So everyone, over the past few weeks I've came across so many new pieces of technology I don't know what would be my favorite. I will say that this blog has really opened my eyes in numerous ways. Being accountable for this blog and having a topic to write about (technology and literacy) I think that I've learned so much.Not only have I learned how a student would feel with a blog responsibility in the classroom, and I also learned what reasonable expectations are. On the other hand, I also learned how to put a blog into effect and how to work it appropriately. There are many things to think about when blogging, like I've mentioned before.
I started searching the web for teacher's with blogs and these are some that I found that I thought were interested and informative.
TeachersCount Blog: http://www.teacherscount.org/blog/
Top 50 Blogs by Elementary Educators: http://mastersinelementaryeducation.org/2010/top-50-blogs-by-elementary-educators/
Elementary Teacher Resources blog: http://www.elementary-teacher-resources.com/elementary-teacher-resources-blog.html
50 Amazing Blogs for Elementary Educators: http://www.toponlinecolleges.com/blog/2010/50-amazing-blogs-for-elementary-educators/
This last one that I'm going to list isn't really a blog. It's twitter4 teachers. They have a list of twitter accounts that you can locate by grade and the topic. My professor has been talking about how twitter can be an amazing tool for teachers and how she has learned so much from others through it. http://twitter4teachers.pbworks.com/w/page/22554523/Elementary%20Teachers
Anyways, I just wanted to share how others were using blogging in the classroom. Not only are some of these blogs just the teacher writing ideas, sharing thoughts, and sharing ideas, but some are just doing it for themselves, and not for the classroom. I think its' great that these teachers are taking the time out of there day to share their ideas and so on.
I hope you find a blog that interests you!
Sunday, December 11, 2011
Monday, November 28, 2011
Blogging in the Classroom
So I've been thinking long and hard about this. I came up with some things I was worried about and other things I was excited about.
Worries:
First I would introduce blogging to the students and make sure they know what they purpose was, and how it works. I would show them my blog, the teachers blog. They will be required to sign a paper that talks about the expectations, requirements, guidelines, and rules of blogging after we have covered them all. Once I've modeled how it works, I would have the students create their usernames and I would approve them (they can be creative with these).
Next I would have students write their first blog. Their first blog would be about themselves including hobbies, family, friends, interests, maybe their favorite book, etc. As the teacher I would monitor their typing skills and make sure they are making progress. If they have trouble writing I would allow them time to finish typing another time. As time goes on their typing skills should progress. After posts have been made I will want to the students to check out other blogs that their classmates have created, and show them how to comment appropriately.
Just like our class, I will require that each student blog once a week minimum. These blog entries will vary in topic. Each week I would post a list of 2-3 topics they could write about for that weeks entry. Things such as what you did this past weekend, a little bit about the book your reading, give them a story starter and have them write a short story, or free choice. These topics would be fun to write about and it gives them options.
Once they have gotten the hang of things, I will make sure that the teacher blog is following all the students so they can easily access others, along with posting a list of what usernames everyone has so they can search for them. On the teacher blog the topic list for the week will be provided, along with homework reminders, information for parents, along with mystery extra credit for students. It won't be required that the students look at the teachers, but they may get suprised when they find extra credit opportunities or other fun suprises. Although they aren't required to check the teachers, they are required to post 2 comments on other classmates blogs each week.
The teacher will keep track of posts and comments, making sure they are appropriate and completed. I would allow 10 minutes for each student during class to take turns on the computer to write their blog or comment. This would allow for students who dont' have computers at home to still complete the requirements. Computers would be available before and after school as well.
Throughout the year I may require the blogging for a project or other assignments.
One other thing I would want the students to do sometimes is read other blogs, that aren't their classmates. I, as the teacher, would go out and find a blog about something relevant to our classroom, or topic we are discussing, or maybe just something interesting. I would share the link with them to read. I would also show them how you search for other blogs, and what other people might use blogs for like recipes, holiday ideas, or just a life journal.
That's what I would use blogging for. I want it to be fun for the students, but informative for me.
