Flocabulary

I have recently been introduced to the website Flocabulary by my practicum teacher. I have seen her use it within the classroom successfully and the children love it! This website encourages student learning through engagement, learning and creativity. This website is made up of educational hip-hop raps that inform students across 7 content areas for grades K-12. There are activities and assessments that go along with the videos for teachers to use. There is even room for students to create their own raps which promotes a sense of creativity. Because this is in the form of a video with music to go along with it, it is multi-sensory and good for all types of learners. Children in the classroom always get excited before watching the videos and because the songs are so well written and catchy the children are really able to grasp the content being presented. The websites also have Venn diagrams, note taking charts, graphic organizers and so much more available for use. You can join the website and get a free trial before deciding if it is valuable, I highly recommend checking it out!

My thoughts on / possible class discussion on private schools

I wanted to share some of the concerns and thoughts I have on private schools. I'm hoping that this can turn into a class discussion and that we can talk about some of the problems in the education field. I hope this blog post isn't too political in nature to talk about for this class, but seeing as it relates especially to Michigan and the Detroit area, I thought it may be important to this class.

Private schools in the US are not necessarily all bad. On paper, there seems to be nothing wrong with them. Problems arise however, when the public education systems are negatively affected or disadvantaged by the prevalence of private schools, and when the private schools fail to hold high standards for education.

Public schools are entirely supported by state and federal taxes, while private schools are companies or corporations. The major flaw behind private schools, is that they are a business, and that their priority is profit and not the well-being of the students or the employees. Simply put, public schools are designed to serve and help students, while private schools are designed to make profit.

Most of this profit is accrued in two scenarios: 1. Private schools become popular in low-income areas where public schools do not have enough funding or political support to function (as we've seen throughout urban Michigan). Since Private schools must be paid for like any other consumer product, this ends up costing those low income areas more money. 2. Private schools can also become popular with well-off, affluent, and mostly white areas. These schools normally have great buildings, sports teams, infrastructure, etc. that is supported by the upper-class incomes of the families. These families pour money and loyalty into these schools in order to give their children the best education. This is understandable of course, everyone wants their child to have the best education. However, this siphons money and resources from the public schools. Instead of the money from these rich families going to the public school, they are going to private schools that essentially become informally segregated, with the rich white students getting the best of everything at the expense of minorities and the poor. The public school system is and was designed in order to provide everyone with an education. It gets even worse in states where parents with students in private schools don't have to pay taxes that benefit public schools. Because of all of these factors, public school students inherently have less opportunities than private school students.

These private schools are sometimes not held to the same standards or expectations of public schools, with highly detrimental results. Many private schools are sponsored by religious organizations, which of course is not a problem in itself, it's just that in my experience religious schools tend to push a religious or right-wing agenda onto their students. Many schools decide not to teach basic anatomy, biology, etc. as they are opposed to the ideas of evolution, global warming, and comprehensive sex education. This is of course a major disadvantage to students, since they will be ill-informed on these issues.

I would personally prefer that all k-12 schools be public, with far more taxes going into our school system to ensure everyone gets the education they need.

Here are the sources I used:

http://www.slate.com/articles/double_x/doublex/2013/08/private_school_vs_public_school_only_bad_people_send_their_kids_to_private.html

http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2014/09/25/confessions-of-a-six-figure-father-why-id-never-send-my-kids-to-private-school/#fe901e0244a4

http://www.economist.com/blogs/freeexchange/2009/08/the_trouble_with_private_schoo

Teachers pay Teachers

Teachers pay teachers is a great app for an educator to have as a teaching and learning resource. The reason why this is a great app because it was designed by teachers for teachers. What’s a better way to find information to assist you with your students is getting information, suggestion and resources is from another teacher. To sign up and start an account is free. The web-site has many purchasing deals, craft ideas, suggestions, lesson plans and a blog and Facebook page.  

                                             

Resource:

Featured Subjects

Arts & Music, English Language Arts, Math, Science, Social Studies-History, Specialty, World Language for All Subject Areas, Holidays/Seasonal, Tools for Common Core, Not Grade Specific, Free Downloads and Sales of the Week

Grades:

Pre-K – 12, even other

Prices:

Free, Under $5, $5 - $10, $10 and up and On Sale

And much more. Take A Look And Save The Web-site For Future Your Reference.

www.teacherspayteachers.com

Teacher Tube

Teacher Tube is a website that is very similar and has the same concept as you tube.  It is designed mostly for teachers to share all of their educational resources that they may use in their classroom.  These resources may include video, audio, documents, photos, groups, and blogs.  This site contains different resources and others to aid teacher training.  Students have also uploaded videos to this site that they have made as part of K-12 and college courses.

