What a week this has been! Creating a webquest was very overwhelming, but also very beneficial. This week the only activity I completed that I had any idea to do was creating a powerpoint. of
In addition to figuring out all the ins and outs of the webquest, I managed to create a newsletter template (of sorts) that pulled the parent and student names from my previously created database in order to personalize the news letter.
I foresee many informational powerpoints in my future (similar to the one I created explaining the webquest). In addition, newsletters will most certainly be in my near future so being able to personalize them will make them seem a little less pesky to the parents.
Even though the webquest was overwhelming, it was a good experience. I am sure that I will find some lessons that will make great webquests once I begin teaching and realize what lessons I have a hard time teaching effectively.
This class have been overwhelming yet very beneficial. I feel confident in my ability to make the most of the new (or old) technology I will have at my disposal.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
Second Blog Post
This week we learned about some very useful technology for the classroom. The first program that we worked on was Digital Story. I had been exposed to digital story before but I had never created one. I thought this was a great way for students to create there own books in a "green" way. I also loved that anything could be recorded - this makes it easy to turn any book into an audio book. This would also be an ideal way to send a "card" to a sick student or teacher or a meaningful thank you card. Students could draw a picture in paint and then record a message.
The next program we worked with was excel. I have worked with excel before, however I have never thought about using it in an elementary school assignment. Excel is ideal for calculating grades and attendance so I will use it for that. I am also excited to have the students use excel in the classroom. They can track types of books they have read, the temperature, and many other exciting things.
The last program we worked with was Access. I have never worked with access before. Knowing how to create a database will be very helpful in keeping track of all of my students information and making it easily accessible for myself, administration, and substitutes. In my future database I think I will add some columns for: medications, allergies, emergency contacts, and possibly IEP accommodations. Having all of this, and more, information easily obtained will help to ensure that I do not waste precious teaching time on digging through files. I have a feeling that this information will also be helpful before Parent/Teacher conferences as well as in preparing for field trips.
The next program we worked with was excel. I have worked with excel before, however I have never thought about using it in an elementary school assignment. Excel is ideal for calculating grades and attendance so I will use it for that. I am also excited to have the students use excel in the classroom. They can track types of books they have read, the temperature, and many other exciting things.
The last program we worked with was Access. I have never worked with access before. Knowing how to create a database will be very helpful in keeping track of all of my students information and making it easily accessible for myself, administration, and substitutes. In my future database I think I will add some columns for: medications, allergies, emergency contacts, and possibly IEP accommodations. Having all of this, and more, information easily obtained will help to ensure that I do not waste precious teaching time on digging through files. I have a feeling that this information will also be helpful before Parent/Teacher conferences as well as in preparing for field trips.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Frist Blog EDU 241
In the past four days I have learned about some useful applications located on my handy Meredith laptop. I was taught how to create a web-page using Expressions (I have not yet mastered this skill but I'm working on it). I have always looked at teachers web-pages but it never occurred to me that sooner rather than later I would be making my own. I can use my (almost) new found web-page building skills to create a page that says "I'm fun but I have eyes in the back of my head". Especially as a new teacher, having a web-page will be a great way for parents and students to get to know a little about me before starting off the year. In addition, since parents rarely get newsletters sent home with children (at least in my family), posting them on the web-page ensures that the parents receive the information intended for them. I can also use it as a way to reach the masses when I am in need of parent volunteers or school supply donations ( I plan to post that on my future page as a "teacher wish list").
Unlike a web-page, I had never heard of Kidspiration or Inspiration. My limited skills with technology proved difficult to over come on this assignment. However after learning about it in class (and reading multiple google "how to" pages) I created a concept map that looks similar to what my imaginary second graders could have made. I'm not being too hard on myself about that though considering I still have no idea how to use call waiting on my phone, a less than perfect looking concept map is okay. I love the idea of using an interactive concept map in the classroom. The students can fill in remaining bubbles or add onto ideas that are already in place. I feel this is an especially good tool to teach children how to move from drawing as pre-writing to creating charts as pre-writing. I always found the charts to be very dull but making them on in a brightly colored and kid friendly application would make it a much more desirable task. Especially since the students can incorporate pictures and sound.
As a student with disabilities I feel as if I should have know what Wynn Wizard was prior to today, especially considering it is on my laptop. I am very excited about using a program that can read text aloud in the classroom. This program will be fantastic for ESL students, students with hearing impairment, and students who are struggling with reading in general. This program would be great to use for students who are just learning how to read as well. By hearing the word while also seeing it, I believe they will learn to read more quickly. The last thing I love about this program is that, while it cannot replace parental involvement in education, it allows a student to hear a story. Children who are read to regularly tend to do better in school. Since children are all at different comprehension levels, this allows them to each here and follow along with a story that is right for them. This would be great to use during centers or morning work time.
