Blog Post 12.

As much as I thought these blog postings were going to be a pain, I really enjoyed doing my own reflection, and reading the thoughts of my classmates! Especially because my own examples and screenshots tend to be so off the wall (WWII website, anyone?), it's nice to see how different people interpret the prompt and what they write about. I really loved the blog posting after our second Powerpoint assignment, especially Ashleigh's screenshots! Too cute! But other than that, I just like seeing what other people think about the same topics. Maybe that's just the Psychology major in me, but it's been a lot of fun.

I don't want to sound self-assured or anything, but I think I'm at my limit of technology! I would be perfectly comfortable mastering the skills I have right now, and not moving on at all. I don't want to tempt fate or anything by overloading my repertoire, but I definitely want to get better at what I do know. The Powerpoint I did for my final project was such a headache, and I know that there has to be an easier way to get things done... I just don't know it yet. Like I said, my only technological aspirations at this point are to get quicker and better at what I know right now. This class has definitely helped me get faster and better at a little more than the basics and I'm pretty content that way.

I suppose the only way to really improve upon what I know now is to practice! I'll try as hard as I can to keep practicing with the skills I have no until I've gotten faster and more efficient... but I might try to avoid the Excel and Powerpoint for a while. No Microsoft Office Suite over the summer, no way!

Blog Post 11.

Oh, Twitter. I definitely thought for the longest time that Twitter was a waste of time... and now I find that I check it all the time! I actually didn't need to create a Twitter account IN class because my cousin made me do it over the summer. She and I are both obsessed with Perez Hilton, and the rest of Hollywood (who isn't, though?). Anyway, I told her I'd never use it, and then when I had to for class, I realized how neat it is! I'm admitting to trying to tweet a few celebrities, but I never got a reply back... but I do realize that you need to be crazy fanatical and tag them about 150 times before they really get your attention. I don't have the patience for that (: I really enjoyed Twitter, and I'll continue to use it.

I think that I will continue to use Twitter on a more personal level. I'm currently following the Relay for Life team I'm helping, and stuff like that... but I'm not entirely sure I want a lot of people knowing that I watch Lost (final season!!!), and what I ate for dinner. I really don't update my Twitter very often, but it's still a more personal thing that I wouldn't want sharing with everyone. I'm already careful with what I put on Facebook, I don't need to censor my odd fascination with Perez Hilton, Prison Break, and the OC too (:

As much as I like Twitter, I don't know that it serves a good educational purpose. It's a lot of fun, and definitely a useful way to get information across quickly, but I think the social networking aspect of Twitter will deter me from using it in the classroom. There are other ways to get information across quickly, and sometimes the good old fashioned paper handout really does work. To those of you who will use Twitter, enjoy it, but I think my Tweeting days are over, as far as school is concerned.

But maybe one day Caroline from the Real Housewives of New Jersey will tweet me back.. :)

My Horrifying Podcast

I laugh a little bit, and it's... just awful haha. If you like nasal voices, check it out.
If not? Stay. Away.

Blog Post 10.

http://www.preceden.com/

I googled 'web 2.0 tools' and was really excited to find this one! Preceden is really the easiest way to create timelines, even if they make the claim themselves! I know that I usually review history sites and stuff related to the World Wars (I also named my dog Truman because Roosevelt was too long... it's my favorite time in American History), so finding this Web 2.0 tool to make timelines really seemed like it would make life a lot easier for a lot of people. Instead of creating a WWII timeline, I decided to just create one of all of the places I have lived in my life, and it honestly took 5 minutes! Preceden has one of the simplest interfaces ever! I'm including two screenshots: the first one is of the displayed timeline (a piece of it), that immediately pops up after you finish typing in the very few information fields, screen shot 2.

