Tuesday, November 30, 2010

iMovie PSA NETS-T 3

I am officially a filmaker!!! I created a video using iMovie Software.  I included at least 10 clips.  To make my video visually pleasing it did some editing, I included screen effects, attached music and did a voice over in my introduction.  I also was creative with adding test to my video.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Journal 10: “Teach Your Students to Share Using iCyte” NETS-T 3

Huston, D. (2010). Teach your students to share using iCyte. Learning & Leading with Technology, 38(3), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-november.aspx

SUMMARY:
iCyte is a research bookmarking tool that is similar to Delicious, a social bookmarking tool. However, with iCyte it is easier to learn and use when doing research. There is already a team of students already with a common research task that allows them to rapidly share and collaborate information. The most crucial part of iCyte is using appropriate tags in order to get results rapidly and efficiently. By using common, multiple tags will allow students to sort out information more effectively and quickly. You must first register an account with iCyte in order to share a project and to develop that common tagging system.

QUESTION 1: What are the benefits for students using iCyte in schools?

ANSWER: iCyte is a great free technology tool that allows student to work in teams or groups to collaborate on a research project even if they are not together. With iCyte, each person can work on their own time or at the same time in different places at once. By tagging and annotating each site collectively, it will be so much easier to gather and sort out information. Also with this group collaboration, each person will effectively gain knowledge and understanding of a particular topic or issue more rapidly. Another great benefit of iCyte is that users can now embed all their research or results into their blogs and wikis to share with others that may be interested in their research topic.

QUESTION 2: How can educators help students be more successful in doing research effectively?

ANSWER: I myself am not a computer savvy person. However, after taking this Education Technology class I have learned so much about the different types of free online applications that has truly helped me in several school assignments. I am a very visual person. So seeing and being taught these types of digital tools has made me more comfortable in trying it out for myself. I believe educators should take the time to teach students how to use these digital tools such as iCyte. Educators and students should take advantage of these digital tools because they are very useful and above all, it’s all free. If educators took the time to illustrate how powerful iCyte can be, more students will not dredge doing any type of research project because they can easily obtain information more effectively and quickly with this digital tool.

Journal 9: “Scribble Maps Helps Students Visualize Their World” NETS-T 3

Hill, W. (2010). Scribble maps helps students visualize their world. Learning & Leading with Technology, 38(3), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-november.aspx

SUMMARY:
The author describes how much she loves geography. When she went to school, she was given handouts to color maps. However, there are many web-based tools to make learning geography more fun and exciting. For example, Scribble Maps is a free online application that allows students to make and share their maps. Educators have used Scribble Maps for students to do a state geography project. For example, a fourth grade student used this application for her class where she was able to plot the climate, industry, population, landmarks and landforms on the city she researched. Also, in Scribble Maps you can embed or copy a URL to add photos to make your map more detailed and visually pleasing. In addition, Scribble Maps was used in a fifth grade biome project. In this project students researched four biomes connected to four U.S. national parks. They had to describe the plants, climate and types of animals in each biome.

QUESTION 1: Is Scribble Maps easily accessible for students?

ANSWER: The great thing about scribble maps is that you don’t need a login to create a map. Once you have created your map you just have to save it as a JPEG or Google Maps file to retrieve it. If students do not have computer access at home, they can use the schools computer lab or make arrangements with teacher to come in early or stay later to use classroom computer.

QUESTION 2: How can the use of Scribble Maps be beneficial for students in the future?

ANSWER: For educators to use Scribble Maps in their curriculum will teach students to research, analyze and compare data, create a very detailed map, present and share it with others. This type of free technology application will allow students to have in-depth knowledge about all aspects of geography. They will understand the different types of climates at certain locations, animals and plants in a particalur place, they will be able to answer why there are fewer cities and be able to locate a variety of landmarks. So Scribble Maps is a powerful learning tool to use outside of school and in our own communities.

Journal 8: “I Can See Me: Webcams in the Classroom” NETS-T 2

Frey, T.J., Houlton, A.L., & Gruis, E.D. (2010). I can see me: webcams in the classroom. Learning & Leading with Technology, 38(3), Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/learn/publications/learning-and-leading/digital-edition-november.aspx

SUMMARY:
This article was about how using webcams in the classroom has benefited students in improving in their speech, reading and being able to identify their own mistakes. Students would have to read aloud in front of the webcam. During this process they are being recording visually and audibly. After the recordings, educators would sit down with students to identify mistakes and to praise them for all the correct words read. Students really loved this method of teaching. It has proven to be very effective and encourages students to be more confident in reading and speaking in front of others. I found this article to be very interesting. As I was reading, I thought about how I can implement this type of program with my future speech therapist students.

QUESTION 1: Would using webcams in classrooms be financially burdening for schools?

ANSWER: Using webcams in classrooms as a teaching method to encourage and engage students to learn while enjoying themselves is a great and inexpensive tool. Webcams are very affordable and easy to install. The schools can purchase the Logitech Quickcam that cost no more than $80. This type of webcam works very well and will do its purpose for students to record themselves, talk to other from all over the world and can upload videos to share.

