Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Thing # 8
Wow! This took me some time to get the bugs worked out. After some assistance from a significant other, I got the hang of it. Using the mashups was pretty cool and I like the puzzle option that I put together. Inside the classroom, any teacher that practiced with mashups could have a great library of pictures and tools to put together any number of visuals to teach geology, biology, etc. I did try a few of the other mashups by Flickr, but I found this one the easiest to use. Any kindergarten teacher that needed to teach vocabulary and reading to students could use these mashups to obtain really nice photos. I will keep these mashups in mind, but I know they will take some practice to master.
Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Thing # 7
This is the first experience that I have had with Flickr and it took me some time to get my photos sent to my blog. I am more comfortable with it now having used it a few times. I do like the fact that there are countless photos to choose from at the site. I could use these to demostrate a variety of subjects such as geography, biology, history, etc. by simply pulling up photos that would aid in being a visual. I also would use this to share pictures with family that is spread out across the country (but using the privacy setting on pictures that include my family). I have not used any other photo hosting services, but I already can see that I will use this one in the very near future. It would be neat if someone could find a educational use for a picture that I had taken.
These pictures are ones that I took while camping on Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tennessee. I enjoy the morning sunrises on one side of the campground, and evening sunsets on the other. I am not a photographer by any means, but I think these pictures are pretty good if I do say so myself.
These pictures are ones that I took while camping on Cordell Hull Lake in Carthage, Tennessee. I enjoy the morning sunrises on one side of the campground, and evening sunsets on the other. I am not a photographer by any means, but I think these pictures are pretty good if I do say so myself.
Thing # 6
After exploring several tools on the list at Go2Web2.0 site, I found a really cool site called StoryJumper. At this site, anyone especially children can create their own book. This site was very user friendly, and I am planning on letting my own children experiment with it soon. There was a tutorial that walked you through creating a book and I found it simple and informative.
I really liked the fact that this Web2.0 tool could be used for numerous parts of teaching children. First, it would improve the students technology skills at almost any grade level. The steps used in this tool such as scenes, photos, props, and text, would get students in the habit of navigating through on a website. Another great aspect of Storyjumper is that it will also allow students to work on their writing skills. Students can read books created by other student authors, and this would aid in their reading skills. This could be used in a classroom or in a library setting for sure. Most of all, it could help unlock a student's imagination which to me is vitally important. Last but not least, students can have their own creation published and parents can even purchase them. I am sold on this Web2.0 tool and will keep it in mind as a future educator!
Unlock your imagination at http://www.storyjumper.com/
I really liked the fact that this Web2.0 tool could be used for numerous parts of teaching children. First, it would improve the students technology skills at almost any grade level. The steps used in this tool such as scenes, photos, props, and text, would get students in the habit of navigating through on a website. Another great aspect of Storyjumper is that it will also allow students to work on their writing skills. Students can read books created by other student authors, and this would aid in their reading skills. This could be used in a classroom or in a library setting for sure. Most of all, it could help unlock a student's imagination which to me is vitally important. Last but not least, students can have their own creation published and parents can even purchase them. I am sold on this Web2.0 tool and will keep it in mind as a future educator!
Unlock your imagination at http://www.storyjumper.com/
Thing # 5
I read the information listed about "School 2.0"(including the video) and tried my best to take as much of it in as possible, but I have to admit it was alot. As a future educator, I see myself standing in front of the class and instructing as my teachers did in the late 80's and early 90's. Having said that, I do realize that technology has changed many times over from those days. To me, "School 2.0" means that my students are going to need me to understand and know the technology that is out there and believe in it. Wiki's, blog's, and other social networking's are not only going to allow students to get information fast, but also connect and collaborate with other students across the internet.
