This has been a very interesting class. I use my computer all the time and never knew I could do some of the things that we learned in this class. One of the things I never knew about was the mail merge tool paired with the database assignment. I knew that people created databases but I had no clue how easy it was and how helpful it would be. I will definitely create a database for my future class and use the mail merge feature to personalize items that I send out. I also didn't know that I could create a website so easily. I think that will be a very useful tool for me to be comfortable with. Students love technology and I should try to use it when it is possible. I think their is a healthy balance with technology but I do think it is important. Creating a webquest is a neat way to teach a lesson and it will get kids excited about learning. Another thing that I found very helpful was learning how to change a light bulb in a projector. I had no clue how projectors opened up and I definitely didn't know how to change the bulb. Now I feel completely comfortable changing the bulb of a projector which is something I am sure I will have to do.
Some of the technology I had used before but it was nice having more practice.
I think this class was very helpful. We live in such a tech-savvy world and I need to be able to use technology in my class. Technology gives us so many opportunities and I am glad that I got the chance to learn about so many great options this semester.
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
Using Blogs to Communicate
I think blogs could be a great way to communicate with parents and students throughout the year. If I kept a blog for my class, I could blog regularly about the things we were doing in class. I could have a student friendly blog which would recap some of the things we were going over in class throughout the week. Students could access this during their free time in class as well as at home. They would be able to review some of the material that they may not have gotten during class. It would be a great way to refresh their memories. I could also link the students to other blogs or web pages where they could find additional information about topics we have been covering. The blogs would also be a great way to communicate with parents. I could update the blog about the things we are doing in class and inform parents of upcoming events. If parents had questions, they could simply comment on a blog post and I could respond. It also allows the parents to be in touch with other parents. I think it would be a great way to keep parents informed and to ask for help when I would need it!
I think blogs could also be used for students with special needs. The blog would offer a way to differentiate. Like I said earlier, a blog could be used as a review for students who are behind for any reason. I could also use a lot of visuals for my ESL students. For gifted students, a blog could be used as an extension activity to keep them engaged. If I had a student with more of a physical special need, blogs could be useful. If a student was deaf, they would be able to see certain material typed out. Also if students were blind, they could use a computer program to read the materials to them. Not only could our class blog be used to help students with special needs, we could also access many different blogs about different subjects.
Since my last blog, we have talked about PowerPoints in class. I have a lot of experience with PowerPoints but I enjoyed learning about the ways to make an effective PowerPoint. I think I knew most of those things but it is always nice to have a reminder. I hate when people read everything from the slide and so that is something I always keep in mind when making a PowerPoint. I think PowerPoints can be very effective in the classroom. I don't know how often I would use it in the lower elementary classroom but I think they would be very useful as students got older and more advanced. I think PowerPoints should be used sparingly in the lower elementary classroom.
I think blogs could also be used for students with special needs. The blog would offer a way to differentiate. Like I said earlier, a blog could be used as a review for students who are behind for any reason. I could also use a lot of visuals for my ESL students. For gifted students, a blog could be used as an extension activity to keep them engaged. If I had a student with more of a physical special need, blogs could be useful. If a student was deaf, they would be able to see certain material typed out. Also if students were blind, they could use a computer program to read the materials to them. Not only could our class blog be used to help students with special needs, we could also access many different blogs about different subjects.
Since my last blog, we have talked about PowerPoints in class. I have a lot of experience with PowerPoints but I enjoyed learning about the ways to make an effective PowerPoint. I think I knew most of those things but it is always nice to have a reminder. I hate when people read everything from the slide and so that is something I always keep in mind when making a PowerPoint. I think PowerPoints can be very effective in the classroom. I don't know how often I would use it in the lower elementary classroom but I think they would be very useful as students got older and more advanced. I think PowerPoints should be used sparingly in the lower elementary classroom.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
So many ways to use technology!
As I looked through some blogs this past week, it really hit me as to how many blogs exist. Tons of people blog about almost any topic imaginable! I really think that blogging can be incorporated into a classroom in many ways. First of all, the class could create blog and update it regularly. I think that would be a great way for the student's to have to communicate what they have learned so that they can share it with other people. Through blogging, students learn to use technology, write, and recall information.
I also think students can look at other people's blogs to learn new information and to build on the things they have learned. I found blogs where people followed the life cycle of a certain insect. They recorded every detail and took pictures at each stage. Having students follow a blog like that during a science unit would be very interesting. Really, any topic that we study in class could be found on a blog. I think it is important to use technology in this way. The students will get to enhance their technology skills but also further their learning on a topic. While I think blogs are a great way to extend the learning process, I think students should be carefully monitored and blogs should not be overused.
