Entry #12 Powerpoint Lesson On Using Facebook as an Educational Tool

I decided to create a Power Point presentation on how Facebook, could be used in the classroom. I was fascinated, to see that, Facebook can be utilized as a learning tool. It's all the rage with everyone these days and I thought I would share it's functionality. I think, when used appropriately, it could lend itself to being a good educational tool. One that will motivate students to learn and feel they can relate to the lesson, because they are using it already. I enjoyed this lesson the best, because I was able to use some of the skills I learned in previous assignments. The Web has definately changed the world as we know it. For the better, I think. Check out the following link that gives you information on using Facebook in the classroom.
100 Ways you should be using Facebbok in Your Classroom 
http://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/20/100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-your-classroom/

I also found a YouTube video on how to setup a course group in Facebook for use in the classroom.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1QYOoCG_zbAhttp://www.onlinecollege.org/2009/10/20/100-ways-you-should-be-using-facebook-in-your-classroom/

Entry #11 Ahhhhh! ,"Power Point"

I think it’s great that students as early as, first grade are using Power Point to do hw assignments, projects or presentations. The advantages or disadvantages of using any tech tool, are based on what you will be using that tool for. I remember taking a speech course in college and power point was not part of it. We were taught the traditional way of making speeches learning the content of what you were going to be speaking about, looking at your audience, and using note cards as a reference to remind you of what came next. I think there were a few glitches with that system. Loosing your place for one. This was a speech course, that taught me tricks on doing presentations. The existence of Power Point, has facilitated the ability for many to speak in front of a crowd. People become comfortable speaking in front of people through experience, yet for some this may be easier than for others. Power Point  can be used for more than just keeping you from loosing you place during a speech.  It could build a students confidence, when presenting, especially those with pragmatic issues. Power Point is a great tool, and I think it helps students reinforce what they are learning. To incorporate videos into your presentation, I think adds, to it’s value and keeps your audience in tune. PP in the classroom isn’t just for entertainment, but rather to teach and educate. There are advantages and some disadvantages when using PP. I guess educators need to use different methods to see what works best for their students. I’ve had teachers use a combination of podcasts, PP and lectures and I find that to be more interesting. I think it is difficult and time consuming for teachers to be so creative, yet for some using a PP, with no creativity may be the easy way out. We can argue either way on the advantages or disadvantages of PP, but there are many factors that need to be considered by teachers before they implement PP in the classroom.

Advantages

• Using “Active Learning” or “Student Centered Learning” strategies in the classroom, for subjects such as History
• PP can help develop literacy by promoting discussion through pictures.
• Simplicity of use
• Teachers need to organize their slides, and take advantage of PP notes feature.
• Some people learn better from pictures and letters, than from words alone. When words are near pictures and there is no extraneous information nearby to distract them.
• Using pictures with content, is only necessary when the material is very difficult or students need help understanding the topic.
• Put main topics on slide then elaborate main points in lecture.
• If you have two lectures that are similar in set up, try delivering one with a PowerPoint presentation and one without. Give a quiz at the end of each class and compare the results. You can easily compare other types of PowerPoint presentations side by side. Try teaching with a slideshow that incorporates graphics and images, then use a slideshow without such visual elements.
• The everyday chalk board way, may not work for every student.
• Teachers can vary techniques for a better learning experience.
• Using PP in the classroom, is away of interacting with today’s youth and their technology world, because it is what interest them.
• Using PP can help get students to pay attention.

Disadvantages

• Teachers have to learn how to use PP to teach their students and keep them interested.
• PP is time consuming.
• Having technological access and usage of such tools in classroom and elsewhere.
• Teachers use PP as a crutch when lecturing.
• Students may feel ignored when instructors are more focused on the PP presentation.
• Limited technical ability of staff equates to wasting of teaching time in a classroom.
• Students may get frustrated with PP with two much animationg is distracting.
• Students may be insulted that teacher needs to read every slide for them.
• Poor presentation skills, and lack of technological use.
• Reading slides and not getting to the point.
• Not having classroom discussion.

Entry# 10 Screencast (Jing Project), Podcast and Videos In Education

Jing, Oh Joy!!

