Wow, this may have been the fastest 5 weeks of my life. Although it went by super fast, I really learned a lot.. I learned stuff that will not only benefit me, but benefit my future students as well. From Delicious, to Google Docs, to Wikis, to Self Motivating posters, I have truly bettered myself by learning all of these technological programs. One that I think that is going to be particularly helpful is Google Docs. I really enjoyed creating a document with Daphne and creating my own tests using the forms. I think that collaboration in the classroom is so important, and that is why I like Google Docs.
I really enjoyed our last day of class. Being a teacher is not just for my benefit. Its for my students. I am going to be the type of teacher that is there for my students. We need to be there not because I am getting paid, but to be advocates for our students. Upon taking this class, I thought it was going to be a waste of time, like my first Educational Technology Class. We used programs that I was fairly familiar with and already knew how to use. This class was completely different. I learned so many new things that I cannot wait to use in the classroom! I felt like a whole other world was opened up to me. I had no idea what a WIki was, and now I can use it and build a lesson plan with it! One thing I absolutely love is the simple idea of a word cloud: WORDLE! I love the way they look and it is a simple concept for students to do and understand. I really enjoyed this class and will continue to use many things I learned here. I may not be an expert at Jings or Podcasts yet, but at least I know how to use them and can work on getting better at creating them! Thank you got everything, Garth. I plan on staying in touch! PS: I plan on still reading your blog- I love your ideas and love reading about them! I finally have my own Wiki! Go ahead, visit it! You'll find a science lesson plan for 5th graders on omnivores, herbivores, carnivores, the ecosystem--and so much more! This lesson plan is far more interesting than your average lesson plan though- it incorporates some pretty neat technology. Still confused on what a Wiki is exactly (because I was too for a little bit) view the YouTube video above! When first visiting my Wiki, you will come across my homepage- it looks very similar to my blog homepage because wouldn't you know, it is a screen shot of it! The first page students (or educators) will want to visit is the one titled : Herbivores, Carnivores, and Omnivores..Oh my! It states the standards that will be covered while teaching this lesson and gives the students their first thing to accomplish: A pre-quiz on Google Docs. (Remember, to make a Google Docs quiz, you go to the forms section!) After the students take the quiz, I will be able to see the results. This non-graded quiz will allow me to see what students need to work on and what areas they already understand. After completing the quiz, the students will move on to the next part of my lesson plan in my Wiki, and that is the section labeled : After the quiz! After the quiz, this is where the teacher will actually teach the material. I have included some great PowerPoint examples to show the students. They have information about herbivores, carnivores, producers, decomposers, and so much more! They are pretty straight and to the point. The next activity the students must do is create their own food web. They can do this by using the free content, Bubbl.Us or by using Inspiration. I have included a food web I made using Inspiration. (Hint: Inspiration is free for the first 30 days!) MOUSE FOOD WEB: This allows students to have choice in the classroom- They can pick any animal, any picture, and write their own captions underneath the picture. This activity enhances the learning of the learners because they are able to physically see the impact one animal, insect or plant plays on one another. For example, without the grass, the grasshopper would have nothing to eat,which would give the frog a hard time finding insects to eat, which in turn would affect the rest of the animals! This activity brings a food web to life, and allows it to be fun for students! After completing their food web, the students will move on to part 3 of the lesson plan: Let Others Hear Your Voice! This part of the lesson plan might be my favorite. After students realize the importance certain animals and insects play in their lives, they must create their own Podcast! I want people all over the world to hear the important words my 5th graders are trying to say! By using Garage Band and Itunes, they will create their own Podcasts in groups! In 5 groups of 4, they must let others hear their voices! They are going to let others know about the importance of conserving ecosystems and habitats! By expressing themselves in a 4-5 minute Podcast telling people all over the world why we need to save our ecosystems, these students can really make a difference! To wrap up the lesson, the teacher and the students will create a Wordle together. Each student must write down 10 words describing their favorite parts of either the lesson or what they have learned. By creating a beautiful word cloud, students can see that what they learned and liked may be similar to their classmates. The example Wordle I gave my students. Wikis can be edited by anyone, but are very trustworthy. For example, the website, Wikipedia, is just as accurate as an encyclopedia--and more convenient! I am the main editor, but others who have Wiki accounts may edit or change somethings as well. Wiki's allow for anyone, especially teachers to get their voice heard- information can be found, different ideas, and even lesson plans! Wikis are fun, and I cannot wait until I am even better at using it! View my first ever Jing Tutorial! In class today, we used how to use Quicktime and Jing to create our own tutorials! My tutorial is showing you guys, my readers, how to use Jing! Since i have my own YouTube account, i was able to upload my tutorial right to YouTube and then right to my blog! So cool! Still confused on what Jing is? It can be used to:
Teachers can use Jing in their classroom in many ways. A few ways include:
Above is a YouTube video on how to use Jing!
