Google reader is something I knew little, well nothing about prior to this class. I am astounded to find so many website have the capabilities to be followed via Google reader. Now I find myself noticing that little button more and more, on more and more random sites. It is awesome for just getting technology around according to who wants to read it. It is kind of like your own personal newspaper with only the things you like in it.
For teachers this can be very useful, because you have the ability to follow other teachers who teach the same topics. From these teachers you can gain a better understanding of what a good teacher is. I don't know about everyone else but I plan on asking for as much help and advice my first few years in a classroom. This is a way to gain that insight without anyone knowing. They are just going to think you are simply amazing all on your own.
From Google Reader I am following a few sites for personal reasons, such as lacrosse websites and some websites which give good deals on outdoor gear. Other than that I have found a few gems already just from keeping my eye out when I check my mail. One of them being a link to a site which allows you to play clips from movies which otherwise would be unavailable. I always hated it when a teacher would be like has anyone seen this movie? They would then proceed to tell a not so flattering second-hand version of an amazing movie. From this website you can look the movie up and pull clips from the movie without having to own it or rent it out. Allows for the visual and audio learners to gain a better understanding of what exactly you are trying to convey! I love that Google Reader!
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Rubric Creation Reflection
Rubrics are those items in the classroom not many students pay attention to. They get stuff in folders and binders, only to be pulled out the day before it's due. As a teacher I would find this disheartening, because I spent a good amount of time preparing and outlining the objectives clearly so the student would get a good grade. They then just stuff it in a dark cave only to claim they lost it and recieve a new one from my ever bountiful desk. This could all be avoided thanks to Rubistar.
Rubistar allows a teacher to quickly create a rubric without having to create all sorts of tables and graphs in word or excel. This not only saves time, but it also takes a lot of stress off of the teacher. Thus turning the classroom enviroment into a much more pleasant atmosphere in which to learn. The fact that it have criteria predetermined according to the subject also allows the teacher to remember things he or she may have possibly left out. This gives an oppurtunity for the student to learn and expand more by the added criteria.
This technology has opened up my eyes in the sense that I believed I would have to make rubrics and grade books up all on my own. I will now be able to put Rubistar into my Delicious account and recall it whenever I am in need of a quick rubric. I am sure I have just scratched the surface and tools which are on the internet that are designed to aid teachers in the classroom. I look forward to finding out what others things I can incorporate into my future classroom.
Rubistar allows a teacher to quickly create a rubric without having to create all sorts of tables and graphs in word or excel. This not only saves time, but it also takes a lot of stress off of the teacher. Thus turning the classroom enviroment into a much more pleasant atmosphere in which to learn. The fact that it have criteria predetermined according to the subject also allows the teacher to remember things he or she may have possibly left out. This gives an oppurtunity for the student to learn and expand more by the added criteria.
This technology has opened up my eyes in the sense that I believed I would have to make rubrics and grade books up all on my own. I will now be able to put Rubistar into my Delicious account and recall it whenever I am in need of a quick rubric. I am sure I have just scratched the surface and tools which are on the internet that are designed to aid teachers in the classroom. I look forward to finding out what others things I can incorporate into my future classroom.
Monday, March 8, 2010
Assistive Technology Reflection
This assignment really opened up my eyes when it comes to technology to support those with physical disabilities. I never realized how much was available to those who have disabilities. I just thought they would be put into a classroom which would be designed to specially cater to their needs. Now with the knowledge attained in this class I have come to find that if I happen to have a student with a physical limitation I will now be able to cater to them without hindering the progress of the rest of the classroom.
The amount of different technologies which are available to help are amazing. I wasn't aware that there were so many out there which were suited for each different disability. The guest speaker in our class was also an amazing oppurtunity to watch. Watching his ability to navigate and teach a class for a full hour without the ability to see was astonishing. It really brought into perspective the fact that anyone can do anything, if the just set there mind to it.
I plan to fully utilize these tools in my classroom to better enhance the learning experience for those I am teaching. Even the voki is a tool designed to help those children who may be visually impaired. Even if I have no children who suffer from physical limitations using these tools is a way to enhance learning in my classroom, and make it more entertaining at the same time.
