1. What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox? Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools.
I am very excited about using SKYPE in my classroom... I really think that the students will benefit from it in lots of different ways. It is a fun and interactive way to teach and learn.
2. How have you transfomed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom?
I definatley have changed my ways of thinking about the learning that will take place in my classroom. I have to let go of some of the control and let the kids take control of their learning with a few guidelines in place.
3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
I learned that there is so much more out there than I could ever imagine. I did have difficulties at times, but as i continued to navigate things got easier. I enjoyed the learning process and I am excited to use some of these tools in my classroom.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Tool #10 Underneath it All - Digital Citizenship
Three things that make a good digital citizen:
This tool was very helpful because sometimes it is easy to forget these things.
-Follow the Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." I try to live by this daily. I also discuss it at least once a day with my students.
-Whatever you put in the computer it is there for the world to see.
-NEVER give your password to your friends. Kids love to tell each other everything, especially if it is a secret!
One of the resources mentioned above or on the Ed Tech website that I plan to use instructionally is Brain Pop. Brain Pop is such a great resource to integrate technology into the classroom! The kids love it and it also offers things for those who need things to be a little more difficult. The kids LOVE taking the hard quiz at the end of the activity... gives them a little challenge! The kids are held accountable by taking the quiz at the end- it could be used for a grade in the grade book! I already use this as an enrichment to my curriculum. This website is easy to access at home, too!
Explain briefly how you would "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to your students.
Theresa Trevino has done a great job of answering this question. Please visit her blog and read her explanation. Theresa Trevino's Blog - Tool #10
Explain briefly how you plan to share the idea of digital citizenship with your parents.
Back to School night is a great opportunity to communicate this to parents. Parents should sign a digital citizenship agreement that would hold them accountable for being aware of the procedures. I also agree with Meredith Ridner on her idea of adding blurbs to our blogs and newsletters and present them as "tips" to parents on a regular basis!
This tool was very helpful because sometimes it is easy to forget these things.
-Follow the Golden Rule of "Do unto others as you would have them do to you." I try to live by this daily. I also discuss it at least once a day with my students.
-Whatever you put in the computer it is there for the world to see.
-NEVER give your password to your friends. Kids love to tell each other everything, especially if it is a secret!
One of the resources mentioned above or on the Ed Tech website that I plan to use instructionally is Brain Pop. Brain Pop is such a great resource to integrate technology into the classroom! The kids love it and it also offers things for those who need things to be a little more difficult. The kids LOVE taking the hard quiz at the end of the activity... gives them a little challenge! The kids are held accountable by taking the quiz at the end- it could be used for a grade in the grade book! I already use this as an enrichment to my curriculum. This website is easy to access at home, too!
Explain briefly how you would "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to your students.
Theresa Trevino has done a great job of answering this question. Please visit her blog and read her explanation. Theresa Trevino's Blog - Tool #10
Explain briefly how you plan to share the idea of digital citizenship with your parents.
Back to School night is a great opportunity to communicate this to parents. Parents should sign a digital citizenship agreement that would hold them accountable for being aware of the procedures. I also agree with Meredith Ridner on her idea of adding blurbs to our blogs and newsletters and present them as "tips" to parents on a regular basis!
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Tool #9 Incorporating Classroom-Based Devices as Tools for Learning
It is important to tie technology to the objective because the kids are growing up in a world of technology. We will integrate technology into education and content objectives, the kids are so use to using technology outside of the classroom and it will bring everything together. They will want to download the apps that we have in the classroom at home and keep the practice up at home.
Technology is used in my classroom during literacy workstations and math tubs. I feel that it is very important for a child to be in charge of his or her learning. With established rules and routines, the students will gain a sense of responsibility for their own learning.
Some apps that I found for the iTouch include:
Houston Zoo (Helps navigate when you are at the zoo, but also gives animal specifications. It also helps with the Map skills and reading a map with cardinal directions.) We visit the Houston Zoo each year and this app will be a HUGE success with my children.
Funny Flash (This one is neat because it morphs animals and then spells them out verbally and in print.) This will be a great app for those ESL students.
Math Drill (Addition & Subtraction - primary grades.) Awesome for students learning their math facts!
Sight Words (Great way for students to learn their sight words.)
The Weather Channel (Keep current with weather conditions anywhere. Goes well with our Seasons/Graphing Weather Unit.)
I use the iTouches during math and literacy stations. I plan to use them for to differentiate learning. The Brainpop app is great and plan to add this to my apps on the iTouches. The sight word apps will be used for my ESL students to review the English language.
Technology is used in my classroom during literacy workstations and math tubs. I feel that it is very important for a child to be in charge of his or her learning. With established rules and routines, the students will gain a sense of responsibility for their own learning.
Some apps that I found for the iTouch include:
Houston Zoo (Helps navigate when you are at the zoo, but also gives animal specifications. It also helps with the Map skills and reading a map with cardinal directions.) We visit the Houston Zoo each year and this app will be a HUGE success with my children.
Funny Flash (This one is neat because it morphs animals and then spells them out verbally and in print.) This will be a great app for those ESL students.
Math Drill (Addition & Subtraction - primary grades.) Awesome for students learning their math facts!
Sight Words (Great way for students to learn their sight words.)
