1. What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox?
One of the best tools for myself is finding online resources and using them in the classroom including video and games. This is a new aspect that will make my job easier and not make me have to create everything I want to use in the class. I also want to model the use of GoAnimate, MakeBeliefsComix and TikaTok.
2. How have you transformed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom?
The journey has surely changed my thinking and how Pre-K children can use the tools and be prepared for future learning. They will become digital citizens and have many resources under their belts to use for many years.
How has your vision for your classroom changed?
I have begun to create a new plan and organization for my classroom to make the tools more accessable.
3. Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
The greatest outcome was that I found I was able to navigate new programs and will be able to use them independenty and teach them to my students.
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Tool #10 - Underneath it All - Digital Citizenship
Digital Citizenship could be a difficult concept for my Pre-K children to comprehend;however, becoming a member at such a young age it is important to make sure children understand the responsibility of being a digital citizen.
Several items to communiate would be to "Be Kind" online, just as they have to be in person. Students must understand to remain "Safe" and know that they don't give out any personal information such as name, address, school name, phone #, etc. Finally, the students understand not to set up passwords or navigate to sites that have not been approved by the teacher while working at school.
NetSmartzKids is a site that I thought would make learning about internet safety more enjoyable for Pre-K children. I also thought BrainPop would be a valuable resource that will give the students good resources.
Several items to communiate would be to "Be Kind" online, just as they have to be in person. Students must understand to remain "Safe" and know that they don't give out any personal information such as name, address, school name, phone #, etc. Finally, the students understand not to set up passwords or navigate to sites that have not been approved by the teacher while working at school.
NetSmartzKids is a site that I thought would make learning about internet safety more enjoyable for Pre-K children. I also thought BrainPop would be a valuable resource that will give the students good resources.
Tool #9 Incorporating Classroom-Based Devices as Tools for Learning
The link below is one that I feel will allow me as the teacher to provide resources for the students review, reteaching and new learning for Pre-K learning objectives. http://www.learninggamesforkids.com/ and http://www.studyladder.com/
I believe by maintaining the objectives of TLW learn to recoginze letter names in context or TLW distinguish letters from numerals the student will be able to use several of the games from the sites above to assist them in reteaching and reinforcing classroom instruction. The technology will be a wonderful new tool for the students to solidify learning and be able to have independent practice.
I believe by maintaining the objectives of TLW learn to recoginze letter names in context or TLW distinguish letters from numerals the student will be able to use several of the games from the sites above to assist them in reteaching and reinforcing classroom instruction. The technology will be a wonderful new tool for the students to solidify learning and be able to have independent practice.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Tool #8 Looking at the Tools
I will be receiving 3 Netbooks and 5 iTouches for my classroom and I am very excited about giving my students exposure to both of the tools.
With the 3 Netbooks, I believe it will give students the opportunity to explore different programs and items in Google Docs. This tool will give my PK children an opportunity to practice with keyboarding, learning letters and about how to use parts of the keyboard- space bar, enter, delete, backspace, tab, caps lock, etc. I think by allowing them to explore at an early age this can remove some of the confusion when they are in older grades. The newest and most difficult to use will be the webcam, but after the initial instruction it should become easiar and more productive.
With the 5 iTouches, I will be very deliberate with the apps that I load to make sure they are all grade level appropriate, I will also load recorded books that are useful for my students.
To manage the iTouches in the classroom my plan is to divide the students into groups of 5 and give each group 15 uninterupted minutes everyday to work on apps that will help them learn specific skills.
The NetBooks I am planning on giving each student 10 independent minutes and rotate through the whole class over two days.
I am very excited about the tools that I will have in the class. Thank you Spring Branch for providing the tools for the students.
With the 3 Netbooks, I believe it will give students the opportunity to explore different programs and items in Google Docs. This tool will give my PK children an opportunity to practice with keyboarding, learning letters and about how to use parts of the keyboard- space bar, enter, delete, backspace, tab, caps lock, etc. I think by allowing them to explore at an early age this can remove some of the confusion when they are in older grades. The newest and most difficult to use will be the webcam, but after the initial instruction it should become easiar and more productive.
With the 5 iTouches, I will be very deliberate with the apps that I load to make sure they are all grade level appropriate, I will also load recorded books that are useful for my students.
To manage the iTouches in the classroom my plan is to divide the students into groups of 5 and give each group 15 uninterupted minutes everyday to work on apps that will help them learn specific skills.
The NetBooks I am planning on giving each student 10 independent minutes and rotate through the whole class over two days.
I am very excited about the tools that I will have in the class. Thank you Spring Branch for providing the tools for the students.
Sunday, July 10, 2011
Tool #7 Going Global
Many of the tools explored seem to be rather advanced for Pre-K children and very labor intensive for the classroom teacher. GlobalSchoolNet and Class2Class-math projects seem to be outdated and if anything is recreated they would need to be PK specific.
The tool that I believe to be most usable to get us out of the classroom is to create and then invite participants to Skype. Most likely PK/K teachers in the district and in other districts, possibly a PK center in Aldine.
It is very exciting to help the students to the experience of going global and flattening the walls to the classroom.
The tool that I believe to be most usable to get us out of the classroom is to create and then invite participants to Skype. Most likely PK/K teachers in the district and in other districts, possibly a PK center in Aldine.
It is very exciting to help the students to the experience of going global and flattening the walls to the classroom.
Friday, July 08, 2011
Tool # 6
Share your thoughts on how you see the tools being integrated into your classroom. How do you see them encouraging participation?
I saw many of the tools as to difficult for Pre-K children to use, but I think they can be exposed to Voxipop in the classroom with each of them recording a response to a question. If parents are able this could be used for students to record from home on a given homework assignment.
The tool I found most beneficial was Skype for teachers. I found it very interesting to possibly share a project or response from another classroom from somewhere in the world. One project I found was classes sharing a performance of a play. One class could learn a play, make costumes and perform for the partner class. Then you reverse the project.
I saw many of the tools as to difficult for Pre-K children to use, but I think they can be exposed to Voxipop in the classroom with each of them recording a response to a question. If parents are able this could be used for students to record from home on a given homework assignment.
The tool I found most beneficial was Skype for teachers. I found it very interesting to possibly share a project or response from another classroom from somewhere in the world. One project I found was classes sharing a performance of a play. One class could learn a play, make costumes and perform for the partner class. Then you reverse the project.
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