Blogs also present a great opportunity for ESL students. People blog from all over the world. Some blogs incorporate two languages. I think ESL students should be able to follow blogs in their native language and then also try to follow some of the bilingual blogs. Not only could blogging help their English and reading comprehension, but it could also be used for emotional reasons. I imagine it is often very frustrating to be in a new place learning a new language. ESL students could read blogs from people in similar situations. Knowing that other people are going through the same things, might be helpful.
Most recently in class, we have been working with databases and spreadsheets. I had some experience with spreadsheets but I am by no means an expert. Although I knew how to do most of the things included in the assignment, it was good practice. I had to re-teach myself how to do some of the functions used in my grade book. I thought it was a good assignment because I know that I will be using spreadsheets in the near future! I had not thought about using Excel with my students before this assignment. In my lesson, I had my students recorded information and then create a chart. I think I would use Excel often in my class so that students can record different types of information.
The database assignment was completely new to me. I have heard of databases but I had no idea that I could make my own and what they could be used for. I had a little trouble with mail merge when I tried to do my labels, but I eventually figured it out. I am glad that I learned about this technology because it will make my life a lot easier when I start teaching. I love that I am able to personalize letters without having to do each one individually. I will definitely use a database for my future classes. I am not sure how I would use databases for teaching but I will use it for communicating and organizing myself.
I also think students can look at other people's blogs to learn new information and to build on the things they have learned. I found blogs where people followed the life cycle of a certain insect. They recorded every detail and took pictures at each stage. Having students follow a blog like that during a science unit would be very interesting. Really, any topic that we study in class could be found on a blog. I think it is important to use technology in this way. The students will get to enhance their technology skills but also further their learning on a topic. While I think blogs are a great way to extend the learning process, I think students should be carefully monitored and blogs should not be overused.
Blogs also present a great opportunity for ESL students. People blog from all over the world. Some blogs incorporate two languages. I think ESL students should be able to follow blogs in their native language and then also try to follow some of the bilingual blogs. Not only could blogging help their English and reading comprehension, but it could also be used for emotional reasons. I imagine it is often very frustrating to be in a new place learning a new language. ESL students could read blogs from people in similar situations. Knowing that other people are going through the same things, might be helpful.
Most recently in class, we have been working with databases and spreadsheets. I had some experience with spreadsheets but I am by no means an expert. Although I knew how to do most of the things included in the assignment, it was good practice. I had to re-teach myself how to do some of the functions used in my grade book. I thought it was a good assignment because I know that I will be using spreadsheets in the near future! I had not thought about using Excel with my students before this assignment. In my lesson, I had my students recorded information and then create a chart. I think I would use Excel often in my class so that students can record different types of information.
The database assignment was completely new to me. I have heard of databases but I had no idea that I could make my own and what they could be used for. I had a little trouble with mail merge when I tried to do my labels, but I eventually figured it out. I am glad that I learned about this technology because it will make my life a lot easier when I start teaching. I love that I am able to personalize letters without having to do each one individually. I will definitely use a database for my future classes. I am not sure how I would use databases for teaching but I will use it for communicating and organizing myself.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Blog Review and New Technology
I was looking on the Education Week website at different blogs and I found a blog called "Why 'Washington-Driven Standardization' Is NOT Best". I found this blog interesting because of North Carolina's involvement in the Race to the Top program. This blog was written by Diane Ravitch. She is Research Professor of Education at New York University. She blogs regularly and has authored several books about the American education system.
I learned several interesting things from her blog. The main point of this blog was that she wasn't very sure about reforming our education system yet again. I have never really thought about how many times we have reformed our schools throughout the time of our nation. She quotes the Mayor of Oakland, California Jerry Brown in this blog. She is impressed with his opinion and the thought he put into the Race to the Top program. He talks about the "one size fits all" way of education. We have standardized tests and all children are supposed to pass the same test. Diversity and socioeconomic status are not taken into consideration in these tests. I read several of the comments made about the blog and I thought that they were very interesting as well. This blog provoked a very thoughtful discussion of the role that standardized testing should play in schools.
