Bubbl.us

Bubbl.us advertises itself as a "free web application for brainstorming online" and is another site that could be relevant to the world of education. My classmates used it for their music lesson plan, however, I believe it could be useful to many subject areas, particularly history. This would be a great website to show context of historical facts as well as cause and effect and chains of events.

Reflection on Discovery Education

Discoveryeducation.com is available for parents, teachers, and students use through most school systems. It is a fantastic resource for all things concerning education. Resources for teachers include puzzlemakers, videos, lesson builders and tip and tricks for a better classroom. There are resources for parents that help with motivating students and assisting them in homework. For students, there are links to videos that are designed to assist in all different subjects. There is even a store that sells DVDs covering in-depth lesson topics.

Discovery education is a must-use source for anybody involved in the world of education - especially teachers. That amount of resources available are unmatched by any other site. As mentioned, most schools have the Discovery Education subscription built into their budget, therefore this should be a no-brainer for educators.

Reflection on Blogging

Blogging has been a good experience so far. Although I don't have any followers and have no idea if anybody has even looked at my posts, it is neat to think I have the ability to make this compilation of thoughts and reflections to share and for others to be able to comment on them. A personal blog like this would be great for teachers to use in their classroom to convey homework assignments and reminders to their class, and also to display projects, reveal thoughts and reflections to parents and their students.

Before I was in Technology in the Classroom, I read several different blogs everyday. My favorite one is Talkingchop.com, a blog dedicated to Atlanta Braves baseball. If you do enough research there are thousands of blogs out there dedicated to different areas of interest. From my own experiences, blogs reveal a lot of insider information, that is otherwise not available through official websites. Posts, therefore, are fun to read and write and can be particularly useful, especially in the classroom.

Kidsastronomy.com

Kidsastronomy.com is another useful educational website that can be used in the classroom. The website deals with all things concerning space including interesting facts, videos, and interactive games. The free astronomy games for kids include "Make A Solar System" where you make your own solar system, and a "Virtual Star Explorer". You can also find puzzels, space word games and coloring pages.

The limit, of course, is this site is useful only to a science teacher or science lesson, and not relevant to many subjects like other sites highlighted on this blog. If you are a science teacher, however, this is one of the most thorough websites dealing with astronomy available.

Nourishinteractive.com

Nourish Interactive is fun websites that allows children and adults alike to see the importance of staying healthy by exercising and what you eat.

Its no secret that America is the most obese nation on the planet and childhood obesity is always on the rise. Media sources constantly stress the importance of eating right and exercising, however, it is those same media sources that often-times lead to children and adults not being near as active as they should.

Nourish interactive allows you to keep track of what you eat throughout the day while comparing it to what you should be eating based on you BMI. There is also links to fun nutrition-themed games, an online blog and other tools designed to help you live a healthier lifestyle.

For educators, this would be a great website to teach students, from an early or older age, the importance of what you eat and how much you exercise. The feature that allows you to record what you eat throughout the day really illustrates just how much we often times eat. This would be particularly useful in a health-related class but could certainly be incorporated into a primary school classroom's every day routine.

Fun, Educational Websties

Websites that incorporate games and other fun learning exercises into the learning enviornment were always the most effective type of lessons for me. It seems logical to say that any time fun is mixed with learning, a student will learn better.

Today, several of my classmates demonstrated how an effective lesson could be created using a game like Grandslam Math. This logic would be certainly effective in all subject areas, especially when most lessons could be very cut and dry. Websites like mathplayground.com engage the student so that they learn by doing.

Using Zefty in the Classroom

Zefty.com is a free online service that allows parents and their children to keep track of finances, such as allowance, without the exchanging of actual paper money, much like a bank.

This service advertises itself as a means for parents to be able to keep up with their childrens allowance and spending through automatic deposit and withdrawls. With Zefty you do not have to remember whether or not you have already given your children their allowance and transactions and deposits can be controlled with the click of a mouse.

While Zefty advertises as a service between parents and younger children, it could also be used by educators to teach kids finance-handling skills and good money management. In Tennessee high school you are required to take Personal Finance to graduate so this would be an effective website to learn by.

