Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Blog Assignment Week Eight
Student Interactives- Read Write Think
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/
This website provides a variety of interactive games that encompass the subject areas of writing and reading. The Read Write Think website allows you to search through games and interactive lessons to use online. Students can use these online tools to learn a range of topics relating to writing and reading. Read Write Think ranges in activities from learning about acrostic poems to Venn diagrams. Another feature of this website is that it ranges from K-12 grades, allowing all ages of students to use the resources for classroom learning.
I would use this website if I wanted students to work individually on a specific writing or reading skill on their personal computers (aka: the ones provided by the school). Using this website would allow the students to be independent in their work but integrate technology through interactive games and tools.
http://www.readwritethink.org/classroom-resources/student-interactives/
This website provides a variety of interactive games that encompass the subject areas of writing and reading. The Read Write Think website allows you to search through games and interactive lessons to use online. Students can use these online tools to learn a range of topics relating to writing and reading. Read Write Think ranges in activities from learning about acrostic poems to Venn diagrams. Another feature of this website is that it ranges from K-12 grades, allowing all ages of students to use the resources for classroom learning.
I would use this website if I wanted students to work individually on a specific writing or reading skill on their personal computers (aka: the ones provided by the school). Using this website would allow the students to be independent in their work but integrate technology through interactive games and tools.
Blog Assignment Week Seven
Blog: It's Not all Flowers and Sausages
Mrs. Mimi
http://itsnotallflowersandsausages.blogspot.com/2010/01/technology-shmechnology.html
I found this blog on Angela Runte's class blog from last semester and I found it extremely entertaining and informative. Mrs. Mimi depicts her classroom and school environment in a comical way; mainly through sarcasm and humor. Mrs. Mimi uses her blog as a "venting" process to explain and bring to life the ridiculous and the ordinary of the teaching profession. Mrs. Mimi's most recent blog discusses her struggles to understand technology. Near the end of this entry she writes, "So while yes, high tech whiteboards are very fancy and shiny and may spur feelings of Teacher Jealousy, let's stop parading them around as Saviors of the Classroom and recognize that supporting, promoting and encouraging GOOD TEACHING (with or without technology) is our best investment". I find this quote humorous and refreshing and though I acknowledge that technology in the classroom is essential, I also realize that we (as teachers) cannot hide behind it and expect our students to simply learn from a computer, SMART Board or other technological devices, teachers need to teach.
I had some trouble finding the "Blogs for Educators" but I know that when it comes to the subject of math, ActiVotes would be extremely helpful. These personal voting systems allow students to press the answer they have come to while ensuring anonymity. The teacher is able to assign voters to each student and pull up the % of answers right/wrong so that if further assistance on a topic is needed the teacher is aware. This voting system is a fun way to use technology and increase participation in the classroom in the subject area of math.
Mrs. Mimi
http://itsnotallflowersandsausages.blogspot.com/2010/01/technology-shmechnology.html
I found this blog on Angela Runte's class blog from last semester and I found it extremely entertaining and informative. Mrs. Mimi depicts her classroom and school environment in a comical way; mainly through sarcasm and humor. Mrs. Mimi uses her blog as a "venting" process to explain and bring to life the ridiculous and the ordinary of the teaching profession. Mrs. Mimi's most recent blog discusses her struggles to understand technology. Near the end of this entry she writes, "So while yes, high tech whiteboards are very fancy and shiny and may spur feelings of Teacher Jealousy, let's stop parading them around as Saviors of the Classroom and recognize that supporting, promoting and encouraging GOOD TEACHING (with or without technology) is our best investment". I find this quote humorous and refreshing and though I acknowledge that technology in the classroom is essential, I also realize that we (as teachers) cannot hide behind it and expect our students to simply learn from a computer, SMART Board or other technological devices, teachers need to teach.
I had some trouble finding the "Blogs for Educators" but I know that when it comes to the subject of math, ActiVotes would be extremely helpful. These personal voting systems allow students to press the answer they have come to while ensuring anonymity. The teacher is able to assign voters to each student and pull up the % of answers right/wrong so that if further assistance on a topic is needed the teacher is aware. This voting system is a fun way to use technology and increase participation in the classroom in the subject area of math.
Reflection #1
I decided to observe and reflect on my AVID classroom and the use of the SMART Board during the Peer Study Group sessions. The students are able to use the SMART Board to write and present their questions and develop their answers using technology. The SMART Board is an asset to the classroom and to these discussions because it gives the students a new outlet to express their ideas and hash out different scenarios using additional resources. Though the students do not use the SMART Board to access the Internet or other programs its accessibility enhances the PSG experience. I also have noticed that the students look forward to using the Board in their groups and use this technology easily and effectively.
Blog Assignment Week Six
Generation IM
I was thoroughly intrigued by this article because I felt it gave a new perspective as how to look at the younger generation and the integration of technology within their everyday lives. Honestly, I always looked at the younger generation of today as a more "couch potato" group of students, those that are willing to play video games for 12 hours straight and consistently be entertained by movies rather than studying or reading. But this article gave another outlook on the students for me, it labeled them as participants in the technology of today, the ones who are creating blogs, websites and actually interacting with the technology not just plain laziness. Through the passion that these young people have for technology they can learn at a greater capacity through their technological knowledge.
One interesting comment that this article presented was the "leveling of the playing field" when comparing students with disabilities to those without. Special needs students who have wanted their whole life to feel "normal" can express themselves through technological scenarios and online interactions.
Technology can easily be added to a Science lesson, whether it is through a YouTube video demonstration, the students can video tape and post videos to a Social Network created by the teacher and ask questions about projects on a classroom forum. The technology that is available and utilized by the children in their home lives must be utilized in the classroom, it sparks their interest because it relates to their lives outside of school.
