Journal 7 - Blogging

A blog is a web log where you can create and post works, journal, and embed web resources. Blogging is easy to do and a good way to keep communication amongst people, especially students, parents, and teachers. Anyone can create a blog and comment on peers blogs. The discussion that I followed on Classroom 2.0 was about how to incorporate student work on blogs.

One teacher created an assignment where students were to create a blog based on a quote by Ghandi, which was about change in the world. The topics the students could choose from ranged from recycling to Darfur. She helped out her students by directing their beginning posts. The students were to find resources, create a poster, comment on others blogs, embed a survey or quiz and so one.

Another teacher who was a literature teacher for middle school ages students made a class blog that was not only about the students assignments or classroom and campus activities but on what a 10-12 year old would be interested in. Along with writing resources, links, and archives for students she also incorporated Harry Potter movie trailers, fun ideas involving Simpson characters, and posted discussions for the students on issues that they would be interested in. She also had a spot for parent blogging and calendar to help students keep up with due dates on assignments.

Software Review: Web 2.0

1. When using Classroom 2.0 it was very easy and simple to navigate around the website. I found it very easy to find what I needed in a fast and efficient way. I liked that you were able to choose from a lot of topics in order to start in a discussion about the tool that I chose. The way the discussions are formatted are very user friendly.

2. I would definitely incorporate Classroom 2.0 in my teaching. This website will help me tremendously and I hope that I can help out other teachers too. Any of the the advice I get from other teachers I will definitely incorporate it into my classroom.

3. I did not use Atomic Learning; I just learned by going on the website and navigating around it.

Journal 6

Software Review: Inspiration

1. This program was very easy to use. It was very easy to pick pictures, add them, add text, and add links. With everything I did for this assignment it was really easy to navigate around in the program and choose everything that I wanted applied to my assignment.

2. I would incorporate Inspiration in my classroom when my students need to brainstorm and outline for projects and papers they may need to write.

3. I did not use Atomic Learning as a means to learn about Inspiration. I learned to use it by playing around on the software and asking a lot of questions to my peers in the class.

Journal 8

A “Fantastic Super” Use of Technology: Closing the Digital Divide

Curtis, Diane (2002, November, 11). A "Fantastic Super" Use of Technology: Closing the Digital Divide . Edutopia, Retrieved 2008, October, 11, from http://www.edutopia.org/fantastic-super-use-technology

At Mary Scroggs Elementary School the students are given a user I.D. and a password for the school’s computer network. There are computers in every classroom, wireless laptops, programs for learning, and the school’s daily news can be watched on closed circuit Internet. The principal of Mary Scroggs, Paula McCarthy is able to send out messages to teachers and is able to send messages to 90 percent of student families. As well as being able to access the Internet, communication has grown among teachers, administrators, parents, and students through email. Parents are encouraged to ask questions and have concerns. Email keeps the parents involved and informed in their students’ school activities, progress, and assignments. Each teacher at Mary Scrogg Elementary have a web page where students and parents can access homework assignments, weekly newsletters, announcements, volunteer opportunities, student work, and websites. With access to technology, teachers are able to collaborate more with their co-workers, feel more like professionals and be able to use technology as a means to teach and communicate with their students and their families. Technology at Mary Scroggs has shown to increase test scores and improve the school overall.

How could I incorporate a lesson where the students could email each other?

I would develop a lesson where my students would do peer review on a writing assignment. I would have my students write a first draft and send it to at least three other students as an attachment, and let those students give feedback on content, grammar, and spelling errors. The students will be able to give comments and suggestions to their classmates’ assignments using email.

How would I use cameras in the classroom?

I would let the students take a camera home with permission from their parents. I would also advise parents to supervise their child while taking the pictures and patrol what images they may be capturing. I would encourage my students to take pictures of any after school activities that they do, sports they play, their family, and/or anything special that they would like to share with their classmates. After they have taken pictures, I would have the students share them with the class as a presentation or offer them to download/import their pictures into any projects we may be doing.

MY MOVIE

SOFTWARE REVIEW - I MOVIE

1. 1. All of the editing tools were very easy to find and accessible. It was very easy to import video, pictures, and music. It was also easy to add titles, texts, and credits to my movie. There were many styles to choose for the editing. I liked that there were so many choices without being overwhelming. The timeline viewer was also a great tool. I found myself using that a lot during the editing of the video clips and music. Being able to click and drag the video clips, music, and pictures was so great. Putting in the transitions to the timeline was also an easy process of click and drag. This program overall was very user friendly.

2. 2. I would definitely incorporate I-Movie into my classroom. I think that most elementary aged children up to high school students could definitely use the program with ease. I would include an assignment like the PSA we did for Cal State but apply it to their own school and campus. It would also be a fun way to do a group project, profile of yourself, or a end of the year activity incorporating the entire class.

3. 3. I did not use Atomic Learning to learn about this software. I learned from exploring the software itself and lecture in class.