As you can see, the interface is smooth, and idiot-proof. I had a lot of fun using Preceden, and I would definitely use it as a teacher, and also recommend it to others! I was, however, upset to realize that I've lived in Fort Myers for much longer than I lived in New York... so that was a bit of a blow, despite how great of a tool Preceden is (:

Based on my glowing review of Preceden, and what I've said in past blog posts... I love Web 2.0! I think there are a ton of great tools out there to make teaching and getting information across infinitely easier for teachers, parents, and students alike. Of course, some of the social networking sites (I'm admitting right here to checking Facebook the second I wake up in the morning) have no place in the classroom, but things like Wikispaces, Preceden, Paper Rater (online grammar check!), and Carrot Sticks (online math games) are really great tools to use in a world where my nine year old cousin has a 24-inch iMac.

Blog Post 9.

http://militaryhistory.about.com/?once=true&
This is the website I chose to review, and it is about World War I. American History is one of my favorite subjects, so I always go back to it when we have to review stuff! Anyway, this website is an about.com site, so the layout is well-organized and well-structured. However, it is more of a collection of blogs, articles, and links to other websites rather than a straight informational page. The web-source offers a ton of interesting information, but someone who was looking for easy-to-find facts and information would probably not have a good time. As an instructor, I would use the web-source to look for information to teach, not necessarily use it as a teaching tool.

The blog and article collection format of About.com websites can be confusing to some, but so long as the person is researching and has the time to devote to it, http://militaryhistory.about.com is actually a really great resource. The articles and blog posts tend to be written by educated individuals and offer unique perspectives, and different focuses than one would find by just using Wikipedia or another web-based encyclopedia.

Excel gives me a giant headache! I think it is a fabulous tool to use for those with the patience and more mathematical understanding/mindset, but for me? I can't stand it! I can never click the right cell and it always makes me want to just give up entirely. Learning about it in class helped a little bit, but I think I'd use it only for attendance and maybe as a gradebook. Other than that, I don't want to touch it until I understand it better... or maybe just never at all. I don't really see the need for the functions and advanced programs in a third grade or elementary school setting. I suppose it is good for organization and chart-making, but there are other easier programs that I can use just as well.

Blog Post 8.

I think my Little Mermaid project followed the guidelines of Ch. 8. The spelling was correct, the content was varied, like in this screen shot. Most of my slides were set up differently, with the text and images working together to form a cohesive picture. I used the same navigation button in all of my slides (the logo with 'NEXT!' on it :) ), but it varied based on the location of the text and images.


I've always loved overhead projectors, and I know they're so outdated, but I think I'd use it in my teaching! Especially for math, seeing the problem being worked out by hand with accompanying explanation always worked well for me. Also, anyone can use overheads, and kids can come up to the projector and work problems out themselves. Sometimes with the more advanced technology, students can't get involved as much, which can be a shame. I always paid more attention when my classmates and I were involved in the lesson. I think I'd use this in combination with Power Points as quizzes-- present the material on the Power Point, and then work it out by hand on the projector.

As much as I love overhead projectors, I have a new appreciation for Power Point! I loved the 'show' option, and making the story all come together. Now, that could have something to do with my project on the Little Mermaid, but I had a blast doing it! I will definitely use Power Point in my teaching!

Blog Post 7.

I think presentation materials are actually a really great idea in classrooms. Writing on the board gets boring, repetitive, and causes students to lose interest really quickly. I know I did, and the only time I ever really paid attention in class is when I had something interactive to work with, like a specific study guide or worksheet/outline to follow along with. My high school teachers really never used powerpoints, and they were rarely used in middle or elementary school. I think that a visual presentation of the information, in a way that can be customizable and exciting for students is a really good way to keep students interested as well as teachers. Doing the exact same thing for 180 school days a year gets repetitive for teacher and student alike. Of course, there can be a downside to relying heavily on presentation materials. Teachers can not give the class the attention they deserve if they're focused on the computer/screen/what have you, and students might not feel they are able to ask questions or interact as much as they might in a traditional setting.

I used my PowerPoint to create a history lesson on World War I for my assignment this week, and I think it addressed all of the knowledge dimensions. The information was reformatted to match my specific theme, and organized in a chronological order. This would help to keep the students organized and focused while I lectured. I also might provide a supplemental outline for them to fill in. I'd provide spaces and all of the information on the slides, but more room for the rest of the lecture that isn't on the slides. I'd be asking many questions throughout the slide, so I'd also provide an area for the students to write down their own answers, even if they didn't say them out loud to the class. This would help with all three dimensions, conceptual, factual and procedural.

