10/20/11

Today we worked on websites. After we made a rapid fire of ideas we wanted to include on our website, it was difficult to start it up.  I found that using the templates were extremely difficult because they would not delete the content on it, it would just want you to add your information around it. I found that especially to be true with the pictures. I think that creating a website will be very challenging and I will need to spend a lot of time on it. Maybe once I get the hang of it I will be able to make one for my classroom use.

10/18/11

In class today, we talked about websites and how they might be used in the classroom. We viewed a website that was all made up about tree octopi ad how we need to be careful that we are not letting our students use there type of websites as resources. It is our responsibility as well as teachers to make sure that the websites we provide for our students are appropriate and non biased. We need to be aware and check out these websites before the students do.

10/13/11

Today in class we looked at what we need to do for our desktop publishing project which is due oct 25th. It has to be a September newsletter to parents and sudents 2 pages with 5 links for parents and 5 for students save it as a pdf!!!!-- FILE PRINT-- SAVE AS PDF +brochure for extra credit Some of the things I brainstormed on Inspiration was: goals for the year- where s should be by the end of the year  activities for september two sections one for parents and one for kids bio about myself field trips books we will be reading and places to find ebooks contact informatiuon school supplies activities and website resources  healthy snacks s can bring in upcoming assignments: test projects and grading bus schedules  Then we did a mock newsletter of ourselves which included pictures and some words about ourselves. Mine was a favorite of the class which I felt good about.  I think that the template newsletters and brochures on Word are great tools because they are time efficient with getting the information out there but in a beautiful manner which has already been set up for us! I will definitely be using them in my future classroom.

10/11/11

Today we presented our group topics on the NCIS standard for teachers, students, an administrators. Professor Enlow said that our slides, font, graphics, and elaboration of out slide points was great. She did not need to change anything regarding our presentation. I present my project on November 8th.
I am looking forward to hearing what other web 2.0 programs my classmates will present. Hopefully they will be useful to me and u will be able to implement them into my curriculum.

9/6/11

 In today's class we discussed different ways to do a successful presentation including:

• using bullets
• having no periods at the ends of the bullets 
• a straight font, clear and easy to read
• keeping it short--around 9ish slides
• having a graphic on each page
• starting with a hook, have objectives, and with a summary at the end
• using the B key to keep control and looking at the slides if it is clear you have lost the crowd
• making use of prezi, keynote if you know how to

I have given PowerPoint presentations in the past so I am not worried about this presentation. I know that I will need to practice before hand and make sure that I know the ins and outs of my Web 2.0 so that I will be able to answer questions and speak fluently and confidently about my website, Story Bird.

10/4/11

Today we chose our web 2.0 programs and explored goggle earth. We had to create a trip by recording different places we 'flew' to. My group went to Greece, Sydney, and Stonehenge. It opened my eyes up to a new system where what the students are learning in class can actually be visited on the computer. It is sort of difficult to use if you are new to it so if I were to do this in my classroom, I would be the only one using it the first time around and then once the students got more familiar with the program, they would be able to use it on their own. An example of them using google earth on their own is through lit trips which we explored in class. It took you around the world to places different books talked about. These downloadable programs seemed extremely useful in a classroom and a great way to incorporate technology into the classroom

9/29/11 Google Earth, Delicious

Today we talked about the effectiveness of predictive testing. We analyzed some results and talked about the positive and negative effects predictive tests can have on students and teachers. I think that predictive tests can be extremely helpful in letting you know what you need to reteach based on the eligible content of the test.


We then switched and started talking about Web 2.0 websites and our presentations. We learned that Web 2.0 websites are basically interactive, social networking sites that have abilities to share information with many people. We explored the delicious website more as well as Google Earth. I have never used delicious or Google Earth before and I am impressed with the delicious website especially. My 12th grade teacher had one that had links to Teacher Tube on how to do the math we learned in class that day. I did not understand the delicious website, but now I do and think it is great. My teacher was very technologically advanced for 2008, more so that us students! 


Overall, I am looking forward to our Web 2.0 presentations so that I can get lots of great ideas to bring to my classroom.