My online technology class is nearing the end, I have accomplished so much this semester that I am proud of. This past week our assignment was to create our own functioning web page, or Web Quest, for classroom instruction. We were able to chose any topic we wanted, and it was our job to put together a user friendly web site for our students to access and complete the assignments listed on our site. I used the free web site maker Weebly to create my site. I chose science for my content area, and made it all about frogs. I titled it Fun Frog Facts. You can click here to check it out for yourself: http://funfrogfacts.weebly.com/
The students were to act as herpetologists for one week and research six different types of frogs, as well as play a frog game and make a frog poster on the web site Glogster. Throughout my web site were links for the students to click on to access information about the different types of frogs, as well as videos of different kinds of frogs and tadpoles for the children to access and watch. I also created a rubric to clearly explain the expectations for the project I created. Throughout the week the students were to keep a frog journal of all of the assignments as they completed them, and at the end of the week they were to present a new breed of frog that they had researched to the class.
I am so glad that I now have the knowledge to do many of the things I have heard people talk about when it comes to technology. I was so intimidated before this class by the mention of creating projects on the web, but I have the confidence now to tackle an online project such as creating a web site, wiki, movie, or yes, even my own blog!
Sunday, April 10, 2011
Monday, March 28, 2011
Moving Ahead!
It has been a busy semester and I have learned how to do many things on the computer through this technology class. I was concerned as to how much I would be able to successfully complete in this course, and I have been pleasantly surprised to have been able to complete all of my projects. I have learned about so many tools and resources on the computer and internet that I can utilize once I have a classroom of my own and I am excited to implement them soon.
One of our recent projects was to create a movie to be used for instruction in the classroom. After completion of the project we were then to upload it to YouTube for viewing from our instructor. I chose to make my movie about shapes for elementary grades. I downloaded pictures and music from the internet and created files for them. I then accessed the Movie Maker program on my computer to put all of the pieces together to create the video. It came together nicely, and it was not as difficult as I had thought it would be. You can click on the following link to view it yourself! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RH6ZVdauqg
Another recent project we completed was a Wiki page about two different types of technology that we can implement into our classrooms as teachers. The two I chose to critique were Pixton For Schools and Virtual Field Trips. I created three wiki pages; a title page and a page for each of my two critiques, and gave a short summary of each technology and the pros and cons of each. I then logged into the Wiki pages after everyone had submitted their summaries, and commented on their postings. It was so interesting to learn about all of the tools and options out there in cyber space for teachers and students.One of my favorites was Glog which is a site in which students can create a virtual poster board or photo collage project. Children can have a lot of fun and use their creativity to make a personalized project, and the best part is, it's free. I never knew so much existed until this class! Check out my critiques at: http://beginningtoday.pbworks.com/w/page/37998662/Emerging-Technologies-Today
One of our recent projects was to create a movie to be used for instruction in the classroom. After completion of the project we were then to upload it to YouTube for viewing from our instructor. I chose to make my movie about shapes for elementary grades. I downloaded pictures and music from the internet and created files for them. I then accessed the Movie Maker program on my computer to put all of the pieces together to create the video. It came together nicely, and it was not as difficult as I had thought it would be. You can click on the following link to view it yourself! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9RH6ZVdauqg
Another recent project we completed was a Wiki page about two different types of technology that we can implement into our classrooms as teachers. The two I chose to critique were Pixton For Schools and Virtual Field Trips. I created three wiki pages; a title page and a page for each of my two critiques, and gave a short summary of each technology and the pros and cons of each. I then logged into the Wiki pages after everyone had submitted their summaries, and commented on their postings. It was so interesting to learn about all of the tools and options out there in cyber space for teachers and students.One of my favorites was Glog which is a site in which students can create a virtual poster board or photo collage project. Children can have a lot of fun and use their creativity to make a personalized project, and the best part is, it's free. I never knew so much existed until this class! Check out my critiques at: http://beginningtoday.pbworks.com/w/page/37998662/Emerging-Technologies-Today
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Halfway There!
I am about halfway through my Instructional Technology class at Ashland University, and it has been quite a learning experience! I have learned how to do things on the computer that even my teen aged daughters don't know how to do, and that says a lot! Before this class began, I was quite intimidated by the computer but I am gaining confidence with every project that I complete.
