During the past 7 weeks, I have really come to grip with the fact that I am an antique when it comes to technology. I have struggled with projects that I know younger students breezed right through. But, one thing you can say about old people (other than that they are old) is that they adapt. I lived before computers (I was a bank teller and we wrote all of our transactions by hand), and cell phones, and I think color TV. But, I digress.
Through the years, changes in technology have made life so much easier. I cannot imagine what it would be like now without a cell phone and I certainly cannot imagine what it would be like without a computer. Honestly, typing any sort of document used to mean a typewriter. Mistakes were not back-spaced away. So...
#1. Microsoft Word
#2 Email
#3. Excel - Being a reading coach, I spend much of my life analyzing data so excel is a lifesaver.
#4. Online Banking - What a time saver!
#5. PowerPoint - This is another reading coach's answer to the problem of finding expository text.
If there isn't a good book for young children that explains a concept - write it yourself!
#6. SmartBoards - The old saying is that a good teacher can teach with nothing but a blackboard
and piece of chalk, but boy do interactive lessons make them more interesting.
#7. Google - I never realized until my husband got an iPad how great it is to be able to look up
information the instant you need it.
#8. Social Networking - While I am still not the greatest fan, it is wonderful to keep up with
family and friends.
#9. Social Bookmarking - I had never heard of this until ED505, but it is a wonderful tool to
collect websites and categorize them.
#10. Any sort of digital photoshop software - I love to play with pictures and create all kinds of
projects (for school and for personal use.)
Saturday, October 6, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
What mobile apps are available for your subject area?
I have known since there have been tablets that young children love them. They have proven to be motivators - "If you finish your work, you may play a game on the iPad." What I didn't know is that there are many educational apps for young children. ABC Pocket Phonics and Z is for Zebra are two apps that teach letters and sounds. Magic Ink Books are interactive stories. There are also read along books like The Cat in the Hat by Ocean House Media. There are even apps for sight words. One is called Sight Words and it is by Little Speller. The best part of the search was that every app I looked at had suggestions for more.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Why is it important to be a good digital citizen and what value does a good digital reputation have?
Being a digital citizen is as important as being a good citizen. Being polite is the same where ever you are. If you are typing a message or speaking to another person, your words matter.
I never realized until recently that employers look online for questionable traits in their applicants. Young people need to realize that what goes online stays online and it is there forever. They cannot escape it. Posted pictures or comments can be seen by anyone, many times by accident. The digital world has the potential of making life so much easier and at the same time it has the potential to destroy a life when we are not careful.
I never realized until recently that employers look online for questionable traits in their applicants. Young people need to realize that what goes online stays online and it is there forever. They cannot escape it. Posted pictures or comments can be seen by anyone, many times by accident. The digital world has the potential of making life so much easier and at the same time it has the potential to destroy a life when we are not careful.
Sunday, September 16, 2012
Materials Generators
Desktop Publishing
I have used Microsoft Publisher in many different ways. Parent newletters, open house flyers, and brochures to explain a new program. The program allows you the option to put information in columns on a single sheet to a trifold sheet with information on the front and back. You can insert pictures or clipart, borders, and shapes. This type of communication with parents is very effective.
Whiteboard Activity Software
I have been to a workshop to learn to create Whiteboard lessons. I have played with the software, but have not become comfortable with using it. We have several teachers in my school who are very knowledgeable about this software. They are instrumental in creating most of the SmartBoard lessons that all of our teachers use. I would love to learn more about this process.
Graphc Document Makers
When you teach kindergarten, you become very familiar with these. EVerything in a kindergarten classroom has to be made, it has to be labeled, and it has to be developmentally appropriate. For so many years, there were no "teaching materials." We made them. We selected literature that would teach a concept. Then we used whatever program available to create visuals and activities. Most recently, we selected a reading series that had a wonderful weekly list of suggested literacy stations. Those stations had to be made. Print Shop made that possible!
I have used Microsoft Publisher in many different ways. Parent newletters, open house flyers, and brochures to explain a new program. The program allows you the option to put information in columns on a single sheet to a trifold sheet with information on the front and back. You can insert pictures or clipart, borders, and shapes. This type of communication with parents is very effective.
Whiteboard Activity Software
I have been to a workshop to learn to create Whiteboard lessons. I have played with the software, but have not become comfortable with using it. We have several teachers in my school who are very knowledgeable about this software. They are instrumental in creating most of the SmartBoard lessons that all of our teachers use. I would love to learn more about this process.
Graphc Document Makers
When you teach kindergarten, you become very familiar with these. EVerything in a kindergarten classroom has to be made, it has to be labeled, and it has to be developmentally appropriate. For so many years, there were no "teaching materials." We made them. We selected literature that would teach a concept. Then we used whatever program available to create visuals and activities. Most recently, we selected a reading series that had a wonderful weekly list of suggested literacy stations. Those stations had to be made. Print Shop made that possible!
