Last fall, I introduced Google's Document Tools - Doc, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tools to high school students as alternatives to the Microsoft Applications they were learning in class. Most students had no experience with them as a "cloud" choice to access and share information. I had a few students thank me for sharing this as they did not have access to the Microsoft Office products at home and it allowed them to finish other class projects in time.
I took the online course teaching Algebra I using virtual manipulatives. I loved this course. I am fortunate enough to have a door from my classroom directly into the computer lab. I use virtual manipulatives with my students to introduce a new concept or to reinforce one. My students love it and they learn a lot.
In the past, I created a blog for my English and Lit. students. The goal was for them to react in writing, to a video that I posted. I wanted them to get experience in writing online so that they would be better prepared for the online writing assessments that they would be facing in public high school.
I've used blogs and wikis in the past with my English classes. I also use various web resources, as I find them, in all of my classes. I love thinkfinity and have used several read-write-think resources. SAS is another site I've used a great deal. Each year, I have my students complete the techsteps activity for the grade level/ course they are in. Think.com is another site that I've used in years past.
As I was planning new lessons for this school year and attempting to include more technology tools, I realized how important it is to also teach students to take charge of their own learning. I wanted to design lessons that would give them even a small piece of ownership. I learned about a program called "edmodo" from a colleague last year and decided to give it a try. Edmodo is basically a social networking tool to be used by students and teachers. The students were very comfortable with it from the beginning because it strongly resembles Facebook. Of course, everything is controlled and monitored by the teacher. I started using Edmodo simply as a tool for discussion between classmates. Students would be given an assignment and part of their grade would include having relevant discussions on the "message board" with their classmates. It was actually a design very similar to the messages we post for this class. This approach was a huge success for keeping students engaged throughout the entire lesson. It wasn't enough just to find the answers, they also had to communicate original thought in a digital format. Once students seemed comfortable with the site I gave them even more responsibility. I posted an assignment as well as several relevant links that they could use to find information. Students would have to find the assignment and then record their finished product in the form of a Word document, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint, or a combination of the three. I faced some hesitation at first because they weren't used to having so much freedom in their learning. I am proud to say that every class, from special ed inclusion to college anatomy has benefited from this type of learning. Sorry this post is so long, but this is a tool that I am very passionate about because it allows me to include so many different web tools and learning styles in a single unit or lesson.
As an alternative to using PowerPoint, I became familiar with Prezi and started using this presentation program. I began teaching this program to my students and they love it. I enncourage you to look at it and try it. It is easy to use and tutorials are available to get you started, so it could even be taught in class using the tutorials. Educator/student accounts are available at no cost.
I Love web 2.0 tools. I became interested in them a few months ago and started doing some research on them. I have a huge list of favorites but I will just name my top 5. 1.Little Bird Tales 2.Prezi 3.Zunal 4.Socrative 5.Planbook On the 20th I am conducting a PF for my staff on these tools and some other favorites of mine. Also as a challenge for my staff so the will Participate on Digital Learning Day which is Feb 1st, I am challenging the teachers at my school to think outside the box and teach one lesson by doing something digital on that day or sometime during the week of the 1st.
I typically use a lot of online resources for English and writing when presenting new information to my students. I strive to find resources that are interactive and engaging. I use PPST, Scholastic, and readwritethink often. Surprisingly, there's quite a few of my students that do not have access to computers or internet at home. Therefore, anything we do involving computers or other technology is not as familiar to them. For example, an assignment earlier this year was to send an email about their favorite book. I quickly realized that many of my students didn't even have their own email account, and those that did needed assistance on composing their message. Only about 1/3 of my 70 students were able to handle the assignment without assistance. This was a learning lesson for me just as much as it was to my students. We ended up focusing more on the basics of emailing and getting an account versus the actual assigned topic.
From this experience, I realized that it's probably more important than ever for me to introduce and incorporate technology tools in my classroom. This way students without the advantage of having these resources at home can get more practice and not feel left out or left behind.
When I was teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), I often used BrainPop www.brainpop.com to reinforce lessons. For example, when teaching about the main idea, I would have my student watch a short animated video in BrainPop that reviews the topic, then the students can take an online quiz and engage in interactive activities. The students were more engaged and excited about learning. I also used readwritethink.com and thinkfinity.com to create lessons and other interactive activities.
