Technology tools

What is Podcasting?

SITE NAME: Podcasting Tools

This article was very good at explaining what podcasting. I will admit, I have an iPod, but I very rarely use it and so the thought of engaging in podcasting did not interest me at all. Technology scares me as it is. I have learned a lot this passed semester, but I was not sure I wanted to branch out and accept certain things. One of those things was podcasting. As I read through this article, I found it very interesting how helpful this may be in a person’s daily life. Podcasting was initially intended for the iPod, but it can now be used through certain software on websites and any other type of MP3 Player. A few things mentioned in the article that podcasting is most often used for are: 1) Informational Content 2) Band promotional clips and interviews (media) 3) Industry or organizational news 4) Instructional informational materials and 5) Story telling for children or the visually impaired. All of these things podcasts can be used as resources for. I think it is an incredible technology and can expand people’s minds. It’s like education on the go. I believe it would be incredibly beneficial to a classroom environment. There are a few reasons that I want to use podcasts in my classroom. One reason is that I believe it will help maintain students progress. If a student misses a day of class but is able to listen to what he or she has missed over a podcast, they will easily be able to stay on track. Also, I have a firm belief that a student's success is dependent on how involved a parent gets. If a parent knows what has gone on in class, it will be easier from them to make sure their child stays on top of things. They may also be able to keep track of activities at school and encourage their children to participate. Technology is a great thing. If we, as educators, use it correctly, it will benefit our students in a huge way


SMART Boards

SITE NAME: PC Magazine

SMART Boards are an amazing technology. A teacher or any kind of presenter can have a lesson plan come up on the screen, stop it at any time and write on the board. On the website pcmag.com it explains, “It transforms the display into a truly interactive tool that can make meetings and demonstrations more effective and productive.” In this case, it makes lessons more exciting. It will help students to want to become more involved. I think this technology is a great way to present a subject. It will keep the students interested; it gives the teacher the opportunity to be creative. Altogether, it will make the learning experience more enjoyable. The downside to this kind of product is that it is very costly and with the way school funding is these days, a technology like this may be unattainable. It is quite unfortunate, but there is always the hope that sometime in the future they will go down in cost and every classroom will be able to have one of these SMART Boards.

CAN I SAY "HELL" ON THIS BLOG??

This has been the hardest week of any semester I have been in school. I have had a paper due for my English class, I had to make sure my UEN site was up and complete AND I had to make the annoying decision to retake my math class that I have almost completed. All of that, along with some irritating personal issues has made this week the week from hell. So much for my diet! That being said, I have really enjoyed coming up with ideas for the final project in this class. I like to be organized and I like to have some control over what I do and this had been an awesome opportunity to expand my horizons. It has been frustrating at times because I did not feel like I was living up to my own expectations, but I just went back, perfected everything and became pretty happy with the way things turned out. I love my idea for a brochure. I think it was very creative and I hope to keep that in mind when I have my own classroom. I still have some things to work on, but for the most part I feel very pleased with the outcome of my work in this class. I still have time to make things better though and that is what I plan to do. ;)

KIDSPIRATION vs INSPIRATION

As I was looking thru the 2 programs Kidspiration and Inspiration I was actually really impressed with both of them. I think that they are a great way to get ideas for teaching. Sometimes I think that teachers struggle to come up with new, creative ideas and these programs seem to be a little bit refreshing for teachers with "idea block." The Kidspiration program was a lot more colorful and appealing than the Inspiration program but...I still think I could make do with it if I absolutely had to. It would atleast give a teacher ideas and make him or her excited about a lesson plan that might not be their favorite. I love finding these kind of tools to make my teaching experience a little bit easier!

Power Point/Group Presentations

I really enjoyed and felt very enlightened by the presesntations that were given in class this week. Doing the research for our own presentations was thought provoking as well. I used to think Power Point was too complicated and because of that I was totally closed minded to the possibility. The presentations that were given introducing the different types of Power Point activities gave me a very fun appreciation for this technology. Not only have I learned a new skill, I've grown in my close mindedness. These days anything and everything has to do with technology. By introducing students little by little to new types of the expanding technological world will benefit them greatly even in life outside of the classroom.

As far as working in groups went, I feel like it was very beneficial as far as splitting up work and making decisions. I always like to know other people's opinions in daily life so when it comes to something that we are ALL getting graded on, the collaborating was convinent. I like working in groups for so many reasons. My group was very on top of things. I felt like we all worked very well together.

**The children coming into the classroom on Thursday was so much fun and helped me to remember why I have chosen this profession.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

Power Point

I have discovered that I really like Power Point. I think that it brings a whole new aspect of education into the classroom. By choosing the correct angle and form of entertainment, learning could be a very exciting thing. I think that makes a teacher more motivated as well...to know that she/he could be getting through to the students. I think sometimes teaching is somewhat like parenting. Its kind of a "thankless" job. But when you see that you're affecting people, its encouraging! Power Point is a wonderful tool. It even allows the teacher get into their creative outlet!!

