Week
Seven
**Web
2.0 Tool **
Podcast
Before
I began this course, I thought I had a pretty good handle on technology and
everything it represented! Well, it turns out I was wrong! In fact, if you were
to ask me to how much I knew about technology at this point in time, I would
tell you I still have A LOT to learn! Throughout this course we have been asked
to complete weekly technology explorations where we research and reflect on
specific areas and resources in technology. I have learned more than I thought
possible and look forward to continuing the development of furthering my
knowledge on the world of technology throughout my career as an educator. One
thing in particular we have discussed during this course has been the use of
web 2.0 tools in the classroom.
This
week I tried to incorporate a web 2.0 tool into my classroom. As a Kindergarten
Interventionist, I am currently working with my students to master different
skills and concepts pertaining to the alphabet, reading, sight words, and more.
During my thirty minutes sessions I conduct several mini lessons or activities
with the students and am constantly switching gears to meet individual needs.
This calls for several transitions and often requires working with students in
a one-on-one setting. However, realistically, I do not get much one-on-one time
with my students because I constantly have to redirect the students in their
small activities or re-explain what they are supposed to be doing or being interrupted
by students with questions. My goal is to incorporate a web 2.0 tool to help
lessen the load and allow for me to be able to focus on more one-on-one time
with my students.
I
chose to incorporate podcast into my room with center/activity directions to
allow for fewer interruptions. I preloaded the podcast onto Kindle Fires and
placed them in each center besides the computers because I posted the podcast
on the computers separately! Besides the fact that some of the students were unfamiliar
with this tool and a couple of the Kindle’s volume was off, this implementation
went very well! I was impressed with how well the students picked up on the
tool and its use! It was neat to watch them interact with the tool and was even
more amazing to get uninterrupted one-on-one time with the kiddos!
I
look forward to incorporating more web 2.0 tools into my future classrooms
including more advance podcast. I can certainly see how these tools will be a
benefit to the teachers and students alike and am excited at the prospect to
learn more about them and their uses in the classroom!
**Declious.com,
HistoryPin, and Diigo**
What I’ve learned:
Delicious.com
Delicious.com is
a website that allows you to keep track of all your favorite links to other
websites, blogs, and favorite topics on the web! It is super easy to use; you
simply sign up for the free account and begin logging your favorite websites to
the account!
You
can access this resource in a variety of ways including, the website, or the
app for your IPhone, IPad, and/or Android device! This allows you to be able to
access this resource on the go whenever needed! It is a very convenient resource
that can be utilized by many!
HistoryPin
Historypin is a
website that allows millions of users to come together and collaborate on
pieces of history in order to establish a large database about the past! You
can access the map, which allows you to view pictures and information based on
a specific place in the world. It appears as though there aren’t very many
pictures if you are zoomed out. However, looks can be deceiving; if you simply
zoom in on a specific area then more pictures with corresponding information
will appear!
You
can also view history projects created by other people and add your own
materials to the already established project! If you would like to create your
own project you just need to contact the website providers and they will work
with you on getting that done!
In
addition, there are numerous channels, tours, and collections. You can join
through your google account, Facebook, or twitter. This is an excellent source
that will allow you to view many portions of history around the world!
Diigo
Diigo is a tool
that is available to help manage personal data through electronic sources. Diigo allows you to utilize annotation tools
such as highlighters and sticky notes in a digital format. You can add these sticky
notes, highlights and other annotations straight to the webpage. The resource
allows you to store website into your cloud and the annotations automatically
go straight to your cloud. In addition
any save annotations on a website will appear every time you access that
website!
Often
times, in the world of technology, specifically website links, those links can
develop errors or become broken. By saving the website in Diigo instead of
bookmarking it, the link will never be broken and continues to stay fully
searchable!
You
can access the content through your online Diigo account anywhere that you have
internet access! The company is currently working on developing an IPhone app
and is pending app store approval!
How the resource can be utilized in the classroom:
Delicious.com
There are many
ways that this resource could be utilized and it could certainly be utilized in
a classroom setting. Especially in more advanced grade levels that conduct
continues research and establish reports often! Personally, I think it would be
a good idea to create an account for each student starting around their fourth
grade year, and then allowing them to bookmark some useful links to their
account with the approval of their teacher. I think it would be useful to have
the students clean out their accounts at the beginning of their next school
year, and then continue the process throughout their careers, even in college.
In
addition, I think it would be a good idea for the teacher then create an
account for their class and share the information with their students. This
would be useful when the students were researching. The teacher could say, log
onto Delicious.com, and visit the websites in such and such folder!
Personally, I wish that I would have known about this website at the
start of my college career this way I could have saved all of the websites I
have learned about that would be useful in my classroom!