I have to admit that many of my technologies are taught during computer lab time. We do the state mandated techstep projects, I also had my students as a class create a Power Point presentation about WV for WV studies. The students were paired to work as a team to create each page of the presentation. We did a page for state capital, flag, seal, bird, fish, animal, plant, tree, etc. We also did some State Parks and the WV Hills. I found that the technology end required much of my guidance, even to the point of being overwhelmed, but when we do it again I will try to work in small groups vs. entire class.
We have computer time several days each week for students to become accustomed to using computers on their own. Currently, they use several math technology sites to enhance such skills as multiplication and division. They also use WV Writes and I have taught TechSteps in the past. Also, my students have recently learned how to send email attachments to students in our class and the other 4th grade class as well. I am also taking a Google docs class in order to learn how to apply that to my classroom as well.
I use several sites and our smart board with my first graders. We use Techsteps, Waltkes Web, math manipulatives available through our Everyday Math series, and every day check/discuss our weather, as well as the forecast, etc. I do teach first grade so a lot of the other posts seem new to me. We have our computers on wheels once a week and each student has access to their own Mac for 30 minutes.
In the past I've used bridges.com for exploring career paths with middle school students. Now I see so many benefits to using Google Apps. You always have the most current version on hand and don't have to worry about having the right software installed on your computer. You can easily create interactive lessons and allow your students to collaborate on the same project. Students can create a Google site to organize all their projects to keep for a lifelong reference or portfolio.
I used Edmodo for the first time this past semester. I loved it! In December I provided a training session for teachers in my school, and several are going to try it this semester with their classes and clubs.
For a research project in my 6-8th grade classes, I had my students work together in small groups to create a PowerPoint presentation. They had never worked on PowerPoint, so they enjoyed learning all of the neat ways they could cut and paste photos, clip art and use templates to create interesting visual aids. Once they finished their research, the groups presented their project to the entire class using the Smartboard. They not only gained information from the web to research their topics, they used PowerPoint software to create their presentation and then used technology to present this information to the class. It gave the students an opportunity to collaborate in ways that were exciting to them and the presentations were interesting for the other students in the class to see as well. Middle school students love to express their individuality, so giving them the freedom to personalize their presentations by choosing colors, clipart, designs, music and sound effects that appealed to them personally kept them engaged. It was a win/win for all because the students were learning their research topics as well as new technology. It also alleviated any discipline problems that often stem from students getting bored in class!
That's great! I have put on a couple of workshops at WVU for education students and staff. If you ever need any materials or ideas don't hesitate to ask!
Google certainly is handy. I had copied several files into my Google docs files and had my computer crash - I really don't want to think about the wasted time I would have spent had I not had them available on Google. I love showing students how to utilize Google (beyond the search engine) so they don't have to have expensive Microsoft applications at home to accomplish varied tasks.
I had actually never heard of Prezi - but I just checked it out and seems very flexible. Thank you for mentioning this free tool! :) I've used Google Presenter and Zoho Show as alternatives to PowerPoint. Have you had any trouble creating presentation in PowerPoint and then transferring them over to the Prezi? I know some features wouldn't come across correct when I moved existing presentations on PowerPoint over to Google or Zoho - different formatting issues. Thank you.
My 7th graders also have an upcoming research project that will require computer-generated graphic aids. I hadn't thought about making a partner or group project, but I really like that idea! I hope that this project goes as smoothly and successfully as yours!
Well I am going to be honest here and say I am the guy in the woods and it is very dark. However on a positive note just had conversation with my son on some of the things they are doing in 11th grade to incorporate computer use into core subjects and glad to know it is taking place for him. My first thought would be teaching students in building and trades the use of a spreadsheet in generation of the cost for a particular project and how to track those cost, develop profit margins,etc. Work that in relation with another file to set up operating cost for their particular situation and work that into budget spreadsheet for actual labor cost. After reading other blogs I feel I need to begin to dig into some of the education related links and begin to form ideas.
