Final Reflection

My A-HA Moments

Throughout the semester I found myself saying wow many different times. I have learned so much in such a short period of time and it encourages me to continue growing as a professional educator. One of the most memorable articles I read explained the Askvox website. I was surprised when I discovered that there was a web site I could go to and get the direct answer I was looking for by asking a real person. I went to www.askvox.com to check out the sight and it is accurate, fun, and interactive! I think this is a great way for students to search for information on the internet.
The next a-ha moment I had was when I began listening to podcasts. I was oblivious to the fact that podcasts exhisted so when I began listening to them, it opened a whole new field of information. I particularly enjoyed Room 208 because it made me realize that there was so much a class of students could create by using podcasting. They were practical and fun to listen to.
The last wow moment I had was when I was introduced to social boomarking pages- delicious and portaportal. I had over thirty pages that were boomarked on my computer but in no particular order which made it difficult to locate. I had no prior knowledge about either of these sites but after using them for a few minutes, I realized it was simple to navigate through and locate bookmarked pages. I will continue to add my favorite and useful web sites to delicious and portaportal in the future!

6 classmates' web sites

Kerrie- I enjoyed the colorful backgrounds on your site. The pictures you incorporated from your classroom are great, and using the students' projects for your ABC book was a good idea- what a treasure for you and the students! I also like how you separated your links into teacher/student/parent categories. I would double-check your podcast because I couldn't get it to work. Some links took me to different pages than it said. Maybe change the second text colors when you click on GO TO buttons so the text is still readable on the background color. Other than that, everything looked awesome!

Chris- I thought you had a great idea for you abc book but I noticed the text wass difficult to read; maybe make it larger. Some of the pages were linked to the home page instead of what the button that it said it linked to. Did you save all the pictures into your projects folder- the home page looked like it was missing something? I liked the simplicity to your buttons and it was easy to locate everything!

Roger- I like the consistency in buttons and color because it made your site simple and easy to read. When you have a chance, maybe add more to your delicious/portaportal sites so we can use the helpful links! I thought your home-page was very organized!

Jessie- The site was easy to read and had an eye-catching home page-Fort Hays colors?! I like your welcome statement- it flowed naturally and did make me feel welcome to be looking at the site. I couldn't get the podcast to work but it might have been my computer. You included great pictures that show so much about you and will help your employers and future students get to know you better! I noticed that when I clicked on anything from a frame other than one, it took me back to frame one to navigate through the other pages. This wouldn't take long to fix and might make it easier to navigate throught. Otherwise, great web site and I am REALLY looking forward to watching your iMovie.

Ashley- I love your picture slideshow. It was a great idea to incorporate into your website- how fuN! Your travel ambassador movie was awesome too! I can't believe it's possible to put together such a fun and interesting movie by using pictures. I also liked that you included a shedule in your website but I thought the text would have been easier to read if it were bigger or black. Fun movies, fun pictures, fun web site!

Joan- I really enjoyed your awesome ABC book and I learned so much about you! Your students will also be able to learn about you by reading your ABC book. The only suggestion I had was to put a rectangle behind the words and change the opacity so the words would stand out more and be easier to read. Your web site was simple to navigate through and I enjoyed your pictures. I also thought your iMovie was great!

As of now, my web site has a firm foundation, but if i were to create my web site again, and especially if I have my own class, I would incorporate a class schedule so parents and students know what to expect on a daily basis. Also, I would create a calendar for the school year reminding parents and students of upcoming events. In addition, I would seperate my links into categories such as parents/teachers/students. I thought this was a great idea and adds some organization to the links page. My site would be much larger if I had my own classroom because I would create pages for students' work and add pictures of my students. This would allow them to show their family members and friends what they have been working on in the classroom and what they are proud of. I forgot to include my management plan which is an important part of my teaching philosophy so I would also add that to my web site. Besides adding depth to my web site, I think the overall look and organization is well thought out. I did not want it cluttered or difficult to read and I think I accomplished that. I am excited to get my mac so I can continue adding to my web site.

Week 16 Podcasts

KidCast

Episode: 5
Big Announcements Coming, SingCast?, OLMS Cast
Dan Schmidt addresses the fact that podcasts leave out hearing impaired or deaf students. How can we make podcasting accessible for them? One great way is video blogging. It wouldn’t just be any video, it would be a SignCast. This would show sign language as the answer to communicate with theses students. I actually had never thought about this and I think it is a great idea to incorporate SignCasting so more students can be reached! In addition, other students might be able to benefit from it as well be learning some sign language.

