Post 10

Reviewing my classmates blogs was very helpful when I wasn't sure how to answer a certain question. Their blogs opened my mind to new ideas, and I found new websites as well as learned about new ways to use certain software. The most interesting post for me to read from other bloggers was the post about how to integrate audio-visual technology in the classroom. I learned about new technology other then the smart-board, new websites to use for movies other than you tube, and new methods of teaching rather than a plain lecture. I loved reading other people's writings. It was all very interesting and entertaining.

The next skill I would like to learn is how to use photoshop. I have a mac, and use iphoto, but I would love to learn about a new software that gives you more options for editing pictures and creating books. Pictures are a huge part of life and capturing the moment, and current technology on photo editing has made huge improvements to the quality of photographs. I think it is very interesting, and something everyone should learn.

To reach my future goals, I will probably have to take another type of computer class after eme2040 later on in life. I learned so much from this class, but there is so much more about excel and other programs that I would like to master. In order for me to fully understand how to use all of the programs I choose, a night time class would definitely help. Or maybe even a software program teaching how to use certain programs.

Post 9

A great tool that I believe all teachers should take advantage of is this website: http://www.suelebeau.com/freetools.htm. This site is absolutely amazing. It gives teachers free tools to make teaching a little easier. It is almost like cheating a little, but is extremely helpful when a teacher needs a quick fix, or draws a blank to a homework assignment. It is easy to use, very efficient, reliable, and has great outcomes! You have all different choices to choose from to aid you in creating a successful classroom.

Sue Lebeau is a website that lets teachers create questions, quizzes, exams, games, and multiple choose questions. All you have to do is type in the information, and it will literally generate questions for you to ask or put on a test if you can't come up with any. It will create an entire quiz or exam for you! It even makes multiple choice questions for you, and generates fun games for the classroom. It is the website any teacher would dream of. It is a great tool for teachers to use so their class is always productive.

Excel is a newly found program of mine, that I only know a little about. This past week in eme2040 was the very first time I ever used excel. It is useful, but I find it very confusing. I like how you can organize numbers, and how it does equations for you, but since I will be teaching an elementary level classroom, I doubt I will really be using it with my students. It is hard for me to understand, so the only way I could use it in elementary school, is to create charts on it for the kids to see, and use it for calculating grades for myself.

Post 8

The powerpoint two assignment was a very fun and exciting project. I chose a theme for each slide to make it aesthetically pleasing, and made my powerpoint a Jeopardy game. The topic of the game was Animal Trivia. I tried to keep each slide very simple. There isn't too much text, and the text is a nice large size and bolded. There is a heading on each slide, with a question or answer about mammals, insects, or reptiles. There are 100 level questions, and 200 level questions for each type of animal. I inserted buttons to link the slides back to the game-board and to the answer slides. It is extremely easy and efficient.

Non computer audio visuals I plan to use in my classroom are movies related to the topic I am teaching, informative documentaries, and clips from history or discovery channel. I have found all of these to be extremely useful in class. My teachers have used them, they are entertaining, they give students a break from lecture and writing notes, and give useful information. For example, if learning about the ocean, I would show Finding Nemo. If learning about Tsunamis I would show the discovery channel. If learning about Christopher Columbus I would show the History Channel.

I think that using buttons on powerpoint slides and being able to link them is going to be extremely useful when teaching my class. It is great for any type of game, or just a regular powerpoint. I know I will be using many different activities on powerpoint that involve linking slides and inserting buttons, as these games and activities help the students learn. It is great for a lesson review or study session.

Post 7

Since I aspire to be an elementary level teacher, I can think of numerous advantages of using presentation software in a k-12 classroom. Most students find it easier to learn when the teacher is teaching about a topic that is presented to them in a more elaborate way then just a lecture. Images are extremely helpful when learning new skills, and a powerpoint is also more entertaining and engaging then a boring teacher at the front of the room. Students love when the information they need to write down in their notes is there for them on the screen, rathe then trying to capture the teachers every word. The only disadvantage would be those learners who are less visual and comprehend more through a lecture. Also, sometimes power-points can be distracting to learning, and the student will often be copying down notes and not listening to the teachers actual lesson.

I would use powerpoint to support student learning by putting my lectures into an effective slideshow. I will use images, sounds, and animations to engage my students. I will put only a few bullets on each slide, so the students don't have too much to write and have more time to listen to my lesson. The font will be in a legible color and font as well as a large size. I find that hyperlinks to websites that give more information or examples are helpful and will add at least 3 of those. I will include movie clips, and any other relative and interesting material related to my lesson.

