Well, the semester has come to a close, and with it, the continuation of this particular blog.
I have learned so much through this class that it's all a little overwhelming in retrospect. I came into the course thinking that SmartBoards, overhead projectors, and PowerPoint were about as tech-savvy and interactive as any classroom could aspire to, but I was dead wrong. The amount of tech tools that are available and useful to an educational setting is phenomenal.
In today's society, so much of what our students are doing outside of school revolves around new, ever-evolving technology, so why shouldn't our schools catch up and bridge the technology gap? It's a question I've been asking since my first post.
Now that I've (more or less) achieved the goals I've set for myself in this course, I can't wait to put my knowledge to use in the classroom. I honestly believe, as I predicted at the beginning of the semester, that my new skills in using and adapting technology and web tools for the classroom will make me an incredibly valuable asset to my school and to my students.
Although I've reached the end of this course and, thus this blog, I don't plan on ending my education in or use of technology in the curriculum. As technology is constantly changing and improving, so must my knowledge of it, and that is why I will and encourage everyone else to,
Keep on Clicking!
-Kristen
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Creating and Using A Class Website
Over the course of the semester, I have been building a "class website." This is, of course, just a sample since I don't actually have my own class to create a website for just yet, but the practice was awesome, and I'm sure that my project could easily be adapted perhaps to use for real in a future class.
One of the resources that I think I have really taken for granted during my college career is BlackBoard (an online portal that allows students to communicate with faculty, access grades, use online library services, etc.). Not until I step back and consider how many times a week I frantically log in to BlackBoard in search of answers do I truly realize how much I rely on this service.
Then I start to think, "Wow, I wish I had had something similar while I was in high school."
Although my website obviously does not have all the bells and whistles of BlackBoard, I believe it would definitely serve as a strong online resource for my students. This would be a great place to store documents that students who were absent could access while they were absent instead of having to wait to pick up missed work and fall behind. Also, I see my website as a treasure chest of resources. Instead of asking, "Where can I find the answer to..." or "I need help using MLA style," students could go to the Resources page of my website and find helpful links there. If students want to have an idea of what books we'll be covering, they can check out the Reading List. And of course, parents/guardians everywhere will most likely appreciate the Supply List come late July when it's time for back-to-school shopping.
I also love the idea of the website serving as an extra communication point. With the commenting function available to parents and students, I can always be aware of needed improvements or circulating questions.
Check out my website here: Ms. Long's English Class
**Be aware that the site is still under construction as of this posting date
One of the resources that I think I have really taken for granted during my college career is BlackBoard (an online portal that allows students to communicate with faculty, access grades, use online library services, etc.). Not until I step back and consider how many times a week I frantically log in to BlackBoard in search of answers do I truly realize how much I rely on this service.
Then I start to think, "Wow, I wish I had had something similar while I was in high school."
Although my website obviously does not have all the bells and whistles of BlackBoard, I believe it would definitely serve as a strong online resource for my students. This would be a great place to store documents that students who were absent could access while they were absent instead of having to wait to pick up missed work and fall behind. Also, I see my website as a treasure chest of resources. Instead of asking, "Where can I find the answer to..." or "I need help using MLA style," students could go to the Resources page of my website and find helpful links there. If students want to have an idea of what books we'll be covering, they can check out the Reading List. And of course, parents/guardians everywhere will most likely appreciate the Supply List come late July when it's time for back-to-school shopping.
I also love the idea of the website serving as an extra communication point. With the commenting function available to parents and students, I can always be aware of needed improvements or circulating questions.
Check out my website here: Ms. Long's English Class
**Be aware that the site is still under construction as of this posting date
Using iMovie for Digital Storytelling
For my film making debut, I (semi) proudly present to you, my Scarlet Letter Book Trailer:
Click here to access the video via YouTube:
Scarlet Letter Book Trailer
Honestly, this was exhausting to create, but overall a pretty fun experience. Would I have my students do this for a class project? No, not as a requirement. Too many areas for major malfunction and confusion. If they're familiar with the process, then by all means, I would gladly give them creative control and the opportunity to use this as a form of alternative assessment.
On the other hand, I will most likely use this myself as an instructional aid. Probably at least once per semester. I think students really enjoy this type of presentation, and it really engages their senses. People are so visual, and this helps grasp students' attention and excite them about reading a book that, otherwise, they'd turn their noses up at thinking, "Ew, Puritans."
Click here to access the video via YouTube:
Scarlet Letter Book Trailer
Digital Diagrams/Inspiration
First of all, I want to start off by saying that I absolutely love graphic organizers. I think that they are great teaching tools since so many different styles of learning and students with special learning needs can benefit from them. The visual aid alone is going to help so many.
