Digital Storytelling
Digital storytelling is a tool that you can use in the classroom for a variety of things. You can compile class photos from the school year in a story board and show it off to everyone at the end of the year. You can also use it as a teaching tool for a lesson, such as history. After playing with a story board application for a bit it seems that you can really do quite a bit with it and it is almost like an electronic book, how neat!
There are some great website online that you can find that are great resources for how to compile a digital storyboard if you are confused on how to do it. Some of these sites are:
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/storyboarding.html
http://www.umass.edu/wmwp/DigitalStorytelling/How%20to%20Create%20a%20digital%20story.htm
http://multimedia.journalism.berkeley.edu/tutorials/starttofinish/storyboarding/
Friday, July 15, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Blog Following 101 -
I think what I am learning most about following blogs based on education issues is that I have to take everything that I read with a grain of salt. With that said, I am completely frustrated reading the majority of the blogs that I have been following. The frustration does not stem from the bloggers themselves but rather the information that they are sharing.
The NCLB has and always will be a hot topic for educators until it has been addressed in a manner that is beneficial for everyone. When I say everyone I mean children, parents, educators, administrators, and political heads. I find it incredibly unfortunate that the future of children (and teachers!) has been left to the scores of standardized tests. One of the more recent blog postings that I read from the blogger that I follow posted an article about how the "Fed's" are now thinking about testing children in preschool. PRESCHOOL! Without getting too political on this topic, it has to do with Obama's, "Race to the Top" program. You can go to this link and read more specifics about it. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2011/07/_to_compete_states_must.html
What does this mean for me as a teacher in the future? I feel that it means as a teacher I will be teaching even LESS to the children and more AT the children. At what point is someone going to step in and say that enough is enough? The United States is a leader in many ways in this world, but I hate to say that I am not sure we are doing much good for our children by teaching to a test rather than truly educating our children and setting them up for the best possible future. After all, we always hear that teachers are "educating our future", but what does that mean for us as a society if all we are doing is racing to the top? Not to mention what that means for teachers who are more interested in claiming "prize" money rather than truly educating students.
I think what I am learning most about following blogs based on education issues is that I have to take everything that I read with a grain of salt. With that said, I am completely frustrated reading the majority of the blogs that I have been following. The frustration does not stem from the bloggers themselves but rather the information that they are sharing.
The NCLB has and always will be a hot topic for educators until it has been addressed in a manner that is beneficial for everyone. When I say everyone I mean children, parents, educators, administrators, and political heads. I find it incredibly unfortunate that the future of children (and teachers!) has been left to the scores of standardized tests. One of the more recent blog postings that I read from the blogger that I follow posted an article about how the "Fed's" are now thinking about testing children in preschool. PRESCHOOL! Without getting too political on this topic, it has to do with Obama's, "Race to the Top" program. You can go to this link and read more specifics about it. http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2011/07/_to_compete_states_must.html
What does this mean for me as a teacher in the future? I feel that it means as a teacher I will be teaching even LESS to the children and more AT the children. At what point is someone going to step in and say that enough is enough? The United States is a leader in many ways in this world, but I hate to say that I am not sure we are doing much good for our children by teaching to a test rather than truly educating our children and setting them up for the best possible future. After all, we always hear that teachers are "educating our future", but what does that mean for us as a society if all we are doing is racing to the top? Not to mention what that means for teachers who are more interested in claiming "prize" money rather than truly educating students.
While searching for global education communities I remembered the days in elementary school when we used to write to pen pals. I absolutely loved writing and receiving letters from someone in another state that I had never met and I can still remember where my pen pal was from. Lincoln, Nebraska! While I was reminiscing about old, old, old times I got to thinking how neat it would be to have an electronic version of penpals and that someone out there has had to have started something along these lines. I don't mean facebook, myspace, or twitter but something more involved and interactive. Sure enough, I came across a really great program.
Flat Classroom Project!
This is a project that was created by two teachers, one in Georgia and one in Bangladesh! How neat is that?! These two teachers came together to create a innovative approach to learning by connection their two classrooms together using unique multimedia. The name of it alone reminded me of a book we once read as kids called Flat Stanley. It is a book about the adventures of a little boy who is completely flat and travels all over the world in an envelope. If you haven't read it, I suggest you do as it is a great literacy activity to do with your students and could be knitted into a blogging activity as well!
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Assistive Technology
Assistive technology helps assist, adapt, or rehabilitate special tools for people who have disabilities. These tools can help people accomplish things they were not able to do formerly, such as a prosthetic leg or a hearing aid. In education, this may look slightly different. IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 defines assistive technology as any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device.