Worries:
- Blogging would become a hassle to the students
- They wouldn't have time to complete their blogs or even start them
- They wouldn't want to write about something specific assigned by the teacher
- Students getting to share their thoughts/ideas
- Getting to use the computer in a new and exciting way they might not have before
- Using something that is easy to share with classmates, family, and friends
First I would introduce blogging to the students and make sure they know what they purpose was, and how it works. I would show them my blog, the teachers blog. They will be required to sign a paper that talks about the expectations, requirements, guidelines, and rules of blogging after we have covered them all. Once I've modeled how it works, I would have the students create their usernames and I would approve them (they can be creative with these).
Next I would have students write their first blog. Their first blog would be about themselves including hobbies, family, friends, interests, maybe their favorite book, etc. As the teacher I would monitor their typing skills and make sure they are making progress. If they have trouble writing I would allow them time to finish typing another time. As time goes on their typing skills should progress. After posts have been made I will want to the students to check out other blogs that their classmates have created, and show them how to comment appropriately.
Just like our class, I will require that each student blog once a week minimum. These blog entries will vary in topic. Each week I would post a list of 2-3 topics they could write about for that weeks entry. Things such as what you did this past weekend, a little bit about the book your reading, give them a story starter and have them write a short story, or free choice. These topics would be fun to write about and it gives them options.
Once they have gotten the hang of things, I will make sure that the teacher blog is following all the students so they can easily access others, along with posting a list of what usernames everyone has so they can search for them. On the teacher blog the topic list for the week will be provided, along with homework reminders, information for parents, along with mystery extra credit for students. It won't be required that the students look at the teachers, but they may get suprised when they find extra credit opportunities or other fun suprises. Although they aren't required to check the teachers, they are required to post 2 comments on other classmates blogs each week.
The teacher will keep track of posts and comments, making sure they are appropriate and completed. I would allow 10 minutes for each student during class to take turns on the computer to write their blog or comment. This would allow for students who dont' have computers at home to still complete the requirements. Computers would be available before and after school as well.
Throughout the year I may require the blogging for a project or other assignments.
One other thing I would want the students to do sometimes is read other blogs, that aren't their classmates. I, as the teacher, would go out and find a blog about something relevant to our classroom, or topic we are discussing, or maybe just something interesting. I would share the link with them to read. I would also show them how you search for other blogs, and what other people might use blogs for like recipes, holiday ideas, or just a life journal.
That's what I would use blogging for. I want it to be fun for the students, but informative for me.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Research #2 (1:1 initiative)
I read a research article on the 1:1 laptop initiative. I found a few things that stood out to me as suprising, and a few things that I totally agree with and that back up my thoughts on the idea.
Suprising:
"Claims have been made that 1:1 laptop initiatives do not have a positive impact on student achievement at school."
Some schools even cancelled the program because they weren't seeing any improvement, or not enough to make a difference. (Makes me wonder if the teachers had the support they needed to know how to implement the program effectively.)
The 1:1 laptop initiative doesn't really increase scored much in science and math in elementary, but would dramatically help in High Schools. In elementary laptops just enhance the knowledge and provide practice with concepts versus teaching the concept itself.
"A state report from Michigan indicated that student engagement was at an all-time high." This wasn't the state that reported students engagement increase! Many more have reported the same effect!
Back-up my Thoughts:
"Improvements in writing, literacy, science, exam scores, and GPAs all have been noted in various research studies."
"the more extensively students used their laptops, the better they scored."
"Research reported a marginally-significant increase in students GPA...and significant gains in studenst technological proficiency."
The article says that the 1:1 initiative has shown an increase in teacher collaboration in 1:1 schools. This makes me glad to know because I think it's important for teachers using a new tool to share how they are using it and collaborating. Sharing ideas and other tools can open a new door to knowledge at your fingertips.
Extra:
One study compared two groups of students from the same grade, and same school. One group of students did not recieve laptops, and the other had 24-hour access to a laptop. The study showed that the group with laptops "demonstrated superior writing skills."
I remember hearing about the 'fourth grade slump' when i was in middle school. It's when the students go from 'learning to read' to 'reading to learn' which can be complicated. Students in a 4th grade were observed and they showed that they could outperform their peer with laptops. They outperformed in the literacy response and analysis, along with their writing skills.
