Module 4 527

Wikispace

 

The amazing thing about wikispaces is that you, as an instructor, can create a closed environment for you and your students to work together on projects that you can bring to the entire class. “Wikis are a collection of web pages located in an online community that encourage collaboration and communication of ideas” (Roblyer & Doering, 223). One wikispace that I found structured correctly for a classroom dynamic is http://bhsenglish.wikispaces.com/summer_reading. Summer readings are essential for English teacher’s to jump starting their school year and connecting to new students through webbased learning. On their page they include an area designated for essential questions about the summer readings. When building an online resource the content should engage the student, “rather than presenting content to the learner, online content must purposefully and strategically engage the learner” (226). This is why when formatting an online space like Wikispace it is always important to think about the audience you are trying to engage.

Web-based Lesson

 

In my classroom I can see myself utilizing Electronic Penpals or "Keypals."  http://www.theteacherscorner.net/penpals/ is a perfect website for penpals, the teacher can designate the age group and what part of the world they want to communicate with. This would be considered a form of "Interpersonal exchange-- Students communicating via technology with other students of with teachers/experts" (239). I would give guideline to my students on what kind of content is appropriate to discuss while still allowing them the freedom to have dairy-like entries. I would also give specific prompts to the students, in relation to what we were focusing on in class.

Widget 1

 

The fist widget that I chose is a useful tool called Feedzilla. Feedzilla is a live news feed of current events in the US. When creating your personal Feedzilla the user can pick special categories to focus on certain events. For example my Feedzilla is specified to update on Art and Literature. In my opinion current events should always be incorporated into the classroom. When using internet tools "the Internet should not be thought of as an end in itself; the activity should accomplish some objective or purpose in the required school curriculum (238). An assignment that I would give is to have my students pick one News article to read and write a response to; not only does this assignment focus on reading and writing skills but its informative and gets students interested in current events that affect their life.

Widget 2

Cbox is a widget that functions as a chatroom where your students can post questions or responses of the learning material. "Chatrooms are Internet locations that allow 'live' communications between two or more users" (223). This would be useful when dealing with distances learning or web-based lessons. It also allows for the students to collaborate in a controlled environment where the teacher can still observe. 

Get Your News Widget

Module 3

Distance Learning is a method of learning that is corresponded through broadcast through the use of the internet. For teachers, this challenges us with the new mission of captivating students via viral. Current issues with Distance Learning include Digital Divide which is a social-economic problem of the resources of children (Doering and Roblyer, 207). That is why it is important as teachers to offer equal opportunity in computer-lab time and education on basic internet programs.

URLS

When teaching how to use the internet properly, the URLs are specific codes that are used in order direct a person to a specific web page. Web site organization is a concept that most every-day-internet-users overlook. It is important to understand the significance of optional parts of the URL. Options in the URL are given “if an organization is a large one, it may have more than one server,” in this case it is important to use the exact address listing (216). One thing that can be identified from URLS is the domain designator informs teachers and students on who owns that server.

Search Engines

Search Engines are designed to attract the individual; many internet users naturally conform to using one search engine site all the time. The most popular search engines are Google, Yahoo, and Bing; which have unique interfaces that appeal to their audiences. When teaching new research tool, like search engines, it is important to expose your students to many different engines so that they can find the engine that works best for them. However, there is also another subculture of research Metacrawler sites like Dog Pile and Vivisimo are programed to compile the listings of more than one search engine site at the same time (219). These types of sites would seem more notable to be taught in depth in the classroom because they are less well-known, all so because these sites compile research it could help with time management.

Favorite Web Sites

Glogsteredu.com is a teacher/student website that allows users to make multimedia presentations. The website is easy to use and free for students. One aspect of Glogster that is website appropriate for your students is that teachers can create a “gated community” where their students can collaborate without non-educational influences.

Vocabulary.com; there is current controversy in adapting the teaching of vocabulary because in the past the primary approach to teaching vocabulary is through memorization and spelling test in elementary schools but because schools are starting to digress from the memorization there needs to be a balance of teaching new words. With Vocabulary.com teachers can create word lists that are specific to the content of their area. It also provides the function of making multiple-choice-answer activities for students.

When choosing sites to integrate into the classroom it is important to find sites that are easily assessable and clear in format. Many sites are now solely designed for the teacher-student relationship; those sites are going to be the safest because there is censorship that narrows all content to educational.  

Web Site Evaluation Video

 

 

527 M1

Word Processing Software

Aarron H. Doering and M.D. Roblyer, authors of Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching claim that word processing has had the greatest impact on the classroom as a technology resource (116, 2013). The versatility of word processing allows teachers to approach using it many different ways. One of the benefits of using Word Processing Software that is improves the appearance of the product, “software tools help teachers and students produce polished-looking materials that resemble the work of professional designers” (113). This allows students to concentrate on the material that they are studying and helps them develop technology skills.

An issue educators face is the question of when to introduce children to word processing technology. While some educators feel that introducing word processing too early will create children that are underdeveloped in handwriting skills, some feel that it will encourage more expression skills (120).

Spreadsheet Software

Teachers primarily use spreadsheets to keep budgets and grades. The mathematic component of spreadsheets allows individuals to save time by quick calculations. The visual effect of seeing numbers change are said to impact individual motivation and interest in changing numbers (122, 123). The issue that arises when trying to get students to use spreadsheets derives from the common fear of math (125). Teachers should expose students to the software and allow students to explore the software in order to become familiar.

Presentation Software

The influence of presentation software in the classroom is great because to aids teachers into having an interesting outline of their presentations. It is claimed that “when teachers or students create a presentation with this software, it helps them think through what they will say and in what order” which therefore improves speaking and organization skills (128). One of the impacts and issues with presentation software is when it is for a collaboration project. While students gain collaboration skills needed to be successful in the workforce it is important to maintain a work balance for students that might not be as comfortable with the software.  

Classroom Use

In my classroom I plan on using presentation software frequently. I wish to have accessible PowerPoints available to my students outside the classroom of the basic notes from the day’s assignment. In a literature class the PowerPoint would contain key points on theme, plot, setting, author, characters, and highlighted scenes. Students can print the PowerPoint presentation and make additional notes and they can also access the PowerPoint through tablets or other smart devices.

Litugical Praise Performance

 

 

 

Montevallo First Baptist Liturgical Praise Team

 

Christmas performance 2013