Teacher Tube has over one million educational members and over 400,000 educational videos.  It was launched on March 6, 2007, and was founded by Jason Smith and his brother Adam Smith.  This site gains more than 10 million page views per month.  

In 2009, this website introduced partnerships with the NASA Ares and their t.v. program and has reached students across the world. They have also created the non-profit program channel for the non-profit organizations. Teacher Tube has also cooperated with Glogster EDU which is a web 2.0
www.teachertube.com

Spatulatta

Spatulatta is a website devoted to kid-friendly cooking recipes and videos. The idea behind this site is to promote not only cooking skills to children, but it can also help promote an interest in Science and Math as well. Measurements are a large part of our daily lives no matter what you are doing and learning at a young age how to take basic measurements can help further those skills later in life. If you aren't interested in teaching your children to cook a full recipe, there is an entire section of videos devoted to teaching basic skills, like the perfect hard-boiled egg, metric conversions, and weights and measurements. These videos can be used at many grade levels and across all subjects as well. What I like most about the site is that it is free to use and can be used at home as a learning tool to reinforce the lessons taught at school in an unconventional way.

Click here for more info on Spatulatta.

Social Media Can Be An Advantage

More often than not, we hear the negativity of social media in our world and how we need to use less of it. Everywhere I go lately I have been noticing the hashtags of businesses being promoted for discounts, offers, and essentially providing more awareness of the business itself. A tactic that can be more successful than paying for ads to be displayed on billboards, television, and the internet. When someone uses a hashtag, generally they are using that on social media sights such as Instagram or Twitter, which then promotes the business or event happening for followers and other social media
users to see. Last night, I had dinner in Detroit and then went to the Luke Bryan concert at Ford Field. Both of the businesses had hashtags on display for their guests who were posting about their
experience to include. From my experience first hand, I decided to post a photo of the dinner and concert online, including the hashtags from both business. My post went onto Instagram and
Facebook which I knew was being actively viewed by my friends and followers. Because of this post, I was able to get seats an entire level lower because a friend saw that I was at Ford Field on her
newsfeed and met up with me. If I hadn't posted about my experience on social media, I would have enjoyed the concert from a level higher, watching the silhouettes of the performers, rather than seeing the performers just a few hundred feet away! By being open about social media and using it in a mindful practice can, I believe, have positive effects in the long run.

Parents and Educational Technology

Despite the increasing use of technology in education, many parents are fearful of technology's role in their children's lives. They do not understand its advantages and rather see technology as a means of distraction away from academics. The biggest issue with this reasoning is that most parents are not aware of appropriate uses of technology in their children's education and also don't realized that technology can enhance the parent's role in being an active participant in his or her child's schooling.

This article mentions the reasons why technology is so important and how it is used to enhance a student's learning in the present day. An increasing number of schools are using methods like the "flipped classroom," requiring students to know how to use technology to learn at home, while the classroom is used as a setting for exploration rather than didactics. There are also so many apps children can use to teach themselves or assess themselves on topics in which they need more practice. Most importantly, as children grow, they will be required to be facile with technology as a member of the 21st century workforce.

This other article gives tips for parents to learn about the new technology. For example, the student can play "show-and-tell" with their parents to explain a technology to them. The parents can also Google the technology to learn about it.

Finally, this website can give parents examples and ideas of how to use technology to be a part of their child's education. Teachers and parents can keep in touch through blogs, websites, and even email. Parents can download apps to monitor their children's grades. Lastly, parents can do video conferencing or participate in live chats with the teachers.

I hope these resources help any scared parents out there realize that while technology can have its pitfalls, when used appropriately, it can greatly enhance a child's learning and a parent's role in it.

hoodamath

Hoodamath is a free website they offers various games to help students improve their math skills. This website offers math activities for kids K-12. They have various subjects like addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and more. You can find timed test to practice your students skills and they also have where you can contact someone on the site to help out with any problems. The cool thing about this site is that as a teacher you can register for free and set up a page for your classroom. All you need to do is go to class.hoodamath.com to register. You can look through all the different games and set particular ones just for your classroom’s page. Once you are registered you can give each student their own code and they can log into the classrooms page to find the different activities.

