Blog #10: Surveys, Topics, and A New Skill

As a teacher, I will use surveys to collect information about the student from the parent such as emergency contact. Surveys used in this way can be used for all grades and subjects. Additionally, I will use the survey to gauge what knowledge the student has on a subject. For example, if I am trying to figure out how well the 4th grade students recall multiplication, I will create a survey that is timed with different multiplication problems. It will be very handy and easy since the survey is online.

Topics I found most interesting on the blogs were the Newsletter blog and which tool they liked better: Microsoft or Google. In the Newsletter blog, I was able to see their creativity in making the newsletter and what grades they are interested in to teach. It was interesting to see the information put on the newsletter and how they will utilize it. For the other blog, I thought it was interesting that most of the classmates liked Google Drive better than Microsoft. Microsoft is older so more people know about it, but I think more schools push Google since it is free.

A technology-related skill I would want to learn next is how to create simulations on a computer. In biology lab, a simulation is sometimes used to perform the lab. I think it would be cool to learn how to create one for students to use to learn. Since education is mostly online now and it will affect education in the future, I think it is important to know how to create a simulation for visual students. The goal can be achieved by finding free online resources that teach how to create the simulation.

Bitmoji Classroom

 

Blog #9: Distance Learning, OER, and Power Points

     As a distance learner this semester, I am able to do my classes from anywhere with wifi. This allows me to sleep in more and not worry about getting to a physical classroom. I do not like having classes away from people. I enjoy that face to face interaction that you cannot get through a computer. I would rather be in a classroom with 20 other students than in my room by myself. Being face to face allows you to make friends and relationships. 

    Open Educational Resources allows teachers and students free access to different tools to support their learning and instruction. This allows up to date information to be shared among educators and students. OER also lowers the cost of education. If these resources had to be paid for then there would be more expenses to education and cost cuts to the system. This allows everyone to have equal availability of information and opportunities. The University of Illinois OER Blog allows students to have access to articles to read. These articles give information about on-campus and national information about OER.

    I enjoyed these two PowerPoint projects. I learned on the slide show movie how to record my voice. I knew it was possible, but I discovered how. I learned how to do page numbers, edit the header and footer, smart graphics, and speaker notes. On the interactive PowerPoint, I learned how it can be turned into a game by turning off the linear navigation. I learned how to add the home and next page buttons. Next time I would add sound effects to the slide show movie. To the interactive PowerPoint, I would add specialized incorrect slides for when the student gets the specific question wrong. The animal PowerPoint is the slide show movie and the Disney themed PowerPoint is the interactive one.

   

Blog #8: Website, Diigo, and Information on Educational Technology

 When working on the website I learned how to embed a link. The Google calendar was tricky because it had to be made public for it to be seen by others. I liked this assignment. It allows the creator to have free will in design while making a structured piece. I will use this assignment to make a website for my class in the future. It is a great tool to keep the parents and students up to date on what they are learning and the events of the school. I also like how the website is able to constantly be updated and be current. This is the link to my website: http://juliamoffasclassroom.weebly.com/ 

A new skill I learned from working with Diigo is highlighting and sticky noting important information to share with others. By getting important information, it gets to the point of what needs to be shared. I can use this in my classroom to create interactive sessions with the students. It can create an activity where the students get their own article and share important information and read others. This will allow for collaborative work in the classroom. I can also use it to share important information with my students. 

Technology is always changing and advancing every day. As teachers try to keep up with the educational technology, there are so many websites to give up to date information and advice. At ISTE, there are articles posted almost daily that give information, advice, and suggestions on the newest educational technology. This company tries to keep teachers at certain educational standards and helps by publishing articles to support them. For example, the article “5 Engaging Ideas for Online Learning” covers new ideas to help teachers instruct their students online during the pandemic. 

