Reflection #20

EDU 6384 has been very beneficial in many ways as an educator, a student and a mother. This was my first online course, and it was very difficult to get used to learning pretty much on my own, but at the same time it was very convenient because I was able to do it all at home. Therefore, it had its pros and cons.
The book was very informational and helpful. I learned so many ways of integrating technology, and new websites that I could use in the classroom. The discussion posting were also very helpful. I was able to learn from my classmates, and steel some technology ideas to use in my class. Something that I took from the book, and have already started to use is E-Pals. My students have enjoyed using this site, and so have I. They are now able to write letters to me through E-Pals versus me having to take their journals home on the weekends.
This course has enhanced my way of thinking of technology. I thought my campus was pretty advanced in the area of technology, but there is still so much to learn about it. After being in this course, I have really reflected on my ways of integrating technology in class. I really need to step it up with technology. There are so many new things out there for students, including Assistive Technology. This class has shown me that I need to be better equipped to be able to integrate technology in class.
I really enjoyed creating a Blog for the first time. I have also created a Blog for the classroom for my students to see. My Blog helped me reflect on me integrating technology in class. I plan on creating a personal blog as well to write about personal things.
The best part was the driving time! I was able to do it all from home, and dedicate more time to my family duties.
Now to the things that didn’t work out as great for me…
I had difficult time learning on my own. For example: the database and excel assignments were my worst. After sitting for hours listening to the tutorials, I still struggled with these assignments. This is where I needed to sit in a classroom, and learn step by step.
The postings on Blackboard were not difficult. The only problem I had in this area was waiting for others to post so that I could have any discussions. I constantly had to check Blackboard to check when people had posted so that I could reply back. Another issue in this area is that when a discussion had to be posted based on the Chapter questions, I felt like the answers of classmates were very repetitive making it hard to respond if you were one of the last ones to respond to the answers.
Overall, this course was a great one! I would recommend this course to a person that is always on the go, and wants to save driving time. Plus, it offers so many new ways of learning how to integrate technology in the classrooms, and help you be up to date with some of the new TECH items, and sites to use.

#19 Thanksgiving Story

The last day before break I allowed my students to create a Thanksgiving story on thanksgiving story.com. It is a site that students star in a story all about Thanksgiving. Students were able to fill in some blanks, and at the end a story is generated for them.
This was just something quick that my students had fun with, and integrating technology simultaneously. I thought it would be fun for each student to create one so that they could share with their family on Thanksgiving. This activity only took about 10 minutes per student.
They were all excited to print it after they were done!
I added one example below to share...

Megan's Thanksgiving Story
At Megan's house on Thanksgiving day, everything smelled fantastic! The grown-ups were in the kitchen filling the best china dishes with all sorts of yummy Thanksgiving food. In the spirit of sharing, every Thanksgiving Megan's family made a big turkey dinner to eat with special friends. All of a sudden the doorbell rang. It was Matthew, one of Megan's favorite people. "Come in!" Megan said excitedly. "Dinner's almost ready!" "I've brought corn bread," Matthew said, smiling, holding up a dish of great-looking corn bread. And Karla has made turkey," Megan said. This is going to be great! Dinner was terrific. The turkey and stuffing was especially good this year. But, the big question every year at Megan's house was: "Who will share the wishbone?" This year was no different! "Me, me!" Megan and Matthew pleaded. The grown-ups smiled. Karla nodded and said, "Go ahead you two!" Megan and Matthew were given the wishbone. Each grabbed one end and pulled. All of a sudden, the wishbone slipped from their fingers and flew into the air! From nowhere, Sparty appeared and grabbed the wishbone! Everyone jumped up! The grown-ups started shouting: "Get it!" "Grab the bone!" "Sparty can't eat that!" "Bones aren't safe for pets!" Chairs fell over and dishes almost crashed to the floor as everyone tried to catch Sparty. Sparty loved all the attention and ran happily around the room, slipping away each time someone got close! Finally, Karla caught Sparty and got the wishbone away. "Whew! Here it is," Karla said, holding the wishbone in the air for all to see. Oh no! It was broken! For a moment, everyone was silent. "Well," Karla said, starting to laugh. "It looks like Sparty gets to make the wish this year! I hope it's a good one!" Then, everyone laughed and applauded. "More pie!" Matthew said. This is a Thanksgiving to remember always, Megan thought, looking around at all the happy faces. Megan would always remember this Thanksgiving as "Sparty's Thanksgiving Wish!"
The End

