Final Project Lesson

Check out Miss Snell's classroom website!

How does a teacher ensure that technology use will enhance instruction and not be a distraction or a disconnected add-on?

Involving technology in your classroom is not going to be an easy process! Technology is a touchy topic when it comes to education. Some educators are not the biggest fan of the idea because they think it will only be a distraction, but on the other hand there are several educators who are advicates for incorporating technolgy in the class. I feel like it all comes down to ground rules. When technologies such as computer time, using cameras or watching videos are used in the the classroom, the educator needs to have strict rules on what the students are allowed to do.
I also think it is important to let students have some "Play Time" when first handling new types of technology. Let the students have time to play around and let the excitment out! Also,  trying to incorporate technology more and more will also take away from the messing around and goofing off beause they know that they will be using them again!

Yola

Check out Ms. Snell's class website!

Presentation Design: Principles and Techniques Response

This is an article that I think everyone should be required to read....especially if you are going into the educational feild. Most of the information I had read in this article I have heard a time or two. I dont always think educators realize how important it is to be able to make a good powerpoint, especially if the topic you are presenting is new information to the people you are sharing it with.

I think that I could incorporate this in my classroom and with my students pretty easily. For one when I use powerpoint in my classroom I will need to make sure that I follow all the rules from the article. As far as my students go, if I have them do assigmnets using powerpoint I will give them clear instructions on what makes a good powerpoint and make it a rule that they must follow that. It may be challenging but pushing your students in that manner is always good!


I have created numerous powerpoints in my educational career and I would have to say that for the most part mine have probably followed most of the rules. I think the parts I struggled most with would have to be the 1-7-7 Rule. Which is to have ONE main idea per slide, insert no more than SEVEN lines of text, and no more than SEVEN words per line. I feel like that would probably be one of the components of a good powerpoint that people struggle with the most.

Podcast Reflection

Podacsts can be used in many different ways in the classroom. One way could be for the teacher to make a podcast for their students. This could be done for many different purposes. A teacher could make podcast at the beginning of each unit and can explain and go over what they will be learning in this unit. That could be useful for a few reasons, one is that this way the students can go back and listen to it if they need help.

Students could also use podcasts to interact with their classmates. Lets say you break students up into groups and they all research one topic. Then as a group, they can make a podcast sharing the information that they found and then the students can listen to eachothers podacsts.

Lastly, podcasts can be used as a way of feedback. At the end of the year or a unit, they students can make a podcast explaning what grade they think they deserve and why and send that to the teacher. I feel like that would be a big hit with students because they would be able to explain themselves!

There are a plethera of different ways podcasts can be used in the classroom those were just a few I came up with!

Flickr

Ever used Flickr before? Not only is Flickr a great tool for sharing pictures with friends and families, but Flickr is a great tool that can even be used in the classroom setting.

The ways Flickr can be included in the classroom are endless, some include:

• Have the students create creative stories using images found on Flickr.
• Students can create their own virtual field trips.
• Using the Flickr slideshow feature you can create a new kind of powerpoint.
• Using Flickrs map feature, have students discover whats happening all over the world. 

ESL Classroom Podcasting

View more presentations from shjduarte

Check out this slide show that shows how and why you can incorporate podcasts into your ESL classroom!

WOU IS 4 YOU

Pretty Nails!

My roommates and I LOVE doing our nails. Its a fun and easy way to show your creativity! Sometimes it can be tricky to find the right shade that will look good on you! Check out my Prezi to help you Choose the perfect Color!

Fair Use Policies in the Classroom

When you think of a teacher what comes to mind? I think of a teacher I think of someone who is honest, positive and all around a good influence. Teachers, whether they like it or not, are role models to their students. That being said, numerous teachers not knowingly guilty of plagiarism. Teachers are busy people and have ten different things they could be doing at any given time. What teacher isn't going to go to google and snag a picture off their when you just have five minutes to put together a presentation? But the law is the law and everybody, including teachers, should be more aware of these things. Especially when they are the ones preaching to their students NOT to plagiarize. Here is a chart that was created to show teachers what is and isnt allowed when if comes to the media used in the classroom.

