Photo Shop

  

We used photo shop during this class. I layered pictures (the lion isn't real!!) to show that you can edit pictures to make them interesting. This program can be used in the classroom for flyers and creating projects. A class picture from a trip to the Bronx Zoo can be inserted in the background of the Zoo for parents to see on a flyer that is sent home. This program is also a great program for visual learners. An icon can help students better understand what the question is asking them. Photo Shop is another way to have fun in the classroom! 

Act It Out in groups! Grasshopper, Sun, Ant

Act It Out!

Last week we got into groups and performed living art. It was a great way to understand what was happening in pictures that were taken and the story behind them. This is great to use in the classroom! Children acting out plays, working with each other and being creative is a great way to get students involved. Acting out as animals such as myself (the grasshopper) is fun to position yourself or friends to make the picture come to life. This is a great addition to readers theater. Instead of having students read lines in a play and perform for the class, allowing them to perform living art in groups is more creative and exciting for students. Acting lets the students work together and has them to think outside the box. Act It Out! 

George!

Kathy's Blog

I liked Kathy's blog because of the different technology devices that she posted about. I remember buying my first laptop when I went to college and there were so many problems with it! I regret not taking Kathy's advice on buying a laptop through the University I attended. If I had bought my laptop through my University, IT would be more able to help me with the problems. The devices she talked about made me want to go out and buy them (if only I had money). I also found it interesting that she was a teacher and now gives seminars in her retirement on education technology. I give her credit for being an older woman so knowledgable in advanced technology. 

Standards

For this class, I would like to focus my research and development of projects on Literacy for Elementary age children. I think that literacy is the core foundation for education because not only is it the most needed skill in the world, it is the most important. To be able to learn and expand on knowledge in other areas, one needs to be literate. Teaching literacy is a very difficult task and I would hope in this class I can discover ways to help students learn how to read through advanced technology.

Teddy Bears

I think this way of "pen paling" is a great idea! What a way to get students excited to write! Students some times feel that they are just writing to please their teacher or because they "have to", not because they enjoy it. Getting a Bear-o-gram is like getting e-mail for students. Not only will they be excited to read what their partner is writing to them, they will be excited to respond to them. I also like that the website provides the template for the students, therefore they do not get confused of frustrated when designing their website. It is great that students are taking the initiative to work at home to write to their partner. Students taking work home with them is really showing that they are enjoying what they are doing. It also allows students to communicate with students from other countries, ask questions and learn about other cultrues. As long as students are monitored on blogging sites, I think it's a great idea!

MP3 Article

This is an interesting article about education and technology. I am the oldest of 4 siblings 2 of which are in high school and one in middle school and I am amazed at what they are coming home with. Yes there are still books that my siblings are reading, however, there are a lot of electronic articles that they need to read. When i was in school, computers were not mandatory and very few students had their own. Now, if a student does not have a house computer let alone their own computer, it would be impossible for them to do their work. I understand that technology is important and students should be using it as much as they can, however what is wrong with hand writing homework? However, there are advantages that students have over students that went to school 10 years ago. Being able to gather information when you want it is something that was not happening 10 years ago. Students have access to  any questions they have when using the internet. I don't think books will ever stop being published but I do think that electronic education will be greater as the years go on.