My favorite tools are doing a digital story, Wordle, and Google docs. A particular activity that I plan for my students is that they access a Google doc I have created with the English high frequency words they must use for the week. They must copy the words and then use them in a sentence or in a story.
I have transfomed my thinking about the learning that will take place in my classroom by being psyched. If I can transfer my excitement to the children, they will be even more engaged!!
The unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised me were the many hours that it took to complete the 11 Tools and that there is so much I did not know was out there!! I know about You Tube and have used it, but I didn't know there was a teacher tube. I only used Discovery Education/United Streaming.
In the famous words of Dr. Breedlove, there are other search engines other than Google so I might as well give the not norm things a chance as well!!
Worditout
Career Day
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tool # 11a
First of all, I need to restate what digital citizenship is so that I can have it stored in my memory bank and that is that it is the norms of behavior with regard to technology. What does this mean? There are rules or guidelines to follow when using technology. As I mentioned in Tool #9, I am scared for what children might find while surfing the web or what kind of people they might encounter on social networks like Myspace or Facebook.
The three things I would want to make sure my students understand about being good digital citizens is about cyber bullying, using the internet for research (be it local news, etc) and it being an educational system for literacy or any other subject.
I would "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to my students as showing them that you wouldn't want a stranger walking through your front door, right? Well, taking certain safety measures on the internet will prohibit bad people contacting you.
The three things I would want to make sure my students understand about being good digital citizens is about cyber bullying, using the internet for research (be it local news, etc) and it being an educational system for literacy or any other subject.
I would "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to my students as showing them that you wouldn't want a stranger walking through your front door, right? Well, taking certain safety measures on the internet will prohibit bad people contacting you.
Tool # 10
The educational apps I saw were many.
What caught my eye was the Kids Music so I hope to play with the equipment to find out how to have the children use this app in class.
The apps were like cable is to me. I have it, but if I want to upgrade, so I then have to ask for extra channels.
Sort of what apps are..you buy the cell phone and then you add internet or navigation.
These educational apps are on a different level, but kind of the same.
I really am impressed with THE POWER TO LEARN GRANT. This has enabled classroom teachers to have incredible tech. equipment to use this year. We need these tools to engage the leaders of tomorrow!!!
I feel the children are going to teach me how to use the new tech. equipment we are going to be given this year so I am not worried!
What caught my eye was the Kids Music so I hope to play with the equipment to find out how to have the children use this app in class.
The apps were like cable is to me. I have it, but if I want to upgrade, so I then have to ask for extra channels.
Sort of what apps are..you buy the cell phone and then you add internet or navigation.
These educational apps are on a different level, but kind of the same.
I really am impressed with THE POWER TO LEARN GRANT. This has enabled classroom teachers to have incredible tech. equipment to use this year. We need these tools to engage the leaders of tomorrow!!!
I feel the children are going to teach me how to use the new tech. equipment we are going to be given this year so I am not worried!
Tool # 9
I enjoyed learning about Jing, Screencast and Skype. Screencast has three good reasons why we should use them: What you upload is what you see, U hold the rights to content and U decide who views your content.
As for Skype, you can also use it to call long distance from all over the world for free! I identify with the use of Skype with all the Ellen Paige commercials. I would really love for the students to be able to see another class in another place of the world..even in the district. Remember, baby steps!
What comes to mind is that a very serious discussion about how to properly use the programs available on the internet are important and their personal information should not be shared. Never state your address, personal info, etc. as there are predators out there that can pick up on the most minute bit of info and prey on children.
As for Skype, you can also use it to call long distance from all over the world for free! I identify with the use of Skype with all the Ellen Paige commercials. I would really love for the students to be able to see another class in another place of the world..even in the district. Remember, baby steps!
What comes to mind is that a very serious discussion about how to properly use the programs available on the internet are important and their personal information should not be shared. Never state your address, personal info, etc. as there are predators out there that can pick up on the most minute bit of info and prey on children.
Tool #8
Simple Machines
Ok, what I experimented with here is posting a video from teacher tube to my blog spot.
Please place cursor over the word simple machines and it takes you directly to the video and the site where it is located.
Try it out! I hope the children find it as simple as I did to post a video and share it.