#18 Big Huge Thesarus

I have decided to add one more thing to my Writing publishing center, Big Huge Thesarus. This is a site that the students can use for new vocabulary words. It gives them synonyms and antonyms. The students can type in a word, and the thesaurus will give them a synonym or antonym, depending what it is they are asking for.
This site can be used a resource, as it is required by TEKS that students in 5th grade learn how to use resources like thesauruses and dictionaries. Students can add richness of vocabulary to their writing. Many of my students get stuck using the same words over and over. This will definitely help broaden their vocabulary horizons.
I will be integrating this resource on the week back from Thanksgiving break, and I really hope that my students take advantage of this great resource. I will have to train them well to ensure that they do.

#17 MATH FACTS

Last year one of my students was struggling with his multiplication facts, and this year I decided to follow up on him. This student had a really hard time in math as we all know if we do not know our facts, then we will pretty much struggle with everything else in math like division, fractions, decimals, etc...

Well what I did is I took his IPOD and downloaded all the facts for him so that he could listen to them during the summer time. This year I was so happy to find out that he knows them all! He told me that listening to his IPOD really helped him remember his facts. This year in 5th grade he has told me as well as his teacher that he is doing great in math, and his multiplication facts come like 123 to him.

I have told other teachers so that they can too do this for some of their students that are struggling with math facts.

An IPOD can be used for learning tool, as I discovered this year. Before I used to only see it as a form of entertainment. It is essential that we think outside the box!!!

#16 WORD PUBLISHING

I have set up a new station for our writing time, WORD PUBLISHING. After revising and editing process, my students will now be using Microsoft Word to finish their writing product. I was having a hard time motivating some of my students to write during writing workshop time. I have noticed that many of my students are now eager to write to be able to get to the final step, which is Word Publishing. I have allowed them to insert pictures as well to make their stories seem more real. Some of my kids have been very creative with their products.
After the students are done publishing their writing, they email me their stories through EPALS.
This allows me to grade their writing from my home, versus staying late after work or taking their journals home. We have also set up a folder for each subject so that they can stay organized.
I am beginning to see all the benefits of integrating technology in my class, and I will continue to try and find new ways of making my job easier and more exciting for the kids. Using technology is definitely a plus!

#15 Shelfari.com

Shelfari.com is a great site for kids to talk about books. This social media site is focused on books. Members can build virtual bookshelves, discover, rate and discuss books, and participate in online groups.
The kids love to use because they compare it to myspace and facebook. They are able to chat with others, add their pictures, add and invite friends to their page. The kids are able to focus on nothing but books and they are able to give others book recommendations. The site has so many books available that kids can choose from to add to their list of books that they have completed. This site can be used a motivation tool to get kids to read.
My students are eager each day to log in to chat with others. I myself love this site!

#14 Photo Stories

This week my students made stories on photo stories. They really had fun doing this project. The kids took one of their stories that they wrote during writing workshop and published them on photo story. The students downloaded some picture from the internet and some even used their own pictures and added them to their stories. The students were able to add their voices to the stories as well. Next week the students will be sharing the stories with other classes. I couldn't believe how creative some of my students got. This really motivated me as their teacher to integrate more technology!

Topic #13 Campus Technology

I am very excited because my campus is having a Technology Media Fair this month. Teachers may enter projects that they are doing with their classrooms or any ideas that they might have. The media fair categories are animation, desktop publishing, digital audio/video, multimedia, photography, original illustrated art, product design, and website design.
Like I have mentioned before, I feel privileged to work at a campus where technology is recognized. We have a great technology master teacher that is always there when help is needed and always has things like this upcoming technology fair, and staff developmental classes on Technology. I am looking forward to this media fair, can't wait!

