Well fellow class mates its been real and its been fun; but it ain't been real fun so I am gone!
Everyone have a great summer and be careful!
I hope to see you all next year so we can goof-off some more! Peace and Love ♥Rachel
Friday, April 10, 2009
MANDATORY POST!
I have learned things in this class that I did not know that I was going to learn. First of all Blogs. Before entering this class I had heard of blogs but had no clue what they were or what they could be used for. Blogs are probably the thing that I will take from this class and use. I hope to use blogs to communicate with the parents of my students and for other uses.
The Presentations were helpful. I already know how to use the PowerPoint and so I did not learn too much new information, but it was nice to know that there are other ways to do Presentations other than with PowerPoint!
All together I do like using Google Docs! My favorite thing about Google is that I can access it any time any where that has Internet! (The dog can never eat my homework!) I also did like learning about the payout tables on Spreadsheet. I think people should know how to calculate things like what they will owe on something they purchase and so many people have no clue. After class on the day we learned about the payout table I went home and entered my information for my vehicle into the table to see what my "results" were.
I was glad that we learned about podcast. I do not think that I will ever use them in my classroom but I did enjoy making my own podcast. Videocast are something that I will use in my classroom. For one of our blog post we had to watch 2 videocast of our choice and I choose sea life which grabbed my attention and I think that it would do just the same for my students.
Picasa was interesting to look at, I enjoyed playing with the pictures and making new files. I have a program on my computer already that I use but I was glad to see another option in case I ever needed a new program to use.
I can not express to anyone enough my hatred for twitter!! I guess that I do not see the use for it in my classroom and that is why I dislike it so much. I searched about Twitter on Google to try to find information on how to use it in an effective way. Every time I open twitter up I just sit there with blank stares trying to get started and I just can't. I really DID try to make an effort but I felt like I was at a wall trying to climb over with no ladder! ( I just wasn't going to get very far.)
I did reach a teacher and she was more than helpful. She manages a blog that is designed to help parents with their children's math homework. Reaching a teacher that had passion for school and technology showed me that I will most likely be using technology in my classroom in one way or another. I thought that having to contact a teacher was a different but fun learning experience.
Google Earth is something that I hope to use in my classroom. I could take my class on a field trip without leaving the classroom and children love things that are different so I think that it would be beneficial. Google Earth could be technology and Social Studies/Geography integration which I think will work in helping the children to learn, rather than reading out of text books.
Foliotek is a great way for the State of Alabama to easily access the records they need about future teachers. I think that if i have to keep up with all the papers that would be required for me to have to have I would be LOST! Foliotek takes a burden off of me and I also think that it makes life easier for my professors. Foliotek is a great tool and I am so thankful that we have it!
I did not know about ACCESS Labs until I researched them in this class. I came from a very small school and did not know that that kind of technology was available for high school students. I think that without ACCESS some students would not get the full education that they deserve and that ACCESS will only expand any school that it is in!
All together I feel like I am coming out of this class with more information than I had when I went in ( and isn't that the point?)! I have enjoyed this class and learning about how I can use technology in my classroom. There were some parts of this class that I thought were not as valuable as others but I am glad to of had the experience. I hope that I can remember everything that we learned and use it in my classroom!
The Presentations were helpful. I already know how to use the PowerPoint and so I did not learn too much new information, but it was nice to know that there are other ways to do Presentations other than with PowerPoint!
All together I do like using Google Docs! My favorite thing about Google is that I can access it any time any where that has Internet! (The dog can never eat my homework!) I also did like learning about the payout tables on Spreadsheet. I think people should know how to calculate things like what they will owe on something they purchase and so many people have no clue. After class on the day we learned about the payout table I went home and entered my information for my vehicle into the table to see what my "results" were.
I was glad that we learned about podcast. I do not think that I will ever use them in my classroom but I did enjoy making my own podcast. Videocast are something that I will use in my classroom. For one of our blog post we had to watch 2 videocast of our choice and I choose sea life which grabbed my attention and I think that it would do just the same for my students.
Picasa was interesting to look at, I enjoyed playing with the pictures and making new files. I have a program on my computer already that I use but I was glad to see another option in case I ever needed a new program to use.
I can not express to anyone enough my hatred for twitter!! I guess that I do not see the use for it in my classroom and that is why I dislike it so much. I searched about Twitter on Google to try to find information on how to use it in an effective way. Every time I open twitter up I just sit there with blank stares trying to get started and I just can't. I really DID try to make an effort but I felt like I was at a wall trying to climb over with no ladder! ( I just wasn't going to get very far.)
I did reach a teacher and she was more than helpful. She manages a blog that is designed to help parents with their children's math homework. Reaching a teacher that had passion for school and technology showed me that I will most likely be using technology in my classroom in one way or another. I thought that having to contact a teacher was a different but fun learning experience.
Google Earth is something that I hope to use in my classroom. I could take my class on a field trip without leaving the classroom and children love things that are different so I think that it would be beneficial. Google Earth could be technology and Social Studies/Geography integration which I think will work in helping the children to learn, rather than reading out of text books.