Fitbit Charge 2

An interesting piece of technology I have found is called the Fitbit Charge 2. This technology is a wristband much like watch that is worn to track fitness. Priced at $150 the Fitbit tracks heart rate with their PurePulse technology, cardio fitness, auto sleep tracking with silent alarms, and has all-day activity tracking. The Fitbit bit also includes interchangeable wristbands, multi-sport modes, Smarttrack technology, wireless synching, reminders to move, and a hi-res tap display along with guided breathing sessions, and smartphone notifications. The colors come in black, plum, blue and teal.

The Fitbit can be used to successfully lose weight, but it can also be used to get into a better sleep routine and keep track of any fitness goals with reminders to get up and move when a person has been inactive for too long. On the display screen it will show the date, time, and also how many steps you have taken throughout the day and how many more you need to meet your goal. The Fitbit is a great piece of technology to use for overall health because it tracks how many calories have been burned as well as keep your heart rate in check for those who have health problems or heart conditions. The Fitbit is easy to use and has extremely good reviews online with a battery life that lasts up to five days. 

Email Exchange

Emailing is a form of technology that can be used as an educational tool in 

classroom settings by way of supplemental communication purposes. There are 

many positive attributes in allowing students to connect with outside 

classrooms and students all over the world. Email is a way that this type of 

communication can transpire and effectively help students in their academic 

growth. Some of the positive aspects of emailing include reinforcement of 

English skills, speed of typing, proper ways of addressing the recipient, and 

more. The broader view of emailing is knowing that this type of communication 

is being used in places throughout the world, creating a chance to connect on 

many levels. In the simpler ways of email exchange, students could send and 

receive messages with different classes throughout the world. Although, in 

more sophisticated terms, the students have opportunities to communicate with 

professionals in the workforce, depending upon the class topic. Experts can talk 

to the students about the work they are doing and how they enjoy it, what their 

findings are, and how the students can possibly add to their research. This 

method of learning is easy to use and free, along with the positive fact that it's 

fast so more professionals would be able to volunteer to speak with students. 

In the Email Statistics Report, we find that almost 1 in every 3 people are using 

email as a way of communication now, a huge number. Even though emailing 

might be considered an older form of communication now, it is still an essential 

part of educational communication. 

Google Docs and Teachers

                                                                                                                            Nicole Lane
                                                                                                                                10/17/16

Why Google Docs is a must for a Teacher's

  Google Docs should be a required word processing tool for every teacher in the 21st century .  With Google Docs students or anyone who chooses to use the source can create, share, and edit documents from anywhere via technology.  Google Docs offers many templates, making it fast and easier to create documents the way you want. Docs allows you to  collaborate with others in the form of writing or collaborative brainstorming. Google Docs just keeps evolving, evolving with the generations of students. Teachers can edit a student’s work as long as the student shares that document with them, they can revise and give their feedback of that student’s work as well.  Google Docs allows more of a teacher student bond, or a student to student bond. Being able to work on a subject with a partner at different times and different locations, creates less of a struggle to get together, plus you save gas (But seriously, big bonus!) Teachers always have comments towards a student’s written work, google docs makes it faster to reply back, typing and leaving comments right on that student’s document allows the student to clearly see their mistakes, or where they made a valuable statement.  Google Docs is  overall a more efficient way of completing your work, and editing it. Teachers or students can link a website called “Turnitin” to work with their Google Docs,  Turnitin allows you to check for plagiarism. When the two are linked together you can run a report seamlessly, and know if that work is plagiarized, making it easier to check if a student is writing in their own words and creating their own work.

This semester is my first time using Google Docs, and I love it! I don't know why I haven't been forced to make one before. There is no longer a fear of a document not being saved. I trust Google Docs with all my written work.

That being said, as a future teacher how will you incorporate Google Docs into your lesson plans? what creative ideas can you come up with?

Here I have a website Google Docs

• It shares how teachers have used or use Google Docs

Fuel the Brain

Fuel the Brain- A useful resource for students and teachers!

Last week when I was writing my reading reflection, I came across a blog by Bevin Reinin that wrote about ten trending tools for teachers in technology.  So for this blog post I decided to elaborate on one of her resources.

