Tool #11

What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox? Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools. Google docs is very helpful, not only for the student but for the teacher. I want to try to implement the reviews and homework through this app. School tube is very good and appropriate for the elementary kids, Edmodo is a secure social learning network for teachers, students and schools. Edmodo provides a real-time platform to exchange ideas, share content and access homework, Blogger use blogs to promote asynchronous discussion in the classroom.

How have you transformed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom? How has your vision for your classroom changed? Are you going to need to make any changes to your classroom to accommodate the 21st Century learner?I transformed my thinking by realizing that there are many other ways that students can be successful in learning. Even though, I integrate a lot of technology in my classroom, now I will modify some of my teaching styles.

Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? Yes, I really was impressed with the way this program and idea was presented to us. It was very beneficial for a lot of teachers, who are still afraid of technology.

Tool #10

A newsletter will be sent to parents at the beginning of the year explaining digital citizenship. It should include websites available to view provided by the district. At the beginning of the year, I will address the importance and expectations of the digital citizenship and proper use of the internet in general. The students should understand the digital ethics, cyber bullying, and stranger danger along with other important ones. ISafe is a good website for the children to read about the Do’s and Don’ts of the use of technology. When conferencing with parents or open house, I will address digital citizenship and make sure that parents as well as their children understand that whatever the students do in the internet can be traced back to them.

Tool #9

First of all, the objective has to be congruent with the activity and you have to provide choices how to meet that objective. Create an open-ended/close sentences document for students to complete.

Create a Google Doc with links to websites/list of stations for the week. As students move through the stations, they can bold the station they completed that day and write a brief reflection about it. Students could include screen shots of activities.

Use the web camera or voice recorder for students to explain what they did, liked, etc.

Have a list of station options and have students sign their name next to what they did

The students should be able to create a product or contribute to a discussion with other students.

I visited TUTPUP and Learning Games for Kids, These can be used to build skills, compete with other students around the world, and choose different subjects.

Good apps for the classroom would be Ecosystems and the Discovery Channel.
Netbooks can be used to create PowerPoint, Photostory, and Animoto.

The students can use iPod Touch/iPad research for information in any given topic individually and/or with a partner..

Tool #8

I have learned is how to set up ITunes accounts for my classroom and how to sync info in the IPods and I Pads in my classroom. It is also very important how to locate and download apps for the devices and where to find ports and connections on the Dell notebooks.

I will set up a log, and classroom procedures and guidelines for the use of the devices. The devices should be labeled and named. A computer manager will be assigned to control the check out of the devices. Select a group of experts that can help trouble shoot problems, have that group share their expertise with others so capacity is built.

Tool #7

Objective: Study the relationship between the Earth, Sun, and Moon and how they affect each other.

Write a report of the relationship the Earth, Sun, and the Moon including the moon phases, the earth movement, tides, landforms, and all characteristics, etc. The students would research and share ideas with other classrooms to complete a report. This report can include videos, flipcharts, vocabulary, and a summary.

This report can be considered as a major project, which can take a long time throughout the school year.

There are a lot of tools for the students to use to accomplish their goal. The following websites and tools can be use for the report: Google doc, School Tube, You Tube, Twitter or Skype, Google reader, Blogger, etc.

After the students become aware of how to communicate to each other to share ideas, find information, and write the report, the interest of learning from other sources and collaborate with others will increase, and will make the students more eager to learn.

Tool #6

I created an account in Edmodo and I already have one in Google docs. I will use this in the classroom to maintain contact with students, share ideas, homework assistance, reviews, test, and clarification of assignments. The students will feel less intimidated of participating and asking questions, plus they can use it from home and at any time.

It can be used to post reminders, objectives of the week and any other necessary notice to the students.

http://www.edmodo.com/mpiralla

Tool #5

I used word cloud which was very easy to learn. The tutorials from YouTube are great. These tools can be used by students where they have internet access

or in stations to demonstrate understanding of content. These tools can be used in designing lessons and presentations , and embedded or linked in to your flipcharts.

With Blogger the students can create their own blog and comment in the blogs of others

Tool #4

I can use Google apps to create test, reviews, surveys, homework, and have an immediate feedback from colleagues and students. The students will be able to access this documents from home. It is easy to work with these apps.

Tool #3

After visiting some of the hosting/ streaming websites, School tube is a safe video sharing website that shows academics, sports and variety of themes that interest the students. All these websites help in the integration of technology in the classroom. I will continue using Discovery education which provides resources for teachers, parents and students including lesson plans, assessments’, videos, games, etc. in all areas.

I learned that students and teachers can pretty much do whatever they want – as far as creating products for instruction or to demonstrate learning.

You can use the pictures saved on Picasa to review an experiment or to reflect on a subject.

Tool #2

I had the opportunity to participate in a discussion boards done through PLN websites. It was an amazing experience since you learn a lot from others and share ideas. You can find live forums and lectures from experience professionals. The PLN not only enhance the children education, but provide resources to facilitate the students learning. All the information needed can gather in just one place and can be access through any computer or digital device capable to connect to the internet at any time or place.

I feel very confident of sharing ideas with others using this blogs. I think it will benefit me and my colleagues a lot, plus it will give a lot of resources. I would like to join Classroom 2.0 .(http://www.classroom2.0.com/) and research for more in the future.

Tool #1

It was quite an experience. It is nice that you can choose different items for your Voki. The experience was easier, because I did it with a co-worker that already started.