Foliotek is a great way for the State of Alabama to easily access the records they need about future teachers. I think that if i have to keep up with all the papers that would be required for me to have to have I would be LOST! Foliotek takes a burden off of me and I also think that it makes life easier for my professors. Foliotek is a great tool and I am so thankful that we have it!
I did not know about ACCESS Labs until I researched them in this class. I came from a very small school and did not know that that kind of technology was available for high school students. I think that without ACCESS some students would not get the full education that they deserve and that ACCESS will only expand any school that it is in!
All together I feel like I am coming out of this class with more information than I had when I went in ( and isn't that the point?)! I have enjoyed this class and learning about how I can use technology in my classroom. There were some parts of this class that I thought were not as valuable as others but I am glad to of had the experience. I hope that I can remember everything that we learned and use it in my classroom!
Twitter!
I do not think that Twitter will ever be used in my classroom. I have found it not difficult, but different. I can see where Blogs, Podcast, and Facebook can have their place in the classroom but Twitter seems to fall between the cracks for me.
I talked to Mr. C and asked his advice about where to start on Twitter and he sent me some "link" I guess but I found nothing on it to even start me off. I looked over Twitter Tips for some answers and yet again nothing. I search Google to see what others had to say about Twitter an those who like Twitter, LOVE Twitter and those who do not find any use for it, find NO use for it. I guess that you can either be for it or against it and I am against it.
I view Twitter as a mass collaboration for texts messages! If I want to text someone I can do it on my cell phone to the people I want to talk to! The information that is shared on Twitter by the people that I am following shows that they know their stuff about teaching and I think that they have alot to offer, I just think that I would rather view their Blogs then Twitter with them!
I found a link to The Nine Reason Why Twitter Should be Used in Schools. I found this article because I followed Twitter Tips on Twitter. This article has alot of good points about how Twitter can be used in schools but I am still not for it! I logged onto Twitter about 4 times a week to see what had been Twitted and I would make a random comments but other than that I did not find Twitter useful. I did try though.
I talked to Mr. C and asked his advice about where to start on Twitter and he sent me some "link" I guess but I found nothing on it to even start me off. I looked over Twitter Tips for some answers and yet again nothing. I search Google to see what others had to say about Twitter an those who like Twitter, LOVE Twitter and those who do not find any use for it, find NO use for it. I guess that you can either be for it or against it and I am against it.
I view Twitter as a mass collaboration for texts messages! If I want to text someone I can do it on my cell phone to the people I want to talk to! The information that is shared on Twitter by the people that I am following shows that they know their stuff about teaching and I think that they have alot to offer, I just think that I would rather view their Blogs then Twitter with them!
I found a link to The Nine Reason Why Twitter Should be Used in Schools. I found this article because I followed Twitter Tips on Twitter. This article has alot of good points about how Twitter can be used in schools but I am still not for it! I logged onto Twitter about 4 times a week to see what had been Twitted and I would make a random comments but other than that I did not find Twitter useful. I did try though.
Improvement Suggestions!
Technology in the Classroom at the University of South Alabama!
In the podcast that I was in I feel like I was begging the others in my group to talk, I had to say "Do you have anything to say about that?" No one would "butt" in and I felt like I had to keep going and going even though I would pause and hope someone else would start in on the topics. Although I was not as prepared as some of the other podcast that were done I feel like as a whole my podcast was done really well. We covered the topic that we were suppose to cover and went over all that aspects of what need to be said, I wish the others would have been more involved. ( I always thought that I had a weird sounding voice and on the podcast I actually sound good! )
You Tube - Can it be Useful in the Classroom?
Overall they start off very well; he is obviously prepared because he bring a document about You Tube with him to the podcast. He discussed how You Tube can be uploaded to and how simple it is. Mike talks about a You Tube clip that was helpful to him and a You Tube clip that we watched in our EDM 310 class. They discuss how You Tube can be use in a mathematics class and by watching You Tube you can refresh your memory. Overall they were well prepared and I hate to say that I couldn't find anything wrong but they did very well.
Facebook! Its in Class! But can it be Useful in Class?
The girl that starts off does very well until she has to stop reading a script. They give a detailed description of what facebook is and tell why it was made. They tell why facebook has benefits and how simplistic it is. They know their stuff when it comes to how facebook works and specific details about facebook. They did have a good example of how facebook can be used in the classroom; a "community" to talk and share information. The only thing that I can see that they did not cover is that facebook would still be a distraction. No matter what you tell your students to do on facebook, they will still use it for personal use which can get in the way while trying to get work done.
Pick of the Day: Useful Internet Sites for Elementary Teachers.
I think that Dr. Strange should of had them introduce themselves. At some points during their podcast I had to turn up the volume (they needed to talk louder). They did have some good websites ( I visited them while listening to the podcast). They also did not flow very well between each other. It was kind of like they were doing this as individuals. They did good overall and they obviously had to do some research to have the websites available for the podcast.
