Before this week's assignment, I really had no concept of what a Wiki is, besides the infamous Wikipedia. I was pleased to see that it is a very simple, straightforward website that can be implemented into a classroom for students and parents to use.
Even though I fully intend on using a Weebly site for my classroom, I would also like to try to use a Wiki. I like that the parents would have access to edit the website, especially for when trying to coordinate a class party, field trip, etc. It was also very simple to add a "widget", such as a calendar, slideshow, audio/video, map, etc. It allows a lot of flexibility for use.
I'm not sure that I would have this website directed towards the students specifically, unless they were given supervised time in the classroom to edit the wiki and add pictures of their projects. However, I really like the idea that the students could access this with their parents and be able to show off some of the things they've done in class. I will definitely try to incorporate this into my future classroom!
Here is an example of how to use it in a classroom setting.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Prezi
I first heard about Prezi several weeks ago from a friend who is always in Elementary Education. She had suggested it to her 17-year-old sister, who proceeded to make a presentation for her junior level English class. The teacher was so impressed, he had her show it to the entire class and explain how she made it. After learning that, I decided to try it for myself.
It really is an interesting program that produces a very unique presentation. It is very simple to add text, including editing and rotating. Photos or drawings can be uploaded to supplement the text. Youtube videos can even be added to make it extra interesting.
The part that makes Prezi so unique is that you can set a path for the presentation to take - that is, the order that the "slides", or bits of information, are shown. You can create a large roadmap full of the information and the path created zooms in on each piece. What appears to be tiny, minute scribbles can be turned into a full "slide" for the viewers to see. One great example from the showcase can be seen here.
This isn't a program I would recommend for very young students to create for themselves; it is very complicated and even I had some trouble getting used to it. However, it would make for a great presentation on any topic for the students. And I believe high school students would enjoy making their own to spice up their presentation for class. Going through the showcase, I found science lessons, math tutorials, presentations about the positives of technology, etc. The possibilities are endless for this program.
Even though it is a complicated program, they have several tutorials for every level on their Learn Center page. I would definitely recommend watching a few of the videos before getting started.
So far, I think the only downfall about this program is how complicated and intricate it is. I don't believe it is not a program for young students to use themselves, but there are many ways to use it in a classroom of any level.
It really is an interesting program that produces a very unique presentation. It is very simple to add text, including editing and rotating. Photos or drawings can be uploaded to supplement the text. Youtube videos can even be added to make it extra interesting.
The part that makes Prezi so unique is that you can set a path for the presentation to take - that is, the order that the "slides", or bits of information, are shown. You can create a large roadmap full of the information and the path created zooms in on each piece. What appears to be tiny, minute scribbles can be turned into a full "slide" for the viewers to see. One great example from the showcase can be seen here.
This isn't a program I would recommend for very young students to create for themselves; it is very complicated and even I had some trouble getting used to it. However, it would make for a great presentation on any topic for the students. And I believe high school students would enjoy making their own to spice up their presentation for class. Going through the showcase, I found science lessons, math tutorials, presentations about the positives of technology, etc. The possibilities are endless for this program.
Even though it is a complicated program, they have several tutorials for every level on their Learn Center page. I would definitely recommend watching a few of the videos before getting started.
So far, I think the only downfall about this program is how complicated and intricate it is. I don't believe it is not a program for young students to use themselves, but there are many ways to use it in a classroom of any level.
Digital Storytelling
This week's topic was Digital Storytelling with a very open-ended assignment. We could choose from 50 different tools to create a short story. I decided to use Tikatok to create the web-based story. It's a very simple program to use, and you can order a copy of the book when you're finished.
For starters, you can either start a book from scratch or use a given template to create a story. Even when you start the story from scratch, you can add a picture, text, or change the page color with the click of the mouse. You can scan and upload your own drawings to use on the pages, also. It is very simple for younger children to use and create their own stories.
One thing that I like about Tikatok is how the web story looks like a real book. It even has a dedication page and "about the author" section, both of which will make children feel like they're making a real book like they'd see at the store or the library. A lesson using this program could be open-ended, allowing students to write about whatever topic they want.
What I dislike most about the program is that when you try and preview the book as a pdf, it has a watermark across the pages so you can't print them. The only way to properly see the book is to order a copy. Which is great if parents of your students want to order copies of the book, but that costs money (which not all parents are able to spend on a homemade book). This might be a good idea to use at the end of the year to showcase all that the students have learned in school, especially because they can write about whatever subject they want.
For starters, you can either start a book from scratch or use a given template to create a story. Even when you start the story from scratch, you can add a picture, text, or change the page color with the click of the mouse. You can scan and upload your own drawings to use on the pages, also. It is very simple for younger children to use and create their own stories.
