Webtool

http://www.visuwords.com/?word=tired

This site is a really interactive and aesthetically pleasing thesaurus. I think that this website could be really useful for students who are writing an essay or a poem and often times get in the routine of using the same words and repeating words throughout the assignment. The website allows students to type a word in and from that word creates a chart that has many words that are similar to, the opposite of, related to or is kind of like and provides a color coordinated web of word types and similarity to the original word. I definitely think that this site could be useful in the classroom and really help students expand their vocabulary and understand the English language better. I can definitely see myself using this tool in the classroom and I really hope that teachers show this to students because this is a skill that is not thoroughly developed in the classroom.

Projects

As a PLN we created this list of great opportunities that technology provides.

Technology Projects as a Teacher
1. Create online games (ex: jeopardy, who wants to be a millionaire, word search...)
2. Voice thread for speeches and projects
3. Art Project with Big Huge Labs
4. Create Smart Board Lesson
5. Create XtraNormal Video for first day of school
6. Create googlesite for classroom (parents and studets)
7. Create News Letter on GoogleDocs
8. Create Wiki to collaborate with other teachers/groups
9. Create digital photo story to share about family/life
10. Create Wordle for art project
11. Create StoryBird for young students
12. Create online cartoons for newsletters
13. Digital Video Project

Possible Future Projects
1. Create Digital Video Story to tell class about yourself
2. Create a vioce thread to show your understanding of new spanish vocab
3. Create XtraNormal video of favorite thing you learned in history yesterday
4. Create Mosaic of your favorite animals
5. Create News Lettter of everything we learned in the week to send home to your parents
6. Create a Wikispace with 5 partners about dinosaurs
7. Create a MixBook Album about internet safety
8. Create a jeopardy game about addition and subraction
9. Create a crossword puzzle of this weeks spelling words
10. Create a Google Earth Tour of our favorite place to visit or wish to visit

Final Essay

How do we inspire others to change? Should we? Does the way that we teach need changing? Are students the same or are they changing? What do we want for ourselves and our own children?

I think that to inspire people to change one must go through change themselves. It is hard to inspire change when one cannot understand and relate. I think that change can be good or bad, but when change is evolved through the process of education, it is almost always positive. I want to challenge the notion that a teacher serves to just provide information. Teachers have not lost their power to motivate and inspire. If teachers just stood in front of the class and read from the textbook, than students would have no need to go to class. To be an educator, means to inspire further learning, to challenge ideas and to motivate individuals. The teachers that I remember, and that I aspire to be are not the ones that taught me the most about the civil war or the periodic table, but the teachers who were able to provide me with the resources and tools to be self sufficient and independent. I think it is important to train students how to think, how to problem solve, how critically analyze and how to remain mentally agile, rather than teaching them what to know. Simply put: I want to learn how to become a teacher, rather than an informer.
I truly believe that with the technological advances, students are changing and so are teachers. We are forced to adapt to our surroundings and when we are surrounded by endless amounts of resources and technological tools, change is inevitable. When I talk to my parents about their school experience, it is very different from mine. They did not even have computers and in today’s classroom it is strange not to have one. With the presence of technology we are provided with so many more opportunities to integrate different activities and lesson plans into the curriculum. Teachers adapt their lesson plans to include technology because they allow for interactive and fun curriculum. Students have changed their ways of studying and can now use sites such as quizlet and text2mindmap to develop brainstorming and studying habits.
I want my children to be in a classroom where technology is used to enhance the curriculum; however, I also want my children to learn that there is a world outside of technology. I think that “real-life” skills can be developed through the use of technology but I truly believe that there are a lot of skills that cannot be taught through wikipedia or blogger. I think that in a perfect world there would be a balance. An equilibrium between technology and the classic classroom must be developed. I think that technology and the classic classroom setting are both great but as is true in all aspects of life; everything is good, in moderation. Technology is a great and beneficial tool for the classroom that helps and promotes interaction but this tool is only good when used effectively and does not take over the classroom and the student’s lives. Like so many other professions, teaching faces the threat of being replaced by a search bar in a web browser, but not if we can work with the technology to form a better and stronger learning experience.

