Wednesday, July 21, 2010

#11.5

Evaluation

#1 Favorites
I always love to learn new things-- and I love to apply things to what I am already doing in the classroom. Some of my favorites that I think I will be able to assimilate in my classroom quickly and effortlessly would be-- glogster and voicethread (I just hate that it costs money!) Jing is something I think I will use as well as slideshare and i-touch!

#2
I am a life-long learner-- and completing a process like this keeps me moving and learning. It did challenge me-- I am not a techy! But I did surprise myself with some of the things that I completed!

#3
Unexpected outcomes or suprises
Well-- learning new things is always fun and it is always a surprise when I can actually use something. I am so looking forward to using many of these things in the classroom. I guess it surprised me that I already knew and used some of these things!

#4
Improve program
You know-- I think that this format is sooooo great. I love that I can work on this in my own time and at my convenience! Really so much more helpful doing it this way!
I wish I had more time to assimilate this into my plans for the next year-- that would have to be my final step to making this perfect!
Thanks

#11

Digital Citizenship

This is such a huge part of what we should be doing. Kids, parents and teachers need to know appropriate digital citizenship much like knowing how to act in public! We all have gotten that e-mail or sent that e-mail that didn't get read in the manner in which it was sent--- that just scratches the surface of being digitally responsible! Students need to know how to decipher reliable sources, communicate appropriately and learn about consequences of cyber bullying. I don't think this is only for children....I think it would be great for everyone to get a little refresher course!

#10

Second Life

Wow! I really didn't know much about this--and to be honest, I don't really care to know too much about it! I read about the educational applications, but I really don't see anything that I could use with my little one and living in a virtual world could be a big huge time waster! I played around with it and could see how older students could use this to explore certain things--but still a bit overwhelming and I could see some students getting lost in the unreality of it all.

#9

Slideshare

Not something I would use with my children, but I do see some advantages. Slideshare allows access to powerpoint presentations from anywhere-- you can create, publish and share all kinds of projects. Good thing-- for students who are absent and need to catchup on presentations missed at school. I can see if a topic was divided and each group was to do one part-- through slideshare-- students could get all of the info from each of the groups. I could share my presentations for open house etc.... for parents who couldn't make it-- it might save me some time!

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

#8

Screencasts

This is a new one for me! I enjoyed trying it out and learning about all of the different things that I could do with them. I used Jing (took a while to get it on my computer!) Screencasts are great to explain ideas, draw feedback, collaborate on projects, sharing knowledge. I have made a book with just screenshots and voice over, but I did like the video type as well. I used Jing to make a video to show my students how to find things on the computer-- with little ones they are so very visual-- I think this process would be great for them. I also think it would be great for me to learn how to do things on the computer! Lots of the things that we have done have been done with the screencast technology. The link below is not hot-- I don't know why-- but it is a great video for my kids to learn how to get on kidpix-- I will use it at the beginning of the year!
http://www.screencast.com/users/prekat/folders/Jing/media/9ca71f8a-5ec3-4790-a116-5baf3a451100

#7

TV Sources
I have used United Streaming in the classroom and had limited what I did to that single resource. This exercise has been great to learn about so many other resources that are even easier to use and more organized for my usage!
Blip-- I really didn't get it-- not easy to use or understand
Blinx--I found of plethora of how to videos that would be great for me to use in sequencing with my little kiddos! How to make a peanut butter sandwich....step one, step two....perfect for many of my lessons in math and language-- in just a different format that would help reach students in a different way.
PBS had a lot of things that were usable....but with a cost--so I nixed that!
I loved loved loved NEOK12--It was organized sooooo wonderfully with many different things all on one page-- vocabulary development, games, and other links that support the videos. I researched bugs-- (the kids love learning about the wierd things that they can do) The videos were great--(much like I used in United Streaming) but the links that were right there were even greater. I can see me using this resource quite a bit in my class and I am looking forward to it!

