This week we reviewed security online. We are so vulnerable. Why do people want my things? Many times it is just because they are able to do it. More often than not it is because they want to sabatoge or they want to obtain information. Wow do we have plenty of information at our fingertips. As a Special Education teacher I have a responsibility to maintain many records and keep them safe!
Our technology department is top notch. Last year we had a problem with the secrutity software always wanting to push updates and it really slowed us down. This year we have a new server and it has changed the speed. It is so important to have the updates everyday because there is a new threat everyday.
Another discussion this week is the concern with intellectual property. As a teacher we share everything and take for granted that everyone wants to do the same. Watch out...not everyone wants to share.
On a personla note it is important to save and back up EVERYTHING! I can't stress how important it is to have security software and to back everything up.
Monday, December 13, 2010
Sunday, December 5, 2010
Week 7
This week we explored different types of software that promote active learning. There are many options available to students. As a Special Education Teacher I struggle finding a way to engage the students, finding material that is on a level that they can follow their grade level peers as well as understand the content. Across the curriculum I have difficulty finding a way for students to read the content because it is not at their level and they do not seem to care or find what they are learning relevant.
Through simulations, drill - and - practice, math manipulative activities and digital storytelling, there are many options teachers can use to engage students. Digital storytelling is popular in the classroom. Across the curriculum, teachers are able to incorporate a 5 minute story on the topic. Through Discovery.com and many other online sources, te4achers can access a short story and display it on the computer to project it in the classroom. I use this in the classroom now. It brings the material to life. As long as you don't over do it! Do not do any one thing for too long. Just like book work, not everyone learns best this way.
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html
File Management Software
I am very lucky to have such a great technology department in our district. I have found that he is someone to keep very happy. Every time I see him I try to have his favorite Mountain Dew and candy bar :). He is very aware of what is needed to make things work. It is one thing to want to incorporate storytelling, simulations and the like in your lessons, but it is another thing to have all of the tools to make that work. For storytelling to work, you must be able to download it with a compatible software. Although computers are usually ready to go, there have been times where I have not been able to display something because it needs to be saved a certain way or use a certain program to "translate" it.
Through simulations, drill - and - practice, math manipulative activities and digital storytelling, there are many options teachers can use to engage students. Digital storytelling is popular in the classroom. Across the curriculum, teachers are able to incorporate a 5 minute story on the topic. Through Discovery.com and many other online sources, te4achers can access a short story and display it on the computer to project it in the classroom. I use this in the classroom now. It brings the material to life. As long as you don't over do it! Do not do any one thing for too long. Just like book work, not everyone learns best this way.
http://digitalstorytelling.coe.uh.edu/index.html
| 21st Century Skills | Digital Storytelling |
| Digital Age Literacy | Digital storytelling allows a student to be informed and visually literate on numerous levels. |
| Inventive Thinking | Digital storytelling requires creative, independent, and inventive thinking. |
| Effective Communication | Digital storytelling involves collaborative, social interactive, and personal communication. |
| High Productivity | Digital storytelling utilizes cutting-edge, productivity tools to create high quality products and results. |
File Management Software
I am very lucky to have such a great technology department in our district. I have found that he is someone to keep very happy. Every time I see him I try to have his favorite Mountain Dew and candy bar :). He is very aware of what is needed to make things work. It is one thing to want to incorporate storytelling, simulations and the like in your lessons, but it is another thing to have all of the tools to make that work. For storytelling to work, you must be able to download it with a compatible software. Although computers are usually ready to go, there have been times where I have not been able to display something because it needs to be saved a certain way or use a certain program to "translate" it.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Web Quest
This week I created a Webquest. Questgarden is a wonderful resource for teachers who are interested in incorporating webquests in their classrooms. It was very easy to navigate and create a webquest using questgarden.
In a fifth grade class I co-teach, We used a wequest to guide students on a journey of world explorers. It is a wonderful way to encourage self direction and teamwork. Everyone can play a role in the finished product.
A web quest is time consuming and should not be taken lightly. The idea is to allow students to navigate the web quest on their time without needing to ask too many questions. Be careful not to have too much information. the task will get lost.
http://questgarden.com/115/16/4/101126133155/
This is a Web quest to introduce students and families to the exciting events taking place in our very own state. Hosting the Equestrian Games is an honor and we are excited to share our state with others around the world. The goal is for students to learn about the Equestrian Games and invite others to attend. Students will have the opportunity to create displays, brochures, PowerPoint's or advertisements for others to see.