Digital Cameras in the Classroom

I will admit, technology used to scare me. Especially computers. My dad was a teacher when I was growing up and I always loved to help him record grades in his HAND WRITTEN grade book. He even gave me my very own grade book so that I could play school, which I did, everyday! So, when it started to become popular to record grades on the computer, I was highly disappointed because I was not schooled in that area. Since I have been taking this computer class this semester I have broadened my horizons. I am now a huge advocate for anything that can help me to effectively educate my students and give them an understanding of where technology is taking us.

Digital cameras are a God-send for me. I LOVE THEM!! I mean, really! How did I ever allow someone to take a picture with me in it without approving it first? Boggles my mind ;)!! As I read through the 100 Ways to Use Digital Cameras in the Classroom (or something like that), I found some very good ideas. Choosing 5 to elaborate on is tough for me.

1. TAKE PHOTOS TO PROMPT CREATIVE WRITING
I think this is an excellent way to teach students to think outside the box and not write about the "norm." I think it gets pretty boring to hear about the same old thing from every student, so I believe it will really help to give them some better ideas.

2. TAKE PHOTOS OF BULLETIN BOARDS OR CLASSROOM IDEAS FROM OTHER TEACHERS.
I love learning from other people. And obviously, as in all career fields, there are those that have been doing it longer and thus have become successful. I would like to understand how they do things and with permission take photos of their classrooms to use for ideas in my own classroom.

3. TAKE PHOTOS OF STUDENTS AND PUT ON NAMETAG ON THEIR DESK SO THAT OTHER STUDENTS AND SUBSTITUTES WILL LEARN THEIR NAMES.
I like this idea too because I am a very visual person. It is the way that I learn myself so I would like to take that and use it so that it will help my classroom run a little bit more smoothly.

4. CREATE A "WELCOME TO OUR CLASSROOM" BOOK.
I think this is a cute idea to use in my classroom. It would be good for Open House night and also to have parents get involved or atleast know what goes on with their children while they are at school.

5. LAMINATE PHOTOS OF EACH STUDENT FOR VOTING, SELECTING PARTNERS, CHOOSING CENTERS, ETC...
I think that this idea is a great way to keep things fair when using a selection process. Students will be less likely to complain which will help the classroom to be more productive.

**Another idea that I got from my neice Madison's 1st grade teacher was very interesting. It was a Mother's Day presentation. Mrs. Lee, the teacher, put together a video of the daily in's and out's of the classroom for the mothers of her students. I thought it was a wonderful present and a fabulous idea.

WEB SAFETY

I absolutely think that is important to keep our children safe on the web. There are so many things these days that are so scary. I know first hand what the filth of the Internet can do to people. Children are so naive to what is out there. Besides web safety, accuracy of websites should be a concern. You really can find information that is false or not backed up which can lead students in the wrong direction. I appreciate Kathy Schrock's work with web safety and helping teachers to guide their students in the right direction. I think that someone needed to do it and she seems to be very passionate. Going through her information on her website "Kathy Schrock's Guide for Educators", I really think that she knows her stuff and it is a great idea to bookmark her websites so that I, as a teacher, can lead my students in the right direction so that they will know how to search for safe, accurate websites.

Thoughts on the UEN Website

Along with the blog idea, I think that the UEN website is very useful and may serve very productive as an educator. I like that I can stay in touch with parents and keep my students on track. I believe that parents play a huge role in their children's education and so keeping them up to date on the happenings in the classroom is very important. I also like the personal aspect of the UEN website. Its always nice to know a little bit about the person who spends a lot of time with your children. I know, as a parent, that I want to know that my child is in good hands. That being said, I think I am a little bit more apt to use Blogger, mostly just because I am more familiar with it and more comfortable with my ability to get my point across.

Importance of Computer Knowledge

This week I have learned that it is very important to be "computer intelligent" as a teacher. I have found that it would be beneficial to my students to teach them the basics of computer technology so that as they get older they can grow with the upgrades. There are things about Microsoft Word and Excel that I have never known how to do. I learned how to do them this week and I feel like I have a new confidence as far as computers go. Computer use in the classroom is only going to be more readily used so by me learning, I am able to educate my students.

My Classroom

I had never thought about this before, but I honestly think blogs are an EXCELLENT way to keep in touch with my students and their parents! The boom in technology, I fear, has got me a little bit confused. I didn't even know how to work my iPod until just a few months ago (I got it for my birthday in December). So, the thought of keeping my students' grades on the computer and/or using Power Point to teach my lesson threw me. I feel like since I've realized that technology can be pretty convenient for daily life I have come to appreciate it a little bit more. I like the fact that I might be able to keep parents more informed and it gives the kids a tad bit more accountability. I know that I will always use a blog AS WELL as paper announcements to keep contact with my students and their parents.

Elementary Education 2200 (TEST)

Elementary Education Test

WELCOME

Welcome to my Education Blog. Here is where I will keep my thoughts and feelings throughout my education. I started this for my EDEL 2200 class to keep a Learning Journal. I'm excited to be able to reflect on what I have learned and what I would still like to learn. :)