Not only is having a 1:1 initiative new and exciting for a teacher, the students would be more satisfied with school and the content they learn. They would less likely be messing around, getting sent into the hall, disruptive during a lesson, and they probably wouldn't slack on their work as much.
Professional development would have a direct impact on the program and it's effectiveness.
1:1 is still a new implementation and there are bound to be new pros and concerns with the program.
Question:
I wonder how it works when a student forgets their laptop at home after having it for the weekend or overnight...
McLeod, Scott and Sauers, Nicholas J. Castle Brief: What does the research say about school one-to-one computing initiatives?. UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. University of Kentucky. Posted: Novemeber 4, 2011.
http://schooltechleadership.org/
Suprising:
"Claims have been made that 1:1 laptop initiatives do not have a positive impact on student achievement at school."
Some schools even cancelled the program because they weren't seeing any improvement, or not enough to make a difference. (Makes me wonder if the teachers had the support they needed to know how to implement the program effectively.)
The 1:1 laptop initiative doesn't really increase scored much in science and math in elementary, but would dramatically help in High Schools. In elementary laptops just enhance the knowledge and provide practice with concepts versus teaching the concept itself.
"A state report from Michigan indicated that student engagement was at an all-time high." This wasn't the state that reported students engagement increase! Many more have reported the same effect!
Back-up my Thoughts:
"Improvements in writing, literacy, science, exam scores, and GPAs all have been noted in various research studies."
"the more extensively students used their laptops, the better they scored."
"Research reported a marginally-significant increase in students GPA...and significant gains in studenst technological proficiency."
The article says that the 1:1 initiative has shown an increase in teacher collaboration in 1:1 schools. This makes me glad to know because I think it's important for teachers using a new tool to share how they are using it and collaborating. Sharing ideas and other tools can open a new door to knowledge at your fingertips.
Extra:
One study compared two groups of students from the same grade, and same school. One group of students did not recieve laptops, and the other had 24-hour access to a laptop. The study showed that the group with laptops "demonstrated superior writing skills."
I remember hearing about the 'fourth grade slump' when i was in middle school. It's when the students go from 'learning to read' to 'reading to learn' which can be complicated. Students in a 4th grade were observed and they showed that they could outperform their peer with laptops. They outperformed in the literacy response and analysis, along with their writing skills.
Not only is having a 1:1 initiative new and exciting for a teacher, the students would be more satisfied with school and the content they learn. They would less likely be messing around, getting sent into the hall, disruptive during a lesson, and they probably wouldn't slack on their work as much.
Professional development would have a direct impact on the program and it's effectiveness.
1:1 is still a new implementation and there are bound to be new pros and concerns with the program.
Question:
I wonder how it works when a student forgets their laptop at home after having it for the weekend or overnight...
McLeod, Scott and Sauers, Nicholas J. Castle Brief: What does the research say about school one-to-one computing initiatives?. UCEA Center for the Advanced Study of Technology Leadership in Education. University of Kentucky. Posted: Novemeber 4, 2011.
http://schooltechleadership.org/
Monday, October 31, 2011
MindMeister
Mind Meister
Mind Meister is a web 2.0 tool that helps you map out your thinking. It's just like a digital graphic organizer. I was looking at the website and listened to the introduction of the program and its pretty simple to use!
First you log in like all websites these days. One thing you can do on this website is organize your thoughts into a web organizer. While watching the video on this, I was thinking this would be great for each student to do before writing. This could be like their outline, with what they want to include. Not only can you make a graphic organizer but you can add notes to a part of your organizer.
I know that everyone likes to customize everything to what they like. This webiste also allows you to do this. There are tons of themes to choose from, or you can customize it piece by piece until it's to your liking.
The new updates now allow you to drag and drop images or attachments right into a part of your organizer. Mindmeister makes this possible through the Google Docs Viewer they've incorporated. The documents/attachments are easily visible and the images can be resized to fit it's placement.
Collaboration:
You can invite people to view your organizer. All you do is add their email address, and add a note to go along with if you wish. They can then view your organizer and see all aspects of your thinking, put into a viewer that you have created! They can then add to your organizer as well.