Their task is to research information on The 2010 World Equestrian Games. Use the links provided to do the researching.
Once you have researched thoroughly you may complete one of the following:
1. Create a brochure using Microsoft Publisher.
2. Create a presentation using Microsoft Power Point.
3. Create an advertisement display.
The finished product must entice and persuade the viewers to attend the Equestrian Games. Use pictures and the information that you have attained from the links to the websites.
Students will get in groups of 4-5. Each group will decide what type of product they are going to create. Groups will navigate through the Alltech website. Students will create their final product by finding the most important data that will encourage others to attend the games. http://www.alltechfeigames.com/
In a fifth grade class I co-teach, We used a wequest to guide students on a journey of world explorers. It is a wonderful way to encourage self direction and teamwork. Everyone can play a role in the finished product.
A web quest is time consuming and should not be taken lightly. The idea is to allow students to navigate the web quest on their time without needing to ask too many questions. Be careful not to have too much information. the task will get lost.
http://questgarden.com/115/16/4/101126133155/
Their task is to research information on The 2010 World Equestrian Games. Use the links provided to do the researching.
Once you have researched thoroughly you may complete one of the following:
1. Create a brochure using Microsoft Publisher.
2. Create a presentation using Microsoft Power Point.
3. Create an advertisement display.
The finished product must entice and persuade the viewers to attend the Equestrian Games. Use pictures and the information that you have attained from the links to the websites.
Students will get in groups of 4-5. Each group will decide what type of product they are going to create. Groups will navigate through the Alltech website. Students will create their final product by finding the most important data that will encourage others to attend the games. http://www.alltechfeigames.com/
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Online Communication
This week we reviewed the number of tools that are available for communicating online. Of course the blog is a popular way to communicate timely information. Blogs are websites where the information is updated regularly. For example; I am using the blog as a way to summarize my week in this class and it is used by the professor as an assessment tool. Based on the information I post, my instructor can evaluate my understanding of the topic for each week.
Chat is a tool that can provide the unique opportunity to discuss a topic in real time. I say real time but it takes a special person to chat. When you chat with another person it is important to take your time. It takes some time for your thought to be read and for the recipient to respond so you have to be patient and allow for process time. E-mails are available to all students and teacers. E-mails allow communication to take place anywhere at and respond at any time. That is the downfall of e-mail. You never know when the person is going to e-mail. I have three e-mail addresses and I only check one everyday. That can cause a delay in response to what might be important information. It is important to make sure that the e-mail address we give to our students and teachers is one that we read frequently. Forums are when studens are posed with a question they are able to post their response and reply to other students. As we have seen this is a great way to assess what the student understands about the topic. As a teacher now, I have access to Moodle. Moodle allows me to interact with my students in this way. This communication tool allows me ot pose a question or an extension to some students to apply what they have learned and use the discussion forum as an opportunity to elaborate. Students who need more processing time and even need the opportunity to review homework or talk to another teacher or parent, they can use the discussion forum as a way to hear their peers perspective and understand it in their words. They can reply in their words. Video chat is super cool! Kids love to be able to use something like Skype to talk to somone else, anywhere in the world in real time. This is great when we worked with vetereans and there are many students who have family members overseas.
Although there are many options to use communication on line I find that I do not have a venue to teach my small groups all of the time. With very little space I use a mobile little class that moves from hall space to hall space in whatever nook or cranny I can find to work with my students. I also work in other classrooms with lead teachers and I am not always able to plan the lessono that I would find interesting. Special Education teachers do not always have the luxury of technology in their lesson especially when it comes to online access. Many of our students do not have access to internet for a consistent amount of time. This is difficult to use the online communication as an option for graded projects.