Using ToonDoo.com in the Classroom

Today in class, we saw how the website toondoo.com can be used to create an effective history lesson. Toondoo allows users to create their very own cartoon strip by choosing different backgrounds, clip arts and text boxes.

At first glance, it would seem as if this type website would be most effective to teach a lesson in literature, language or reading in the primary grades. However, the way in which it was presented today in class would be very effective for a high school history class.

I believe many times, in history classes, students read the textbook but really fail to understand the meaning or context surrounding what they are reading. ToonDoo allows the student to simplify and summarize the lesson, be creative and turn it into a fun cartoon strip. I believe this use of creativity would enable the student to commit the lesson to his/her long term memory

Using Skype in the Classroom

Today several of my classmates did a presentation on how Skype can be used in the classroom. Skype is one of the fastest growing technological advances today, with millions of users around the world using it to video chat with one another via the internet. Skype gives you the option of calling landlines or cell phones and also calling within the Skype service. Calls to outside lines are charged by the minute, however calls within Skype are completely free. That means one classroom could connect with another, across the globe, free of charge with the click of a mouse. The possibilities are endless for teachers who want their students to be introduced to cultures beside their own. Skype should be one of the primary technology-related tools for any classroom teacher.

Google Maps in the Classroom

Several of my classmates did a presentation on the effectiveness of Google Maps in the classroom. For their example they presented a lesson plan in which 5th graders got to map out their own field trip. Google Maps was not being very cooperative but I do think the free service could be employed as an effective classroom accessory. However, I personally think a field trip lesson plan would be somewhat ineffective. Instead Google Maps could be effective in a geography class to show certain landscapes or a history/government class to show buildings relevant to American history.

Learned at FHU

The education program has been a fun experience. The best part has been learning why teachers do the things they do. As you go through your years as a student in elementary and secondary school, often times it seems as teachers are an alien-like individual, removed from the everyday world of normal human beings. It has been interesting to begin viewing the world of education from "the other side" and to recognize that teachers are people just like us and that, for the most part, there is educated and scientific study behind what they do. Its amazing to me that even activities such as the proper way to call on students to answer questions is broken down to a science. This was all learned in the teacher's education program at FHU.

Virgina Governor concedes "omission" in history month decree

This link comes from username Mr_Lincoln on Twitter.

Apparently in naming April "Confederate History Month" in Virgina, VA governor Bob McDonnel failed to denounce slavery as a brute force in history that led to the divison of a nation. The announcement of the governors proclamation was immediately followed by outrage from political activists-controlled websites and blogs across the country, however, the governor quickly apologized: "The failure to include any reference to slavery was a mistake, and for that I apologize to any fellow Virginian who has been offended or disappointed," McDonnell's statement said. The lack of any mention of human bondage originally and his fumbling reply in the news conference when a reporter asked him why left critics and even former supporters outraged.

Sheila C. Johnson, the co-founder of the Black Entertainment Network and a longtime Democratic donor who rocked the world of politics by endorsing McDonnell's candidacy a year ago, blasted him:

"The complete omission of slavery from an official government document, which purports to be a call for Virginians to 'understand' and 'study' their history, is both academically flawed and personally offensive," she told the Richmond Times-Dispatch.

This is just one of many interesting story, facts and tidbits that can be found on Mr_Lincoln's twitter page. As an educator who utilizes a Professional Learning Network in his or her classroom, this would certainly be a interesting and beneficial user to have your students follow.

Regional Civil War group meets in Fort Oglethorpe

This post came from the wirechattanooga link to Twitter:

"The Tri-State Civil War 150th Commemoration Association met recently at 6th Cavalry Museum in Fort Oglethorpe to review and update the group's plans for celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Civil War. Thirty people at-tended the meeting to learn about the launch of the group's website, approve the rack card brochure and other marketing plans. The Battle of Chickamauga will be re-enacted in 2013, drawing attention to the significance of the battle and bringing hundreds of thousands of visitors to the tri-state area. Voting membership in the association is $1,000 annually; non-voting membership is $500. To learn more about the Tri-State Civil War 150th Commemora-tion Association, go to www.Civilwar150th.org or contact co-chair Shelda Rees at ssrees@chattanoogacvb.com."