(http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/Bridging-Differences/2009/10/why_top_down_washington_driven.html?qs=jerry+brown)
New Technology
So far in EDU 305, we have completed several assignments using different kinds of technology. We have used Microsoft Word and Publisher, Inspiration, PhotoStory, and Microsoft Expressions. I was very familiar with Word and with Publisher so those assignments were not as difficult for me to complete. Inspiration, PhotoStory, and Expressions were all completely new to me. I was able to figure out Inspiration fairly quickly but PhotoStory and Expressions took a little while longer. I could figure out how to insert pictures, colors, and fonts on Expressions but I was unsure of how to hyperlink and then correctly save the information to my computer so that other people would be able to view my web page. I had to ask for some help from some friends that were familiar with the software when I got confused. PhotoStory was a little confusing at first but then I picked up on how to use it. Even though some of the technology was new to me, I thought it was very user friendly and I didn't have as much trouble figuring things out as I thought I would.
I am glad I have learned how to use these technological resources because they will be very useful in my future classroom. In today's world, technology is very important. Children should be comfortable using it and typically, they really enjoy using technology. I think creating websites would be a fun activity for a class to do. They could collect information and together, we could form a web page. I also think Inspiration will be a great resource. As a visual learner, I found the maps and outlines very helpful. I think it would be a good way to organize information for students. PhotoStory is also a very fun resource. Students could make their own stories in Language Arts or in any other subject. It is a neat way to have students write a story without them realizing they are doing work. I think these technological resources allow for students to succeed because they allow for all types of learners.
I learned several interesting things from her blog. The main point of this blog was that she wasn't very sure about reforming our education system yet again. I have never really thought about how many times we have reformed our schools throughout the time of our nation. She quotes the Mayor of Oakland, California Jerry Brown in this blog. She is impressed with his opinion and the thought he put into the Race to the Top program. He talks about the "one size fits all" way of education. We have standardized tests and all children are supposed to pass the same test. Diversity and socioeconomic status are not taken into consideration in these tests. I read several of the comments made about the blog and I thought that they were very interesting as well. This blog provoked a very thoughtful discussion of the role that standardized testing should play in schools.
(http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/Bridging-Differences/2009/10/why_top_down_washington_driven.html?qs=jerry+brown)
New Technology
So far in EDU 305, we have completed several assignments using different kinds of technology. We have used Microsoft Word and Publisher, Inspiration, PhotoStory, and Microsoft Expressions. I was very familiar with Word and with Publisher so those assignments were not as difficult for me to complete. Inspiration, PhotoStory, and Expressions were all completely new to me. I was able to figure out Inspiration fairly quickly but PhotoStory and Expressions took a little while longer. I could figure out how to insert pictures, colors, and fonts on Expressions but I was unsure of how to hyperlink and then correctly save the information to my computer so that other people would be able to view my web page. I had to ask for some help from some friends that were familiar with the software when I got confused. PhotoStory was a little confusing at first but then I picked up on how to use it. Even though some of the technology was new to me, I thought it was very user friendly and I didn't have as much trouble figuring things out as I thought I would.
I am glad I have learned how to use these technological resources because they will be very useful in my future classroom. In today's world, technology is very important. Children should be comfortable using it and typically, they really enjoy using technology. I think creating websites would be a fun activity for a class to do. They could collect information and together, we could form a web page. I also think Inspiration will be a great resource. As a visual learner, I found the maps and outlines very helpful. I think it would be a good way to organize information for students. PhotoStory is also a very fun resource. Students could make their own stories in Language Arts or in any other subject. It is a neat way to have students write a story without them realizing they are doing work. I think these technological resources allow for students to succeed because they allow for all types of learners.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
SWITZERLAND!!
I cant talk much because people are waiting for the computers! I love it in Interlaken. Yesterday was pretty much horrible. Everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong. Trains were late or broken. We didnt get to our hostel until 12 30 so we were pretty tired. we left at 845 in the morning. Today was really relaxing and i loved it. everything is so beautiful. Well I just wanted to let everyone know that i was okay. Oh, my eye has been swollen three different days and my lip once. i woke up yesterday with the biggest swollen eye yet and it still hasnt gone all the way down. I have pics documenting this and it is hilarious! well Ive got to go. I am sorry for the lack of punctuation.
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Only 2 and a half more weeks
Hello everyone. I guess it has been a week since I last posted. We have had a rather low key week here in Sansepolcro. I don't think I finished talking about Rome but I am just going to move on. Rome was fun but exhausting but we managed to see what we wanted to see. If you need to see Rome in a day..talk to me and I can tell you how haha!
