Thus far, I haven't done anything with my website besides what we did in class. I do recall my computer struggling to open anything for editing, so I hope that my computer today is able to do that, or else I'll need to do it at home, which is okay too. I'll tell you what I do need help with - I need more time! One of those time turners from Harry Potter Book 3 would do the trick. I'd have one of me sleeping all day, one of me going to classes, and one of me doing all of my homework. Well, maybe two of me doing homework. Or three. Then I'd for sure get it all done!
And that is what I most need help with at this time.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Technology Resources
Of all of the programs we discussed in class last Tuesday, I will probably use the Google products the most in my instructional career.
Googledocs is a fantastic way to create group projects, and to help students who don't like to meet outside of class work on projects together. I for sure will use googledocs to facilitate groupwork and ideas.
The Google Calendar is a great tool as well - although I may use the calendar for my personal teaching use. It is a great place to see lessons and timelines come together. For the class I will have a website (be it a blog or wikispace) that will have a course calendar, course information, and links to online information that furthers class discussion. The nice thing about a blog is that students can comment on it and continue the discussion from class. However, I wonder how many students will want to continue the discussion - typically there has to be points involved for this to happen.
I also like Moodle, a place where I can put all of our documents we'll be reading online so that I'm not always printing copies and the information is all in a central location for students who missed class or are preparing for an exam.
I like the color design website, but I can't find a reason to justify its use in a history or english class. It is a good add-in on projects where students want their posters to be color-coordinated, but I just don't see it as super important in my class.
The MediaNotes website was really cool too - but I wonder how much I can make an 8th grader use it. As a college student I think its beyond amazing, but as a middle schooler? I don't think I'd see the value as much.
Googledocs is a fantastic way to create group projects, and to help students who don't like to meet outside of class work on projects together. I for sure will use googledocs to facilitate groupwork and ideas.
The Google Calendar is a great tool as well - although I may use the calendar for my personal teaching use. It is a great place to see lessons and timelines come together. For the class I will have a website (be it a blog or wikispace) that will have a course calendar, course information, and links to online information that furthers class discussion. The nice thing about a blog is that students can comment on it and continue the discussion from class. However, I wonder how many students will want to continue the discussion - typically there has to be points involved for this to happen.
I also like Moodle, a place where I can put all of our documents we'll be reading online so that I'm not always printing copies and the information is all in a central location for students who missed class or are preparing for an exam.
I like the color design website, but I can't find a reason to justify its use in a history or english class. It is a good add-in on projects where students want their posters to be color-coordinated, but I just don't see it as super important in my class.
The MediaNotes website was really cool too - but I wonder how much I can make an 8th grader use it. As a college student I think its beyond amazing, but as a middle schooler? I don't think I'd see the value as much.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Describe Your Experience with Technology; What Do I Hope to Come Away With?
I have experienced technology my whole life.
Growing up my siblings and I all had our own computers in our rooms. I grew up emailing, Google-ing, and MSNing, playing networked Warcraft II games, and using computers to complete many assignments. My parents had one of those brick cell phones for a long time, and then the phones got smaller and smaller. Our internet connection moved from dial up Juno to broadband Qwest.
After high school graduation I got my own laptop that I have filled with programs that I like to use - a ZSNES player for my Super Nintendo games, dozens of photo editing programs, and I'm now trying to get a DOS Box converter so that I can again play Warcraft II on my computer. I helped my roommates set up our wireless internet router, and a few years later helped my husband do the same thing.
A few years ago I became interested in blogging. Blogstalking was the gateway drug to this, and I have converted many friends to the blogging way as well. My friend taught me some basic html code stuff, and now I can create basic blog layouts like the one I've used here on this blog, using digital scrapbook pages and elements from here, among other places. I also have two other blogs that I write on; one for my personal journal use and one for my photography portfolio (see blog link on side).
Almost a year ago I figured out how to embed Youtube videos into my blog, and that changed my world. Seriously. Man I love technology.
To sum up, I feel pretty technologically savvy. I use webcams, Googledocs, Google Reader, and am learning how to use Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Just this past fall I purchased Microsoft Word for the first time - always using Wordperfect 12 was getting to be too much stress. At work I use Excel, and lots of programs online from BYU to do financial transactions with the click of a button.
Basically it will be interesting for me to see how I can use all of this technology in the classroom effectively. That is what I am most excited about. I'm not expecting the internet to be re-invented for me, I just want to see how I can use it best for educational purposes.
Growing up my siblings and I all had our own computers in our rooms. I grew up emailing, Google-ing, and MSNing, playing networked Warcraft II games, and using computers to complete many assignments. My parents had one of those brick cell phones for a long time, and then the phones got smaller and smaller. Our internet connection moved from dial up Juno to broadband Qwest.
After high school graduation I got my own laptop that I have filled with programs that I like to use - a ZSNES player for my Super Nintendo games, dozens of photo editing programs, and I'm now trying to get a DOS Box converter so that I can again play Warcraft II on my computer. I helped my roommates set up our wireless internet router, and a few years later helped my husband do the same thing.
A few years ago I became interested in blogging. Blogstalking was the gateway drug to this, and I have converted many friends to the blogging way as well. My friend taught me some basic html code stuff, and now I can create basic blog layouts like the one I've used here on this blog, using digital scrapbook pages and elements from here, among other places. I also have two other blogs that I write on; one for my personal journal use and one for my photography portfolio (see blog link on side).
Almost a year ago I figured out how to embed Youtube videos into my blog, and that changed my world. Seriously. Man I love technology.
To sum up, I feel pretty technologically savvy. I use webcams, Googledocs, Google Reader, and am learning how to use Photoshop, InDesign, and Illustrator. Just this past fall I purchased Microsoft Word for the first time - always using Wordperfect 12 was getting to be too much stress. At work I use Excel, and lots of programs online from BYU to do financial transactions with the click of a button.
Basically it will be interesting for me to see how I can use all of this technology in the classroom effectively. That is what I am most excited about. I'm not expecting the internet to be re-invented for me, I just want to see how I can use it best for educational purposes.
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