Last semester, I took the course Google Applications for Classroom Instruction. I have been able to use most of the Google apps for my classroom. Initially, using Google docs, calendar, presentation, etc. were tools that made my life more efficient, hence helping my classroom. I created a Google site that has a calendar to keep track of our daily assignments, links to helpful websites, and allows students to download graphic organizers and other important documents. Recently though, I am transferring the use of the tools to the students. My Honors students are creating their own classroom Google site which will host their journalism and writing workshop assignments. The kids have formed teams with leaders/ editors. I am serving only as a moderator. All of the assignments, site design, and deadlines will come from the kids. It is my hope that this project will serve as a template for my other classes.
As I have no teaching experience, I'm feeling well over my head here. To be honest, this is my first online class and the first blog I've ever visited and participated in. As a probation officer, I come into contact with students on a daily basis, but utilize little technology with them. I often assign essays to those cited for minor charges (shoplifting, underage consumption, etc.). After one student created a Power Point presentation on the negative effects of this behavior, I have since required this for several other youth. They then present their finished project to a panel including our Judge. I also personally utilize both statewide and nationwide databases designed to aid in the supervision of offenders. Obviously, I feel that I have a lot to learn about Web 2.0 tools. As I will soon be applying for school counseling positions, I'm sure this class will help me utilize more technology in the development of guidance programs, group sessions, and other vital components.
At the beginning of this year, I started reading a novel from a local author to my class. The novel itself was very compelling, actually students were bummed when I couldn't fit a few pages in during the day... Anyway, before I started, I told the students that we were going to "get interactive" with this book-they looked around in confusion. Luckily, the author's a friend of mine, so we managed to engage in a Skype conversation with him before the reading. He introduced the book, talked to the students about the importance of writing and did a Q&A. Weeks later, after we finished the book, I explained to my students what a podcast was and how we would be doing one with our author. With my Mac Pro-Garage Band program we conducted a very thought out project. I asked the students to come up with 5 questions: one pertaining to the content of the book, how the research was done, advice for their own writing and so forth. We sat the room up like a studio and conducted the podcast like an interview.
I was very surprised at the impact this project had on my students. They were pro active in taking it very seriously, as they have never done anything like this before. I've noticed a change in their perspective on comprehension, drawing conclusions, sequencing and their own writing. It was definitely a 'Teacher Moment'. Since then, we have had very enjoyable, intense, and successful book studies. My class now want more and more technology integrated into their studies. I hope I can keep up with them....
My students prepare powerpoints. I am currently using Acuity and WV Writes weekly. I like the feedback the students receive. Also, last year we completed Techsteps and the students did book reports and created their own origin myth. I am not a pro, but I was able to navigate the site with ease and help students create what they considered masterpieces. Rose
Last year, and possibly the year before last, my students and I conducted a survey through Google Docs and sent to it the teachers in our building. With the results my students created graphs of the questions to see what teachers liked the most (e.g. What is your favorite sport? - was one of the questions).
Last year one of my older students who loves WVU sports wanted to predict the football season outcomes. All of my students gave their predictions (even if they knew nothing about sports) to give this student data. With the data he created an Excel document with the data and used formulas to create graphs of the predictions.
I love Google Docs. It makes life so much easier in so many ways. It is great for high schoolers to be familiar with because they can use it in college. Granted I think it is great for most grade levels to some degree.
When I was teaching art, I would have my students do an end of semester powerpoint project on a particular artist. Since it is hard to get students excited about a research project, this was a very helpful tool because it was not boring for them. They really enjoyed designing the slideshows, and I found that they were retaining information more quickly because they had to work with the facts they had found to make each slide visually appealing. This was great for an art class as well because it taught them about elements of design and how to layout pictures and information correctly. I recently discovered Wordle, which is a great way for an art teacher to incorporate technology. The kids loved making the word clouds, and they had to get creative when coming up with over 20 words to express the topic they chose.
I too have introduced my students to the Google applications that are free. I haven't used the application with this year's students but plan to do so,so that I can introduce them to the idea of sharing a document that more than one person can have access too. Another product I share with my students is Open Office. The applications work very similar to the Microsoft Office products but are free. This is nice because many of my students cannot afford the price of the Microsoft products.
I use EdLine to communicate with my students, post assignments, and share links. My students also use the site to upload assignments to their locker space as well as homework hand-ins. We use computers and the internet a lot in the classroom.
Another tool I use in my classroom is a Smart Board. Currently I'm using it mainly for notes, POD's, and to gather data for labs. I would like for my students to use it more in the future.
