My favorite tools for students are: digital storytelling and videos. Digital storytelling is a great way to synthesize information we've learned, also it could be an alternate way of publishing their books. Fun!
I think I CAN effectively use a variety of technologies in my classroom. I always knew I needed to use more, but didn't know what or how. I feel like I have a great launching pad and a lot of room to grow.
I was surprised by how much technology there is!!!! and what it can do!!! Wow.
Monday, August 9, 2010
Tool #11 - Digital Citizenship
I really like the way Cool Cat Teacher spells out the 4 areas: Literacy, safety, learning strategies, and etiquette. I want to address each of these areas with my students and like she said on her blog, the most effective way for students to learn the areas of digital citizenship is, model, model, model. As we use each tool we will go over proper uses of the tool (what is this tool for?) We will have discussions on how to become a more effective learner and evaluate information, videos and images. As we create videos etc. I will be sure to communicate copyright laws to the students and explain the purpose of copyright. Finally as we present or use Skype to communicate with others we will be sure to show the kind and courteous behavior we practice day to day in the classroom. Finally, as the students learn to make accounts and share information on blogs we will emphasize SAFETY. We will also communicate these things with the parents via meetings, newsletters...
Tool #10 Exploring Mobile Technology and Apps
1. I downloaded 3 free apps to my Iphone so I could play with them and experience what they where like. My favorite one was called Find Sums. As a Kinder teacher I would introduce it later in the second semester once the students have had experience making sets to ten and using a ten frame. They will also need to recognize the corresponding numerals to 10. This game reenforces these concepts. The top part has a ten frame and the bottom has number tiles. If you press the number 5 five red apples appear. You have to think: How many more apples to make 10? Then click another 5. Five green apples appear and those tiles will disapear. Continue with another number combination that makes 10 until all of the tiles have been used.
2. I've had an Iphone since May of this year and I love it. I am amazed at what it can do. As far as "educational games" are concerned I like playing Words With Friends with my brother and my mom. The IPhone is also very user friendly and interactive. I can definitely envision students working with Ipod Touches in the classroom.
3. I plan on using the Ipod Touches to extend skills learned. The key will be finding lots of good aps. I currently have Tetris and Labyrinth which work on spacial awareness and motor control, the afore mentioned math Ap, and a reader that reads books to you in English, (although the read alouds on the Scholastic Website are better). For starters students in my classroom will use them during Bilingual Centers.
2. I've had an Iphone since May of this year and I love it. I am amazed at what it can do. As far as "educational games" are concerned I like playing Words With Friends with my brother and my mom. The IPhone is also very user friendly and interactive. I can definitely envision students working with Ipod Touches in the classroom.
3. I plan on using the Ipod Touches to extend skills learned. The key will be finding lots of good aps. I currently have Tetris and Labyrinth which work on spacial awareness and motor control, the afore mentioned math Ap, and a reader that reads books to you in English, (although the read alouds on the Scholastic Website are better). For starters students in my classroom will use them during Bilingual Centers.
Tool #9 Jing and Skype
1. Jing is handy for information sharing without having to create a document. I imagine I will use this tool mostly with other teachers as we plan together. I can't see myself using it with the students as we have a lot of computer basics to cover. For some reason this feels like a more advanced skill. Maybe another teacher will enlighten me though. :)
2. I liked the suggestions to use Skype for read alouds with authors.... Also, since we study different professions and we could call offices and set up Skype conferences for interviews. I agree that it's a good idea to chat with different classes, but I have a lot more questions about that than answers. I did see a lot of enthusiasm about Skype when I read coworkers' blogs so I'm exited to hear their ideas when we meet up in person later this week.
3. I downloaded both Skype and Jing to the work PC. I took a picture of my screen using Jing and emailed the link to my husband just to try it out. It's cool. Skype is having trouble connecting right now, but I have a personal account and I use it to talk to a friend of mine in Germany. Also, a few summers ago I traveled to Spain, Germany and Uganda and used Skype to talk to my family at home. It's really neat to be able to do that. This type of cross-continent connection will be exiting for the students. My biggest question is how do you connect with classes over-seas? And that leads me to the following two questions: What should we discuss and how does it tie into the curriculum? Food for thought. I welcome any comments on this one.
2. I liked the suggestions to use Skype for read alouds with authors.... Also, since we study different professions and we could call offices and set up Skype conferences for interviews. I agree that it's a good idea to chat with different classes, but I have a lot more questions about that than answers. I did see a lot of enthusiasm about Skype when I read coworkers' blogs so I'm exited to hear their ideas when we meet up in person later this week.
3. I downloaded both Skype and Jing to the work PC. I took a picture of my screen using Jing and emailed the link to my husband just to try it out. It's cool. Skype is having trouble connecting right now, but I have a personal account and I use it to talk to a friend of mine in Germany. Also, a few summers ago I traveled to Spain, Germany and Uganda and used Skype to talk to my family at home. It's really neat to be able to do that. This type of cross-continent connection will be exiting for the students. My biggest question is how do you connect with classes over-seas? And that leads me to the following two questions: What should we discuss and how does it tie into the curriculum? Food for thought. I welcome any comments on this one.
Tool # 8 Part 1The Count & Cookie Monster- Apples
In this video The Count counts to three. It's great for the beginning of the year, 1 to one correspondence and making a set of 3. It could be shown again at the end of the year to introduce the concept of subtraction.
Tool 8 Part 2The Count meets Cookie Monster - Classic Sesame Street
Here they count to 7. These videos are really funny and I expect the kids will be howling. My only concern is that YouTube is blocked by the network. Will it be unblocked? (both of these Sesame Street clips are from You Tube)
Tool #7 - Digital Stories
As I watched the various digital stories on-line, through the blog, I got the idea that you can do pretty much anything with this tool. As I've had the summer to work with these tools and reflect on them afterward I believe the same is true for most of the tools. As I plan on using these tools in the classroom I am thankful for the opportunity to be creative in new ways. I expect the students will enjoy it too. Over the years I've seen their excitement at using the computer, but I have been limited by my lack of knowledge. Now, the sky is the limit!
Having said that, I did get stuck on this tool. I found it overwhelming, and began to feel the pressure of "figuring it out". As all these tools are so new to me, I feel like a student myself and I need to continue to take the time to tinker with them and let them become second nature. I'm sure that as I grow as a learner, it will show in my classroom. I guess that was the point anyway, but what a process!
All tangents aside, I used photostory to create the following video. It is NOT intended to be used as an introduction to triangles. The video mentions, but does not discuss verticies and sides (important prior knowledge for this video). It's purpose is to review and extend thinking about triangles and to connect them to the real world. Also, I intend to have students create videos like it to re-enforce other shapes after having viewed it. If it is their first project with photostory we will create several videos together as a class first, possibly even in small groups with those struggling with their shapes and then present them to the class. Enjoy!
Having said that, I did get stuck on this tool. I found it overwhelming, and began to feel the pressure of "figuring it out". As all these tools are so new to me, I feel like a student myself and I need to continue to take the time to tinker with them and let them become second nature. I'm sure that as I grow as a learner, it will show in my classroom. I guess that was the point anyway, but what a process!
All tangents aside, I used photostory to create the following video. It is NOT intended to be used as an introduction to triangles. The video mentions, but does not discuss verticies and sides (important prior knowledge for this video). It's purpose is to review and extend thinking about triangles and to connect them to the real world. Also, I intend to have students create videos like it to re-enforce other shapes after having viewed it. If it is their first project with photostory we will create several videos together as a class first, possibly even in small groups with those struggling with their shapes and then present them to the class. Enjoy!
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