another thing she found as a hurdle was the use of youtube. While it has some fun videos for kids, you have to be very careful to weed out the inappropriate stuff as well.
- The other 2 teachers also touched on the fact that while the internet has useful tools it also has a lot of inappropriate material which can be too time consuming to weed out.
(5) What has been your biggest success with technology integration in the classroom?
- The preschool teacher said that students respond positively to technology, such as the books on tape and using the projector to mix colors and see them appear on the wall.
- The kindergarten teacher stated that she loved using the document camera for story time. Her students eagerly participated and were more willing to do the story telling themselves!
(6) Who/What has been your biggest inspiration in helping you to use technology in the classroom?
- This question didn't really apply to any of my teachers. None of them were very motivated at all. They each so rarely used technology to begin with.
- For myself, I'd say the biggest motivator is the fact that students are so engrossed in technology already and we can use that to connect with them and make learning more interactive and meaningful!
(7) Where do you see technology integration heading in the future?
- The kindergarten teacher said that she felt as though technology was going to take over and "robots might take her job". I had to laugh.
- What was interesting is that the 4th grade teacher said something completely different. She believed that technology wouldn't go far because it was a dead end for teachers. She believed it was unnecessary in the classroom and herself took no part in it.
All in all, I think technology isn't as prevalent in classrooms because of the mere fact that teachers do not know how to use it or use it effectively. The training is out there, but I think too few teachers care enough to go out and learn these new skills. Which is a shame. We are only hurting our students learning, not ourselves.
(1) What tools are their favorite tech and web tools to use in the classroom?
- "I really like my document camera" -Kindergarten teacher
- "I rarely use technology. Sometimes I'll use the projector for handouts I don't want to print off" - 4th grade teacher
- One teacher (a preschool teacher) even thought that using a CD player for books on tape was an innovative use of technology. When it came to learning tools she said "I'm old fashioned I guess. I get all my information from books"
(2) What are their biggest frustrations with technology in the classroom?
- The kindergarten teacher I interviewed said she is most frustrated with the smartboard because she doesn't know how to use it. When I asked if they had training seminars she said the school offers them once a month but "Who has time for that?" Another frustration for her was that the smartboard wasn't installed properly in her classroom and therefore couldn't be used without being a 'safety hazard'
- The preschool teacher was most frustrated with the fact that kids always try to touch it and she is afraid of things getting broken or mistreated.
(3) What is the biggest misconception about using technology in the classroom?
- The most common answer for this was that it's easy to incorporate technology. The teachers I interviewed felt as though it was too difficult to incorporate technology while still getting the material across. And even then, none of them knew how to use it.
(4) What are the biggest hurdles that you face as an educator using technology in the classroom?
- The kindergarten teacher said the hurdle is learning how to use these new tools. However she herself admitted to not partaking in the class to learn. Another thing she found as a hurdle was the use of youtube. While it has some fun videos for kids, you have to be very careful to weed out the inappropriate stuff as well.
- The other 2 teachers also touched on the fact that while the internet has useful tools it also has a lot of inappropriate material which can be too time consuming to weed out.
(5) What has been your biggest success with technology integration in the classroom?
- The preschool teacher said that students respond positively to technology, such as the books on tape and using the projector to mix colors and see them appear on the wall.
- The kindergarten teacher stated that she loved using the document camera for story time. Her students eagerly participated and were more willing to do the story telling themselves!
(6) Who/What has been your biggest inspiration in helping you to use technology in the classroom?
- This question didn't really apply to any of my teachers. None of them were very motivated at all. They each so rarely used technology to begin with.
- For myself, I'd say the biggest motivator is the fact that students are so engrossed in technology already and we can use that to connect with them and make learning more interactive and meaningful!
(7) Where do you see technology integration heading in the future?
- The kindergarten teacher said that she felt as though technology was going to take over and "robots might take her job". I had to laugh.
- What was interesting is that the 4th grade teacher said something completely different. She believed that technology wouldn't go far because it was a dead end for teachers. She believed it was unnecessary in the classroom and herself took no part in it.
All in all, I think technology isn't as prevalent in classrooms because of the mere fact that teachers do not know how to use it or use it effectively. The training is out there, but I think too few teachers care enough to go out and learn these new skills. Which is a shame. We are only hurting our students learning, not ourselves.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
Interesting blogs I've found!
1. This blog was very useful! They blog about free technology resources for teachers! What I liked most is that they gave a brief description of the tool and then gave helpful tips about how to potentially apply it as an educator! It's nice that it is not too wordy and allows for the reader to form their own opinions after trying the different tools! This is a very helpful blog for anyone interested in technology!