A technology issue that interests me at the moment, is still Web 2.0! I really am interested in how teachers are going to integrate the technology more over the coming years, and whether or not it will be as effective of a teaching tool as I believe it can and will be! I know a lot of people don't agree that Web 2.0 should be a big part of classrooms (and I don't either, but I think it's great in small doses!), so my question is.. if you don't intend on using Web 2.0 technology, what will you use to get messages across quickly? There's always email, of course, but how often do third graders check theirs (: ?

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Blog Post 6.

I think that Web 2.0 technology has become SO integrated in our society, that it would likely be counterproductive to not use it! My nine year old cousin has a Facebook, and clearly creating a wiki uses a simple interface that almost all K-12 students will be familiar with, even if they've never seen the programs before. Collaborating is also an important skill for students to learn, and working together on a project that doesn't require individuals to get together outside of school takes a load off of a lot of people. Of course, Twitter and Facebook weren't actually created for educational purposes, but there's nothing saying they couldn't be! I think I would encourage a study group page on Facebook, or even a class Twitter account. I've used EME2040's with our Inspiration assignment! I definitely needed the help and got a quick reply, which is what a lot of students would need too!

Regarding Wikipedia, I don't entirely know how I feel about it. I am an avid 'Googler' and when I'm on my Blackberry, Wikipedia is usually the first link that comes up. I wholeheartedly agree with most when they say that the online encyclopedia is not always accurate for research papers, but with some extra work, it wouldn't be the worst thing. As long as the information is cross-referenced with a more trusted source. Most of the time, when I use Wikipedia, it's to check a quick fact that I already know, but need confirmation on, not for new information. Without the 'According to Wikipedia' clause, I rarely move on in conversation. I don't know that I would use Wikipedia as a source for my own teaching, but as long as another reliable source is referenced for accuracy, at the elementary school level, it wouldn't be a problem for me.

I loved the Wikispace pages we made! It was SO easy to see why the website is both useful, practical, and easy to adapt for any multitude of situations! With our society using the computer so much, providing an electronic basis for homework, and even assignments for students is such a good idea! I really hope to continue using Wikispaces in my teaching, as well as having my students do the same! It's definitely one of my favorite programs/sites we've used so far this year!

Blog Post 5

I think the Internet is definitely a good source for student information! I'm guilty of having Google Books up on a particular book I'm trying to quote, but forgot the pages, and using ctrl-F to find the page number, and exact quote. I'm still using the source material, but just in a more creative way. I do think that the Internet can provide a whole host of misinformation, but assuming that students have some idea of which websites are credible most hazards can be avoided.

I would use web-based content in addition to books to add additional information to my teaching. For example, if I were to use the same lesson plan as in Blog Post 3, I'd encourage my students to look up information about their assigned President and use that in their Powerpoint presentations. I looked into this lesson plan (because I've also decided I'm going to use it when I am a third grade teacher (: ) and found a few websites that I think would be really useful and fun for a third grader!
http://www.socialstudiesforkids.com/subjects/uspresidentsdropdown.htm -- this website had links about each individual President
http://kids.nationalgeographic.com/Stories/PeoplePlaces/Georgewashingtonicecream -- this website gave fun facts about U.S. Presidents!

I'm a little worried about the Internet in general. I think there is a lot of bad information out there, and most third graders do not know how to discriminate between useful resources. The Internet should be used for facts, but unfortunately there is a lot out there that isn't factual. I hope to teach my students to cross-check information before relying on it as fact-- hopefully that can help avoid getting the wrong information.