Fuel the Brain is useful tool for Elementary teachers and students grades 1st through 7th.  On this site you will find educational games, guides and print outs that relate to core elementary standards.  It also includes mini books that you customize, and view recent books that people have published.  The teacher guides and articles gives a different variety of different common core pointers.  You can register on this site for free, or you can pay and become a premium member.  I honestly may try to this out sometime. I think this site would be very educational and interesting for children and a very resourceful tool for teachers. 

Fuel the Brain Website- Click

Check it out! I know you will find some great things for your classroom!

Blog Post 3
Sqworl

Sqworl is a great educators resource tool to help a teacher be organize with their visual bookmarks. Sqworl has been used by thousands of educators from Pre-K to collage and has been around since 2008. The most popular grades for using Sqworl is K-6th grades. I posted a blog about Symbaloo that is another great teachers resource tool that I use in my classroom for myself and my students, that stores the websites links right on the desktop all in one place. Professor Bouwman stated that Symbaloo was a good resource and he challenge me to examine Sqworl and let him know what I think. I tried it out and I was hook right off the bat. It’s free to sign up and after watching the videos, it made it so easy to set up an account. A teacher can organize their bookmarks in groups using multiple URL’s, they can share with their colleagues and set up websites for their students to use as a lesson, for free time and tutoring after school. I have share this resource with other teachers, I have use it for my students as well for my tutoring students. Sqworl has games that can help in math, typing activities, keyboarding games and story time. My colleagues enjoy using and sharing the links. Sqworl also tracks the website to show how other teachers feel about what you post to share. I recommend that you try it out for yourself, what teachers does not want to be organizes. 

                

                                                                                            

Website: http://sqworl.com/

Videos: http://sqworl.com/videos.php

Flipped Classroom

A Flipped Classroom is essentially a class where you do your learning at home, and your homework at school. When I was in high school, I took a flipped pre-calculus class where every night we would go home and watch a Youtube video on the lesson. In order for my teacher to know we actually watched the video, we got note sheets that we were to fill out and he would come by and check them off at the beginning of each period. When we came in to school the next day we would do our homework, or classwork rather, in class based off of what we learned the prior night. Having a Flipped class leaves the entire class period for questions if you did not understand the content, or if you need help from the teacher. Below is a an example of my class that I was in. I like these type of classroom as opposed to a traditional class because of the aspect that you have an entire class period to do your work and get whatever help you needed. Below is an example of my flipped classroom from high school.

Lemonade Stand

Years ago I was introduced to a simple online game "lemonade stand". It's a rudimentary economics, strategy, and math game that is great for children to learn basic skills about what it would take to run a lemonade stand.

The original game (found here) has some issues with the most recent version of Java, and has been updated a little bit, but there is a more updated version found here. Unfortunately the website makes you watch a video first, but afterwards the game is quite fun. The premise is you have X amount of days to make money. You tell the game how many days you want to play then each day has different weather conditions. You adjust the lemon and sugar per cup, and based on the weather you adjust the price and ice per cup. The game shows the customer reactions so that you have an idea of how well your mix is. Before each day you need to purchase all the supplies needed to make the lemonade.

 This updated version of the game makes it a great activity to go over simple economics with children (such as supply and demand) as well as math and problem solving / strategy skills.

Review of the Iphone 7

Within the past few days I recently purchased the new Iphone 7. I have had an Iphone for many years so I have been anxiously anticipating the release of the Iphone 7. Unfortunately, I was not that impressed at all and feel that much more could have been done to change this product for the better. One thing that I was disappointed about was the removal of the head phone jack. Although wireless headphones are great and convenient, I feel that removing the headphone jack is an inconvenience for many consumers, including myself. Although it does come with a portable aux cord to hookup headphones, I feel that this is just another item that can be easily lost and expensive to repurchase. I also think that Apple could have invested in a wider screen. One improvement that I noticed from the Iphone 6 to the Iphone 7 is that it is splash and water resistant. Another great improvement is the quality of the speakers. The speakers on this phone contain quality stereo speakers that come through two speakers rather than just one. There is quite a difference between the sound quality and volume levels of the Iphone 7 versus previous Iphones. Overall, this product is great but not worth buying if one already owns an Iphone 6 because of the minuscule changes.

