Thing #15 - 21/Capstone Reflection

A)   The technology applications I have been exposed to throughout this class, and those I learned while researching for the class, are all very valuable to my students and to myself.  With the shift toward project based education, the technology applications I have been exposed to over the last two months, will extremely helpful.  As I stated before, our school will receive net books for our classes next year, as well as the fact we have a computer lab available for use by classes.  I will be having students use many of the applications I have been exposed to, to aid in their projects, assessments, and daily learning experience.
  As a teacher, I will continue to use the applications to enhance my teaching.  My website is starting to take shape, and with the new found resource, "screencasting," I can create screencasts to post to my site that will allow students to view assignments they either missed or need more review on.  Wordle is a great tool for teaching purposes or review.  The on-line graphic organizers will also be a great tool for students in their daily work or projects.  I think the problem I have right now is that I need to take time to decide how I am going to remember and use all of these wonderful applications the best way possible.

B)   Technology in the classroom allows students to take an active roll in their learning.  They are making choices about how to obtain information, manipulate it, and display it.  Technology allows students to perform authentic tasks, and therefore define their goals, make decisions, and evaluate their progress.  They will be provided with opportunities to interact with each other in a variety of ways so their learning will be enhanced.

C)    I would like to use Prezi to create a timeline presentation of Michigan's history.  The presentation would have different pictures, video's, web links, etc. as a demonstration for the students.  The students will then create their own Prezi presentation continuing the timeline throughout the year and completing it when we reach our current time.

3 – H3.0.10 Create a timeline to sequence early Michigan history (American Indians, exploration, settlement, statehood)

Thing #21 - Screencasting

  The screencast I created was for a graphing lesson using tallies, frequency charts, and vertical and horizontal bar graphs.  I showed it to my students today as we were doing graphing, did a lesson using this today, and having an assessment on it tomorrow.  Of course 3rd graders are good for your ego, they loved it.  It was rough, my first attempt, but the kids liked it.  Because I want to develop a web site for my class, I think screencasts similar to this one for other math areas that students and parents could access from home would be great.

http://www.screencast.com/users/mcquillan1/folders/Default/media/b7ae7b13-22b7-4689-8bd9-166bec8df882

Thing #20 - Wordle

  I entered a bunch of words from our Michigan History unit on the Hopewell Indians and then created a word cloud.  I loved this feature.  I will use it for reviewing important facts, comparing and contrasting student work, current events, vocabulary, and much more.

Thing #20 - Bubbl.us

The following is a mind-map of the Animal Kingdom.  I would use this in our animal unit.  I think I would start with just the title and then build the rest of the mind map with the students as we learn more about each of the classifications.  The amount of information we can put in here is endless.  When finished, I can print this for each student as a review, or they can have access on-line.

Thing #19 - Navigating on the Land of Learning

  First, in order to be a successful on-line learner, the student needs a good computer, or access to a school computer with a quality internet connection.  The student also needs to make sure that the classes he/she picks are good for their learning style and are courses that are accredited and will count toward graduation.  Working with their counselor, the student should make sure they know who will be helping them understand how the course works and if they need special skills, if the course has any cost, and can they take the course from home or do they have to be at school.

Thing - #19 - Extend Your Classroom

  Ways in which I plan to extend my classroom will include a web site, Skype, and virtual field trips.  Since Thing #7 I have been trying to continue developing my web site.  Over the summer I hope to work on it enough to be ready for fall.

 














  Using Skype, I hope to attempt a time virtual author visits.  I am still looking into this, but the more I research it, the more doable it seems.  Marzano  strategies "Questions, Ques, and Advance Organizers" will fill perfectly with this type of virtual classroom.

  I am most excited about virtual field trips as a way to extend my classroom.  Each of our classrooms will be receiving 4 net books next year.  Along with this, I have 3 computers on-line in my room that students have access to.  If I schedule early enough, we also have an empty computer lab for use.  Because of this, I am researching several virtual field trips that go along with my curriculum.

Thing #18 - RSS Feed

  I was pleasantly surprised to find out about the RSS feed.  I have used IGoogle for years and have not explored many of the tools if offers.  The RSS feeds is a valuable tool for educators for many reasons.  First, it allows you to subscribe to articles or blogs and have it "delivered" whenever there are new posts.  You do not have to search for them.  Another reason RSS are valuable is that you can send the posts conveniently through email, right off the post to your peers.  When an interesting or important article is found, it is so easy to share with colleges.  Lastly, as a teacher I may find a lot of Weblog and media sites on the Internet that are consistently publishing interesting and relevant information, and to keep on top of these is nearly impossible.

Thing #17 - Cite 1 and 2

  I searched for a cite on UDL using the OmniFile.  I then took a screen shot of an article entitled, "Would You Recognize Universal Design if You Saw It?"  and used the MLA format.

  For the second cite, I used BibMe and looked up the book, "Follow the Drinking Gourd", and used APA format. 

  Both ways were easy to use, once I figured it out, but BibMe was very user friendly.  My book had all of the information right there for you, but I did like the feature of being able to fill in whatever else you needed.

Thing #17 - Advanced Research

  General OneFile is an online database that is meant for general use.  It has news, periodical articles, video clips and more, for about any topic imaginable.  It is updated daily, so the information is current.   The database is extremely easy to use and appropriate for all age levels.  Each of the articles are well documented for credibility. Another feature I like about General OneFile is that when you search, you are given the option of magazines, academic journals, books, news, or multimedia.

Thing #17 - MEL

  The two data bases I chose were e-Library and Kids InfoBits.

