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!
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
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
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!
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
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!
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
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.
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.
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