I would envision myself using Jing Project in the classroom. I think it’s a great tool to provide students with, an additional resource to completing assignments. I enjoyed viewing the Jing presentations in this course and they have helped reduce any anxiety over how to do any future assignments. I think using these types of tools help students reinforce what they have learned in the classroom. Especially, students who are auditory/visual learner’s and for those students that require additonal instruction.


Podcasts
I went to Itunes and examined the different podcasts available. There were ones on learning to speak German, Sesame Street, Yoga journals and Drum lessons. All free. I think it’s just such a great resource to have available and portable. There are no excuses for not being able to learn how to do just about anything. Pretty amazing. The education podcast service was also interesting to note how there were people providing podcasts from all over the world.
The willow web podcasts,we had as an assignment, I enjoyed the most. I believe it is a great way to build students self esteem and confidence. What a great accomplishment, for these students to feel and what a great way to reinforce learning and help them improve their reading skills. It must be very exciting for them to hear themselves after doing a project.I listened to a willow #33 podcast by second grade students on amazing artist they learned about during their studies.I think, podcasting is great, and adds to the learning experience in the classroom.

I found a website that discussed using Podcasts as a lesson in the classroom. Teachers are using Podcasts for student produced newspapers and television shows. Others are using the medium to reproduce lessons for absent students or for students to present oral presentations of reports and assignments.

A podcast is the method of distributing multimedia files, such as audio or video programs, over the internet using syndication feeds, for playback on mobile devices and pc's. These podcasts files can contain audio or video, but also can be images, text,PDF, or any file type. When a user subcribes to a podcast, the podcatcher, automatically downloads media files to the user's computer whenever that computer is connected to the network.

Videos In Education
The web has improved the way videos are used in the classroom, because they are readily available, accessible, and convenient. I think as an educator it is great to have these resources available. There is such a plethora of videos that can be used for educational purposes. Recently, I took and ASL class, and was able to go to You Tube to reinforce how to sign the alphabet. In addition, to being able to visit ASL sites and view the videos they offered on sign language. I would use videos in the classroom. I think they give the student, especially the visual learner,auditory learner, and students with various learning disabilities, a different perspective, incentive for learning and an opportunity to become engaged in the subject matter at hand. In my research, I found an article on using descriptive video to enhance writing, which I thought was very interesting. The article discussed, how viewing films can supplement the curriculum and children are able to apply many of the strategies they use while reading.

I also found a website that discussed how video is an instructional medium that generates excitement and provides students a hands on learning experience. How video is the perfect medium for auditory or visual learners. This article, suggest that the more interactive a lesson, the more students will enjoy it, learn and retain the information from the lesson.
 Video is the technology that captures moving images electronically. The difference between, podcasts and videos, is that with podcasts there are RSS feeds that update the podcast users.

My son is currently creating presentations on his computer with videos incorporated in them for classroom projects. He is always very excited to do his homework and to show off what he has created. I am very happy to see that these tools can motivate him to learn.

Entry #9 Do Web 2.0"s Keep Us Organized In The Classroom & Favorite Web 2.0 Tools

I think any tools that could help with organization in a classroom would benefit the teacher, as well as, students. I found a great website that has tools listed that will help you with tasks such as note-taking, bookmarking websites, highlighting important text during online research, creating mind maps, tracking time, keeping up with appointments, collaborating with others, managing projects, and more. I like the idea of using Flickr, for creating presentations and slide shows, having virtual field trips, illustrating poetry, documenting schoolwork, and teaching geography by integrating it with Google Earth. In addition, to being able to connect to people from around the world. Just think how beneficial, these tools can be for students who are visual learners. One of the things that I noticed about these tools, that I believe to be advantageous, is that of being able to connect with other people from around the world. Like Facebook or Twitter, we are able to share information and pictures on a global level. Proper usage of these tools can help classrooms become more efficient too, by having easy access to information that normally would require more time to consolidate.


· http://www.online-college-blog.com/index.php/tips-and-tools/100-powerful-web-tools-to-organize-your-thoughts-and-ideas/

· Web 2.0 in the classroom http://prezi.com/obqzirjhtf-q/web-20-in-the-classroom/

Favorite Web 2.0 Tools To Date

I love my Facebook account, at first, I wasn’t so sure about the idea of letting people know my personal business or giving them a play by play of my daily life. However, I must admit that I enjoy knowing about what’s going on with my distant relatives and my friends. Through Facebook, I have been able to reconnect with friends and relatives that I have not seen or heard from in over twenty years.