I feel so behind. I have been out of the classroom for five years. The two years I taught the students were taken to the computer lab where they could play games related to math or spelling. I need this class to teach me tools that I can use when I return to the classroom. My children love to play around on the computer. I would appreciate any suggestions of programs or sites I could use with pre school age children.
That is great you were able to get the writer to Skype with the kids - I'm sure that was such a great experience for your students, connecting and engaging them to a level they've never experienced before! That's fantastic - also getting them to create a podcast- great ideas!
have used a variety of tools as a TIS. Some of my favorites were Glogster, PhotoStory 3, Google Earth, and all of the Google Applications. I also found success in using Flip cameras and Moviemaker to have students create projects. These tools all allow students to actually create a product that shows what they have learned rather than just simply taking a test. The students seem to gain a much better and deeper understanding of the material when using these tools to create a project because they must take what they have learned and actually apply it rather than simply memorizing and repeating it. I have also found that students are much more engaged and more students seem to excel when these tools are used and students get to create something of their own as an assessment. I also have used PowerPoint some but when I use it I try to make it more interactive by requiring students to use hyperlinks and animations in their presentation.
Some of the technical tools that I haved used in my classroom recently include, TechSteps, Acuity, Wv Writes, and Acelerated Reader. These tools help evaluate and calculate student progress. I have also used Microsoft Office with my students, this helps the students become familiar with basic computer skills. These tools have a great influence and impact on student learning and progress.
I have been out of the teaching field for some time now. However, I would like to share something my daughters and I do together. We put together the power point for the song services at our church. This included typing the lyrics, selecting the backgrounds, attatching the music and putting several songs togehter. We enjoyed this. It allowed us to be creative to a point as well as feel accomplishment.
I love that the students have access to a make every week. Learning computers at a young age is so important now. I think about how to do this with my daughter who is 4 1/2. I want to expose her but not have her just wanting to sit in front of a computer all day. It is a balance at home and I think in the classroom as well.
I felt pretty technologically savvy prior to this course so I am feeling a bit overwhelmed as well. The power point presentation on the negative effects of their behavior is awesome. I am sure it really makes them think about what they have done and also teaches them computer skills. Excellent!
I think that is great, Susan! Our church is so technology based with our singing and the sermons. We actually have people who do the "IT" stuff and it is not something that someone with little technological experience can handle. Technology training extends to so many facets of life at this point, that we must keep our students exposed to it as much as possible!
The best tool I used for everyday purposes when I was a classroom teacher was Google Sites. I put everything on my classroom site: handouts I'd made, a calendar of due dates, a summary of what we did in class that day, links to useful web sites, etc. I required students to use the site to get their make-up work and print copies of documents they'd lost. I also ONLY posted study guides and review sheets on the web site. The site helped both students and their parents become more involved and responsible. I was teaching an inclusion English class at the time, and I was being asked to email many parents about what we did in class each day. I just sent them the link to the web site, which was also linked in Edline. It was quick and easy to update the web site each day, and it saved me hours of work each week. I still use Google Sites, but now I use the application for my library web page.
Edmodo is one of my favorite new tools. It's an online learning community that looks like a social networking site, but it's secure. No personal information is gathered from the students, and the teacher controls who joins the group by distributing a code. If someone outside the class happens to get the code and joins, the teacher can delete this user. Also, the teacher can delete inappropriate comments and set users as "read only" if needed. Also, parent codes are available and let parents monitor only what the teacher and their student post--not what other students post. Students can also submit assignments, take quizzes, and answer polls on the site. It's fantastic! I used the site with a research project this semester. I posted resources for the students, and the content teacher and I answered questions students posted to the discussion board regarding their projects.
I posted a comment last week on this site and it did not show up. :-( Anyway, I use technology everyday. I use Boardmaker share and the students LOVE it. They have even learned to calibrate the smartboard because we have used it so much. I couldn't live without my technology!
We use a Polyvision board, a document camera, and a projector daily in our classroom. Our math series has whiteboard friendly areas throughout so that it is easier for teachers and students to use the new technology that our school bought. The document camera allows us to put a student book, workbook, etc under the camera and project it up so that the whole class can see.
