1. My favorite tools are Image Generators & Mashups, Wikis and Digital Storytelling. I think it would be very cool to create a photo mashup throughout the school year. I would like to explore using digital storytelling for the students to write a story, identify main idea and details (of each photo and/or of the whole story).
2. There is no doubt that kids love technology and I'm a firm believer that students will learn more when they are enjoying learning. I believe it is important that learning keeps up with the technological advances of the world around us. I think it's great that there are tools out there like Google docs and Wikis, but I'm a little concerned about security.
3. Nothing really stands out as an "unexpected outcome" but I do feel much more confident in this world than I did before...but I need to use it to get better at it. I'd like to see some "support groups" or follow up sessions to keep things going. I'm hoping our team will use many of these tools to collaborate and share...I know they are all better at it :).
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Tool #11: Digital Citizenship
I would approach teaching digital citizenship in much the same way that I teach Science. There are rules and procedures to follow, appropriate tools and knowing the vocabulary is important and being technologically literate is important to success. The three things I want my students to understand about digital citizenship are:
1. Rules and Procedures: Just like the classroom and the Science Lab, it is critical that the students understand the importance of following established rules and procedures. The majority of these should be taught in the very beginning, but continued reinforcement is also important. As in the classroom, science lab and our world in general, rules and procedures are necessary for the safety and comfort of everyone. Students should also understand that what they do on computers and other forms of technology can often be traced.
2. Tools: Knowing what tools are out there is a good beginning. Learning the tools, as well as the vocabulary (#3 below), is essential to being successful with all this technology. Being able to blog and msg. (ie: network) with so many other people helps us all to learn more. Communication is going to be a big key to success.
3. Literacy: As I stated in an earlier post, many of these tools has kind of run together in my mind, and sometimes I think that is due to me being somewhat illiterate in the technology world. Teaching my students the vocabulary will be important as it will only enhance their understanding.
1. Rules and Procedures: Just like the classroom and the Science Lab, it is critical that the students understand the importance of following established rules and procedures. The majority of these should be taught in the very beginning, but continued reinforcement is also important. As in the classroom, science lab and our world in general, rules and procedures are necessary for the safety and comfort of everyone. Students should also understand that what they do on computers and other forms of technology can often be traced.
2. Tools: Knowing what tools are out there is a good beginning. Learning the tools, as well as the vocabulary (#3 below), is essential to being successful with all this technology. Being able to blog and msg. (ie: network) with so many other people helps us all to learn more. Communication is going to be a big key to success.
3. Literacy: As I stated in an earlier post, many of these tools has kind of run together in my mind, and sometimes I think that is due to me being somewhat illiterate in the technology world. Teaching my students the vocabulary will be important as it will only enhance their understanding.
Tool #10 Exploring Mobile Technology and Apps
1. I looked at Word of the Day(developing vocabulary); Talking Phrasebook(good for bilingual students to help them with oral and written communication in English); Worldcat (bilingual teachers are always searching for materials...this app should help with that search and Toy Ark (to help find educational games that make learning more fun.
2. I didn't have the opportunity to try one of these. I did use an iTouch a couple of times last year in Sherwood library...but not enough to learn much...the students loved them.
3. I like the idea of using the Talking Phrasebook during an English circle time. It would give the students help in learning how to say common phrases. Good Earth will be great for social studies and science. I envision it being very helpful in the learning of landforms (one of my 5th grade students, who had always lived in Houston, thought that the dike for the reservoir was a mountain) and for seeing other countries and cultures.
2. I didn't have the opportunity to try one of these. I did use an iTouch a couple of times last year in Sherwood library...but not enough to learn much...the students loved them.
3. I like the idea of using the Talking Phrasebook during an English circle time. It would give the students help in learning how to say common phrases. Good Earth will be great for social studies and science. I envision it being very helpful in the learning of landforms (one of my 5th grade students, who had always lived in Houston, thought that the dike for the reservoir was a mountain) and for seeing other countries and cultures.