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
2. This blog has a lot of fun coloring activities for kids. I think art has been lost in most classrooms and I feel strongly that it is important to let children express themselves artistically. Would definitely use this site and all the printouts with children!
http://www.sparkplugging.com/kids-activities
3. I really liked this blog from a kindergarten teacher! She talks about everythign and also has a sense of humor about her which I really like. It makes it easier to read and also to connect with her. It's nice to see humor when so many teachers take themselves so seriously. Gotta have some fun once in awhile. She also has classroom projects on there and fun videos!
http://kidney-garden.blogspot.com/2010/01/tuesday.html
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/
2. This blog has a lot of fun coloring activities for kids. I think art has been lost in most classrooms and I feel strongly that it is important to let children express themselves artistically. Would definitely use this site and all the printouts with children!
http://www.sparkplugging.com/kids-activities
3. I really liked this blog from a kindergarten teacher! She talks about everythign and also has a sense of humor about her which I really like. It makes it easier to read and also to connect with her. It's nice to see humor when so many teachers take themselves so seriously. Gotta have some fun once in awhile. She also has classroom projects on there and fun videos!
http://kidney-garden.blogspot.com/2010/01/tuesday.html
Critiquing blogs
What to look for in a blog?
1. Voice: Where the blogger is coming from? What is there intention?
2. Fluency: How readable is the material? Does it flow or ramble?
3. Credibility: Do they site sources? Are they a reliable source? Are there a bunch of grammatical errors?
1. Voice: Where the blogger is coming from? What is there intention?
2. Fluency: How readable is the material? Does it flow or ramble?
3. Credibility: Do they site sources? Are they a reliable source? Are there a bunch of grammatical errors?
Storybird.com
When I'm feeling... by tmdmacdonald on Storybird
We got to use the coolest site today to create stories! While it was a little confusing at first getting the pictures I wanted and sorting through them, it was a really cool idea. I enjoyed making my story and I could definitely see this being used in the classroom as an alternative to PowerPoint projects, or even just for fun!
I could also be interested in using the art for other things. Perhaps choosing an art piece and seeing what children think about it. Art is a great way to start a conversation or new topic in class. Ex: If learning about the rain forest layers, perhaps get photos of different animals in the rain forest and have students guess what layer they might live in! Or perhaps having children create their own art and posting it to the site itself? So many possibilities! If you haven't checked out storybird.com I'd highly recommend it!
We got to use the coolest site today to create stories! While it was a little confusing at first getting the pictures I wanted and sorting through them, it was a really cool idea. I enjoyed making my story and I could definitely see this being used in the classroom as an alternative to PowerPoint projects, or even just for fun!
I could also be interested in using the art for other things. Perhaps choosing an art piece and seeing what children think about it. Art is a great way to start a conversation or new topic in class. Ex: If learning about the rain forest layers, perhaps get photos of different animals in the rain forest and have students guess what layer they might live in! Or perhaps having children create their own art and posting it to the site itself? So many possibilities! If you haven't checked out storybird.com I'd highly recommend it!
21st century school model
After reading the following article I was excited about the future and becoming a technologically based teacher. My generation is the technology-enriched group and I am excited to use this knowledge to help my future students learn. It is important for young students to use technology in the classroom because this could potentially spark a higher interest in learning. The world of technology has so many opportunities and is constantly expanding. We should be using these resources. I look forward to what comes out next and learning it along side my students. We should be able to learn together. I think this helps break the teacher-centered way of teaching when students see themselves as part of a learning experience.
Unfortunately technology can be costly, especially in schools. However there has to be a way to make it more affordable. It's gotta be cheaper than text books yes? I think if there is a way to fund technology for each classroom, learning can be done in brand new ways and open up new doors for deeper learning.
In response to article:
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx0ZWNoMjIxdW9mb3xneDoxMDg4ODkzOGM1MjNhZGE
Unfortunately technology can be costly, especially in schools. However there has to be a way to make it more affordable. It's gotta be cheaper than text books yes? I think if there is a way to fund technology for each classroom, learning can be done in brand new ways and open up new doors for deeper learning.
In response to article:
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnx0ZWNoMjIxdW9mb3xneDoxMDg4ODkzOGM1MjNhZGE
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Social networking and careers
Given the growing fascination with social networking and the internet it is no surprise that employers are beginning to check out our personal profiles before committing to hiring. There has been much debate over whether or not this is a violation of privacy and if it is their right to not hire someone based on something they do in their free time. While I understand both sides, I believe that if you are posting it online, you are posting it for anyone to see, even your employers.
This is of course and extreme, but if you work for a pharmaceutical company, you wouldn't hire someone who is a drug dealer outside of work.
I understand the right to have your work life and personal life separate, however inappropriate things should not be a part of it. As a rule of thumb I wouldn't post something online that I wouldn't want to be seen doing at work or in front of my students. We have to keep in mind that our students are curious about the internet and their teachers and will research you and it is important to keep a good example.
This is of course and extreme, but if you work for a pharmaceutical company, you wouldn't hire someone who is a drug dealer outside of work.