I was thoroughly intrigued by this article because I felt it gave a new perspective as how to look at the younger generation and the integration of technology within their everyday lives. Honestly, I always looked at the younger generation of today as a more "couch potato" group of students, those that are willing to play video games for 12 hours straight and consistently be entertained by movies rather than studying or reading. But this article gave another outlook on the students for me, it labeled them as participants in the technology of today, the ones who are creating blogs, websites and actually interacting with the technology not just plain laziness. Through the passion that these young people have for technology they can learn at a greater capacity through their technological knowledge.
One interesting comment that this article presented was the "leveling of the playing field" when comparing students with disabilities to those without. Special needs students who have wanted their whole life to feel "normal" can express themselves through technological scenarios and online interactions.
Technology can easily be added to a Science lesson, whether it is through a YouTube video demonstration, the students can video tape and post videos to a Social Network created by the teacher and ask questions about projects on a classroom forum. The technology that is available and utilized by the children in their home lives must be utilized in the classroom, it sparks their interest because it relates to their lives outside of school.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Blog Assignment Week Five
Website Used and Video Clip Watched:
http://www.prometheanworld.com/en-us/research/casestudies
This video clip and accompanying story was titled, "ActivProgress Case Study". The video highlighted how teachers at Mercer Middle School in Seattle used the ActivBoard, specifically ActivProgress, to enhance their classroom learning experience. The use of the ActiveProgress allows for students to individually select their answers and the teacher can see how each student responded therefore allowing her to give help to those who most need it without embarassing them in front of the whole class for their struggles with the lesson.I though that the connection between the ActivBoard and the tools that are associated with it such as ActivProgress can truly create a better classroom learning experience.
Question: How much does an ActivBoard cost? Has the addition of the ActivBoards in class legitimately raised test scores and student involvement? Evidence?
http://www.prometheanworld.com/en-us/research/casestudies
This video clip and accompanying story was titled, "ActivProgress Case Study". The video highlighted how teachers at Mercer Middle School in Seattle used the ActivBoard, specifically ActivProgress, to enhance their classroom learning experience. The use of the ActiveProgress allows for students to individually select their answers and the teacher can see how each student responded therefore allowing her to give help to those who most need it without embarassing them in front of the whole class for their struggles with the lesson.I though that the connection between the ActivBoard and the tools that are associated with it such as ActivProgress can truly create a better classroom learning experience.
Question: How much does an ActivBoard cost? Has the addition of the ActivBoards in class legitimately raised test scores and student involvement? Evidence?
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Interactive Whiteboard Lesson
SMART Board Features: YouTube Link, Turning the page of presentation, moving an object as an answer on the page
NETS Connection (Student): Critical Thinking- solving and defining definitions of Bill of Rights and Constitutional language
Research and Information Fluency- Listening and applying a rap music video connection to the Bill of Rights and their own personal lives through digital understanding. The comprehension of the video's information connects to processing data (from the video) and being able to identify different Bill of Rights.
NETS Connection (Teacher): Model Digital Age and Learning- as they listen to the video they will see the connection between technology and history, the combining of music, listening and comprehension through the internet, specifically a You Tube video/rap. I will be demonstrating the technology and connection to the internet, and showing the students how technology can be utilized in daily lessons. I am collaborating with students and giving an example of how technology can be accessed easily through the SMART Board.
Use of the SMART Board will enhance learning especially in the subject of History because sometimes the subject of history seems to have a "boring" connotation. When technology is integrated into the classroom it allows the students to connect in a modern way to what they are learning, it is something they are comfortable using therefore the exposure with the SMART Board gives both myself and the "students" a new and modern perspective that connects them to the Bill of Rights and creates an exciting environment to learn about their own Rights as US citizens with the help of technology.
NETS Connection (Student): Critical Thinking- solving and defining definitions of Bill of Rights and Constitutional language
Research and Information Fluency- Listening and applying a rap music video connection to the Bill of Rights and their own personal lives through digital understanding. The comprehension of the video's information connects to processing data (from the video) and being able to identify different Bill of Rights.
NETS Connection (Teacher): Model Digital Age and Learning- as they listen to the video they will see the connection between technology and history, the combining of music, listening and comprehension through the internet, specifically a You Tube video/rap. I will be demonstrating the technology and connection to the internet, and showing the students how technology can be utilized in daily lessons. I am collaborating with students and giving an example of how technology can be accessed easily through the SMART Board.
Use of the SMART Board will enhance learning especially in the subject of History because sometimes the subject of history seems to have a "boring" connotation. When technology is integrated into the classroom it allows the students to connect in a modern way to what they are learning, it is something they are comfortable using therefore the exposure with the SMART Board gives both myself and the "students" a new and modern perspective that connects them to the Bill of Rights and creates an exciting environment to learn about their own Rights as US citizens with the help of technology.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Blog Assignment Week Four
Learning about the SMART Board was a new and exciting experience for me. I think that having a SMART Board in my classroom to help with lessons ans incorporate a variety of activities to enhance lessons.The SMART Board is an addition that the students will be excited to use in their everyday lessons, it is an easy way to connect technology in the classroom. Something new I learned while playing the all the SMART Board applications about the already made lessons that will help use touch, sound and visuals to teach the students in a different way. I enjoyed looking through the variety of other functions of the SMART Board has to offer. I know that for my dreams of becoming a United States History there will be many advantages in using the SMART Board to allow the whole class to view a certain website or help show the students different resources available through technology and utilizing the SMART Board for a better classroom learning experience.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)