This tool is a collaborative tool that can be used as a presentation as well. You can go back and view the history or the making of the organizer. Your able to see the progress throughout the creation, just like that webiste we used to create a story about the checks! You'd see who added what, at what point during the creation. They use a color system for each person adding to the organizer just like the other website, to make the changes easikly identifiable.
Mobile:
Can be used as an App on mobile phones, Ipads, and so on.
There is a charge per month with this program, but you can specify what plan you would want. You can do a free trial with up to 3 mind maps in your free trial!
Versions:
You can get a Personal Plan, Pro Plan, or Business Plan. The personal is just for individual use (and the cheapest per month). The Pro Plan you can do individual or it works well with teams of people, and the business plan is for 10+ people to work with.
I really like the tool, and can think of tons of ways to use it in the classroom, but I know budgets are tight. If there was a free program like this that you know of please let me know :)
http://www.mindmeister.com/
FYI I found Mindmeister through this website which lists TONS AND TONS of other apps and programs online to use for many different things. You can narrow down your selection by clicking on what you are looking for. http://www.go2web20.net/
Mind Meister is a web 2.0 tool that helps you map out your thinking. It's just like a digital graphic organizer. I was looking at the website and listened to the introduction of the program and its pretty simple to use!
First you log in like all websites these days. One thing you can do on this website is organize your thoughts into a web organizer. While watching the video on this, I was thinking this would be great for each student to do before writing. This could be like their outline, with what they want to include. Not only can you make a graphic organizer but you can add notes to a part of your organizer.
I know that everyone likes to customize everything to what they like. This webiste also allows you to do this. There are tons of themes to choose from, or you can customize it piece by piece until it's to your liking.
The new updates now allow you to drag and drop images or attachments right into a part of your organizer. Mindmeister makes this possible through the Google Docs Viewer they've incorporated. The documents/attachments are easily visible and the images can be resized to fit it's placement.
Collaboration:
You can invite people to view your organizer. All you do is add their email address, and add a note to go along with if you wish. They can then view your organizer and see all aspects of your thinking, put into a viewer that you have created! They can then add to your organizer as well.
This tool is a collaborative tool that can be used as a presentation as well. You can go back and view the history or the making of the organizer. Your able to see the progress throughout the creation, just like that webiste we used to create a story about the checks! You'd see who added what, at what point during the creation. They use a color system for each person adding to the organizer just like the other website, to make the changes easikly identifiable.
Mobile:
Can be used as an App on mobile phones, Ipads, and so on.
There is a charge per month with this program, but you can specify what plan you would want. You can do a free trial with up to 3 mind maps in your free trial!
Versions:
You can get a Personal Plan, Pro Plan, or Business Plan. The personal is just for individual use (and the cheapest per month). The Pro Plan you can do individual or it works well with teams of people, and the business plan is for 10+ people to work with.
I really like the tool, and can think of tons of ways to use it in the classroom, but I know budgets are tight. If there was a free program like this that you know of please let me know :)
http://www.mindmeister.com/
FYI I found Mindmeister through this website which lists TONS AND TONS of other apps and programs online to use for many different things. You can narrow down your selection by clicking on what you are looking for. http://www.go2web20.net/
Sunday, October 23, 2011
CNN News- Ipad and Autism
Soooo. I had to blog right away. I'm watching CNN News right now and they are talking about the Ipad.
CNN was doing an overview of the life of the inventor of the Ipad, Steve Jobs. I found what they were saying about him all to be very interesting. They went on to talk about how he introduced the Ipad and how more and more apps became available. This seemed to all connect a little to my last blog so I thought I would talk about the rest of the program a little more.
CNN went on to play interviews with Jobs explaining his thoughts, ideas, and lifestyle.
What I found the most fascinating, and the reason I grabbed my computer to blog, was how the Ipad apps were being used in classroom. CNN explained that Autism and some special Apps for the Ipad were being used to access their knowledge and learn large amounts about their students. There is a school that was used for this research, and this school is for children with special needs, including a large number of them being Autistic. Before they showed how the Ipad and apps were being used by the students I thougth about the class I was in and how I used the Ipad. I realized that I only really used it with the students who spoke Spanish and had trouble communicating with me. I also realized that they had the same problems as an Autistic student would, communitcation. I went on to listen to the program and found out that the apps were helping the students and teachers communicate greatly. One of the apps mentioned that made a huge difference was ProloQuo2go.