If Facebook was to be used in a classroom, I think like everything else, there would need to be rules and expectations set. In addition, to implementing some type of Facebook Etiquette. I know this may be easier said then done, and there maybe other professional tools out there that could be used. But, students are using Facebook quite a bit. I could see how it would be a good communication tool for students and parents. In addition to connecting with students, teachers could create and online grade book and continue classroom discussion to supplement learning. It would be a good way of helping sick students catch up on work they've missed and in class assignments. Teachers could create a group to generate ongoing discussion of a lecture that was cut short at the end of 50mins. Making it a required part of class. Students spend alot of time on the internet, anyway, why not make it productive. Besides, they would probably welcome this new way to fulfill class requirements by doing somthing they like. It would be a way for teachers to make learning fun and exciting for their students.



I think parent’s would appreciate tweets or Facebook feeds about certain things done in the classroom. I think this type of communication has not caught on in the classroom, but I think in the near future, it will be seen as a more efficient way of communicating. As we know, part of the issue is that not everyone at this point has the technology know how, or technology tools to go about implementing them in the classroom. It is a sign of the times and the more we use something, the more commonplace it will become. Teachers may not have time, now to “Twitter”, but eventually, I think as they use these tools more and become more familiar with them it will be a more efficient way of communicating.



Everyone is so busy these days, I think we need to prioritize and make time for things that may be benefit everyone in the end. I am big on trying new things, out with the old and in with the new. I have a friend who just took a trip cross country and twitters his whereabouts and the different sites he visits. I love getting the “tweets”, it is so interesting to learn and live through his experiences. Look at all the paper we are still using, when clearly we are able to communicate without it, through email, websites or blogs. I get automated phone calls about MCAS from my kid's school, which are great, but guess what, if I don’t write info down, I will forget. Where as, if I had an email, I could refer back to the email.



I think if teachers had at minimum a site, that would lend itself to posting information about assignments, lessons etc. it would make their life easier and that of their students and parents. I think as educators we should embrace technology. I do not know how much time people spend on computers or some type of communication device, but it has to be quite significant. I think parents, that travel for work purposes, would appreciate being able to access or get info about their kids and be informed. I also believe that it could be a way of holding students accountable. If they know their parents know what is going on in the classroom, they would be more apt to doing their work, then waiting until last minute or not doing it at all. I think it’s important for parents to stay inform about their children’s education.



As far as, educational merit, for Delicious, I think it ise a great tool for accessing bookmarks that I usually wouldn’t have access to without my laptop. As well as, other bookmarks, that may be of interest to me and other educators. I think Library Thing, can also be useful to teachers and enables them to share info about their favorite books and that of others. I love the idea of incorporating pictures into lessons in the classroom, which Flickr enables you to do. Like the saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words”, I think this type of technology lends itself for students to be more engaged and interested in the subject matter at hand.



Reply Print Email author

Entry #8 Web 2.0 and Wikis In The Classroom

I have used Wikipedia in the past. I think it’s a great resource for doing hw assignments and research projects. I did not realize that the information could be modified by anyone. However, I always look at various sources for gathering information to make sure that the information I have researched is accurate. What I like about Wikis, is that they provide students with an opportunity to collaborate what they learn,  “anything that adds to the learning experience”. “Encouraging students to contribute what they learn and know”. I believe we learn by doing.

Ultimately, wikis in the classroom provide a unique opportunity for collaborative learning, while there may be challenges in developing and hosting, there are significant opportunities for student engagement in the course material and for helping students appreciate a collaborative approach to learning.
Wikis can be used as collaborative tool for teachers or districts to collect and share information.

The “new web or Web 2.0 is a tool for bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter” “Experiential learning and engagement with the material increases learning”. When teaching core curriculum classes it is often a challenge to overcome apathy and disconnect”.