Quizlet

Quizlet is a website, and an app for both Apple and Android users and can be used in classrooms K-12. This is a tool used for studying and can be used in class, or at home. In a "study set" you can create flashcards for your students with a vocabulary word on one side, and a definition and a picture to go along with it on the other side. The workers at Quizlet have realized that students this generation are really into video games and technology, so they have implemented this into their website as well. You can play games like "Scatter" where you drag the vocabulary word to the definition, or the picture that goes along with it, while competing with other students in the class for the fastest time to finish the vocabulary set. As I would like to become a History teacher, I could use this in my classroom and use the vocabulary side of the flashcard as an event in History, and the definition side as a quick summary of that event. These study sets can be accessed at any time, so if a student needs to study for a vocab test the night before, they can just log on to their Quizlet account and prepare themselves for the next day.

Journalism and Technology

I'm one of those people that you would call an "Internet-buff." I go to the Internet for everything, whether it be for recipes, weather forecast, or just simple news. Over the years, it has become my go to. Now, I find myself choosing to go to the Internet and not the newspaper sitting in my driveway. It's fascinating yet also scary how so many digital outlets are becoming the number one choice over the "originals." It also brings about the question of: If newspapers do in fact go extinct, what happens to the writers? Do they lose their jobs because of the high advancement of technology? Is technology a major factor in people losing their jobs? If we were to be honest, why do we still have newspapers if I can find exactly what I need to know in just a matter of seconds? Weather is now accessible through apps and local news can simply be found through social medias such as Facebook or even Twitter. Is technology a detriment to the journalism job field?

ABCteach

 

  ABCteach is an online resource for teachers created by Sandy Kemsley, a former Michigan elementary school teacher. She designed this website to help support the teachers of PreK- 8^th graders. The website offers over 5000 free documents including printable worksheets, interactive activities, theme units and more. ABC teach also has a blog section on their website with posting from teachers of different activities and more. Many of the resources on the site are free, but like all things, for better options it has a small fee to become a member. The ABCteach member site provides members with unlimited access to over 40,000 cross-curricular materials, interactive activities, clip art, and abctools custom worksheet generators. ABC tools are another feature on the site that allows you to create materials you need when you can’t find them anywhere else. This is ideal for classrooms that have students with different learning styles and abilities. There are different membership options and can be found on the website. 

ABCteach

Apple Watch

I've always loved watches, for as long as I could remember. I was weird about them though because I never wore them for what they were created for. Instead, I wore them for fashion reason; the flashy and stylish, the better. More times that I would like to admit, I wear watches that do work properly. Do I know that it doesn't work? Of course I do, but I love how cute it looks on my wrist. Crazy...I know. But, what caught my eye not too long ago was the idea of the Apple Watch. I've had various Apple products, most of them being the phones and iPod. Never have I thought about the Apple Watch though. What a cool feature it is!

Features:

• Operates off of Bluetooth so your phone does not need to be in your hand the entire time
• Text messaging and phone calls are available (you can't talk through the phone unfortunately)
• Calendar updates, notifications, reminders, Ask Siri, are all available through the watch
• Very fashionable and comes in different variations ( Apple Watch Sport, Apple Watch Hermes, and Apple Watch Nike)
• Fitness Tracking (now you are able to track the miles you run and the calories you burn all thanks to the watch)
• Integrated with the iOs program and can be used with any iPhone 5 model and up.

I think this an incredible technological advance and I can't wait to see the newer additions they add in the near future!

Radix SmartClass: Smart Way to Have a Rad Class

   Have you ever had a teacher who handed out tablets to the students for the purpose of incorporating technology in the classroom, but all the students got distracted instead of more focused? If so, Radix SmartClass is for you! If not, well....Radix SmartClass is still for you!

   Radix SmartClass is a software designed to enhance the entire learning experience from teaching to student participation to classroom management. The following is a list containing a few of the great features found in the Radix SmartClass software:

1. The teacher has the option to broadcast his/her tablet screen to the students' screens. What could be a better way to keep everyone on the same page, literally? 
2. The teacher can view each student's screen from his/her own tablet. This is a great way to track each student's progress during class, and it discourages students from misusing their tablets. 
3. The teacher can lock the students' screens and internet usage, which helps ensure all students are paying attention to the lesson. 
4. The teacher and students can share files with each other. 
5. SmartClass also provides an option for students to "raise their hands", and the teacher can view these raised hands on his/her screen. 
6. More features of the Radix SmartClass software are described here. 

