Monday, March 3, 2014

Week 8 Blog Post


Week Eight
**Computer Viruses and Such**
Computer Viruses are pesky “creatures” in the virtual world! I have had my fair share of them and thankfully have an amazing husband that always comes to the rescue and restores my computer! I have had one virus that has completely wiped out my computer, beyond repair causing me to lose all of my personal information, documents, data, and pictures! After that happened, I always play it safe and back up my information on several different devices! In addition, I do have virus protection on my computer to try and prevent viruses and the sort from attacking my computer!
It is extremely important for one to have some sort of virus protection software on their computer to ensure that their files are protected and not lost as well as to make sure that information from the computer is not hacked into and stolen.  I have a short anecdote about my sister; she was on her computer simply browsing one day when she happened to notice that her webcam light was on.  She was a bit nervous about this and proceeded to take it to her a fellow co-worker who specialized in computers. Needless to say, someone had hacked into her webcam from their computer and was watching her! VERY scary stuff!! I try to always stay aware of unfamiliar pop-ups, websites, or just anything that looks fishy!
While we are responsible for protecting our home computers, it is equally as important to protect school and workplace computers! Especially when students are involved! I know most schools have website blockers were they block access to specific websites or websites that involve certain keywords! All inappropriate content has been blocked and in the very rare instance that one notices a website that can be accessed and shouldn’t, it is quickly remedied! My personal school system does an excellent job protecting the computers, faculty, and students! They have wonderful virus protection software, and I have not heard of any of the school computers getting a virus! They must be good, if they can withstand the constant random clicking of young students!
As you can see, it is vital that one takes precautionary measures to prevent computer viruses from hacking into computers and stealing personal information, and/or crashing computers thus resulting in the loss of all personal content.
Since this is my last blog, I shall now say farewell and I hope to continue this blog in the future when I happen upon new, exciting websites in the world of education to share with you! Enjoy!
Kimberly

Monday, February 24, 2014

Week 7 Blog Post


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 :)