Tech Newsletter

As a PLN we created a Technology Newsletter that explains how we can use technology in the classroom and the different tools that we believe are most effective. I think that this is a great tool to use to put on a website for parents to understand what is going on in the classroom and a great way to open up the communication with parents. It was fun to express the beneficial tools in the classroom in a creative and fun way.

Podcast

This was my first time creating a podcast and I found it very interesting. It is hard to hear my own voice; however, I think that it could be effective in the classroom. For example if you are sick and you have a substitute it would be helpful to have a podcast reminding the students of the class rules and the announcements so that they recognize that everything still applies even if you are not there. I think that students could also utilize this tool for interviews or book reports or speeches. It helps students recognize the importance of dictation and language. For younger kids and spelling lessons if you create a podcast it helps the kids with pronunciation not just spelling. I think this is a great way to incorporate the importance of language and communication.

Wikispace

http://jenmeadows.wikispaces.com/

As a PLN we created a wikispace based on the topic of technology in the classroom. I think that this was an awesome opportunity to share information in an organized yet intertwined way. I think that this tool could definitely be used in the classroom. I do not think that wikispaces would be effective in younger classrooms; however, I do believe that highschool and Jr. Highschool students could use this website as a way to have a group report on the same topic but different aspects (Science-DNA,Respitory,etc.) This was a very quick and easy way to form a report with a group of people.

Mixbook

Mixbook was a really fun opportunity to put together my memories from the year in a fun and creative way. I think that this tool could be used in the classroom and would be really beneficial for students, especially for an end of the year project and a way for perhaps the class as a whole to create a scrapbook with each student contributing a page. This is a great way for students to demonstrate creativity without artistic ability.

Classtools

http://classtools.net/education-games-php/quiz/

This is a fun tool to make different games for different subjects. I think that the variety of games could be very beneficial in the classroom and is very efficient. It does not take very much time to create these games and they could be utilized by all the students for various subjects. I think that games are an important aspect to include in lesson plans and this website provides and easy way to accomplish this.

Voice Thread

http://voicethread.com/share/939630/

At first I found voice thread hard to navigate; however, after exploring the site more and experimenting with the different tools I found that it could be very useful for reports and projects. Students have the ability to use this site to create book reports, state reports or an about me project. I believe that this is a fun way for students to express their creativity and also help students who have problems with public speaking. Voicethread also opens the option to having parents be exposed to their students work, which is often overlooked.

Glogger

I created a glogger that utilizes different graphics to describe and explain the different facts about the state of Oregon. I think that it could be a fun way to introduce lesson plans and could also be used by the students for different projects; however, I think that different websites could do this same thing better.

Xtranormal Movie

I think that this website would provide an interesting way to introduce lesson plans because the different characters grab the students attention and rather than me standing in front of the class droning on they are way more likely to listen to a funny cartoon introduce the subject matter for the day. It is very easy to create and fun to watch!

Rubric

This is a grading rubric we created as a PLN and I think it will be very useful to use as a teacher and it allows for a consistent grading system in which you know the expectations necessary to receive a specific grade. I have found that whenever the standards are not clear to the students, it is hard to grade consistently. This rubric is very helpful for the grading process.

Google Earth Tour

I had a lot of fun doing this activity and exploring google earth as well as the different land marks on our planet. This would be a great aid for country or state projects that students have to do because it requires creativity and but it is easy to navigate and would be really helpful for older students. Google Earth definitely would strengthen a students project by not only providing pictures but also a visual and interactive tour of whatever is being researched. I think this tool could definitely be utilized in the classroom but perhaps for older students. This is a great way to explore the amazing things technology has to offer and also the wonders of our world. This is an amazing resource and should be used whether in the classroom or not.