With this in mind, you can imagine my excitement when we began using the Inspiration software to create digital diagrams. I loved that everything is so customizable! Not only could the diagram itself serve as a visual aid, but the software would also allow you to make individual "bubbles" or sections of the diagram into pictures to represent words or ideas. I think that this would be a great way to encourage memorization of facts, or just help students form connections between a picture and new information. Also, this software could be used to make a diagram that is as "complete" and detailed as you like, or even as bare and skeletal as you like if you were going to be using it to create some guided note-taking sheets, etc.
This activity was immediately following the interactive whiteboard activity, and I can't tell you how much of a breath of fresh air it truly was. Instead of having to literally create every single shape and line on every page, Inspiration has a seemingly endless stock of pre-made images and shapes. Navigation was fairly easy to figure out, and I think that this is definitely something that students could actually use within the classroom to create their own diagrams in any subject area.
Here is a screen shot of my digital diagram (saved as a .jpg so feel free to open in whatever photo viewing tool you have for a better look) on different sonnet types. This would be ideal for a high school English class (probably seniors, as British Lit was taught in 12th grade at my high school):
With this in mind, you can imagine my excitement when we began using the Inspiration software to create digital diagrams. I loved that everything is so customizable! Not only could the diagram itself serve as a visual aid, but the software would also allow you to make individual "bubbles" or sections of the diagram into pictures to represent words or ideas. I think that this would be a great way to encourage memorization of facts, or just help students form connections between a picture and new information. Also, this software could be used to make a diagram that is as "complete" and detailed as you like, or even as bare and skeletal as you like if you were going to be using it to create some guided note-taking sheets, etc.
This activity was immediately following the interactive whiteboard activity, and I can't tell you how much of a breath of fresh air it truly was. Instead of having to literally create every single shape and line on every page, Inspiration has a seemingly endless stock of pre-made images and shapes. Navigation was fairly easy to figure out, and I think that this is definitely something that students could actually use within the classroom to create their own diagrams in any subject area.
Here is a screen shot of my digital diagram (saved as a .jpg so feel free to open in whatever photo viewing tool you have for a better look) on different sonnet types. This would be ideal for a high school English class (probably seniors, as British Lit was taught in 12th grade at my high school):
If you have access to Inspiration 9, here is a link to my website page where you can access the actual file: Digital Diagram
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Resource Wiki
Early on in the semester, I posted about using Wikis in the classroom as a great way to incorporate collaboration and teamwork while using web-based tools. A little later on in the semester, I was able to take part in a project using a wiki to create a resource space with other future English teachers.
In our Resource Wiki, we included links to outside resources like Purdue Online Writing Lab and similar sources that we think would be useful to both ourselves as English teachers and to our future English students. We also included links to some online activities, inquiry-based activities, and other prospective lesson plan goodies. The Resource Wiki was separated into different categories to make navigation easier for the users.
As we each worked on the Wiki and posted our contributions, the thing became this truly great wealth of materials for both us as teachers and our future students. This is definitely something that could be recreated within a department at a school. I think that using a resource wiki with colleagues would be an excellent way to coordinate and share lesson plans and outside resources. Since everyone had so many different things to bring to the table, I was really impressed by how useful this tool was and could be.
In our Resource Wiki, we included links to outside resources like Purdue Online Writing Lab and similar sources that we think would be useful to both ourselves as English teachers and to our future English students. We also included links to some online activities, inquiry-based activities, and other prospective lesson plan goodies. The Resource Wiki was separated into different categories to make navigation easier for the users.
As we each worked on the Wiki and posted our contributions, the thing became this truly great wealth of materials for both us as teachers and our future students. This is definitely something that could be recreated within a department at a school. I think that using a resource wiki with colleagues would be an excellent way to coordinate and share lesson plans and outside resources. Since everyone had so many different things to bring to the table, I was really impressed by how useful this tool was and could be.
More Blogception...
Another metablog...
As a continuation of sorts from my last post, I would like to share a fellow blogger (one of much higher blogging caliber than I could ever aspire) and his method of using a blog as an educational resource.
Richard Byrne's blog, "Free Technology for Teachers", wins over educators the moment they read his title. If the concept doesn't convince you, then the blog's accolades should. This is just a snippet from the "About the Author" page:
About the blog:
The purpose of this site is to share information about free resources that teachers can use in their classrooms.
In 2008 Free Technology for Teachers was awarded the Edublogs Award for "Best Resource Sharing Blog."
In 2009 Free Technology for Teachers was again awarded the Edublogs Award for "Best Resource Sharing Blog" and was awarded the Edublogs Award for "Best Individual Blog."
In 2010 Free Technology for Teachers was awarded the Edublogs Awards for "Best Resource Sharing Blog," "Best Ed Tech Support," and "Best Individual Blog."