1. e-Library was the first database I went in to.  I found the site a little confusing to maneuver around.   You could choose video, audio, text, pictures, etc., but it took quite a bit of time to figure it out.  I chose to research the armadillo, so I put that into the search box.  When several options came up, I was pleased to see the reading level of each option.  Students would then be able to choose an appropriate reading level article.  For credibility, each article was well documented with the source, date of publication, page number, etc.

      2.  Kid InfoBits was the second data base I researched.  I used the armadillo, once again, for my topic.     found this database to be much easier to use.  When you first get into InfoBits, it is organized by topic.  I just clicked on animals and put armadillo in my search.  From here, there are tabs to click on if you want to look at magazine articles, reference material, pictures, charts and graphs, and much more.  Another feature in InfoBits is that it, also, has the reading level posted as well as the capability of having it read to you.  As with e-Library, the source was well documented.

Thing #16 - MACUL Space

  I joined MACUL Space, "Skype in the Classroom."  This group's purpose is for people who are interested in using Skype to connect with other teachers for idea sharing, and for classroom video conferencing.  There is no cost for the group and it had several postings that would beneficial for me.  Next year all of our classes will be receiving six net books.  I am very excited the possibilities this will bring.  I joined this group mostly for my own benefit, but I feel since I am familiar with Skype and its possibilities, once my students start using it, I will have valuable information to share.

Thing #16 - Facebook

  Facebook is still a somewhat controversial social networking site.  There are some schools, I have heard, that do not allow teachers to have accounts.  Some allow it, but do not allow teachers to have students as 'friends.'  Ours does not have a policy, but my own policy is to not have students under 18 as part of my Facebook, unless they are relatives.  I think that there are times other people may post inappropriate things I do not want children to see, and it is my personal site.
  Saying that, I think it can be a valuable tool for parents.  Last year was the first time I was on Facebook.  I joined for my own enjoyment, but soon found many of the parents of my students wanting to be friends.  I have often thought I would like to created an account just for our class.  This would be another tool that would allow communication, and in some cases, instant feedback and responses.

Thing #16 - LearnPort

  I love this site.  Earlier in this class I was in the site for Differentiated Learning and thought it was a good site.  I had no idea how much more was available.  There are so many courses to choose from that are relevant to any teacher.  What a great place to go for credits and SBCEU's. 

Thing #15 - Google Calendar

  Google calendar is a great tool to help keep parents and students informed.  Class parties, field trips, assessments, birthdays, and much more can be kept track of this way.  On my class web site I had a spot for calendar but couldn't figure out how to insert one.  Now I have linked it to my Google Calendar.

Thing #15 - Media Converter

  I tried to use Media Converter but had trouble with it.  I then tried Zamzar and it was incredibly easy.  I converted a word document to PDF in Zamzar.  Other options for conversion were: txt, png, pcx, odt, ps, and mp3.  Using this in the class will be beneficial, as stated above, to save files that will not be able to be changed.  I also will be able to download music and change it to mp3 and use for media sharing.

Thing #15 - Converted Word Document

I converted a math assessment to PDF. Because we have to have common assessments and we post them to our share drive, having them in PDF will secure them so people can not change them. It is important to leave them in doc. format for changing, but PDF is great for protection.

Thing #8 - 14/Capstone Reflection

A)  Using the applications to improve learning:  The applications in the last seven sections are all very beneficial for my classroom.  I will use a lot of them in conjunction with each other.  For example, Picasa is a great site for uploading and editing pictures.  From there I I can add them to my web site, do digital story telling, use them in Quizlets, and in creating Prezis.  Most of them are also great instruction tools.  My creating different ways to present my lessons, students will be exposed to ways they too can create and present information.

B)  Effective teaching and learning strategies:  Using any of the many types of presentations talked about in these 7 areas, students will have the opportunity for effective note taking, summarizing, and creating questions and organizers over and over.  Google Earth and Quizlet have a vast number of opportunities to allow students to create and tests hypothesis. Lastly, many of the online assessment tools provide and allow for immediate feedback so that students can quickly self-assess.

C)  How does this lesson meet a MI or Technology standard:  The "Thing" I am choosing to use for a lesson is Prezi.  Students can create a Prezi presentation for Science (or any other area) to show comprehension and understanding of their plant and animal unit. 

S.RS.03.17:   Identify current problems that may be solved through the use of technology.

#14 - Online video and audio resources

  The screen shot I have below is of Discovery Streaming.  This online video resource has thousands of video clips in every subject matter imaginable.  The clips are in documentary, cartoon, movie, and many more formats.  I use Discovery Streaming for instruction purposed to enhance the unit we are working on.  I use it for all subject areas, not just one.  Sometimes students go to the computer lab and find their own videos in a particular subject matter and choose their own video to watch.
  Podcasts and other audio tools can also be valuable tools in the classroom.   I have tried podcasts before and elementary kids don't stay focused long enough without the video.  However, adding Itunes and copyright allowed podcast to presentations can enhance them greatly.  Although I have heard very good poscasts, in my opinion, video streaming is a great way to go with elementary and younger, but podcasting has its values for upper grades.

Thing #13 - Quizlet

  The Quizlet cards I made were Science cards to review for an Animal and Plant unit.  The activity went over very well.  The students enjoyed using the cards, quizzing their partners, and then taking them home to study.  I think that's what I like best about this tool is that I can make several copies for students to take home and use.  We also went to the computer lab and I had them experiment using the tools provided.  They played the games, used the voice recognitions, and took a sample test.  I will continue to use this tool for test reviews, math centers, and daily choices.  This is a great tool.

 

Thing #13 - Google Earth

This is a screen shot of Yorktown, VA and Virginia Beach, VA where my kids have moved to.

The following is my house with a placemark