To Whom it May Concern,
One tool that I think every school should take advantage of is Teacher Tube. Teacher Tube is an online community, created for sharing instructional videos. The videos are educationally focused, and safe for teachers, schools, and home learners. It also has the capability for teachers to post videos for students, in order to learn a concept or skill.
You may be familiar with the online tool, You Tube. Teacher Tube is very similar, only, as I said earlier, all of the videos are educational and instructionally-based. Members are encouraged to upload educationally relevant videos as well as make constructive comments and use the site's rating system to rate the videos. The site's integrity comes from the viewers, or users, who are allowed to "flag" inappropriate videos. The staff of Teacher Tube will review the flagged sites and remove the inappropriate videos and/or comments.
The best part about Teacher Tube is that it is completely FREE! There is no charge to become a member or to be a viewer. I believe this online tool can be very useful in the classroom. For instance, if I were teaching a unit on the life cycle of insects, I could type this into the search bar and choose between several informational and educational videos to show to the class. This tool will keep students engaged and interested in what they are learning. I hope that you will consider using Teacher Tube in our school.
Thank You,
Ryan Logsdon
Friday, May 22, 2009
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Chapter 9 Response
Chapter 9 What It All Means
Everything we have learned from this book and this class has been very helpful. I plan on using many of these types of technology in my classroom. I think it is fun to learn about and put into practice these new ways of learning. I especially liked "Big Shift #8: Writing is no longer limited to text." This is so true. Now we can "write" by audio, video, music, photos, etc. Students can demonstrate their learning in many different ways now. This is a great way to differentiate.
Everything we have learned from this book and this class has been very helpful. I plan on using many of these types of technology in my classroom. I think it is fun to learn about and put into practice these new ways of learning. I especially liked "Big Shift #8: Writing is no longer limited to text." This is so true. Now we can "write" by audio, video, music, photos, etc. Students can demonstrate their learning in many different ways now. This is a great way to differentiate.
Chapter 6 Response
Chapter 6 The Social Web: Learning Together
Furl is tool you can use to construct your own personal piece of the Web. It can be used to store sites for journalism, parenting, environment, kids, etc. Furl is like an online bookmark and allows you to keep an archive of site. A similar site is called Delicious...why does it have this name anyway?? One alternative for social bookmarking is ScuttlEDU or Multipost Bookmarklet Tool. This chapter was helping in discussing how to use online bookmarking in the classroom.
Furl is tool you can use to construct your own personal piece of the Web. It can be used to store sites for journalism, parenting, environment, kids, etc. Furl is like an online bookmark and allows you to keep an archive of site. A similar site is called Delicious...why does it have this name anyway?? One alternative for social bookmarking is ScuttlEDU or Multipost Bookmarklet Tool. This chapter was helping in discussing how to use online bookmarking in the classroom.
Chapter 8 Response
Chapter 8 Podcasting and Screencasting: Multimedia Publishing for the Masses
Podcasting is the creation and distribution of amateur radio. I have downloaded poscasts as mp3's from a radio show before and synced them to my ipod. It worked fine. I think that it would be fun in an elementary class to create a class podcast. As suggested by the chapter, I would start with Education Podcast Network. It may have to be approved by the school (and paid for) in order to star an actual radio broadcast. I also liked using Audacity in class. I like that it is easy to use and had several options for effects.
Podcasting is the creation and distribution of amateur radio. I have downloaded poscasts as mp3's from a radio show before and synced them to my ipod. It worked fine. I think that it would be fun in an elementary class to create a class podcast. As suggested by the chapter, I would start with Education Podcast Network. It may have to be approved by the school (and paid for) in order to star an actual radio broadcast. I also liked using Audacity in class. I like that it is easy to use and had several options for effects.
Chapter 4 Response
Chapter 4 Wikis: Easy Collaboration for All
When we started this class, I didn't really know what a wiki was, but I learned quickly because it is where all of the information is for our class! Now that I have learned how to edit a wiki, and after reading this chapter, I now know more about the wiki technology. I think this can be very useful in the classroom. You can have an online text including curriculum that the teacher and the students can contribute to. I really like the Peanut Butter Wiki site to start a wiki and plan on doing this when I have my own classroom. Yay wiki!
When we started this class, I didn't really know what a wiki was, but I learned quickly because it is where all of the information is for our class! Now that I have learned how to edit a wiki, and after reading this chapter, I now know more about the wiki technology. I think this can be very useful in the classroom. You can have an online text including curriculum that the teacher and the students can contribute to. I really like the Peanut Butter Wiki site to start a wiki and plan on doing this when I have my own classroom. Yay wiki!
Chapters 3, 5, and 7 Response
Chapter 3 Weblogs: Get Started!
