I think that Screen Recordings could be helpful in the classroom because you could use them to help teach a computer skill for the first time before the students have to use it. This way, the students all see what they are suppose to do, and what the screen should look like, when they get on their computer.
Then when they actually go to their computers, you can walk them through again. And hopefully you don't have nearly as many mishaps with going through it the 2nd time.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Flickr
I think Flickr could be helpful in teaching a unit in that you could have the students use pictures that have been taken of them to write a story about something, whatever type of topic you choose. You could give them free choice. You might have it centered around a grammar skill. They could be given a specific genre to write. There are all sorts of routes to go with stories and pictures of the students.
You could also have them take pictures of items, things around the building, nature, being there experiences. They could then write about that or do a project on those topics.
You could also have them take pictures of items, things around the building, nature, being there experiences. They could then write about that or do a project on those topics.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nn9Kwa2no-w&feature=related : These Kids are Beasts
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75DRfCwBEVs&NR=1 : Chaos in Classroom 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJnCrlvYgZo : Four Genres of Literature CBRT Performance
The first two URLs are YouTubes that show classrooms that are out of control. I plan to show these to my students at the beginning of the school year as we are learning classroom procedures. I will show the video and then have a discussion about what they think a classroom should look like compared to what they saw in the videos.
The third video is of second graders performing a skit about the four genres of literature. This will be an introduction to our discussion of genres at the beginning of the year. The video covers what the four types are, explains them, and gives examples. We will then go into more detail with our own books in the classroom.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75DRfCwBEVs&NR=1 : Chaos in Classroom 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJnCrlvYgZo : Four Genres of Literature CBRT Performance
The first two URLs are YouTubes that show classrooms that are out of control. I plan to show these to my students at the beginning of the school year as we are learning classroom procedures. I will show the video and then have a discussion about what they think a classroom should look like compared to what they saw in the videos.
The third video is of second graders performing a skit about the four genres of literature. This will be an introduction to our discussion of genres at the beginning of the year. The video covers what the four types are, explains them, and gives examples. We will then go into more detail with our own books in the classroom.
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Uses for podcasting in the classroom
Here are some ways that I have thought to use podcasting for the classroom:
1. Give parents and students detailed information and class projects so students can refer back to it at any time. Also, this way parents know what it is their students are to be doing since most students do not relay information to their parents very well. (I already created one for my podcasting assignment: in our class we do an All About Me bag for each of the students. I always have questions from parents even though I put something in the newsletter about it. This podcast explains it in detail and they can get to it at any time throughout the year.)
2. Have a podcast of work for a student that is out sick for an extended period of time so they don't get to far behind. This way it will be easier for them to keep up and they get some instruction.
3. Extra instruction for those students that are needing help to understand the concept. This way they can go over it again and again on their own time and at their own pace. Also, their parents will be able to hear how it is being taught at school.
4. Students doing reader's theatre. This would be great to have them work on reading with expression since all we will be hearing is voices. We could then compare different podcasts throughout the year to see their growth.
5. Have students become an expert on a topic and create a podcast about their topic to inform others.
6. Have students use their music smarts to create and sing a song/jingle, say an advertisement, etc. to go with a topic they have learned.
Links for related information:
Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom
Tools for TEKS: Integrating Technology into the Classroom
Classroom Tech: Podcasting
Instructional Technology: What is a podcast?
1. Give parents and students detailed information and class projects so students can refer back to it at any time. Also, this way parents know what it is their students are to be doing since most students do not relay information to their parents very well. (I already created one for my podcasting assignment: in our class we do an All About Me bag for each of the students. I always have questions from parents even though I put something in the newsletter about it. This podcast explains it in detail and they can get to it at any time throughout the year.)
2. Have a podcast of work for a student that is out sick for an extended period of time so they don't get to far behind. This way it will be easier for them to keep up and they get some instruction.
