Google Docs: I have never used goggle docs before, but I think that this tool is extremely useful. I think it is something I can use as I finish my college education, as well as using it as a teacher. This is a great way to work on a writing project with a group of people, from a distance. There are so many times I have wondered how I could work on a writing project with a group but did not know how, so knowing about this tool will be a valuable asset.

Also, new to me, is the ability to edit a document in word. As a teacher I could use this to edit and give feedback to my students' work. I am happy to have these new tools to use as a student, and as a teacher.

Web Site Evaluation

I believe that evaluation of web sites is an important skill for a teacher to have. It is important to remember that not all web sites are reliable and therefore having the skills to evaluate a web site will be valuable. The forms we filled out regarding web sites helped me to take a better look at the web sites and not just blindly accept the information as correct. As teachers we need to teach information that is accurate and up to date. I will need to take into account the reliability of a web site before I present this information to my students. Learning the skill of web site evaluation would be useful for any teacher!

Instructional Architect

Today we learned how to create a lesson using Instructional Architect. This is an extremely useful resource. I think that this is an excellent way to use technology in the classroom. There is no doubt in my mind that kids would love to work on WebQuests.

Last week, in my practicum, the 5th grade students in my class worked on a project about important people in American history. They used laptops to search the internet for the needed information. They LOVED it! Every student was excited and engaged the entire lesson. They cheered when the teacher told them about the assignment. So, I know that this is the kind of project that kids would really enjoy.

Instructional Architect is really user friendly, and I can see myself using this as an instructional tool in my classroom. Yeah, for IA!!!!

Creating a survey

I think being able to create a survey is a great bit of information to have. This can be used in so many ways in the classroom. A teacher could use surveys to find out information for teaching, get student input, have parents reply and give their opinions to you. As a teacher, creating surveys could be a great way to collect information to make your teaching more applicable and meaningful.

Webquest is a useful tool for teaching. I believe students would find this type of learning very interesting and therefore, they would be engaged. I think this resource would be easy to use, fun to use, and extremely educational. Both teachers and students would enjoy using WebQuest.

Please take this survey

Digital Photography

I believe that digital photography is an excellent tool to use for teaching. This project was fun and interesting, and would definitely engage students in learning about geometric shapes. There are so many different applications for the use of digital photography in education. Children could use photography to learn differences in the seasons, plants, shapes, colors, etc.

Comic life would be a great way for students to create an informational newspaper, create projects, or make a yearbook.

Digital photography could make almost any subject more interesting for students. Students would be excited to get up out of their seats, have hands on experiences, work with technology, and learn about various subjects. As a teacher I can see multiple benefits to incorporating digital photography into my curriculum.

I can see the benefits of using second life in teaching, however, I think that it is fairly complicated and would require a lot of assistance. I am not sure how one teacher would be able to assist all of her students in building etc. in second life, especially for elementary age students.

I think second life is extremely interesting and would engage students. I think if you were able to keep the students 'with' you, you would be able to use this technology to engage them in various types of learning. I think that distractions could be a major factor in using second life, because there are so many options in second life.

Second life could be a very useful tool for teaching, but I feel like there are draw backs that I would need to learn to deal with before I was able to use it in classroom. Maybe, with more experience I could reach a point where I was able to use this technology in my classroom.

Teanna Vincent
INST 4010 Lesson Plan
Concepts Taught: Rhyming Words/Using Technology
Content
• The students will drag and drop rhyming words within a Venn diagram• Use technology to share and communicate information with others.• Open and save a document to/from a specific folder.• Identify the appropriate application for the task by name.• Drag and drop.• Review basic word processing skills: format text, edit, and print.
Benchmarks
Students know how to use a variety of productivity software to convey ideas and illustrate concepts
Learning Resources and Materials
Computer with KidspirationGreen Eggs and Ham Book by Dr. SeussGreen Eggs and Ham template
Development of Lesson:IntroductionThe students will be introduced to the book Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss. They will be asked to listen for words that sound the same and words that may be spelled the same. Also, they will already have some prior knowledge of how to use a computer but will be given verbally the proper way of using one.
The teacher will read the book to the class as a whole.
Methods/ProceduresAs a class, the students will choose a list of words that have the same beginning and ending sounds.The teacher will then demonstrate on a computer how to:Open document named Green Eggs and HamDrag and drop the rhyming words in the Venn diagram.Print document.Name and save the document to the student’s folder.


Accommodations/Adaptations
Advanced learners can enhance the Venn diagram by adding more words from another story using Kidspiration
I would make sure that we had a little extra help in the room, incase the students had any trouble with using Kidspiration.
I would make sure to group students carefully so that all the students with needs would be separated.
The more advanced students would give those with needs a little boost.
The students having even more difficulty could use the talking version of Kidspiration
Assessment/EvaluationLanguage Arts:The teacher will check to see that the learner has placed the words within the Venn diagram correctly.
Technology:Observe students using technology to share and communicate information with others.Observe students opening and saving a document to/from a specific folder.Observe students identifying the appropriate application for the task by name.Observe students formatting text, editing, and printing.
Closure
As a class we would go over the assignment and see what rhyming words we discovered. Also, where did we have trouble and what they liked best about Kidspiration. The students will be given the opportunity to further expand the use of Venn Diagrams in Kidspiration and showing the teacher that they mastered it during free computer class time or as a homework assignment.
Teacher Reflection

9-28-09 YETC

Today's visit to the YETC was extremely beneficial. The applications are unlimited. I am excited to try using zotero to do my influential educators' paper. It seems like it will be very helpful in citing references and finding information I can use. I can use this both now and as a teacher.

Pioneer Library seems like an extremely useful website. I am looking forward to spending more time searching this site. From what we saw about this site, I could use this many ways. It seems to have a huge library of educational videos that teachers could really put to use.

Storytime online looks like a valuable resource for elementary literacy. Children love books and stories, as well as technology. I am sure that combining these two will create even more interest for children.

I appreciated Nathan's ideas on doing advanced searches in order to find needed information. I think we all know that almost any information we need can be found on the internet, but sometimes finding exactly what you want is difficult. The tips we learned today will help me to refine my searches, and hopefully be able to access the vast information available on the web.

9-28-09 YETC

How to use blogs in my classroom

I became excited about using blogs in my classroom today when one of the groups talked about having a classroom blog. I would love to implement this into my class. I love the idea of each student having a place to show off their work and a place that is their own. I can only image how excited I would have been as a child to have my work and ideas published on the internet, and available to all the other students in my class.

I also love the idea of the teacher being able to communicate with parents through a blog. I believe parents would feel more a part of the class if they were able to access what is going on through a classroom blog. Being a parent of elementary age children, I know that many of the papers that teachers send home get lost in the shuffle. If parents were able to access information, at their convenience, on the internet they could stay up on important information for their student.

HEY EVERYBODY! Just created my own blog! Having a great time in INST 4010