Sunday, December 9, 2012

Blogfolio



Introduction Video and paragraph: 3a. Demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.  I think that the introduction video and paragraph would be good for the beginning of the year. It makes sure that the students do know how to use the general technology of the internet and a blog-interface. While most students are going to have the knowledge of a general internet site, this could help them in areas where they are unfamiliar like uploading videos and files to websites. It is a good way for the teacher to introduce the course work for the year as well.

Ghostery: 4a. Advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources. Ghostery is an online application through Mozilla Foxfire that tracks who is monitoring the user on a specific website. This could show to the students how to be safe on the internet, not only when online shopping but even when using Facebook. This broadens the students’ knowledge of learning how the internet sites make their money and how advertisements really work.

Facebook: 1c. Promote student reelection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students’ conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes. I think that examining their facebook and other social media sites would give the students an insight of what the world would think of their facebook. Not only would I ask the students to examine their facebook pages but those of their friends and an adult that they admire, and I would ask how they thought this reflected on their role in society. Really this could be used with any social networking site.

Concept Map: 2c. Customize and personalize learning activities to address students’ diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources. I liked doing the concept map for the simple fact I liked the organization of the materials. This would address those students who are learners like me that require extreme organization. This could be used when trying to organize things such as a Senior Project, Term Paper, or for really any research project.

Voki: 2a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. This would be good for students who are audio learners rather than visual. This could be used many ways either the students present research materials or I could give the students a break by listening to different characters. This website was fairly easy to use and would be useful for grades 5 and up. It allows them to take a break from the books and create something that would promote both creativity and learning.

Webpage 3c. Communication relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital media and formats. This would be more beneficial to me as a teacher and the parents of my students. I would use my webpage to keep both the student and parent informed of the latest assignments, test, quizzes, and any other relevant school news. The students could use this to learn how to create a webpage so that they would have that general knowledge.  They could create a webpage for their organization in school or sports program.

XtraNormal: 3d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning. XtraNormal would be a brilliant way to present any researched material that the students wanted to discuss, or even use for a class debate. Like Voki the students could use this instead of writing a paper, the information could be turned into an informational video.

Movie Maker: 5a. Participate in local and global learning communities to explore creative applications of technology to improved student learning. Movie maker could be implemented in many different ways. From doing an end of the cumulative project, or a story about their lives; this would give students a chance to explore their creative style and present materials in a way that doesn’t really seem like class work.

Thursday, October 4, 2012

Problem and Item

Well this will be interesting...
Dr Beedle told us to write down a problem (my roommates are to friggin loud) and a random item that we owned (my Keurig) and use the item to solve the problem. After a day of pondering this... I have come up with a solution. My roommate loves herbal tea.. In fact she loves it so much she drinks it before bed most nights. So I have decided since I've got a paper and test coming up, I'm going to feed her herbal tea constantly (which is being brewed by my Keurig). Herbal tea seems to keep this crazy child calm. If that doesn't help then I will brew a "special" herbal tea with a dose of ZzZZQuil, it's ok I promise I got permission from her mom to do so! Considering I've known this girl all my life, I wouldn't feel bad using my Keurig to help me get some much needed studying done.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Social Networks Concept Map


Social Networks


Social Networking is the "bread and butter" in the world of technology. It is often uncommon to come upon someone in today's working world that does not have any form of social media. While Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google+ are the most popular among college students, there are many more forms of networking available. In education social networking is on the rise, schools today are often using these programs to have better connection between parents and administration. For example: Rankin County School District has a Facebook and Twitter account ran by their Informational Technology Department to relay messages from the Superintendent to the Parents about important  events that could take place from school closures, or emergency events.


I.       Instagram


Instagram is a miniature version of photoshop, but in application form. This allows the user to apply preloaded filters on to photos that they wish to upload to the social network of their choice. Instagram was launched in October of 2010 with the intent of allowing users to "amp" up their photos with ease, soon Facebook would catch wind and buy this application . Users can use hashtags (#) to link their photos to certain events or sayings. For example: #SMTTT.


A.    Followers


B.    Photos


 


1.    Like


2.    Comment


II.     Facebook


This social network launched in 2004 with the intent of connecting Harvard and other Ivy League schools to one website, so came the birth of FaceMash (Soon to be renamed The Facebook). Mark Zuckerburg's intent was for this website to connect college students all over the world together, but it soon broke wind into highschools and even adults. Now Facebook is the biggest social networking site in technological history. With Facebook businesses can show to their consumers the inventory in stores, or even motivational speakers can share with their audience where and what they are speaking on or about. The most common use for Facebook is to post pictures, statuses, and events that is pertinent to the user's life, so that other users may comment and see whats going on in someone else's world.


A.    Friends


B.    Newsfeed


1.    Comments


2.    Statues


III.    Twitter


Twitter is a simpler version of Facebook. It allows the user to post statuses bound to 140 characters. The user can use hashtags (#) to connect their tweets to an event or others tweets to see what is popular and what is trending. Schools are getting really involved in this movement because of how simple the updates are for parents!


A.    Followers


B.    'Tweets'


1.    Retweets


2.    Favorites


IV.    Pinterest


A.    Boards


Completely different from the updates for educational purposes, Pinterst has become the world wide women's sites for anything and everything. A board for recipes and and quick tips for the busy moms who does not have the time for a super fancy dinner. From seasonal holiday crafts, to classroom activities anyone can get their creative juices flowing through this application. It is now available for both the Internet use, as well as on iPhones and iPads.


1.    Repin


2.    Wedding Board


Every female that has pinterest that is single I can guarantee has their wedding of their dreams planned out. If it is not bad enough, my mother and grandmother have my wedding planned for me. HOW CONVENIENT!!!


B.    Pins


V.     Google +


A.    Blogger


B.    Circles


1.    Hangout


2.    Events


"Practical advice for teachers" Summary

Snezana Markovic' a teacher in Serbia makes up for the fact they do not allow online education for primary and secondary students. She created a program called the "Creative School" database which is an online tool to help teachers maximize the success of their student's want to learn. This was able to take a child who was not interested in a particular subject and manage to find a way for the students to be successful in it, in a way that suited them. It's simply a tool not online learning. I like the fact she took the initiative to create this to keep up with the every changing world of technology, instead of letting the fact online education is not allowed. I think her database is a good balance between teaching and technology.