By IDEA’s standards, this term includes but does not limit to: the evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child’s customary environment. Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by children with disabilities. Training or technical assistance for professionals, employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of the individual with a disability.
Some examples of assistive technology tools that can be used in the classroom include alternate keyboards that are modified with an overlay to make learning more direct for students with disabilities. All they need to do is press a key with a picture on it to see a word spelled on the computer screen. Another technology that is really awesome is called DynaMyte. This is a portable communications tool that allows students to communicate with others effectively by selecting a sequence of symbols on a touch pad in which the computer then speaks for them.
Being aware of this kind of technology and keeping up to date with it as much as possible is important even if you do not have a child with a disability in your classroom. It is a wonderful resource as a teacher to know about and to have a sound understanding in. I plan on staying aware of a variety of AT’s in order to be a more effective teacher and to help my students be as successful as possible. After all, every child has a special need.
University at Buffalo. (2000). Assistive Technology in the Classroom . In Introduction to AT. Retrieved 6/21/2011, from http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics/Foundation/intro/index.php.
LADACIN Network . (2011). Special Education . In Educational Programs. Retrieved 6/21/2011, from http://www.ladacin.org/content/services/school_programs.asp
NCLD Editorial Staff. (2009). Section 504 and IDEA Comparison Chart. In LD.org. Retrieved 6/21/2011, from http://www.ncld.org/at-school/your-childs-rights/iep-aamp-504-plan/section-504-and-idea-comparison-chart.
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| http://www.ladacin.org/content/services/school_programs.asp |
By IDEA’s standards, this term includes but does not limit to: the evaluation of the needs of a child with a disability, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child’s customary environment. Purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by children with disabilities. Training or technical assistance for professionals, employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of the individual with a disability.
Some examples of assistive technology tools that can be used in the classroom include alternate keyboards that are modified with an overlay to make learning more direct for students with disabilities. All they need to do is press a key with a picture on it to see a word spelled on the computer screen. Another technology that is really awesome is called DynaMyte. This is a portable communications tool that allows students to communicate with others effectively by selecting a sequence of symbols on a touch pad in which the computer then speaks for them.
Being aware of this kind of technology and keeping up to date with it as much as possible is important even if you do not have a child with a disability in your classroom. It is a wonderful resource as a teacher to know about and to have a sound understanding in. I plan on staying aware of a variety of AT’s in order to be a more effective teacher and to help my students be as successful as possible. After all, every child has a special need.
University at Buffalo. (2000). Assistive Technology in the Classroom . In Introduction to AT. Retrieved 6/21/2011, from http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/ATBasics/Foundation/intro/index.php.
LADACIN Network . (2011). Special Education . In Educational Programs. Retrieved 6/21/2011, from http://www.ladacin.org/content/services/school_programs.asp
NCLD Editorial Staff. (2009). Section 504 and IDEA Comparison Chart. In LD.org. Retrieved 6/21/2011, from http://www.ncld.org/at-school/your-childs-rights/iep-aamp-504-plan/section-504-and-idea-comparison-chart.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
The blogs I chose to follow all have a common theme, and that is educational resources. I had a hard time trying tie them together in a way that made sense to anyone that would read my posting. I think the reason I had a hard time coming up with a narrative to connect four blogs being followed is that they are all very different from one another and offer a variety of information. It is hard to find common threads amongst so much information other than a broad and general topic of educational resources. What I find great about this observation is that it shows that there is a large spectrum of educational information out there for educators disposal. It is a wonderful tool to be able to go online and immediately find blogs, youtube videos, wiki pages, you name it! All of these options and my classmates blogs have offered up a new way of thinking about how to teach and find resources for the classroom.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tux Paint
This is a really great website for kiddos to use at home or even in the classroom. By downloading the software onto your computer, the kids have a free drawing board that they can decorate again and again. It has all sorts of features such as stamps, drawing, painting, and various texts. Even calligraphy! Another fun thing about this software is that with every thing you do, whether it is erasing something you drew, stamping a picture, or even changing the color you are using, a fun noise goes along with it! Who wouldn't love that?? You can also save your art that you have created or print it off and hang it on your fridge. I found it to be a nice relaxation tool when I stressed out from a long day. It was also a fun way of addressing technology homework!
Also, for my new technological toy that I played with this past week it was something I have always had but never used! My webcam! I have never really used my webcam, at least not for recording videos, so for our Glogster assignment I decided to create an audio recording for my poster. The video is below, just don't make fun of my twitchy eyes!!
I can even be Obama!