For the schools of the future, I believe this will be seen in things such as every student having their own education personalized to fit them. I think technology will be great for teachers as well. Already teachers are able to submit a quick two minute lesson plan on a social website for other teachers to review and make suggestions on. One of the readings had an example of teachers using "flipped classrooms" to make the best use of time. The lecture is watched at home and class time is used for individual help from the teacher. I don't know how well this would work for early elementary students or even middle school students, but I can see this technology being used in high school grades. I say this because I have a class this semester that is using this method. Technology is a part of education today, and it is constantly changing. I know that as a teacher I will try to be open minded and positive about implementing it in the classroom.
For the schools of the future, I believe this will be seen in things such as every student having their own education personalized to fit them. I think technology will be great for teachers as well. Already teachers are able to submit a quick two minute lesson plan on a social website for other teachers to review and make suggestions on. One of the readings had an example of teachers using "flipped classrooms" to make the best use of time. The lecture is watched at home and class time is used for individual help from the teacher. I don't know how well this would work for early elementary students or even middle school students, but I can see this technology being used in high school grades. I say this because I have a class this semester that is using this method. Technology is a part of education today, and it is constantly changing. I know that as a teacher I will try to be open minded and positive about implementing it in the classroom.
Thing # 4
Everyone likes to know that someone agrees with what they have to say. This is true for children and adults. When a person takes the time to write out what they believe and why they believe it, then commenting allows the person to feel as if they are being heard. That does not mean that you have to agree with them completely, but at least they are not simply blogging to themselves. "Meaningful comment" as the posting stated was what I took away from the reading. You can agree, give support, and disagree with someone in a proper way. Either way, commenting is the "interaction" part that makes blogging worth the effort and also explains the community part of blogging.
I chose two blogs covering Thing # 3 to comment on from Desirae Shepard and Clara Brainard. Each of these blogs had important points concerning different ways to use a blog in teaching. While my own thought's were very similar to these two blogs, I was able to take away some good ideas from each that I had not realized on my own. As I read there post's, I was also able to put some new ideas together for myself and possibly them too, such as using a blog to track to the success of a former student. Even use a blog as a tool for self evaluation when I do become a teacher.
I chose two blogs covering Thing # 2 to comment on from D. Houston Theil and Jared Morris. Both of these blogs seem to mirror my experience with blogging. They wrote about how they were new to blogging and expressed how they felt it would be difficult at first. I agreed with them that it was easier than I had expected and how setting up our blogs went with no error. One had a concern about his avatar in particular, and I was able to assure him that all was showing up well on my end. We even exchanged a little sports talk which was cool.
I chose one blog covering Thing # 1 to comment on from Amber Law. I found that her ideas concerning Lifelong Learning Habits and mine were similar. We both agreed that mentoring/teaching was the easiest habit for us to keep because of the end result. Getting something in return and learning from it ourselves. We did have "different" hardest habit's, but I fully understood her position and why she chose it. For the two outside blogs from the bloggosphere, I found some trouble in navigating my way around and wasn't sure if the two blogs had to be educational related or not. Nevertheless, I used one blog from the Infisherman Blogs concerning my hobbie of fishing and was successful in blogging one of my favorite authors(someone I have always wanted to speak to). Likewise, I also used Nascarmadness Blogs to comment on a topic going on in the field of motorsports with my favorite driver.
Now that I have blogged several times I am feeling more confident about my technology skills. I wouldn't have known where to begin just two days ago. The class is already paying off big!
I chose two blogs covering Thing # 3 to comment on from Desirae Shepard and Clara Brainard. Each of these blogs had important points concerning different ways to use a blog in teaching. While my own thought's were very similar to these two blogs, I was able to take away some good ideas from each that I had not realized on my own. As I read there post's, I was also able to put some new ideas together for myself and possibly them too, such as using a blog to track to the success of a former student. Even use a blog as a tool for self evaluation when I do become a teacher.
I chose two blogs covering Thing # 2 to comment on from D. Houston Theil and Jared Morris. Both of these blogs seem to mirror my experience with blogging. They wrote about how they were new to blogging and expressed how they felt it would be difficult at first. I agreed with them that it was easier than I had expected and how setting up our blogs went with no error. One had a concern about his avatar in particular, and I was able to assure him that all was showing up well on my end. We even exchanged a little sports talk which was cool.