This app helped the students communicate to great lengths! Before the Ipad was introduced the students were distracted and not paying attention. Right away after the students were introduced to the Ipad, they wouldn't look away from it! They knew exactly how to use it and how to communicate. They could share how they were feeling, what they wanted, and what they needed. Communication seems to be a luxury to them, and to get to communicate through a cool Ipad tool is a fun way for them to do this.
I was blown away by the Ipad's ability to help an autistic student communicate so clearly. When the teachers were intereviewed to get their feedback and to hear how the students were responding they couldn't stop raving about how the Ipad was helping them! They weren't sure what it was about the Ipad that intrigued the students so much, but they had a hunch. They went on to say that the Ipad apps that they were using were very constant, predictable, had good wait time with great pictures and interaction with the students. The teachers themselves working with a pencil and paper weren't so predictable and not as interesting. If you know autism students, then you know that they like their procedures and routines, and th app was set up to work with this kind of student.
Anyyyyways...I just had to share right away!
I also found online a website that provides a spreadsheet of a ton of Apps for Autism students and reviews about each of them! It's quite a list, which suprised me!
This is the website: http://www.squidalicious.com/2011/01/ipad-apps-for-autism-spreadsheet-of.html
This is the Spreadsheet from the website: https://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=0AjbIta8OTS0KdHRMVWx0Q3pvOWRXRXBfd01jc3lqakE&hl=en&single=true&gid=0&output=html
It's like the apps are unlimited with what you can do with them! I love it! I want an Ipad!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
The Journal
I came across a site that intereseted me.
http://thejournal.com/Forms/Search-Results.aspx?query=technology%20in%20the%20classroom&collection=THEJournal_Web
Many of the headings seemed to be precisely what I was looking for.
Some of the headings included:
One other mobile device app I found was eChalk. After doing the SKYPE in class and talking about how we would or wouldn't use Facebook in the classroom, I find myself being more open to it. eChalk is just another one of those accounts you can create and have parents/students get access to be up to date on school information, events coming up, assignments, and ever class discussions. Once again it's just another place a parent would have to log into and check up on their student. Facebook seems to simplify that issue.
I've considered using texting in the classroom and IMing. This service called StudyBoost just encourages me more. It's obvious teen-agers are attached to their phones like their life depends on it, as am I SOMETIMES! The problem is, when a student whips out their phone in class it's because they want to talk with a friend, or discuss something, or use their device for something more interested than listening to the teacher in the classroom. Why not include them with the tools they enjoy using, THEIR PHONES! StudyBoost is a service that recently launch officially, concluding a lengthy run in beta mode where it gained a small following, mostly among curious teachers. The service allows students and teachers to create batches of questions and answers online, which can be used individually or shared with the whole class. students simply add StudyBoost to their contacts list on their phone. When there is a new question post they recieve a text. They respond with an answer and they recieve a text back telling them if their answer was correct or not. Teacher have send and reveived more than 200,000 text messages. There are new features with the service including statistics page, embed an IM-style chat box within Moodle and otehr edu. websites.
The Founder is Raphael Hickling says, "My goal for StudyBoost was to be an enhancement, or a sidekick that can help students study, as it stands now, it's not a central study tool. It's like an assistant."
I keep finding new tools that interest me! It's amazing how many are out there...now the hard part, putting it to good use and in a innovative way!
http://thejournal.com/Forms/Search-Results.aspx?query=technology%20in%20the%20classroom&collection=THEJournal_Web
Many of the headings seemed to be precisely what I was looking for.
Some of the headings included:
- THE Journal: Educators' Mobile Devices of the Future
- Teachscape Reflect Video Expands Classroom Recording Support
- THE Journal: New Media: It's a 'Pull, Pull' World
- New Service Puts Texting Back in the Classroom- THE Journal
One other mobile device app I found was eChalk. After doing the SKYPE in class and talking about how we would or wouldn't use Facebook in the classroom, I find myself being more open to it. eChalk is just another one of those accounts you can create and have parents/students get access to be up to date on school information, events coming up, assignments, and ever class discussions. Once again it's just another place a parent would have to log into and check up on their student. Facebook seems to simplify that issue.