In 2011 Free Technology for Teachers received the Edublogs Award for Best Ed Tech Blog. Free Technology for Teachers is read by an audience of more than 45,000 daily subscribers (current as of April 1, 2012).
As a future teacher, I think I speak for teachers worldwide when I say that there are never enough free (and reliable) resources out there. Hey, sharing is caring, especially in the field of teaching.
After just perusing Bryne's most recent posts and site map, I can tell you, this one's a keeper. Byrne has links to tons of apps for Apple and Android technology, Web 2.0 assistance, and other guides and resources that he has found valuable. Talk about one-stop shopping!
Here is the link to this fabulous resource:
Free Technology for Teachers
As a continuation of sorts from my last post, I would like to share a fellow blogger (one of much higher blogging caliber than I could ever aspire) and his method of using a blog as an educational resource.
Richard Byrne's blog, "Free Technology for Teachers", wins over educators the moment they read his title. If the concept doesn't convince you, then the blog's accolades should. This is just a snippet from the "About the Author" page:
About the blog:
The purpose of this site is to share information about free resources that teachers can use in their classrooms.
In 2008 Free Technology for Teachers was awarded the Edublogs Award for "Best Resource Sharing Blog."
In 2009 Free Technology for Teachers was again awarded the Edublogs Award for "Best Resource Sharing Blog" and was awarded the Edublogs Award for "Best Individual Blog."
In 2010 Free Technology for Teachers was awarded the Edublogs Awards for "Best Resource Sharing Blog," "Best Ed Tech Support," and "Best Individual Blog."
In 2011 Free Technology for Teachers received the Edublogs Award for Best Ed Tech Blog. Free Technology for Teachers is read by an audience of more than 45,000 daily subscribers (current as of April 1, 2012).
As a future teacher, I think I speak for teachers worldwide when I say that there are never enough free (and reliable) resources out there. Hey, sharing is caring, especially in the field of teaching.
After just perusing Bryne's most recent posts and site map, I can tell you, this one's a keeper. Byrne has links to tons of apps for Apple and Android technology, Web 2.0 assistance, and other guides and resources that he has found valuable. Talk about one-stop shopping!
Here is the link to this fabulous resource:
Free Technology for Teachers
Blogging About Blogging...Metablog? Blogception?
Throughout the semester, part of my responsibility as a student in the TPTE486 class has been to upkeep this blog. Blogging about our projects, blogging about technology, blogging about teaching, etc. Well, now I'd like to take a minute to blog about blogging.
But not just blogging in general. Of course I will be talking about blogging as an educational tool and resource!
I will be the first to admit, I am not the type of person who can sit down and post on a regular basis. However, if there is one thing I have learned about the teaching profession, it is that reflection is one of the best ways to better your teaching skills, and blogging about those moments of reflection could be quite useful.
That being said, I don't think blogging is for everyone, but I do think that I would personally benefit from committing to a blog about my reflections in teaching. I would love to make this something that I did at least monthly, or even perhaps by unit. I think it would be an even better investment of time and effort if I could make this a collaborative effort with parents and other teachers. Being able to post my reflections, thoughts, ideas, etc. and then have others comment and provide their input and responses to my posts would be a great way to grow as an educator.
I can see some potential pot holes in this plan though...
I have several friends who blog regularly about various topics, mostly just their daily experiences. On several occasions, though, their blog posts have turned into a rant or complaint article rather than having much of a meaningful purpose. In my case, I would have to be oh so careful to not let my blog become a place to complain about standards, evaluations, stubborn students, etc. I would want my blog to be a place for positivity and purpose.
But not just blogging in general. Of course I will be talking about blogging as an educational tool and resource!
I will be the first to admit, I am not the type of person who can sit down and post on a regular basis. However, if there is one thing I have learned about the teaching profession, it is that reflection is one of the best ways to better your teaching skills, and blogging about those moments of reflection could be quite useful.
That being said, I don't think blogging is for everyone, but I do think that I would personally benefit from committing to a blog about my reflections in teaching. I would love to make this something that I did at least monthly, or even perhaps by unit. I think it would be an even better investment of time and effort if I could make this a collaborative effort with parents and other teachers. Being able to post my reflections, thoughts, ideas, etc. and then have others comment and provide their input and responses to my posts would be a great way to grow as an educator.
I can see some potential pot holes in this plan though...
I have several friends who blog regularly about various topics, mostly just their daily experiences. On several occasions, though, their blog posts have turned into a rant or complaint article rather than having much of a meaningful purpose. In my case, I would have to be oh so careful to not let my blog become a place to complain about standards, evaluations, stubborn students, etc. I would want my blog to be a place for positivity and purpose.
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