It was great blogging and doing projects with you all. Just wanted to let you know that my first grandchild is on his way into the world this very minute and my second grandson's baby shower in tomorrow. Peace be with you.
Nancy
Saturday, August 6, 2011
ED 517 Microcomputer Appliations in Education
Without a doubt, this has been my favorite class ever. I am thrilled about everything we learned to do with technology. Most of it applies to the classroom, but much of it is useful for personal use as well. If I could, I would just keep taking this class continuously because technology changes continuously, and I would always be learning new things. In fact, if I ever needed to switch careers, not that I want to, I can see myself in the tech field in some aspect.
On the down-side, I am so beside myself because the access I have to using technology in the classroom is so limited. Last year I had access to an Elmo, projector, and laptop which I used all the time. I incorporated technology with the aide of the tech coach every possible way I could. I loved it, the kids loved it, and they were engaged. On the flip side, there are teachers who were given a Smartboard, but only used it minimally to teach with. They did not use technology to engage the students to their fullest potential. I really really want more technology to in my classroom.
I would love for nothing more than to teach in a high tech school. There are actually other countries who are attempting to replace paper textbooks with tablet PC's. (see here) Come on USA, join this race!
On the down-side, I am so beside myself because the access I have to using technology in the classroom is so limited. Last year I had access to an Elmo, projector, and laptop which I used all the time. I incorporated technology with the aide of the tech coach every possible way I could. I loved it, the kids loved it, and they were engaged. On the flip side, there are teachers who were given a Smartboard, but only used it minimally to teach with. They did not use technology to engage the students to their fullest potential. I really really want more technology to in my classroom.
I would love for nothing more than to teach in a high tech school. There are actually other countries who are attempting to replace paper textbooks with tablet PC's. (see here) Come on USA, join this race!
Friday, August 5, 2011
Online Collaboration
I forgot to mention blogging as a source of collaboration. I have enjoyed the blogging component of this class. It seems like you know everyone in the class a little better than most classes by means of the blogs. I have also learned many things from reading other people's blogs. I have tried several new online programs because someone enthusiastically blogged about it. Beaches and blogs, two great things in life.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Online Collaboration
Collaboration, cooperation, association, organization, combination, amalgamation, integration, assimilation, adaptation, collaboration, or any way you want to look at, the WWW has it all for working together.
Discussions - One common way to communicate as part of a class is to participate in the discussions. I like how it keeps very good track of who replies to who and it keeps it all in one place. Discussions are a great way to hear other people's opinions and learn from what they say. I think that setting up a discussion for my classroom parents would be a great way for them to keep in touch with each other about what's going on in school. They may be able to set up partner or group study sessions.Or they may just be able to help clarify content for each other.
Pirate Pad - The Pirate Pad is a cool way to create a quick and slick method of communication with others. Beware though, it is public and anyone can stumble onto it. It is interesting to type in random names to see what comes up. I found one that was written in a different language.
Projects - I love how projects can be worked on by multiple people on the Google docs. I think this will be an asset this year for my new team. We can create documents that we can all use and we can edit them together as a team. I love it!
email, gmail, younameitmail. - I seriously need to carry around an address book with all of my own addresses now, let alone my friends. I am sure this will get easier as I use what I have more often. Maybe my cell phone notepad would work for this. Would that be safe?
There are so many ways to collaborate online. With my one group, I gave a final farewell to one member via clarion email, and she gave me one via gmail. That is when it can get kind of messy is when there are too many places and you might not check every place every day so you might miss something. I think a better word for Google would have been Boggle (overcome with astonishment).
Discussions - One common way to communicate as part of a class is to participate in the discussions. I like how it keeps very good track of who replies to who and it keeps it all in one place. Discussions are a great way to hear other people's opinions and learn from what they say. I think that setting up a discussion for my classroom parents would be a great way for them to keep in touch with each other about what's going on in school. They may be able to set up partner or group study sessions.Or they may just be able to help clarify content for each other.
Pirate Pad - The Pirate Pad is a cool way to create a quick and slick method of communication with others. Beware though, it is public and anyone can stumble onto it. It is interesting to type in random names to see what comes up. I found one that was written in a different language.
Projects - I love how projects can be worked on by multiple people on the Google docs. I think this will be an asset this year for my new team. We can create documents that we can all use and we can edit them together as a team. I love it!
email, gmail, younameitmail. - I seriously need to carry around an address book with all of my own addresses now, let alone my friends. I am sure this will get easier as I use what I have more often. Maybe my cell phone notepad would work for this. Would that be safe?
There are so many ways to collaborate online. With my one group, I gave a final farewell to one member via clarion email, and she gave me one via gmail. That is when it can get kind of messy is when there are too many places and you might not check every place every day so you might miss something. I think a better word for Google would have been Boggle (overcome with astonishment).
Friday, July 29, 2011
Thursday, July 28, 2011
eportfolio
I have chosen to make the eportfolio for my final project. I think it will be an excellent way to keep a portfolio since I have not touched my hard copy version since I got hired. I chose the wiki format because my school keeps everything that you could possibly imagine on our new school wiki. Creating my own wiki will help me navigate around all those documents at school.
One of the first items I worked on was upgrading my resume. I am glad this project has inspired me and required me to do that. Since I just got moved to a new grade level, I had been wondering what the best method was to keep track of all the different grades I taught in. I have heard of many veteran teachers say they have taught in MANY grades by the end of their career. I think the eportfolio is the perfect place for this type of record keeping.
I have created several technology lessons being that I had a technology coach the last year and a half and as a result of taking this class. I think my eportfolio will be great place to organize and showcase them. I feel that this creation project will help me keep on task as a teacher. My eportfolio will be an easy place to navigate to, to make sure I am fulfilling all of my obligations as a teacher.
I really want to choose this option for my final instead of writing the paper. I don't understand why we have to go present it. The eportfolio is really self explanatory; just click and read. People who write a paper don't go and present their paper, so I don't see why the portfolio has to be presented. Regardless, I am excited about the creation of my very own self-created eportfolio!
One of the first items I worked on was upgrading my resume. I am glad this project has inspired me and required me to do that. Since I just got moved to a new grade level, I had been wondering what the best method was to keep track of all the different grades I taught in. I have heard of many veteran teachers say they have taught in MANY grades by the end of their career. I think the eportfolio is the perfect place for this type of record keeping.
I have created several technology lessons being that I had a technology coach the last year and a half and as a result of taking this class. I think my eportfolio will be great place to organize and showcase them. I feel that this creation project will help me keep on task as a teacher. My eportfolio will be an easy place to navigate to, to make sure I am fulfilling all of my obligations as a teacher.
I really want to choose this option for my final instead of writing the paper. I don't understand why we have to go present it. The eportfolio is really self explanatory; just click and read. People who write a paper don't go and present their paper, so I don't see why the portfolio has to be presented. Regardless, I am excited about the creation of my very own self-created eportfolio!
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