I've considered using texting in the classroom and IMing. This service called StudyBoost just encourages me more. It's obvious teen-agers are attached to their phones like their life depends on it, as am I SOMETIMES! The problem is, when a student whips out their phone in class it's because they want to talk with a friend, or discuss something, or use their device for something more interested than listening to the teacher in the classroom. Why not include them with the tools they enjoy using, THEIR PHONES! StudyBoost is a service that recently launch officially, concluding a lengthy run in beta mode where it gained a small following, mostly among curious teachers. The service allows students and teachers to create batches of questions and answers online, which can be used individually or shared with the whole class. students simply add StudyBoost to their contacts list on their phone. When there is a new question post they recieve a text. They respond with an answer and they recieve a text back telling them if their answer was correct or not. Teacher have send and reveived more than 200,000 text messages. There are new features with the service including statistics page, embed an IM-style chat box within Moodle and otehr edu. websites.
The Founder is Raphael Hickling says, "My goal for StudyBoost was to be an enhancement, or a sidekick that can help students study, as it stands now, it's not a central study tool. It's like an assistant."
I keep finding new tools that interest me! It's amazing how many are out there...now the hard part, putting it to good use and in a innovative way!
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Trying out Wordle
In my first grade classroom I decided to do a wordle with the students. I told them how the program worked and showed them an example. They were really excited to make one. I had each of them write down a few words that described the school, their classroom, or their teachers. We combined all their ideas into a small paragraph. I also let the students help me type to work on their spelling and typing/computer skills. Once we had a small paragraph typed up into wordle, we clicked create, and wa-la! They thought it was the coolest thing ever! We messed around with the fonts, colors, and so on. This is what we came up with. The words that we typed came out perfect in the wordle. We now have this wordle hanging on the window going into our classroom. We've gotten many compliments, and I've gotten a few questions on how to do it. I got to share wordle with a few other teachers who seemed to be interested!
I think if the school itself create one to post around the school people would be intrigued :)
I just wanted to share how I used it in the classroom.
The students loved it and it represents our classroom in the school.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Are you a FACT MONSTER?
I want to start off with saying that the classroom I am teaching in has 3 ESL/ELL students in it. Last week i was observing the small group readings and was suprised. The book being introduced was called "The Picnic". The teacher simply asked if the students knew what a picnic was, and they DIDN'T. We explained to them it was like taking your food in a basket/bag, a blanket and something to drink with you to a park or outdoor area. Then you lay the blanket down and get your food out. This is called a picnic. The students seemed to understand but kept saying a spanish word that we weren't familiar with.
Up to that point I was thinking to myself ...."these students probably know what a picnic is and are just not sure how to say it and not familiar with the word. Right then the teacher pulled out her Ipad and looked up the word they were saying, and how to say picnic in spanish...we came up with "comer en la campo", which means 'eat in the camp/field/land'. The student immediately knew what we were talking about and going to read more about.
I was stunned at how fast and accurate this Ipad was able to help this student during a quick 15 minute reading group. In that time they were able to warm up with a book read, introduce a new book, look up how to say picnic, and read the new book. This Ipad I realize is not just one technology tool to use, but one tool with many other tools within.
I'm determined to buy an Ipad now or get one at Christmas. There are so many tools at your fingertips that I can't wait to explore.
On another note.....
While teaching today I wanted to see what kind of things I could find on Christopher Columbus, since we were reading about him in a book. I found my information, and then kept searching around finding new websites that would be helpful with research projects.
One that I found was called Fact Monster.
http://childparenting.about.com/cs/k6education/a/schooltools.htm
It seemed to have a wide range of topics and I loved the fact that you could search for what you were looking for.
One other one I found was Visual Thesaurus: Thinkmap. This would help students with their writing and vocabulary usage. You simply type in a word like "happy" and then hit enter. A bunch of words start popping up webbing of the original word happy. You can try a trial for free for a certain amount of searches, but it requires a subscription eventually. One other thing it offers, that I think would be beneficial in a classroom, is Create and Share wordlists.
http://www.visualthesaurus.com/trialover/
Anyways.....I'm outty
Up to that point I was thinking to myself ...."these students probably know what a picnic is and are just not sure how to say it and not familiar with the word. Right then the teacher pulled out her Ipad and looked up the word they were saying, and how to say picnic in spanish...we came up with "comer en la campo", which means 'eat in the camp/field/land'. The student immediately knew what we were talking about and going to read more about.
