Monday, November 5, 2012

"...the arts produce an endurable and even attractive dialogue with the prejudices of the past, rather than one fraught with fear and defensiveness; it's the way in which performance offers a venue for exploring difficult issues without crippling anxiety."- Martha C. Nussbaum

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Facebook in the classroom?

Guide to using facebook in the classroom- Useful tips for creating teacher appropriate facebooks


How to use social-networking technology for learning- Tips and explanations for social-networking in the classroom


Technological lesson plans -example lesson plans for all grade levels 

Information literate

Being information literate to me means that we must know how to find, and know what constitutes valid and appropriate information. It is important that we inform our students on what these constitutions are. There are many sites and ways to find such information, it is just a matter of taking the time to find it and utilize it to inform our students. We must do our best to prepare our students for searching the web and deciding what information they find valid, however there is so much invalid information out there we can never fully protect them form the in-validities that the web holds.

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Archive of the Web!- shows you history of websites and how to identify validity


if you go to google or altavista.com and put in link: and then the link to the site and it will show everything that is linked to the site 

Posting, sharing, converting videos

Podbean.com and vodpod.com allow you to easily post podcasts


keepvid helps you save videos to your computer


mediaconverter.org allows you to convert videos so you can use them on an array of sites 


formatfactory is a program you download and is free and allows you to convert file types 

How To Podcast




Monday, March 5, 2012

Teaching through cell phones?

Mobile learning is an emerging and controversial issue arising in today's society however cell phones in classrooms can be utilized rather than punishing students for using them, because we all know it is inevitable.
Teachers can use cell phone communication for a variety of things
   -communicating homework
   -communicating with parents
   -taking surveys in class
   -students ask the teacher questions
   -so much more, the possibilities are almost endless, its a matter of being creative.


Obviously mobile learning is going to pose some problems. Students will misuse their privileges with their phones, they may send inappropriate things, over use their phone freedom. But they would do these things anyway! So why not give them the opportunity to experiment with this new form of teaching, it would just be necessary to implement many rules and restrictions associated with phone use.


I want to teach high school history, so if i were to use cell phones in the classroom I would probably use it to take surveys, or even one answer pop quizes where they could text me their answer rather than waste paper. I could even use it if they have any questions throughout the class that they are afraid to answer. And also i could use it to remind them about homework and communicate with parents, for good or bad reasons haha.


In my classroom I may use one of the websites below to send out text notifications about when projects and papers are coming up.
I might use that application to also take surveys at the beginning of each new topic to see what the students already know.
Also, I could have students who are afraid to ask questions during a lecture, send me a text so that I can address a question without them standing out or getting embarrassed.
The possibilities are growing!




...and i believe our podcast is being posted on Lindsay's page! 

Cell phones in the classroom?!

Texting in class!- a site that helps you communicate through texting by sending messages to parents and students from your computer

Another use of texting!-another site that allows you to use texting to communicate

Blog on cellphones in the classroom

Multimedia in Ed.

Due to my unbelievably busy lifestyle and lack of through reading I am posting about the use of multimedia a week late, however I do believe it is important to address the significance of the use of  multimedia in the classroom. I have had to make few videos for assignments in classes and when I did i did not have the technology to do so. However these technologies are becoming a lot more readily available and it would be great to be able to use them for educational purposes. From the teaching perspective, teachers could make videos and podcasts to teach certain subjects and mix up teaching styles straying away from the boring old power points. They could also then assign assignments to make videos for the class rather than having the students use poster boards and power points, that are both progressively going out of style. 

Monday, February 13, 2012

Photos in Education!

Pictures are some of the most impacting tools for our learning and teacher often use them to portray certain aspects of their lesson. As i want to be a history teacher images are a HUGE part of learning history, without them certain aspects of our history may not  have been recorded. As a history teacher I plan to utilize hundreds of pictures in my lessons and websites like flickr and photo shop. These applications have numerous benefits in education. Students can use them to create and share photos with the class. On flickr you can have discussions on certain photos outside of the classroom and then debrief about them once in class.
There are just so many helpful and amazing ways to use photos and photo applications in education, it is a completely necessary aspect in our current and growing society!

Saturday, February 4, 2012

Technology in the classroom: advantage or disadvantage?


“How does a teacher ensure that technology use will enhance instruction and not be a distraction or a disconnected add-on?”