Teacher locked students' screens. 

Teacher sharing screen with students.

Bluetooth Headset as Educational Tool

LG TONE WIRELESS STEREO HEADSET

Headset technology in the classroom

ATTRIBUTES:

• ERGONOMIC DESIGN
• 24 BIT HI-FI SOUND COMPATIBILITY
• SUPPORTS APPLE AND ANDROID DEVICES
• DUAL MICROPHONES
• 33FT. OPERATING RANGE

When technology integration in the classroom is seamless and thoughtful, students not only become more engaged, they begin to take more control over their own learning, too. Effective tech integration changes classroom dynamics, encouraging student-centered project-based learning.  The LG Tone wireless Bluetooth headset will not only give each student a hands free audio experience but also keep individual  audio sessions from disturbing other students.  

With LG Tone's 10 hour playback time, students will enjoy uninterrupted multimedia learning.  It's lightweight construction and slim design make transporting and storage a breeze.  Teachers will be amazed as students clearly hear computer-based lessons without distraction.  Wireless headsets allow students to learn and test at their best by creating individual environments with each computer, laptop or tablet. We know it is important for students to learn and test at their own pace and external noise reduction is of utmost importance.  LG Tone Wireless Headsets help keep all students on the same level and encourage them to pay attention and interact with the teacher because they can hear every word. Whether it's young students at workstations or music centers, wireless headsets play a pivotal role in the teacher's lesson plan.

Cons:  The LG Tone sounds like a great technology tool, but there are some quirks, as with most devices will need updates and upgrades.  Users reported that the after prolonged use, may not work properly.  Others were disappointed by shortages and power outages.  A few users reported cheap construction as their unit fell apart.

Pros:  Users raved about LG's style, features, and performance.  Others were impressed by its high definition sound, and less than 2 hour charging time. 

I highly recommend LG Tone's wireless headset devices as a supplemental classroom technology tool.  The classroom is a noisy place on any day with the exchanging of ideas between teacher and student. Let  LG Tone's wireless headset devices help keep the noise level at a minimum while keeping learning at a maximum. Having headsets in the classroom means enormous possibilities to enhance learning and focus.  They help teachers make sure  lesson plans, age, atmosphere, purpose and technological needs are considered in the learning process.  LG Tone's wireless headsets are the perfect accessories to the lesson plans. They make lessons  more easily heard, they create quieter classrooms for better learning, and they help students focus. Consider adding LG Tone's wireless headsets  to your classroom or school today.

"Sit with Us"

Imagine that you are standing with your foam tray full of chicken nuggets, 2% milk, fruit cup, whatever the vegetable of the day is, and wondering where you are going to sit. The cafeteria can be a very intimidating place for any student, staff member, or volunteer; let alone a student that has transferred in mid semester.

October is Anti-Bullying Awareness Month. I know that many school districts will be wearing orange on Wednesday October 19th to promote Unity Day. Many initiatives are promoted in schools by adults, I felt it was important to research what are students doing to address this ever present problem proactively.

I ran across an article that shared this wonderful concept called Sit with Us. The application was designed by a teen that had experienced bullying in middle school, and wondered where was one area that could be addressed to promote more inclusivity. She felt the cafeteria/ lunch room would be an excellent choice. She designed the application to encourage students to sign up and take the Anti-bullying Pledge and become "Ambassadors". These ambassadors would create an "Open Table" and other students would be able to select and sit with them. The application has drawn great attention and accolades for it's forward and positive thinking (see video).

The school where I work now would benefit from an application like this. The high school cafeteria has four lunch periods and multiple grades eating together in each of them. This could encourage students to break down the barriers and awkwardness that create stress and anxiety on a daily basis. I can even foresee the ambassadors using time to speak with the students about what is going on in school, to be more proactive in addressing the concerns students may not feel they can express.

I almost always see adults pushing the agenda more towards addressing these very difficult issues. It is reassuring that this young lady has taken the initiative to do something more towards bringing students together.

