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!

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

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

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.

Slide.com

A fun site to create fun slide shows! A nice alternative to PowerPoint!

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

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?

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!

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

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.

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

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/

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.