The answer to this question relies solely on how the teacher embraces the use of technology. Some teachers may use the use of technology in the classroom as a filler, which would ultimately prove to be a disconnected add-on. Some may even have the intention of using technology with a purpose but if they do not have discipline then it will turn into a disadvantage rather than an advantage. BUT if you pick certain cites and assignments that will help the students gain knowledge and utilize their time wisely then it has potential to be very beneficial! Like the use of blogs, if you provide links for assignments and give specific instructions, students should have no problem staying on task and completing assignments, if they are disciplined properly.

Remember These Sites!

Discipline Help- Is a site that allows teachers review a variety of types of students and how to handle their behaviors (very helpful for teachers just starting out and often overwhelmed by the vast array of attitudes in the classroom)

Classroom 2.0-This site is a place strictly for teachers to share ideas, have discussions, and stay updated on today's technology, ultimately connecting you to over 60,000 other teachers

Free Technology For Teachers-A website that gives you links to several different sites that allow you to easily make free websites

100 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools - Is a giant list of useful sites to incorporate technology into the classroom

Engrade- Easy online grade book!

Rubistar for Teachers- Simple and fast Rubric maker for a multitude of subjects

Blogger- Easy, free place to start blogging

Oregon Education Standards- State standards for every grade level and subject


Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Amanda and Lindsay's Classroom

First we will lay down the ground rules! Because we will be using a lot of technology in the classroom we will need to create some rules and punishments if the rules are broken. We know that technology allows you to do and post nearly anything, there will need to be repercussions for rule breaking. 


Initially we would have all the students in our high school class create a blog in which they could communicate to the teacher, with other students, and complete assignments. This also allows their parents to follow this blog and keep them informed on what we are doing in class. We will be doing this because each student works and communicates in their own way and the blog will allow their creative freedom while providing a structure in the class. 


We will have a website provided for the class where all the students blogs will be linked to the website.  The site will include discussions, homework assignments, class notes and lectures, we will also add links to website that will be useful for homework and projects. Parents will be able to access this site and communicate with the teacher for any reason at all. 


On the blog will be posted the state standards for this "History" class. Each assignment will identify which standard it will be addressing. This allows students, parents, and fellow teachers to see the intentions of each assignment and to show that we are meeting the standards in our classroom.


We will have a link for Mash Up Arts where they will create a specific news article, video or any creative way to meet criteria about their assigned topic. They can also use Prezi and assignments like these, where students collaborate to create a project as a whole class, will be assigned throughout the year. This allows them to learn and use technology to expand their learning and have fun utilizing technology in school. 


All rubrics will be included with assignments in order to ensure that the requirements, and expectations are clear to each and every student. They will also be allowed to post comments as much as they like! 

Prezi!

Roadtrip!

Power Point Do's and Don'ts

I had previously learned that simplicity is the most effective, one of my teachers in high school taught us the 7 and 7 rule, but that is pretty hard to follow sometimes when you have a lot to say. I would definitely have to agree with all the statements Reynolds made, especially from my own experience with power points. I liked the ideas of using visuals rather than bullet points, pictures make a far more lasting impact on people than a bunch of jumbled words together. I plan on using power points throughout all my years of teaching and these tips will most definitely be in the back of my mind. I will focus on the basic ideas, incorporate pictures, and use my words to make long descriptions. In my prior power points I tried to use the idea of simplicity but from now on i will simplify them even more. Empty space = elegance! 

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Why Citing is Important.

The most important reason why we must cite our sources and ask for permission is because we are LEADERS, ROLE MODELS, PROFESSIONALS, and so much more to our students. We can assume that our students respect us and will follow by our examples, so it is very important that we demonstrate the right thing to do. It is also to teach our students about copyrighting by leading by example, and explaining how we have done so. 

Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines

Useful Sources for the Future!
Copyright guidelines-Chart
Fair Use-Descriptions
Teaching Copyright-Curriculum/Resources

Monday, January 23, 2012

Web 2.O!