Monday, July 19, 2010

#6

I-touch Apps
I have a few i touches at the house and have been able to goof around with them quite a bit. At the end of the school year I introduced touches to my prek class and they thought they were the coolest things ever. Surprisingly, with very little instruction the kids were able to navigate and accomplish many of the tasks I gave them. It was really amazing to see my 4 and 5 year olds so attentive!
There are so many educational apps-- almost too many to know well. But through sharing with other teachers, I have learned several apps that support other learning in the classroom. I touches can be used for logic, problem solving, as a tool and a tutor. The novelty and the ease of use helps make them attractive to use in the classroom. I am looking forward to using them even more this coming year! I know the kids will love it!

#5

Microblogging
Facebook and Twitter
I am a facebook user--not regular but I have really enjoyed connecting with old friends and family that I wouldn't normally have much contact with. A great social tool, but I am not too sure that for my prek class these have much application. I can see for older kids joining groups and working together on projects and homework would be easier. Teachers could post pertinent info to help students with homework or special projects. Twitter-- I still really don't get it for following friends-- it seems too much like stalking. But for groups--like SBISD-- you could now what is going on and be up to date on all things new.
Backchanneling is fantastic. I can't tell you how many times I wish I had this feature available during inservices and faculty meetings. As for older classrooms, I think this feature would help a teacher know how they have reached the learner and what holes there are in the learning! Great, great great!

#4

You Tube
I enjoyed goofing around in youtube and teacher tube. I know that my children enjoy it.....but I had never taken the time to explore it much myself! Anyway, the amount of info is amazing and time consuming as I sit here exploring!
The advantages of using this resource in the classroom is limitless....using this as a resource for me to learn new approaches and ways to approach learners differently. New concepts, new ideas and new approaches from teachers and professionals all over the country is another great use of youtube!
I think that posting students work would be great! Children always love to see what they are doing and what others are doing. Of course, parents would love to see all of the products as well!

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

#3

Skype
At first I really didn't think that this would be an application that I could use in my classroom. But after looking at the different articles I realized that once again I was not thinking out of the box. It is not just a visual telephone--(I don't have much need for a telephone in the classroom) But I do have a great need for experts and often have wonderful experts in parents and with Skype-- it could be anyone! We could use Skype for fieldtrips and experiences that we aren't able to assimilate in the classroom. I loved the idea of using skype for inclusion students or students that have special needs or different cultures. Sounds like a lot of fun...I need to try it with my own family and then see what I can do for the classroom!

Monday, July 12, 2010

#2

Image Generators
Wordle/Wordsift-- I really have enjoyed playing with Wordle (wordsift, not so much)and can see lots of great things that can be done with this. In my class, students can use the wordle to recognize their own name and others in the class room. We could generate a list of words for our themes/units and students can begin to look for known words. This would better used in a class full of readers, but it can still be utilized in a prek classroom.

Voicethread/glogster
I love voicethread! What a wonderful tool to use in the early childhood classroom!! As I was exploring, my mind kept thinking of the wonderful things that voicethread could be used for in my class. Children could introduce themselves, their families, likes and dislikes and friends and teachers could comment on what they learned about them. Children could learn how to work on a piece for publication and teachers and other adults could use voicethread to "notice" awonderful things about their work. It is always nice for them to hear great things about their work! I did like glogster, too. A great program for home projects to do with themes that the children can share. Much of this is way too hard for the littlest ones to do on their own-- but what a fantastic way to work on group projects!

Bookr
I used this program this year to publish books on our theme that were readable by the students-- including name books, friends books, and theme books. Great for the early childhood classroom. I will continue to incorporate this program this year!

Note: I love learning about all this---I just get a bit overwhelmed thinking about how to use it in the classroom ---without it giving me hives! Thanks goodness for my wonderful librarian that helps to make things work easier! Lots of things to remember-- need more time to get it into my curriculum!

Sunday, July 11, 2010

#1

What a great product and very informative on technology research. I feel like the key is staying on the cutting edge of technology and informing the students what is relevant and how to cull through info. I know that students often take what they find on the internet as gospel rather than looking at the source. Yes, I know that a librarian can do this.....I have seen it! It is imperative that the librarian is knowledgeable and able to take students from point a to point b. That is where I think I would have trouble-- knowing all of the different resources, sources and knowing what product fits the best with the info! I love the thought of getting away from worksheets and the same ole stuff. Can't wait to see what else there is out there!

Here we go again!

I can't believe that I remembered my password! Small feats for some....big for others! I am ready to begin my next Library 2 play!.....to the beach I go!