Sunday, November 22, 2015

ILP "Toolbox"- Class Dojo

Notes:

Opening: Class Dojo is a creative application that is easy to use and readily accessible for teachers

Slide One: Class Dojo is a tool that allows teachers to do many things. It inspires students to participate and behave in class by awarding them points or taking them away. It is a data collection tool for teachers to be able to do things like take attendance. It also allows teachers to keep up with grades that can be integrated into the gradebook later. Additionally, it gives parents readily available access to their students' behaviors and accomplishments.

Slide Two: Class Dojo can be found at www.classdojo.com

Slide Three: Class Dojo is incredibly easy to use and access. Teachers simply need a device that can access the Internet. It is free to use and sign up for, so no costs need to be worried about.

Slide Four: Class Dojo inspires students to be their best. They can see how things they do in the classroom is affecting their grades. It is also reinforced by parents who are able to also encourage their students based on the information they receive from Class Dojo. Teachers have a record of which students are doing well and which might need extra help and attention.

Slide Five: Class Dojo promotes student learning, designs digital age assessments, and also
models digital age work and learning. These contribute to technology standards that teachers are required to address

Presentation:
https://prezi.com/m/olnlipn7e-y2/class-dojo/

ILP "Participation" - Lynda.com "Mike Hathorn: 3D Printing in the Classroom"

Mike Hathorn uses 3D printing in order to inspire his students. His classes are almost completely full. He uses 3D printing so students can create things and be able to see them come to life. His main goal is to make sure his students are introduced to cuttting-edge technology. He started with bringing models of his town to life. Then, the students made an interview up about the history of the building. Sketch up, the tool his students used, was sold to Google. So Mike was inspired to move onto 3D printing. The school district was able to purchase computers and the printer to make the dream become reality. The students are problem solving and making their own designs. He gives his students almost free reign in developing course curriculum. Currently, they are still trying to make a mock up of their town for historical purposes. He inspires children by being tech savy and getting down onto their level. He wants to change them from consumers to creators of technology. He takes his students to "Tech Jam" in order to introduce his students to up and coming technology. They are also able to showcase their 3D printer in a STEM seminar. He loves to watch the kids engage in technologies. Even as the landscape changes, the hope is that he can use the same principles and apply them to new things that develop in the tech world.

Sunday, November 15, 2015

Blog Post 10

The PowerPoint project from this week taught me how to use transitions and make a non-linear presentation. It gave me an idea of how to make a creative game for my students in the future in a very accessible way. I liked that I was able to make the presentation fun and come up with my own creations. I was given an outlet to test my skills and to also make something about a topic I love.


I will use Data Collection Tools in my classroom to do many things. I hope to be teaching second grade someday. It is important to keep up with the progress of my students. I might use a tool such as Class Dojo in order to keep track of points for behaviors and being on task. It would also allow the parents of my students to stay in touch with what their child is up to. I will also use the materials to do things such a take attendance and record grades. In order to tabulate what grade a student has, I must be able to keep a record of their grades on assignments. I've also seen these tools used before in order to keep track of a student's progress overall. It helps give a bigger picture of what subject areas and activities a student might be struggling in. It can also point out to a teacher which areas he or she might not be teaching adequately enough.

My classmates blogs gave me insight not only to what trains of thought other teachers might have, but also some ideas that I might not have thought about before. For some links they posted, I got more acquainted with things like web 2.0 tools or resources I could use when I'm teaching. It also helped me confirm some things that I believed were important or understand that maybe I was not alone in my opinions. It was reassuring to know that I might not be alone in not completely understanding how to use these different forms of technology even though I grew up in the age that technology became popular.

I want to learn how to better use things like smart boards and excel. Mostly, I want to be able to polish up on the techniques I've learned. I want to be able to make a PowerPoint smooth and easy to read. I also want to be able to make a class website that is very interactive. I want to learn how to use resources such as lesson plans that are available to other teachers online. I need to learn how to incorporate all of this into my real life so that I can become more comfortable with it all for when the time comes.

I will achieve my technology related goals by practicing the skills I have. My plan is to be able to use all the things we have been taught and practice with them. Doing some mock assignments and lesson plans would probably be helpful. It would also be nice to be able to explore on my own some new technologies or websites that have not been discussed in class before.

