Sunday, March 29, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Week #10
This week we took some pictures using a digital camera. This has definitely been one of the most useful inventions that has occurred during my lifetime. It is crazy that now instead of being limited to how many pictures you take, and having to get them developed in order to see what they look like; you can take hundreds of pictures, and not only see them instantly, but also delete or edit them.
Digital Camera's will also be very helpful in communicating with parents, because I can easily take pictures in class and then send home CD's of pictures, and the parents can see what we have been working on. I can also see myself putting together an end of the year slide show, to help parents see how much their child has grown during the year. Digital Camera's are a huge resource, and the only problem I can see is that me being behind a camera could distract the kids.
This week's video's I thought were amazing! It always surprises me at how creative people can get with videos on youtube. I especially liked the video of the 10 things you don't learn in college about teaching because it definitely applies to my life right now. :) I am trying to decide if teaching is the right profession for me, and talking to people who have been there, or hearing about the experiences of others always helps. I thought a lot of their comments were hilarous, and I can see how following these pieces of advice could make my life as a teacher easier. :) The mash up was also way cool, and I can definitely see how using something similar to this would be really fun for students. I think they would definitely be more engaged, and enjoy learning about the subject more.
Digital Camera's will also be very helpful in communicating with parents, because I can easily take pictures in class and then send home CD's of pictures, and the parents can see what we have been working on. I can also see myself putting together an end of the year slide show, to help parents see how much their child has grown during the year. Digital Camera's are a huge resource, and the only problem I can see is that me being behind a camera could distract the kids.
This week's video's I thought were amazing! It always surprises me at how creative people can get with videos on youtube. I especially liked the video of the 10 things you don't learn in college about teaching because it definitely applies to my life right now. :) I am trying to decide if teaching is the right profession for me, and talking to people who have been there, or hearing about the experiences of others always helps. I thought a lot of their comments were hilarous, and I can see how following these pieces of advice could make my life as a teacher easier. :) The mash up was also way cool, and I can definitely see how using something similar to this would be really fun for students. I think they would definitely be more engaged, and enjoy learning about the subject more.
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Week # 8 Video Reflection
I really liked the creative aspect of the video this week. I have always liked this song, but never realized that it could be used as an educational tool. After watching the video I began thinking about other songs that could be made into videos like this. It is a really great way to help our students visualize the world events that have gone on, and help them to put it into a time line. It is also a very catchy song that students will be able to remember. :) I hope that when I become a teacher I will be able to continue finding creative ways to teach my students using the technology that is available in the world!
Internet Safety Reflection
The internet is a huge resource for just about anything, and if used correctly it can be helpful for just about every aspect of teaching. It may be scary, and there are a million dangerous things on it, but if taught how to use it, the possibilities are endless. It is especially helpful in the areas of; real time data, original sources, simulations, collaboration, and publishing. Those are just 5 though of hundreds.
When we visit sites we should use a system to evaluate them. Below are some questions you could ask, and tips for deciding if a website is credible.
Is this site credible? Tips for deciding whether or not a web site is a good source of information.
1. Take the website apart, find out the original source.
2. Make sure you understand the purpose(s) of a Web site. Although those purpose(s) may not be entirely obvious.
3. Run a search on the author of the site or article.
4. Pay attention to the URL of the site. If it contains the world "user" or a "~" it is usually a site created by a user, and not necessarily a credible source.
5. If the URL includes .gov, or .edu it is usually more credible than a .com or .net site.
6. Run a search on the information in the site to see what other sources of information come up.
8 Questions to ask when evaluating a website.
1. Who wrote the pages and are they an expert? If you think so can you find out more about the author?
2.
What does the author say is the purpose of the site?
3.
When was the site created and last updated?
4.
Where does this information come from? Can I find out more about the producer or sponsor?
5.
Why is the information useful for my purpose? Could I find a better page?
6.
Is the site requiring me to register for something I don't need to register for?
7.
How many graphic images are used? Do they help me understand the information or are they advertisements for unrelated information?
8.
Is this a personal page or is it clear what organization is sponsoring the page? Can I find out more about the organization? Is there a link to their website
It is a tough task to keep children safe while surfing, but having a good filter is one thing that can assist in that task. It is also very important to teach them what to do if they encounter a "dangerous" site, and to help them learn how to judge if a website is safe or not.
In the box above "Internet in Education," there are some links to sites that I will use to help teach my students how to use the internet safely.
Here are some of the sites that I will be using to teach my students about safety on the Internet! The links are on my webpage at http://sites.google.com/site/misslindsaysclassroom/uen. Under Internet in Education
Net Smart
I Keep Kids Safe
Disney Internet Safety
FBI Internet Safety Tips
PBS Kids Internet Safety Game
When we visit sites we should use a system to evaluate them. Below are some questions you could ask, and tips for deciding if a website is credible.
Is this site credible? Tips for deciding whether or not a web site is a good source of information.
1. Take the website apart, find out the original source.
2. Make sure you understand the purpose(s) of a Web site. Although those purpose(s) may not be entirely obvious.
3. Run a search on the author of the site or article.
4. Pay attention to the URL of the site. If it contains the world "user" or a "~" it is usually a site created by a user, and not necessarily a credible source.
5. If the URL includes .gov, or .edu it is usually more credible than a .com or .net site.
6. Run a search on the information in the site to see what other sources of information come up.
8 Questions to ask when evaluating a website.
1. Who wrote the pages and are they an expert? If you think so can you find out more about the author?
2.