Tuesday, February 11, 2014

Week 6 Blog Post


Week Six

**WebQuest**
My WebQuest:
Introduction:
This week is the week that I both looked forward to and feared! I was excited to create a WebQuest because I have used them before as a student, and have been very engaged as a learner and I wanted this experience for my future students. I feared it, because for one, I was told that it would be time consuming and I wasn’t sure just how long it would take. Secondly, I feared it because I wasn’t sure if I would be creative enough!
WebQuest Details:
                I began by visiting the suggested websites on blackboard about WebQuest! I found them all very helpful as they explained exactly what WebQuest were and how they could be utilized in classroom settings. In addition, they also explained what needed to be included in the WebQuest and how to make it appealing and appropriate for the classroom.  I then continued on to visit the QuestGarden website and applied for the free 30 day account!
                I will admit I was anxious to create a WebQuest because I had no clue as to where to start! So, I did what I do best! I looked at other WebQuest created by other individuals, and used them for inspiration! After reviewing them, I found one that talked about animal reports! Instantly, I remembered creating an entire unit plan on animal reports in another graduate course to utilize in my future classroom. I thought, what would be better than adding a WebQuest to enhance the lesson that I already have to establish a phenomenal unit plan! I LOVE when the graduate courses require students to create products that they will actually use in their classes!
                It turns out, my creative wheels can still turn, (after all of the rust disintegrated) and I set to work! I created a WebQuest that required the students to research specific information about animals of their choice using a form to guide their research! This was perfect, as in the lesson plan I had written down that the students would research their animals. That was it! After creating this WebQuest, the first thought that comes to mind is… what was I thinking giving the students free reign to research their animals with no guidance?! Now I have a structured, WebQuest intact that will guide the students through the research process!
Challenges Faced:
                The largest challenge I faced when creating the WebQuest was time! It took me around three and a half to four hours to complete it and get the majority of the kinks out of it! There were several other minor problems I had when creating the WebQuest. For one, I didn’t want to use the rubric that they had created; I wanted to add the one that I created from RubiStar but the rubric was too large to fit the page. Luckily the help feature on the website was just that… VERY helpful as it allowed me to resolve the minor issue! It actually provided me videos and step-by-step instructions that allowed me to fix several difficulties that I came across! There is one problem that I couldn’t get resolved no matter what I did! The format of my resource page is a little off due to the length of my hyperlinks. I tried to follow the step-by-step directions but it simply would NOT cooperate!  I guess you can’t have a perfect technology day and if this minor mishap is the only thing “wrong” with my WebQuest, then I will be just fine!
Other WebQuest Viewed:
I viewed several WebQuest from questgarden, to gain a better understanding of how WebQuest work from the inside out and to gather examples to utilize in creating my own WebQuest! One WebQuest in particular stuck out to me! It was a WebQuest titled, “Houston, We Have A Problem”, created by Theresa Valencia, aimed for grades 3-5! I LOVED this WebQuest because of the amount of creativity involved and the subject matter combined! I can certainly see 3rd grade- 5th grade students becoming excited about this content when presented in this manner! I think this WebQuest would engage the students and help them understand the content more efficiently!
As I am not teaching yet, I didn’t have a set of guidelines to help me choose a sample WebQuest. Therefore, I simply chose a WebQuest in my ideal grade level and subject matters! This one appealed to both the grade and the subject matters (Science and Language Arts), that I am interested in teaching!
First and foremost, the layout and graphics are truly amazing and make the WebQuest that much more realistic and worthwhile! I love the theme, and how the creator establishes the fact that the students are astronauts setting flight for the moon. It is amazing that the students get to act as though they are on a real space mission, trying to solve a real-life problem! What third- fifth grade student wouldn’t love this?  That was a rhetorical question and I will go ahead and give the obvious answer; none!
Next, what really drew me towards this WebQuest was the fact that it is set up to accommodate groups and collaborative learning! I think it is great that the students can collaborate and specific task were assigned to each student in each group! This way all students had something to do and were engaged! This time of group WebQuest also allows for great discussions!
Everything appears to be organized effectively and each step, and or process is clearly mentioned and listed! There are a couple of things that I would correct or add on this WebQuest to make it even greater! On the standards page, there is only one standard listed, however, on the learner page it states that this WebQuest meets standards for science, writing, and speaking and listening. I feel like all related standards should be clearly listed on the standards page not just one! Furthermore, there are no links for the students to view. Simply directions to find the research on their own! I feel like the teacher should at least list a few websites to allow the students a place to begin their research. At this age, students are still learning how to research! Other than that, great WebQuest! The WebQuest was thoroughly thought out and designed! I enjoyed it to the max and would love to and WILL use this in my future classroom (if given the opportunity)!

Link to WebQuest I viewed for an example:

Kimberly :)

