Hypermedia Quiz

Creating a hypermedia quiz will help students develop several life and career skills. The quiz provides them with clear goals. By telling the students weather the answers are correct or incorrect, it gives them feedback and lets then know where they need improvement.

Bookmarks

Using bookmarks allows students to develop several information and media literacy skills. Bookmark enable students to quickly access important sites. This will improve organization and efficiency. Having the sites readily available will make it easier to compare sites with different information, enabling the students to better check a site's credibility. Bookmarks allow students to manage information from a number of sources. Without them trying to keep track of resources could become tedious.

WebQuest on WebQuests

In groups, we examined a Webquest which asked up to analyze other WebQuests. We each took on a role (Efficiency Expert, Affiliator, Altitudinist, or Technofile) and judge the WebQuests based on what our roles were looking for. Our group selected Grow School Greens. The WebQuest meets NETS standard 1 by having the students construct knowledge. It presents them with a task and asks them to gather important information and use that knowledge to make a decision.

WebQuest Assignment

For the WebQuest assignment, we each found a WebQuest in the field we will be teaching which was not well constructed and could be improved. We then constructed our own WebQuests using the old ones as a model.

I chose a WebQuest about gravity. In this WebQuest gravity will be treated as an enemy which must be overcome. I order to defeat this adversary the students must gain an understanding of the gravitational force.

Original Gravity WebQuest

This activity will not only meet several CSOs, it will provide students with resources to investigate ideas on their own. The Wequest specifically meets seventh grade natural science CSO SC.O.7.2.25 which states that students will learn to explain the effect of gravity on falling objects.

Wordle and Media Literacy

Earlier this semester we participated in a group activity, in which we constructed a Wordle. We each thought of words that come to mind when we thought about "Web 2.0". We came up with related words such as connection, technology, collaboration, innovation. A Wordle is a good tool which could be very valuable in the classroom. Wordles collect information and then display the data in a visually appealing way. They can he used to show related ideas or group opinions. Wordles and other types of "word clouds" can help students better interpret information.

Are SmartBoards worth it?

SmartBoard Research

This site provides evidence that SmartBoards can influence student learning. It must be taken into account that the research was done by the company that produces the SmartBoards, and therefore may be biases. The site does make several interesting points regarding the advantages of SmartBoards in the classroom. I personally believe that Smartboards can make a difference and are well worth the expense as long as several criteria are met. Obviously the teacher who will be using the board must understand how to operate it. The school should also be certain that the SmartBoard will be utilized, so that the investment is not wasted.

Can Students Use Wikipedia?

Wikipedia is a very useful resource. The information on it is not always accurate (although it usually is), but the site is an easy way to become familiar with a subject. Most pages begin with an easy-to-follow summary of the subjest. If a student is just beginning their research this could help[ immensly. Wikipedia can also offer other, more credible, resources. Here is a page describing the forces behind and the history of the Theory of Plate Tectonic.

SmartBoard NETS

THere are clear advantages to using SmartBoards in the classroom. As I said previoulsy SmartBoard Demonstration our group was able to demonstrate how this technology can be used to make ideas more concrete. We were able to use the boards to model an atom. Other groups showed that the boards could be used to clarify directions during an activity, such as a disection. The use of these boards meets ISTE standard 2. When creating a lesson employing a Smartboard a teacher is designing and developing digital-age learning experiences.

Microblogging- 21st Century Skills

Creating a microblog on a social networking site helps students develop several competencies from the Partnership for 21st Century Skills. They learn to utilize the social networks to connect with other and share information. Its a simple step to go from sharing interesting facts about one's self through a social network to using the network to collaborate with others. Microblogging will also give the students an appreciation of the differences of others and diversity.

Digital Storytelling NETS

Students participating in the creation of a digital story are practicing multiple teaching standards. By using technology creatively to develop their story they meet standard 1. When they collaborate by continuing of critiquing each others stories they meet standard two. These students are experiencing first hand how technology facilitates the exchange of information and ideas.

NETS Credibility

In class today, the teacher discussed credibility of webpages. We watched two student-made videos and viewed a PowerPoint. She showed us how we can verify a source. The PowerPoint linked to several examples of sites which were not credible. Learning this information will meet NETS standard 3. Understanding web page credibility demonstrates understanding of global social issues and responsibility in an evolving digital culture.

NETS Skype

Our teacher has partnered our class with a fifth-grade class to allow us to practice the use of technology in education. Earlier this week, she posted a list of questions from the other class. Each person was assigned a question to research. In class today, we used Skype to webcam with the fifth-grade class to communicate our answers to them. This assignment met ISTE standard 1 by using technology to facilitate student learning. It also met standard 3 as it allowed us to communicate relevant information and ideas to students.

Google Form Results

NETS Facebook Group

On our fourth day of class we were instructed to join a group on Facebook.com. The group, Web 2.0 and Schools, was created by the instructor to facilitate discussion about the use of technology in the classroom. During the class period we were instructed to read and comment on two things she had posted on the groups wall, an article about informal language online and a video about technologies effects on our generation. The informal language article became important when she told us that we could use less formal language on the Facebook group, as we were all probably used to doing. In out responses to her posts we would be able to use texting shorthand and sarcasm. This assignment met ISTE standard 3 by allowing me to demonstrate fluency in new technology and collaborate with my peers.

NETS Classroom 2.0

As part of the technology course we were instructed to join a webpage known as classroom 2.0. This is a networking site devoted to implementing web 2.0 technology in the classroom. In joining this site I met ISTE standard 3 by demonstrating fluency in networking technology, and by seting up an account with which I will communicate information and collaberatw with peers.

Never Underestimate a Child

“Never underestimate a child”

It was one line in the “about me” section on an acquaintance’s MySpace page, but that thought has stuck with me. Every time I work with children I am reminded of that line as it is proven true. Whether it's the creativity I see on stage in children’s theatre, the hard work and imagination of the campers at Tri-county 4H Camp, or the excitement and the wonder expressed by the student’s in my mother’s first grade classroom, I have learned to expect the unexpected from children.

Students are growing up in a world that is constantly changing. New technologies and new ways to use them are created every day. I have constructed this blog for my Instructional Technology class, but I hope I can use it to learn and share more about technology and how it can be implemented in the classroom.