HistoryPin
Historypin is
certainly a resource that can be utilized in a classroom setting. For early
grade levels, it would be a good resource to have them utilize when conducting
research or to simply use as a way to enhance a standard lesson by adding
pictures and additional information of the topic being discussed.
For
older grades such as 6-12, a good lesson would be to have the students’
research and gather materials, pictures, and information about their home town
in groups and collaborate with the creators of the website to establish a
channel or project to share with other viewers. In addition, these resources
can be used to enhance a teacher’s regular lesson when deemed fit!
Diigo
Diigo is a class
A resource and can be utilized in a multitude of professions by numerous
individuals! I think it would be beneficial in a classroom setting from a
teacher’s standpoint and a student’s standpoint!
As a
teacher, it would be useful to visit websites, and make annotations to them
that could be saved and pulled up at a later date. This would be useful when
planning lessons, and finding resources to utilize in the classroom.
As a
student, it could also be of benefit to use this resource when doing research
projects or giving presentations! I am certain that there is a plethora of
ideas that this resource could be used for, that simply aren’t coming to mind
at the minute. I would love to view more of the testimonials to gather more
ideas on how to utilize this program in the classroom!
My recommendations:
Delicious.com
This resource is
certainly one that I wish to look into further, and explore in my career and
personal life! I would like to create an account to add all of my educational
related sources to, and one to add all of my personal sources to! I will
definitely recommend this resource to other educators!
This
resource is extremely easy to use, and offers simple, step-by-step instructions
to help create an account. Best of all it is a FREE resource.
HistoryPin
Historypin
appears to be a site with a bunch of useful information about history! I
enjoyed the website, and I can certainly see where it would be a useful
resource in the classroom, and I would be opposed to recommending it to
educators I think would benefit from it, but I don’t see myself utilizing this
resource anytime soon.
The
website was fairly simple to navigate and everything was organized very well.
You can join the website for free which is certainly a plus. Truthfully, it
reminds me of a “Pinterest” type website specifically for historical entities.
Diigo
Diigo is a website that I will certainly be utilizing in my classroom as
well as my personal life! My only regret is that I didn’t know about this
website sooner! Man, I could have used this in my college courses! This is a
website that NEEDS to be shared with others, and I am making it my mission to
begin the outpour of advertisement for this resource! In fact, I have already
informed one individual about this website as I am typing this! J
Great resource, easy to set up and use, and last but certainly not least, it is
free and educators have the option to upgrade to the educators account! Check
it out!
**Talking
Calculators**
What I’ve learned:
PBSKids
Calculator
The talking
calculator via PBSKids is a neat resource! The website link takes you straight
to the calculator. The calculator has an automated female voice that “talks”
aloud saying whichever button is pushed. For example if you pushed the 3 key
and the X key and the 7 key, she would say, “Three multiplied by seven”.
This
resource is free of charge and allows young students to be able to manipulate
and compute large numbers. In fact, it will compute numbers up to a trillion.
What’s more is that it takes up a large portion of the screen which allows for
optimal viewing!
Softpedia
Talking Calculator
The Softpedia
talking calculator is a much like the PBSKids calculator only a bit different.
This calculator allows for computing of simple math problems. The resource has
to be downloaded then it can be accessed! This calculator has your traditional
calculator digit keys plus your standard function keys such as addition,
subtraction, multiplication, and division. In addition, it also has a square
root key and a key that will allow you to find percentages.
The
calculator is large; it actually takes up the entire screen to allow for easy
viewing. When buttons are pushed the calculator also speaks. The standard
language in English, however, it can be changed to accommodate several other
languages such as Spanish, French and German. When the calculator speaks, it
speaks verbosely, in a manner that is human like. There is the option to turn
the voice off if desired.
This
calculator allows you to completely clear your history or you can simply go
back step-by-step. The colors on the screen can also be adjusted if necessary.
How the resource can be utilized in the classroom:
PBSKids
Calculator
The talking
calculator through PBSKids, could certainly be used in a classroom setting. As
a teacher, I would actually save this specific link to the desktop or in a
folder that would be easy to access so that young students would be able to
utilize this program on their own.
This
resource would be especially convenient for students whom needed
accommodations. For students who are auditory learners, they would gain more
benefit from this calculator compared to a standard calculator because they
could hear the math being computed instead of simply just seeing it! In
addition, it is and can be made rather large for those students who are
visually impaired and need a larger calculator screen.
Furthermore, it would be of benefit for tests on the computer (with
earphones), as it offers no guidance and there is no other access to tested
material. All manipulation has to be manually conducted by the student. I would
also share this resource with parents because they could allow their children
to utilize it in a home setting as well!
Softpedia
Talking Calculator
Much like the
talking calculator from PBSKids, this calculator can also be utilized in a
school setting. This calculator has a few more features in addition to the
basic features that both calculators have. It still only contains the basic
functions; therefore if you needed to compute algebraic problems, this
calculator would not suffice. However, it is perfect for computing simple
equations such as those that are found in an elementary setting.
