This weeks reading has really made me go back and think about my powerpoints. This weekend, I recreated my Figurative language powerpoint for students to be able to understand the points better than my powerpoint on Friday (introduction). Today I split slides so that there was only a few bits of information that they would need to know and then I made them more active so that they would be interesting to students.
We then watched a Brain Pop video (like video streaming) so that students were given the exact same information in a different format. The students then took the quiz (online as a class) which allowed me to see immediate feedback on how the students were understanding figurative language.
Last the students were required to write an onomatopeia poem. My honors students had laptops and were able to create thier own poem and put it in a powerpoint slide to make it nice and creative.
I liked this level becuase it allowed students to use powerpoint, but in a way that was still easy for me to grade. Students then submitted to blackboard. I was then able to show them to the class at the end of the period.
I would do this again, but give more time on the computer for the students to be able to be more creative.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Topic #8: Technology in the Classroom #2--ESL Tutoring
I try to make my ESL tutoring easy and fun for the kids so that they want to keep coming back at 7:00 a.m. Today, we working on Science Vocabulary and then played an online game. The website is http://education.jlab.org/vocabhangman/index.html. This is a great game that allows for students to review concepts that we have already gone over.
The really exciting aspect of this website is how I prepared for it. I went through and worked on some basic BEAMS vocabulary with the students and then printed them off a list fo the vocab words for their folders. They were then able to use their notes to help them play hangman.
This assignment worked liked I wanted it to, becuase my kids were able to move at their own pace. I have one student that knows all the answers and is doing a great job with the vocabulary and helping other students. She was able to also move on to different subject to see how she was doing.
I would definately do this project again with my students.
The really exciting aspect of this website is how I prepared for it. I went through and worked on some basic BEAMS vocabulary with the students and then printed them off a list fo the vocab words for their folders. They were then able to use their notes to help them play hangman.
This assignment worked liked I wanted it to, becuase my kids were able to move at their own pace. I have one student that knows all the answers and is doing a great job with the vocabulary and helping other students. She was able to also move on to different subject to see how she was doing.
I would definately do this project again with my students.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
Topic #7: First Essay--Technology Integration
Each year I try and allow my students to type their written compositions for multiple purposes. The first and foremost is that it is easier for me to grade if they are typed :). The second is so that they are familiar with either Microsoft Word or Open Office Writter.
On Friday, my students were allowed to have the laptops for the first time and were able to start typing their essays from a edited rough draft. The best part of this element this year, is that my students were required to take Keyboarding as an elective in 6th grade if they weren't double blocked in math. This allowed me to see that my students were more familiar with the basics of typing. This skill will take them so far in life, and I was happy to see that they were easily able to navigate my instructions of using shortcut keys in putting in their heading, title, starting their essay, and taking number lock off.
The essay project showed me that through my previous elements in the classroom of modeling Open Office (on the projector) and using powerpoints to lead them through the writing process, they were finally able to write on their own. My main evaluation comes off of observation and the submissin to blackboard of their final essay. I believe that the students this year are more familiar with Open Office and are able to grow in elements of using grammar and spell check to help with editing and revising. Effectiveness of this integration will be key for the rest of 8th grade and when they go to high school. In our district they will be required to know black board and use Open Office, so I know that I am effectively preparing them for the future.
As a teacher, I use technology every day in my instruction by showing and using powerpoints to discuss everything that I do in my classroom. I hope that through this course, I can have my students start to use more technology themselves and that I can do less and less.
I am excited that this upcoming week, I start my tutoring for ELL learners in the mornings. I am hoping that on our second day with each group to do a digital scavenger hunt on our campus. I know that technology must be incorporated into this program and am looking for computer games that we can play as well as we learn vocabulary for ELL 1's and for content vocabulary for ELL 2's.
On Friday, my students were allowed to have the laptops for the first time and were able to start typing their essays from a edited rough draft. The best part of this element this year, is that my students were required to take Keyboarding as an elective in 6th grade if they weren't double blocked in math. This allowed me to see that my students were more familiar with the basics of typing. This skill will take them so far in life, and I was happy to see that they were easily able to navigate my instructions of using shortcut keys in putting in their heading, title, starting their essay, and taking number lock off.