39 comments:
Last fall, I introduced Google's Document Tools - Doc, Spreadsheet, and Presentation tools to high school students as alternatives to the Microsoft Applications they were learning in class. Most students had no experience with them as a "cloud" choice to access and share information. I had a few students thank me for sharing this as they did not have access to the Microsoft Office products at home and it allowed them to finish other class projects in time.
I took the online course teaching Algebra I using virtual manipulatives. I loved this course. I am fortunate enough to have a door from my classroom directly into the computer lab. I use virtual manipulatives with my students to introduce a new concept or to reinforce one. My students love it and they learn a lot.
In the past, I created a blog for my English and Lit. students. The goal was for them to react in writing, to a video that I posted. I wanted them to get experience in writing online so that they would be better prepared for the online writing assessments that they would be facing in public high school.
I've used blogs and wikis in the past with my English classes. I also use various web resources, as I find them, in all of my classes. I love thinkfinity and have used several read-write-think resources. SAS is another site I've used a great deal. Each year, I have my students complete the techsteps activity for the grade level/ course they are in. Think.com is another site that I've used in years past.
As I was planning new lessons for this school year and attempting to include more technology tools, I realized how important it is to also teach students to take charge of their own learning. I wanted to design lessons that would give them even a small piece of ownership.
I learned about a program called "edmodo" from a colleague last year and decided to give it a try. Edmodo is basically a social networking tool to be used by students and teachers. The students were very comfortable with it from the beginning because it strongly resembles Facebook. Of course, everything is controlled and monitored by the teacher.
I started using Edmodo simply as a tool for discussion between classmates. Students would be given an assignment and part of their grade would include having relevant discussions on the "message board" with their classmates. It was actually a design very similar to the messages we post for this class. This approach was a huge success for keeping students engaged throughout the entire lesson. It wasn't enough just to find the answers, they also had to communicate original thought in a digital format.
Once students seemed comfortable with the site I gave them even more responsibility. I posted an assignment as well as several relevant links that they could use to find information. Students would have to find the assignment and then record their finished product in the form of a Word document, Excel spreadsheet, PowerPoint, or a combination of the three. I faced some hesitation at first because they weren't used to having so much freedom in their learning.
I am proud to say that every class, from special ed inclusion to college anatomy has benefited from this type of learning. Sorry this post is so long, but this is a tool that I am very passionate about because it allows me to include so many different web tools and learning styles in a single unit or lesson.
As an alternative to using PowerPoint, I became familiar with Prezi and started using this presentation program. I began teaching this program to my students and they love it. I enncourage you to look at it and try it. It is easy to use and tutorials are available to get you started, so it could even be taught in class using the tutorials. Educator/student accounts are available at no cost.
http://prezi.com/
I Love web 2.0 tools. I became interested in them a few months ago and started doing some research on them. I have a huge list of favorites but I will just name my top 5.
1.Little Bird Tales
2.Prezi
3.Zunal
4.Socrative
5.Planbook
On the 20th I am conducting a PF for my staff on these tools and some other favorites of mine. Also as a challenge for my staff so the will Participate on Digital Learning Day which is Feb 1st, I am challenging the teachers at my school to think outside the box and teach one lesson by doing something digital on that day or sometime during the week of the 1st.
I typically use a lot of online resources for English and writing when presenting new information to my students. I strive to find resources that are interactive and engaging. I use PPST, Scholastic, and readwritethink often. Surprisingly, there's quite a few of my students that do not have access to computers or internet at home. Therefore, anything we do involving computers or other technology is not as familiar to them. For example, an assignment earlier this year was to send an email about their favorite book. I quickly realized that many of my students didn't even have their own email account, and those that did needed assistance on composing their message. Only about 1/3 of my 70 students were able to handle the assignment without assistance. This was a learning lesson for me just as much as it was to my students. We ended up focusing more on the basics of emailing and getting an account versus the actual assigned topic.
From this experience, I realized that it's probably more important than ever for me to introduce and incorporate technology tools in my classroom. This way students without the advantage of having these resources at home can get more practice and not feel left out or left behind.
When I was teaching English as a Second Language (ESL), I often used BrainPop www.brainpop.com to reinforce lessons. For example, when teaching about the main idea, I would have my student watch a short animated video in BrainPop that reviews the topic, then the students can take an online quiz and engage in interactive activities. The students were more engaged and excited about learning.