One thing that I like about Tikatok is how the web story looks like a real book. It even has a dedication page and "about the author" section, both of which will make children feel like they're making a real book like they'd see at the store or the library. A lesson using this program could be open-ended, allowing students to write about whatever topic they want.
What I dislike most about the program is that when you try and preview the book as a pdf, it has a watermark across the pages so you can't print them. The only way to properly see the book is to order a copy. Which is great if parents of your students want to order copies of the book, but that costs money (which not all parents are able to spend on a homemade book). This might be a good idea to use at the end of the year to showcase all that the students have learned in school, especially because they can write about whatever subject they want.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
As the semester winds down...
I'm really happy with how my portfolio is turning out this semester. I think it'll be a great resource to be able to show potential employers about my technological abilities. Not only does it have my resume, but soon sample lesson plans will be available that they can preview.
I think Jing is one of my new favorite programs. It is the easiest and most convenient way to take screen shots, especially of specific parts of the screen. Taking videos is also extremely simple, and you can choose to record your voice or not. I will definitely try to find uses for Jing in my classroom!
It's hard to believe the semester is almost over already. But looking back, it's amazing how much we've learned over the past few weeks!
I think Jing is one of my new favorite programs. It is the easiest and most convenient way to take screen shots, especially of specific parts of the screen. Taking videos is also extremely simple, and you can choose to record your voice or not. I will definitely try to find uses for Jing in my classroom!
It's hard to believe the semester is almost over already. But looking back, it's amazing how much we've learned over the past few weeks!
Friday, June 11, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
Google Apps: Use in the classroom?
One way I would like to integrate Google Apps in my elementary classroom is the same way we have incorporated it into my family: a mailing list on Google Docs. It is the easiest way to find addresses and phone numbers of anyone in the group. And the easiest part about it is anyone that has a valid e-mail address and Internet access can edit the document as a collaborator. This helps for changes in email addresses, phone numbers, or home addresses.
Google Docs can also be used for any help I might need in the classroom, such as for room parents who bring in snacks or are lunchtime helpers, etc. They can each be collaborators on the document to verify what they're doing to help me in the classroom. We can all see (and change) the classroom management that the parents are involved in.
Google Calendar can be used for any important dates that parents would need to know for the children, such as field trips, half days, etc.
All these applications are very easy to access and, if permitted, to edit as the viewers see fit. They can show the parents of my students that I want them to be actively involved on what happens in the classroom.
Google Docs can also be used for any help I might need in the classroom, such as for room parents who bring in snacks or are lunchtime helpers, etc. They can each be collaborators on the document to verify what they're doing to help me in the classroom. We can all see (and change) the classroom management that the parents are involved in.
Google Calendar can be used for any important dates that parents would need to know for the children, such as field trips, half days, etc.
All these applications are very easy to access and, if permitted, to edit as the viewers see fit. They can show the parents of my students that I want them to be actively involved on what happens in the classroom.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
TPACK : Technological Pedagogical Content Knowledge
While researching technologies suitable for TPACK helpful for elementary students, I stumbled upon Fotobabble. This is a free program that involves two simple steps: upload a photo and record your voice to produce a talking picture. This can be done by a child of any age with a small amount of help.
I believe that this technology can be applied to any content area, specifically English or Language Arts. My students would be able to find pictures they like and, after writing a story to go along with them, record the story over the picture. Writing the stories and speaking them aloud would satisfy multiple Michigan Standards for Language Arts for the elementary grades. I can also scan their personally drawn pictures into the computer to upload onto Fotobabble and have them narrate their own drawing.
This can also be applied to other subject areas, such as spelling (record themselves spelling the words), social studies (a map of a state with their recordings of details about the state), or even math (depictions of simple math problems, and they talk through how they found the answer). These can easily be added to our classroom website for parents to be able to see what their children are doing during class.
I don't feel that there are any constraints to this technology because it appears to be so simple to complete and share. I wanted to find a program that very young students could do with minimal help, and it appears that this is one of them. I want the students to feel independent and proud of their completed product.
I believe that this technology can be applied to any content area, specifically English or Language Arts. My students would be able to find pictures they like and, after writing a story to go along with them, record the story over the picture. Writing the stories and speaking them aloud would satisfy multiple Michigan Standards for Language Arts for the elementary grades. I can also scan their personally drawn pictures into the computer to upload onto Fotobabble and have them narrate their own drawing.
This can also be applied to other subject areas, such as spelling (record themselves spelling the words), social studies (a map of a state with their recordings of details about the state), or even math (depictions of simple math problems, and they talk through how they found the answer). These can easily be added to our classroom website for parents to be able to see what their children are doing during class.
I don't feel that there are any constraints to this technology because it appears to be so simple to complete and share. I wanted to find a program that very young students could do with minimal help, and it appears that this is one of them. I want the students to feel independent and proud of their completed product.