This chapter discusses in depth how to start a weblog. I am planning on using this techonology for my fourth exemplar lesson plan. I hope to start a blog that I can pull back up and use this lesson in my real classroom (depending on what grade I will be teaching!). This chapter was helpful in getting started on the blog.
Chapter 5 RSS: The New Killer App for Educators
RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication. This can come in handy in the classroom. You can just set up an RSS feed to see all of the posts from your students, instead of opening each of ther blogs and reading 25 different ones each day. I'm glad they have this technology because now I can just scan through to make sure the students have posted and then choose a few or several to comment on.
Chapter 7 Fun With Flickr: Creating, Publishing, and Using Images Online
I sort of knew about Flickr before this class, but I had never created an account. Now that we have put together a short Flickr presentation, I have realized that this tool can be very useful in the classroom, for any age! You can even send pictures from Flickr to a Weblog or Webpage. Students can also search for a certain location and view other people's pictures from that location.
This chapter discusses in depth how to start a weblog. I am planning on using this techonology for my fourth exemplar lesson plan. I hope to start a blog that I can pull back up and use this lesson in my real classroom (depending on what grade I will be teaching!). This chapter was helpful in getting started on the blog.
Chapter 5 RSS: The New Killer App for Educators
RSS stands for Real Simple Syndication. This can come in handy in the classroom. You can just set up an RSS feed to see all of the posts from your students, instead of opening each of ther blogs and reading 25 different ones each day. I'm glad they have this technology because now I can just scan through to make sure the students have posted and then choose a few or several to comment on.
Chapter 7 Fun With Flickr: Creating, Publishing, and Using Images Online
I sort of knew about Flickr before this class, but I had never created an account. Now that we have put together a short Flickr presentation, I have realized that this tool can be very useful in the classroom, for any age! You can even send pictures from Flickr to a Weblog or Webpage. Students can also search for a certain location and view other people's pictures from that location.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
Response to Chapters 1 and 2
Chapter 1: The Read/Write Web
In chapter 1, it talks about how our ability to publish content online will force us to rethink the way we communicate with our students. It will also change how we deliver the curriculum and how we set expectations of our students. I agree with this. In my first student teaching placement (a 3rd grade classroom), the teacher kept a "class website" with up-to-date information, including student birthdays, umcoming events, what they are learning, book clubs, and she even had pictures of the students. Obviously, we need to be careful about publishing our students' names and pictures online. We must have their parent or guardian sign a release form to be able to use their name or picture. We just have to use common sense about keeping our students safe.
It is great that we now have tools such as Weblogs, wikis, podcasting, etc. to teach our students with. We have to learn to keep up with our students in this fast-paced world and technology-rich environment.
Chapter 2: Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice
"A Weblog is an easily created, easily updated Website that allows an author to publish instantly to the internet from any internet connection." The book says it takes only as much skill as sending an email. It is really that easy.
I enjoyed the list of classroom uses of Weblogs at the end of Chapter 2. This list will come in handy when I begin teaching in my own classroom!
In chapter 1, it talks about how our ability to publish content online will force us to rethink the way we communicate with our students. It will also change how we deliver the curriculum and how we set expectations of our students. I agree with this. In my first student teaching placement (a 3rd grade classroom), the teacher kept a "class website" with up-to-date information, including student birthdays, umcoming events, what they are learning, book clubs, and she even had pictures of the students. Obviously, we need to be careful about publishing our students' names and pictures online. We must have their parent or guardian sign a release form to be able to use their name or picture. We just have to use common sense about keeping our students safe.
It is great that we now have tools such as Weblogs, wikis, podcasting, etc. to teach our students with. We have to learn to keep up with our students in this fast-paced world and technology-rich environment.
Chapter 2: Weblogs: Pedagogy and Practice
"A Weblog is an easily created, easily updated Website that allows an author to publish instantly to the internet from any internet connection." The book says it takes only as much skill as sending an email. It is really that easy.
I enjoyed the list of classroom uses of Weblogs at the end of Chapter 2. This list will come in handy when I begin teaching in my own classroom!
Thursday, May 14, 2009
What I plan on using for my digital story...
I am going to make a picture slideshow for my mother. I have recorded instrumental music (piano and harp--a blend of the songs "Love Story" by Taylor Swift and "Viva la Vida" by Coldplay). I will include several pictures of my 3 siblings, their spouses, my niece, our two dogs, and myself. I will include my voice in place of text to either transition between slides or to describe what is happening in a picture.
Article Reflection: Syncing Up with the iKid
I totally agree with the article. Students generate technological information on a daily basis. I think that students are learning different thinking patterns because of the technology we have today. Teachers need to keep up to date with the newest technology in order to keep up and keep their students motivated. Technology will most likely always be changing. Most everything is about technology and everyone uses it. It is a good tool for teaching students as well. The students would probably be more into an assignment if it including using the computer or Smartboard. The more teachers use it, the more it will benefit the learning of students.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
What I do when I research...