I was stunned at how fast and accurate this Ipad was able to help this student during a quick 15 minute reading group. In that time they were able to warm up with a book read, introduce a new book, look up how to say picnic, and read the new book. This Ipad I realize is not just one technology tool to use, but one tool with many other tools within.
I'm determined to buy an Ipad now or get one at Christmas. There are so many tools at your fingertips that I can't wait to explore.
On another note.....
While teaching today I wanted to see what kind of things I could find on Christopher Columbus, since we were reading about him in a book. I found my information, and then kept searching around finding new websites that would be helpful with research projects.
One that I found was called Fact Monster.
http://childparenting.about.com/cs/k6education/a/schooltools.htm
It seemed to have a wide range of topics and I loved the fact that you could search for what you were looking for.
One other one I found was Visual Thesaurus: Thinkmap. This would help students with their writing and vocabulary usage. You simply type in a word like "happy" and then hit enter. A bunch of words start popping up webbing of the original word happy. You can try a trial for free for a certain amount of searches, but it requires a subscription eventually. One other thing it offers, that I think would be beneficial in a classroom, is Create and Share wordlists.
http://www.visualthesaurus.com/trialover/
Anyways.....I'm outty
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Updates for your technology
I have a friend who tries to avoid technology. I find this fascinating, because I couldn't imagine not having technology to use! She doesn't own a computer, her cell phone is the most basic thing I've ever seen (with no internet), no TV, and even though she has the worst sense of direction she refuses to try a GPS or any mapping device that's not a paper map. Her thoughts on technology are that it is silly to learn how to work certain pieces of technology because once you know the basics, a new edition/upgrade/update comes along and you have to start from scrath all over again.
In some ways I can see where she is coming from. Can you image a world without technology though? We use technology for the simplest things and it doesn't occur to us that one day a long long time ago, they didn't have the technology we do today. Telling time, listening to the radio, typing a paper on the computer, and banking are all things that require technology.
I was thinking about the pieces I use most daily. I came up with my Nook, computer, phone, and Tv. I realized that each one of these items already has updates available for them, or a new edition that is better than the one I currently own. Updates, modifications, upgrades, and new editions will keep coming and new technology will happen! I realize that my technology isn't up to date with the fancy new high-def, 3-D, LED, handheld, amazing technology that is being advertised everywhere.
I am very comfortable with the technology that I have. I do think that the technology that is new is hard to get your hands on sometimes. That is one problem I seem with teachers and technology. Some have the access, and some don't, whether it's budget, limitations, or the knowledge of the technology. I'm sure there are pieces of technology out there being used in classrooms that I have never heard of. It's all about being curious and up to date intellectually. I think if a teacher is aware of a piece of technology and it's basic uses the teacher may become curious and want to learn more and get hands on, sharing with others about the piece.
In some ways I can see where she is coming from. Can you image a world without technology though? We use technology for the simplest things and it doesn't occur to us that one day a long long time ago, they didn't have the technology we do today. Telling time, listening to the radio, typing a paper on the computer, and banking are all things that require technology.
I was thinking about the pieces I use most daily. I came up with my Nook, computer, phone, and Tv. I realized that each one of these items already has updates available for them, or a new edition that is better than the one I currently own. Updates, modifications, upgrades, and new editions will keep coming and new technology will happen! I realize that my technology isn't up to date with the fancy new high-def, 3-D, LED, handheld, amazing technology that is being advertised everywhere.
I am very comfortable with the technology that I have. I do think that the technology that is new is hard to get your hands on sometimes. That is one problem I seem with teachers and technology. Some have the access, and some don't, whether it's budget, limitations, or the knowledge of the technology. I'm sure there are pieces of technology out there being used in classrooms that I have never heard of. It's all about being curious and up to date intellectually. I think if a teacher is aware of a piece of technology and it's basic uses the teacher may become curious and want to learn more and get hands on, sharing with others about the piece.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Research
I found an article that I thought was interesting regarding research and using technology to help children learn to read and write.