Monday, February 10, 2014

Week 5 Blog Post


Week Five
**AUP’s & Visual Literacy**
                Let me start off by stating that this course has been amazing thus far! I have learned something new each week and I LOVE it! I couldn’t agree more with the professor when she stated that just because we know how to manipulate social media, text, and search the internet; it doesn’t mean we know everything about technology! I will be the first to admit that technology is such a huge concept, that I don’t know if I will ever truly understand it in its entirety but I am sure going to try. Probably to no avail considering that some part of technology practically changes daily!
            This week we discussed Acceptable Use Policies and how they affect our schools! I will be completely honest and state that I knew we had an AUP, and I had even signed the statement agreeing to comply with the policy at the beginning of the year, however, before this class, I didn’t actually read it thoroughly. I know, shame on me! I am glad that I read it though, as there are some specific requirements for creating WebPages, wikis and other classroom technologies that I wouldn’t have known about had I not read through it closely! I believe it is vital for schools to have a thorough AUP in place to ensure that all laws, rules, and regulations are followed because technology can definitely be misused by students and staff alike if not monitored closely!
            As for visual literacy, let’s just say that is another topic I was only vaguely familiar with! I knew what visual literacy meant but I didn’t really understand it! The websites and resources that were provided were phenomenal examples of how visual literacy is beneficial in the classroom. I really like the video by Martin Scorsese as he provided thoughtful explanations on how students can benefit from visual literacy.  I look forward to using visual literacy in my classroom more now that I have a better understanding of it! Especially considering that right now I am working with kindergarten students in RTI! I think they would really benefit from using pictures and videos to understand words and letters!
**Prezi & Spicynodes**
What I’ve learned:
Prezi    
          I have heard of Prezi before, but I have not actually used it! From the feedback of others, it appears to be a very useful resource! Prezi is basically a virtual whiteboard that enables you to give presentations with a visual! Prezi offers three different account types; free basic account, Enjoy account, and Pro account.
          The website offers great templates, and instructions for creating your own Prezi presentation. You can easily import your PowerPoints, share your Prezi’s with others and collaborate online.  You also have the option to explore and view Prezi’s created by others!
          Prezi’s can be used in the world of business, education, conferencing, or for mere pleasure. You can upload and access Prezi from virtually anywhere with internet access!
Spicynodes    
          Spicynodes is a visual way to help visitors explore and understand your website! It is kind of like a concept map only virtual that links to different parts of your website and explains what your website contains! Spicynodes allows you to break down large, rich data from your website to allow for easy viewing from your visitors.
          I really like how the website is established around the theme of food. It is neat how they made everything work cohesively! Spicynodes can be used for education, business, cities and towns, media and bloggers, mind mapping, social media and much more!
          There are three different node accounts; individual, organization, and enterprise. You can choose the account that best suits your needs. The website also offers templates and support to those who need it!
How the resource can be utilized in the classroom:
Prezi
          Prezi can be utilized in an educational setting; in fact it was partially created for such! Many educators and students utilize Prezi for school related presentations daily! In fact, when I was completing my undergrad degree is when I was first exposed to Prezi; when my fellow peers would give presentations through Prezi.
          In the classroom, I would like to incorporate the use of Prezi along with PowerPoints, as Prezi is geared specifically towards giving presentations. I think it would be idea to have the students collaborate on one Prezi through the virtual whiteboard setup and create one presentation and present it! This could show the students how to collaborate and utilize the product to gain its full benefit!
Spicynodes
          As I mentioned above, Spicynodes can be utilized in a classroom setting. In fact the website gives examples on how to use it in the classroom. Spicynodes uses concept maps that can appeal to nonlinear thinking. This will allow the students to think deeper and outside of the box! It allows students to take ownership for their work while allowing easy management for educators.
          The website offers some example lesson plans from various grade levels and subjects. The lesson plans have incorporated Spicynodes into them to allow for enhance learning from the students!
          One in particular that I enjoyed was the lesson plans designed for English and Poetry! They were designed to engage students, ages middle school through adult, to write poetry utilizing nodes. The lesson plans were broken down into different categories such as pre-writing, composing the poems, editing, discussions and publishing. It provides for a very interesting spin on technology and I think it would be interesting to see what the students created on their own!
My recommendations:
Prezi
          Prezi works closely with educators and students and provides great upgrades and discounts to them! Prezi offers a FREE upgrade to the Enjoy account to all students and educators. This account type allows you the choice to choose who you share your presentations with, and also offers more space to create and store Prezis. Educators and students also have the option to upgrade to the Pro account for a discounted price of $60.00 per year. This is almost a $100.00 discount!
          I will recommend this resource to other educators and students as it is a great resource that allows you to utilize your creative nature and captivate different audiences! In addition, the website is easy to navigate and organized very efficiently!
Spicynodes
