Post #10

   The PowerPoint 2 assignment really surprised me, I didn't know PowerPoint had so many features that really change it from a PowerPoint slide-show to an engaging informational tool. The hyper-linked buttons that navigate throughout the show from page to page and home were a very neat tool, and being able to create a game through a slide-show made so many possibilities viewable for educators in all subjects. For me, I like things more simple, so added a graphic to each slide seemed a little excessive, but I understand that some students may be visual learners.

   The most interesting topics I saw in my classmates blogs were revolved around their opinions on the various assignments. It seems that maybe people in my class had a better grasp at some of the tools we went over than I did upon joining this class. I enjoyed seeing everyones different creative outlooks on the projects as well.
   I think the next technology related skill I would be most eager to learn would be more geared towards being able to use technology in the classroom and also safely and securely allowing students to share and compare work without handing off each others devices. For example if my students all had iPads and with some sort of control by me I could allow them to see their fellow classmates work for increased learning and understanding, this could be very beneficial, being able to see how others think and absorb more ways of thinking.
   I think that in the future, and even today, I could likely get most of my questions about technology answered from the internet, web based resources, or sites like YouTube. YouTube and similar sites are becoming more progressive and short videos are growing and becoming sources for news, updates, and information/instruction.

Post #9

   I think i would integrate peripherals, being any auxiliary device that connects and functions with a computer in some way, in a few ways in my classroom. These devices could nowadays include graphic tablets and projector screens, both of these devices I think could greatly improve the learning experience in the classroom, from interactive apps that engage and entice students to being able to display any and all things clear and well to a group of large children. As for non-computer audio-visual, I think the integration of films in the learning process can be very beneficial. This could go for analyzing behavior or understanding the mood or ambience of a time period.

   As an English teacher I have grown particularly fond of the web based resource site I have been utilizing called 'Great Websites for Kids'. This website is sponsored by the American Library Association and suggests a mass of websites for kids grades K through 12, including sites on authors, booklists, and activity websites! It also allows kids to get to sites where they can safely share information with each other or work on activities together.
   Once on the website itself it is a very comprehensive site with colorful tabs at the top denoting an array of different subjects, from animals to the arts. Once you click on a tab, you are given an alphabetic lists of websites pertaining to the topics, as well as sub-tabs with specifications like 'younger kids' and 'for kids by kids'. Not to mention the great feature 'Website of the Week' which displays a random popular site that engages kids to learn something they weren't searching for!
Site: http://gws.ala.org/

   I can see myself, considering I am likely to be teaching reading comprehension and writing skills, using Excel and similar tools mainly for grading purposes. I could utilize it to make graphs representing where most kids find interest in reading such as different genres of books or styles of writing. I could also keep track of books read and use the graphs as a motivation tool for students to excel in class.

   I really enjoyed doing the assignment PowerPoint 1, I personally created a poetry powerpoint to hook kids on some interesting facts about poetry and poets. Learning how to properly integrate graphics to make a powerpoint more interesting excited me as a future teacher to see what I'm capable of and see what appeals to my own processes of teaching and learning. Also the smart art graphics made a lot of material very easy to comprehend and seemed that it would engage bored students.

Blog Post #7

   A presentation software such as PowerPoint would support student learning very well in all knowledge dimensions. The first knowledge dimension, being the cognitive process of remembering, is enhanced because students need to first gather facts for their presentation to collect for their PowerPoints. Next, the cognitive process of understanding, is where PowerPoint essentially comes into play, students learn to sort their information into groups and fact relationships to organize and reformat their info into a comprehensive multimedia format. The next step in the cognitive process is applying, where students actually use their technology skills through PowerPoint to create multimedia, such as flowcharts and concept maps or making sound and video. The last three processes of analyzing, evaluating, and creating come down to comparing facts others have gathered, viewing and comparing other students PowerPoints, and creating a concise finished presentation. 

   Adaptive technologies are devices and softwares designed to help people and students who want to educate themselves but are either at a low level of learning or have mental or physical disabilities. For example the technology JAWS which is a screen reader for people who are blind, and WYNN Wizard which is a scanning and literacy software for people with learning disabilities. I believe that the only challenges that might be faced with using adaptive technologies in the classroom would be an unfair distribution or availability of whatever technology might be offered, or of course normal technological interruptions and difficulties. 

   I enjoyed working with my group members on this weeks assignment Web Page Design, i find it to be a new and necessary skill to be able to create a website of your own and utilize it's different options. Creating working links, a calendar, and making the website visually appealing was a good skill I didn't realize I needed to work on. In the future I'm sure being able to create a user-friendly and aesthetically pleasing website would be a vital skill in the classrooms of the future, for updating information, grades, and giving access to recommended online resources.  

Blog Post #6

   I think a course website as an educator isn't entirely necessary, but I do think to have one could also provide benefits and be useful in a few ways. If it were mainly geared towards the parents or guardians of the students, then I think it could be important. This way a parent could have 24/7 access to what's coming up in class, what events are coming up, information about material and ways to better prepare your child, and even frequently asked questions and helpful info! I think taking a brief amount of time each week to put forth effort into a website is something that can be very helpful to reach out to students and parents and increase parent-school environment. In our growing technological age, I think this is a necessary tool.
   I think through the use of various technologies I could help improve my students interactive learning and better instill things that students would otherwise find boring or banal subject matter. Through the use of web tools 2.0 teachers now have the opportunity to make presentations very fun and engaging, and this could only be beneficial to topics that are hard to teach to uninterested students. Not only them, but as a teacher technology could teach me a lot in the classroom. I have access to all sorts of databases and information on the web that could expand my knowledge as an educator, and also have access to different types of lesson plans and approaches to teaching that benefit both the students and myself.