It has been very relaxing being back in Sansepolcro. We had our second family dinner and I was with a new family. I LOVED them. They had a 20 year old son and a 13 year old daughter. The dad was the funniest man I think I have ever met. He did not speak English very well but he loved trying. His kids just laughed at him but he didn't care. I loved getting to know them and the food was delicious. The thing to do here in Sansepolcro is to walk to main street. On the weekends in the evening the street is packed. We went with our host dad...he drove us to the main street in his Crystler CONVERTABLE! Mom, you and Leslie would have loved this guy and his ride. He kept making fun of his daughter and how she was getting ready to walk to streets. He bought us gelatto which Maggie and I LOVE! I eat gelatto at least once a day...usually twice. Just so you arent shocked, I may be a good 20 pounds heavier when I get home. Our host dad knew EVERYONE. It was just like being at church on Sunday and never getting to go eat lunch because your mom keeps talking. We ended up walking with the daughter and her friend because they didnt want to wait for their dad. A group of boys kept following them around and while Babbo (Dad) was around the girls stressed that the boys were JUST FRIENDS. As we walked with the girls they told us that the two blondes were their boyfriends. They only like blondes aparently. It was funny because they never spoke to the boys they just wanted to walk by the boys...just like 13 year olds in America. Some things just are the same no matter where you live. Family dinners have been my favorite experience so far.
Lets see...we have had a lot of classtime this week. It is crazy though because we leave Monday for Venice and when we get back, we only have 3 more days of class. Tuesday we went to a jewelry show and all of us got cute things. Only at Meredith do a group of students take an excursion to a jewelry show. The people were so nice and have been having MC students over to their house for years now. The daughters make the jewelry and it is beautiful. Wednesday we went to Assisi and Perugia. Assisi was beautiful and Perugia was nice too. It was a long day though and we were realy tired when we got back to the Servi.
Well, that is it for now. I hope all is well in America. I cannot wait to get back and go to the beach and river!!! See you in a little over 2 weeks!
It has been very relaxing being back in Sansepolcro. We had our second family dinner and I was with a new family. I LOVED them. They had a 20 year old son and a 13 year old daughter. The dad was the funniest man I think I have ever met. He did not speak English very well but he loved trying. His kids just laughed at him but he didn't care. I loved getting to know them and the food was delicious. The thing to do here in Sansepolcro is to walk to main street. On the weekends in the evening the street is packed. We went with our host dad...he drove us to the main street in his Crystler CONVERTABLE! Mom, you and Leslie would have loved this guy and his ride. He kept making fun of his daughter and how she was getting ready to walk to streets. He bought us gelatto which Maggie and I LOVE! I eat gelatto at least once a day...usually twice. Just so you arent shocked, I may be a good 20 pounds heavier when I get home. Our host dad knew EVERYONE. It was just like being at church on Sunday and never getting to go eat lunch because your mom keeps talking. We ended up walking with the daughter and her friend because they didnt want to wait for their dad. A group of boys kept following them around and while Babbo (Dad) was around the girls stressed that the boys were JUST FRIENDS. As we walked with the girls they told us that the two blondes were their boyfriends. They only like blondes aparently. It was funny because they never spoke to the boys they just wanted to walk by the boys...just like 13 year olds in America. Some things just are the same no matter where you live. Family dinners have been my favorite experience so far.
Lets see...we have had a lot of classtime this week. It is crazy though because we leave Monday for Venice and when we get back, we only have 3 more days of class. Tuesday we went to a jewelry show and all of us got cute things. Only at Meredith do a group of students take an excursion to a jewelry show. The people were so nice and have been having MC students over to their house for years now. The daughters make the jewelry and it is beautiful. Wednesday we went to Assisi and Perugia. Assisi was beautiful and Perugia was nice too. It was a long day though and we were realy tired when we got back to the Servi.
Well, that is it for now. I hope all is well in America. I cannot wait to get back and go to the beach and river!!! See you in a little over 2 weeks!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Back in Sansepolcro
I hope no one judges my writing skills based on this blog. I just read over the quick one I wrote yesterday and it was the most choppy thing I have ever read. I am always rushing when I post because I have to pay at the internet cafe and the computer at the Servi is horribly slow and everyone is waiting for it.
As I said yesterday, Rome was a lot of fun. We traveled from Arrezo to Naples and then caught a local train from Naples to Sorrento. The Naples train station left quite a bit to be desired. We heard a lot of bad stories about Naples so I think all of us were on guard. The local train from Naples to Sorrento was very interesting. We were packed in for the first half of the trip. We had on our packs and just had to stand for a while. The train made a lot of stops so people kept getting out and had to climb over us because so many people were in the way. I saw some people get up from a seat and I went to sit down. Unfortunately some Italian teenagers saw the same three seats open up. I sat down but then I got wedged against the window. I sat next to a very affectionate couple (this tends to be the trend in Italy). She sat in his lap and their friend sat across from them. Not only did they kiss, they also smelled horribly. It was not a fun train ride to say the least! We finally made it to Sorrento and our hostel was pretty nice. All of us had a bed but it was definitely a squeeze. It worked thought because we were only in there to sleep and take a shower. We went out to dinner that night at the cutest little place. The hostel recommended it and because we were staying at the hostel, we got 10 percent off! We split a bottle of wine and got dinner. It was delicious. It was nice to sit and relax for a while.