What does the author say is the purpose of the site?
3.
When was the site created and last updated?
4.
Where does this information come from? Can I find out more about the producer or sponsor?
5.
Why is the information useful for my purpose? Could I find a better page?
6.
Is the site requiring me to register for something I don't need to register for?
7.
How many graphic images are used? Do they help me understand the information or are they advertisements for unrelated information?
8.
Is this a personal page or is it clear what organization is sponsoring the page? Can I find out more about the organization? Is there a link to their website
It is a tough task to keep children safe while surfing, but having a good filter is one thing that can assist in that task. It is also very important to teach them what to do if they encounter a "dangerous" site, and to help them learn how to judge if a website is safe or not.
In the box above "Internet in Education," there are some links to sites that I will use to help teach my students how to use the internet safely.
Here are some of the sites that I will be using to teach my students about safety on the Internet! The links are on my webpage at http://sites.google.com/site/misslindsaysclassroom/uen. Under Internet in Education
Net Smart
I Keep Kids Safe
Disney Internet Safety
FBI Internet Safety Tips
PBS Kids Internet Safety Game
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Week #8/#10
The question posed at the end of the video, " So what does it all mean," made me think. What does all of this information mean? Will our lives one day be like those portrayed in video's about the future. A few years ago that never seemed like it would happen in my lifetime, but at the rate that technology is evolving it seems more and more probable every day. It blows my mind how quickly technological devices are changing. I remember when the ipod came out, and how amazing that was, but just a few years later I now own a mini computer that calls itself the itouch. This is the world that our students will be born into. Those born this year probably won't even remember or know what an itouch is by the time they enter school. I am sure these facts are hard for long time teachers to accept. A lot of them won't born into a world where technology was so ever present. That is why it is our job as future teachers to stay current and learn how to use it in education. Our students won't except anything less. We need to learn how to incorporate the things they love into their schooling, or we will lose them. The average 6th grader today can do things with technology that I am barely learning about in college. I can't imagine what the world is going to be like when they get to where I am. It may be difficult for some to accept, but technology is huge and is just getting bigger. From this point on in life many people won't be able to live without it. It is a way of life, and we need to use that to help children learn. We have to prepare them for the world they live in.
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Week #7
This week's video was another really interesting one. I love learning about the different technologies that are becoming available. I think that the multi-touch technology will become huge in the next few years. I can also see it being used in schools, not just for military and corporate businesses. I think that having this technology instead of the traditional blackboard or whiteboard would definitely engage students more in the classroom.
I really enjoyed the part of the video where they showed how it interacted with objects on the table. I definitely think that being able to connect and sync devices without having to plug them in is awesome! It is amazing what these companies come up with, and I can can't until this technology is more readily available.
I really enjoyed the part of the video where they showed how it interacted with objects on the table. I definitely think that being able to connect and sync devices without having to plug them in is awesome! It is amazing what these companies come up with, and I can can't until this technology is more readily available.
UEN scavenger hunt
I really enjoyed the UEN scavenger hunt activity. It took a long time to complete, but I learned about a lot of resources that I had no idea existed. One tool that I learned about that I will definitely be using as a teacher is SIRS Discover. I have been using Google for a long time, and this site amazed me. Not only does it contain tons of educational information, but it is also organized and extremely easy to use. I really liked how the site labeled each article with a reading level, and put everything into categories. 
I never realized how many resources are available for teachers online, and it amazed me that the Pioneer Library brought a lot of those resources together in to one convenient place. I still feel like I have barely scratched the surface in regards to the possibilities that these tools bring to educators.
Searchasaurus was another tool that I found really interesting. I loved that it was designed just for elementary school aged children, and that you could search for articles that fell within specific age levels. I know that I will be using this tool quite frequently when I’m looking for ideas when I begin teaching.
I was also amazed at the amount of interactive activities that these
sites led me to. Earlier this semester I struggled with finding
interactive sites and so I was amazed at how many I found while doing
this UEN scavenger hunt. I know that while teaching Kindergarten I will frequently have my students do some of these interactive activities at home and at school to enhance their learning.
Another tool that we discovered that I know I will be able to use in the future is the UEN lesson plan and core curriculum site. Since it is my first semester discovering the education program I still have a lot to learn. I really enjoyed learning about the different requirements for each grade level. I thought it was awesome that for each standard and almost every objective in those standards there were links and sample lesson plans. I have heard from many teachers that lesson plans are the most difficult part of the first year of teaching, and with this tool I know that part will be easier.
Searchasaurus was another tool that I found really interesting. I loved that it was designed just for elementary school aged children, and that you could search for articles that fell within specific age levels. I know that I will be using this tool quite frequently when I’m looking for ideas when I begin teaching.
sites led me to. Earlier this semester I struggled with finding
interactive sites and so I was amazed at how many I found while doing
this UEN scavenger hunt. I know that while teaching Kindergarten I will frequently have my students do some of these interactive activities at home and at school to enhance their learning.
Another tool that we discovered that I know I will be able to use in the future is the UEN lesson plan and core curriculum site. Since it is my first semester discovering the education program I still have a lot to learn. I really enjoyed learning about the different requirements for each grade level. I thought it was awesome that for each standard and almost every objective in those standards there were links and sample lesson plans. I have heard from many teachers that lesson plans are the most difficult part of the first year of teaching, and with this tool I know that part will be easier.
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