This article is titled ‘Technology and Teaching Children to Read: What does the research say?’ On one hand I found this article to be very insightful, and on the other hand I think that it doesn’t address the wide range of technology tools available. Instead this article and research seems to concentrate on computers and software as the sole technology that is in a classroom.
Not only did this article discuss what technology tools would work best to teach an area or reading and writing, it talked about the research to go with these findings.
One thing I read really stood out to me right away, and it was something I hadn’t really thought about before. We discuss how technology can help a student grow and really progress in reading and writing in many ways, but one thing this article mentions and when we should use is and if it is necessary right away as an emergent reader. The article is saying that ‘…it is not necessarily essential for students to begin working with such software in the first year of reading instruction.’
I realized that technology can be used at any and all grade level readers, and the technology may just be used for the sole purpose to a reading ‘boost’. This would help students who have fallen behind or are struggling.
This article also mentions the enthusiasm and motivation that comes along with teaching a student to read and write. A student must have that interest and enthusiasm to read and write. The research showed that technology made all students enthusiastic about the reading and writing concept that was being concentrated on, versus if the technology hadn’t been introduced. Students who weren’t interested in the concepts at all were still getting interactive with the technology and the program just to have part in the technology connection that everyone else was interested in. I agree that motivation and enthusiasm are crucial to learning how to read and write. A student doesn’t want to sit and repeat reading and writing one thing if there are possibilities for many activities to address the same concept.
Northeast and the Islands Regional Technology in Education Consortium (NEIRTEC), and Education Development Center, Inc. (2004). Technology and Teaching Children to Read: What does the research say?. Retrieved on September 21, 2011.
K-6 Literacy Learning Activites
I read K-6 Literacy Learning Activity Types and was impressed by how many ways you could use technology to tie to the activities.
During the summer I took a class which required me to tutor a student in reading. There were many key components to the tutoring session which included Easy Books, New Book, Mini-Lesson, Writing Activity, and a Challenge Book. Reading this article and comparing my tutoring experience brought to light some positive things I did during my sessions and really showed me how much more I could do!
I very much agree that there needs to be three crucial parts of teaching a child how to read and write. The pre-reading activities, during reading activities, and post-reading activities are the three parts. Vocabulary, Comprehension, and Fluency come into play throughout those 3 areas of learning to read and write.
I was surprised to find that I have not used many of the technology examples listed in the article as I thought I would have by now. Reading through all the ideas and thinking in my head how I would incorporate that piece of technology, or what my lesson would look like really got me pumped up. I would really have to take the time and effort to learn how to use and incorporate this technology with students that was simple for them to use.
I know that one of my fears, and possibly for others as well, does not know how to use the technology provided or not sure how it will help my student’s progress in reading and writing. For instance, I know that I have never used a Reading Pen. I don’t even know what it is…but after googling it… I feel as though this would be a great tool to bring into a classroom with young emergent readers. It would help with 1:1 correspondence, comprehension and pacing of reading, and also fluency.
The one Activity that I personally think is the most important is the Discussion during the reading. When I was younger, discussions were my favorite! I absolutely loved talking and sharing my thoughts and answering questions. I also know there were students in my class who were silent and just listened. I think that discussions have really grown to where everyone and anyone can be involved and feel comfortable. Blogs, wikis, and online chat rooms/sites can be a place that is used for these discussions with class members and isn’t so ‘on the spot’ like in the classroom. This allows the students to be creative, think more about what they want to say, work on their writing abilities, and put their thinking onto ‘paper’/the web.
I’ve had the chance to use many of these activities in the classroom before with my students. Most of these opportunities came during student teaching. I just want to say that I think a teacher has to think outside of the box sometimes and get away from the normal routine. Sparking up a lesson plan for reading and writing which is possibly very boring to a student may spark their interest and the technology will help engage them. When I did these activities, I only incorporated technology with a few of them. This has opened my eyes to what I could have, and will eventually get to do in the classroom with my students.
I’ll cut this short, but I really enjoyed this reading and it really opened my eyes to all the other technology tools out there to use and learn about.
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