WebQuest July 31, 2009

WebQuests can be used not only for learning but  also for students to do research in a classroom setting.  They are really good for problem solving and are designed for higher order thinking.  Students use WebQuests for a variety of technology experiences. 

I have been used to guiding my students through power point presentations and brochure making and now I can’t wait to change it up and make webquests.  I will definitely use it with my second graders for them to explore different tasks for the same topic.  For example, I have made a WebQuest on the properties of matter.  Throughout this WebQuest, students will fill out a KWL, watch a video, follow a powerpoint, take an online quiz, and read an online article. 

My 2nd graders view this as a scavenger hunt.  I think it works well for students because all students work at a different pace.  With WebQuests, students can complete the assignments independently on their own time. 

Twitter July 31, 2009

After being addicted to Facebook for several months now, I promised myself that I would not sign up for any more social blogging sites.  After being forced to register for a Twitter account for this class, I began exploring the site.  I like the fact that I can follow celebraties on the site to find out what’s going on in the entertainment world.  Twitter is a microblog that is similar to Facebook, but you are limited to the amount of text you can type.

For some reason, I can’t find the value in Twitter.  Maybe its because I’m partial to Facebook?  I don’t know, but I’m having a hard time adjusting to it.  No matter how much I Tweet, I still can’t bring myself to liking it. 

I don’t think that my 2nd grade students could understand what Twitter is and why they are using it.  I would rather set up an actual blog for my students to respond to instead of tweeting back and forth.

Since I don’t want my parents on my facebook page because it is for my private life, I could set up a Twitter to communicate with parents.  Twitter would be an easy account for me to check and respond to a parent’s questions, concerns, or comments.  I could also use Twitter to make short posts of how class was that day, what we did, what students need to work on, etc.  Its a great way to post short blurbs about anything and everything!  It keeps facts short, simple and to the point…sometimes parents need that!  When things get to long, they become complicated and are unlikely to be read.  I see parents more likely reading microblogs instead of lengthly newsletters. 

After blogging about Twitter, I have just communicated my thoughts on this post.  I now see the value in it.  When I began this post, I had no idea what I was going to say about Twitter, but now I think I think I’ll actually use it!  Well Holy Cow…I just had a moment !   

SLIDE on in… July 30, 2009

I LOVE LOVE LOVE Slide!!!  So far, I’ve made two different slides and have received many comments on each.  The reason I love Slide is because it is so easy to use.  After uploading  pictures, there are 3 easy steps to creating a finished product.  The options that Slide provides to enhance your slide is really cool!  They also provide free, updated music! 

I can see using Slide in my classroom very often.  I can make a different slide for any field trip or event going on in my class as long as I take pictures of it.  I am also thinking about having students use digital cameras to take pictures of special events going on in their lives.  Depending on the dependabilty of my students, I would like to send a camera home with the student of the week, have him/her take pictures of their home life, family, and things they enjoy.  When they bring it back, I can download the pictures on Slide and post it to my webpage so that parents and other students can view it for their enjoyment.  Slide would also be great to use at the end of the year to give the parents.   

Since I teach 2nd grade, I can’t see my students using this program independently, however I know they would love viewing it.

Try it out at Slide.com. 

Here are my 2 “rookie” Slides:

Beach-

 http://www.slide.com/r/vQpD65X_4D9i4M_HGxq8h7bEi1sIJt9q

4th of July-

http://www.slide.com/r/0tXgBNUE2z_XaNc5rME0TgsvgkfGuS4k

Overstream vs. Captiontube July 29, 2009

Yesterday I experimented with Overstream for several hours only to lose the information that I was working on.  I found overstream to be overlycomplicated and time consuming.  After coming in this morning with a new outlook on digital text, I decided to try Captiontube.  After surfing around, I finally made a video with text!  I found Captiontube to be more userfriendly than Overstream.  I still feel frustrated due to the amount of upload/download time and I’m trying very hard to blame the lab for this!  I can’t wait to use my new video in my class.  I know my kids are gonna love it!!!

So far, I have made one Captiontube video.  I downloaded a video about Matter from YouTube.  When I put it into Captiontube, I added the lyrics to the song.  The song was a rap about the properties of matter.  Matter is a huge 2nd grade concept that many kids have a hard time understanding.  I figured that if they rapped it out, they could possibly get it!  I could see using Captiontube in my class for those exact reasons.  The internet provides many songs that correlate with the curriculum.  By using Captiontube to insert the words, the students could enjoy the video and sing along. 

Here’s why I may not use it in my class-Although the editing process was easier than Overstream, the process is still long.  I had to use Jing to jing it.  Then I had to upload it into Zshare, and then download it to my file.  All the uploading and downloading was time consuming, but like I said before, it may be a lab issue.  I’ll try it in my class before I decide if I’m for or against it! 

Check out my rap on my blog roll! 

 

Digital Text wears me out! July 28, 2009

I am so freakin’ tired of staring at a computer screen and then loosing my video!  I guess that’s what I get for making fun of people on drugs?  Anyways…love love love making the video from my pictures and putting music to it.  Hate, hate, hate adding text to a YouTube video.  I found it to be very difficult and it made my neck hurt.  Anyways, I lost it, so I’m just gonna give it up for today before I get an ‘F’ in unprofessionalism! 

Blogging about Blogging! July 27, 2009

Ok, so I’m blogging about blogging!  I can’t wait to blog with my students and my parents.  I have looked at a first grade teacher’s blog and I love how he has incorporated blogging into his classroom.  It’s www.edwards306.blogspot.com. 

 

I am going to try to replace pencil/paper journaling in 2nd grade to blogging everyday!  I have many ideas in mind for how to begin blogging.  I am most excited about recording short videos of things going on in my classroom, posting them to my blog, then having the students write a response to how they feel about the video, what they learned, etc.  I will also use blogging to have the students respond to other students blog.  I can only see blogging being a problem if I can’t get the computer lab everyday.  If I can’t, then my students can blog at least once a week! 

I also plan on my parents responding to what we are doing in our classroom.  Many times students go home and tell their parents they didn’t do anything at school today.  A blog is a great way for parents to keep up.  Parents can respond to students work and writing, as well as communicate with me.  I know the students will love checking their blogs to see what their parents had to say! 

I know the kids and parents will love it!  I can’t wait to begin in August! 

Comfort Test July 27, 2009

Well its only been three days and I have already learned so much!  I am very excited about all that I have learned and I can’t wait to take it back to my classroom.  I think that I am most excited about blogging, however after Skyping for the first time today, I learned that’s pretty addicting as well.  I would say that overall, my comfort level has gone from about a 3 to a 6 and I hope to be at a 10 by the end of the week! 

?? Linking Technology and Literacy ?? July 23, 2009

Technology enhances a person’s ability to understand.  Technology is always changing, making the world more complex to live in and keep up in.  Technology has a way of changing how we view literacy!

My definition for literacy is simple.  It is having the knowledge(which includes reading and writing), skills, and tools to live and keep up in a world that is ever changing. 

Well now its Friday, and I obviously have a different view on what technology is and how to use it in my classroom.  Last Thursday, I had no idea on how to incorporate the latest and greatest into my classroom.    

Technology supports literacy in many different ways.  I think the world looks at literacy differently this day and age due to updated technology. 

Since literacy is reading, writing, and spelling, technology enhances those things.  A person can use blogging for the writing process, responding to other people, and reflecting on one’s ideas.  The possibilities are endless when intertwining the two!   

Hello world! July 23, 2009

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