Blog Post 4

I think that outlines, maps and storyboards are really great tools for teachers to use in the classroom. They help to guide the lesson and they show how far a teacher has gotten during that particular class. Having blank outlines with topic titles always helped keep me focused during lessons, and when there were items to be filled in, it makes students pay closer attention. Maps and storyboards also help add a visual element to teaching, which will engage students far more than just talking at them. Inspiration was a really good program! I enjoyed creating my concept maps and it presents the information in a fun way!

I also think that I would definitely encourage my students to use outlines! Keeping their notes organized is a lesson every student should learn early on! Giving them the opportunity to follow along with my lessons using fill-in-the-blank outlines definitely keeps kids focused... and as long as the information isn't horribly boring, they usually enjoy seeing the class go by. Watching the outline get filled in, or the progress the maps are taking seems to make class go by faster.

Becoming acquainted with Inspiration is definitely a highlight of my past week, as well as learning all of the shortcuts for Google searching! Inspiration will help to make my classes more visually appealing, and it's also a great tool for students to use too! I loved learning about how to quickly and efficiently get information from Google as well-- I know I'll be spending a lot less time picking through everything on the Internet for the information I need!

Blog Post 3

As I've stated before, I'd really like to use technology to enhance my teaching, rather than to replace it altogether. I think that an age appropriate lesson I might use in a third grade class would involve PowerPoint. I think there are so many different ways to present information using PowerPoint, and it's a lot of fun for younger kids too! Rather than having all of my students clacking away at the computer at the same time, I'd prefer to split them up into small groups and work on their assignment that way. I loved learning about the US Presidents, so having my students work on a group PowerPoint presentation about an assigned president would be a lot of fun! I think they could gain self esteem in presenting what they've researched and created to the class, and I would also be able to introduce them to a pretty basic program that will come up again and again in their lives.


The website I'm critiquing is the one I'm on the most, besides Facebook... which is a little bit embarrassing. However, Perez Hilton definitely follows the graphic and interface design principles of Chapter 6. He uses only one font for the entire screen, besides the Hollywood-sign font of his title graphics. While the pink is definitely bright, the site keeps within the color family, accenting with a darker color-- the text is black on white, large, and easy to read. Perez most definitely accents the text with graphics, and sometimes they are downright crude... but I love it! Above all, Mr. Hilton knows his audience, and always keeps us coming back for more.
I'll emphasize MY text with my favorite picture -- ME AND PEREZ!

As for copyright, I was in the International Baccalaureate program in high school... and every day we were yelled at for potentially plagiarizing. It's definitely a very real threat to such a prestigious program, especially when all 200-plus IB students at my school were constantly writing papers that could easily be lifted from the Internet, or anywhere else. Our school required us to write an Extended Essay, which had to be between 3,000 and 4,000 words on a very specific topic (mine was: The Effects of British Propaganda Campaigns on United States Involvement in World War I... so yeah, really specific!). Before our essays could be submitted through the school and then sent off to wherever they were to be read (anything IB-official is sent all over the world!), we had to submit our papers through Turnitin.com. Unless we passed with less than 10% plagiarism, due to quotes and a very sensitive system, we couldn't submit the paper. I ended up with 2% plagiarism, but Turnitin.com told me that I plagiarized the phrase 'United States of America'. I feel very strongly that there is a lot of information out there, and people are bound to phrase something similarly to another source, even without realizing. I also believe that students should want to produce their own work, and I hope to never have a student directly copy-and-paste something. Of course, I plan on teaching elementary school-age students, and the concept of copying other's work isn't quite so highly developed in younger students.

Inspiration!

Blog Post 1

I think that computers are very useful tools for teachers and students alike. They expand the knowledge base of the instructors greatly, and they provide other arenas for learning to take place. That is not to say that computers should be the main focus of schools, but learning computer literacy early on is helpful for the students. In our society, where computers and technology are everywhere, knowing how to properly use a computer is going to be a vital skill in the very near future. Of course, this could raise certain concerns about hacking, and having students be too knowledgeable, but with good teaching and guidance such concerns can be forgotten. I believe that learning should focus on the teacher instructing the students, but computers make a great supplement. I found the topic of troubleshooting to be pretty interesting too-- as someone who gets really stressed when things go wrong beyond repair, I think learning out to keep your cool in the classroom during technical difficulties is exceptionally useful.