While the actual reenactment is still 2+ years away this is something to look forward to anybody interested in/pursuing a career in the field of history or education. This would be a great field trip opportunity for any teacher and students in driving distance of the Chattanooga area. Fortunately enough for those of us that are able to call Chattanooga home, we have great opportunities right in our backyard to see where history took place, with battles such as Chickamauga and Lookout Mountain being influential turning points in the war.

Storyjumper.com

Storyjumper.com is a useful web resource that could be used classrooms of nearly all age levels. While our presenters showed how the tool could be used for a 2nd grade literature lesson, it is certainly possible that a teacher could use it at the secondary level, particularly in history, to display a classes' compilation of work. When teaching a subject on a particular war, for example, you could have each student outline a battle of particular event. When the whole class has completed their individual assignment you would have a complete work that told the full story of the war. Its also possible to purchase the completed book from storyjumper.com

Five Steps to an Accessible Classroom Website

In the November 2009 issue of Learning and Leading with Technology, Linda Amundson higlights 5 steps educators can take for organizing a classroom website that is accessible by students and parents from all types of diverse backgrounds, such as hearing, visual, cognitive, movement and speech impairments.

Step 1: Organize for Easier Navigation
Using headers that are tied to links is the most effective way of organizing your website so that students and parents can easily navigate through it. It is also recommended that you make your webpage size appropriate to the screen so that the use of a horizontal scroll is eliminated. Remember to not use fonts and backgrounds such as reds and greens that are indistinguishable to those with color blindness.

Step 2: Navigation Without a Mouse
The tab key and Access keys are easy ways for your website to be navigated without the use of a mouse. Your website, therefore, should be set up to be able to do so to allow for easier navigation to someone with visual impairments or a temporary disability such as a broken arm. Keep in mind that roll-overs and drop-down menus are inaccessible without a mouse and require more advanced internet programs such as Java Script.

Step 3: Text Explanation of Images
When including charts, images and audio or video clips in your website it is important to explain the images with written text. This allows for those with hearing or visual impairments to not miss out on certain areas of the site. Also, slower speed internet connections do not allow for ceratin video or audio clips and some images. Written text will allow a student or parent to be able to take advantage of all areas of your classroom site.

Step 4: Using Text that Makes Sense
When creating a link use written text that explains what the link involves so the student is not blindly clicking. One way to include more info about the link is use the "title" attribute. You can give the link a title within the link code and describe what the link does.

Step 5: Web Validators
Web validators check the accessibility rating of your website. After evaluating your website, a validator generates a report that lists any accessibility problems. This will aid you in looking for any "holes" in your website that might prevent a student from be able to access all areas of it.

Websites and webpages are a great way to display grades, information, class announcements, etc. to students and parents alike. We must remember, however, that we are dealing with parents and students from many diverse backgrounds who might have various disabilities. By following these steps we can create the most effective, organized website possible.

Source: Amundson, Linda. Five Steps to an Accessible Classroom Website. Learning and Leading with Technology. November 2009

Introducing....the iPad

The iPad is a tablet computer developed by Apple Inc. Announced on January 27, 2010 it is positioned in a category between a Smartphone and and laptop computer.

Similar in functionality to a larger and more powerful iPhone or iPod touch, it runs a modified version of the same operating system (iPhone OS), with a user interface redesigned to take advantage of the larger screen. The iPad has a 9.7 LED backlit multi-touch display with a pixel resolution of 1024x768, 16 to 64 GB of memory, a 1-gigahertz Apple A4 Processor, Bluetooth 2.1 and a 30-pin dock connector to sync with iTunes and connect wired accessories.

The iPad and its iPhone based OS are controlled using the multi-touch touchscreen that takes up most of the device's front side. The iPad also has external buttons for sleep, screen rotation lock and controlling the volume as well as a button to return to the home screen. It also has a accelerometer (for motion sensitivity) and a digital magnetic compass. Unlike the iPod, the iPad supports a screen rotation of any angle (in increments of 90 degrees), essentially meaning the device functionality has no "up" of "down" no matter how the device is held- from the perspective of the user, only the position of the home button changes. The switch that was originally used to mute the device was replaced just before the device's release by a button that locks the device's screen rotation, which was reportedly intended to improve the device's ease of use when lying down.