It has opened the door for exchange of ideas and information and provided us with the opportunity to do it on a global level. Unfortunately, within education is where we need to close the technological gap that exists and as such we need to educate our students on how to utilize it's potential for learning. My definition and the websites and articles I found clearly speak to Web 2.0's potential, especially in the classroom. That of collaborating and exchanging information for educational purposes. They clearly speak to the issues that are associated with why there is stiil a gap in using technology and how we can go about closing it. I think Web 2.0 has revolutionized the way we communicate and share information. As proven through our use of Facebook, twitter, you tube etc... In my ABA class, we used You Tube quite a bit for doing exercises within the classroom, that allowed us the opportunity to use technology as a method for learning. Just as we are doing in this class.

Entry #6 & #7 Microsoft Word As A Valuable Educational Tool

MS Word can enhance a student’s productivity and make the learning environment more accessible. The specific features within Word, can be used as strategies to support writing skills. MS Word can help all students, especially those, with specific learning disabilities, such as Dysgraphia or written language disorders. The use of a word processor can improve writing skills, once they have learned keyboarding skills. They can edit their own work. It facilitates or reinforces skills and strategies learned. It can strengthen basic skills in decoding, comprehension and spelling. In reading, it takes the burden off decoding text, focuses on making connections and activating background knowledge, which aids with comprehension. In writing, it eliminates barriers that are language based, attention based, and executive function based. For spelling, it offers spelling and grammatical help and time efficiency. It supports the student’s strengths by facilitating time management, completion of assignments, note taking, studying for test, and writing research papers. MS Word, can be viewed as a multi-sensory tool. As always keeping in mind the individual needs of the student, are critical in its efficacy.

Entry # 5 Principles of Design

Spring is finally here! I hope everyone is enjoying this beautiful weather we're having.

I'm going to share what I leaned about the principles of design and how they impact newsletters and flyers. There are four principles and I don't mean to offend anyone, but the acronym the writer uses helps me to remember what they are.

Contrast or what makes a reader look at the page.
Repetition of the visual elements throughout the design.
Alignment or knowing there should be a visual connection with other elements of the page.
Proximity which indicates grouping similar items to make one visual unit that will help in developing a better end result.

I like that the principles interconnect, which makes it easier to remember to use all of them. I also liked William’s idea about not reinventing the wheel, but perfecting something or making it unique to your needs. I thought the book presented the information in an easy to use and an easy to remember format. I liked the examples in the book, especially, the do’s and don’t’s and the exercises at the end of the chapters which helped to pull everything together. I have always enjoyed putting presentations, flyers and exhibiting what I call my my creative side. In the past, I have used Print Shop Deluxe and Microsoft Publisher, which I found kind of, cumbersome to work with.

As far as, the Poynter.org tutorial goes, I enjoyed doing the different exercises, especially realizing how color affects our emotions. Only thing that came to mind was that of how every one’s perception is different and in some cases what may appeal to one person may not appeal to another. As in "Beauty is in the Eye of the Beholder"

Paper, Paper, and More Paper!!!

I know teachers feel the need to send home announcements via flyers, but lets face it, How many get read? However, as a parent I have to admit I don't always read all the flyers that come home. I'll tell you why?

There are various reasons for this. Sometime it's not having the time to read them and sometimes it's the quantity of flyers that come home. Although, the design or layouts of some are not exactly screaming, "READ ME"

Let's face it the ones I read, are the ones that spark my interest. Those brightly colored ones with the nice pictures and fonts. There's definately something to be said about creativity, while applying design principles would also help. Those black and white flyers are just boring and talk and sometimes the information is jumbled together, sort of TOO MUCH INFORMATION ON PAPER, who wants to or has the time to read all of it. I do realize that, not everyone designing them, has taken a course an is an expert at it. So, I guess, it is to be expected. Obviously, there should be some thought involved and that may be the issue.

As a teacher, I think if I wanted my flyers read, I would spend more time on the layout, yet this wouldn't hold any guarantees. I would try to make the flyers more engaging and readable. As parents, I think it's important to read the flyers to know what's going on. However, having something engaging or nicely layed out would make it easier, however, we should be reading everything that is sent home, regardless of how boring the layout. I know what you're thinking easier said than done. I know.