This is a really great website for kiddos to use at home or even in the classroom. By downloading the software onto your computer, the kids have a free drawing board that they can decorate again and again. It has all sorts of features such as stamps, drawing, painting, and various texts. Even calligraphy! Another fun thing about this software is that with every thing you do, whether it is erasing something you drew, stamping a picture, or even changing the color you are using, a fun noise goes along with it! Who wouldn't love that?? You can also save your art that you have created or print it off and hang it on your fridge. I found it to be a nice relaxation tool when I stressed out from a long day. It was also a fun way of addressing technology homework!
Also, for my new technological toy that I played with this past week it was something I have always had but never used! My webcam! I have never really used my webcam, at least not for recording videos, so for our Glogster assignment I decided to create an audio recording for my poster. The video is below, just don't make fun of my twitchy eyes!!
I also learned through utilizing my webcam that it does all sorts of other fun things!
I can even be Obama!
Friday, June 10, 2011
Teach Parents Tech
I chose to send the link to the www.teachparentstech.org/ page to two of my friends. One of them, Katie, has a one year old son and has been a Language Arts teacher for five years in various middle schools throughout the United States. The other friend I chose is Amber. She has two young daughters, one of which is in the second grade.
In two weeks I plan on touching base with them to see what they thought of the page and if it helped them in any way. Don't forget to come back and see what they thought!
Teach Parents Tech UPDATE! 6/20/2011
Getting back in touch with the two people I chose to send the teachparentstech.org link to has proven to be a challenge. Neither of the two people I chose to send the link to wanted to check it out, so I got my sister involved who also happens to be a teacher. She told me that as a teacher she was intrigued by this resource because 1)she didn't know it existed and 2) it was a fun way to help educate parents and students on technology use. In her opinion, the site was a little too basic and she thought that it may be more beneficial if the site addressed more perplexing questions in the usage of technology. Maybe addressing what blogs are, how to be more technologically advanced, and other unique ways to keep in touch with what parents children are learning in the classroom other than the typical newsletter.
I chose to send the link to the www.teachparentstech.org/ page to two of my friends. One of them, Katie, has a one year old son and has been a Language Arts teacher for five years in various middle schools throughout the United States. The other friend I chose is Amber. She has two young daughters, one of which is in the second grade.
In two weeks I plan on touching base with them to see what they thought of the page and if it helped them in any way. Don't forget to come back and see what they thought!
Teach Parents Tech UPDATE! 6/20/2011
Getting back in touch with the two people I chose to send the teachparentstech.org link to has proven to be a challenge. Neither of the two people I chose to send the link to wanted to check it out, so I got my sister involved who also happens to be a teacher. She told me that as a teacher she was intrigued by this resource because 1)she didn't know it existed and 2) it was a fun way to help educate parents and students on technology use. In her opinion, the site was a little too basic and she thought that it may be more beneficial if the site addressed more perplexing questions in the usage of technology. Maybe addressing what blogs are, how to be more technologically advanced, and other unique ways to keep in touch with what parents children are learning in the classroom other than the typical newsletter.
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Copyright 101 for Educators
I chose to read Copyright 101 for Educators by Wesley Fryer. So what does it mean to copyright? Copyright gives legal rights to the originator of a work. This work could be anything from music, to art, books, etc. It also allows the originator the right to give others permission to use their work for whatever they would like as well. Apparently anything can be legally copyrighted immediately after it has been created as long as it has been authenticated by the creators signature.
Since I didn't realize that literally everything is copyrighted this really changes my mindset in how I will be creating things specifically when it comes to technology. I think as an educator it will be challenging putting together presentations for my future students without using anyone's work. This means that I need to be very aware of the copyright laws and make sure that I am complying with them. Not only for legality purposes, but also to be a good role model and to show my students how to do it as well. On the flip side of this is the Fair Use act, this allows minimal use of a copyrighted work for specific purposes. Some of these purposes are commentary, research, and scholarships. There is another thing to be aware of, the TEACH Act. TEACH stands for technology, education, and copyright harmonization. This act refers to the use of multimedia in distance education classes, such as the one we are taking currently.
I learned a lot from reading this article and by searching Google for more information to clarify things for me. I think it is startling how little knowledge I had of the correct use of copyrights. I also found it interesting that there are copyrights on literally everything and that laws have been created in order to protect each and every single one of those creations. It makes me want to create something and stamp my name on it just so I can say I have a copyright!