I also used readwritethink.com and thinkfinity.com to create lessons and other interactive activities.
I have to admit that many of my technologies are taught during computer lab time. We do the state mandated techstep projects, I also had my students as a class create a Power Point presentation about WV for WV studies. The students were paired to work as a team to create each page of the presentation. We did a page for state capital, flag, seal, bird, fish, animal, plant, tree, etc. We also did some State Parks and the WV Hills. I found that the technology end required much of my guidance, even to the point of being overwhelmed, but when we do it again I will try to work in small groups vs. entire class.
We have computer time several days each week for students to become accustomed to using computers on their own. Currently, they use several math technology sites to enhance such skills as multiplication and division. They also use WV Writes and I have taught TechSteps in the past. Also, my students have recently learned how to send email attachments to students in our class and the other 4th grade class as well. I am also taking a Google docs class in order to learn how to apply that to my classroom as well.
I use several sites and our smart board with my first graders. We use Techsteps, Waltkes Web, math manipulatives available through our Everyday Math series, and every day check/discuss our weather, as well as the forecast, etc. I do teach first grade so a lot of the other posts seem new to me. We have our computers on wheels once a week and each student has access to their own Mac for 30 minutes.
In the past I've used bridges.com for exploring career paths with middle school students. Now I see so many benefits to using Google Apps. You always have the most current version on hand and don't have to worry about having the right software installed on your computer. You can easily create interactive lessons and allow your students to collaborate on the same project. Students can create a Google site to organize all their projects to keep for a lifelong reference or portfolio.
I used Edmodo for the first time this past semester. I loved it! In December I provided a training session for teachers in my school, and several are going to try it this semester with their classes and clubs.
For a research project in my 6-8th grade classes, I had my students work together in small groups to create a PowerPoint presentation. They had never worked on PowerPoint, so they enjoyed learning all of the neat ways they could cut and paste photos, clip art and use templates to create interesting visual aids. Once they finished their research, the groups presented their project to the entire class using the Smartboard. They not only gained information from the web to research their topics, they used PowerPoint software to create their presentation and then used technology to present this information to the class. It gave the students an opportunity to collaborate in ways that were exciting to them and the presentations were interesting for the other students in the class to see as well. Middle school students love to express their individuality, so giving them the freedom to personalize their presentations by choosing colors, clipart, designs, music and sound effects that appealed to them personally kept them engaged. It was a win/win for all because the students were learning their research topics as well as new technology. It also alleviated any discipline problems that often stem from students getting bored in class!
That's great! I have put on a couple of workshops at WVU for education students and staff. If you ever need any materials or ideas don't hesitate to ask!
Google certainly is handy. I had copied several files into my Google docs files and had my computer crash - I really don't want to think about the wasted time I would have spent had I not had them available on Google. I love showing students how to utilize Google (beyond the search engine) so they don't have to have expensive Microsoft applications at home to accomplish varied tasks.
Jim,
I had actually never heard of Prezi - but I just checked it out and seems very flexible. Thank you for mentioning this free tool! :) I've used Google Presenter and Zoho Show as alternatives to PowerPoint. Have you had any trouble creating presentation in PowerPoint and then transferring them over to the Prezi? I know some features wouldn't come across correct when I moved existing presentations on PowerPoint over to Google or Zoho - different formatting issues. Thank you.
-Julie
My 7th graders also have an upcoming research project that will require computer-generated graphic aids. I hadn't thought about making a partner or group project, but I really like that idea! I hope that this project goes as smoothly and successfully as yours!
Well I am going to be honest here and say I am the guy in the woods and it is very dark. However on a positive note just had conversation with my son on some of the things they are doing in 11th grade to incorporate computer use into core subjects and glad to know it is taking place for him. My first thought would be teaching students in building and trades the use of a spreadsheet in generation of the cost for a particular project and how to track those cost, develop profit margins,etc. Work that in relation with another file to set up operating cost for their particular situation and work that into budget spreadsheet for actual labor cost.
After reading other blogs I feel I need to begin to dig into some of the education related links and begin to form ideas.
Last semester, I took the course Google Applications for Classroom Instruction. I have been able to use most of the Google apps for my classroom.