Monday, November 9, 2015

Blog Post 9

The flipped classroom is where children learn instructional materials at home and come into school to discuss the ideas and do activities. Essentially, the teacher gives the students a power point or lecture to listen to/read at home. This way, the student is able to grasp the material at their own pace. It is an effective tool because everyone learns differently and needs time to absorb information. When they need a teachers help after they have tried to understand the material, they just come to class as usual and do activities or discuss everything in the way they understand it. This would be a good tool for older children, but probably not for elementary schools.
http://flippedlearning.org/domain/36

https://www.pdresources.org/
This is a web based resourse that is all about professional development. They have been accredited by the APA, NBCC, ASWB, ASHA, AOTA, Florida, and the CDR. Here, a teacher can find many different courses for a rang of topics. These include, but are not limited to, courses on autism,temperament, bullying, and special education. They also have many different formats for courses, such as videos and test based ones.

This is an important tool for teachers to reach outside of their classrooms in order to learn and understand things that they might not have been trained on before. This website in particular allows teachers to buy the courses themselves so that they won't be limited only to what their school has to offer. Unfortunately, not all schools are able to set up resources for teachers to go to seminars or conferences so this would be a good alternative. While it does require a cost, the courses tend to be $50 or less and the teachers get to keep the materials to review later. It could also be good for a group of teachers to pitch in money for so that they could all share the content.

The PowerPoint for Information Dissemination gave me an opportunity to really get used to PowerPoint. Usually, when I've had to present things in the past, I've used Prezi more often than anything else. I liked that I was able to get creative and learn about the different animations and slide formats. I believe that will be a great tool for elementary schools because children like bold colors and pictures.

Saturday, October 31, 2015

Blog Post 8

I believe open content is the best tool for educators. It allows teachers to draw from outside resources to come up with new ideas. It also creates a new level of information and resources. Not only can teachers get lesson plans online, but their students can access information also. If a student needs to write a report or do a project, they can use the internet for ideas of to access new information. This form of advancement opens up new doors with endless possibilities for adapting and learning.

Another form of technology that could be huge for students is the use of social media. With this tool, students can access homework and lesson plans in the blink of an eye. They can easily collaborate with students, such as if they get stuck on a problem or need to do group work. If they need to get ahold of their teachers, they can use things like twitter to instantly message them and get a faster response. Social media makes communicating with others much easier and more efficient.

I am on the side of the people who have readily available technology. I have many different technologies at home as well as WiFi. I grew up with it all around me, especially since my dad's whole job is centered around it. The divide will affect how my students are able to access information and complete assignments. The best way I can think to cope with this is to find alternative ways for students who don't have access at home to get the same opportunities as those who do. For instance, if a student does not have the internet to submit a homework assignment, I could print out a physical copy for them to complete. I could also try to find ways for students to use the computers in the school as much as possible so that they won't have to use them as much when they get home.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Blog Post 7

Creating could be supported by using formulas to develop understandings about particular parts of lectures. Teachers could support the evaluation process by having an article posted within the power point and asking the students to discuss the key points of the article. Analyzing could be used by having students answer short questions about certain slides to quiz them on their understanding. Applying could be in the form of students making their own power point to demonstrate the ideas that they've already learned. Understanding could be executed by students putting into their own words what they have learned from each slide and summarizing the key points. Remembering what kinds of things were taught on power points in bulleted lists or acronyms to make sure that the information was absorbed could also be a useful tool.

People who are blind may use a microphone to input their thoughts into the computer to make words. Someone who does not have good motor skills might use a trackball to navigate computer home screens. Text-to-speech technology can also help those who can not read well understand key concepts they might not understand otherwise. I personally have never seen anyone use these technologies. Adaptive technologies might become a problem if it disrupts other students. It could also be problematic if a student needs to use such technologies but the school district can not afford to give them these needed adjustments. Students might end up not passing classes simply because they do not have the tools to do so.

The web page design assignment helped me understand new ways to incorporate important information. I enjoyed being able to access the resources I might need in the future and coming up with fun ways to put information out the the public. I would like to be able to understand next time how to incorporate something like a google calendar that parents could sync their devices to automatically. I might also like to have a page for students and for parents so that each gets their own benefits. I will definitely be able to use this for my own future class so that I can keep everyone up-to-date with the lessons that are currently going on in my classroom.

Monday, October 19, 2015

Blog Post 6

I took a look at my old elementary school, Wakefield Elementary School. I focused on the second grade in particular since that is what I hope to teach. Most of the pages had different tabs. One gave a description of the teacher, although the depth at which they described themselves varied. Most pages were decked out very colorfully with interesting patterns and pictures. Some had helpful links, while others had wish lists. Almost all of the pages I saw also included guidelines and expectations. Some were even helpful enough to put down the curriculum that the students would be learning.