I loved teacher tube to find visual and oratory teaching materials for students.
I found a rap about clouds that will help children with their ESL. Copy the link and paste it into the address bar of your browser
I love all these extra Science attention getters!
Ok, what I experimented with here is posting a video from teacher tube to my blog spot.
Please place cursor over the word simple machines and it takes you directly to the video and the site where it is located.
Try it out! I hope the children find it as simple as I did to post a video and share it.
I loved teacher tube to find visual and oratory teaching materials for students.
I found a rap about clouds that will help children with their ESL. Copy the link and paste it into the address bar of your browser
I love all these extra Science attention getters!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Tool # 7
Here is a video of Spring Break 2010.
I think having the knowledge of creating a digital videostory will really engage students by practicing their writing. They will write about what the picture represents and will enforce the concept of what a picture walk does..the pictures will tell the reader what is happening and what they will be reading about.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Tool #6 - Wikis!!
I was able to read how wikis would help students with their learning.
I liked a language arts idea as far as having each student write a sentence in order to create a story.
Great collaboration tool to be used with pair sharing, maybe. Pairing students up might help them revise a sentence at a time to then come up with a 2 paragraph story.
I liked a language arts idea as far as having each student write a sentence in order to create a story.
Great collaboration tool to be used with pair sharing, maybe. Pairing students up might help them revise a sentence at a time to then come up with a 2 paragraph story.
Tool #5
At the Great Books for GT students class yesterday, I learned that perfectionism is a sign of procrastination. I would like to say that I can use this as a reason why I have not moved on with the tools. The fact is, I am getting tired of feeling a sense of accomplishment, but then I get stuck with something like the words "hot link".
I'm going to try it now. I registered for Diigo as it has more sites available for teachers and have
bookmarked two things that I will use for bilingual centers where the children will have use of the Promethean board.
The hotlinks are
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp
I hope they help you if you haven't used them before.
I'm going to try it now. I registered for Diigo as it has more sites available for teachers and have
bookmarked two things that I will use for bilingual centers where the children will have use of the Promethean board.
The hotlinks are
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/
http://puzzlemaker.discoveryeducation.com/WordSearchSetupForm.asp
I hope they help you if you haven't used them before.
Saturday, July 17, 2010
Tool #4
Ok-so I've been on hiatus for awhile and energized to follow through with 11 tools.
Tool #4 was informative...now I have a better understanding of what my husband's line of work entailed with usage of spreadsheets and waiting on people to respond with notification of their participation in certain courses, etc.
The document I feel could be shared as a google doc might be the team minutes for example. Everyone could relate to tuning out and into a meeting and if the person recording omitted valuable information or could not write as fast as someone speaks so, other team members could assist with adding information such as a deadline for instance. I recall receiving many emails from team leader asking that we review the minutes and reply with any omissions, clarifications, etc. so as opposed to sending all team members the minutes, we can be invited to go to google docs to read and update as needed.
Adding the 5 blogspot addresses that I will follow was easy.
Onward and upward!
Tool #4 was informative...now I have a better understanding of what my husband's line of work entailed with usage of spreadsheets and waiting on people to respond with notification of their participation in certain courses, etc.
The document I feel could be shared as a google doc might be the team minutes for example. Everyone could relate to tuning out and into a meeting and if the person recording omitted valuable information or could not write as fast as someone speaks so, other team members could assist with adding information such as a deadline for instance. I recall receiving many emails from team leader asking that we review the minutes and reply with any omissions, clarifications, etc. so as opposed to sending all team members the minutes, we can be invited to go to google docs to read and update as needed.
Adding the 5 blogspot addresses that I will follow was easy.
Onward and upward!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Tool #3
Image generators and mashups. I am happy to say that I have worked on Wordle before thanks to Mrs. Mary Tavares, Art teacher extroidinaire at HBE. I liked how she displayed the vocabulary associated with the different art projects according to grades so I asked her how to do it and she helped get me to use a fun and creative way to display the vocabulary 2nd graders needed to learn in Social Studies and Science per each 9 weeks!
So, now I tried Worditout. I love it! Writing a sentence to go with key words of what I am describing is funnn. What you will see on my blog is how I plan students to use Worditout to tell me what they know of a certain topic. I plan on using it for career day so that after they hear from a variety of speakers, can they tell me what they do by creating a Worditout page, for example.