Blog #7: Teacher Class Pages, My Future Classroom Tools, and PB Works

            I went to Saint Bridget's School’s teacher pages and found Mrs. Brzenk’s Kindergarten class page. On the website, there is a description of the teacher and how to get in contact with her. There is a spot for weekly homework and links to educational resources. There is a section with a calendar for each week, news, and school day schedule. Additionally, there is a wishlist section for items needed for the classroom to perform special activities. On the website, there were cute graphics that made the website more inviting for the students and parents. The other class pages are almost exactly the same, but some have a section for spelling lists. The class pages are an adorable idea to keep students and parents up to date. 

Mrs. Brzenk's Kindergarten class page

I envision myself using an online newsletter to keep the parents up to date with what is happening in the classroom. Of course, I would have to make sure that my parents and students are able to access the internet on a daily basis and that using the internet is not a hindrance. I also think online games that are focused on educating the students are great tools for a classroom to support their learning. Some platforms I will use include Google Docs, Starfall, Kahoot, and Teacher pay Teacher for activity ideas. I also will use CPALMS to find educational lessons to help reach educational standards while having fun activities. There are so many online resources that I can use for my future classroom that we have learned in this course and I am so excited to discover new ones.

I liked using the wiki platform because everyone can edit it. There is not just one person editing the whole project. I also liked that I seemed to be a website rather than a regular presentation. The set up seemed pretty easy to use and I was able to adapt to it quickly. I would use a wiki with my future students by having them create presentations as a group project on wiki pages. It is a cute, simple group project platform that I feel students of all technological levels will be able to use. 

Blog #6: Diigo, Blog, and Web 2.0 Tools

           Diigo seems like a good platform to use in a classroom. With Diigo you are able to have a running discussion. People can comment on what you post which can be helpful. I like that Diigo lets you highlight excerpts from websites and write your own opinion. On regular discussions, you are just writing while on Diigo you are sharing a link. I like that it is a running thread and it is fairly easy to use.

My experience blogging began in this class. I like blogging because I am able to express my opinion. I enjoy the ability to comment on other people’s blogs too. I’ve learned that once you have a topic you want to cover on a blog it is fairly easy to create a post. I like how you can personalize each section of the blog. I also enjoy that a blog can be about anything and can reach a lot of people.

Another great Web 2.0 tool to use for teaching is Pinterest. At Pinterest, you are able to share and discover new ideas for teachers to use. For example, there are hundreds of Thanksgiving craft ideas that are great for all grades to be used by teachers. I enjoy Pinterest because not only is a person able to post and repost ideas, but also able to comment. Pinterest lets the user post comments to the posts and a user can share a Pinterest post on different social media outlets too. Pinterest has millions of crafts and ideas for teachers to use ranging from how to decorate a classroom to individual worksheets for science class. This tool is excellent and efficient. 

Blog #5: Twitter, Digital Divide, Software Tools

            I have never used Twitter before this class. My only experience was my dad uses Twitter to stay up to date with news and sports. So far my use of it has been following teachers and other teaching-related pages. I have done a twitter chat about educational technology being used during the pandemic. Teachers responded with different websites like Kahoot and flipgrid. This is beneficial for my future career because I can always use Twitter as a source for new ideas and activities I will be able to use in my classroom.

The digital divide is a problem in schools. A student who has more technology will usually do better in school because they have more resources through the internet to help with homework and other learning. A student with technology will also adapt better in college and in jobs because technology plays such a big role. Some causes of the digital divide are socioeconomic status and whether or not the teacher is using the technology in the classroom. As a future teacher, the ideal situation would be using technology all the time with my students. I know this may not happen depending on where I teach. I will want to use technology at least once a week. Technology is very important so I will need to teach my students how to use technology. I will cover basic skills, but also behavior on the internet. I will use the computer lab or laptop carts to hopefully support the student’s learning.

Two software tools would be Google docs and Kahoot. Google docs is a free application and will enable the students to learn how to type. This will also be useful if they need to work on a group project online, the document can be used at the same time with multiple people. It is similar to Microsoft Word so if in college or at a job they need to use Microsoft they can easily transfer. Kahoot is a fun way to get the kids engaged in what we are learning. Students are able to compete against each other while reviewing the curriculum. Kahoot brings healthy competition to the students and reviews what was previously learned.