Well I just wasted a good hour of my life....The first site that caught my interest was Pinterest, I had heard of the site on Facebook when my friends would post things about it, but I didn't really know what it was.  Right away I was hooked! When simply entering the home page there were a ton of cute and interesting pictures, recipes, quotes and wide variety of cute, eye catching, and fascinating things that people from all over where sharing.  This site is designed so one can create their own page and keep track of things that they find that they simply "like" or want to remember, where other people can view their page as well. The site mentions that people will use it for a variety of things, even planning for weddings! This could be used in a classroom or two for the teacher and students to post things and share ideas. Coming from a social studies point of view, in my class i could use it to post any pictures, quotes, comics, and anything pertaining to topics in my class. 


The next site I looked at was Photoshow, which is a site that helps you easily put together a slide show of pictures with music and transitions, and I have always wanted to do this! It appears to be really easy and you can upload straight from your computer or facebook. This could be utilized in my classroom very easily, instead of a boring power point i could put a few pictures from a war, for example, and add some music from the time period. I am sure my students would be much more entertained and willing to pay attention when I can use new technology like this to portay history from a point of view they are not used to! 


The final site i looked at was History Pin....I think it is quite obvious why i chose this one! I was so excited to find this while looking through travel sites. This site is for people to post pictures from their travels all over the world, from theirs and their families histories. I am sure I could spend hours reading stories and looking at pictures. I find it very important that my students retain information that i teach them and if i were to use this site to give them specific examples and accounts from the time period rather than handing them a boring text book, they and I will enjoy the class even more!

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

Discovering the World of Blogging!

When looking through the top 20 teacher blog one that i found that I really enjoyed looking at one that was simply a teacher posting about her love and frustrations with teaching. Her most recent blog was her new years resolutions and they were quite comical I thoroughly enjoyed reading them!


Here it is!
Regurgitated Alpha Bits

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Google Apps Lesson Plan

The lesson plan i have chosen based on the fact that I want to teach grades 10-12 and Social Studies is called: Stories of America. The objective of the lesson is: "The “Stories of America” class site will consist of student created pages. Student pages will be interdisciplinary and thematic, reflecting and exemplifying a particular time period, person or historical event in American history from the American Revolution to our present time in contemporary America." 
This lesson is designed for students to become familiar with technology, while they create a page posted in a class forum, about their selected topic relating to the history of America. Students will be using computers of some sort to create their page.  
This meets the standards requiring them to use creativity and innovation because they will be creating a page on their own however they wish to portray their topic. It also meets the standard which requires them to conduct research and use information they find, because history is all about research and interpretations.
I find this lesson to be really likable if it is implemented correctly. Meaning that the students have a lot of direction from the teacher while allowing them creative freedom. It has potential to be very successful and a great learning tool for the utilization of technology, research and creative expression. I would definitely use it in my classroom!

Tech in Ed Standards

When looking at the standards for technology in the classroom in relation to the use of blogs, I feel that blogging  would help students reach all these goals: 
  • Demonstrate creativity and innovation
  • Communicate and collaborate
  • Conduct research and use information
  • Think critically, solve problems, and make decisions
  • Use technology effectively and productively
Through the creation and freedom they  have in creating a blog they can demonstrate their own page showing creativity and innovation.  They will then be able to communicate with other students and their teacher, while collaborating and expanding on ideas. With their collaboration they will then be able to share ideas used for research of certain projects or other homework assignments. With information and links provided by the teacher on their blog students can navigate the web more easily. By having discussions and posting on their blogs and on their classmates blogs, will allow students to critically analyze things others have said, answer questions solving problems and make individual and group decisions. These blogs would ultimately allow the students to become more technology friendly, helping them be more successful in their present and future. 

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Blogging in the Classroom

Blogging with students has potential to be very beneficial to communication with students! Due to the fact that nearly all high school students are constantly on sites such as facebook, it is very convenient for them to be able to check homework, post responses and communicate with the teacher and other students in the many hours they are not in school. 


In order for students to be well aware about blogging and how to use it and what is appropriate it is very important that you, as a teacher, give strict instructions on how to create, post, and respond to blogs.  


Internet safety is very important, so it is necessary that your students only allow posts by people they know and make their blog accessible to their parents in order to keep them safe. (and emphasize their safety)


Blogs in the classroom could be used to post homework assignments, rather than making students write them down on their own and then later lose the paper and/or forget about it. Making blogging a habit in the classroom would help  ensure they don't forget. You could also use it for class discussions if school is cancelled or any of the students or teachers are absent.  The blog would allow students a broad spectrum of time to do their out of school work.