I could see myself using calendars in order to make sure I have everything planned out ahead of time and also so I don't loose track of myself. I could also see myself using a lot of spreadsheets as different kinds of checklists in order to make sure my students and I stick to the tasks at hand. I would also make all of my lesson plans on digital files so that I could reuse and update them in the future. I would probably use both Digo and Evernote to be able so save and take notes on websites I wanted to save, maybe even on the lesson plans that teachers share online. Email would probably be the thing I use most because I always like to keep into contact with people anytime there is new information that I find out. It would also make the communication with teacher and parent better than having students relay what I say.

By working on the wiki, we learned how to properly evaluate websites to make sure they are something that can be used in the classroom. It also gave us a chance to create our own ideas about what exactly makes a website valid. I liked that I got a hands on experience to be able to understand for myself what makes information valid. I am a very kinesthetic learner, so being hands on really helps things sink in for me. I think next time I could make the questionnaire longer so that I can get into more detail about what makes a website that is valid better than another that might also be valid on a basic scale. This assignment will help me better understand what resources I can use in my own classroom.

Monday, October 12, 2015

Blog Post 5

I think web 2.0 would be a great tool for teachers to use in the classroom. Blogs would be useful for teachers to share what might or might not have worked for them in the past as far as lesson plans or teaching styles. Youtube could be used to convey important information to classes that might give them a more visual option. Twitter would be a source of ideas and knowledge at the tap of a finger that could possibly be incorporated into lessons as well. Teachers would need access to the internet in their classrooms in order to access all of this information. A way to screen Youtube videos would also be needed.

An interesting web 2.0 tool that I found is called Classroom 2.0. The link can be found here: http://www.classroom20.com/. This is a space where teachers can communicate with each other and share their own knowledge. From social media to different types of usable technologies, this website has it all. It is a teacher hub for all things education and how to better their classrooms.

This would be something I would use in my class in order to come up with new ideas. It would also be a place that I could bounce ideas off of other people. They verify everyone's identity so there would not be a concern for spam. It's meant to be a place for beginning educators or educators who are not knowledgable on technology. The goal is to help the educators grow and become successful in their classrooms. I believe the best comparison would be Linked In mixed with Facebook.

I believe the concept map gave me a better understanding on how to simplify information. It also helped me understand how a visual learner may process information. I believe I could be a bit more precise next time with what I include in my concept map. I also believe that I would like to try the different kinds of maps like chains in order to make everything seem smoother and more efficient.

Sunday, October 4, 2015

Blog Post 4

-Standard LAFS.2.SL.2.4: Tell a story or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking audibly in coherent sentences
-Website: storybird.com
-Classification Tool: Simulations (Authoring Software)
-I would use this website to let my students create their own stories about an experience that they've had and to share it with the class in a controlled environment

The internet can be a great tool for student research. It enables them to access content from everywhere. They can find more information in one place than any book or encyclopedia. It's useful when students need to do research projects or create presentations. It's not useful for the everyday tasks, such as in class discussions and assignments that are supposed to be done in class. I believe there is a balance that needs to be upheld with technology. It is a great place to get information, however teachers still need to be able to do hands on activities with their students in order to really get the information across.

I've used the internet a lot in my career in schools. I've had to do multiple research assignments and come up with web-based resources for those assignments. I've used it to get an extra helping hand on certain things I might not have understood before. I've also used it to create my own presentations to share with my fellow classmates. I usually search for things that are from scholarly journals or have been published from experts. I verify that by looking at what types of documents and websites the material is on.

By doing the Web Hunt assignment, I gained better knowledge on how to narrow down my searches. I used key words only and then broadened my search with tags involving "education" or "teacher". I also began getting better at picking websites that were better to use than others. Things like ".org" or scholarly journals I leaned towards more.

My Questions:
1) Let's say you want to be able to show your students firsthand content from WWII. Find Some pictures or videos online you could share with your class.
2) You want your students to create presentations to share with the class about a topic you are discussing. Find a free website they can use.

Monday, September 28, 2015

Blog Post 3

The infographic I choose can be found at: http://www.arl.org/storage/documents/infographic-academic-freedom-balanced-copyright-full-size-2014.pdf. The graphic uses different size fonts in order to grab the readers attention to the most important concepts. It uses colors to make some information pop. Pictures are used that help emphasize the corresponding points. At time, information is broken down into columns in order to make it easier to read and  to be better organized. A graph is even used to help visual learners understand the what the text is saying. Overall, I think the main idea of this graphic is to create a fun way for people to learn about copyright and what is available to education within those rights.