Personally, I think the flyer system, in my district, lost it's value along the way due to technology. For example, I think many parents may not read the flyers, because they don't believe the information is important enough. Any information that is important, is done through our connect ed system over the phone, even the PTO meeting reminders. Flyers may have been a more effective means in the past. Unfortunately, these days this disparity in how information is communicated, may have something to do with flyers not being read.
I think through the use of technology, there may be more effective ways of communicating information, but if you have to create flyers or newsletter, try to incorporate a system, where hopefully the readers will appreciate in the end.

Entry # 4 Web Design

How Exciting! This week I got to create my own web sites. It's still a work in progress and I hope to over time improve how it looks and make it more appealing. I did learn a lot this week about Web Design and how websites can be used in the classroom. Let me share some of my thoughts about websites in the classroom

                   Websites used in a classroom are becoming more popular these days. I don’t currently maintain a site for a classroom, but I could envision myself using one in the future. I think websites are important in a classroom, because they can be a great resource and beneficial, to teachers, students as well as, parents. Classroom websites are a great resource, but more importantly, maintaining the information on it, current and relevant to its users is just as important.  Maintaining a site with current and up to date information is essential for students and users to keep motivated and coming back to visit the site. In addition, to asking students, their opinion and having them offer feedback on information listed can help improve a site, while maintaining their interest, as well. Teachers can use websites in their classroom to enhance curriculum, through the use, of links, instruction for a unit, enhancement and support can be extended outside the classroom. When students are absent, they can have access to assignments, while also allowing students with special needs to feel included. Websites can also be a great way for parents to be connected and involved to other resources, such as parent organizations and general parenting information. Teachers sections can include links to teacher organizations, lesson plans, and management tools. Additional, sections, can provide resources for holidays, safe searches, computers in the classroom kids’ sites. I agree with the information I found that stated that "websites in the classroom, should be used, as a tool for enhancing education, not as a substitute for instruction"...

Here are some nice links on the subject:

Educationworld Teacher Created Websites Link Home and School
http://www.educationworld.com/a_tech/tech008.shtml
Using the Web to Enhance and Transform Education by Michael Hulme & Michael Locasto The ACM Student Magazine
www.acm.org/crossroads/xrds10-1/webedu.html

Welcome to my Blog!

Welcome to my Blog!

         So excited to finally be here among all my "BB's" (Blogging Buddies). I look forward to some good blogging with all of you. Hopefully, I won't bore you to death.

Maribel

Web Search Engines

      My experience with web search engines was somewhat limited until now. I usually, use google for everything and never really thought of using anything else. I thought using the different search engines was fairly easy. Being able to access the web can only enhance education within the classroom. Of course, proceed with caution and good planning must be exercised before accessing the web. There are filters for the web that can help in eliminating inappropriate sites. I think knowing there are other web search engines is important to the type of searches you are trying to do. In addition, to knowing how to critically evaluate websites. Part of website evaluation is to know the different websites URL’s and how they help to identify where the information is coming from. I try to remember to do, in identifying the typeof website I am accessing.
       I think it is important to know how to find good, factual informative sites, while recognizing the bad ones. In a school setting, it's even more important to use kid friendly licensed search engines such as Net trekker, to filter out those inappropriate sites. However, just as important is the use of a web site evaluation tool. One of the sites that I came across in my search on web site evaluation was from the University of California, Berkeley Library, which provided a series of techniques and helps you ask yourself a series of questions that will help you decide whether a webpage is to be trusted or not. This website can also be a great resource in teaching kids in the classroom how to navigate the web. Here is the link, check it out.
http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html

            When searching the web for information on "students use of periodical databases", "students use of the web", and "evaluation of web sites", I used three search engines: Hierarchical, Page indexer and Meta-engine. Strategies I incorporated into my searches were to keep the words simple, using the help feature for the different search engines as suggested, also offered additional advise, and information on searching techniques.