TOPIC #12

A. I believe that I am a visual/spatial learner. I have to be able to see things in order for me to be able to learn. I use visualization a lot with when I am reading; I have to picture things in my mind at times to understand. I am also a bodily/kinesthetic learner. I have to practice doing things myself in order to learn. I can’t just sit there and listen to someone, and then do it correctly. I am a big on hands on, if I don’t I will not be able to retain!

B.I try to incorporate all of the multiple intelligences when I teach, but I know that sometimes I don’t. I try to use all of the students’ senses when I teach as I have heard that students learn best when more senses are used. I obviously use verbal/linguistic, but I always have my visuals to go with my verbal lesson. I especially have my visuals for many of my ELLs. This really helps me with my vocabulary words that I have to teach, but it gets tougher with abstract vocabulary. I like to incorporate as much kinesthetic as possible like when we do plays for reading. I have also taken a lesson from Social Studies and have had my students act it out. This really helped some of my students that a hard time comprehending with the reading in the book. I like to use music as well. Just this week we had a reading lesson on inferring. I had my students listen to the lyrics of a song, and had to infer on who the song was talking about. My students are all ears as soon I say the word “music”.

VERBAL:Electronic dictionary and Electronic Dictionary, email
LOGICAL/MATHEMATICAL:Search Engine, Spreadsheets, Webquests
VISUAL:Power Point, Camera, Animoto
KINESTHETIC:Assistive Technology, Joystick, Mouse
MUSICAL/RYTHMIC:YouTube, Multimedia Presentation
INTRAPERSONAL:Blogging, Online-Surveys
INTERPERSONAL:Class Discussions Blackboard, Instant Messengers
NATURALIST:Mapping Tools, Database
EXISTENTIAL:Virtual Fieldtrips, Simulations

In my lesson, students will understand what real reading is by making connections. They will use the thinking stems, and will practice by writing letters to teachers and other students through epals. This lesson includes verbal, visual, intrapersonal, and interpersonal multiple intelligences.

TOPIC 11: Assistive Technology

I just discovered a whole new world; assistive technology. I had never ever heard of such a thing, but I am so amazed of all the wonderful resources that are available to fulfill our students’ needs.

http://www.pluk.org/AT1.html is a great site for parents to visit. It is a family guide to Assistive Technology. It helps parents learn more about AT, and how they can help their children. I think that it is important that teachers train parents on how assistive technology can be used at home. Some students are in need of assistance at home as well; even basic things that we take for granted like eating, dressing, etc…

Let’s Play! Project is a model demonstration project at the University at Buffalo Center for AT. It provides families of children with disabilities to play through the use of assistive technology. It features illustrated sections on the role of play, families, AT, success stories, and resources.

Toys for Kids with Disabilities is wonderful! They have different ideas and tips on buying toys for kids. This is something that I would of never thought of.

Two of my own resources would be:

Foldables on Vocabulary Words: This really helps my kids to organize their thoughts on the vocabulary words of the week. I can’t believe teachers expect their students to learn new terms by just looking up the word.

Graphic Organizers: I love graphic organizers. The students can really learn by creating these organizers. They are great for my students to use as visuals.

TOPIC 10: TECH SKILLS

I had a few tech skills, but obviosuly there is always room for more!
I have really learned of so many sites to use also with my students through students in class.I have also grabbed some ideas from people's postings of things they are doing with their students.
The book,Integrating Technology, is a great resource to have as well. It gives you insights on technology and strategies to implement in the classroom. I have really reflected on my ways with technology. There is more much to learn and do!
Atomic Learning is also a great tool to use! It is ver detailed and explains to you step by step.
All I need is more time!

TOPIC 9: Tech in the Class

Something new that I have started to do in my class is try to implement more technology! Eventhough I have not come up with a crazy big idea yet, I have really tried to implement technology it in our busy schedules that doesn't allow too much of anything!

Every week students have to listen to a video on brainpop.com in relation to what we are studying in social studies. For example, this week they had to listen to the video on Pocahontas since we are studying the first settlements in North America. After listening to the video, students have to take a quiz that is offered by Brain Pop and instead of recording it, they have to email me their score. This gives them the opportunity to practice their typing skills, and practice the emailing system. I am really trying to make them independent students, and I think that them emailing me is taking one more step towards that goal.

