Tuesday, April 22, 2014

GoogleGroups


STORY:

In the Google Groups assignment, I learned how to create a powerpoint and also how to work together in a group. I learned how to use the Google Groups technology and how to create a document and allow my group members to edit it.
A teacher can use Google Groups in the classroom by creating a group and adding the students to the group. The teacher can post directions to assignments and allow all students to view them. The teacher could also begin an assignment and give different students a certain part. The students can upload their part to Google Groups and the teacher can grade the assignment from there.
The NETS-T standards states that teachers should design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments. Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the Standards. Teachers follow these standards by using the Google Groups software. They evaluate and develop authentic learning experiences by using the Google Groups.


Monday, April 21, 2014

Website

 
 
During the Website assignment, I learned how to successfully create and manage a website. I have not yet mastered how to be creative yet, but I am learning. The website was very easy to create, and fairly easy to navigate.
Websites can be used in the classroom in many different ways. The teacher can create a class website for parents and students to use. The teacher can post a class syllabus, supply list, calendar, and the teacher’s contact information. The teacher can also use the website to keep parents updated on school functions, parties, holidays, etc..
The NETS-T standard two are met using a website. The standards instruct us to design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments. Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. Develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress. Students can assess their own progress if the teacher posts grades on their class website. Students can create goals and manage their own learning if a calendar is provided on the website.


Final Course Reflection

In this class, I have learned about multiple ways to use technology in the classroom. Some things include how to help students with a disability, how to create a movie story, how to create and use a blog, how to use online programs to create rubrics, how to create a website, how to detect plagiarism, and how to create an online study set.
My strong points would include creating a movie story, creating a PowerPoint, creating an online study set, and detecting plagiarism. Using PowerPoint was a strong point because I was already familiar with how to create a PowerPoint. I had never created a movie story before, but the program was very easy to use and I believe it would be easy for students to use also. Creating an online study set was self explanatory and the website walked you through every step. Detecting plagiarism was an easy tool to use. The rubric tool was easy to use also. I liked how it offered premade rubrics for you, or you had the option to create your own rubric.
My weak points would be creating a blog, creating a website, creating a Google group, and the accessibility features for students with disabilities. The accessibility features were hard for me to navigate in and out of. For example, I changed the color of my screen and it took awhile for me to be able to change it back. Getting started with a blog was fairly difficult. It was not made clear or easy how to post things, which can make it difficult for students also. Creating a website was extremely difficult. I had a lot of trouble with adding links and adding tabs and different pages inside the main page. Google Groups, just like the blog, was difficult to navigate and add people to the group. I can improve these weak areas by practicing. Practice makes perfect and it is always best for the teacher to know exactly how to do things before he/she assigns them to their students.  

The integration of these tools in the classroom is an easy task to master. Students, in this time period, spend a lot of time using technology. Using technology in the classroom is a great way to get students interested and to help them learn. It is important for teachers to integrate technology in the classroom. A teacher can easily incorporate any of these tools into any lesson. 

Assistive Technology

https://drive.google.com/?authuser=0#folders/0BxucRNF3G3cWVS1scVFCeGtucHM





While completing the Assistive Technology assignment, I learned how to use computer options to help students with disabilities. I learned how to take a screen shot, how to magnify the web page, how to use Sticky Keys, and also how to change the color of the screen for students with a visual disability.
Teachers can use these features to accommodate their students with disabilities. The screen magnifier can be used for students with visual disabilities. The teacher can change the color of the computer screen so that a student with visual disabilities can see it better.
According to the standards, teachers should be modeling experiences witgh the use of contemporary tools. The standards state that teachers design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments. Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessments incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the Standards.


Sunday, April 13, 2014

My Movie Story



During the assignment My Movie Story, I learned how to use pictures to create a video. I also learned how to create a title slide and a credit slide. While completing My Movie Story, I chose a certain theme to make it appear organized. I chose vacation as the theme and used pictures from a previous family vacation. I also learned how to add music to my slide show.

Teachers can use the My Movie Story assignment to provide an example of something. They can also use it to stimulate the understanding of concepts for visual learners.

My Movie Story ties to the NETS-T standard three, model digital age work and learning. Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. They also demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations. Teachers should collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation. Teachers demonstrate fluency by creating a movie story. Teachers can collaborate with students by teaching them how to make a movie story or making a class movie story.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Web Tools

WORKSHEET:


RUBRIC:

TEST:







Web tools are used in classrooms all around the world. Web tools help students and teachers interact and make learning fun! While completing the Web tools assignment, I learned how to create a rubric, create an online study set, create an online worksheet, and create an online puzzle.

            Rubrics are a necessity for teacher to have because they allow the students to know exactly what they will be graded on. An online study set can be used by a teacher as a center. The teacher could set up the study set on computers and allow the students to study for the test as a fun center. An online worksheet is great for teachers to use because it allows the creation of a worksheet, by simply keying in information wanted present on the worksheet. An online puzzle is also a useful tool to make creating puzzles easy for teachers. For example, a teacher can use the online puzzle tool to create a crossword puzzle to allow students to practice vocabulary words.

            The Web tools assignment ties to the NETS-T standard one: Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Face-to-face meets the standards for the worksheet and puzzle, which can be completed individually or in a group setting. The virtual environment standard can be met by using the online study set because students have to use technology (computer) to complete the study set.  

Monday, February 17, 2014

Turn it in


Turn It In is a wonderful tool for students and teachers. Before, students could easily get away with plagiarizing and now it makes plagiarizing impossible. During this assignment I learned how to successfully detect the originality in an essay. I did reach a problem in the Turn It In program where, although it was my original work, the program picked it up as being plagiarized. To fix this problem I simply rearranged my sentence or rephrased my words so that they were no longer similar to someone else’s work.

Turn It In can be used a great deal in education. It is very seldom that teachers can detect plagiarism on their own, without assistance from an outside source. This tool will be of great use to me in my future classroom to detect if a student is not completing his or her own assignments. It can also be used to show students how to properly cite work being used in an assignment.

The NETS-T standard number four is met with this tool because the standards states for the teacher to promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.