I have to say that I absolutely love Google Reader!!! This is the first time that I have heard about RSS and Google Reader. I love browsing through the different stories and blogs, and then clicking on the ones that I want to actually read. It is really fun! I like the fact that I am receiving these sites on my computer and I can quickly access them. I can't wait to subscribe to a lot more sites that really interest me!!
I really liked some of the articles and blogs that I read. The one that interested me the most as an educator, was about how I could use a math game that was geared to the early grade levels on a smart board. I found this article to be very informative. It made me want to look more into it. I am already planning on how I could use this technology with my students during specific math lessons and as enrichment activities. I can't wait!
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Thing #4
I have really enjoyed reading the different blogs for this assignment! I have read a couple of blogs over the years, but I have never really researched and read the different educational blogs that are out there for us. I now realize that there are so many possiblities to use blogging as a teacher and for my students. I cannot wait to start using blogging and this blog site in my classroom next year!
One particular blog site that I liked was called Duck With a Blog. This blog involves 2nd grade and Kindergarten students in the blog-writing process. I thing this would be a great site for my students that are just beginning to write. My students love anything to do with technology and computers. This would be a great way to motivate them to write and give purpose to their writing as well as reading.
Most of the blogs that I read were written in a personal narrative type style. People share information, what they are thinking, and thier opinions about a particular topic on blogs. When you are reading blogs it can be very different than reading books or articles because it is much more personal. Both of them can provide information, just in a different way. Blogs also allow communication back and forth between people in the form of writing. When people comment on different people's blogs, it allows them to become more personally involved in what they are reading. By writing and commenting on blogs, ideas and communication between people continue to evolve and change. Commenting on blogs helps to motivate and support people who are writing the blogs.
I feel that blogging can help facilitate learning in many different ways. It can help students to share their thoughts and opinions with other people without all of the pressure of speaking in front of the class and raising their hand. It can help students make connections with each other by reading and commenting on their classmates' blogs. It can help to give meaning and purpose to their reading and writing. It can also give motivation to reluctant writers. (This sort of technology would have been great for me when I was in school! :-) ) Blogging can also help to share important information, such as classroom assignments and up-coming events, with people who need it.
One particular blog site that I liked was called Duck With a Blog. This blog involves 2nd grade and Kindergarten students in the blog-writing process. I thing this would be a great site for my students that are just beginning to write. My students love anything to do with technology and computers. This would be a great way to motivate them to write and give purpose to their writing as well as reading.
Most of the blogs that I read were written in a personal narrative type style. People share information, what they are thinking, and thier opinions about a particular topic on blogs. When you are reading blogs it can be very different than reading books or articles because it is much more personal. Both of them can provide information, just in a different way. Blogs also allow communication back and forth between people in the form of writing. When people comment on different people's blogs, it allows them to become more personally involved in what they are reading. By writing and commenting on blogs, ideas and communication between people continue to evolve and change. Commenting on blogs helps to motivate and support people who are writing the blogs.
I feel that blogging can help facilitate learning in many different ways. It can help students to share their thoughts and opinions with other people without all of the pressure of speaking in front of the class and raising their hand. It can help students make connections with each other by reading and commenting on their classmates' blogs. It can help to give meaning and purpose to their reading and writing. It can also give motivation to reluctant writers. (This sort of technology would have been great for me when I was in school! :-) ) Blogging can also help to share important information, such as classroom assignments and up-coming events, with people who need it.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
Thing #2
I am amazed at how much technology, and specifically web 2.0 tools, have already changed and will continue to change the way we teach students. Students today have so much exposure to technology then I ever did at their age. They are constantly using different types of technology to communicate, to access information, and to entertain themselves. As teachers, we need to embrace this new technology. I feel that by incorporating the technology that is available into a teacher's classroom and lessons, it will help to keep the students' engaged and interested in the topics being taught. By using the web 2.o tools in her classroom, a teacher can open a student's world a little wider with just a click of a button. The web 2.0 tools can help the students access and view information that was not possible before. The technology available can also help with quick access to communication between a large group and the sharing of ideas between professionals. Access to this type of technology will benefit all people who are involved in and interested in the education of students.
There are so many ways that I am thinking about how I could use these new tools to engage today's "digital learners." I must admit that I am so excited to read about all of these new tools and cannot wait to actually see them and learn how to use them. I am so new with the technology that I do not know what some of them are when I read about them, or how to access them. When I read the article, "A Day in the Life Web 2.0," I was so amazed at how the educators and students incorporated all of the technology into their day. I am no where near that stage yet, but would love to be some day. I would like to access different pod casts on the internet and have my students watch the pod casts about the topics that we are discusmsing. I am going to have my students use the web to find information and do research. I will tag some sites that I would like my students to view. My students are going to use the computer more to publish what they have learned and their research. I have just learned how I can use a Promethean Board. I am definitely going to use it with my special education students. A Promethean Board is so interactive where the students can manipulate objects and write things. I feel my students will really love this interaction with technology! I will also keep up my blog so I can communicate with my students, the parents of my students, and my colleagues on a consistent basis to give them important and timely information that is important. There are so many more ways to incorporate web 2.0 tools but I am still learning about them.