The amount of different technologies which are available to help are amazing. I wasn't aware that there were so many out there which were suited for each different disability. The guest speaker in our class was also an amazing oppurtunity to watch. Watching his ability to navigate and teach a class for a full hour without the ability to see was astonishing. It really brought into perspective the fact that anyone can do anything, if the just set there mind to it.
I plan to fully utilize these tools in my classroom to better enhance the learning experience for those I am teaching. Even the voki is a tool designed to help those children who may be visually impaired. Even if I have no children who suffer from physical limitations using these tools is a way to enhance learning in my classroom, and make it more entertaining at the same time.
Technology Supported Lesson Plan Reflection
At the beginning of this assignment it was difficult I found. In an English classroom setting the uses of technology can seem few and far between. In most of my High School English classes it consisted of reading stories and discussing them in class. These were easy assignments, but they were not engaging in any way. I found that by deciding to use technology in such as way as to make the class more interesting is only going to allow my students to be more engaged in the lesson. The wallwisher is perfect for the lesson I had in mind, it allows the students to express their findings without having to tell anyone who it was or who was the one that eavesdropped on the conversation.
I also feel that allowing the students to create and use their own blogs in an English classroom, is something which can be greatly utilized. It allows the students to be creative while they are using technology. I realize English classes are not always going to be able to have technology integrated into them, but by allowing the students to have and update blogs on their own time allows them to use technology outside of the classroom, and more frequently.
The use of blogs in the classroom also make it easier for me to grade them because I will be following all of my students. This will allow me to use technology to my advantage and save the time of turning in and possibly losing papers.
I also feel that allowing the students to create and use their own blogs in an English classroom, is something which can be greatly utilized. It allows the students to be creative while they are using technology. I realize English classes are not always going to be able to have technology integrated into them, but by allowing the students to have and update blogs on their own time allows them to use technology outside of the classroom, and more frequently.
The use of blogs in the classroom also make it easier for me to grade them because I will be following all of my students. This will allow me to use technology to my advantage and save the time of turning in and possibly losing papers.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Back to School Reflection
The back to school powerpoint allowed me to demonstrate my excellence in technology in many ways. The first of those ways would be the design layouts of my slides. I was successful in changing the background from a plain white setting, this enhances the visual my audience will be recieving. In turn they will be more apt to pay attention to something which is visually appealing than that which is not. I was also able to add in word art which I could manipulate in a way to not make it run the traditional horizontal pattern.
The second way I was able to demonstrate good usage of technology, would be my additions of pictures into the slides. I added a few pictures of me which were pulled from a seperate website. I was able to arrange them in a order which is reflective of what I prefer to do in my spare time. This allows the audience to gain a better understanding of who I am as a person. It allows them to think of me not only as their instructor, but as a normal human being.
The third thing I chose to do was to add transitions in my slides as well as a few sounds. The tranistions keep it fresh for the audience and allow them a different change of scenery each time I change a slide. The sounds keep the audience on their toes. If they happen to be napping a car screech or a drum roll is sure to snap them out of it. By throwing in the class highlight section it allowed a preview of things which are going to come to pass in the near future. This should create some buzz among the students and allow them to become more excited and interested in the course as a whole.
The second way I was able to demonstrate good usage of technology, would be my additions of pictures into the slides. I added a few pictures of me which were pulled from a seperate website. I was able to arrange them in a order which is reflective of what I prefer to do in my spare time. This allows the audience to gain a better understanding of who I am as a person. It allows them to think of me not only as their instructor, but as a normal human being.
The third thing I chose to do was to add transitions in my slides as well as a few sounds. The tranistions keep it fresh for the audience and allow them a different change of scenery each time I change a slide. The sounds keep the audience on their toes. If they happen to be napping a car screech or a drum roll is sure to snap them out of it. By throwing in the class highlight section it allowed a preview of things which are going to come to pass in the near future. This should create some buzz among the students and allow them to become more excited and interested in the course as a whole.