          While Spicynodes is quite an interesting piece of technology, it is not for me! I don’t think that I will ever incorporate Spicynodes into my classroom. They are neat, and I wouldn’t mind using some of the pre-created lesson plans, but I just didn’t find them that interesting and I was not impressed with the resource.
**Edmodo & A Math Dictionary**
What I’ve learned:
Edmodo
          As for Edmodo, I first learned about this resource when I went to a local technology convention for STLP. The students from surrounding counties had created technology projects and submitted them for judging. I was a judge and when the students presented this resource, I knew I had to try it out!
          Edmodo is a way for students and teachers to connect through the web and collaborate with others while having access to multiple resources. Basically, to me Edmodo is much like a class version of Facebook! I think the way it is set up to relate to Facebook draws students’ interest and encourages them to become engaged in the coursework!
          There are many features available through Edmodo such as but not limited to: engaging the students by providing them tools to bring the lessons to life, connecting to resources, measuring student progress, and personalizing with apps.
          You can utilize Edmodo at any level whether that is in the classroom, throughout the school, or in the entire school district. You can sign up as an administrator, teacher, parent or student. Signing up is very simple by following short instructions to set up the account.
A Maths Dictionary
          A Maths Dictionary is exactly what it says it is, a virtual dictionary for children that defines math terms and vocabulary! There are numerous math vocabulary terms that can be viewed on the kid friendly website. You can view click on a letter of the alphabet and a list of words starting with that letter will appear on the screen. There are words for each letter of the alphabet available for viewing. Once you find the desired word that you wish to view, simply click on the word and then the definition for that word will appear on the screen.
          What is amazing about this website is the fact that it is interactive. Not only does the vocabulary word appear, but there is also a well explained example of the word, and some type of interactive feature. For example, if you click on the term ascending numbers, it gives you a definition, an example of ascending order, and an interactive quiz that allows you to check your answers immediately!
Furthermore, the website allows you the ability to print any word, definition, and example at any time. At the bottom of the page there is also a link to another page full of over 250 math posters and charts that are also printable.
How the resource can be utilized in the classroom:
Edmodo
        I actually have an Edmodo account already partially established, however, I haven’t actually had the opportunity to utilize it to its full potential because I have not been placed into a full classroom as a teacher as of yet. I do plan to alter, accommodate and enhance my Edmodo “page” as soon as I get my first group of students.
         As I mentioned above Edmodo is sort of like Facebook, as you have pages and add people by sending them a friend request. Although, instead of it being open to the entire World Wide Web, it is more secluded and the teacher has the option to choose who has access to and who can view the account and information on the page.
          I plan to utilize mine as a form of communication and collaboration with the parents, administrators, and students in my classroom. I would like to use it to post updates about assignments, tests, grades, important events in the school or classroom, and as a way to have documented communication between myself, parents and students. In addition, this will also be a way for students to collaborate on projects outside of class! 
A Maths Dictionary
          A Math Dictionary is only for the purpose of use in an educational setting or for students and teachers to utilize for personal use! Therefore, it can most definitely be utilized in classroom setting.
          I plan to utilize this resource in my classroom in the future and right away with the kindergarten students I currently work with for RTI! What is amazing about this website is that there are terms for all grade levels and ages that are easy to locate by clicking on the letter that the word starts with and doing a brief search!
          What I would like to do with the website, especially if I was in a 2-6th grade classroom, is have the students access the website to research the definitions for the week’s math vocabulary. (There will be new words with each new unit) I would then like to have the students create a virtual Math term journal by using their choice of resource from a predestinated list. For example they can create PowerPoint slides and date them, create a book with publisher or Microsoft Word, or create a wiki page or blog and date it! This will allow them to incorporate other technology into the unit to enhance their learning. They will be asked to copy the definition from the website ( and of course site the source), give another definition in their own words, create their own example, and add some extra enhancement for each word. Such as a quiz, jingle, or picture! The idea is for the students to have a virtual copy of the math terms from the year that they will be able to utilize in the future.
My recommendations:
Edmodo
          Considering that I already have an Edmodo account, you can say that I am sold on the resource and didn’t need any further coaxing! I have already recommended this resource to other educators and will continue to do so! The resource is completely FREE of charge and available to any and all users! Like I mentioned above, it is super easy to set up and provides step-by-step instructions on how to complete the set-up process. Also there are websites available out there on the famous World Wide Web that provides excellent examples on how other educators are utilizing this resource in their classroom!
          I cannot wait until I get my first, “real” class of students for an entire school year, so that I can further establish and enhance my Edmodo account and can incorporate it into my classroom!
A Maths Dictionary
          I LOVE the resource, A Maths Dictionary! It is fabulous and something that can be utilized by both educators and students! The ease with which you can search, and manipulate the website is great and can be utilized by kids of all ages!