The essay project showed me that through my previous elements in the classroom of modeling Open Office (on the projector) and using powerpoints to lead them through the writing process, they were finally able to write on their own. My main evaluation comes off of observation and the submissin to blackboard of their final essay. I believe that the students this year are more familiar with Open Office and are able to grow in elements of using grammar and spell check to help with editing and revising. Effectiveness of this integration will be key for the rest of 8th grade and when they go to high school. In our district they will be required to know black board and use Open Office, so I know that I am effectively preparing them for the future.
As a teacher, I use technology every day in my instruction by showing and using powerpoints to discuss everything that I do in my classroom. I hope that through this course, I can have my students start to use more technology themselves and that I can do less and less.
I am excited that this upcoming week, I start my tutoring for ELL learners in the mornings. I am hoping that on our second day with each group to do a digital scavenger hunt on our campus. I know that technology must be incorporated into this program and am looking for computer games that we can play as well as we learn vocabulary for ELL 1's and for content vocabulary for ELL 2's.
Topic 6: Spreadsheets
I love using spreadsheets for both my personal life and for my classroom use. I am not in a TAKS subject, so most of my documentation that I need for growth rates of students is found in an online program that our district subscribes to.
My most current use of Spreadsheets is for our 8th grade field trips and activities. For payment plan services and to know who has and hasn't ordered shirts, we use spreadsheets to allow us to keep track of information. We also use a spreadsheet for our discipline guidelines to see when students received which punishments to see if they are eligible to go on the field trip at the end of the year.
In a personal stance, I use spreadsheets for budgeting purposes of my Savings account and different sinking funds that I have. I feel like in this aspect, I use more of what spreadsheets has to offer. I use the calculation purposes to see how much money I have extra in my savings to see what amount can go to my house extra principal and what needs to be saved for my taxes at the end of the year. I also use the graphs elements to see where my money is being spent in my daily spending and where our income is coming from. I like that I can easily copy and paste cells to a new date and that the program automatically allows me to do complex calculations.
The Roblyer text states that there are five different categories or benefits. Again, by writing each of these out, I will gather more resources when I go back to reading the blog.
Basic Features: One can line up information in row and columns, do basic and complex calculations, automatic recalculations, copy cells, sort data, and search and replace data if needed. Spreadsheets main advantage are the complex and basic calculations that can be performed.
Formatting Feature: You can align text, change the style and appearance, insert headers, footers, and pagination. These are helpful tools so that the document looks prettier and more formal.
Graphics/Interactive Features: This is a part of spreadsheets that I use, but not often. You can create charting, insert graphics or movies, or drawn figures. This allows for the document to go to the next level.
Web Features: You can save as a web page and insert "live" URLs. I have never used this feature before, but it allows you to go to the web directly from your spreadsheet or to be shown on the Internet.
Support features: There are wonderful templates that you can use as well as a way to save data to other formats.
My most current use of Spreadsheets is for our 8th grade field trips and activities. For payment plan services and to know who has and hasn't ordered shirts, we use spreadsheets to allow us to keep track of information. We also use a spreadsheet for our discipline guidelines to see when students received which punishments to see if they are eligible to go on the field trip at the end of the year.
In a personal stance, I use spreadsheets for budgeting purposes of my Savings account and different sinking funds that I have. I feel like in this aspect, I use more of what spreadsheets has to offer. I use the calculation purposes to see how much money I have extra in my savings to see what amount can go to my house extra principal and what needs to be saved for my taxes at the end of the year. I also use the graphs elements to see where my money is being spent in my daily spending and where our income is coming from. I like that I can easily copy and paste cells to a new date and that the program automatically allows me to do complex calculations.
The Roblyer text states that there are five different categories or benefits. Again, by writing each of these out, I will gather more resources when I go back to reading the blog.
Basic Features: One can line up information in row and columns, do basic and complex calculations, automatic recalculations, copy cells, sort data, and search and replace data if needed. Spreadsheets main advantage are the complex and basic calculations that can be performed.
Formatting Feature: You can align text, change the style and appearance, insert headers, footers, and pagination. These are helpful tools so that the document looks prettier and more formal.
Graphics/Interactive Features: This is a part of spreadsheets that I use, but not often. You can create charting, insert graphics or movies, or drawn figures. This allows for the document to go to the next level.