Teacher Lingo

http://teacherlingo.com/blogs/teachers.aspx

What an awesome website! I am really happy I was exposed to this website because I think it is important to have open communication among the teaching community. It allows teachers to relate and understand each other as well as learn. It is frustrating running a class and being in charge of so many kids, but the support from teacherlingo.com is really helpful. In this class we have explored the idea and process of lesson plans and also learned that it is okay to take lesson plans from others and this website provides a list of lesson plans that teachers of all grade levels and subjects have used and ones that have been successful. I do not necessarily think this would be a useful tool in the classroom but rather for the teacher. It provides necessary support, helpful lesson plans and interactive blogs to help teachers succeed.

Text2MindMap

I LOVE this website. I think it is truly an effective way to brainstorm. All through elementary school my teachers would make it required to have a brainstorm sheet before writing an essay. I always thought it was tedious and that is not necessarily how I prefer to organize my thoughts before writing a paper, but honestly brainstorming helps to create an organized essay and also helps develop ideas and themes. I definitely think that students could use this website. It helps make brainstorming a fun process and is an effective way to put your thoughts on paper and would be great preparation for writing an essay.

Big Huge Labs

Photography is one of my favorite hobbies and this website is a great way to express my passion as well as display it in a way that is enjoyable to others. I think that this website could be really fun in the classroom especially for projects that involve visual aids. It is a great way for students to demonstrate their creativity and involve art in a way that also uses technology. I think it would be fun to have kids at a higher level, do a research project in which they have to take their own pictures and incorporate them into bighugelabs. I loved using this site and I hope to use it in future classrooms.

Webquest

Our PLN created a webquest. I think that this is an awesome way to organize a lesson plan because every step is laid out but you also have the ability to add interactive games. We did ours on teaching students the alphabet. The steps are easy to follow and help divide a large lesson plan into sections so that the students do not get overwhelmed. The videos and games that we provided only enhance the lesson plan and the topic to help the students understand and engage with the material. I think this tool could be very useful in the classroom.

Quizlet

Math

I created flash cards for learning elementary math, including simple addition and subtraction. This could be a great way for kids to study vocabulary, math, science, or any subject. This is a great motivation and saves paper. I think that flash cards are a very effective way to study and learn subject matter, it helps with skills such as memorization and and interactive ways to understand the information. I think that this is a very valuable site and can empower students because it is a fun way to study!

Simply Box

I was able to sign up for and access the website however, honestly I do not see the point of this website and I think that it is ineffective. It is very hard to navigate simply box and seems like an ordeal just to share websites, when there are much easier ways that this could be accomplished. I think that while it could be useful for some people I did not see the purpose and I had trouble figuring out how it works and therefore this site ended up being way less efficient.

Personal Search Engine

I created my own personal search engine! I titled it the Fun Search Engine because I created a more specified search engine based on my interests and most used websites. My search engine is geared mostly towards entertainment purposes.

Search Engines

I think that too often when we are trying to search or utilize the Internet we think that Google is the only engine, when in fact there are many other engines that provide the same tools and resources. Through this assignment we got to explore different search engines and I found that I liked Bing the most. The sites and resources were quick and I feel as if more relevant search results came up than came up in Google. Wikipedia is a search engine that I use daily and have grown to love. It is great to have a site that can be translated into different languages and also a site that can tell you everything about anything, all in one site. Lycos was a new search engine for me and I really liked the set up. It was easy to navigate and provided me with great tools. I think sometimes we are blinded by Google, but this assignment opened my eyes to other great search engines.

Internet Safety

With all of the positive effects of using the Internet and technology in the classroom come the few negative aspects. While the Internet allows for various interactive ways of expressing creativity and information, it is difficult to safely monitor the students activity, especially when with all of the secure and interesting web utensils come inappropriate and unsafe websites. I think that as a frequent user of the Internet it is easy to navigate away from secure websites; however, when used in the classroom it is vital that the use of the Internet is focused and safe. For this reason I think that having blocks on specific sites is necessary. Exploring the various and informative sites is one thing but when this privilege is abused it makes the use of the Internet ineffective.