I chose one blog covering Thing # 1 to comment on from Amber Law. I found that her ideas concerning Lifelong Learning Habits and mine were similar. We both agreed that mentoring/teaching was the easiest habit for us to keep because of the end result. Getting something in return and learning from it ourselves. We did have "different" hardest habit's, but I fully understood her position and why she chose it. For the two outside blogs from the bloggosphere, I found some trouble in navigating my way around and wasn't sure if the two blogs had to be educational related or not. Nevertheless, I used one blog from the Infisherman Blogs concerning my hobbie of fishing and was successful in blogging one of my favorite authors(someone I have always wanted to speak to). Likewise, I also used Nascarmadness Blogs to comment on a topic going on in the field of motorsports with my favorite driver.
Now that I have blogged several times I am feeling more confident about my technology skills. I wouldn't have known where to begin just two days ago. The class is already paying off big!
Thing # 3
One purpose for using a blog in my teacher education program might be to keep up with any changes made to our program, or even get some different insight from another student in the program. Inside the classroom, a blog might be used for teaching computer navigation skills to students. By posting what my class has been working on, maybe another teacher would have suggestions for me as to what worked for them in a particular subject area. Parents could also interact by allowing teachers to know what 2.0 programs their children are familiar with.
On the 50 Must-see teacher blogs one teacher had a great point about allowing our students to use the technology that is available to them inside the classroom. Why prevent them from using these things? A blog would aid them in their computer skills and grow their confidence for working with other forms of technology. We all know that technology is changing rapidly, and the need to keep current is great. Most every occupation out their today uses some form of it, and our students will need to be ready for the challenge.
On the 50 Must-see teacher blogs one teacher had a great point about allowing our students to use the technology that is available to them inside the classroom. Why prevent them from using these things? A blog would aid them in their computer skills and grow their confidence for working with other forms of technology. We all know that technology is changing rapidly, and the need to keep current is great. Most every occupation out their today uses some form of it, and our students will need to be ready for the challenge.
Monday, January 28, 2013
Thing #2
This was my first experience using or setting up a blog. I didn't even know what a blog was until this class to be honest. I had heard of them, but I tend to stay away from computer generated interactions. I have to say this is more in-depth than e-mail. In order to keep things simple on my first attempt at blogging, I chose to use my name and play it safe. Due to the fact we set up our blogs in class, I didn't have any trouble what-so-ever. The avatar was a different story. What a challenging experience for me! Battled through it anyways, and got the job done. The hardest part for me was finding the design and layout for my blog site. My avatar closely reflects my personality in that I am most always happy. I created my avatar with jeans, dress shirt, tennis shoes, and a baseball cap. This avatar fits me pretty close.
Thing #1
I found the 7 1/2 Habits of Successful Lifelong Learners to be helpful, and I believe that all people do continue to learn despite their age. Most of these habits would be easy for me to implement in my own learning. Habit 7 "teaching and mentoring others" would be the easiest for me because I have found that in teaching something to someone else, I benefit more than the person receiving my help.
Having said that, habit 6 "the use of technology to my advantage",would be the hardest habit for me as of now. My confidence is not the greatest when it comes to this part of my toolbox, but I am confident that this will change having enrolled in Education 3040.
Habit 5 "create your own toolbox", will be the most beneficial habit by far for me as a future teacher. I am always open to improvement in my learning even though my nature is to stick with what is working for me at the time. To be honest, I can see areas of improvement for myself in each of these habits.
Having said that, habit 6 "the use of technology to my advantage",would be the hardest habit for me as of now. My confidence is not the greatest when it comes to this part of my toolbox, but I am confident that this will change having enrolled in Education 3040.
Habit 5 "create your own toolbox", will be the most beneficial habit by far for me as a future teacher. I am always open to improvement in my learning even though my nature is to stick with what is working for me at the time. To be honest, I can see areas of improvement for myself in each of these habits.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)