Inspiration 9

I completed a project using Inspiration 9 on the similarities and differences between plant and animal cells. I found this extremely beneficial because it gives students a great visual aid for things that they are learning about. They could also use it to create a project or study guide in class because it gives them the freedom to organize it however it makes sense to them. This would definitely be a great tool to use in the classroom.

Digital Story

I made a digital story with iMovie and I really enjoyed it. I found it a little frustrating at times because it was so tedious and meticulous. You also had to pay a lot of attention to detail while completing it. I think that it will be extremely beneficial that I know how to work the program when I am a teacher because I can make short videos for my students or parents.

Inquiry Based Activity

This technology project was really interesting. I liked it because it was a great tool in which to make a variety of worksheets and activities for students to use. I also liked it because many different teachers can go into the document and change whatever they like. It's a great way for collaboration and it is a great visual aid for students.

Resource Wikis

I thought the wikis were a great idea for a way to compile a list of resources. In schools there is so much emphasis on group projects and this is a great way to get in touch with everyone without having to be with them personally. Also, I like this because you can always refer back to it if you need any of the links or resources off of it. It has a description of the website under the link so that definitely saves you some time if you are looking for something specific.

Web 2.0-Pixlr

Our Web 2.0 tool was Pixlr. It was a photo editing device and I really enjoyed using it. I thought it was very easy to use, and the site was very straight forward. It also had a lot of different filters and things that you could do to the pictures. Once I started using it, it was really fun. My group had a great time creating our artifacts and our project.

Midpoint Check

I'm starting to feel pretty comfortable with everything we have been going over. I'm really enjoying the activities we are doing and already coming up with ideas about how I can integrate these technologies into my future classroom.

Scavenger Hunt

I really enjoyed this activity! Our group did our project on Social Studies. I also have never used Picasa before and I think it was an extremely easy online device to use to share pictures online. This is a much simpler way to create a picture slideshow then doing it through powerpoint. I had a difficult time downloading the pictures from my phone to the computer so I ended up e-mailing them to myself and my group members. There was probably an easier way to do it, but I just did it the way that made sense to me.

Google Docs

I absolutely love using google docs! I was just recently introduced to it last semester and it was so helpful. Students are always going to have to do group projects and I remember as a child it was always a hassle to have to meet up with your group at someone's house and do a project. There were always conflicting schedules amongst the group members. It only gets worse when you get to college because everyone is so busy with school and work. Google docs provides a way where you don't physically have to be with your group to get your project done. Everyone in the group can take part in it on their own time. They can also add comments to the document if they have a question about something that someone else wrote. It's just a great tool for any kind of group work.

Webquest

I believe Webquest's should be integrated into the classrooms. "Death by powerpoint" is getting extremely old in the classrooms now a days. Bringing in a Webquest gives the students interaction instead of just sitting and listening to the teacher lecture. It would give them motivation and when students have motivation they are more inclined to learn and participate. Some Webquests also require the classroom to work in groups. Therefore, it helps with cooperative learning in a team. It also promotes higher-level thinking skills and keeps the students engaged during class. Making sure students are engaged and learning are two important factors in being a teacher.

Website Evaluation Correction

I found website evaluation very beneficial. Anyone can go create a website but it doesn't always mean that the website is accurate. It is important to see if the website is factual and objective or completely biased. As a future educator, I would encourage my students to do website evaluations so they can understand that not everything they see published is true. I would have them check for accuracy, domains, and currency. As students progress through grades they are going to have more and more opportunities to do research on the internet and they need to be able to identify what is true and what is not.

Website Evaluation

I evaluated the Discovery Education website. I found it very informative. It was a place for teachers, parents, and students to go. The students category had many interactive simulations to help them with school. It didn't teach the subjects to them, it was more of an extension of learning type thing. The website seemed to be extremely formal. It had all of its authors, publishing body, and information presented and it seemed really reliable. It could be beneficial for not only students but teachers and parents as well.

Course Expectations

I feel pretty comfortable with technology for the most part. There are some things that I get confused about, but if someone shows me how to do it one time I can remember it from that point on. From this course I expect to learn different types of technologies that I can integrate into my future classroom. I also expect to feel more comfortable with technology after this class.

My name is Melina and welcome to my journey through TPTE 486! YAY BLOGGING!