Smartboard and Differentiation

After visiting many of the sites that we were provided with I was able to experience many interactive smartboard lesson plans that reinforced the power of differentiation in the classroom. On one of the websites I had the opportunity to carve my own pumpkin and create my own landscape. These websites clearly demonstrated that there are different levels and ways of explaining or creating different curriculums. This website http://www.plattscsd.org/oak/smartboard/Smartboard.htm provides various subject topics and a variety of lesson plans that apply to them. I had so much fun interacting and participating in the different games and curriculums and I think that this website could be very useful in the classroom because it makes learning fun. When kids get bored in class they turn off their brain but when they are having fun and interacting with the material they are much more likely to actually understand and retain the information.

Differentiation

I think differentiation is an important aspect to recognize in the classroom. We are all individuals and have strengths and weaknesses that apply to academics. As a teacher it is important to recognize these talents and manipulate the curriculum so that it applies to all different kinds of learners. It is hard to apply one way of teaching to an entire classroom and in order to see all of the "lightbulbs" go on in the students heads it is important to create different and stimulating lesson plans to reach a broad range of individuals.

Whiteboard

I am not sure how useful these tools would be in the classroom but it is definitely a fun way to exchange creativity and express yourself in an open environment. This is a very cool tool but could be distracting in the classroom and I don't know how it could be properly introduced in the curriculum but it is definitely a fun thing for students to engage in outside of class.

Lesson Plan

Through the use and exploration of smartboard I have now been exposed to the many different lesson plan ideas and activities available. This application has opened new ways of teaching and applying technology to every subject while promoting interactive lesson plans. The many different options that smartboard provides, creates new and innovative way to teach rather than just using a textbook. I think a major issue with the education system is that students do not interact with the material because they get bored or it gets repetitive. Smartboard has so many different creative ways of exploring technology in the classroom while keeping the lessons interesting and fun. I created a lesson plan for elementary school students for art. With the major budget cuts art is being cut from many different schools which I think is an important subject to teach culture and creativity. I started my lesson by explaining the different forms of art and how it influences our everyday life. Then I have slides with paintings and information about the artist, at this point it is important to have the students express their interpretations and opinions about the art because after all, that's what art is. The slide that is pictured is of the final slide which is a quiz of sorts that has flashing images of the paintings that were discussed and the students have to choose the artist based on the painting. This was such a fun activity and it really made me think about the responsibilities of a teacher to not only teach but keep the classroom stimulated.

Teacher Interview with Ms. Waldman

(1) What tools are their favorite tech and web tools to use in the classroom?
I like to use the smartboard because it is an effective way to show information to the class but it is also interactive for the students.
(2) What are their biggest frustrations with technology in the classroom?
That there is not enough of it. Its hard to only have access to class computers a certain time during the week for projects. It gets very frustrating.
(3) What is the biggest misconception about using technology in the classroom?
That it takes away from learning. While I do not allow cell phones to be used, I think technology has become a big enough part of our society that we should include it in the classrooms and the learning process.
(4) What are the biggest hurdles that you face as an educator using technology in the classroom?
That there is not enough of it and that the resources are not available.
(5) What has been your biggest success with technology integration in the classroom?
Seeing new and creative ways of exploring different subject matter and also creating innovative curriculum's that include different technological aspects and allow the students to express their creativity.
(6) Who/What has been your biggest inspiration in helping you to use technology in the classroom?
The students. To be able to see what they can do with it and the ways that it helps them learn and develop is truly inspiring.
(7) Where do you see technology integration heading in the future?
I hope that more resources in the future will allow for more technology in the classroom!

Storybird

I created my first storybird and had so much fun. I thought it was a great way to explore the different uses of the internet while also using my own creativity. Storybird is a great way to utilize different artistic digital aspects while using your imagination to weave the images and text together to create a story. I think this site could be very useful in the classroom because story telling is a great way for kids to explore their imagination and it promotes creativity and expression.