First, I open the internet and go to google.com. Yahoo used to be my favorite, but since Google became popular, I have switched my favorite search engines. I usually type in a few keywords of what I am researching. Several links will come up, most of the time, and the top four or five links are usually the ones that give me the most useful information. I try to stay away from Wikipedia. I know that most of that information is probably correct, but I do not like to risk having incorrect information. I rarely ever use encyclopedias anymore. Actually, I have not used an encyclopedia since middle school or early high school. I do, however use textbooks from my classes to help with my research. They make good references in the works cited section. I will occasionaly go to the library and do the "old fashioned" research.
Flickr Presentation
Multiplication Introduction for Third Grade (Flickr presentation)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38350732@N02/sets/72157618104780296/
MA-EP-1.3.1
Students will analyze real-world problems to identify appropriate representations using mathematical operations, and will apply operations to solve real-world problems with the following constraints:
· multiply whole numbers of 10 or less
DOK 2
http://www.flickr.com/photos/38350732@N02/sets/72157618104780296/
MA-EP-1.3.1
Students will analyze real-world problems to identify appropriate representations using mathematical operations, and will apply operations to solve real-world problems with the following constraints:
· multiply whole numbers of 10 or less
DOK 2
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Technology Autobiography
The first computer my family owned was a “dinosaur.” It was huge. We kept it in the basement and rarely used it. I played Pong and Oregon Trail off of a huge floppy disk. My dad would keep his patient files on there and all I remember him talking about was “MS DOS.” When I was younger, I wondered who “Ms. Dos” was. It wasn’t until 5th grade (1997) when I first used the Internet. I was at my friends house, whose father was a lawyer and they had a computer in just about every room of the house. My friend, Kim, and I created our own webpage. We spent a full day, and night, on that thing. It was one of those free websites. We called it “All About Ryan and Kim” and included information, such as our favorite boy band and favorite food. It even had animation. We were so proud!
By the time I was in 6th grade (1998), my family bought a desktop PC. We actually kept this one upstairs, where everyone could us it. My two older brothers bought a Mavis Beacon Typing Tutor CD-ROM. I loved that “game.” I taught myself how to type when I was 11. I also remember that year in school, we had “computer time.” We would go to the computer lab about twice per week and learn how to type and use the Internet. By 7th grade, we were typing all of our papers in Word (maybe it was Works at that time). All throughout the rest of middle school, I began to become more acquainted with computers and technology.
My sophomore year of high school, I took a computer course. We learned the basics of Microsoft Office. I learned how to type even faster throughout this course. I also learned how to make Excel spreadsheets, including calculations and all. I also put together a PowerPoint presentation with animations, pictures, and sound. It was a fun course, and at the end, we all received college credit for a computer course.
At about the same time, our family got a DVD player. I thought we were the last family on Earth to buy one. I thought it was neat how small the DVDs were and how they looked like CDs and that some of them included extra footage or commentaries. I wondered what would be next, after DVDs. I wondered if they would put movies on those “mini disks.”
When I graduated from high school, I got a laptop computer, for college. I now consider it a “clunker” and the AC adapter is the weight and size of a brick. However, it still works and I am typing on it now, although it is very slow! Since college, I have learned even more about technology. I have used PowerPoint for nearly every presentation, Word for every paper, Excel for every lab report, and the Internet for all of my research. I have even made videos on MovieMaker, using many of the thousands of pictures I have on my computer.
This brings me to another point; digital cameras. They are amazing. I got a digital camera my sophomore year of college (yes, always behind the bandwagon). Since then, I have taken over 7,500 pictures and they are all saved on my computer. This could be a big reason why it runs so slow. Anyway, I remember when I was little and I used disposable cameras. Then my mom bought a digital camera that took floppy disks and only held about 15 pictures! She has since gotten a newer digital camera. I just think it is amazing that we can go to Walgreens.com, upload pictures that were just taken, and pick them up in an hour.
After many hours of observing teachers in the classroom, a semester of methods, and a semester of student teaching, I have realized how useful computers can be in the classroom. During my methods semester, my teacher had her own laptop, which would connect to the Smartboard. She could show various PowerPoint slideshows, videos, and interactive games. There were also two apple computers for student use. They could take AR tests or play interactive reading and math games. I think they are perfect to use as “centers” for the younger grades.
During my student teaching semester, both placements I was in (3rd grade, then 1st grade), each had one desktop computer for the teacher, three student computers, and a Smartboard. Again, the teacher could show slideshows, videos, and interactive games on the Smartboard, through their computer. It came in handy during my solo teaching, when I would get the students involved and have them come up to the board to solve a problem, circle an answer, or write their own example.