Initially, using Google docs, calendar, presentation, etc. were tools that made my life more efficient, hence helping my classroom. I created a Google site that has a calendar to keep track of our daily assignments, links to helpful websites, and allows students to download graphic organizers and other important documents.
Recently though, I am transferring the use of the tools to the students. My Honors students are creating their own classroom Google site which will host their journalism and writing workshop assignments. The kids have formed teams with leaders/ editors. I am serving only as a moderator. All of the assignments, site design, and deadlines will come from the kids. It is my hope that this project will serve as a template for my other classes.
As I have no teaching experience, I'm feeling well over my head here. To be honest, this is my first online class and the first blog I've ever visited and participated in. As a probation officer, I come into contact with students on a daily basis, but utilize little technology with them. I often assign essays to those cited for minor charges (shoplifting, underage consumption, etc.). After one student created a Power Point presentation on the negative effects of this behavior, I have since required this for several other youth. They then present their finished project to a panel including our Judge. I also personally utilize both statewide and nationwide databases designed to aid in the supervision of offenders. Obviously, I feel that I have a lot to learn about Web 2.0 tools. As I will soon be applying for school counseling positions, I'm sure this class will help me utilize more technology in the development of guidance programs, group sessions, and other vital components.
At the beginning of this year, I started reading a novel from a local author to my class. The novel itself was very compelling, actually students were bummed when I couldn't fit a few pages in during the day... Anyway, before I started, I told the students that we were going to "get interactive" with this book-they looked around in confusion. Luckily, the author's a friend of mine, so we managed to engage in a Skype conversation with him before the reading. He introduced the book, talked to the students about the importance of writing and did a Q&A. Weeks later, after we finished the book, I explained to my students what a podcast was and how we would be doing one with our author. With my Mac Pro-Garage Band program we conducted a very thought out project. I asked the students to come up with 5 questions: one pertaining to the content of the book, how the research was done, advice for their own writing and so forth. We sat the room up like a studio and conducted the podcast like an interview.
I was very surprised at the impact this project had on my students. They were pro active in taking it very seriously, as they have never done anything like this before. I've noticed a change in their perspective on comprehension, drawing conclusions, sequencing and their own writing. It was definitely a 'Teacher Moment'. Since then, we have had very enjoyable, intense, and successful book studies. My class now want more and more technology integrated into their studies. I hope I can keep up with them....
My students prepare powerpoints. I am currently using Acuity and WV Writes weekly. I like the feedback the students receive. Also, last year we completed Techsteps and the students did book reports and created their own origin myth. I am not a pro, but I was able to navigate the site with ease and help students create what they considered masterpieces. Rose
Last year, and possibly the year before last, my students and I conducted a survey through Google Docs and sent to it the teachers in our building. With the results my students created graphs of the questions to see what teachers liked the most (e.g. What is your favorite sport? - was one of the questions).
Last year one of my older students who loves WVU sports wanted to predict the football season outcomes. All of my students gave their predictions (even if they knew nothing about sports) to give this student data. With the data he created an Excel document with the data and used formulas to create graphs of the predictions.
I love Google Docs. It makes life so much easier in so many ways. It is great for high schoolers to be familiar with because they can use it in college. Granted I think it is great for most grade levels to some degree.
When I was teaching art, I would have my students do an end of semester powerpoint project on a particular artist. Since it is hard to get students excited about a research project, this was a very helpful tool because it was not boring for them. They really enjoyed designing the slideshows, and I found that they were retaining information more quickly because they had to work with the facts they had found to make each slide visually appealing. This was great for an art class as well because it taught them about elements of design and how to layout pictures and information correctly. I recently discovered Wordle, which is a great way for an art teacher to incorporate technology. The kids loved making the word clouds, and they had to get creative when coming up with over 20 words to express the topic they chose.
I too have introduced my students to the Google applications that are free. I haven't used the application with this year's students but plan to do so,so that I can introduce them to the idea of sharing a document that more than one person can have access too. Another product I share with my students is Open Office. The applications work very similar to the Microsoft Office products but are free. This is nice because many of my students cannot afford the price of the Microsoft products.
I use EdLine to communicate with my students, post assignments, and share links. My students also use the site to upload assignments to their locker space as well as homework hand-ins. We use computers and the internet a lot in the classroom.