Post #5

Of all the latest web 2.0 tools the Internet offers I have grown particularly fond of the website Prezi. Prezi is a new bold reinvention of presentation software, and not to mention it’s free. These presentations take any and all subjects to the next level of intrigue; you won’t have to worry again about people forgetting your presentation. With the zoom features taking you in and out of your story, you can captivate your audience constantly. You could also work with others and make collaborative group work a lot more efficient- above all you can make it personal.

            What I also enjoy about Prezi is that it works similar to a cloud-based concept, you can present from any where at anytime from any device. As well as have the ability to edit your presentations. They offer a massive amount of information from a database where you can search things and be inspired in your work. I’ve also had wonderful experiences with the 24/7 tech support when I’ve ever experienced any confusion!

The link to the blog is this; https://prezi.com/ and can also be found in the sidebar of my blog!

I think web 2.0 can be very useful in the k-12 classroom. For one, technologies that help with presenting information to students are vital to instilling education in young learner, examples of these are; Prezi and Picsviewer. While I don’t think Mobile tools, or social networking affiliated websites as useful in this grade range some of the video tools are crucial in our growing age! ‘Animoto’ is great for making visually pleasing and engaging videos, here you can present information to children without distractions keeping them from paying attention.

I actually happened to enjoy doing the Web Hunt exercise, though I’m not too great with more modern technologies I can search for random things better than I expected. I think this exercise showed me my capabilities for creating effective short word phrases that work best for searching a longer or more descriptive topic of. I think the ability to find information easily will be a great tool for myself as an educator. I will be able to easily answer any question a student might catch me off-guard with.

Post 4

   Web based resources can be questionable for a number of understandable reasons. Of course, when finding real information on the Internet, one has to wonder whether or not certain information is faulty or limited. Also, plagiarism becomes a much easier tactic in lazy students when given access to the Internet and it's various sources. The way I might deem this a helpful and skillful way to gain access to more information than ever before would be to limit the list of web-based resources to federally approved websites, or one's created by certified educators. There are many websites that give students various web portals that are educationally and federally approved that many teachers would support, some of these websites would include; Ibis Communications and NASA Quest.
http://www.ibiscom.com/index.html
http://quest.arc.nasa.gov/

  My personal views on using the Internet for student research have changed greatly over the years. From a cynical teen growing in a modern world, one who loves the tangibility of a paper book or textbook, I used to shrug off the Internet as a resource and assert it as an easy and lazy way out. But, being that I'm not 16 anymore, and in this growing world of technology have to be accepting of the rapid technological advances of our society, my mind has changed. The Internet like everything, has its flaws, but what it does provide, that wasn't possible before, is access to almost all information one might seek at the click or tap of a finger. One student could, with his or her own ambition, gain far more knowledge in a short amount of time than one running across libraries, fingering through pages all over town.

   Since first beginning college I've thankfully had access to wonderful school-based search engines that link me to various article filled sites, and approved educational sites with a multiplicity of online resources. Of course, as we learned as students for many many years, there are certain websites that are usable and others we should avoid at all costs (i.e. Wikipedia). Usually when evaluating a source I regularly check the publisher of the sites, it's credibility through a Google-search, and so on. The access to our library's home page has greatly improved my selection of credible websites.

   I actually very much enjoyed this weeks Inspiration assignments and skill check. I had no idea word had a program like Mail Merger and if I do end up teaching that is something I can certainly see as a very helpful tool to utilize when working on mass communication newsletters/forms and such. As for the concept maps, I didn't particularly enjoy them, and don't see them as the most helpful or efficient tool in our day and age, but it felt good to familiarize myself with technologies I have yet to learn about before.

Post 3

            When critiquing the visual aspects of a website I chose to evaluate the child- friendly educational site titled ‘Funbrain”. This site is meant to enhance math and reading skills through computerized arcade games, making the learning more approachable and enjoyable. As far as general design is concerned, there are no overwhelming sounds or moving designs on the main home page of the site, making reducing any overbearing elements while still being bright and colorful. Also every link is near or associated with a corresponding picture or graphic that makes it comprehensive for young students, and the colorful and fun design affects help engage low-spatial learners. All texts and links on the site are enhanced slightly by animated graphics in a manner that is organized and clear without being excessive, and the only plain text is underlying links with short visually appealing information. What stands out to me is how well they are aware of their younger audience and appeal to them in their stylistic techniques. (See link: http://www.funbrain.com/)

             Open content and education is something that makes perfect sense when it comes to increasing our learning capabilities and growth as people. With the idea of open content constructed the world will, and has, developed a multiplicity of routes towards higher education. It along with open sources has allowed free access to higher education and scholarly content across the globe. Many students I know today benefit greatly from a website titled Khan Academy, which is an interactive and helpful free teaching site for mathematics at all levels. Similarly with open textbooks concepts, the constant reprinting of newer editions is eliminated, and gives millions of students more access to knowledge than they could without the concept.

            The Word and Graphics 2 assignment was one that honestly wasn’t particularly easy for me, but because of it I have newly gained skills and ideas about the website. What I enjoyed about it was being able to make it my own creatively, because I chose not to use a template, and also the designing of the layout to make it concise and clear was something I haven’t had much experience in. What I didn’t like about it was I was a little confused on how the layout would sometimes entirely change because of the margins and other ways the document is set-up. I did enjoy writing short comprehensive stories and making it fun; if I do end up teaching English I know I can have fun with this.