I have seen this technology being used and have been highly impressed. The teacher took a vocabulary lists related to things around the house and had students go home and take pictures of these particular objects. Then, the students had to integrate the vocabulary list and a particular grammar lesson and create sentences corresponding to each picture taken. In the computer lab, students uploaded their pictures in a program called PhotoStory. The kids could create a presentation (similar to PowerPoint) with their pictures and sentences, yet the presentation played like a movie. The advantages to PhotoStory are that students can record their own voices into their presentation as well as music. Therefore, the presentation runs more like a film that the kids eventually all watch at the end of the instructional week.
This activity is extremely motivating for kids in several ways. First, students get to create authentic work that involves their own lives. Second, students get to play around with this technology and made informed decisions on how they choose their presentation to play out. This builds on their critical thinking skills. I definitely want to try this in my classroom. The only issue is finding the TIME with an already packed curriculum.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Quia
Quia has been a website that my department has used for quite some time. Though it can be tedious, since you have to enter all the data you want to use into the site, the benefits are wonderful. I have had my students go on every once in a while to complete homework assignments. The kids get three tries to answer the question correctly. They cannot move onto the next question until that previous one is answered, therefore, students can't just not try on particular questions. Also, the feedback is immediate, which is really great for the students. They can see then and there what was missed and what they should have put.
Also, it's great for language teachers, because teachers can enter things like vocabulary lists or vocabulary terms (like for social studies) and the website immediately makes games for the kids. They can have online flashcards, bingo, hangman, etc. Also, two kids can log in at the same time and play battleship for practice. Another huge advantage is that the teachers can see how much time their kids were logged on. So, if you tell a struggling student to practice for the night before a test, teachers know: how long that child was online, what he/she played, how he/she scored on games, etc. Though it's time consuming to put in the data, how great for the kids and teachers once the data has been made!
Also, it's great for language teachers, because teachers can enter things like vocabulary lists or vocabulary terms (like for social studies) and the website immediately makes games for the kids. They can have online flashcards, bingo, hangman, etc. Also, two kids can log in at the same time and play battleship for practice. Another huge advantage is that the teachers can see how much time their kids were logged on. So, if you tell a struggling student to practice for the night before a test, teachers know: how long that child was online, what he/she played, how he/she scored on games, etc. Though it's time consuming to put in the data, how great for the kids and teachers once the data has been made!
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Technology I Have Seen in Action
Here is a list of technologies I have seen used in the classroom around my school and in my own classroom. All of them were used in classroom instruction as activites and forms of formative assessment. I believed the majority of the students enjoyed using the technology.
1. Student Response System--> Students used the website polleverywhere.com to text in their answers to various questions prompted on the screen. Their answer would be texted directly to the site which would show their answer pop on the screen. It was anonomous so the risk level was very low. The students loved it. I did this and my friend Jessica did this as well as warm-up activities reviewing the information we had taught the day before.
2. PowerPoint--> I use it to teach new vocabulary words with real-life pictures under the words. The ability for the kids to learn the new word and see a big picture of it to make the connection helps tremensouly with learning new vocabulary. I have seen it used in a History classroom where the teacher put up a slide that just had way too much information on it. This was very hard for the kids to use and very confusing. It was used to present new information as a direct teaching strategy.
3. TeacherTube--> I will show various clips that I enjoy from this. It keeps the kids engaged and there are some very great resources to grab from to enhance lessons!
4. ActiveVotes--> I have seen this used both as formative and summative assessments. Like Polleverwhere.com, the kids push the correct button for their answer and their answer can pop up on the screen. You can also keep the votes secret if taking an actual summative assessment.
5. VoiceThread--> A progam that involves kids viewing a particular "thread" and being able to comment through recording themselves, typing, or texting. The kids all have profiles and symbols for themselves. Very engaging, but it's A LOT of work on the teacher to create everything for them to view!
6. Word Processing --> Not much to say. It's extremely important in every aspect of ilfe nowadays!
7. For class organization for my kids I have a Blog and website for them. I also have AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and they can IM me the night before a test between 9 and 9:30 for any additional help.