Web Features: You can save as a web page and insert "live" URLs. I have never used this feature before, but it allows you to go to the web directly from your spreadsheet or to be shown on the Internet.
Support features: There are wonderful templates that you can use as well as a way to save data to other formats.
Topic 5: Databases
Database is the software that I use the least in my classroom. I think that part of this comes from the time that it takes to put the information into the documents before the information can be useful to you. Through this course, I hope that I can start making more use of the program.
The Roblyer text gives us the ideas of the importance of databases. These include, but are not limited to reducing data redundancy, saving time locating and/or updating information, allowing comparisons of information through searches across files, and helping reveal relationships among data.
For me, and for this class, I feel like this post would be most beneficial for later recall if I knew what the information within database consisted of.
Basic features: Data base is all about storing data. After you have stored the data for the first time, you can then update it and sort it as needed. Any data can be sorted in a database numerical, text, graphic, etc.
Search features: This is where you can do reports and queries on the information that you have already inserted into a database. This is key to database and where it allows for a different aspect that a spreadsheet.
Calculation features: While you can use database to calculate formulas, calculations is the speciality of spreadsheets.
Web features: Like in a word process, you can also insert "live" URLs into your documents.
Other functions: You can also take your information in your database and merge them into a word document. This is a feature that is beneficial when you want to show the data that you have compiled with a text document that has already been formatted.
The Roblyer text gives us the ideas of the importance of databases. These include, but are not limited to reducing data redundancy, saving time locating and/or updating information, allowing comparisons of information through searches across files, and helping reveal relationships among data.
For me, and for this class, I feel like this post would be most beneficial for later recall if I knew what the information within database consisted of.
Basic features: Data base is all about storing data. After you have stored the data for the first time, you can then update it and sort it as needed. Any data can be sorted in a database numerical, text, graphic, etc.
Search features: This is where you can do reports and queries on the information that you have already inserted into a database. This is key to database and where it allows for a different aspect that a spreadsheet.
Calculation features: While you can use database to calculate formulas, calculations is the speciality of spreadsheets.
Web features: Like in a word process, you can also insert "live" URLs into your documents.
Other functions: You can also take your information in your database and merge them into a word document. This is a feature that is beneficial when you want to show the data that you have compiled with a text document that has already been formatted.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Topic 4: Tech Skill: Word Processor
I believe that Word Processor is the lifesaver to technology. This is the application that I probably use the most. Mainly this comes from working on assignments that need to be done for classes, or for my own English students to learn how to write. While our district is slowly moving away from Microsoft Word and transitioning to Open Office, the aspects of Word Processing is all the same.
The main purpose of Word Processing is to write. By being able to use this I have an easier time creating documents for my students, and for my students to type their projects so that they are easier to grade.
Word processing has five main capacities: basic features, desktop publishing, language features, web features, and support features.
Basic features: These items include items such as saving in different formats, save for later use, copy and move text, etc. I feel that teachers mainly use these basic items in their daily use of word processors.
Desktop Publishing: This allows for teachers to make documents "pretty" and enjoyable for students to look at. By inserting graphics, color, shading, tables, figures, and change the appearance teachers are allowed to take a normal document and make it fit their style.
Language features: My students and myself love the feature of spell check and being able to check for grammar usage. There is also a way to change int he language that you are typing in so that one is able to write in a native language if needed.
Web features: I do not use this one often, even though it is available to me. I do insert URL's, but I have never created a web page.
Support features: I love the templates that are available and suggest them to my students on a normal basis because there is no need to recreate the wheel.
I love word processing and believe that we have come a long way from chiseling on tablets. I hope that we can continue to grow in our technology uses of word processing and take advantage of all of the features that it has to offer.
The main purpose of Word Processing is to write. By being able to use this I have an easier time creating documents for my students, and for my students to type their projects so that they are easier to grade.
Word processing has five main capacities: basic features, desktop publishing, language features, web features, and support features.
Basic features: These items include items such as saving in different formats, save for later use, copy and move text, etc. I feel that teachers mainly use these basic items in their daily use of word processors.