Another tool I use in my classroom is a Smart Board. Currently I'm using it mainly for notes, POD's, and to gather data for labs. I would like for my students to use it more in the future.
I feel so behind. I have been out of the classroom for five years. The two years I taught the students were taken to the computer lab where they could play games related to math or spelling. I need this class to teach me tools that I can use when I return to the classroom. My children love to play around on the computer. I would appreciate any suggestions of programs or sites I could use with pre school age children.
That is great you were able to get the writer to Skype with the kids - I'm sure that was such a great experience for your students, connecting and engaging them to a level they've never experienced before! That's fantastic - also getting them to create a podcast- great ideas!
have used a variety of tools as a TIS. Some of my favorites were Glogster, PhotoStory 3, Google Earth, and all of the Google Applications. I also found success in using Flip cameras and Moviemaker to have students create projects. These tools all allow students to actually create a product that shows what they have learned rather than just simply taking a test. The students seem to gain a much better and deeper understanding of the material when using these tools to create a project because they must take what they have learned and actually apply it rather than simply memorizing and repeating it. I have also found that students are much more engaged and more students seem to excel when these tools are used and students get to create something of their own as an assessment. I also have used PowerPoint some but when I use it I try to make it more interactive by requiring students to use hyperlinks and animations in their presentation.
Some of the technical tools that I haved used in my classroom recently include, TechSteps, Acuity, Wv Writes, and Acelerated Reader. These tools help evaluate and calculate student progress. I have also used Microsoft Office with my students, this helps the students become familiar with basic computer skills. These tools have a great influence and impact on student learning and progress.
I have been out of the teaching field for some time now. However, I would like to share something my daughters and I do together. We put together the power point for the song services at our church. This included typing the lyrics, selecting the backgrounds, attatching the music and putting several songs togehter. We enjoyed this. It allowed us to be creative to a point as well as feel accomplishment.
I love that the students have access to a make every week. Learning computers at a young age is so important now. I think about how to do this with my daughter who is 4 1/2. I want to expose her but not have her just wanting to sit in front of a computer all day. It is a balance at home and I think in the classroom as well.
I felt pretty technologically savvy prior to this course so I am feeling a bit overwhelmed as well. The power point presentation on the negative effects of their behavior is awesome. I am sure it really makes them think about what they have done and also teaches them computer skills. Excellent!
I think that is great, Susan! Our church is so technology based with our singing and the sermons. We actually have people who do the "IT" stuff and it is not something that someone with little technological experience can handle. Technology training extends to so many facets of life at this point, that we must keep our students exposed to it as much as possible!
The best tool I used for everyday purposes when I was a classroom teacher was Google Sites. I put everything on my classroom site: handouts I'd made, a calendar of due dates, a summary of what we did in class that day, links to useful web sites, etc. I required students to use the site to get their make-up work and print copies of documents they'd lost. I also ONLY posted study guides and review sheets on the web site. The site helped both students and their parents become more involved and responsible. I was teaching an inclusion English class at the time, and I was being asked to email many parents about what we did in class each day. I just sent them the link to the web site, which was also linked in Edline. It was quick and easy to update the web site each day, and it saved me hours of work each week. I still use Google Sites, but now I use the application for my library web page.
Edmodo is one of my favorite new tools. It's an online learning community that looks like a social networking site, but it's secure. No personal information is gathered from the students, and the teacher controls who joins the group by distributing a code. If someone outside the class happens to get the code and joins, the teacher can delete this user. Also, the teacher can delete inappropriate comments and set users as "read only" if needed. Also, parent codes are available and let parents monitor only what the teacher and their student post--not what other students post. Students can also submit assignments, take quizzes, and answer polls on the site. It's fantastic! I used the site with a research project this semester. I posted resources for the students, and the content teacher and I answered questions students posted to the discussion board regarding their projects.
I posted a comment last week on this site and it did not show up. :-( Anyway, I use technology everyday. I use Boardmaker share and the students LOVE it. They have even learned to calibrate the smartboard because we have used it so much. I couldn't live without my technology!
We use a Polyvision board, a document camera, and a projector daily in our classroom. Our math series has whiteboard friendly areas throughout so that it is easier for teachers and students to use the new technology that our school bought. The document camera allows us to put a student book, workbook, etc under the camera and project it up so that the whole class can see.
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