Apple will sell several iPad accessories, including:

• Keyboard Dock with hardware keyboard, 30-pin connector and audio jack
• Case which can be used to stand the iPad in various positions
• Dock Connector to VGA Adapter for external monitor or projector
• Camera Connection Kit including a USB Type A connector adapter and a SD card reader for transferring photos and videos

The iPad will include the iBooks application, which displays books and other ePub-format content downloaded from the iBookstore. For the iPad launch on April 3, 2010, the iBookstore will be available only in the United States. Several major book publishers including Penguin Books, HarperCollins, Simon & Schuster and Macmillan have committed to publishing books for the iPad. In February 2010, Condé Nast said it would sell iPad subscriptions for its GQ, Vanity Fair and Wired magazines by June. In April 2010, The New York Times announced it will begin publishing daily on the iPad.

For the world of education the iPad seems like a cool new invention. Imagine this: Colleges and Universities build the cost of an iPad into an incoming students tuition, the iPad is preloaded with information and programs which will aid the student at the said school. At the beginning of every semester, instead of students going to the bookstore and purchasing 50-60 lbs of textbooks, the bookstore sells codes which can be entered into the iPad to download a digital textbook. That way a student’s whole repertoire of textbooks is in one convenient location. Add to that a word processor App to the iPad and the student has everything they need for note-taking in class. The teacher also would have the ability to display the digital textbook through the iPad’s projector attachment. It will be exciting to see how the iPad is received once it makes it debut on April 3.

Tips and Tricks for Integrating Technology into the Classroom

It is no secret that we live in a day in age where technology surrounds us at all times whether we like it or not. We live in a world where change is a constant factor that we grow to accept, love and expect. The same is true for the world of education. No longer are teachers bound by simply lecturing from the textbook while their students take notes. Thanks to technology, students have access to resources and information that was never available to preceding generations. If technology is that beneficial, should we not feel compelled to integrate it into our classrooms? The answer is an emphatic YES! For teachers, however, the thoughts of transitioning from traditional ways of instruction to this new, exciting, connected, hands-on approach can be a terrifying task. Thankfully articles like the one from Julie Lindsay and Vickie Davis in the March/April 2010 edition of Learning and Leading With Technology gives us some tips and tricks that we can apply in order to become a “Digiteacher”:

• Customize: One of the most effective methods of instruction is customizing your approach to each individual student and avoiding the “one-size-fits all” approach. Teachers who avoid customization often claim they cannot customize and meet standards at the same time. But meeting standardized learning outcomes does not mean you have to standardize the process. In fact, if you involve students in student-centered, globally connected projects, each student's learning experience becomes markedly different, and each classroom becomes as unique as the students and teachers who learn there. A customized classroom and national standards can coexist and lead to rich learning.
• Monitor and Be Engaged: When dealing with online resources like Professional Learning Networks students can be caught-up in very unprofessional activity. “It is not enough to open the gate and let the sheep out to wander aimlessly. The role of the teacher is to gather, lead by example, and make sure students don't cross the line. When misunderstandings happen, teachers must coach students about responsibility and sensitivity.”
• Have a Plan: When students overstep the bounds of what is considered “ethical” on the internet, teachers must know how to react accordingly in order to prevent further offensives. One of the pros of a PLN however is that all eyes are upon who contributes what so it is not difficult to identify the culprit when an offense takes place.
• Overcoming the Fear Factor: It is not uncommon for teachers, especially digital immigrants to feel nervous about incorporating an unknown into their classroom. It’s important for them to remember that all instructors have felt this at one time or another and the first days are always the roughest. From there the only direction is up!
• Dealing With Objections: When is the best time to start educating children in technology? What about internet safety? These are all questions asked of teachers. It is important to remind objectors that educating students about the internet makes the internet safer.
• Straying Off Topic/Put the Learning in the Hands of the Students: When is the best time to start educating children in technology? What about internet safety? These are all questions asked of teachers. It is important to remind objectors that educating students about the internet makes the internet safer.

Source: Julie Lindsay and Vicki Davis. Navigate the Digital Rapids. Learning and Leading With Technology. Online Article. March/April 2010