They receive two grades, one for their quiz grade, and one for emailing. If they forget to email me, then they will receive a failing grade for that part.

Our First Power Point!

Last week my lesson for Social Studies focused on explorers from Europe so I thought this would be the perfect time to integrate technology! My students had to create a power point presentation for the explorer they were assigned to. They were very excited to work on power point from choosing the font, layout, design, and inserting pictures that represented their explorer.

The students first had to read on their explorer, create their notes, and then finally create their power point slides. This whole lesson took me about a week, but at the end it was all worth it. The students were able to learn from one another by conducting these presentations.

However, I did have to spend a lot of time teaching some of my students how to create their power point slides. I alslo had to make sure that they were not entering too much text and entering only a few words. Many of my students were typing like they were speaking. This is something that adults might also do. Power Point should include highlights and the presenter is responsible to include the details as they are speaking. What I did to show them the correct way to present is I created my own presentation on an explorer and I modeled the incorrect way and the "correct" way of presenting.

I was kind of leniant on the grading, but as we include more power point in our lessons, I advised them my expectations would go higher!

Technology is a Must!

I am lucky to say that I am at a district where technology is greatly emphasized. Every school year, two lessons with the integration of technology are due from each teacher. Teachers must submit their lessons to Tech Fusion, and once they are submitted other teachers are able to view each others lessons on Tech Fusion for use of ideas in their own classrooms, and even rate the lesson to report back how useful the teachers found the lesson. This will be my first year to post a lesson, and I really can’t wait to see all the lessons posted to grasp some new ideas!

Something else that my campus has just begun this year is TECH THURSDAYS. Every Thursday after school, staff developmental is available for teachers to learn new insights of integrating technology in the classroom. This is such a great resource; teachers can be assisted with any questions they might come across, and have a knowledgeable person right there to help!

I personally like to integrate technology in my classroom. Besides the obvious educational purpose of it, majority of my students are from low socio-economic backgrounds. Therefore, this gives them the opportunity to put their hands on technology where as they many not have it in their own homes. It is essential that students are given the opportunities to learn the ins and outs of technology as it will prepare them for the real world; this will create life long learning!

SPREADSHEETS

Spreadsheets are designed to organize and manage numerical data. Teachers can use spreadsheets to keep budgets and grade books, and to help teach math topics. I personally like to use spreadsheets to keep all of my grades for my two groups of kids. Using a spreadsheet helps me to keep up with the grades, and with assignments students are missing.

Spreadsheets can be very beneficial to teachers and students.
1. Save time: They allow teachers and students to complete calculations quickly.
2. Organizes and Displays of Data: Their capability to store information in columns make them ideal tools for designing informational charts like schedules and attendance lists.
3. Supports asking “what if” questions: They help people visualize the impact change in numbers. A student can play with the numbers and see the results immediately, probing the student to ask “what if” questions.
4. Increases Motivation in Mathematics: Spreadsheets can make math concepts graphic where students can see how they work. This can create that motivation in the kids who see some math concepts dull and boring.

I am a Social Studies and ELA teacher. I would really like to learn how I can use spreadsheets with these two contents. I can see how spreadsheets could effectively be used for math like using it for problem solving and analyzing data, but I would really like to explore more on the integration of spreadsheets in ELA and SS.

DATABASES

Database is a computer programs to store, organize, and manipulate information, including text and numerical data. The sole purpose of database is to store important data in a way that makes it easy to locate as needed.

Databases can be used in education, and offers many benefits.
1. Saves time locating and/or updating information: Users can find the information needed very quickly, and changes can be made as needed.
2. Allows comparisons of information through searching across files.
3. Helps reveal relationships among data: Students can see the relationships between information elements that they might not perceive.
4. Teachers can even use it to send personalized letters to parents and others. Teacher only has to create ONE letter or note and the database program takes care of the personalization of the letter.