Blog Analysis

http://www.insidehighered.com/blogs/adviser_in_the_classroom/first_classes

This blog was good according to the criteria that we listed. The blogger updates frequently and the blog itself is very organized. The topics are all revolved around education therefore keeping the blog focused. The blog post was very thorough and specific; however, there were no comments on the blog which is questionable.

http://doteduguru.com/id4289-authenticity-what-i-learned-on-my-winter-vacation.html

In my opinion this blog was not very good. While it had photos to help support the text, the text itself was not interesting at all. It seemed as if the individual just wanted to blog about something and chose something that would not intrigue anyone but the blogger. I recognize their attempt to put out interesting information but I found that reading this blog was a waste of time.

http://blog.genyes.com/index.php/2010/01/17/martin-luther-king-jr-day/

I found this blog fascinating. It was posted on MLK day and the topic was appropriate. Not only did the blogger include his own opinions and thoughts about the world today and how times have changed but also used logical support using quotes from Martin Luther King Jr. There were comments on the blog proving that the blogger is open to feedback, it was organized because it started with a quote and the blog post stayed focused throughout the whole thing, making it a good blog.

Blogging Standards

With so many blogs out there it is hard to determine which ones are good and which ones are bad. Our PLN has compiled a list of qualities that make up a good blog.

-updated frequently
-open minded
-interesting topics
-focused
-organized
-interactive
-available for feedback
-appropriate
-logic based

Happiest Place on Earth

This is a concept map and collage that my PLN created to demonstrate the technology that we would want in an ideal classroom. The reality of the situation is that with the lack of funding in education we do not have access to all of these resources; however, in a perfect classroom all of these forms of technology would be present in the classroom to help and emphasize learning in the classroom.

Technology immigrant vs. Technology native

A cartoon I created that represents the difference between a technology native and a technology immigrant and how their lives and resources are so different. Very representative of the generation gaps and the technology that often proves as a language barrier between us and other generations.

My iGoogle

My iGoogle page is effective in providing me with many different applications in one site. I have a weather application because it saves me from having to navigate away from my email to check the 10 day forcast. I also have the application for urban spoon which allows me to look for different restaurants of any type of food in any location. Spanish is my minor and therefore plays a large part in my college education, because of this I added a translator application because I am always struggling to find an effective translator website. By personalizing my iGoogle I made i really easy to access information that is applicable on a daily basis for me.

I jinged it!

Here are some tools I think will be used in the classroom in 10-15 years. What do you think are some interesting technology tools that will be used?

Book of Faces

My name is Kara and I am a Facebook addict. Facebook, a site that has revolutionized stalking and has turned me into a horrible student. Why do my math problem site when I can stalk people on facebook that I haven't talked to for years? A question I ask myself on the daily. Facebook has made communication easy but it has also made being a student harder. After writing three sentences in my English paper I reward myself with time on facebook. I feel as though I am more connected with people through the use of facebook but ultimately I have realized that in my attempts to stay connected I end up disconnecting myself from my school work. Hopefully through this class I can gain an understanding of other sites besides facebook and I can find other websites to procrastinate with.

Digital Story

After using iMovie for the first time to create a digital story I found it very fun and challenging. I had so much fun making a digital story and dissecting myself and the reasons for me wanting to be a teacher. It allowed me to learn about myself while also learning about the advantages of technology. Getting to see everyone's digital stories was a great opportunity to also get to know my PLN better. This was a great assignment to explore the many computer applications and understand various ways of communicating individual interests and opinions. I had so much fun completing the digital story and I hope it shows!

Edst 221: Day 1

In my experience as a student from K-12, technology did not become a prominent part until high school. My elementary experiences did not involve a lot of use of technology; however, I do remember we would get computer time a couple times a week in which we would take online tests to help us type better and increase our knowledge on how to navigate around the internet and computers in general. In high school internet became my main source of information. With the increase and necessity of research, the internet became a great and efficient tool to gather and organize information. The internet provides many different opportunities for learning and allows students to explore various topics more in depth. I feel as though I have a great understanding of all of the opportunities the internet has to offer; however, this class had made me realize I haven't even scratched the surface. I have a lot to learn about the internet as well as how its use can be applied in the classroom.