I REALLY want to use Podcasts. Anyone used them yet?
1. Student Response System--> Students used the website polleverywhere.com to text in their answers to various questions prompted on the screen. Their answer would be texted directly to the site which would show their answer pop on the screen. It was anonomous so the risk level was very low. The students loved it. I did this and my friend Jessica did this as well as warm-up activities reviewing the information we had taught the day before.
2. PowerPoint--> I use it to teach new vocabulary words with real-life pictures under the words. The ability for the kids to learn the new word and see a big picture of it to make the connection helps tremensouly with learning new vocabulary. I have seen it used in a History classroom where the teacher put up a slide that just had way too much information on it. This was very hard for the kids to use and very confusing. It was used to present new information as a direct teaching strategy.
3. TeacherTube--> I will show various clips that I enjoy from this. It keeps the kids engaged and there are some very great resources to grab from to enhance lessons!
4. ActiveVotes--> I have seen this used both as formative and summative assessments. Like Polleverwhere.com, the kids push the correct button for their answer and their answer can pop up on the screen. You can also keep the votes secret if taking an actual summative assessment.
5. VoiceThread--> A progam that involves kids viewing a particular "thread" and being able to comment through recording themselves, typing, or texting. The kids all have profiles and symbols for themselves. Very engaging, but it's A LOT of work on the teacher to create everything for them to view!
6. Word Processing --> Not much to say. It's extremely important in every aspect of ilfe nowadays!
7. For class organization for my kids I have a Blog and website for them. I also have AIM (AOL Instant Messenger) and they can IM me the night before a test between 9 and 9:30 for any additional help.
I REALLY want to use Podcasts. Anyone used them yet?
Tech Skill: Spreadsheet
Spreadsheet is programs designed to organize and manipulate numerical data. Spreadsheets help users manage numbers, in the same way that word processing helps manage words. In regards to benefits for teachers, knowing how to word spreadsheet can be a useful tool in saving time with calculations. Once you have the formulas set into the correct cells, you can whip through a whole class in no time whether it's entering grades or working on a departmenal budget. Not only does spreadsheet do calculations, it also organizes display of information. This can be helpful in making any type of table for schedules or attendance lists. Lastly, spreadsheet helps support the asking of "what if?" questions quickly and easily. It's easier for teachers to visualize the impact of changes in numbers.
For students, spreadsheet can help with underlying concepts involving numbers. It can also supports the need for concrete representation for clarification. When implementing spreadhseet into a math or science class, students can focus more on higher level concepts rather than focusing on the arithmetic functions. Students can create timelines, charts, and graphs that require them to store and calculate numbers. Personally, I use spreadsheet for organizing the budget for the LOTE department. I will use it to collect order requests as well. I have used it to create large vocabulary lists, though I find Word better in terms of appearance.
For students, spreadsheet can help with underlying concepts involving numbers. It can also supports the need for concrete representation for clarification. When implementing spreadhseet into a math or science class, students can focus more on higher level concepts rather than focusing on the arithmetic functions. Students can create timelines, charts, and graphs that require them to store and calculate numbers. Personally, I use spreadsheet for organizing the budget for the LOTE department. I will use it to collect order requests as well. I have used it to create large vocabulary lists, though I find Word better in terms of appearance.
Tech Skill: Database
Database is computer based programs that allow users to store, organize, and manipulate information, including both text and numerical data. The true power lies in the fact that a database allows people to locate information through key word searches. Databases are basically online "filing cabinets". They have become so important in today's society with the need to store large amounts of essential information, which continues to grow in complexity and in volume.
In education, teachers mainly benefit from this in regards to reducing redundancy on student information. If the student is in the database, multiple users can find and access that information. Also, through key word searches, teachers do not have to waste time trying to locate or update information on a particular student. Databases also allows for computers to search for information through searches across files. Lastly, databases can reveal relationships among data. This is great for teachers looking at class averages or checking on student progress.