Desktop Publishing: This allows for teachers to make documents "pretty" and enjoyable for students to look at. By inserting graphics, color, shading, tables, figures, and change the appearance teachers are allowed to take a normal document and make it fit their style.
Language features: My students and myself love the feature of spell check and being able to check for grammar usage. There is also a way to change int he language that you are typing in so that one is able to write in a native language if needed.
Web features: I do not use this one often, even though it is available to me. I do insert URL's, but I have never created a web page.
Support features: I love the templates that are available and suggest them to my students on a normal basis because there is no need to recreate the wheel.
I love word processing and believe that we have come a long way from chiseling on tablets. I hope that we can continue to grow in our technology uses of word processing and take advantage of all of the features that it has to offer.
Topic 3: Model Classroom Lessons
The Model Classroom lessons were interesting to read and I learned a lot from them. I think that it is always a great idea for teachers to be able to look at other's lesson plans and learn/steal from them and then make it fit for thier kids.
Lesson #1--If I Were in Charge of the World
This is actually an assignment that we have considered doing in my classroom. I love the concept that students are able to write to express. I think that the one downfall to this lesson is the fact that it takes so long to complete. For my classes, I would cut this to three lessons. After that, my 8th graders start to get a little bored with items. Last year my ITS on campus and I wrote a great and were able to purchase digital cameras for our English department which would work with this topic very easily.
Lesson #2--Narrative Writing
This is another lesson that I do each six weeks, so I was interested in seeing what I could gather from another teacher. I was actually rather surprised in how organized this was for being a three-week project. We do something similar to this in a Living Museum where the students do reasearch and then present at the museum and then create a powerpoint to show to their classmates. I liek the fact that this one includes an interview. I think that for many of my students this is needed not only to gather information, but to know how to talk to adults. I would adjust this in my class by cutting down on the time period. I feel that while I have 45 minute classes, this could be done in a weeks worth of time for the research and writing of a paper. The powerpoint would lead into the second week, but shouldn't take any longer than two weeks.
Lesson #3--Vocabulary Development for ESL students
I am our ESL tutoring teacher for our campus. I love the idea of incorporating more technology with our ESL students, becuase while they need to know the content vocabulary, they also need to know how to use the technology available to them. I love that this concept takes a week, becuase I think it is needed, and while I only see my students twice a week, it would be easy to roll this over into a new week. I think that before I did this activity, I would review what an adjective is by doing a non-technological activity. I love the idea of taking pictures of items, we would be able to do this by going through our school on a video scavenger hunt to find the items. As I type this I am getting more excited about how we can use this to help with vocabulary building.
Overall, these lessons have made me more excited about what I am already doing and giving me great ideas about adding items in the future.
Lesson #1--If I Were in Charge of the World
This is actually an assignment that we have considered doing in my classroom. I love the concept that students are able to write to express. I think that the one downfall to this lesson is the fact that it takes so long to complete. For my classes, I would cut this to three lessons. After that, my 8th graders start to get a little bored with items. Last year my ITS on campus and I wrote a great and were able to purchase digital cameras for our English department which would work with this topic very easily.
Lesson #2--Narrative Writing
This is another lesson that I do each six weeks, so I was interested in seeing what I could gather from another teacher. I was actually rather surprised in how organized this was for being a three-week project. We do something similar to this in a Living Museum where the students do reasearch and then present at the museum and then create a powerpoint to show to their classmates. I liek the fact that this one includes an interview. I think that for many of my students this is needed not only to gather information, but to know how to talk to adults. I would adjust this in my class by cutting down on the time period. I feel that while I have 45 minute classes, this could be done in a weeks worth of time for the research and writing of a paper. The powerpoint would lead into the second week, but shouldn't take any longer than two weeks.
Lesson #3--Vocabulary Development for ESL students
I am our ESL tutoring teacher for our campus. I love the idea of incorporating more technology with our ESL students, becuase while they need to know the content vocabulary, they also need to know how to use the technology available to them. I love that this concept takes a week, becuase I think it is needed, and while I only see my students twice a week, it would be easy to roll this over into a new week. I think that before I did this activity, I would review what an adjective is by doing a non-technological activity. I love the idea of taking pictures of items, we would be able to do this by going through our school on a video scavenger hunt to find the items. As I type this I am getting more excited about how we can use this to help with vocabulary building.