My only concern would be the amount of usage of technology used in the classrooms. Yes, these new technologies complement learning and are extremely effective, but there is a problem of technology taking over our lives. I am worried that teachers will forget about their teaching skills of lecture and hands on activities, and revert primarily to technology. It is helpful, but there is a limit to everything. Just like everything else, technology should be used in moderation. 

post #6

1) I am not the biggest fan of web 2.0. I definitely think it is cool and useful, but for what I plan on doing with my students it will be to advanced. Even I found it a little confusing. I like being able to share information with others, but it wasn't as easy and efficient as I would have hoped. It is great for an older student working on a big project together/

2) Even though your teachers always say refrain from using Wikipedia as a source of information, for some reason, students continue to go to that website. Yes, the information can be altered and not 100% accurate, but most of the time it is very useful. I agree with teachers not wanting it to be a students only source, but for quick learning it is a great tool. It is the first link to come up when you google something, so most of the time that is where we look. I have always found legitimate, useful information on Wikipedia.

3) Last week I actually learned a lot about constructing a PowerPoint than I did before. I use and make power-points all the time in every class I take. I always make them the same, simple way. I learned how to make transitions, use animations, sounds, clips, and themes. I only knew how to change the format and font. Now my power point presentations are full of entertaining and useful information and entertainment. I thought it was most useful to learn how to use a theme with different slide layouts to change it up a little. Inserting pictures made the PowerPoint much more enjoyable. The last thing I learned that I never knew before was the speaker notes. I always say them at the bottom of the page but never knew what they were. You type what you want to say to the class and it doesn't show up on the PowerPoint. I learned so many new, great tools for making the best PowerPoint possible.

Post #5

My views on the Internet are nothing but exceptional and substantial. It is a fast, efficient and easy way to learn and research information. You can basically find anything you want by using a search engine on the Internet. I use it everyday , multiple times a day. It is useful for your own personal curiosities and enjoyment. It is useful in school for a variety of assignments and research papers or projects. The only time I would say it isn't useful is when you have to do an assignment of your own opinions. I isn't useful when you copy and paste information without learning, and when using illegitimate sources and finding out wrong information. Plagiarism is the biggest downfall to using the Internet, but the cons outweigh the pros when it comes to the beneficial uses of the Internet.

To support web based learning, I would assign a lot of work on the computer. I would have students research a new and different topic every week, assign a research paper, and design a project where surfing the Internet is necessary. For a research paper, I would have them use google as their primary search engine, but navigate away from Wikipedia as it often give false information. Any .edu, .net, or .org will be acceptable and required for papers and projects. One resource I would like for my students to take advantage of would be the online dictionary and thesaurus. I find myself using that every day in bettering my vocabulary and papers. 

The grade level of my students will be from kindergarten to 5th grade. I do love and use the Internet frequently, but since we are becoming more and more reliable on computers, I am afraid by the time I start teaching it, the students will no more than I do. Sometimes I get confused with complex computer programs and I am concerned that it will be sometimes a test for myself to show the students how to use certain tools. 

post #4

The concepts in chapter seven opened my eyes to new ways of sorting information, studying, and presenting ideas. Outlines are already such a huge part of my life, but then taking the information from the outline and making it into an idea map is a great way to study. I can make myself a quiz, make someone else a quiz, and learn off of it. Storyboards are a more elaborate way of sorting the information from the idea map and is also very helpful. I plan on using the computer as my most reliable source of technology. I construct my outlines and maps on MS Word. 

I would require my students to construct an idea map so they can become familiar with how to make them, how useful they are, and how they are a great study tool. I would give them an outline or summary of a subject, and have them create a map out of it. Or, for a quiz I could have them fill in the blanks. I use outline almost everyday in all of my classes. It is so important for students to learn early on how to make a clean cut informative outline. It is a great way to stay organized and learn material. I would require them to outline a chapter and use that as their study guide. After they master the idea map, I would have them do a storyboard for a more challenging assignment. All of these concepts are very helpful and used in a students everyday life.

In the last week I learned more about outlines, knowing how to find good websites and research, and inspiration. I plan on teaching my students about how you identify a legitimate website vs a non-legitimate source. I hope to learn more about inspiration, as I am new to it and never heard about it before. I can see it being very useful in the classroom. Mail merge is also still very new to me. That is something every teacher should learn how to do. It is easy, necessary, and efficient.