In the podcast that I was in I feel like I was begging the others in my group to talk, I had to say "Do you have anything to say about that?" No one would "butt" in and I felt like I had to keep going and going even though I would pause and hope someone else would start in on the topics. Although I was not as prepared as some of the other podcast that were done I feel like as a whole my podcast was done really well. We covered the topic that we were suppose to cover and went over all that aspects of what need to be said, I wish the others would have been more involved. ( I always thought that I had a weird sounding voice and on the podcast I actually sound good! )
You Tube - Can it be Useful in the Classroom?
Overall they start off very well; he is obviously prepared because he bring a document about You Tube with him to the podcast. He discussed how You Tube can be uploaded to and how simple it is. Mike talks about a You Tube clip that was helpful to him and a You Tube clip that we watched in our EDM 310 class. They discuss how You Tube can be use in a mathematics class and by watching You Tube you can refresh your memory. Overall they were well prepared and I hate to say that I couldn't find anything wrong but they did very well.
Facebook! Its in Class! But can it be Useful in Class?
The girl that starts off does very well until she has to stop reading a script. They give a detailed description of what facebook is and tell why it was made. They tell why facebook has benefits and how simplistic it is. They know their stuff when it comes to how facebook works and specific details about facebook. They did have a good example of how facebook can be used in the classroom; a "community" to talk and share information. The only thing that I can see that they did not cover is that facebook would still be a distraction. No matter what you tell your students to do on facebook, they will still use it for personal use which can get in the way while trying to get work done.
Pick of the Day: Useful Internet Sites for Elementary Teachers.
I think that Dr. Strange should of had them introduce themselves. At some points during their podcast I had to turn up the volume (they needed to talk louder). They did have some good websites ( I visited them while listening to the podcast). They also did not flow very well between each other. It was kind of like they were doing this as individuals. They did good overall and they obviously had to do some research to have the websites available for the podcast.
Student Blog Analysis
I picked a Blog of a Student in the TT 9 class. I am not sure, but I thought that we all had the same topics to Blog about. At any rate, her blogs had many good points but I did not see one that had anything to do with this class. She blogged about family, school, and sports but the purpose of this Blog, to me, is to get the assignments and learn in the process; not to only talk about my personal life.
I feel like the Blogging is a good assignment for this class. I know that it is a pain in the rear sometimes but I did not even know what a Blog was until I entered this class. I do think that some of the assignment topics are not very interesting but I may change my mind later once I have started teaching and can use the information in real situations.
After reading the Blog of another classmate I realize how much effort I have put into this class and I do feel like I have gotten something out of it. I have communicated with a teacher from another state, I really enjoyed the video of "The Last Lecture", and I feel like my professional Blog my help me in the future to get a job.
I hope to be able to use Blogs in the future to communicate with my students and parents. I think that by using a Blog I will be able to help the parents have the assignments of their children, know upcoming events, and just to be better informed without having to make a personal call or come to the school. I know that I will continue to Blog after this class is over and I am thankful that I have finally learned what a Blog is!
I feel like the Blogging is a good assignment for this class. I know that it is a pain in the rear sometimes but I did not even know what a Blog was until I entered this class. I do think that some of the assignment topics are not very interesting but I may change my mind later once I have started teaching and can use the information in real situations.
After reading the Blog of another classmate I realize how much effort I have put into this class and I do feel like I have gotten something out of it. I have communicated with a teacher from another state, I really enjoyed the video of "The Last Lecture", and I feel like my professional Blog my help me in the future to get a job.
I hope to be able to use Blogs in the future to communicate with my students and parents. I think that by using a Blog I will be able to help the parents have the assignments of their children, know upcoming events, and just to be better informed without having to make a personal call or come to the school. I know that I will continue to Blog after this class is over and I am thankful that I have finally learned what a Blog is!
Another Podcast Summary
Carol Dweck talks about how students think that their intelligence is a fixed trait. She says that some students want to do activities that will show that they are smart. In her interview she talks about an 8 session workshop. A group of students were picked to have both the study skill and a growth mind set workshop while another group got just study skills. The students who got just the study skills had grades that continued to decline. The students who received the workshop learned that their mind is like a muscle and it grows as you use it.
At the end of the semester there was significant rebound in the students that were in the growth mind set workshop. Teachers could even pick out which students were in the workshop and which ones weren't although they did not know that there were two groups.
In the interview she talks about a race car driver that contacted her to talk about growth mind set. He talked with her about how in racing you are bound to make a mistake or get in a tough spot and without growth mind set you would not be able to handle the tough situations.
At the end of the semester there was significant rebound in the students that were in the growth mind set workshop. Teachers could even pick out which students were in the workshop and which ones weren't although they did not know that there were two groups.
In the interview she talks about a race car driver that contacted her to talk about growth mind set. He talked with her about how in racing you are bound to make a mistake or get in a tough spot and without growth mind set you would not be able to handle the tough situations.
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