WEEK #12: Videos

WHAT:

We talked about all the great things that can come from video sources such as YouTube and TeacherTube.

SO WHAT:

YouTube is something that I know I will use a lot in my life. It quick easy access to a countless number of videos. I can find videos for school homework, presentations, or even for personal enjoyment.

I can use YouTube and TeacherTube when I'm a teacher. I can use if to find educational videos. I think that using the fun educational videos like School House Rock or Mr. Duey's videos can help bring excitement to some of the more boring subjects. And then the concept is put to a song it makes it easier for the kids to remember.

NOW WHAT:

Now that I know all of the great things that videos can do for a classroom, I need to find more. I can search these websites for videos that will teach different subject matters and make a list of them. Then when I'm a teacher and I need something to spice up the subject of math, history, etc I can simply just refer to the list of videos.

Also I need to continue practicing with splicing videos. I get the general idea of how to do it but I need more practice so I don't forget. I can then splice all the videos that I wrote down and burn it onto a CD or save it to my computer so that I'll never lose it if the link gets deleted or something.

And last but not least I can look for videos that are simulations. The simulations are a fun way to learn and can make learning more interesting. Rather then just lecturing to your students all day you can teach them with simulations that teach about rain forests, under the sea space, etc. You can even take them somewhere like Space Camp that allows them to not only see the simulations but actually be able to act it out and feel like they are a part of it. I think that this can be some of the best ways to learn!

VIDEO:

The video demonstrates all the great things that we are now capable to do on our phones. I think its amazing how you are now able to check e-mail, use a GPS, listen to music, watch TV, etc all on your phone. Its great how far technology has come, but at the same time there are consequences. Now that a simple phone can do almost everything people are constantly on them. People are on their phones while driving, trying to check out at a register, in class, etc. I think technology is great and the potential it has is incredible. But if people don't become more careful and realize how much they relying on technology, then people are going to start forget how to function as actual real live living human beings because they will be to caught up in their world of technology.

WEEK #11: Podcast/Vidcast

WHAT:

This week we talked about what podcasts and vidcasts are and why they can be useful.

SO WHAT:

Podcasts are neat because I can use them for many things. My biology teacher posts his lectures as podcasts. Now that I actually know what a podcast is I can listen to any lectures that I have missed. Also it can possibly be a great way to research things (assuming that you find it from a creditable source). If I have the option to listen to a research article, rather then read it, I think I would get more out of it. I am the type of person who looks at the words and my eyes move back and forth, but I don't actually read and comprehend the words, so this could be very helpful to me.

Vidcast are great for many of the same reasons as podcasts. With research and learning I definitely would get much more out of it if I could not only hear it, but see it. You could even use vidcasts as a way to do a presentation. You could get together with your group and make a video of some sort and then publish it on line. I have learned that there are endless possibilities.

NOW WHAT:

Now that I have a small understanding of what podcasts and vidcasts are, I need to continue using them to strengthen that understanding. I need to learn the ins and outs and find all the great benefits and tools that it offers.

Vidcasts and podcasts are things that I could use in my classroom as a future teacher. I could use them to explain instructions for students who might have been absent that day, to record field trips or class activities that the kids might want to remember, etc. Like I said before, the sky is the limit!

VIDEO:

I agree with the video that blogging in the classroom can be a great idea. The video mentioned many great reasons why you should blog in the classroom, but my favorite were when it said that it extends the walls of the classroom, gives students a voice, and gives them an audience. Students can develops a better understanding of who they are by writing. It also gives them a safe way to express themselves. Another reason that blogging could be a good idea is that you can give the parents the link to their students blog and that way they can hear in their child's words what they learned today, how they feel about certain things in life, etc. It will give them a chance to learn and hear from their child about things they probably never would have thought to ask them about. In a nut shell, it opens the door for many new possibilities.

WEEK #10: PowerPoint Activities

WHAT:

We discovered the different PowerPoint Activities that the "50 Quick & Easy PowerPoint Activities" book offered.

SO WHAT:

I think that this can be helpful to me as a student because I can use it to make lesson plans for my classes more fun. Also they activity book has quick easy PowerPoints that are fun.