Scratch Programming Site

My little sister introduced me to this awesome website called Scratch. This site is developed by MIT to help kids learn computer programming skills. Scratch is primarily designed for ages 8-16, but can be used by younger children with parental guidance. It's super easy to learn and there is no need to sign up for the site, unless you want the students to save their work. There are tutorials that guide the students through the process of creating their own animations. I have even followed a few and found them to be super easy. I believe the Scratch site would be a wonderful tool to introduce to students for creating fun projects where they can express themselves. It can even be used in the classroom during free time. My sisters elementary and middle schools have implemented 'coding clubs' as an after school program. I believe more school should take advantage of the Scratch site. The site has no cost, (which is great for both parents and teachers) and it can be easily accessed with a computer and internet connection. The "latest and greatest" computer is not necessary to run the site (for reference, I'm currently running it on a 4 year old laptop with Win. 8). All in all, this site is awesome! By using this as a teaching tool, your are introducing valuable skills that can help them gain a technological edge in today's rapidly changing technology market.

For more information, click SCRATCH.

Netfilx as a learning tool

Many people have considered Netflix as a way of watching a movie or finding a good TV show to watch but it can have a good use in education as well. Many times watching a movie based off of a true story, or a well directed documentary is a great way to enhance the points of a lesson, however sometimes there are difficulties with this. Showing movies in class takes up class time, and sometimes students will be absent and miss the movies that other classmates saw. A great way to show movies would be to find one on Netflix. Netflix (Click here to visit their website) is relativity inexpensive at around $10/ month and will allow the student to go home and watch a required movie without hoping to find it at a movie store, or try to find a copy at a library. If there is a cost issue with students the instructor could set up an account and give out the password to students to be able to watch it on their own time. While finding the exact Hollywood might be difficult there is a extensive selection of historical and documentaries available.

Nicole Lane- EDT 211- Technology Teaching Strategies 10/2/16

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            Nicole Lane 10/2/16

                      

                        

                      Technology Teaching Strategies used to Engage Students:

According to edtechreview.com the five best teaching strategies using technology are..

1.       Using multimedia

2.       Utilization of social media

3.       Use a variety of resources

4.       Making most of games online

5.       Use technology to empower students to reach out and become engaged.

   After reading why this list benefits teachers Id have to say I agree. Multimedia “stimulates the mind, in ways in class work cannot,  and educators hold students attention longer”. I think educators would gain more feedback online, because the student has more time to deeply think about what they want to write down on the screen. The students can edit their words to make it sound however they want, just as I am doing right now. I feel sometimes my words/answers in class do not come out how I want them to, being online I can clearly state my point on a deeper level, it gets into my head more when I’m typing and searching online, its like you’re in a zone of yourself. Social media is a great tool to use, everyone and their mother uses social media, so bringing social media to the classroom where everyone knows how to work It, will allow the students to “collaborate new ideas” and have fun with what they know. Using a variety of resources means to not just “use books” allow the students to visit blogs, videos, podcasts, and other learning sources online to gain knowledge from other sources. Using games online in the classroom is rated one of the best ways to engage your students, I’d agree with that, the excitement in classrooms when playing online games really allows students to have fun and actually forget that they are learning important information. I recall playing online games like “Kahoot” in my college course, and for a moment I stopped watching the clock to see how much longer this class will take. Using technology to empower kids to reach out is personally my number one. Like I said above online communication allows students to think deeper, and to “have a voice”. Not everyone learns through verbal written communication so they’ve allowed students to become more artistic with “modern technology based art forms”. Teachers can use some sort of technology teaching style for any type of learner, whether it be artistic, or introvert learners.

  As you read this, think of the ways you the future teacher will use technology in your teachings, as for me, I'll be using all of them.

5 Effect Teaching Strategies using Technology

FarFaria

Are you tired of reading the same stories over and over to your children? Then FarFaria is for you! FarFaria is like the Netflix of storybooks! FarFaria is an app you can get for Ipads, iPhone, and androids. It offers readings for Pre K through Third grade. It offers thousands of stories with new stories being added every week. The app is designed to have magical islands with each island consisting of different stories. Not only does the app offer a variety of story books, its also has a feature for the story to be read aloud with personal narration. Although the app does require you to purchase a subscription for $4.99 a month, you can try it out free for 30 days! They also have special pricing for teachers, if interested just go to the website and submit your information for a quote. FarFaria also is aligned with common core reading levels. So it selects books for kids based off of their particular reading level.  I could see this being helpful because I’m always looking for new stories to read to my students.  I also like the feature that is selects stories based off of the reading level that the student is on.

FarFaria