QUESTION 2: Do you think students will get tired of the webcam method in the long run?

ANSWER: I think the use of webcams in the classroom will be very effective and enjoyable in the long run for all students. I believe that students like watching themselves and want to improve in every aspect in their schooling to be successful. Also, the webcam in classroom can be used to do video conferencing with other students from another city, state, country or on the other side of the world. Students will love to see what others their age is learning and doing. So webcams as a teaching tool will be a great investment in the long run.

Journal 7: Personal Learning Network NETS-T 5


My personal learning network (PLN) is web based and a little small at the moment, but a working process.  I am creating my PLN to establish relationships with those I share a same interest with and it will be my resource and learning tool as a future educator.  My PLN consists of educators, speech pathologist, various websites and online social networking sites from my twitter and delicious account.  Having a variety of educational professionals and social networking sites as part of my PLN will give me a diverse outlook, many fresh ideas and resources to learn from.  As a future educator my PLN will help me gain better understanding, knowledge and great way for me to collaborate and communicate with fellow educators, peers, parents and students.  The great thing of having a web based PLN is that it is very accessible, I can communicate with others from all parts of the world, and is always have instant and up to date information.     

Twitter is the best way to communicate and get the latest information about anything you may find interesting or an answer to a question instantly.  Even though each tweet has a maximum of 140 characters, there is so much information you can obtain and learn from.  You can send out photos, videos and other media content.  My twitter network consists of 11 people.  Jheil65 and TeachaKidd are educators with the passion of incorporating technology in their curriculum.   Internet4classr is great site with information that teaches you use how to use the Internet effectively.  TammyOfsanik, Tbcccslp and speechbob are all speech language pathologist who work in the educational field.  HomeSpHome is great source for home speech therapy ideas, materials, activities and simplified information regarding speech therapy.   aba_behavior (Applied behavior Analysis) has many resources about speech therapy that I will definitely need when I get into the Communicative Disorder Program.    TTYSpeechNYCinformation is a great place to learn more about speech disorders.  In addition, I have USNewsEducation and educationweek in my network.  Both are very informative sites that give the latest news regarding anything in education.   

I chose to follow these people on Twitter because of all the great resources and information I can learn from.  Living in a global and digital society, I think it is very important to have people and sites that you can learn from regarding the latest technology.  Incorporating technology into my curriculum can help me provide innovative learning and success for my students.  Also, being connected to other speech pathologist will help me see what they are doing in their classroom.  They can offer me fresh ideas and help answer many of my questions.  Lastly, having the educational news as part of my network is very crucial.  I will always be updated with what is going on in education, such as budget, educational programs and great place to see what how and what other schools are doing to better serve their students.


Delicious is a very resourceful social bookmarking site to include in my PLN.  My delicious network includes educators that specialize in technology and speech pathologist.  Also, edtechtalk is part of my network that has so much information about technology and how to maximize it into classrooms as a learning tool.  On my delicious tag roll, you will see that I tagged several sites such as web2.0, educational wikis, cooltoolsforschools and education blogs as PLN.  Also included as my PLN tags are speech therapy and speech language pathologists.  The major reason why I tagged these sites and people as PLN is because they share the same interest as I do and will be very great to learn more from about technology and speech therapy.   
 

Journal 6: “Change Agent” NETS-T 5

Rebora, A. (2010, October 11). Change agent. Retrieved from http://www.edweek.org/tsb/articles/2010/10/12/01richardson.h04.html?cmp=clp-edweek&intc=bs&sms_ss=delicious&at_xt=4cb7dc75d0303b73,0

SUMMARY:

Will Richardson, a former high school English and journalism teacher, is now an educational-technology consultant and co-founder of Powerful Learning Practice. He strongly believes that technology is essential for student growth and effective learning. Richardson emphasizes the importance for schools and educators to integrate Web 2.0 technology in their curriculum. He argues that educators should engage more with all these digital tools available to expose their students to the variety of technology resources and opportunities in this digital era. Richardson is devoted in helping schools to revolutionize teaching and enhance learning in order to keep up with the constant societal changes.

QUESTION 1: Is it necessary to integrate technology into classrooms, when children already spend a lot of time on the web for various social networks, such as, Facebook and YouTube?

ANSWER: It’s great that children in the 21st century are not afraid to use technology on a daily basis. It just shows that children are capable, has the ability and knowledge to use technology. However, they are not using it as a social tool rather than a learning tool. So it is very important that teachers can educate them to fully maximize the potentials of these digital tools to enhance their technologic skills for professional and personal growth.

QUESTION 2: How can educators benefit from utilizing the web and participating in social networks within their communities?

ANSWER: Educators can obtain so much information and ideas from other educators from all parts of the world by utilizing the web. There are tons of resources for educators on the web to share and learn from these online communities and networks. There are forums, social network sites especially designed for educators to get refreshing and innovative ideas in order to enhance their teaching style and effective learning. This will provide students with endless opportunities regarding technology as learning tool.