Teaching students how to use a database can benefit them immensely. First, database can develop useful research and analytical skills. Also, students develop problem solving skills through the technology. Lastly, databases are used everywhere in business today. This is a life long skill that is being taught to the kids. As for myself, I could use the database for data mining for planning as well as reporting information. This can be helpful also in communication with parents. However, the online gradebook adopted by my school district is the most useful database in itself. Rarely does the gradebook have features that are not offered by database.
In education, teachers mainly benefit from this in regards to reducing redundancy on student information. If the student is in the database, multiple users can find and access that information. Also, through key word searches, teachers do not have to waste time trying to locate or update information on a particular student. Databases also allows for computers to search for information through searches across files. Lastly, databases can reveal relationships among data. This is great for teachers looking at class averages or checking on student progress.
Teaching students how to use a database can benefit them immensely. First, database can develop useful research and analytical skills. Also, students develop problem solving skills through the technology. Lastly, databases are used everywhere in business today. This is a life long skill that is being taught to the kids. As for myself, I could use the database for data mining for planning as well as reporting information. This can be helpful also in communication with parents. However, the online gradebook adopted by my school district is the most useful database in itself. Rarely does the gradebook have features that are not offered by database.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Word Processing Reflection
Tech Skill: Word Processing
Word Processing is great in the sense that it reflects no particular instructional approach; therefore, all teachers can and should feel comfortable using it in the classroom. According to Roblyer, word processing is the tool used most by teachers and its advantages include:
1. saving time: teachers do not have to keep re-creating documents created and can make changes whenever
2. enhancing document appearance: teachers can make something they have created look professional
3. collaboration: teachers can easily share documents and materials from one another.
4. allows meaningful, hands-on practice in language use
5. errors are hi-lighted as they type and are displayed with mini-captions on what is wrong with the statement
6. encourages writing through any curriculum
Each one of these benefits I notice in my classroom. When I create documents, it is so easy to share with other teachers or e-mail materials to students when they are absent or missed part of a lesson for some reason. As a foreign language teacher, I get to teach students about language features on the computer. This is interesting because Word works in the same way when put into a different language; therefore, students can see misspellings and grammatical errors as they type. This helps them with their writing skills tremendously, because the majority of my students would rather type then write on any given day.
Word processing also saves me so much time in terms of wanting to display something quickly. For instance, I can just type up answers to the homework quickly before class starts and project the answers for all to see. There is so much more I have to learn about Word Processing. I am excited to learn more about it on Atomic Learning.
Word Processing is great in the sense that it reflects no particular instructional approach; therefore, all teachers can and should feel comfortable using it in the classroom. According to Roblyer, word processing is the tool used most by teachers and its advantages include:
1. saving time: teachers do not have to keep re-creating documents created and can make changes whenever
2. enhancing document appearance: teachers can make something they have created look professional
3. collaboration: teachers can easily share documents and materials from one another.
4. allows meaningful, hands-on practice in language use
5. errors are hi-lighted as they type and are displayed with mini-captions on what is wrong with the statement
6. encourages writing through any curriculum
Each one of these benefits I notice in my classroom. When I create documents, it is so easy to share with other teachers or e-mail materials to students when they are absent or missed part of a lesson for some reason. As a foreign language teacher, I get to teach students about language features on the computer. This is interesting because Word works in the same way when put into a different language; therefore, students can see misspellings and grammatical errors as they type. This helps them with their writing skills tremendously, because the majority of my students would rather type then write on any given day.
Word processing also saves me so much time in terms of wanting to display something quickly. For instance, I can just type up answers to the homework quickly before class starts and project the answers for all to see. There is so much more I have to learn about Word Processing. I am excited to learn more about it on Atomic Learning.
Model Classroom Lessons
Lesson 1 "Convince Me!":
The goal in this lesson was to improve public speaking specifically pertaining to persuasive speaking. I wasn't crazy about this lesson for many reasons and thought of several ways it could be improved. For the warm-up activity, the teacher is supposed to ask students to raise their hands if they have ever seen on TV a political leader and explain what they think are characeristics of tha person's speech. For the age level, it's better for the teacher to give a concrete example. For instance, instead of "How many of you have ever seen on TV a political leader, like the president, give a speech?" to "How many of you saw President Obama's Inauguration Speech last week?" Also, instead of the teacher writing the characteristics of a good speech on the board as she calls on students, kids could pair up and make T-chart brainstorming what makes a speech good adn what makes a speech bad. As a group discussion, then discuss what the kids had written down. Now, the kids have something to go from and more discussion can be produced.