CHECK OUT OUR PODCAST!
There are multiple theories on learning: from constructivism to inquiry, students and teachers realize and understand the diversity in the types of learning. Today, this will be a collaborative blog between Daphne and Katie using the elements of Skype, Google Docs, and personal communication. Using these technologies will help us to brainstorm ideas and clarify special topics in education. Inquiry based learning revolves around the idea that knowledge is doing. It is student-centered and teacher-guided. This type of learning is hands-on and completes investigations of real world questions. When you engage in inquiry based learning, you are constructing your own knowledge. The benefits of using inquiry based learning are self-direction for students, teaches critical skills (such as problem solving, critical thinking, and disciplinary content), and develops student ownership. Students are responsible for their own learning and therefore become more engaged in participation. There are also downsides to using this type of learning: some students will not be motivated to complete their own work, therefore, not completing the learning process. Also, not every student likes hands-on activities; they may be auditory learners and will learn better in a different environment. If every student is not on the same level, inquiry based learning can fail because it builds on prior knowledge. An example of inquiry based learning could be having your students in science class complete a forensic investigation of a fictional crime scene. They could complete experiments and research in order to reach the end goal of knowledge. Constructivism is based on the theory that students create their knowledge based on prior experiences. Jean Piaget is one of the founding theorists for constructivism. This theory elaborates on the roles of individuals, specifically the teacher and the learner, and also elaborates on the importance of collaboration among the learners. Students generate knowledge and meaning from an interaction between their experiences and their thoughts. In short, constructivism bases new learning on the ideas of old knowledge. The benefits of this type of learning is that students already have prior knowledge of the studied subject and it is a great scaffolding tool. Also, students can learn more because they are participating with feedback and it is more than just memorizing text. The learning becomes more personal. The downsides of using this theory are again, if students are not on the same page. Disadvantaged children lacking resources may struggle when using this theory because they will not be equipped with prior experiences that others may have. An example of constructivism could be a field trip to a nearby lake to complete sampling experiments. This could then lead to a study on ecosystems in the future. Problem-based learning is based on student needs. Students will work in groups to collaborate on prior knowledge, current questions on topics of interest, and research. Teachers facilitate learning through scaffolding and students will answer leading questions and participate in grand conversations. The question may not have a "yes" or "no" answer, but a broad idea which can be converted into a theory or law. The benefits of using this type of learning are that students will examine the "bigger picture" rather than just their schoolwork and also that students will collaborate with others to solve a problem. This can be a great networking tool for students in the future. The downsides to using problem-based learning are that students may not enjoy working in groups or one student will dominate the group. The teacher could actually even dominate the classroom by extension. An example of problem-based learning could be asking your students any question that begins with "What if..?" and having them figure it out in groups. Webquests are an influential tool to use in the classroom. They incorporate technology in learning. They are based on inquiry learning and are completed entirely through the Internet. From word processing to in-depth research, students will complete an inquiry based task while using technology. The benefits of using webquests are that students will be completely immersed in technology and they can research the newest topics with ease. The downsides of using webquests are that the connection between teacher and student becomes impersonal and students may not understand the technology. Also, technical problems could arise or resources could be limited, especially in a low-income school. An example of a webquest could be a virtual dissection of a frog. As we both reflect on what we have learned today, we realize the importance of differing styles of learning in the classroom. We both looked at our webquests that we completed in our previous class and realized it was actually not constructive! We told our students exactly what to do rather than to place them in the situation and how it affects them personally. This was an eye opener! We now understand that webquests and learning must be based entirely on the student to increase student motivation and participation. Students will be more willing to learn if they understand the topic's importance and how it relates to them. We both agreed that inquiry based learning was the theory that we would use in our classrooms because it allows for the most student participation. Students will be responsible for the learning process in a student-centered classroom. We, as teachers, will guide our students but will allow them to experiment for themselves. Learning can be found in many forms and each student learns differently. It is important for teachers to remember these theories to promote the highest level of learning to their students. Besides, isn't it time that students take some responsibility for learning these days? We think it will benefit not only the teachers but also the students whenever they self-motivate to learn. Skype has provided multiple opportunities to teachers and students that were never possible before: communication across all areas. After skype-ing each other, we understood the benefits of using video