Final Reflection Blog

I have learned so much in this class! At the beginning of the semester, I was not really aware of what kinds of technology I could implement in the classroom. I had no idea that Wikis, Blogs, or Podcasts could be so fun and useful! I've learned a lot about all of these technologies (the only thing I really knew how to do coming into the class was to make a basic Powerpoint). I've learned that using technology in the classroom can be a fun and easy way to allow students to learn, but the largest thing I learned is to stay organized with everything you do on the computer! This includes making sure you know where you save any file, as well as writing down all Usernames and passwords for any account you may create. I have already begun to see how beneficial this class has been to me just in my C&I 200 observing - the kids were using the computers to research Egyptian projects and type out stories, and I really feel like I was able to help them out with the computers. I also saw how important it was to stay organized in these situations - students were constantly saving their stories and projects, but then had to start over because they couldn't remember where they had saved it. I see myself implementing almost every technology tool we learned about, except for perhaps Twitter accounts because I feel as though there is a negative connotation with Tweeting in our society and I don't think kids would take it as seriously as, say, a classroom Blog. However, I honestly feel as though everything we learned about will be extremely beneficial to me in the future!!

What I Think About Google Earth!!

Today, Wednesday, April 28, 2010, was my very first experience with Google Earth and I cannot believe how amazing it is! I am so excited with the various features that it entails, including being able to see your own home, marking exact places with a tack, viewing oceans, the stars and the moon, and even viewing a place before and after a catastrophic event, such as the earthquake in Haiti. Out of all of the technology we have used thus far, Google Earth is by far my favorite. Also it is kind of scary to think that someone can zoom in and view your house so close that you can see your car in the drive way, I think it is an amazing way to connect people to the world around them. I will definitely incorporate this into my classroom in some way--maybe I'll take my students on a tour of Egypt in our own classroom!

Finals are coming up....Final Podcast!!!

Sounds from freesound.org :)

Finals are coming up!

Initial Thoughts on Using Twiiter in the Classroom!

I've always been pretty skeptical of tweeting, since I have only heard people and celebrities (namely Miley Cyrus) bashing people through their Twitter. I thinking using Twitter in the classroom could be a useful tool if it is used only for educational purposes and isn't used to degrade anyone in anyway. To me, since Twitter already has a negative connotation to it, I think that it would not be as useful as a class blog. The information that I found on using Twitter in the classroom was essentially the same was using a blog, except for it seems to me to be more open to the public and more susceptible to rambling on petty subjects. I think I might use Twitter in my classroom if I became more comfortable with it, but until then I think I will just stick to personal responses or blogging.

My Thoughts Using Google Docs

Recently, we have been exploring the features of Google Docs and I find that it could be a very positive tool in the classroom. Although a person would be able to have Microsoft Office word, powerpoint, or excel on their computer, it is very useful to have it on the internet as well. Not only is it very easy to share with others, but it backs-up your projects so they do not accidently get lost or erased. I find this to be the major positive in using Google Docs; it seems in every class I take there are students (including myself) who have lost jumpdrives or forgotten where they saved an assignment, or even having a glitch in the system and not saving it at all. The downfalls I see of Google Docs are that not everyone has access to the internet at all time; if a teacher is just using Google Docs, it could be difficult for some students to complete assignments. Additionally, there are some features missing from Google Docs that can be found on regular Microsoft applications. For example, in our group Google Doc project, I was in charge of the powerpoint; however, I was not able to use clipart in the Google Docs program. This is a very small inconvience, but it was an inconvience all the same. I think Google Docs could be useful in the classroom but, like all technology, I believe, it needs to be balance with other resources to give every student the same opportunity.

WIKIS.

When we started talking about Wikis, I thought it was a pretty exciting concept...being able to change whatever you want when you want on a post makes a person feel empowered. Although it is a pretty fun and interesting thing, it could be extremely frustrating sometimes. I felt Wikis were a lot more complicated than I expected, especially when every one is trying to change the Wiki at once. Stuff got erased, we had to re-do everything multiple times...it just seemed difficult. Also, changing the format was a little too complicated for me. I think I would like Wikis a lot more if they were simplified a tid bit!