Saturday, April 4, 2009
Thing 23
Is it the end or just the beginning? Finally, I can say I am completing THING 23. I have learned so much about the internet that I didn't know before as well as learned how to utilize some really cool tools that I had used on a personal level but had never considered using in my classroom. Using technology is very important in the classroom. As I finish thing 23, I hear my teenager in the basement using You Tube to view skateboarding videos. As teachers why can't we encourage these techie kids to use their technology tools to create their own Podcasts, videos, and presentations. In addition, as eductors, why don't we share more of our teaching expertise through these same tools? Is it time? Money? What holds us back? As I embark on this technology journey, my hopes are to continue this Blog and add more educational technology information. I hope my collegues do to!!! Good luck! Send me your cool links! Lora
Thing 22
Michigan Learnport is an excellent way for teachers to get online professional development. I have taken some online professional development before including some during my university time. I like online classes for several reasons-- they are usually self paced. You can do them when ever you choose (ie-- this is great for night owls or early birds). There is no cost for parking, walking across a campus, or babysitter fees to pay when you take an online class.
This online class has been fun. I like that I could work on it at my own pace! I personally just set aside time each week when I wouldn't be bothered and spent a few hours wrapped up in it. The most challenging personally was the PODCAST. I hate the sound of my own voice and after three attempts I went with the best of the worst. My favorite activities were the teaching videos and the picture editors.
This online class has been fun. I like that I could work on it at my own pace! I personally just set aside time each week when I wouldn't be bothered and spent a few hours wrapped up in it. The most challenging personally was the PODCAST. I hate the sound of my own voice and after three attempts I went with the best of the worst. My favorite activities were the teaching videos and the picture editors.
Thing 21
I HAD A BLAST WITH THING 21. On Teacher Tube there are so many excellent presentations (with a matching amount of boring ones!). While You Tube is blocked at my school, I will be chacking and hoping that Teacher Tube is not. Either way, I am going to be using the downloaded video featuring a book preview for the Little House books. Even though we are half way through the book, I think my students will like it. I also think we may do our own videos like it when we are done. We already used video to present some stories we wrote at the beginning of the year, but I think they will like looking at some others have created.
ps. The Pirate Videos from New Mexico State were great. My middle school son kept searching for more of them after I showed him the one I uploaded.
ps. The Pirate Videos from New Mexico State were great. My middle school son kept searching for more of them after I showed him the one I uploaded.
Thing 20B
The podcast idea in the classroom was interesting. I definately will have my students listening to Podcasts in the near future. My favorite were the ones from Colonial Williamsburg. My students are reading Little House in the Big Woods right now and I am going to try to find one on frontier living.
Making a podcast was somewhat more challenging. My students have made videos this year and that was a long process. I may try this with a few students before I implement it with a whole class. Twice weekly, I do a combined class with the speech therapist. This may be something we can implement together. After all-- two teachers can get it done easier than one:)
Making a podcast was somewhat more challenging. My students have made videos this year and that was a long process. I may try this with a few students before I implement it with a whole class. Twice weekly, I do a combined class with the speech therapist. This may be something we can implement together. After all-- two teachers can get it done easier than one:)
Thing 19
Podcasts are really an excellent tool. I spent a ton of time reviewing podcasts today. Here is a review of the ones I checked out!
Grammar Girl (http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com) - Very neat one! This gives a grammar type then gives conversational examples. I think my 6th graders would benefit from listening!
Zoofari Chat- This one is in conjunction with the San Diego Zoo. I listened to the one on the Manchirian Brown Bear during their Bear Days. Kind of cool for the animal geeks!
Book Wink- Book wink was a good one. It included some vocabulary words that went with the literacy genres (example was heists). www.bookwink.com
Colonial Williamsburg- as a past employee of Greenfield Village I loved the podcasts from Colonial Williamsburg. I listened to a ton here including Chocolate, Gingerbread houses, an Irish Christmas, and Colonial Ladies Music. CHECK THESE PODCASTS OUT IF YOU ARE A HISTORY BUFF!!!!!
Grammar Girl (http://grammar.quickanddirtytips.com) - Very neat one! This gives a grammar type then gives conversational examples. I think my 6th graders would benefit from listening!
Zoofari Chat- This one is in conjunction with the San Diego Zoo. I listened to the one on the Manchirian Brown Bear during their Bear Days. Kind of cool for the animal geeks!
Book Wink- Book wink was a good one. It included some vocabulary words that went with the literacy genres (example was heists). www.bookwink.com
Colonial Williamsburg- as a past employee of Greenfield Village I loved the podcasts from Colonial Williamsburg. I listened to a ton here including Chocolate, Gingerbread houses, an Irish Christmas, and Colonial Ladies Music. CHECK THESE PODCASTS OUT IF YOU ARE A HISTORY BUFF!!!!!
Thing 15-17 WIKI's
The Wiki's are really a cool tool. I really enjoyed the ones I experienced, especially the really neat Google Earth in the classroom one. It was interesting to create my own on Colorado although I can't figure out how to reconfigure the name not to include my own (Yeah, I know, right now it is LoraColorado).
I think this would be a neat tool to use with my Lego Robotics team. They could create information and links that will help them in their competition. It would also be a communication avenue with other teams that we could use to collaborate. The biggest obstacles that I can foresee is the learning curve of implementation. I look forward to adding more information in the near future!
I think this would be a neat tool to use with my Lego Robotics team. They could create information and links that will help them in their competition. It would also be a communication avenue with other teams that we could use to collaborate. The biggest obstacles that I can foresee is the learning curve of implementation. I look forward to adding more information in the near future!
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