I am happy to say that there are two things we went over this week that I already knew how to use. I am fairly competent at Word and Publisher. Creating flyers on these two things was good practice for the classroom. It was interesting to think about the first thing I would send home to the parents. It was nerve racking so I am glad I got to practice it with my imaginary class first.
The field-trip flyer was also good practice for the classroom. I had planned a field-trip before, in the Elementary Science class, but we did not create a letter/permission slip. I did my best to include all the information the parents needed to know about the trip that far in advance so that the letter was short enough that parents would read it (I have a feeling if I sent home a 5 page reading assignment for Mom she would be very displeased).
The flyer about a person was different for me. I had never done something like that before. I liked the idea of it for elementary school students because it is a way for them to gather information they can use in a presentation or a paper but in a less overwhelming way. Also, by only having one page to put pictures and information on, the student (in this case me) only put on the most important or interesting things.
The last thing we did this week was a resume and cover letter. I had used the resume wizard before on Word but I still find resumes difficult. Putting so much onto so little space and making it different from all other resumes (which are no doubt identical) is stressful. Prior to this resume I had never written a cover letter. I found that to be a great way to share my personality with my hopefully future boss. It also served as a place to elaborate on my skills; for instance I expressed that my Public History degree would make me a very effective Social Studies teacher (a subject that I feel is very much neglected). The resume and cover letter knowledge I have gained will certainly assist me in my job search this time next year.
Unlike a web-page, I had never heard of Kidspiration or Inspiration. My limited skills with technology proved difficult to over come on this assignment. However after learning about it in class (and reading multiple google "how to" pages) I created a concept map that looks similar to what my imaginary second graders could have made. I'm not being too hard on myself about that though considering I still have no idea how to use call waiting on my phone, a less than perfect looking concept map is okay. I love the idea of using an interactive concept map in the classroom. The students can fill in remaining bubbles or add onto ideas that are already in place. I feel this is an especially good tool to teach children how to move from drawing as pre-writing to creating charts as pre-writing. I always found the charts to be very dull but making them on in a brightly colored and kid friendly application would make it a much more desirable task. Especially since the students can incorporate pictures and sound.
As a student with disabilities I feel as if I should have know what Wynn Wizard was prior to today, especially considering it is on my laptop. I am very excited about using a program that can read text aloud in the classroom. This program will be fantastic for ESL students, students with hearing impairment, and students who are struggling with reading in general. This program would be great to use for students who are just learning how to read as well. By hearing the word while also seeing it, I believe they will learn to read more quickly. The last thing I love about this program is that, while it cannot replace parental involvement in education, it allows a student to hear a story. Children who are read to regularly tend to do better in school. Since children are all at different comprehension levels, this allows them to each here and follow along with a story that is right for them. This would be great to use during centers or morning work time.
I am happy to say that there are two things we went over this week that I already knew how to use. I am fairly competent at Word and Publisher. Creating flyers on these two things was good practice for the classroom. It was interesting to think about the first thing I would send home to the parents. It was nerve racking so I am glad I got to practice it with my imaginary class first.
The field-trip flyer was also good practice for the classroom. I had planned a field-trip before, in the Elementary Science class, but we did not create a letter/permission slip. I did my best to include all the information the parents needed to know about the trip that far in advance so that the letter was short enough that parents would read it (I have a feeling if I sent home a 5 page reading assignment for Mom she would be very displeased).
The flyer about a person was different for me. I had never done something like that before. I liked the idea of it for elementary school students because it is a way for them to gather information they can use in a presentation or a paper but in a less overwhelming way. Also, by only having one page to put pictures and information on, the student (in this case me) only put on the most important or interesting things.
The last thing we did this week was a resume and cover letter. I had used the resume wizard before on Word but I still find resumes difficult. Putting so much onto so little space and making it different from all other resumes (which are no doubt identical) is stressful. Prior to this resume I had never written a cover letter. I found that to be a great way to share my personality with my hopefully future boss. It also served as a place to elaborate on my skills; for instance I expressed that my Public History degree would make me a very effective Social Studies teacher (a subject that I feel is very much neglected). The resume and cover letter knowledge I have gained will certainly assist me in my job search this time next year.
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