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Twitter: Is it really all it's really cracked up to be?
I created my Twitter last year - I decided I needed one if my dad already had one. I only posted on it a few times because I felt like compared to Facebook, it was useless. I had 3 followers (one being my dad) and honestly felt like I had nothing good to say. I'll be honest, I haven't updated it since CEP started. Who cares what I have to say in 140 characters? Can I even think of anything to say in that few words?
I think that is one of the major drawbacks to Twitter; I feel like every word needs to be carefully chosen because you're allowed so few. Who wants to spend time contemplating every letter choice on something that's supposed to make your life easier? I would rather blog on here than limit my thoughts to a limited amount of characters.
Although I will admit, there's a very good chance I don't know how to properly use it, so I've been doing some research on the benefits of it - especially for teachers. Onlinecollegedegrees.org posted a great article on Tips for Teachers on Twitter that I've been reading in my spare time. All the articles on "Twitter for Beginners" (and there are quite a few) were helpful, especially in teaching how to use the @ for replies or "d" for direct messages (which I didn't know you could do on Twitter). There is also a large list of articles specifically for Educators that I would highly recommend. One tip that I had never thought of is that eventually if enough teachers join, Twitter can become a very helpful way to network.
I'm a Language Arts major, so I was tossing around ideas of how to use Twitter in my classroom. One idea I had was to post a word that my students most likely had never heard of and have them look it up on their own, coming to class knowing the definition and how to use it in a sentence, etc. It would also be an easy way to suggest outside reading for class, or pose questions that they should think about before coming to class. As long as all my students got into the habit of checking it every day, it could be very successful (and fast) at getting my suggestions out there.
I believe that Twitter could be very helpful and fun to use, as long as I actually had people to follow and vice versa. Right now it doesn't appear to be very beneficial because there's nothing happening and I feel like I'm talking to myself. Maybe it will prove to be helpful once I begin teaching!
I think that is one of the major drawbacks to Twitter; I feel like every word needs to be carefully chosen because you're allowed so few. Who wants to spend time contemplating every letter choice on something that's supposed to make your life easier? I would rather blog on here than limit my thoughts to a limited amount of characters.
Although I will admit, there's a very good chance I don't know how to properly use it, so I've been doing some research on the benefits of it - especially for teachers. Onlinecollegedegrees.org posted a great article on Tips for Teachers on Twitter that I've been reading in my spare time. All the articles on "Twitter for Beginners" (and there are quite a few) were helpful, especially in teaching how to use the @ for replies or "d" for direct messages (which I didn't know you could do on Twitter). There is also a large list of articles specifically for Educators that I would highly recommend. One tip that I had never thought of is that eventually if enough teachers join, Twitter can become a very helpful way to network.
I'm a Language Arts major, so I was tossing around ideas of how to use Twitter in my classroom. One idea I had was to post a word that my students most likely had never heard of and have them look it up on their own, coming to class knowing the definition and how to use it in a sentence, etc. It would also be an easy way to suggest outside reading for class, or pose questions that they should think about before coming to class. As long as all my students got into the habit of checking it every day, it could be very successful (and fast) at getting my suggestions out there.
I believe that Twitter could be very helpful and fun to use, as long as I actually had people to follow and vice versa. Right now it doesn't appear to be very beneficial because there's nothing happening and I feel like I'm talking to myself. Maybe it will prove to be helpful once I begin teaching!
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
A Plethora of Pictures
This picture was one of the first to really stand out to me.
I would love to use photos like this one to explain science concepts, such as cloud formation, to my students. I want them to see that even though we will learn the concept in a very technical way, they can observe it everywhere around them, including the beach on their Winter or Spring Break. Using real photographs, such as this one, they can see that what they're learning in Science (even at their age) is entirely relevant to their lives.
Photo Attribution:
Original Image: "Mollymook Beach Sunrise"
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3235750173_7860a80309.jpg
by: Sam Ilic
Released under an Attribution License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
This is the photo I licensed with Creative Commons:
Photo Attribution:
Original Image: "Dead or Alive"
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1305/4662023048_c1eaf86814.jpg
By: Becky Martin
Released under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en
I would love to use photos like this one to explain science concepts, such as cloud formation, to my students. I want them to see that even though we will learn the concept in a very technical way, they can observe it everywhere around them, including the beach on their Winter or Spring Break. Using real photographs, such as this one, they can see that what they're learning in Science (even at their age) is entirely relevant to their lives.
Photo Attribution:
Original Image: "Mollymook Beach Sunrise"
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3235750173_7860a80309.jpg
by: Sam Ilic
Released under an Attribution License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en
This is the photo I licensed with Creative Commons:
Photo Attribution:
Original Image: "Dead or Alive"
http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1305/4662023048_c1eaf86814.jpg
By: Becky Martin
Released under an Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike License
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en
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