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Five Types of Instructional Software
1. Drill and Practice: This allows students to practice skills that have been previously taught. Students receive immediate feedback. An example of this type of software can be found at http://resourceroom.net/math/1timestables.asp#practice .
2. Tutorials: This type of software explains how to perform a task. An example of this type of solftare can be found at http://www.internet4classrooms.com/on-line2.htm .
3. Simulations: There are many types of simulations. The basic concept is that students can use this software to simulate "real" objects or situations. For example, if a learner wanted to learn how the stock market works, (s)he could go to http://www.howthestockmarketworks.com .
4. Instructional Games: This type of software adds rules and competition to drill and practice. By doing so, students become motivated to win. ``An example of this type of software is http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy .
5. Problem-Solving: This type of software presents a situation for students to find the solution. Most of the time, math and science skills are the ones in problem-solving software. But, the goal of problem solving is to cause the learner to think. An example is http://criticalthinking.com .
2. Tutorials: This type of software explains how to perform a task. An example of this type of solftare can be found at http://www.internet4classrooms.com/on-line2.htm .
3. Simulations: There are many types of simulations. The basic concept is that students can use this software to simulate "real" objects or situations. For example, if a learner wanted to learn how the stock market works, (s)he could go to http://www.howthestockmarketworks.com .
4. Instructional Games: This type of software adds rules and competition to drill and practice. By doing so, students become motivated to win. ``An example of this type of software is http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy .
5. Problem-Solving: This type of software presents a situation for students to find the solution. Most of the time, math and science skills are the ones in problem-solving software. But, the goal of problem solving is to cause the learner to think. An example is http://criticalthinking.com .
Web 2.0 Assignment
When I first read the instructions for this assignment, my first response was, "There is no way I can do this!" But, after much trial and error, many viewings of the tutorials, and one strange virus on my laptop - somehow I did it! My unit topic is "community helpers".
How did I like Glogster?
I really think this is a site I can use. Teaching kindergarten brings the challenge of finding ways to present material that will keep the children engaged. This one required several tutorial viewings to embed the video and links, but I enjoyed learning how to use the program.
http://debitaylor1958.edu.glogster.com/webresoucesassignment/
How did I like Animoto?
I'm not sure I used the program to it's fullest potential, but I was not as impressed with the program for a teaching tool. I thought that I would be able to add text to the pictures - and maybe that is possible - but I wasn't able to do that. To me, it seemed more like a digital picture frame.
http://animoto.com/play/0ksqVHS1HwAaha5ER4Aheg
How did I like my free choice?
I picked Blabberize as my free choice. I thought it was hilarious. I took a while to find pictures that would work. Once you have your pictures, then you insert audio. I picked music. The audio could only be 30 seconds so it had to be edited (I think that's where the strange virus came in!) But, I had fun doing it. I even laughed out loud one time and my husband said, "Are you playing something?"
http://blabberize.com/view?id=819715
How did I like Glogster?
I really think this is a site I can use. Teaching kindergarten brings the challenge of finding ways to present material that will keep the children engaged. This one required several tutorial viewings to embed the video and links, but I enjoyed learning how to use the program.
http://debitaylor1958.edu.glogster.com/webresoucesassignment/
How did I like Animoto?
I'm not sure I used the program to it's fullest potential, but I was not as impressed with the program for a teaching tool. I thought that I would be able to add text to the pictures - and maybe that is possible - but I wasn't able to do that. To me, it seemed more like a digital picture frame.
http://animoto.com/play/0ksqVHS1HwAaha5ER4Aheg
How did I like my free choice?
I picked Blabberize as my free choice. I thought it was hilarious. I took a while to find pictures that would work. Once you have your pictures, then you insert audio. I picked music. The audio could only be 30 seconds so it had to be edited (I think that's where the strange virus came in!) But, I had fun doing it. I even laughed out loud one time and my husband said, "Are you playing something?"
http://blabberize.com/view?id=819712
http://blabberize.com/view?id=819715
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Does virtual life change real life?
There are so many wonderful possibilities for virtual technology. I am not familiar with many instructional applications other than virtual field trips, but have used prmgrams to manipulate house plans and furniture arrangements. I have seen websites that have 3-D models of places and things that made them come to life. I would love to see how the Quick-Time Studio works. And I will never forget how much fun it was to create my little granny in glasses when we got a Wii and having my grandchildren say, "That's nana!" But, at the same time, I hear children talking about the games they play and it sounds as though they believe they are actually their avatar. Some of the games are so violent that the avatar gets terribly hurt or killed and then jumps right up to be hurt or killed again. Children seem to "know" the characters and speak of them as if they were human. Children talk to each other about the game characters as though they are real. I can't believe that is healthy. While the technology is amazing. it appears to me that it is used more for games than it is for educational purposes.
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