Web work: One think I would suggest to this teacher is that he/she look into a program called VoiceThreads. Here, the teacher can post the video and each student has the power of creating comments (which appear as a pop up next to the video) while the video occurs. They can read other peoples comments as the video is streaming. That way the kids are working toether, but on their own at the same time while watching.
Reenactment: Instead of the students reenacting the excerpt they saw, why don't they think of something taht they want to occur in their own personal lives and create a speech more authentic and real to them. Then, they can use what they have learned from the public speakers and apply it to their own lives.
Wrap-up: Making posters seems to be just a time-filler activity.
Lessons 2 and 3: "Man of the Mancha" and "Extra!Extra! Read All About It!"
I really liked botho f tehse activities for several reasons. First, I love how the "Man of the Mancha" warm-up begins with a painting by Pablo Picasso to begin background building for the students. Brining in art is a great way to add a little flare of culture to a classroom. Both lessons require the students to go onto certain websites that allow exploration and self-paced learning to occur. In the "Extra!Extra" lesson, students had to first bring in a real newspaper and become familiarized with the sections. Then, it was easier for the kids to navigate the website, because they were already familiar with the design lay-out of a newspaper and terminology. Both lessons are well-organized and there is a good mix of both cooperative and invidual working time.
The goal in this lesson was to improve public speaking specifically pertaining to persuasive speaking. I wasn't crazy about this lesson for many reasons and thought of several ways it could be improved. For the warm-up activity, the teacher is supposed to ask students to raise their hands if they have ever seen on TV a political leader and explain what they think are characeristics of tha person's speech. For the age level, it's better for the teacher to give a concrete example. For instance, instead of "How many of you have ever seen on TV a political leader, like the president, give a speech?" to "How many of you saw President Obama's Inauguration Speech last week?" Also, instead of the teacher writing the characteristics of a good speech on the board as she calls on students, kids could pair up and make T-chart brainstorming what makes a speech good adn what makes a speech bad. As a group discussion, then discuss what the kids had written down. Now, the kids have something to go from and more discussion can be produced.
Web work: One think I would suggest to this teacher is that he/she look into a program called VoiceThreads. Here, the teacher can post the video and each student has the power of creating comments (which appear as a pop up next to the video) while the video occurs. They can read other peoples comments as the video is streaming. That way the kids are working toether, but on their own at the same time while watching.
Reenactment: Instead of the students reenacting the excerpt they saw, why don't they think of something taht they want to occur in their own personal lives and create a speech more authentic and real to them. Then, they can use what they have learned from the public speakers and apply it to their own lives.
Wrap-up: Making posters seems to be just a time-filler activity.
Lessons 2 and 3: "Man of the Mancha" and "Extra!Extra! Read All About It!"
I really liked botho f tehse activities for several reasons. First, I love how the "Man of the Mancha" warm-up begins with a painting by Pablo Picasso to begin background building for the students. Brining in art is a great way to add a little flare of culture to a classroom. Both lessons require the students to go onto certain websites that allow exploration and self-paced learning to occur. In the "Extra!Extra" lesson, students had to first bring in a real newspaper and become familiarized with the sections. Then, it was easier for the kids to navigate the website, because they were already familiar with the design lay-out of a newspaper and terminology. Both lessons are well-organized and there is a good mix of both cooperative and invidual working time.
Monday, September 7, 2009
Atomic Learning Assessment Reflection
With a grade of a 70/100, there is definitely room for me to grow and learn. In terms of collecting and publishing texts and images, I feel as if I could teach others this skill. In terms of dealing with numbers, sounds, and videos, I feel I could learn more about software available and how I could implement this into my classroom effectively. I also feel that I can am good enough with computers to be able to learn programs quickly. This will be an advantage for me for this class, although it does help having someone help you in person! :)
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