I definitely want to use web 2.0 tools to enhance my lessons, my classroom, and the educational experience of my students. I want my students to love learning, and using web 2.o tools will make learning the content material more fun. If my students are having fun learning, then school becomes a much more positive experience.
There are so many ways that I am thinking about how I could use these new tools to engage today's "digital learners." I must admit that I am so excited to read about all of these new tools and cannot wait to actually see them and learn how to use them. I am so new with the technology that I do not know what some of them are when I read about them, or how to access them. When I read the article, "A Day in the Life Web 2.0," I was so amazed at how the educators and students incorporated all of the technology into their day. I am no where near that stage yet, but would love to be some day. I would like to access different pod casts on the internet and have my students watch the pod casts about the topics that we are discusmsing. I am going to have my students use the web to find information and do research. I will tag some sites that I would like my students to view. My students are going to use the computer more to publish what they have learned and their research. I have just learned how I can use a Promethean Board. I am definitely going to use it with my special education students. A Promethean Board is so interactive where the students can manipulate objects and write things. I feel my students will really love this interaction with technology! I will also keep up my blog so I can communicate with my students, the parents of my students, and my colleagues on a consistent basis to give them important and timely information that is important. There are so many more ways to incorporate web 2.0 tools but I am still learning about them.
I definitely want to use web 2.0 tools to enhance my lessons, my classroom, and the educational experience of my students. I want my students to love learning, and using web 2.o tools will make learning the content material more fun. If my students are having fun learning, then school becomes a much more positive experience.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thing #1
I truly believe that we should all be lifelong learners. It is something that I push myself to continue to be through different avenues in my life. As a teacher, I have tried to instill this philosophy in my students and in my classroom.
After watching the video about the 7 1/2 habits for Lifelong Learners, I feel that the most challenging habit for me will be to accept responsibility for my own learning. I tend to stay very busy with different activities and let some learning opportunities pass me by. I can be a bit of a procrastinator and will not take the time to take these learning opportunities. I need to set time aside to specifically work on learning new things. I think I am taking the right step by taking technology courses this summer. This is an area that I have been lacking in and I am beginning to feel more competent in this area as I complete the different courses. During this course, I know I will need to stay on top of the assignments so they do not pile up on me. This may be a little hard because I am on vacation with my family, but I am going to try my best.
The easiest habit for me as a lifelong learner is to use technology to my advantage. I am specifically taking this class to learn about the new technology available. Technology has become such an important aspect of our lives and how we learn. I know that once I become more knowledgeable of the new technology it will become an important aspect of my role as a teacher. That is one of my major goals!
I feel that the most important habit to use as I work through this course is to view problems as challenges. I anticipate that as I work through the different assignments and learn about the new technology, I will experience some technical difficulties. I realize that I might become frustrated when this happens. I will need to stay patient and continue to work on the problem until I have solved it. I know there are many resources out there to help me if I have any problems or issues that I cannot solve. When I have solved the problem, I will have learned more about the concept than if the problem had not occurred.
After watching the video about the 7 1/2 habits for Lifelong Learners, I feel that the most challenging habit for me will be to accept responsibility for my own learning. I tend to stay very busy with different activities and let some learning opportunities pass me by. I can be a bit of a procrastinator and will not take the time to take these learning opportunities. I need to set time aside to specifically work on learning new things. I think I am taking the right step by taking technology courses this summer. This is an area that I have been lacking in and I am beginning to feel more competent in this area as I complete the different courses. During this course, I know I will need to stay on top of the assignments so they do not pile up on me. This may be a little hard because I am on vacation with my family, but I am going to try my best.
The easiest habit for me as a lifelong learner is to use technology to my advantage. I am specifically taking this class to learn about the new technology available. Technology has become such an important aspect of our lives and how we learn. I know that once I become more knowledgeable of the new technology it will become an important aspect of my role as a teacher. That is one of my major goals!
I feel that the most important habit to use as I work through this course is to view problems as challenges. I anticipate that as I work through the different assignments and learn about the new technology, I will experience some technical difficulties. I realize that I might become frustrated when this happens. I will need to stay patient and continue to work on the problem until I have solved it. I know there are many resources out there to help me if I have any problems or issues that I cannot solve. When I have solved the problem, I will have learned more about the concept than if the problem had not occurred.
Hello!
Hello everyone! I am so excited to begin writing on my very own blog. I am teacher and I am taking a technology course so I can learn about some of the new technology out there. I am hoping to take some of the things I learn during this class and incorporate them into my classroom and lessons. One of the assignments was to start a blog. During this class, I will be making entries in my blog as part of different assignments. I am hoping to keep this blog up for many years to come!
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