ITM
MacWorld 2007
Many people were interviewed and expressed their views about students using iPhones to enhance learning. They all seemed to support the thought of a one-to-one student to iPhone ratio. The rationalized that instead of banning cell phones because of discipline problems, they should be used more to benefit students. I agree that iPhones would be great for each student to have but I can't see that ever happening; who knows, I never thought each student would be given a laptop either. It just seems like allowing students to use iPhones would open the door to a lot more discipline problems. I guess it is all in how you chose to manage your classroom.

Tech Chick Tips

Episode Date: 02-27-07
Episode: 20
The Tech Chicks suggested www.ThinkQuest.org as a link for learning is a collaborative educational site for kids to post their projects. This would be beneficial for students of all ages. Children are so proud when they can display their artwork and show it off to a friend or family member. Why not provide students in your classroom the opportunity to show the entire world what they are capable of creating!

Week 15 Podcasts

TEDtalks

Episode Date: 2005
Episode Title: Jimmy Wales- founder of Wikipedia
This was a really interesting talk by the founder of Wikipedia, Jimmy Wales. He explained that his goal for Wikipedia is to get free encyclopedia to anyone around the world. It is composed of over 2 million articles, which I thought was amazing! This site has become truly global and is listed as one of the top 50 web sites in the world! One fact that jumped out at me is that Wikipedia is run by a group of 600 to 1000 volunteer editors. Although the site is free, I did not realize it would be run by a team of volunteers, and the numbers blew me away!

ITM

Episode Title: Sketchup
Sketchup is an amazing tool to experiment with designs brought to us by Google. It is FREE software that can change the way people are viewing Google Earth. I just taught a unit about maps and I think using Google Earth and Sketchup would have been great activities to incorporate into the lesson. Another way students in school have used it is by measuring their school and creating a 3D Sketchup model of the school. Technology is really changing the way we live!

KidCast

Episode: 30
Episode Title: Phonecasting
While running on marathons, Dan Schmidt will use phonecasting to listen to messages on his iPod. All we have to do, as listeners, is to call 831-303-2994 and leave Dan Schmidt an encouraging message and he will get it while he is running his marathons. In this podcast he also addressed the fact that students could use phones to call and reflect about a class project or discussion during class. This can be done through www.gcast.com. The audio blogging system would be a great way to involve all students and hear their feedback. It is amazing how fast times change; I never would have imagined this possible when I was in elementary school!

Week 14 Podcasts

KidCast

Episode Title: Photo Story and Jodix
Date: 03-23-07
Episode Number: 39
Dan Schmidt shared that podcasting can become a visual tool as well as audio tool by downloading Photo Story (for FREE) from the Microsoft website and create video stories by adding pictures. I find the podcasts with video more entertaining as a listener so I imagine students would feel the same. We do live in a world where we are constantly being stimulated. We even have moving billboards! However, when allowing students to add video to their own podcasts in the classroom, I think it is essential to stress the importance of the content so students don’t waste time worrying about the appreance.

TEDTalks

Episode Title: Al Gore
Date: 06-25-06
Episode Number: N/A
Al Gore spoke about his concerns and what we can do to avoid a global climate crisis. In the field of technology, we can use carbon calculators to detect CO2 emissions and use computers to collect the data. By using computers, it puts the input data into understandable data which we can evaluate, monitor, and take control of. More information about the calculators can be found at www.carboncalculators.com.

Room 208

Episode Title: 3
Date: 11-18-05
Episode Number: Elizabeth’s Book talk
The students gave their news of the week and began the session by reading a diamond poem. In addition to reading it, the students discussed the elements which would be beneficial for other students to hear and learn from peers. By allowing students to podcast out of the classroom and lead the discussion, I think they will do better work and have fun! I enjoy Room 208 because it is primarily the students entertaining and teaching the listeners.

Week 13 Podcast

TEDTalks

Episode Title: Peter Gabriel
Date: 12-07-06
Episode Number: N/A
Peter Gabriel explained why he gives video cameras to citizens to document human-rights abuses. If someone has something happen to them, we should take advantage of the technologies we have, such as cameras, computers, and phones, to get it out in the open and get it heard so other can learn from it and begin to transform the world. This podcast was interesting and provided insight on different ways technology could be used to help keep citizens feeling safe.

Moving at the Speed of Creativity

Episode Title: Electronic Response System
Date: 2-20-07
Episode Number: 131
I did not realize that classrooms were using electronic response systems in the classroom! This sounds like so much fun and a motivating technique to use during whole-class instructions. The Electronic Response System is a PowerPoint which teachers can type questions into and the students answer in a multiple choice format and the results appear individually and as a class on the screen. The results are also recorded in a spreadsheet for teachers’ documentation purposes or for future reference. This is awesome and would be a beneficial investment to a classroom!