In my own classroom, however, I'd like to use the computers as a supplemental tool. I think learning how to use the Internet and computer basics is as important a skill as learning basic math, so having semi-regular access to computers is definitely important. When I was in elementary school, we used the classroom computers to type things for writing (on the huge reams of paper with with the holes and perforations, of course!) or to play educational games. The computers were a reward, and not an expectation. We had a computer lab special once a week where we'd go to the computer lab and use the internet, often to work on a project for class. I'd like to do something of the same. Using the computer as a supplement to help emphasize and enhance my teaching, rather than solely relying on technology to do my job for me.

My random paragraph has to do with Apple. I love Apple. I would go crazy if I had unlimited funds and could just buy every new thing they put out and if I could live in the Apple store on 5th Avenue (probably the most beautiful building in Manhattan, and I've seen a lot of beautiful buildings). I have a Macbook, and it is the only thing I never forget when I go home for the weekend, or anywhere, really. I love iTunes, I love my iPod Touch (and yes, I'm one of those people that do the little 'i' haha), and I honestly would marry Steve Jobs if the opportunity would arise. I have even been slighted before by Apple producing the 'new' version of my iPod or Macbook the second I unwrapped mine, but it still won't change my mind. I can't help it! Just because I have something of an Apple fetish, I know that not everyone agrees. Some people hate the entire brand, and some people are just jealous (hahaha), so I was just wondering... what do you guys think? If you had the opportunity, would you trade in your PC for a Mac?

Practice with MS Paint.

Blog Post 0

I've always had an in between understanding of technology. I know so much more than my mom (who still will click on the internet explorer icon thirty times, and then freak out as to why so many windows opened!), but there were always the people who could completely tear a computer to shreds and then rebuild it better than before. I've had three computers so far in my life... and something like six iPods. As for the computers, however, I had an HP desktop from eighth grade until junior year, a Dell laptop for senior year. When I graduated high school, the Dell had all but fallen apart, and my parents bought me a MacBook-- which is probably my prized possession. I don't think I could ever go back to Windows now! I'm pretty good with most of the Microsoft Office programs, and somehow I ended up with Photoshop CS4. I don't do much with the Photoshop, but it's still fun to play around with! I don't think I'm really lacking in any technological information, besides programs I haven't gotten to use yet, or any new operating systems.

Even if I'm not lacking anything, I do hope to be able to streamline my processes on the computer. I know there are about a hundred short cuts, but I'm only really using Control-C and Control-V at the moment. When I found out you could Control-B to bold something while you were typing, my mind was blown... and that was just last year! Hopefully I'll be able to learn how to make more efficient use of the computer. Since most schools do operate with Windows, I also hope to become more acquainted with it again. Even if it's only been a year and a half since I had my Dell, I've grown so used to my Mac's operating system that I need some practice.

My learning style was pretty accurate, actually! I had strong preferences towards Active, Intuitive, and Visual learning... which is exactly how I feel like I learn. I really need to talk a process through before I can begin to understand it-- during senior year biology, my entire class was having trouble figuring out the hormone processes of the kidneys based off of a worksheet we were given. As soon as I started reading it piece by piece and talking it out with my teacher, it all clicked. I'm also really bad about forming relationships between subjects. As an intuitive learner, I'm ALWAYS trying to make some kind of connection before I can fully understand something, which always frustrates people I'm studying with. I can't move on until I have some simpler way of remembering the fact! I'm also definitely a visual learner-- I have something of a photographic memory. When I'm studying notes, I use different colored highlighters for each page, and I can pretty much always remember what part of the page the information was on, as well as the color. My other result was a '1' for sequential learner, which was a little odd. I think I have more tendencies of a global learner most of the time, but I do find myself working in order pretty often too. Especially when I'm writing emails, or something of that nature-- I always have to answer every question or address every statement in the order I receive it!

Playing with Pictures

Ronald loves FSU!

Practice Embedding Videos