I understand the right to have your work life and personal life separate, however inappropriate things should not be a part of it. As a rule of thumb I wouldn't post something online that I wouldn't want to be seen doing at work or in front of my students. We have to keep in mind that our students are curious about the internet and their teachers and will research you and it is important to keep a good example.
The classroom 5-10 years from now!
In 5-10 years I fear there may no longer be a classroom. Teachers will be able to teach without actually being present by using technologies such as video chat and blogging.
There are a few universities/classrooms in which students are actually being taught through second life. This allows students/teachers to be whoever they want to be and participate when they may not have otherwise. It also opens up the opportunity for 'field trips' to far away places, for example China when learning about the Chinese new year. It is interesting to think about. It is also a great way to get a more qualified teacher for certain topics. Say you want to learn french, you would be able to take a french class from a teacher who lives in France! You also gain access to people all over the world. Because it is a virtual classroom you will be in a class with students from all over the world from all different age groups and backgrounds. This provides an amazing opportunity for students to learn multiples perspectives
(http://campustechnology.com/articles/2009/02/18/real-life-teaching-in-a-virtual-world.aspx)
While I worry we may be heading down this road, considering I could end up out of a job, I think these professors are on to something. We are presenting students with broader information that we may have otherwise not be able to provide. We are opening a world to them that they may never get to experience. THIS is the kind of learning we need to incorporate into the everyday classroom!
21st century teachers
I am all for technology in the classroom and I LOVE that it is starting to catch on and spread. I think it is important for teachers to stay up to date with all the new technologies because their students are the ones mastering these technologies. The internet/computers have so many great resources for teachers and I think it's important to incorporate these into the classroom because it helps make learning different. People, including myself, get bored sitting in classrooms all day long and seeing the same format. Lecture, notes, quiz, repeat. Why not make learning different? I think students retain more information when it's presented to them in a different way because they are less likely to tune it out and write it off as the same old stuff.
The computer also has great resources for hands-on learning. This allows students and teachers to work together towards learning. It also helps to encourage students to tap into their creative energies which I feel is lost at a young age due to the typical teacher centered classrooms. It is important to make learning fun again and gets students excited about expressive themselves and learning at the same time.
Response to the article:
http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/21st+Century+Teacher
The computer also has great resources for hands-on learning. This allows students and teachers to work together towards learning. It also helps to encourage students to tap into their creative energies which I feel is lost at a young age due to the typical teacher centered classrooms. It is important to make learning fun again and gets students excited about expressive themselves and learning at the same time.
Response to the article:
http://edorigami.wikispaces.com/21st+Century+Teacher
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Digital storytelling
Digital storytelling is a great way for teachers to convey information in a technologically modern way. It utilizes different aspects of computer-based technologies in a fun and creative new ways. Digital storytelling opens several doors for students project and allows a way for teachers to assess learning without a formal test. New ways to present projects arise. For example, using digital storytelling to do a book report, or showcase the "student of the week", or even to just show parents what students learned about a given topic! It's a fun new way to incorporate technology into everyday learning!
Here are some helpful websites for digital storytelling!
http://its.ksbe.edu/dst/
http://www.edutopia.org/use-digital-storytelling-classroom
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/ds.html#
http://www.digitales.us/tools/toolkits_kids.php (most for sale, however some helpful tools under resources)
http://teachingteachers.com/
Here are some helpful websites for digital storytelling!
http://its.ksbe.edu/dst/
http://www.edutopia.org/use-digital-storytelling-classroom
http://www.webenglishteacher.com/ds.html#
http://www.digitales.us/tools/toolkits_kids.php (most for sale, however some helpful tools under resources)
http://teachingteachers.com/
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Educators embracing technology
It is very important for educators to embrace technology if only because their students are already using it and are into it. We live in a technology based society right now and it is important to acknowledge that. It opens a door for building a relationship with students that is meaningful to what they find important. Technology can make learning new and exciting. By breaking away from the everyday textbook lecture format we can get students excited to learn again. Learning should be fun and technology can help students enjoy the time they spend in the classroom.
Imagine students being able to explore topics that are interesting to them and developing their own way to present that information based on what they enjoy. Making movies, writing a song, etc can help make students genuinely interested in what they are learning because for the first time, they get a say in it. Who doesn't want to use the technology they are already using to further their learning while doing things they enjoy?
k-12 education experience with technology
Today in class we set up our blogs, I never thought it would be this difficult. I loved being able to personalize my avatar and blogspot as well as learn something new! I expect to learn useful ways to incorporate technology into an everyday kindergarten classroom. I would love to learn more about smart boards and sites that are great teaching tools.
k-12 I cannot remember any technology, aside from an overhead projector, very old fashioned. The coolest experience with technology was my senior year of high school in a music theory and composition class. We had to compose our own songs by hand. Then we were able to play it on a keyboard that hooked up to the computers and it would print the notes as we played them! It was very handy when you were just playing freestyle music and wanted to see how it would look on sheet music.
Side note: 4 hours is too long without snacks.
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