3. Extra instruction for those students that are needing help to understand the concept. This way they can go over it again and again on their own time and at their own pace. Also, their parents will be able to hear how it is being taught at school.
4. Students doing reader's theatre. This would be great to have them work on reading with expression since all we will be hearing is voices. We could then compare different podcasts throughout the year to see their growth.
5. Have students become an expert on a topic and create a podcast about their topic to inform others.
6. Have students use their music smarts to create and sing a song/jingle, say an advertisement, etc. to go with a topic they have learned.
Links for related information:
Ideas for Podcasting in the Classroom
Tools for TEKS: Integrating Technology into the Classroom
Classroom Tech: Podcasting
Instructional Technology: What is a podcast?
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Block blogs?
I don't believe that my school corporation blocks blogging sites that I know of. They do block myspace.com, but I was just talking with our technology director the other day about Ning so I think I would be allowed to use that.
I think our technology department and school corporation is pretty open in general to trying new things, as long as it is safe for the students. They want us to be trying to move forward in techonological advances.
I think our technology department and school corporation is pretty open in general to trying new things, as long as it is safe for the students. They want us to be trying to move forward in techonological advances.
Internet Safety
I feel that this is a big concern, especially since our 2nd graders are going to be getting laptops this coming year. They will be taking them home and some will have internet access there also.
Either way, if you are blogging, having the students create podcasts, vodcasts, wikis, etc., or have a wiki/webpage for your class, there needs to be thought put in to who will be able to view it and what is allowed on it.
I plan to use a google wiki for parent information. This will not have any of the students' personal information on this site. It will be open to the public. Then it will have a link to the parent blog site that I have created. I have not yet decided whether this will be private setting (invitation only) or open to the public. I am just concerned that I might not get some parents' email addresses or some grandparents might want to view it and would be interested in volunteering. If any of you have thoughts, feel free to let me know what you think.
Then, I just learned about Ning, a networking site, that will allow us to have it as a private site. I plan to use this networking site for my students' classroom use. The students will be able to blog on this site. We can also have pictures, podcasts, vodcasts, etc. on here if it is only open to the students. The only issue I see is that I will need to set up email accounts for the students to register them as members of the network. I don't know that this will be a big deal except if they would know them and try to use them outside of class. I think I can have them log in to Ning just using part of the email address (without @gmail.com), so they won't know it is their email account. (I would actually like to have them have epals too though)
*If anyone sees a specific concern, please let me know. Thanks!
Either way, if you are blogging, having the students create podcasts, vodcasts, wikis, etc., or have a wiki/webpage for your class, there needs to be thought put in to who will be able to view it and what is allowed on it.
I plan to use a google wiki for parent information. This will not have any of the students' personal information on this site. It will be open to the public. Then it will have a link to the parent blog site that I have created. I have not yet decided whether this will be private setting (invitation only) or open to the public. I am just concerned that I might not get some parents' email addresses or some grandparents might want to view it and would be interested in volunteering. If any of you have thoughts, feel free to let me know what you think.
Then, I just learned about Ning, a networking site, that will allow us to have it as a private site. I plan to use this networking site for my students' classroom use. The students will be able to blog on this site. We can also have pictures, podcasts, vodcasts, etc. on here if it is only open to the students. The only issue I see is that I will need to set up email accounts for the students to register them as members of the network. I don't know that this will be a big deal except if they would know them and try to use them outside of class. I think I can have them log in to Ning just using part of the email address (without @gmail.com), so they won't know it is their email account. (I would actually like to have them have epals too though)
*If anyone sees a specific concern, please let me know. Thanks!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
IMI Being There Experience- Chaperones needed
We have a Being There Experience coming up! We will be going to I.M.I. to learn more about rocks and minerals and kick off our unit on rocks and minerals! We will be needing 3 volunteers to chaperone students during this time. Please send me a post if you would be interested/willing to be a chaperone on this Being There Experience! Thank you in advance for your help!
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