The next day we went to Capri. We woke up early to take a ferry over to the Island. It had stormed the night before and it was pretty cloudy that day. When we woke up it was raining but it turned out being an okay day. It only sprinkled for a bit in the morning. Because of the weather though, the seas were a little rough. We got on this big jet boat to take us to the island and we got a little seasick. The boat looked like a really nice, wide airplane on the inside. We could see crew members running around with bags because aparently, we were not the only ones feeling sick. I fortunately did not get sick. I thought Sal was going to beacuse she was completely white when we stood to get of the boat. My friend Katie who had been fine the whole trip stood up and started to feel sick. We had to go down a flight of steps into the bottom of the boat and on the way down, Katie felt it coming. The crew member grabbed her and stuck her head outside of a little door onto the outside deck of the sick where she vomited her breakfast. It was pretty funny because she felt fine right after. The crew memeber was so nice and rubbed her back as she vomited down the side of his boat. We had to wait in the bottom of the boat as they got ready to dock and we watched as another crew member brought a hose to clean it all up. I just thought you might enjoy that story as much as I did.
Capri was beautiful even though it was cloudy. We took a chairlift up to the top and it was amazing. It was like a ski life but you were in a chair by yourself. It takes 12 minutes going up and then you get off and get to see the most beautiful views ever. The top of the mountain was freezing.
I would tell you all more but I have to run to my Family dinner!!! I am pretty excited. Hope all is well in good ole America.
As I said yesterday, Rome was a lot of fun. We traveled from Arrezo to Naples and then caught a local train from Naples to Sorrento. The Naples train station left quite a bit to be desired. We heard a lot of bad stories about Naples so I think all of us were on guard. The local train from Naples to Sorrento was very interesting. We were packed in for the first half of the trip. We had on our packs and just had to stand for a while. The train made a lot of stops so people kept getting out and had to climb over us because so many people were in the way. I saw some people get up from a seat and I went to sit down. Unfortunately some Italian teenagers saw the same three seats open up. I sat down but then I got wedged against the window. I sat next to a very affectionate couple (this tends to be the trend in Italy). She sat in his lap and their friend sat across from them. Not only did they kiss, they also smelled horribly. It was not a fun train ride to say the least! We finally made it to Sorrento and our hostel was pretty nice. All of us had a bed but it was definitely a squeeze. It worked thought because we were only in there to sleep and take a shower. We went out to dinner that night at the cutest little place. The hostel recommended it and because we were staying at the hostel, we got 10 percent off! We split a bottle of wine and got dinner. It was delicious. It was nice to sit and relax for a while.
The next day we went to Capri. We woke up early to take a ferry over to the Island. It had stormed the night before and it was pretty cloudy that day. When we woke up it was raining but it turned out being an okay day. It only sprinkled for a bit in the morning. Because of the weather though, the seas were a little rough. We got on this big jet boat to take us to the island and we got a little seasick. The boat looked like a really nice, wide airplane on the inside. We could see crew members running around with bags because aparently, we were not the only ones feeling sick. I fortunately did not get sick. I thought Sal was going to beacuse she was completely white when we stood to get of the boat. My friend Katie who had been fine the whole trip stood up and started to feel sick. We had to go down a flight of steps into the bottom of the boat and on the way down, Katie felt it coming. The crew member grabbed her and stuck her head outside of a little door onto the outside deck of the sick where she vomited her breakfast. It was pretty funny because she felt fine right after. The crew memeber was so nice and rubbed her back as she vomited down the side of his boat. We had to wait in the bottom of the boat as they got ready to dock and we watched as another crew member brought a hose to clean it all up. I just thought you might enjoy that story as much as I did.
Capri was beautiful even though it was cloudy. We took a chairlift up to the top and it was amazing. It was like a ski life but you were in a chair by yourself. It takes 12 minutes going up and then you get off and get to see the most beautiful views ever. The top of the mountain was freezing.
I would tell you all more but I have to run to my Family dinner!!! I am pretty excited. Hope all is well in good ole America.
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