We have completed quite a few projects so far such as setting up a form in Google Docs to create a spreadsheet that can automatically calculate students grades, along with learning about Google Forms in which you can create a quiz or questionnaire for students and parents. It was fun to learn how to use it because you can customize it any way you want. There are many colorful designs and formats to chose from to make it interesting for your students.
Last week we completed a Power Point assignment and we had to incorporate 5 functional non-linear links. Before this assignment, I had no idea what that even meant, but now I have the confidence to put together a Power Point presentation that is fully interactive and interesting. I am so glad that I have gained this knowledge because I will be able to incorporate it into my classroom presentations when I have a class of my own someday soon. I am currently a preschool teacher, so I do not have a lot of experience with using technology in the classroom, but I know when I begin teaching in a public school, I will have the opportunity to use it more and use it to it's fullest capacity.
Our next project will be a Movie URL and I'm anxious to learn more about it and what it can be used for. I know that this course will give me the experience and confidence I need to incorporate technology into the classroom and with this knowledge I will be able to engage my children through the creative things that I have learned how to do.
We have completed quite a few projects so far such as setting up a form in Google Docs to create a spreadsheet that can automatically calculate students grades, along with learning about Google Forms in which you can create a quiz or questionnaire for students and parents. It was fun to learn how to use it because you can customize it any way you want. There are many colorful designs and formats to chose from to make it interesting for your students.
Last week we completed a Power Point assignment and we had to incorporate 5 functional non-linear links. Before this assignment, I had no idea what that even meant, but now I have the confidence to put together a Power Point presentation that is fully interactive and interesting. I am so glad that I have gained this knowledge because I will be able to incorporate it into my classroom presentations when I have a class of my own someday soon. I am currently a preschool teacher, so I do not have a lot of experience with using technology in the classroom, but I know when I begin teaching in a public school, I will have the opportunity to use it more and use it to it's fullest capacity.
Our next project will be a Movie URL and I'm anxious to learn more about it and what it can be used for. I know that this course will give me the experience and confidence I need to incorporate technology into the classroom and with this knowledge I will be able to engage my children through the creative things that I have learned how to do.
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Just The Beginning
My name is Jennifer Brown and I am returning to college after 20 years to pursue my degree in elementary education. I obtained my associates degree in Early Childhood education after high school, and I have raised two daughters who are now 18 and 13 and I have decided now was the time to head back to school. I am currently teaching preschool at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, where I also supervise university students who are completing their required lab hours in the preschool. It has been quite challenging to juggle family, work, and school; but I know it will all pay off in the end!
This is my first blog...EVER, and I can't believe it was easier than I thought it would be! I know I have complained at times, but I am grateful to be taking this technology class. I have learned so many new things that I never thought I was capable of. I am grateful that I will be better prepared as a teacher because of the things that I am learning through this course. Our first project was the information portal, 2.0 URL used to create an information site for education. I must admit, I was lost at first, but as soon as I found the YouTube video tutorial, it was much smoother sailing. I was proud of myself for completing the assignment successfully, without help from anyone. The 2.0 URL is a wonderful tool, and makes organizing information on the web much easier.
Our second project was the word document newsletter which I found challenging as well. I have a lot of experience with Microsoft Publisher because it is what I use to create my preschool newsletter every week, but I have never created one using Microsoft Word. It was a little frustrating at first, but I stuck with it and got it finished. It is nice to know that if I ever need to create something again, I have the knowledge and experience because of this class.
This is my first blog...EVER, and I can't believe it was easier than I thought it would be! I know I have complained at times, but I am grateful to be taking this technology class. I have learned so many new things that I never thought I was capable of. I am grateful that I will be better prepared as a teacher because of the things that I am learning through this course. Our first project was the information portal, 2.0 URL used to create an information site for education. I must admit, I was lost at first, but as soon as I found the YouTube video tutorial, it was much smoother sailing. I was proud of myself for completing the assignment successfully, without help from anyone. The 2.0 URL is a wonderful tool, and makes organizing information on the web much easier.
Our second project was the word document newsletter which I found challenging as well. I have a lot of experience with Microsoft Publisher because it is what I use to create my preschool newsletter every week, but I have never created one using Microsoft Word. It was a little frustrating at first, but I stuck with it and got it finished. It is nice to know that if I ever need to create something again, I have the knowledge and experience because of this class.
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