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
Tool #9: Jing & Skype
1. Jing: Installed and took the tutorial. Seems like a neat tool, but... I'm not sure I understand the difference between just copying and pasting the URL for something (which often creates a hyperlink) into a message. Students could use this tool to clarify (what something is, what something looks like, where something is) when chatting or blogging.
2. Skype: I like that this tool is available...encourages more verbal/oral communication, which seems to be becoming almost extinct. Students could use this to communicate with "computer" pals around the world. I think it is great for families that are separated. My nephew is currently separated from his 18 month old son...but they can communicate via skype and his son won't forget him between visits in person. Being able to have a voice conversation is great but adding the webcam to it really makes it valuable.
3. I have downloaded both, but haven't actually used them yet...other than through the tutorials. I like the Jing sun being right there top-center of my screen.
2. Skype: I like that this tool is available...encourages more verbal/oral communication, which seems to be becoming almost extinct. Students could use this to communicate with "computer" pals around the world. I think it is great for families that are separated. My nephew is currently separated from his 18 month old son...but they can communicate via skype and his son won't forget him between visits in person. Being able to have a voice conversation is great but adding the webcam to it really makes it valuable.
3. I have downloaded both, but haven't actually used them yet...other than through the tutorials. I like the Jing sun being right there top-center of my screen.
Friday, August 6, 2010
Tool #8: Video Resources
1. My first video incorporates the life cycles of an ant, butterfly, frog and bee. This would be good to show at the beginning and the end of studying life cycles. In the beginning it would be good to point out the generalites of what all cycles have in common. At the end of the unit, teacher could stop along the way to question about similarities and differences.
http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/life-cycles/tzc5xevnsT4wIEXtPgCSYQ
2. Second video is a cool song for Skip Counting. It is catchy and current, so I anticipate the kids will get into it and grasp the patterns of skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTYxfltyPgg
http://www.blinkx.com/watch-video/life-cycles/tzc5xevnsT4wIEXtPgCSYQ
2. Second video is a cool song for Skip Counting. It is catchy and current, so I anticipate the kids will get into it and grasp the patterns of skip counting by 2s, 5s and 10s.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTYxfltyPgg
Tool # 7: Digital Storytelling
1. I used photos from various trips I’ve taken with my mom and created a digital story with Photo Story 3. This was my first time to do something like this and therefore it took me a couple of hours to complete…but I’m glad I’ve learned how and the tutorial was very easy to follow. I spent too much time trying to find just the right music and still didn’t find what I had in mind, but it’s finished.
2. I did not add narration because I don’t have a microphone…unless there is one on the laptop that I don’t know about ;). But I do hope to get one because the students will love being able to narrate.
3. Here is my story… ok, well after trying for over an hour, I then got an error message (with code)saying my photo story could not be uploaded and to report it. My much-more-computer-literate husband told me my file was pretty big,...so I'm going to try it again later (after finishing the other 4 tools) by uploading the photos in a smaller file.
4. Students will love this. It will be a good tool for book reports, projects, digital greetings, reflections and demonstrations. I look forward to incorporating this tool in my classroom.
2. I did not add narration because I don’t have a microphone…unless there is one on the laptop that I don’t know about ;). But I do hope to get one because the students will love being able to narrate.
3. Here is my story… ok, well after trying for over an hour, I then got an error message (with code)saying my photo story could not be uploaded and to report it. My much-more-computer-literate husband told me my file was pretty big,...so I'm going to try it again later (after finishing the other 4 tools) by uploading the photos in a smaller file.
4. Students will love this. It will be a good tool for book reports, projects, digital greetings, reflections and demonstrations. I look forward to incorporating this tool in my classroom.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Tool #6: Wikis
This would be a good tool for:
1. Editing for writing-individual & peer
2. Collaborative projects
3. Reflections: I saw a neat one where each participant added their thoughts with their avatar voices.
4. Sharing ideas for projects and lesson plans
I'm starting to feel that some of these tools are overlapping and/or blending.
1. Editing for writing-individual & peer
2. Collaborative projects
3. Reflections: I saw a neat one where each participant added their thoughts with their avatar voices.
4. Sharing ideas for projects and lesson plans
I'm starting to feel that some of these tools are overlapping and/or blending.
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