chat in the classroom. Teachers can use Skype to connect their students with international pen pals. They can also use Skype to video chat with an author of a book that their students are reading as a group. The benefits of Skype are immeasurable. There can be disadvantages, especially if the students do not have internet access or resources, such as laptops and video cameras. Nevertheless, Skype can be a great tool to use in the classroom as a group project. Teachers can project the screen onto the Smartboard and can facilitate whole class discussions with another individual or class. After we Skyped, we then texted each other to discuss our plans for the blog. Texting can be another great tool for collaboration and communication in the classroom. PollEverywhere is a technology where a teacher could instantly poll their students with cellphones and text messages. Teachers must review their Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) for their district and school before they instruct their students to use their cellphones; however, this has been a beneficial tool for engaging students with technology. Student cellphone use must be limited and controlled for positive results, but if the teacher is truly willing to try a new strategy, the students will appreciate them for it. Collaboration and communication is the foundation of strong teaching. Teachers must incorporate these elements into their classroom to enhance the learning process. By including technology in the curriculum, students and teachers will both observe positive results. Having trouble getting your students motivated? Well, with this website, you can use pictures of your own students doing classroom activities- like group work, reading, studying, laughing, and having fun! You can create your own saying to help keep the positivity up in the classroom! Walking in to class every day, students will love seeing themselves and hopefully try to stay motivated in class. I love MOTIVATOR! Below, I created my own free animation! It represents a teacher and a student having a conversation about technology- watch it, it will probably make you laugh! Students can use this to make their own short animations. I watched a few that incorporated the different subjects. There are a ton of different characters, so a student can pick whatever or whoever they want. Instead of just presenting orally in front of the classroom, students can express themselves through animation! This is especially helpful for students who may be shy in front of the classroom and do not have to worry about public speaking! These short clips will also lighten up the classroom and cause a few giggles! GoAnimate.com: Technology in the classroom! by klh81 Like it? Create your own at GoAnimate.com. It's free and fun! Have you ever wanted to see yourself as a cartoon? Well, I tried it..and I do not know if I like it. I think I am going to stay my normal self. Now, students are very curious and would probably love to see themselves. It may not be very educational, but it adds a little twist to normal pictures in the classroom. It adds some quirky fun! CARTOONIZE YOURSELF! LOOK BELOW! I'M AN AVATAR! This creates a twist on your everyday learning. The web is full of fun technologies to incorporate in the classroom! Here are a few more websites to visit and have fun with! :
Movie Maker Answer Garden Digital Content should be fun and interesting in the classroom. Let your students run away with the idea of creating their own movies, avatars, and even cartoons! With the proper guidance and instructio Even Bugs Bunny loves Google Docs! Have you ever used it before? until about 2 days ago, I only knew the bare minimum about Google Docs. Google Docs is going to be a great addition when I get my own classroom, and I cannot wait to use it. Google Docs can be used in multiple ways. These ways include: Documents Presentations Spreadsheets Forms Drawings Below, I have a short quiz using the forms of Google Docs. If you want, take my quiz!This is a great form of collaboration in the classroom because educators, like myself, can have students taking quizzes from multiple places, not just in the classroom. Students are also able to work on projects together, without actually physically being with one another. Google Docs is a fun way to be technological in the classroom and engage your students! I have also included a YouTube video on how to include polls and quizzes in your classroom! Are you a visual learner? I know that I am. Around 65% of students in the classroom are visual learners and need to be able to see what is being taught, just not being told. Since technology and programs on the web seem to be improving day-to-day, teachers need to utilize these programs. Many visual programs include Bubbl.Us, Inspiration, Wordle, Tagxedo, Mywebspiration, Kidspiration and so much more! I know that if my teachers could have used these types of programs that I would have done much better in school. These types of programs can be used by teachers and by students in the classroom. Students can use them as graphic organizers and can brainstorm, put their ideas into words, use pictures to describe what they are saying, and visually organize their thoughts. Teachers can use these programs so that students do not just have to listen to teachers lecture, write on chalkboards, or read from a textbook. On the above picture, I used the free program at Bubbl.Us to create a visual organizer to describe digital citizenship and its importance to others. Here are what the "bubbles" say: 1. Digital Access: full electronic participation in society. Technology users need to be aware of and support electronic access for all to create a foundation for Digital Citizenship. Digital exclusion of any kind does not enhance the growth of users in an electronic society. All people should have fair access to technology no matter who they are. Places or organizations with limited connectivity need to be addressed as well. To become productive citizens, we need to be committed to equal digital access. 