            The results for these searches varied from the topics in the licensed periodicals, because in the licensed periodicals the results were mainly documents and the results from the web, were tools and resources on how to do something. I do not think that I would have done anything differently, as I enjoyed trying the different search engines and using the help feature, which I never thought to do in the past. I did come across a website that I thought would be helpful for teachers on how to search for internet resources effectively. http://www.internet4classrooms.com/search.htm

Importance of Licensed Periodical Databases in the Classroom

             I think licensed periodicals in the classroom are very important for students. I think the earlier in a student’s school life you are exposed to licensed periodical databases the easier doing research papers and homework assignments will be for the student. Knowing how to do searches, while not brain surgery, is still critical to the success of locating what your looking for in the most efficient manner possible.


I was somewhat overwhelmed at first, going through the different periodical databases, but after a while became more comfortable at doing searches.

Apparently, there is a lot to know on the different databases available and what they are used for. I think it is important for teachers to be knowledgeable on this subject to be able to relay and teach their students effective ways of researching information.

It is also important for students, because website searching may not be a reliable resource and may require additional time for research.

When doing research it is important to have key words for your topic and remember that practice helps in becoming comfortable at searching for information. I also learned how important it is to know the different databases available for the topic being researched and how the results are affected.

Blah Blah Blah Blog...

     

             I believe educational blogs and RSS feeds can benefit teachers, students and parents in the classroom. I think it is a great tool, because it provides teachers with a way of communicating information on a particular subject. Blogs are also readily available and easy to use. I think blogs offer students a way of expressing themselves and can be used as a teaching tool in facilitating and providing instruction in the classroom and extending instruction outside the classroom. Through, the use of RSS feeds, teachers can personalize their blogs and can constantly, be updated on content specific to a subject efficiently, without having to spend time weeding through tons of information. In addition, having one location to collect students work and scanning through class content making sure it’s appropriate is more efficient. Blogs are also a way of motivating students and engaging them in learning. Blogs can be used as a way of reinforcing instruction, through the use of text, video and audio postings on a particular subject.

While researching about blogs in the classroom, I came across an article on “Using Blogs to Improve Differentiated Instruction” in the classroom. I found this to be of interest in that, it is a way for teachers to differentiate instruction for students with diverse needs. Specifically, how science teachers were able to provide high-quality differentiated science instruction for all students in the classroom. For example, a teacher of ELL students, students on IEP’s, and gifted and talented student’ s, in a class of 20 to 24 was able to differentiate instruction to help all the students learn high-level science content and develop the academic language skills necessary to effectively communicate science concepts. This was done by building units and lessons that were together with her colleagues.

Blogs allowed them to extend class time by providing teachers with a user-friendly online format to reinforce strategies, introduce new topics and concepts, review important class points, review for tests and provide enrichment. ELL students require additional support with the language of science and its pronunciation. Vodcasting is way for teachers to combine Power Point visuals and narration to review key points of class lessons then uploading these podcasts to the blog for access by teachers, students, parents, tutors, teacher specialists and even paraprofessionals.

I would definitely incorportate Blogs in the classroom. I knew blogs existed, but had no idea until now how beneficial they can be, especially from an educational standpoint. As we know, there are always risks involved in using the internet. However, as educators, parents, and professionals , we have a responsibility to educate ourselves and our students on the ethics “if you will” of blogging or using the internet appropriately.

When implementing blogs as part of a classroom, plans should be developed and that include careful monitoring. I think parental consent, wouldn’t hurt. Providing students with clear expectations on the blogs use is no different that setting expectations in a classroom for lessons, behavior etc… These however, should be determined before allowing students access to blogs. In addition, to not allowing, for links to other random web logs, which may display inappropriate content.

There are free and paid hosting services that can help in controlling posts, such as edublogs.org. It gives teachers the ability to set permissions, access and allows them to approve work before published. Lets face it, if you cannot maintain your blog, then theres no point in using it or having one.

In my research I came across this site that listed:

11 Reasons to use a Blog in your Classroom

1. It provides your students with a “live” audience.

2. The focus will be more on content (as opposed to form)

3. It provides extra reading practice for students.

4. Blogs can be used as online student learner journals

5. To guide students to online resources appropriate for their level.

6. Blogs can increase the sense of community in a class.

7. To encourage shy students to participate.

8. To create a space for pre-class or post-class discussion.

9. To encourage a process-writing approach.

10.As an online portfolio or even an archive of student written work.

11. To help build a closer relationship between students in large classes.