Students: Need help when you are not in the classroom?
Check out Game Classroom!
I found this website and thought it could be very useful for students and even the teachers. This site has worksheets, videos, lessons, math games and language art games available for anyone! You simply click what grade you are in and it brings you to a page with a plethora of games for math and language arts. There are also a bunch of links that will help you with specific topics in each of those subjects. I would look into this website more and see what games would be useful for my students (or they could just play around with any of the games on their spare time).
The audience for this website is the teachers and students. The lesson plans could be very helpful for the teachers and the extra games and worksheets could become handy for the children. I am sure even the parents could use this website if they are wanting to be able to help out their children with homework.

Go GREEN!...
Going "green" is a big topic in today's world. I think it is a topic that children should become familiar with. The younger we start talking to the kids about recycling and being environmental friendly, the bigger chance they will actually do!..It can become second nature to them! I think a teacher could easily incorporate this website in a classroom. There are videos, articles and even BLOGS that talk about tips to a greener environment. You could have the students play around for a little bit on the website and then have them give explain some things they can do to help out the environment. You can also sign up and make your own greenopolis blog where you can share your experiences and ideas about going green. You are able to earn reward points and they will send you coupons for things.
I thought the site was pretty easy to navigate and was not very overwhelming. The intended audience is for everyone! I think the point of this website is to just spread awareness and to give people the opportunities to learn how they can make a difference.

Have students who finish work early? Have them check out WhizKidGames!

I came across this website and thought it could be useful in the classroom. If computers are available and students are done with all their work you can rely on this website to keep the students busy while being educational as well. This site allows students to play interactively and listen to stories. I am wanting to teach early childhood elementary and thought that this website would be easily navigated through by the little ones! This website is intended for the students, there are 9 different activities that the children can do. I played around on a few of them and thought they were good. The homepage of the website is a little boring and I think that could cause some hesitation from the students. Most students are very visual and if something does not look appealing to them then they may not give it a chance. Otherwise I think this would be a good tool to use for teachers if they need something more for the students to do.

Class Wiki

Ed 270 class wiki

Check out Melissa's Blog!

Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms.

1.Discuss your thoughts about blogging with students. What are some steps that should be taken to prepare students before blogging?

I think that blogging with students is a good way to introduce technology to students in a good way. There is so much bad stigma about kids and the internet and their cell phones that having students use blogs as a tool for homework would maybe change that up a bit. When students become more and more comfortable with blogging it can open up a whole new world to them.

I would think the best way to prepare students for blogging would be to have them read blogs and even respond to blogs just to get a feel for what blogging actually is. Blogging is something that needs to be hands on learning and the students will get better and better the more they do it.

When it comes to blogging safety, I think it is important that the parents of these students are involved. And that they know what kind of things that their children will be posting to. I also think it is important that the students themselves feel safe, and should only have to put as much personal information on their blog that they feel comfortable doing.

Good uses for blogging in the classroom include; posting homework, a way for students to keep connected, and for teachers to post links that may be useful to the students.

2.National and State technology standards.

http://www.ode.state.or.us/search/results/?id=54

The standards that are met when blogging are;

• Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity.
• Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.
• Model Digital Age Work and Learning.

3. Lesson Plan

https://docs.google.com/View?id=ddv49vkt_51chgfp8hq

Objectives:

In this lesson students will comprehend texts by making predictions.The power of this activity is derived from the fact that students can work collaboratively with students that are located anywhere.

Technology Used:

• Google Accounts
• Computers with Internet access

Standards:

• Make inferences and/or draw conclusions based on information from the text
• Identify, interpret, compare, and/or describe components of fiction or literary nonfiction