6 - Web, Tech, Wiki

Below I have attached 2 screen shots of teacher’s classroom websites from Braden River High School in Bradenton, Florida. The first website is for a tenth grade geometry class. This classroom page can be viewed by anyone online, therefore it holds information for both parents and students. The screenshot, though, is of a classroom calendar. It has a title for each day, explaining what lesson will be covered, along with homework assignments and quiz/test dates. The second screenshot is for a dual enrollment eleventh grade American history class. This screenshot is also available for anyone to view and it is also for both parents and students to use. It is of a calendar as well, but it is set up differently. This calendar is a little more in depth and is more elaborate. More details are included about the lesson of the day.

I envision myself using technology to accomplish professional responsibilities more efficiently and effectively by using software such as apps.  By using apps on iPads and computers in my classroom I will be able to, “provide grade feedback and mobile academic assistance to students during instructional time” (pg. 147).

I learned quite a lot from the Wiki assignment. At first it seemed very complicated, but as my group and I worked together it became much easier. I liked that we got to pick our own standard based on what we want to teach in the future. I also like the whole project overall because I think that it will be very useful in my teaching career. I know that making a website Wiki will be something I do for each class so that I can make sure that my student’s know what to work on, when it is due, etc.

The whole form did not fit, but this is part of it! 

5 - Web 2.0 and Concept Mapping!

The Web 2.0 technology tools that I believe are most important in supporting teacher’s professional development include social networking tools. Social networking tools such as Youtube and blogs are very important in that they get students actively involved in classroom discussion and lessons. Youtube can be used to make projects and/or record lessons for students who missed class. Blogs allow students to collaborate and answer questions in a short and informal form. All social networking tools are very important, but Youtube and blogs are two that I will use in my classroom each and every day. Periphery equipment is used by all teachers and even people who are not teachers. Periphery equipment connects to the connects devices to computers. A periphery tool that I always use is a USB. A USB stores information on an external drive that can be inserted into other computers in order to transfer the documents or continue working on them on another computer. An example of a network device is a network router.

An interesting web 2.0 tool that I might use when teaching is Edmodo. (https://www.edmodo.com). Edmodo is a tool that “helps connect all learners with the people and resources needed to reach their full potential.” It is an educational website designed for students and teachers. They can connect with each other and collaborate together, sharing ideas and discussions.

Edmodo is very helpful and I will use it in my classroom. I used Edmodo in high school and it worked very effectively. Edmodo does not incorporate or tolerate any inappropriate behavior. Teachers can see each and every post on Edmodo and monitor what is relevant and what is not. Edmodo is quick and easy for students of all ages. I am very excited to learn more about Edmodo and try it in my classroom as I further my career. 

I enjoyed the concept mapping assignment as I believe it will be very beneficial as I further my career. As a teacher I will know how to make effective concept maps and I will also be able to teach my students how to make successful concept maps, using Webspiration. My students will be able to use concept maps for projects such as essay planning. My favorite part about this assignment was that it makes information easier to read and you can change and rearrange the map however you like, depending on what you are trying to convey. Overall, there was nothing that I didn’t like about the assignment. 

4 - Standards, Podcast, Web Hunt!

Standard: MAFS.K.G.1: identify and describe shapes (squares, circles, triangles, rectangles, hexagons, cubes, cones, cylinders, and spheres).

Game: the game I chose on the website listen below is “Peg and Cat Chicken Blast Off.” The goal of the game is to build a spaceship that will get all of the animals on the farm to space!

Link: http://pbskids.org/games/shapes/

Classification tool: The tool used would be classified as “educational game software.” This is because the game” presents and reviews instructional content in a game format (chapter 8, pg. 188).” I would use this game tool to keep my students engaged. It seems that now-a-days children are so technologically inclined and all they want to do is play video games, so by using this tool all students will be both learning and doing what they love to do.

I have searched for and evaluated internet-based resources in school by using the ABCDT which stands for A: author B: bias C: content D: design T: technical elements. This acronym helps students evaluate websites. I have used this when conducting research papers. This acronym is important because you must know how credible the website is before using it as well as know the author in order to cite sources.

I learned a few new skills after doing the web hunt assignment. I learned about and how to use google scholar. I also learned that on google search, you can narrow your searches by certain times. For example, the past 24 hours, past week, past year, etc. Although I learned some new search skills I was not surprised by anything in particular.

1.  You would like to include a picture of a chocolate lab puppy in your power point about things you love. Can you find one?

2.     You want your students to blog for their history blog journals. Can you find a classroom-friendly blog?

3 - ELA, Technology & Newsletters!

The ELA standards are very important in the classroom setting. I feel most comfortable and most prepared with almost all of the standards. From reading them, the one that seems most difficult to me is the one titled, SL.2 “integrate and evaluate.” This standard is very different for all grade levels, but I feel like it would be hardest to meet with grades K-2. Kindergarteners are not very good readers so having to display words in a paragraph on the screen for example might be difficult. Controversially, it would be very simple to represent items quantitatively and orally. Young children are good listeners and are interested in numbers and how they work.

I would like to use the internet with my students. Through the internet, I believe that discussion groups would be very helpful. I wish all of my classes now had them so people could ask questions outside of class and others could respond. This would be super beneficial for everyone in the class because usually more than one person has the same question. I would need to address the rules of the discussion board and that everything must be school appropriate. The students that I would use this program with would be high schoolers. I feel that kindergarteners and elementary school students are not prepared and mature enough for an online class discussion group.

I have learned a lot from designing a newsletter on Microsoft Word. I learned how to create boxes with shadows in the back of the text along with how to make columns in my newsletter. I was very confused and didn’t know how to do a lot of the requirements so I easily got frustrated (until I figured it all out). Next time I can make it longer and more interesting to read but overall I feel like this assignment will be very useful in the future. I now know how important newsletters are and that they take lots of time and creativity.