Chat is a tool that can provide the unique opportunity to discuss a topic in real time. I say real time but it takes a special person to chat. When you chat with another person it is important to take your time. It takes some time for your thought to be read and for the recipient to respond so you have to be patient and allow for process time. E-mails are available to all students and teacers. E-mails allow communication to take place anywhere at and respond at any time. That is the downfall of e-mail. You never know when the person is going to e-mail. I have three e-mail addresses and I only check one everyday. That can cause a delay in response to what might be important information. It is important to make sure that the e-mail address we give to our students and teachers is one that we read frequently. Forums are when studens are posed with a question they are able to post their response and reply to other students. As we have seen this is a great way to assess what the student understands about the topic. As a teacher now, I have access to Moodle. Moodle allows me to interact with my students in this way. This communication tool allows me ot pose a question or an extension to some students to apply what they have learned and use the discussion forum as an opportunity to elaborate. Students who need more processing time and even need the opportunity to review homework or talk to another teacher or parent, they can use the discussion forum as a way to hear their peers perspective and understand it in their words. They can reply in their words. Video chat is super cool! Kids love to be able to use something like Skype to talk to somone else, anywhere in the world in real time. This is great when we worked with vetereans and there are many students who have family members overseas.
Although there are many options to use communication on line I find that I do not have a venue to teach my small groups all of the time. With very little space I use a mobile little class that moves from hall space to hall space in whatever nook or cranny I can find to work with my students. I also work in other classrooms with lead teachers and I am not always able to plan the lessono that I would find interesting. Special Education teachers do not always have the luxury of technology in their lesson especially when it comes to online access. Many of our students do not have access to internet for a consistent amount of time. This is difficult to use the online communication as an option for graded projects.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Presentation Software
Presentation software can be a valuable daily tool in the classroom. As a teacher it can be used to guide individual lessons, share ideas with colleagues and present information to parents. Students can use the software to deliver reports, create class projects and use as a reference or study tool to remember the keypoints.
I have recently used presentation software to prepare entire lessons. This is not very different from my approach in trainings both in the education and private sector. Powerpoint presentations are the number one tool in my training tool box. That is why I find it so important in the classroom to organize lessons.
During a recent lesson on adjectives I created an entire powerpoint to guide me. The first slide opens the lesson with the anticipatory set and instructions for the initial assessment activity. The powerpoint is pre-enabled with a feature to guide my time in order to allow for processing. This feature is helpful for me as a new teature to assure that I do not rush through the content and I allow the students time to think. Once we begin the lesson the presentation software leads me to a hyperlink to an instructional video. The cartoon video appeals to different learners. Again it is set on a specific time to allow for time management. The next slide introduces hyper links to an e-book that supports the lesson. As the slides continue I am guided through different activities that ensure I address each learner in my room. The final two slides include the assement and closure.
I am most proud of the time management aspect of the lesson. I am able to stay on task and encourage myself to allow for processing. This is due to the prompting of each slide and activity. There is room for flexibility by the touch of a forward or back button. As I continue to create lessons I will create powerpoints for themes that will be cumilative and provide the students printout of slides to use as notes. This is a great way to be prepared for a substitute teacher.
The students enjoyed my presentation and I happened to be observed by a district representative. They were pleased with the the use of technology and the response of the students.
21st Century Skills encouraged by the implementation of presentation software includes the use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information. Presentations are key in all fields. I do not go one week without someone sharing a powerpoint with me for one work, school or otherwise.
I have recently used presentation software to prepare entire lessons. This is not very different from my approach in trainings both in the education and private sector. Powerpoint presentations are the number one tool in my training tool box. That is why I find it so important in the classroom to organize lessons.
During a recent lesson on adjectives I created an entire powerpoint to guide me. The first slide opens the lesson with the anticipatory set and instructions for the initial assessment activity. The powerpoint is pre-enabled with a feature to guide my time in order to allow for processing. This feature is helpful for me as a new teature to assure that I do not rush through the content and I allow the students time to think. Once we begin the lesson the presentation software leads me to a hyperlink to an instructional video. The cartoon video appeals to different learners. Again it is set on a specific time to allow for time management. The next slide introduces hyper links to an e-book that supports the lesson. As the slides continue I am guided through different activities that ensure I address each learner in my room. The final two slides include the assement and closure.
I am most proud of the time management aspect of the lesson. I am able to stay on task and encourage myself to allow for processing. This is due to the prompting of each slide and activity. There is room for flexibility by the touch of a forward or back button. As I continue to create lessons I will create powerpoints for themes that will be cumilative and provide the students printout of slides to use as notes. This is a great way to be prepared for a substitute teacher.
The students enjoyed my presentation and I happened to be observed by a district representative. They were pleased with the the use of technology and the response of the students.
21st Century Skills encouraged by the implementation of presentation software includes the use technology as a tool to research, organize, evaluate and communicate information. Presentations are key in all fields. I do not go one week without someone sharing a powerpoint with me for one work, school or otherwise.
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