This
calculator is also a great choice for using if accommodations are needed. For
example it would appeal to both visual and auditory learners. Also, it would
appeal to students who have a visual impairment and need a large version of a
calculator or need to hear the computations aloud. Furthermore, there are some
students who may suffer from sensory issues, and specific colors may be
annoying to them and inhibit their learning. The color changing function of
this calculator would be a great remedy for that.
This
resource would also be one that could be recommended to parents for use in the
home environment if necessary. However, I would probably recommend the PBSKids
calculator for home use before recommending this one because it is easier to
access and simple to utilize.
My recommendations:
PBSKids
Calculator
I will probably
utilize this resource in the near future, depending on which grade level I
teach. If I am teaching elementary grade levels then this calculator shall
suffice because it computes all basic math functions. However, if I am teaching
middle school, or high school and more advanced computations are required then
I will have to find a different resource to use.
I
will recommend this to all of my elementary math teacher friends as I do think
that this is a resource worth trying with students. The resource is free,
extremely simple and easy to use!
Softpedia
Talking Calculator
I will probably
not utilize this resource just simply because the other talking calculator is
more convenient. I would also probably recommend the PBSKids calculator to
others before this one. I don’t like that you have to download the software
simply because it is inconvenient, especially if you have to do it on a
classroom set of computers, rather than simply clicking on a link and there it
is!
**Math
Wiki & Piclits**
What I’ve learned:
Math
Wiki
I was
very excited to read that this website was for Melanie Cardell’s Class through
University of the Cumberlands, because I have actually had her writing class
and it was wonderful! This website provides an overview and an introduction of
writing and how writing can be utilized across curriculums. They offer examples
on how to use writing in different content areas of math such as geometry,
algebra, basic math and more.
In
addition there are other pages to the wiki that offer great information and
resources to utilize in the classroom. They have a “From Theory to Practice”
page that basically provides examples and detailed explanations of how to actually
practice teaching writing! Furthermore, in the navigator there are numerous
links to different resources for elementary, middle, and high school levels,
including lesson plans, lesson plans, assessments, and standards.
Piclit
Piclit is a website that allows you to utilize pictures and words to
develop creative writings and to capture the essence of the picture or writing
created! Piclit is an educational resource that is used to inspire writers
across the board! The website offers numerous examples on how to utilize
piclits in writing such as through poetry, simple noun and verb sentences,
paragraphs and more. There is a photo gallery available for anyone to view
whenever they desire. Furthermore, there is also a page that has advanced
lesson plans available for teachers to be able to challenge their students.
The
website is very easy to navigate and manipulate. To create a piclit you simply
choose a photograph, and drag and drop the words of your choice. In order to
save any piclits that you create you must have an account. It is very easy to
set up an account; you simply input your email and a password and create a user
ID. There is the option to update to a premium account for teachers to create a
more private, classroom specific environment to share piclits!
How the resource can be utilized in the classroom:
Math
Wiki
Being in an elementary school, I often hear
the fellow teachers complain that they don’t know how to teach writing, and/or
they don’t have time to fit writing into their daily schedule. This wiki would
be a great resource to add to the repertoire of teaching materials. This would
be an awesome resource to utilize in a school setting.
First and foremost the standards for teachers and students are provided
to help plan your lesson plans. Next, they actually have lesson plans created
that can be used. Personally, I love the examples that they have for how to
teach writing in math and ways to allow students to write daily!
Piclit
Piclit
is a resource that can certainly be utilized in the classroom as it is an
educational resource. This website actually has pre-written lesson plans
available that incorporate the use of the product. What is amazing about piclit
is the fact that it can be utilized across grade levels. As I am completing my
Masters degree in 5-12 English/Language Arts, numerous ideas are popping into
my head. I would love to use this website during a poetry unit because I think
it would help the students capture the meaning and purpose of poetry better!
I
can also see how it would be beneficial to use this class in an elementary
setting. In a fourth or fifth grade classroom it would be neat to use this resource
to help teach figurative language!
My recommendations:
Math
Wiki
I
will recommend this website to fellow teachers because it is plump with useful
resources! I have already taken notes of several activities, and examples that
I wish to incorporate into my future classroom! Furthermore, I think that the
information that has been provided is superb and top of the line. What is
wonderful about this wiki is that it is absolutely FREE and very easy to access
and navigate!
Piclit
Not
only will I recommend piclit to other teachers, I will be using piclit in my
own classroom. This resource is very neat and super easy to navigate! Everything
is displayed in a simple format and best of all it is a FREE resource available
to any and all that wish to utilize it! I look forward to teaching with this resource
in my future English/Language Arts classrooms because I am excited at the prospect
of witnessing a superb level of creativity from my future students!
Resources I’ve Utilized:
Kimberly :)
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