The Weather Channel (Keep current with weather conditions anywhere. Goes well with our Seasons/Graphing Weather Unit.)
I use the iTouches during math and literacy stations. I plan to use them for to differentiate learning. The Brainpop app is great and plan to add this to my apps on the iTouches. The sight word apps will be used for my ESL students to review the English language.
Saturday, July 30, 2011
Tool #8 Taking a Look at the Tools
After watching the video, I learned that 1st grade will be receiving 2 more iTouches and the upper grades will be receiving iPads. I honestly think that iPads are easier for first graders to navigate because of the larger area of the screen. However, the kids are so use to using their parents iPhones, it shouldn't be a huge deal.
I am also VERY excited about the 5 Dell mini's that are coming our way. There is so much that the children will be able to do with all of the extra technology in our classroom. I can't wait to see what the years to come have to offer!!!
Unlike last year where the kids would put the iTouches on my computer desk and if one of them needed to be charged they would just plug it in after workstations or math tubs. I will manage my device by naming each one. The iTouches will all have the same "home" in our classroom. There are so many apps to download on the iTouch that go right along with the first grade curriculum.
I am also VERY excited about the 5 Dell mini's that are coming our way. There is so much that the children will be able to do with all of the extra technology in our classroom. I can't wait to see what the years to come have to offer!!!
Unlike last year where the kids would put the iTouches on my computer desk and if one of them needed to be charged they would just plug it in after workstations or math tubs. I will manage my device by naming each one. The iTouches will all have the same "home" in our classroom. There are so many apps to download on the iTouch that go right along with the first grade curriculum.
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tool #7 Reaching Outside your Classroom: Online Digital Projects
I absolutely LOVE using Skype! I used Skype to keep in touch with my sister while she was in grad school and teaching 4th grade in Round Rock, Texas. I had great intentions of using Skype as a way of communication between our classes as well... lets just say we both got VERY busy during the school year. This year I would love to figure out a way to communicate with published authors using Skype. When we do our author study on Jan Brett the kids get really in to learning about her and her life and how she gets her ideas for her writing. If they had to opportunity to actually connect one on one with a "real live" author using Skype... I think the kids would really make leaps and bounds in their writing. Last Spring, a grandmother of a student in Meredith Ramey's class who is a published author came in and spoke to the children about writing. I feel that the children really took off in their writing after her visit. They were very confident in their writing and did not hesitate to elaborate on their ideas.
Content objective:
The learner will engage in online conversations with published authors to discuss the writing process.
Implementation:
I would begin the process at the beginning of the year and continue through the end of the year. We cover many different genres and units in first grade.
Content objective:
The learner will engage in online conversations with published authors to discuss the writing process.
Implementation:
I would begin the process at the beginning of the year and continue through the end of the year. We cover many different genres and units in first grade.
Friday, July 8, 2011
Tool #6 Using Web Tools to Promote Discussion in and out of the Classroom!
I have accounts on:
Facebook: Meg Hansen
Skype: Meg Hansen
Twitter: MM_Hansen
TodaysMeet: http://todaysmeet.com/MsHansen
GoogleDocs: SBISD login/Gmail login
I could use TodaysMeet to answer questions that parents might have after Meet the Teacher, parent night, etc. This would be a great way of parent/teacher communication.
I could use Skype to communicate with people in the community. I had great intentions last year of being pen pals with my sister's 4th grade class in Round Rock, TX... didn't happen! I thought it would be great for the kids to write back and forth and Skype as a class toward the end of the year.
I can use GoogleDocs to share documents and information with my students as well as my team.
Facebook: Meg Hansen
Skype: Meg Hansen
Twitter: MM_Hansen
TodaysMeet: http://todaysmeet.com/MsHansen
GoogleDocs: SBISD login/Gmail login
I could use TodaysMeet to answer questions that parents might have after Meet the Teacher, parent night, etc. This would be a great way of parent/teacher communication.
I could use Skype to communicate with people in the community. I had great intentions last year of being pen pals with my sister's 4th grade class in Round Rock, TX... didn't happen! I thought it would be great for the kids to write back and forth and Skype as a class toward the end of the year.
I can use GoogleDocs to share documents and information with my students as well as my team.
Tool #5 Producing with Web 2.0 Tools!
My students each created a Wordle last year with help from learning buddies. They wrote a list of words that described them and put them all into a Wordle. Their work was displayed in one of our windows during the week of the authors fair.
I tried Animoto and really like how user friendly it is. I created a short slide show clip using my pictures from my vacation to Destin, Florida with my cousins.
I used IMovie to create a movie at the end of the year using pictures that I took during our year together. The kids and parents both enjoyed this special keepsake. It will definately be a project that will carry on over the years.
I played around on Storybird for a little bit... what a neat idea!!! It allows the student to write their own story and gives them the illustration to help with ideas at the same time.
I tried Animoto and really like how user friendly it is. I created a short slide show clip using my pictures from my vacation to Destin, Florida with my cousins.
Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.
I used IMovie to create a movie at the end of the year using pictures that I took during our year together. The kids and parents both enjoyed this special keepsake. It will definately be a project that will carry on over the years.
I played around on Storybird for a little bit... what a neat idea!!! It allows the student to write their own story and gives them the illustration to help with ideas at the same time.
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