Also I can use it not just in my education classes, but also in my general classes. I can use it when i have to do presentations. Obviously I will have to tweak it to make it more age and curriculum appropriate. But I can use the general idea and make it work for me to make the presentation fun.

NOW WHAT:

Now i need to continue looking though the book and find some that I like. Once I have some that I like I should make them and see if I like that and if they could actually work in a classroom. I think that once I make them and practice with them and it will allow my creative juices to flow and I will be able to come up with my own.

Also I can have my students learn about PowerPoints and how to make one. The PowerPoints in the book are very user friendly and they have simple step by step instructions. I can have them choose from a couple of PowerPoints and have them create one. There are many possibilities!!!

VIDEO:

I loved this video as much the second time as I did the fist time. You were right, it was a great way to help me feel re-motivated and become focused again. It's a good reminder that EVERYTHING that I am doing to prepare to become a teacher all comes down to the fact that I'm doing it for the kids. I need to remember that!!!

WEEK #9: Picasa...again : D

WHAT:

We played with Picasa this week and discussed some of the different things that can be done with it.

SO WHAT:

Like I said last week, Picasa is something that I am very excited about. .I am all about photography and exploring the cool affects you can create on your digital photography. Picasa offers a lot of these tools and affects that I can use to edit and make my pictures more fun.

Picasa can also be used in my schooling right now and also once I become a teacher. I can use it to edit pictures for presentations and slide shows. Not only does it let you edit pictures, but you can also set up on-line albums, slide shows, head shots, and SO much more. Basically I think we are learning it to make our digital lives easier.

NOW WHAT:

I feel like I have so much more that I can learn about Picasa. I just need to keep practicing with it to be able to obtain that first had experience. By practicing not only will I get better at editing my pictures but also and finding new tools and techniques that the program offers. That way I will be able to truly know the program so I can teach it/use it in my classroom when I become a teacher.

I know there are countless things I can use Picasa for once I learn it. I could use it to do head shots of my class, make a collage or slideshow for my desktop that has my students faces on it, make name tags with their pictures on it so I can learn the students names and they can learn each others, and so much more. The thing I really just need to do now is continue using it and practicing with it so I can truly take advantage of all that it offers.

VIDEO RESPONSE:

None. Commented on it last week.

WEEK #8: Picasa

WHAT:

Because we didn't have an actual lesson on Picasa we were supposed to play around on it and get a feel for it. I think the reason we are supposed to get to know Picasa is because it can be a one stop spot for all of our digital picture needs.

SO WHAT:

Picasa is something that I am very excited about. I love taking pictures. So learning the cools Picasa offers and how they can affect my pictures is really neat. I like how there is the "I'm feeling lucky" button for quick fixes, but then you also have the option of going in and editing bits and pieces of detail. It will be helpful and fun to continue playing with.

I can also use Picasa when doing presentations as a student or slide shows as a teacher. Not only does it let you edit pictures, but you can also set up on-line albums and slide shows. Basically I think we are learning it to make our digital lives easier.

NOW WHAT:

I feel like I have only touched the surface of Picasa. I'm sure there are endless things I can learn and find on it. What I need to do is continue to play with it. I should switch to using it as my editing photographs program. That way I will obtain first hand experience with it and be able to teach it to others, like my future students.

I had a lot of fun last week when we were learning about using digital cameras in the classroom. That idea was very appealing to me and I think I could come up with some fun lesson plans using it. As I go through the education program and have to write these lesson plans I will make sure I have the students use Picasa to edit the pictures. I feel like Picasa is a safe and fairly simple program to use, so I think it would be great the use in the classroom.

VIDEO RESPONSE:

http://teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=6102&title=How_NOT_To_Use_PowerPoint

I loved this video! I love when people teach but having fun. Not only was the video fun and funny to watch it made great points. There are things I found that I need to work on. I am one of those people who like to have everything I am going to say on the powerpoint. It makes sense how that could be very boring and could make for a long powerpoint. This is something that I really need to improve on before becoming a teacher. If my powerpoints are word for word what my slides say it will be very dry and the students wont learn anything. I need to remember to use powerpoints a a way to show the dry skeleton of what I want to teach, and use that skeleton as a guide to add detail and elaborate.

WEEK #7: Digital Cameras

WHAT?

In class we discussed digital cameras and how they can be used in the classroom.