Next, Bookr. Bookr was surprisingly easy to create and add to the blog page. Things seem to get easier and stress level is decreasing. I feel that the schools should have a computer science teacher though as I am perplexed at how I am to manage technology class for those students who have earned computer time and those who are not finished with an assignment and forsee their needs at the same time as I will be assisting with tech questions. Same old story as how to dedicate time to everybody...I'll be pulled in many more directions now I see.
So, now I tried Worditout. I love it! Writing a sentence to go with key words of what I am describing is funnn. What you will see on my blog is how I plan students to use Worditout to tell me what they know of a certain topic. I plan on using it for career day so that after they hear from a variety of speakers, can they tell me what they do by creating a Worditout page, for example.
Next, Bookr. Bookr was surprisingly easy to create and add to the blog page. Things seem to get easier and stress level is decreasing. I feel that the schools should have a computer science teacher though as I am perplexed at how I am to manage technology class for those students who have earned computer time and those who are not finished with an assignment and forsee their needs at the same time as I will be assisting with tech questions. Same old story as how to dedicate time to everybody...I'll be pulled in many more directions now I see.
Tool #2 - Online Education Communities
Personal learning networks will allow teachers and students a way to communicate with others based on our interests, right? The thoughts I have on building an online education community is that it offeres another way to meet without having to interface personally. What works with other educators in other parts of the nation to control cyber bullying? This is a question I have in order to be prepared to teach my students of PLN's. Participating in a personal learning network will benefit me by communicating more freely and instantly in order to obtain advice on what will help me be an effective teacher where students learn during their first go around.
As I communicate with other peers and get feedback on what is trying for me is great! Sort of looking for ideas on how to teach a Tek that I don't quite understand. I have a Facebook account and find that I am not really using it to the fullest. If I would like to entice comments, I need to follow some of the ideas shared to have lurkers respond to postings. This is what I took from the commenting advice. Now, take what I have learned and apply it to my professional learning community on blog spot! Asking questions is a great way to get people to help me with questions that I have.
Lastly, as I "move through the various activities" I will comment on five blogs.
The blogs I have commented on are for 2nd Grade Blogger for Tool #1, Mary-saurus for Tool #2, and Sylvia's Blog for Tool #3. For Tool #4 I commented on teachKg's blogspot and lastlyI commented on valera-marisela's blog spot for Tool #5.
As I communicate with other peers and get feedback on what is trying for me is great! Sort of looking for ideas on how to teach a Tek that I don't quite understand. I have a Facebook account and find that I am not really using it to the fullest. If I would like to entice comments, I need to follow some of the ideas shared to have lurkers respond to postings. This is what I took from the commenting advice. Now, take what I have learned and apply it to my professional learning community on blog spot! Asking questions is a great way to get people to help me with questions that I have.
Lastly, as I "move through the various activities" I will comment on five blogs.
The blogs I have commented on are for 2nd Grade Blogger for Tool #1, Mary-saurus for Tool #2, and Sylvia's Blog for Tool #3. For Tool #4 I commented on teachKg's blogspot and lastlyI commented on valera-marisela's blog spot for Tool #5.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Tool #1
Well, Tool #1 is under my belt! I am sort of a procrastinator and reason why I invited a friend to get together with me to get started on this new SBISD initiative of 21st Century Learning. Although my colleague and I did not get together face to face, it worked over the phone! I am feeling a little relieved that I will be able to help my students get this far!
Step 1, create a google account. REMEMBER to write down the user name and passwords...ALWAYS.
Step 2, create a blogger.com account.
Such is life, follow directions, pay attention and when in doubt, hit the back button when working with computers.
I say this as this process was cumbersome in going back to my 11 tools page to follow directions and then return to the google account of blogger.com site.
TTFN
Step 1, create a google account. REMEMBER to write down the user name and passwords...ALWAYS.
Step 2, create a blogger.com account.
Such is life, follow directions, pay attention and when in doubt, hit the back button when working with computers.
I say this as this process was cumbersome in going back to my 11 tools page to follow directions and then return to the google account of blogger.com site.
TTFN
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