One negative issue with databases is PRIVACY. Educators must be very careful since databases can consist of personal information. They must protect it from unauthorized access. I am not a big user of databases. First of all, I am not very familiar with the software, and have not really invested too much time on manipulating it or learning too much about it.

Model Classroom Lessons

After viewing the Model Classroom Lessons in my content area/grade level, I was able to find many good lessons that I could use in my classroom. I really liked how each lesson I found had a rubric to go with it.
Buddy Books where students work with kindergarden students to create a book discussing their favorite things. The technology that is used is photo editing, Kidspiration maps, and a scanner. I think this is a great idea for students!
My Exciting Career is also a great lesson. Students choose a career to research and create a presentation using power point. Power point is a great software for students. I like for my students to use power point when presenting any kind of research. They really like using it as they get to look for different pictures to insert in their presentations. The only issue with using this software is that teachers must teach it first.
The last lesson that I also liked is Idioms. Students create a graphic in Kid Pix, or an appropriate drawing program, to show their understanding of a selected idiom from a teacher-generated list. I really love this idea since I teach bilingual students who really struggle with idioms. This is something that I plan to use for my ELLS'.
I really loved this website! There are so many lessons to choose from. Everything is already laid out for teachers. From time, TEKS, materials needed, procedures, closure,and rubrics. I definetely plan on using many of these lesson, and will share with my colleagues.

Word Processor

Word Processing is a great tool to implement in the world of education. It can be used to support any kind of directed instruction or constructivist activity. There are some great advantages to word processing.

1.Saves time- Educators can use their preparation time more efficiently by modifying materials that they already have versus creating a new material.
2.Enhances Document Appearance- Word processing software makes materials look more polished and professional versus hand written ones.
3.Allows sharing- Word processing allows materials to be shared easily among writers.
4.Helps Students Make Corrections on writing
• Students can use word processing to write, edit, and illustrate stories.
5.Can be used for activities in language, writing, and reading.
• Students can combine sentences, add or correct punctuation, or writing sentences for spelling words.
6.Encourages writing through the Curriculum.
• Word processing can encourage writing throughout all content. Its font and graphic features allows student to present concepts in mathematics, science, etc…
7.Word Processing is Available in Several Languages
• Supports foreign language learning.

The only disadvantage that I would see with this word processing is teachers have to take the time to teach their students. In order for this software to be used students must be shown the features and the uses of the software. My time is so limited with everything that I already do. I would love to use it in my classroom especially for writing, but at this time I feel that is impossible with time being my biggest challenge.
I personally use this software every day, and makes my job so much easier. I can save documents and make modifications, share my lesson plans with other teachers, create letters to parents, maintain student information, and many more! It is a great tool for both teachers and students. My goal is to find a way to be able to implement it in my classroom with so little time!

ATOMIC LEARNING

64 out of 100.... Definitely glad I am in this course! There is a lot of reviewing and learning to accomplish! After reflecting on my results, I don't have the confidence to teach others any of the skills that were assessed in the Atomic Learning Assessment. I could perform most of the skills on my own, but not teach them to another individual. The skills that I really want to learn more about is collecting, organizing, manipulating, formatting, and communicating videos. This is something that I would really like to learn so that I could use it in my classroom with my students. With all that being said, I feel that I am a quick learner, and know that by me taking this course and with the help of others, I can improve my skills.

TECHNOLOGY STANDRDS FOR TEACHERS

NETS
These standards must be met by teachers to ensure students are fully engaged in their technology learning. Teachers are responsible for implementing these standards as they are technology role models to their students. These NETS are essential for educators in order to be proficient in integrating technology in education.

TEKS
These are the objectives that are set in place for students in reference to the use of technology in the classrooms. In order for students to be able to meet the TEKS, educators must fulfill the NETS. You can't have TEKS, if you don't have NETS!

TECHNOLOGY GOALS

Be Profficient in...

1. Video Streaming
2. Number Manipulation
3. Integrating Sound
4. Using TECHNOLOGY in the Classroom
5. Making my Students Independent Technolgy Users

My Plan to Accomplish these Goals: I believe this class will definetely help me achieve some of my goals as well as attending Technology Staff Developmental at my campus every Thursday.