SO WHAT?

I think we are learning how to use digital cameras and how we can use them in the classroom for many reasons. First off there is the obvious reason which is to teach your students how to use them and the endless possibilities they offer. Also in a way I think it is taking education to the next level. It seems like the world today is becoming so dependent on the technology aspect of things. This allows the students to embrace the education this new technology crazy but to still be creative and think independently while they do it.

I can even use digital cameras in the school work I am doing right now. I can use it to make my presentations and homework assignments more fun. Also after researching web sites that talk about using digital cameras in the classroom, i have many new ideas. Also, while going through the elementary education program I can make my lessons plans fun and creative .

NOW WHAT?

If I choose to incorporate digital cameras into my future classrooms it could be a lot of fun. It will allow the students to think in a more creative way. To learn how to use this new technology. And to have them think outside the box on assignments. Also I think it will be very beneficial to students who are visual or hands on learners.

It will be good for me as a teacher also. I can use it to make my presentations more fun, to relate curriculum to real life things, and to not have to worry about copy right issues that I might run into when using someone else's photographs.

VIDEO REFLECTION:

Honestly I really didn't like video. It seems loud, chaotic, and unimportant. I'm not really sure what we were supposed to get out of it and comment on. I think the point we are supposed to get from it is seeing the creative things you can do with technology. In that regards its true, there was a lot of talent that was put into making that video. However I honestly don't see what this has to do with digital cameras or teaching.

WEEK #6: Internet Safety

WHY WE SHOULD USE THE INTERNET IN OUR CLASSROOMS:

-Using the internet in the classroom is a benefit for both the teachers and the students. It benefits the teachers in that is it a quick resource, they have access to lesson plans, it allows them to collaborate, and much more. It is great for the students because it helps them learn deductive reasoning by have to filter through the hundreds of links brought up by one search. It also is a quick resource they can use to answer basically any question they have.

WHY WE SHOULD EVALUATE THE SITES WE USE:

-We should evaluate each site we use so that we can make sure that the information we are presenting/teaching is accurate and creditable. We also need to make sure the content is safe for the students to be viewing.

THE QUESTIONS YOU WOULD ASK YOURSELF WHEN EVALUATING A SITE:

-Who wrote it and are they an expert?

-What is the author’s purpose for this site?

-When was the site created and last updated?

-Where does the information come from? Is there a link or information about where I can look up this information for myself?

-Why is the information that I found useful for my purpose?

-What organization is the author affiliated with?

-Is the content easy to find, read, and process? Is the spelling and grammar correct?

WAYS YOU CAN KEEP YOUR STUDENTS SAFE WHILE SEARCHING:

-I could try to keep my students same in many ways. I can give them specific sites to view and use for research that I have previously viewed and made sure are safe. If a students wants to access a website that I have not approved they can tell me which website it is and I can then view it and determine whether it is safe or not. But most of all if i educate my students on how to prevent getting into an unsafe situation and what to do if they do get into one of these situations, that is where I will have the most success in keeping them safe.

WEBSITES I COUL USE TO TEACH MY FUTURE STUDENTS:

- http://web.ebscohost.com/srck5/search?vid=1&hid=102&sid=442768d7-0bc4-4245-ac72-ead37b054360%40sessionmgr110

- http://web.ebscohost.com/sas/search?vid=1&hid=102&sid=63dc84fb-4a38-4dbb-8b12-0ab3e0ee6464%40sessionmgr110

- http://www.worldbookonline.com/student/home?null&gr=Welcome+Utah+Education+Network

- http://discoverer.prod.sirs.com/discoweb/disco/do/frontpage

- http://sks.sirs.com/cgi-bin/hst-portal-res?id=SUT0568-0-6007

VIDEO RESPONSE:

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=9965&title=Internet_Safety_Movie

I think this would be a good video to show in your class. I feel it is less cutesy, and would a good reminder for the upper grade levels in elementary. I felt that all of the rules they gave were good. However, I think the very best part is when it said that the parents need to be aware of what their children are doing on the internet. If the parent knows what the child is doing on the internet I feel the child will be less likely to come across something that they shouldn't. Also if the parent knows who the child is talking to or what website they are on, if something happens the parent now knows where it happened and can try to take care of the problem permanently.