Internet Safety and Classroom Rules Reflection
Creating an Internet safety form allowed me to show my skills in creating a document future students can take home and return to me. By identifying the dangers of the internet I can show my knowledge of the internet, and what are places to avoid. Incorporating color and various clipart into the form also made it more interesting, and less formal. The use of adding text boxes and tables makes the form appear more organized and collected rather than straight forward information. Adding the links for parents to delve into more research themselves shows my ability as a teacher to successfully search the web.
The classroom rules allowed me to get a better understanding as to what type of teacher I plan to be. I don't want to be to harsh, but I also don't want to be walked all over. By laying these rules out in slides it allows me to adequately discuss what exactly I mean behind each of them. The transistions and visual aids should allow the students to pay more attention while I go over them rather than glazing over like most youth do. I think adding sound could be something I would like to add in the future as a way to keep my students on their toes. I never much cared for it when I was in school, but now that the table are turned I can see it's benefits.
Both of these assignments allowed me to show how I could use technology in the class room. It may be two of the simplest forms of technology, but it still is. As the semester progresses more exciting and intricate technology will be added to both my lesson plans as well as adding them into everyday assignments.
The classroom rules allowed me to get a better understanding as to what type of teacher I plan to be. I don't want to be to harsh, but I also don't want to be walked all over. By laying these rules out in slides it allows me to adequately discuss what exactly I mean behind each of them. The transistions and visual aids should allow the students to pay more attention while I go over them rather than glazing over like most youth do. I think adding sound could be something I would like to add in the future as a way to keep my students on their toes. I never much cared for it when I was in school, but now that the table are turned I can see it's benefits.
Both of these assignments allowed me to show how I could use technology in the class room. It may be two of the simplest forms of technology, but it still is. As the semester progresses more exciting and intricate technology will be added to both my lesson plans as well as adding them into everyday assignments.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Back to School Newsletter Reflection
The back to school newsletter reflection allowed me to demonstrate how to use word is ways I haven't before. In the past I have used clip-art and word-art in a newsletter before, but rarely would I combine the two. By combining all aspects of visually appealing stimuli it allows the reader to not get caught up in information overload. Pictures also allows breaks in the information which keeps the writer from becoming too wordy. Using the technology that word provided allowed me create something which otherwise could have been quite dull.
Not only was my newsletter visually appealing, but it also helped me learn more about myself as a teacher. I do want to be the teacher who kids want to have, not the one they have to have. Technology is something I feel will set me apart from other teachers of older ages. Knowing the knowledge my students know will allow me to better understand their needs as a class and answer any questions they may pose. Technology is something which I do plan on incorporating into every lesson plan, and before this assignment I wasn't sure if it would be something useful to me. Now I know it is going to be an important key to having success in my future classroom.
I have always wondered about the class I am going to have someday, but this assignment made it more of a reality. Having the freedom to think about a future class allowed me to reflect on great teachers of my past. I remember assignments I found interesting with them, and plan on incorporating them into my own future lesson plans. I also was able to look up books which have challenged and influenced my writing which I will one day be able to teach from. This newsletter assignment really made my future class seem like a reality rather than something which is a few years away.
Not only was my newsletter visually appealing, but it also helped me learn more about myself as a teacher. I do want to be the teacher who kids want to have, not the one they have to have. Technology is something I feel will set me apart from other teachers of older ages. Knowing the knowledge my students know will allow me to better understand their needs as a class and answer any questions they may pose. Technology is something which I do plan on incorporating into every lesson plan, and before this assignment I wasn't sure if it would be something useful to me. Now I know it is going to be an important key to having success in my future classroom.
I have always wondered about the class I am going to have someday, but this assignment made it more of a reality. Having the freedom to think about a future class allowed me to reflect on great teachers of my past. I remember assignments I found interesting with them, and plan on incorporating them into my own future lesson plans. I also was able to look up books which have challenged and influenced my writing which I will one day be able to teach from. This newsletter assignment really made my future class seem like a reality rather than something which is a few years away.
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