          I will in fact not only be recommending this resource to other educators, but also using it myself; effective immediately! What is great about it, is that it is… you guessed it… FREE! I look forward to incorporating this resource into my classroom and watching my students grow from it!
**Glogster & Jing**
What I’ve learned:
Glogster         
          Glogster is a global education platform that can be utilized in the classroom by students and educators as they create glogs which are online multimedia posters. When creating a glog for a website or virtual poster, there are many features available such as, adding graphics, text, and audio to the glog or animations and links.
          There are several key features that accompany this program including, an embedded search engine, privacy control, an educational resource library and a glog library. In addition you have the ability to manage student accounts, message other individuals, and provide assignments and comments and much more!
          You can apply for a free basic account which allows you to receive and utilize the most basic features of the program. You also have the option to purchase the premium account which allows for upgraded features and optimal use.
          On the website, there are several lists provided that give you ideas on how to share your glogs through different social media sites and other website as well as ways to utilize Glogster in the classroom! Very neat website with oodles of information!
Jing              
          Jing is a resource that allows you to capture your computer screen and add visual elements to create images and or videos to share with others. You can capture an image of what you see on your computer and add text and other features to it, or you can capture a five minute video of what you are doing on your computer screen to share with others. The website offers free step-by-step tutorials and free support services!
The website provides solutions for how the resource can be utilize in different settings including an education setting. In addition, they offer pricing solutions for teachers, parents, schools, and districts. The website also offers example videos of how individuals utilize the resource!
How the resource can be utilized in the classroom:
Glogster
          I will most definitely utilize the Glogster program in my classroom! In fact, even though I am not currently “in a classroom”, I am working with Kindergarten students doing RTI and I have already found some glogs that I want to show my students! Yes, I found one with songs about vowels, and I was excited (a little too excited), when I found some songs that I heard in my childhood! So of course, I had to stop what I was doing, and go off on a virtual tangent and look up old educational songs from my childhood. Alright, now back to Glogster!
          In the future, I plan to be working with older students at least grades 2-12. When in an older classroom, I would like to have my students use Glogster to create a glog for a book report assignment. I think if they could add images, text, audio, and other virtual features, the idea of book reports would be appealing and the students would really be engaged. This is certainly something that I want to look into. I think it would be neat to read a book as a class, and then have a book report already created with Glogster then present it to the class. This way they could see first-hand what is expected of them!
Jing
          As I am currently not teaching (only doing RTI with Kindergarten), I do not see much use for this product in my immediate future. But, and that is a big but, I WILL definitely be utilizing this product in the distant/near future! As soon as I get my first, “real” classroom!
          I can see many ways to utilize this resource in the classroom. One nice idea would be to use the resource as a source of instructions! During centers or when we are conducting research projects or something similar, were it is difficult to be in more than one place at a time, but necessary! I could record a video of how to access websites or resources step-by-step on my computer then send it to the students to watch, or have it preloaded and ready for viewing!
          I will say that for secondary education, I watched an example of how to utilize this resource in the classroom, and I LOVED it! Instead of the teacher, teaching the lesson in class, and being interrupted consistently, she recorded the lesson at home, or after school and posted it onto her website. She “flipped” her teaching style and let the students do the homework in class as she would be able to assist them because they were struggling at home by forgetting the content and or not understanding some of the concepts! I thought this was a brilliant idea and I would love to do something like this in my future classroom
My recommendations:
Glogster
          Oh, you bet I am going to recommend this website! I am beyond excited to start using this with my K-kiddos! I also can’t wait to try out the book reports once I begin teaching in the upper grade levels! I think it will be interesting to see how creative they can be. I also feel that if they can do book reports in this way they will be more excited to read!
          The account can be purchased for elementary and secondary levels, in addition to school wide accounts and district accounts. For a single teacher and thirty students the cost is $40.00 per year! If you plan on using this, it would definitely be worth the purchase. If you don’t want to create your own blogs it would still be worth it to view the glogs created by others in the Glogster library!
Jing
          I will in-fact recommend Jing to other educators and students alike! I think it is great resource and is one that can be put to great use and reap many benefits! I can’t wait to use this resource in my own classroom in the near future!
          One of the great features about this product is that it is… you guessed it… FREE! Better yet, they offer FREE SUPPORT for those who need assistance with the resource! I encourage all educators to check this resource out and give it a shot!
**YouTube for Education, SchoolTube & TeacherTube**
What I’ve learned:
YouTube for Education
          I am all too familiar with the original YouTube website as it is my go to website for viewing video clips, songs, and movies! YouTube for Education is similar to the original YouTube with the exception that the content available is focused on education! It is a channel that you can add to your YouTube account to allow for quick access to the content!