I definitely think computers play a big role in K-12 education. I do not think it is necessary for every student to have their own computer in the regular classroom, but I do think they are amazing teaching tools. I think 3-6 computers in the elementary classroom is a good amount. That way, you can allow your low students to work on phonics, reading, math, etc. in the mornings or during free time and you can also use them as centers and give the students specific activities to complete during that time. I am glad that it has become more and more common to see more than one computer in the regular classroom. In today’s world, students learn quickly and they enjoy technology, so why not provide that service to them?
Edit: May 26, 2009
Throughout this course, I learned several technology tools to use in the classroom. Instead of just using the basics, like Microsoft Office tools, I can now teach students using MovieMaker presentations, Flickr, Podcasts and many, many more tools. I have also learned how to incorporate technology into my lessons, in order for the students to try these tools, first hand. This course has given me confidence to include these tools in my lesson plans and adapt my ways of teaching to fit students' learning styles in this day and age.
By the time I was in 6th grade (1998), my family bought a desktop PC. We actually kept this one upstairs, where everyone could us it. My two older brothers bought a Mavis Beacon Typing Tutor CD-ROM. I loved that “game.” I taught myself how to type when I was 11. I also remember that year in school, we had “computer time.” We would go to the computer lab about twice per week and learn how to type and use the Internet. By 7th grade, we were typing all of our papers in Word (maybe it was Works at that time). All throughout the rest of middle school, I began to become more acquainted with computers and technology.
My sophomore year of high school, I took a computer course. We learned the basics of Microsoft Office. I learned how to type even faster throughout this course. I also learned how to make Excel spreadsheets, including calculations and all. I also put together a PowerPoint presentation with animations, pictures, and sound. It was a fun course, and at the end, we all received college credit for a computer course.
At about the same time, our family got a DVD player. I thought we were the last family on Earth to buy one. I thought it was neat how small the DVDs were and how they looked like CDs and that some of them included extra footage or commentaries. I wondered what would be next, after DVDs. I wondered if they would put movies on those “mini disks.”
When I graduated from high school, I got a laptop computer, for college. I now consider it a “clunker” and the AC adapter is the weight and size of a brick. However, it still works and I am typing on it now, although it is very slow! Since college, I have learned even more about technology. I have used PowerPoint for nearly every presentation, Word for every paper, Excel for every lab report, and the Internet for all of my research. I have even made videos on MovieMaker, using many of the thousands of pictures I have on my computer.
This brings me to another point; digital cameras. They are amazing. I got a digital camera my sophomore year of college (yes, always behind the bandwagon). Since then, I have taken over 7,500 pictures and they are all saved on my computer. This could be a big reason why it runs so slow. Anyway, I remember when I was little and I used disposable cameras. Then my mom bought a digital camera that took floppy disks and only held about 15 pictures! She has since gotten a newer digital camera. I just think it is amazing that we can go to Walgreens.com, upload pictures that were just taken, and pick them up in an hour.
After many hours of observing teachers in the classroom, a semester of methods, and a semester of student teaching, I have realized how useful computers can be in the classroom. During my methods semester, my teacher had her own laptop, which would connect to the Smartboard. She could show various PowerPoint slideshows, videos, and interactive games. There were also two apple computers for student use. They could take AR tests or play interactive reading and math games. I think they are perfect to use as “centers” for the younger grades.
During my student teaching semester, both placements I was in (3rd grade, then 1st grade), each had one desktop computer for the teacher, three student computers, and a Smartboard. Again, the teacher could show slideshows, videos, and interactive games on the Smartboard, through their computer. It came in handy during my solo teaching, when I would get the students involved and have them come up to the board to solve a problem, circle an answer, or write their own example.
I definitely think computers play a big role in K-12 education. I do not think it is necessary for every student to have their own computer in the regular classroom, but I do think they are amazing teaching tools. I think 3-6 computers in the elementary classroom is a good amount. That way, you can allow your low students to work on phonics, reading, math, etc. in the mornings or during free time and you can also use them as centers and give the students specific activities to complete during that time. I am glad that it has become more and more common to see more than one computer in the regular classroom. In today’s world, students learn quickly and they enjoy technology, so why not provide that service to them?
Edit: May 26, 2009
Throughout this course, I learned several technology tools to use in the classroom. Instead of just using the basics, like Microsoft Office tools, I can now teach students using MovieMaker presentations, Flickr, Podcasts and many, many more tools. I have also learned how to incorporate technology into my lessons, in order for the students to try these tools, first hand. This course has given me confidence to include these tools in my lesson plans and adapt my ways of teaching to fit students' learning styles in this day and age.
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