2. Digital Commerce: electronic buying and selling of goods. Technology users need to understand that a large share of market economy is being done electronically. Legitimate and legal exchanges are occurring, but the buyer or seller need to be aware of the issues associated with it. The mainstream availability of Internet purchases of toys, clothing, cars, food, etc. has become commonplace to many users. At the same time, an equal amount of illegal/immoral goods and services are surfacing such as pornography and gambling. Users need to learn about how to be effective consumers in a new digital economy. 3. Digital Communication: electronic exchange of information. One of the significant changes within the digital revolution is a person’s ability to communicate with other people. In the 19th century, forms of communication were limited. In the 21st century, communication options have exploded to offer a wide variety of choices (e.g., e-mail, cellular phones, instant messaging). The expanding digital communication options have changed everything because people are able to keep in constant communication with anyone else. Now everyone has the opportunity to communicate and collaborate with anyone from anywhere and anytime. Unfortunately, many users have not been taught how to make appropriate decisions when faced with so many different digital communication options. 4. Digital Literacy: process of teaching and learning about technology and the use of technology. While schools have made great progress in the area of technology infusion, much remains to be done. A renewed focus must be made on what technologies must be taught as well as how it should be used. New technologies are finding their way into the work place that are not being used in schools (e.g., videoconferencing, online sharing spaces such as wikis). In addition, workers in many different occupations need immediate information (just-in-time information). This process requires sophisticated searching and processing skills (i.e., information literacy). Learners must be taught how to learn in a digital society. In other words, learners must be taught to learn anything, anytime, anywhere. Business, military, and medicine are excellent examples of how technology is being used differently in the 21st century. As new technologies emerge, learners need to learn how to use that technology quickly and appropriately. Digital Citizenship involves educating people in a new way— these individuals need a high degree of information literacy skills. 5. Digital Etiquette: electronic standards of conduct or procedure.Technology users often see this area as one of the most pressing problems when dealing with Digital Citizenship. We recognize inappropriate behavior when we see it, but before people use technology they do not learn digital etiquette (i.e., appropriate conduct). Many people feel uncomfortable talking to others about their digital etiquette. Often rules and regulations are created or the technology is simply banned to stop inappropriate use. It is not enough to create rules and policy, we must teach everyone to become responsible digital citizens in this new society. 6. Digital Law: electronic responsibility for actions and deeds Digital law deals with the ethics of technology within a society. Unethical use manifests itself in form of theft and/or crime. Ethical use manifests itself in the form of abiding by the laws of society. Users need to understand that stealing or causing damage to other people’s work, identity, or property online is a crime. There are certain rules of society that users need to be aware in a ethical society. These laws apply to anyone who works or plays online. Hacking into others information, downloading illegal music, plagiarizing, creating destructive worms, viruses or creating Trojan Horses, sending spam, or stealing anyone’s identify or property is unethical. 7. Digital Rights & Responsibilities: those freedoms extended to everyone in a digital world.Just as in the American Constitution where there is a Bill of Rights, there is a basic set of rights extended to every digital citizen. Digital citizens have the right to privacy, free speech, etc. Basic digital rights must be addressed, discussed, and understood in the digital world. With these rights also come responsibilities as well. Users must help define how the technology is to be used in an appropriate manner. In a digital society these two areas must work together for everyone to be productive. 8. Digital Health & Wellness: physical and psychological well-being in a digital technology world. Eye safety, repetitive stress syndrome, and sound ergonomic practices are issues that need to be addressed in a new technological world. Beyond the physical issues are those of the psychological issues that are becoming more prevalent such as Internet addiction. Users need to be taught that there inherent dangers of technology. Digital Citizenship includes a culture where technology users are taught how to protect themselves through education and training. 9. Digital Security (self-protection): electronic precautions to guarantee safety. In any society, there are individuals who steal, deface, or disrupt other people. The same is true for the digital community. It is not enough to trust other members in the community for our own safety. In our own homes, we put locks on our doors and fire alarms in our houses to provide some level of protection. The same must be true for the digital security. We need to have virus protection, backups of data, and surge control of our equipment. As responsible citizens, we must protect our information from outside forces that might cause disruption or harm. Now if you notice below, I also used the free program provided by Wordle below. I used the same information mentioned above, and it picked out the most frequently used words to show importance to the students. By providing visuals for students, there is a better chance they will understand the material better, have more fun with it, and can become much more creative. visuals create a unique and interesting positive twist on learning, and that is why we cannot forget to use them in our classroom. If Wordle seems a little intimidating, here is video that clearly explains how it can be used in the classroom!
Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Oh wait, wrong thing.. What I meant to say was Blogs and Podcasts and Wikis, oh my! The internet has so much out there for us to use, but we first must use it wisely and teach our students to do the same. A good lesson plan to begin teaching students proper etiquette when using the web can be called Netiquette. When teaching Netiquette, you teach your students about the proper use of ALL CAPS, what to put on public sites like blogs, how to use emoticons :-), when and how to shorten messages like BRB for be right back, how to properly set up an e-mail so it does not look like junk mail, and sticking to particular topics when posting. Teachers must also inform their students of the danger of using someone else's work and not crediting them.. also known as plagiarism. When a student plagiarizes, it teaches the student that they do not have to do their own work, and they can just copy from whoever is online. Since students will be digital citizens, they must respect the digital law. "Digital law deals with the ethics of technology within a society. Unethical use manifests itself in form of theft and/or crime. Ethical use manifests itself in the form of abiding by the laws of society. Users need to understand that stealing or causing damage to other people’s work, identity, or property online is a crime. There are certain rules of society that users need to be aware in a ethical society. These laws apply to anyone who works or plays online. Hacking into others information, downloading illegal music, plagiarizing, creating destructive worms, viruses or creating Trojan Horses, sending spam, or stealing anyone’s identify or property is unethical." Teachers also have to watch out for something...copyrights. When something like a film, story, or picture is copyighted, teachers must remember it may only be used under certain conditions. These conditions are:
If we as teachers do not follow these conditions, then we could get into a mess of problems. So in the world of teaching, who owns the learning? Back in the days of the Revolution, it used to be a "Boss" or teacher telling the students what to do. Now, students and teachers are working together to try and work together to become more technologically efficient and globalized. In a way, teachers and students both own the learning. In order to do this, according to Alan November, students need 3 specific skills to really succeed in the world. These skills are: 1. Information processing- teach people to organize information, add value, move on. 2. Work globally- teach people to work with others all over the world to solve problems. GLOBAL COMMUNICATION SKILLS. 3. Be self-directed- we do not need a boss to tell us what to do. Become more disciplined. Unfortunately, American schools are not really teaching these skills, and that is why many students are returning home after college and not becoming self efficient. When our students become more self-directed and do not always need a "boss" to tell them what to do, they will truly own the learning and become much more successful. Now, quick question! How would you feel if you were in a state teaching in a middle school where every child was offered a laptop? Well, in the state of Maine, they have a program called The Maine Laptop Program. This program offers a laptop to every middle school student. Some of the results include:
It made students more enthusiastic but did not necessarily raise test scores, much more positive feedback in classrooms, students seem understand material better, it prepares students for the work world, attendance rates raised and detention rates dropped, and writing test scores did improve. Even though this program costs nearly 90 million dollars, should Ohio look into it? I believe so. If students are enjoying school more and are more actively engaged in the classroom, then it is worth it. If students are happy, then teachers are going to be much happier. Now, doesn't that look absolutely delcious? Yeah, I thought so too. Whenever I thought of the word "delicious" I never thought it could be used other than describing a food..or maybe even a person. Little did I know what I was missing out on. As it turns out, there is a website called delicious.com, and it is a perfect place for teachers to visit and use. Here, you are able to become a member of somebody's network who enjoys many of the same interests as you. You can then look on their bookmarked sites and save them to your network. While doing this I was able to find many useful sites: TeacherTube, EducationWorld, Wordle, Froguts, TED, VoiceThread, Prezi, Shelfari, Wolfram Alpha, Spezify, and etc. The possibilties are nearly endless! These are are helpful websites that I can use in the classroom or that my students can also use. Tips for new teachers are given, lesson plan ideas, tips for solving math and science problems, and even creativity is taken to the next level. Have a squeamish child in your class? No problem! There are a ton of virtual dissection websites. Or have you ever had the problem where you find this really amazing website and cannot find it the next day? Well, with Delicious, your problem is solved. After you save a page, it will never disappear and is forever in your network. I think all teachers should be delicious. It is a free website that allows almost an endless amount of websites for teachers to visit and utilize. All you have to do is search for certain categories, and a website can be found for you. My most specific site was, "Middle school education" and it lead me to lesson plans, blogs about teachers and their experiences,tips, and other resources I can use for my students. Don't be dull, boring and out of the loop- be delicious! and stay up to speed by finding new websites every day and by discovering something new for yourself and your students. To join my network just look up : KLH81 ! Here is an introduction video on how exactly to use and set up your delicious account!
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AuthorMy name is Katie Hawkins, and I cannot wait to become a teacher. Archives
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