Overall, these lessons have made me more excited about what I am already doing and giving me great ideas about adding items in the future.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Topic 2: Technology Skills Individual Progress Plan
Atomic Learning Reflection:
During the Atomic Learning Self-Assessment, I learned that I am comfortable using basic computer skills. I feel like I need to review databases a lot, because it is not something that I use in my classroom everyday. I would also like to work on videos because I know that this would be beneficial for my students. While I feel like I can use videos that are downloaded from the Internet and video streaming, I am more concerned about making my own.
I feel comfortable with Word and Powerpoint and know that I do a great job of incorporating those daily into my classroom. I know that I use a lot of technology in my classroom and that it is beneficial to students, but they have come to expect this. I want to go beyond powerpoint and start making technology not only teacher centered, but also student centered.
Five Technology Goals:
3. Learn to use Excel to produce charts, graphs, and diagrams.
4. Learn how to incorporate more sound elements into my powerpoints. Such as speeches, spoken word, etc.
5. Learn how to use Databases.
During the Atomic Learning Self-Assessment, I learned that I am comfortable using basic computer skills. I feel like I need to review databases a lot, because it is not something that I use in my classroom everyday. I would also like to work on videos because I know that this would be beneficial for my students. While I feel like I can use videos that are downloaded from the Internet and video streaming, I am more concerned about making my own.
I feel comfortable with Word and Powerpoint and know that I do a great job of incorporating those daily into my classroom. I know that I use a lot of technology in my classroom and that it is beneficial to students, but they have come to expect this. I want to go beyond powerpoint and start making technology not only teacher centered, but also student centered.
Five Technology Goals:
1. Use more student stations with technology.
- To be able to accomplish this goal, I will start adding more technology by adding a district created program called QuickChecks.
2. Learn how to make Blackboard more student friendly.
- I will work on this by becoming more proficient myself in blackboard so that I can incorporate it into more kid friendly language.
3. Learn to use Excel to produce charts, graphs, and diagrams.
- I mainly use Excel for spreadsheets, and would like to use more charts, graphs, and diagrams to help when I desegregate data.
4. Learn how to incorporate more sound elements into my powerpoints. Such as speeches, spoken word, etc.
- I will do this by finding more sound elements from online into my powerpoints to make the students more interested in the subject at hand. I can do this by simply adding in Grammar Rock songs.
5. Learn how to use Databases.
- I will take start using Database more often to see how this would be beneficial in my English classroom.
Topic 1: Standards Summary
NETS:
Technology TEKS:
The Master Technology Teacher is a teacher that is the lead technology teacher on a campus. This teacher is inside the classrooms in the building to help other teachers incorporate technology into their classes. Their job is also to facilitate appropriate, research based technology instruction in the classrooms of the building. The main job of a MTT is to allow other teachers to glean from their knowledge.
As a future MTT, I hope that this will allow me to see how I can be more helpful on my campus.
The NETS are standards that are put into place to make technology elements more available to students and teachers. The main goal of the NETS are to engage the learning community in a school both by faculty and students. They also allow for digital experiences and assessments, modeling of digital work, promote digital citizenship and responsibility, and to engage in professional growth and leadership. These goals will make a school more enlightened to what teachers and students need in the future as technology advances.
The NETS help me as a teacher to know what I need to follow through on in teaching the classroom and I like the fact that we do follow citizenship to help with online plagiarism.
Technology TEKS:
The TEKS are in place for teachers to know what they are responsible for teaching their students. These goals are achievable in every content subject and elective to show students that technology reaches across the curriculum. The goals are in place for students to be able to survive in our technological savvy world outside the classroom. There are also exit grade levels that students are required to know by the end of the year before they move on to the next grade.
The TEKS help me as a teacher know specifically what I have to teach in a given year.
The Master Technology Teacher is a teacher that is the lead technology teacher on a campus. This teacher is inside the classrooms in the building to help other teachers incorporate technology into their classes. Their job is also to facilitate appropriate, research based technology instruction in the classrooms of the building. The main job of a MTT is to allow other teachers to glean from their knowledge.
As a future MTT, I hope that this will allow me to see how I can be more helpful on my campus.
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