          The channel is divided into different categories to allow for quick searches and viewing. Such categories include, featured videos, primary and secondary education, university, lifelong learning, social studies and history, art, math, language, science and more!
          You also have the ability to search the Education channel for specific content if you are looking for something in particular.
SchoolTube
          SchoolTube is somewhat similar to YouTube however, it is a completely different website that offers its own spin on things! SchoolTube is a k-12 video sharing platform designed for educators and students.  It allows for the ability to share, and access videos that are educationally appropriate and safe for k-12 users!
          SchoolTube allows different schools and individuals post videos and or view them! You can search for a specific or keyword topic in the search bar at the top of the page and related videos will appear.
          The videos are created by educators and students for educators and students. It is simple to upload a video as well. All you have to do is create an account and follow the simple step-by-step instructions!
TeacherTube
          Oh the one and only TeacherTube; a wonderful, resourceful website used by educators (and students) across the world! TeacherTube is a website that allows you to view media from different individuals in a variety of formats including, videos, documents, blogs, audios, photos and much more!
          The website has numerous channels that you can add to your account, or search to help make searching more beneficial. In addition they have a blog with featured content and updated news! You can also subscribe to different channels or users to stay up-to-date media.
          You can sign up quick and easy by simply creating an account. By creating an account you can upload content, add favorite channels or users and save videos. You do not have to have an account to view videos of others you can simply visit the webpage search for the content you want and view it!
How the resource can be utilized in the classroom:
YouTube for Education
          YouTube for education can definitely be utilized in a classroom setting! In fact I have utilized this resource before and it has proved to be an effective one!
          This resource could be used for many things! I think the main thing it could be used for is searching for videos about specific content to show to students. For example, I could show some of my Kindergarten RTI students some alphabet videos, as well as videos about vowels!
          Once the students can research on the internet and understand the rules of utilizing the internet and YouTube specifically, I think it would be okay to allow the students to search for videos to help them better understand some content or to add in their own projects. However, I do think it would be best to monitor all students’ access of YouTube as it is easy to get distracted on YouTube and inappropriate content could be accessed!
SchoolTube
          SchoolTube is also a resource that CAN be utilized in a classroom setting. Actually all of the videos are created by educators and or students specifically for the use of other educators and or students!
          For my younger K-kiddos I would like to present them with some of the videos to enhance my lessons and their learning. As for older students, I think it would be neat to have them view some of the videos created by other students and then create their own video as a product of a particular lesson or content being taught!
          Although, I simply listed a short few examples, there are many ways to utilize this resource and it would be beneficial to just start viewing examples already posted and using their ideas to branch out and come up with something that fits your needs!
TeacherTube
          This resource can be utilized in a classroom setting as it was designed for teachers and students! All media such as videos, pictures, and documents are actually created by students and teachers!
          I would like to use this resource in my classroom by showing some of the media to my students and enhancing my lesson and their learning. In addition, I think it would be great encouragements to have the students create their own media for project based assignments! This would certainly keep the students engaged and provide for optimal learning experiences!
My recommendations:
YouTube for Education
          I have and will continue to recommend this resource to other educators! I do like this resource as I have utilized it in my own experiences in the classroom already! I love that it is a FREE resource and can be utilized by many different age groups for countless activities, projects, and content!
          The only downfall to this is that you will have to monitor the students closely as access to inappropriate content is easy to gain. I would make sure that the students had permission from parents. Also, where this is still through the YouTube website, some schools may not grant permission to use this channel as they have blocked the entire website!
SchoolTube
          While I had not utilized this program before today, I can say without a doubt that I will continue to use this resource because I can guarantee that it will enhance my lessons and encourage the students to become engaged! I look forward to using this resource in my own classroom and recommend it to other educators and students! This product is also completely FREE!
          In addition, I do not think this resource would be blocked on school servers because it is education and student friendly! Furthermore, I don’t think it would require as much monitoring as the traditional YouTube page!
TeacherTube
          I have used TeacherTube before when showing videos to students in the past. I have not utilized their pictures, audios or documents for the purpose of providing additional support for my student’s education yet, but it is something I intend to do in the near future.
          I will recommend this resource to other educators as I feel that it will certainly provide benefit to the students as well as keep them interested in engaged by showing them real-life content and examples of the content being taught!
          What is even better is that this resource is FREE! I encourage all educators and students to explore this website, and be creative by adding their own media to the website!
Resources I’ve Utilized:
 
Kimberly :)