The age range I would be using technology for would be elementary school children. I would like to have my students be able to use the web in order to access information on the things they are learning about. I would need to make sure my students are able to navigate the web and also make responsible choices on what they view. I would also like my students to use the web in order to create writing assignments. They would need to know how to protect their personal information by not sharing intimate details about themselves. I would also like my students to use the web in order to do classroom projects. They would need to understand copyright and fair use guidelines to do this.

I learned a lot by creating the newsletter. I liked figuring out how to use different colors and art to make everything pop. I finally figured out how to make lines for signatures which would come in handy when I actually need to do newsletters. The columns make everything neatly organized and I liked how visually I was able to focus more on the information. I think it also helped me get into the mindset of actually doing a newsletter in the future. It gave me a creative outlet to figure out exactly how I might address the parents of my students.

Monday, September 14, 2015

Blog Post 2

I’ve used Microsoft Word for almost everything as a student. I’ve had to write several papers and submit them using the program. I also have used it to create study guides or outlines on educational material. My teachers have also used Microsoft Word in everyday situations. When they give out handouts, they’ve used Word in order to make the material. Tests and quizzes have also been formatted using the program. It’s a vital part of making the educational system work.

I have not really given much thought before to copy right and fair use in classrooms. I have seen teachers use other material in Power Points in order to discuss concepts and further the students’ understanding. I’ve also had to use material in order to write papers and take my own understanding of topics further. If I were to use other people’s material in slides or lectures, I would make sure to cite the original author. I would also make sure my students understood that it is important to give credit where it is due.


I have learned that personal learning networks are a vast source of untapped material. They are a way to connect to the minds of those who are experienced and have knowledge in certain fields. They are also a useful way to find out new things that I may not have thought about before. I believe I’ll use these materials in order to further my understanding of what I will be teaching. I believe I will also use it to provide my students with different viewpoints on subject matter. 

Monday, August 31, 2015

Blog Post 1

I do believe that computers are becomings a crucial part of education. They allow students to access a plethora of information, whether it be current events or how to solve homework problems. Computers are now used in everyday life so it is critical that students learn how to use them at a young age. The concerns that could be raised about the use of technology at a young age are vast. For one, it could create problems with social skills in real life situations. It could also create a dependency on computers in order to complete everyday functions such as writing and reading. While I do agree that technology is a vital tool in our society, I do not believe it to be one of the most important components of education. I still believe that the human interaction and hands on experiences enable children to learn more than by simply watching a screen.

I believe I will use computers in a number of ways in my classroom. I will use them to take attendace and award points to students for good behavior. I hope to let the students interact with computers in order to understand the concepts better themselves. I might try to upload homework onto a database that is easily accessible for my students and that will also enable them to answer the questions online in one space, if they are able to access the technology to do so. I will probably get several teaching ideas from the internet and also find advice from others who have taught before me. I hope that this class teaches me resources that will enable me to use the internet to my advantage.

I do agree that there are a select number of individuals who are digital natives today. In order to be one, one must have grown up using the teachnology and integrating it into their everyday lives. I have most certainly witnessed the difference between myself and my teachers who are not digital natives. It can sometimes create a frustration in the classroom when all of the kids know how to use technology, but the teacher struggles with how to navigate it and also understand its capabilities. I believe my students will be even more advanced than myself in technology as it is continually progressing. I'm assuming one day I will be the one struggling to understand because of how advanced we continue to get with it.

My Twitter Username

@toria4001

Monday, August 24, 2015

Blog Post 0


I've used technology for as long as I can remember. My dad had lots of computers in the house so I started off playing basic games on computers and progressing from there. I've used them for schoolwork to write papers and even to brainstorm ideas. I use technology to access social media as well as communicate with friends who are far away from me. I use it as my way of thinking of new ideas and comparing experiences with others.

I hope to get better at basic computer skills in this class so that I can further my technological skills. I want to better understand how to create excel sheets, power points, etc. I want to be able to used technology in a way that will make me a better teacher in the future. I also want to access things, such as blogs, that I've never used before now. I want to learn how to open up new learning experiences by using technology.

I've learned that I am a reflexive learner more than an active learner, so I should enable myself to have time to stop and process what I'm learning. Writing out how I think about the subject could greatly help how I learn. I have a very strong preference towards being a sensing learner, so I don't necessarily like deviating from facts or processes already set up to solve problems. In order to understand material better, I should try to connect things to real world experiences, which is definitely something I already do when learning. I am a fairly well balanced visual and verbal learner. This makes sense because I normally need both an explanation and a picture to fully understand concepts around me. I have a moderate preference towards global learning, and the best way to help myself learn in that area is by understanding the big picture before I learn the little details. I found these results to be pretty accurate in how I've noticed I like to learn.