I chose to read Copyright 101 for Educators by Wesley Fryer. So what does it mean to copyright? Copyright gives legal rights to the originator of a work. This work could be anything from music, to art, books, etc. It also allows the originator the right to give others permission to use their work for whatever they would like as well. Apparently anything can be legally copyrighted immediately after it has been created as long as it has been authenticated by the creators signature.
Since I didn't realize that literally everything is copyrighted this really changes my mindset in how I will be creating things specifically when it comes to technology. I think as an educator it will be challenging putting together presentations for my future students without using anyone's work. This means that I need to be very aware of the copyright laws and make sure that I am complying with them. Not only for legality purposes, but also to be a good role model and to show my students how to do it as well. On the flip side of this is the Fair Use act, this allows minimal use of a copyrighted work for specific purposes. Some of these purposes are commentary, research, and scholarships. There is another thing to be aware of, the TEACH Act. TEACH stands for technology, education, and copyright harmonization. This act refers to the use of multimedia in distance education classes, such as the one we are taking currently.
I learned a lot from reading this article and by searching Google for more information to clarify things for me. I think it is startling how little knowledge I had of the correct use of copyrights. I also found it interesting that there are copyrights on literally everything and that laws have been created in order to protect each and every single one of those creations. It makes me want to create something and stamp my name on it just so I can say I have a copyright!
Monday, May 30, 2011
Mug
View the entire collection of cards.
I made these fun mugs on Shutterfly for my husband-to-be and our Dad's for Fathers Day! They had a promotion when I was checking out online that stated if you posted your custom order on your blog, they would give you a discount code for your next purchase. Since I use Shutterfly for a lot of things, I jumped on it and thought it would be a great way to try experimenting with my blog!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
http://www.schoolsmatter.info/
I chose to follow this blog because it addressed a lot of issues in education that are important to me. It discusses standardized testing, historical events and how they affected our education system, and other topics that directly relate me as a (future) teacher. I also checked out a few others, I have listed them below.
http://ssedro.blogspot.com/ - "Adventures in Educational Blogging"
This is a great online resource for future teachers as it pertains to all sorts of important information regarding technology for students. The author of the blog talks about everything from teaching tools she uses to twitter, podcasts, professional development, and how to incorporate blogs into the classroom curriculum.
http://learningcurves.blogspot.com/ - "Learning Curves"
This lady is hilarious. So far what I have read in her blog has shown to be useless to me in the ways of the blogging and internet world. I'm not sure that she will really offer anything that I can use in my classroom with elementary students but I think she can provide good insight into the new technology that is evolving. I also think she shines some light on the funnier side of technology with which frustration comes hand in hand.
http://teachersteachingteachers.org/ - "Teachers Teaching Teachers"
This site connects teachers from around the world. Many of the teachers have connected via the web and through workshops they have attended at various locations. Although it does address technology in the education world it also addresses other worldly situations such as the natural disasters which have been occurring throughout our world.
http://elemenous.typepad.com/weblog/ - "High Techpectations"
The last blog I chose to look at, High Techpectations, has so many different topics on the site that I cannot even begin to mention them. They address literally everything you can imagine. One thing I noticed that was different from other blogs was that they addressed everything under the sun, including You Tube, which I had not seen anyone mention before. This is a great online resource for future teachers as it pertains to all sorts of important information regarding technology for students. The author of the blog talks about everything from teaching tools she uses to twitter, podcasts, professional development, and how to incorporate blogs into the classroom curriculum.
http://learningcurves.blogspot.com/ - "Learning Curves"
This lady is hilarious. So far what I have read in her blog has shown to be useless to me in the ways of the blogging and internet world. I'm not sure that she will really offer anything that I can use in my classroom with elementary students but I think she can provide good insight into the new technology that is evolving. I also think she shines some light on the funnier side of technology with which frustration comes hand in hand.
http://teachersteachingteachers.org/ - "Teachers Teaching Teachers"
This site connects teachers from around the world. Many of the teachers have connected via the web and through workshops they have attended at various locations. Although it does address technology in the education world it also addresses other worldly situations such as the natural disasters which have been occurring throughout our world.
http://elemenous.typepad.com/weblog/ - "High Techpectations"
What I found most interesting after searching for educational blogs is the overwhelming amount of them that are available. There are thousands of educational blogs, all filled with great ideas and advice for the classroom. You can find many that are categorized into various subject matters and there is literally no subject that has gone un-blogged! This will be a great resource once I am teaching and the best thing about it is that blogs are constantly being updated and new ones are created so the information is continually getting better and more effective. Some of the blogs I chose to look at were not directly "educational" as far as how to teach technology. Rather they addressed issues that technology creates, worldly issues, and some of them even found humor in the challenges we face when working with technology.
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