Class on Halloween, yet no treats?

This week, class fell on the spooky holiday of Halloween. However, class was not too spooky.

Are you inspired? Well, I am--especially after learning the software of Inspiration. It will be an awesome tool to use for preparation in the classroom and for use in the classroom. I learned that this brainstorming software makes diagramming easy. It is an interactive way of teaching outlining while technologically it is easily functional as it allows exports in various formats. Later in the semester, I will use the program to summarize the assistive technology presentations that my group is working on. As for those, my group met today before class to construct our presentation. We used ZohoWriter throughout the week to post our information we discovered.

Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science are subjects we have explored the use of technology in. Consequently, this week we learned how to effectively use technology in Social Studies. The most common uses in the classroom include: virtual field trips, Geographic Information Systems, and digital primary sources. Katherine and I had a lot of fun using Geographic Information Systems. (We found our apartments, our 'real' homes, and the White House.) These programs allow students to obtain more hands-on experience with the information. Also, it allows students to connect all information retaining to a concept.

I definitely will use Geographic Information Systems in my classroom. Although I find it a little creepy how accurate the program is, it will allow students to gain another perspective of their community and local. Furthermore, I believe I will use virtual field trips in my classroom. For example, my practicum this semester is in a first grade classroom. That class recently visited Luray Caverns. The teacher tried to prepare the students for their adventure but still remained nervous about their reactions. A cave virtual field trip would have helped in preparing the young students.

I have two questions this week. How am I going to balance all the technology I am learning in the classroom? I guess, I will just have to wait and gauge my students and the school environment. And, where were our Halloween treats? Getting out of class 15 minutes early does not count.

Until next time...

Science in the classroom...complicated?

In class this week, we discussed several topics including: science education, digital images in the science classroom, and simulations. We discussed exactly what is science education, as many fields ranging from zoology to botany compose science. (Here is an interesting video regarding the definiton of science.) There are various strands that are woven through Virginia's SOLs; I did not know this. Scientific investigation, force and energy, matter, life processes, and resources are some of the strands. Next, we discussed digital images. Science contains many processes that are unobservable to the naked eye; they are either too small or occur too fast or too slow. CameraScope is a tool that captures video and pictures making these processes observable. Furthermore, many processes are not concrete and change. Thus, simulations are a great educational application for students to manipulate and understand the abstract processes or cycles. Explore learning is a useful tool for simulations. Finally, we were given a project to present to the class. My group (Sara, Katherine, Erica, Christina, and myself) are going to present on the topic of Cognitive Disability Devices. We will need to integrate technology into the presentation.

In the classroom, the use of digital images for science education will be very important. I could take pictures of the same landscape every week and compile the pictures in a time elapsed manner. The resulting product would allow students to observe the seasons in their 'own backyard.' Furthermore, I believe simulations would be a great tool for the secondary science classroom--especially for biology and chemistry. The numerous cycles (such as Nitrogen) and the chemical compounds could be simulated allowing students to manipulate the different components. In the elementary classroom, simulations could be used for understanding the water cycle.

The question I am left with is whether there is a free download site for simulations?

And, I do not think science in the classroom will be complicated.

Until next time...

Embedding, not so fun...Playing, much fun...

In class today, we went over embedding the podcasts and digital photostories into our web pages. I am not going to lie, but it seems really complicated. I will have to follow the directions thoroughly. Then, we reviewed some websites that offer educational applications. We 'played' with websites, such as Starfall and Read, Write, Learn, geared towards Language Arts and Mathematics. Katherine, a fellow peer, and I looked through the websites of Starfall and Read, Write, Think and acknowledged the advantages and disadvantages of each. Starfall offers applications with audible phonetic sounding-out of words while Read, Write, Think has the advantage of creative, open-ended answers. Some disadvantages included that Starfall's homepage was somewhat cluttered while Read, Write, Think did not offer the option of saving one's work or the arranging of material by topic or level.

A couple thoughts I took from today's class were the whole notion of the internet is extremely abstract, that there are many resources for teachers through the internet, and that I will need to review the content of websites and plan accordingly before bringing my students into the computer lab.

I think the educational applications through the internet will be of great use in reinforcing material once it has been introduced. I really like the fact that with most of the applications the students controls the pace, so that the games are individualized and differentiated. On another note, I found many of the applications to be naturally fun and engaging. Computer lab time could be used as a reward for good behavior, class participation, etc. Consequently, the reward will be educational not unhealthy like food.

The question I am left with this week, is whether there are many programs for children with special needs?

Until next time...

Podcasting...I CAN DO IT!

Although this week's class did not contain much instructional time, I had a lot of fun and learned a lot nevertheless. My group, composed of Stephanie, Kristin, and Katherine, created a Podcast...a long Podcast. Our Podcast explores the history of Virginia. Then, each memeber states facts or interesting thoughts for their home locations in the Commonwealth. All the narration is woven with various relevant music clips.

It is extremely important to have a script when producing an educational Podcast as it adds to the efficiency of time use. Furthermore, I learned many technological procedures regarding the creation of a Podcast from placing all files on the desktop to importing of various audio. However, the biggest notion I learned was to SAVE OFTEN! That might end up being the biggest application I learn from this class.

Upon completing the Podcast, I now can think of more learning applications for Podcasts. Students could record weather forecasts, record vital information for memorization, create word games, or record audible directions for simple processes.

The main question I had coming into this week was, how would I link, upload, download, etc the new projects I am making to my Technology Profile on my personal website? A little birdie (perhaps the teacher) told me next week I will find out.

Until next time...

Podcasting...I can actually do that?

I was not looking forward to this week's class about Podcasting. Podcasting to me was something other people made and I used for my entertainment. Now, I would have to be a creator. However, the process of making a Podcast is complicated but not difficult.

The first thing I learned was the definition of a Podcast; it is "an audio file hosted on a server that is distributed to subscribers through a feed reader." Furthermore, I now know that a Podcast is composed of narration, a format, an audio file, a place to host your audio file, and a way to subscribe to it. There are different programs that aid in the accomplishment of these aspects of a Podcast. A Podcast can be used for more than entertainment. There are educational Podcasts that, for example, give different foreign language lessons. I found this very interesting.

This week we began group projects where we create our own Podcast. My fellow group member Stephanie explains what our group is doing in her blog.

I think a productive way of using Podcasts in the classroom is for auditory/speech comprehension. For instance, the alphabet could be recorded on a Podcast with adequate silence between letters for students to repeat the sounds of the letters. Also, I think Podcasts are a great way for students to portray work created by them. They could write a story then record it. Thus, they could acknowledge their story and hear how they read. Also, a Podcast could be created of a child reading at the beginning of a designated period and then another made at the end of the designated period. Concrete evidence of reading improvement could be heard. Furthermore, Podcasts are a great tool for blind children.

I wonder if Podcasting is monetarily feasible in most school systems?

Until next time...