Tech Chick Tips
Episode Title: 3
Date: 07-20-06
Episode Number: Unscripted
The Tech Chicks recommended using http://www.citationmachine.net/ which is an interactive web form to help site APA and MLA style references. WOW! Where was this all year when I needed it? This would have been very useful and I will be using it in the future! They also discussed student safety when students podcast. Be aware of what they’re saying; they should be vague on location, not include their name (DJ name), have emails forwarded first to the teacher and responses should go to teacher before sending a return email. I think this is common sense but the little things that some teachers might not think of during a busy time of year. We just need to make sure we are doing everything we can to keep the students safe.

Week 12 Podcasts

KidCast

Episode Title: Teens as Content Creators
Date: 11-02-05
Episode Number: 4
This podcast was about how we use the internet and teens as content creators and consumers. Significant report: 57% of online teens create content for internet (blogs). They can interact and share information. I wondered how this would compare to results of those who do not interact on the internet and simply use it as a resource for researching information. 37% of students who use the internet share artwork, photos, videos, webpages, blogs, and podcasts. Dan Schmidt’s prediction about podcasting exploding in next year was very accurate! The internet is a great way for students to take information in but also get their information out. A fun website that Dan Schmidt suggested was www.club4th.com. The site is a classroom page with a newscast, created by elementary students.

Infinite Thinking Machine

Episode Title: Calculate This
Date: 3-28-07
Episode Number: 5
Choose your own adventure on the internet! Students are now able to create simulations for various events by using wiki software. Collaboratively students are creating and sharing simulations about historical events which allow them to gain knowledge in a fun and interactive way. For example, one high school district has a Holocaust Wiki Project. As a student, I wouldn’t have enjoyed doing this but my brother would have been just the opposite and taken full advantage of it! I think it is a great way to integrate technology into the social studies curriculum.

Tech Chick Tips

Episode Title: 2
Date: 07-15-06
Episode Number: chacha.com (and other websites)
The tip of the day was that music from freeplaymusic.com cannot be used for broadcast purposes such as in podcasts. This was something the Tech Chicks had previously mentioned and wanted to verify that listeners know that the music cannot even be used for educational purposes unless you have paid a fee. It is important for listeners to know this information so they assume incorrect information is true.

Week 11 Podcasts

Infinite Thinking Machine

Episode Title: And the Walls Came Tumbling Down
Episode Number: 6
This episode covered the advantages of social networking and online communities in the field of education. Despite the numerous negative aspects educators and administrators have expressed concerning social networking. These negative perspectives come from social networks which are open to anyone with a first and last name. However, there are safe networks for young students to meet other children their age, play games, and interact socially through chatting. I think these networks can be implemented in the schools for educational purposes that would benefit the students. Allowing students to connect with other students from different parts of the world would encourage and motivate learning about various geographical concepts and cultures. When students know that they are learning useful and practical information, they will be more likely to retain it.

Moving at the Speed of Creativity

Episode Title: Science and Math Videos on a Purple COW
Date: 3-17-07
Episode Number: 140
Wesley Fryer interviews a representative of Ignite Learning during this podcast. She talks about the purple COW, "Curriculum On Wheels" that Ignite sells. The COW is a digital curriculum product that focuses on instructional content in the subjects of math and science in the upper elementary and middle school levels. This seems like a fun and motivating addition to ANY classroom! I think the best advantage to the COW is that it is so convenient (does not require an internet connection, includes its own projector, only needs a power supply and a place to project it). After attending a school with the best technology being an old TV on a squeaky cart, I can’t believe it has come so far! I just wonder how much a Purple COW costs?

Tech Chick Tips

Episode Title: 21
Date: 03-15-07
Episode Number: chacha.com (and other websites)
The Tech Chicks talked about a few interesting websites throughout this podcast. The first one was chacha.com which functions as a search engine but other people respond to a question. The Tech Chicks went to the site for the first time during the podcast and seemed leery that they were talking to a real person. Even if this is a computer responding, I think this site is a great way for students to learn how to familiarize themselves with the internet. Younger students who are searching for specifics independently may use this to help find a legitimate site for the topic at hand. Another site that was emphasized was Tumblr, which can serve as a basic site for students to blog. The Tech Chicks stressed the importance of the site being user-friendly for elementary students. Also, the blog spot does not allow comments. While students are learning how to blog, and until they become more comfortable and confident with their writing, not allowing comments might be beneficial. However, as students begin asking questions and feeling more comfortable, changing to a site where they can experience that social connection with readers is important. Instead of students always using journals, I think blogging is a great idea, no matter what age!