Week Eight EDOL533

Week 8: 2 Parts…
Reflection on online communication tools:
The benefit of online communication tools is that they are global. Online communication tools allow for connectivity with virtually anyone, anywhere, with an internet connection. I remember when AOL first came out and the chat room and instant message were a “newfangled” idea that everyone was either using or jealous they didn’t have yet. For fun, Facebook, Twitter, etc… provide hours of picture stalking, “friend” making, and status updating enjoyment! For the classroom, this means teachers can allow their students to recreate the idea of pen pals, send classroom emails and assignment, and even allows for college students to obtain a master’s degree without ever setting foot on their college campus! Technology in the classroom has greatly improved the education world as a whole.
Look carefully at your classroom’s computers, or think of a classroom computer lab that you have interacted with in the past. Discuss the types of security you have in place to prevent malicious software and/or hackers and cite any areas of concern:
I do not currently have a classroom… and even though I will be an elementary school teacher, the computer labs that stand out the most in my memory are those that belong to Sweet Briar College where I obtained my bachelor’s degree. I personally spent a ton of time in these labs because for one, I could not concentrate in my dorm room, and I never purchased a printer so it was more convenient to do work in the computer labs. Our lab computers did not have any restrictions or off limit access when logged into as a student, so one could look at or look up anything and everything available on the web. With no restrictions, you can imagine how vulnerable these computers must have been to “catching” a virus, worm, Trojan, etc… In order to prevent these types of problems from happening the school had anti-virus software installed on every lab computer, and also required every personal computer that could log onto the network to have up to date anti-virus software. I personally, didn’t install the software on my computer freshman year, which resulted in the entire thing having to be rebuilt; I learned my lesson. This campus requirement of having anti-virus programs really seemed to be effective as I did not know of many people who had virus issues with their computers and there was never a long line in the tech help center. From college on, I have kept Norton anti-virus installed on my computer and have had no virus problems.

Week Seven EDOL533

a. Pick one piece of software to use in the classroom. Identify the software and the instructional objectives and goals you will meet.
I am not yet teaching but the software that is most appealing to me, that I would use in my classroom is the “creative” or “critical thinking” software. I think it is very important for students to discover different ways of learning and also to be allowed to learn in their own individual ways. While I am not very familiar with the creative type educational software, it seems that its use in the classroom would really fit with my philosophy as a teacher. I think it is very important for students to be able to learn as individuals, able to have choices within the curriculum, and not have to be put into a mold. This creative software will allow students to find new ways of thinking.

b. After using the software with your students, discuss what went well and what challenges you faced. What would you do differently if you were to use the software again? Note: If you are not teaching yet, you will pick software that you have seen used by others, or pick one you know you will use to complete this part.
I have seen many different software types used in the various classrooms I’ve been in. When I did observation hours, I observed a second grade class using the “successmaker” software. I also have subbed as a teacher aid many times and have seen teachers using “successmaker” software, using the smart board, and other educational gaming software (I am not sure of the actual name of this software).
It seems to me that successmaker software is a drill and practice type of software, where the students are completing math problems then are given their score. The teacher uses their scores to monitor their progress in math (I am pretty sure successmaker does more than just math but math is one only genre of successmaker I have seen used). If the teacher is not satisfied with the score the student gets they frequently ask the student to try the same program again so that they can try again for a higher score.
The gaming software I have seen used in classrooms really appeals to students and that is the one they always seem to want to use during “free” computer time or during their centers. This type of software is more like simulation software and the types I have seen are less question and answer and more role playing and progress based.

Week Six EDOL533

This week we learned about using webquest in the classroom and created our own webquest assignment.
The URL for my webquest that I created is: http://questgarden.com/119/23/7/110214125135/
I created a webquest intended for a younger elementary school classroom in Kentucky. The webquest I created was intended to go with a lesson about mammals that are native to Kentucky. My webquest is to be used as an introduction to mammals native to Kentucky. I am not yet teaching so this assignment and lesson is a hypothetical one. I chose to do a topic about animals because a class I observed recently was doing a lesson on mammals so I decided to make my hypothetical lesson about mammals native to Kentucky (this can be done for any state if one is not teaching in Kentucky). The objective of my webquest is for students to do in depth research in groups about one mammal per group, the habitat of that mammal, its eating habits, and its basic way of life. The assignment is for the students to do the research on their assigned mammal, then give presentations in their groups to the rest of the class about the mammal they were assigned. I also asked the students to present on information they found interesting above and beyond what was assigned, encouraging high understanding and learning about the mammal. I provided a list of web based sites on native Kentucky mammals to get the students started and give them a head start on their research. I included only minimal images in my webquest so that the students wouldn’t focus too much on decoration and lose sight of the presentation objective. I actually had some trouble creating this webquest because I am not familiar with using webquests in the classroom, and I am not familiar with how lessons about native animals are taught. I had a lot of trouble with the formatting of the webquest, I finally got it published and then realized the “process” section, where I included the list of websites is completely in the wrong format  and it took me forever to figure out how to fix it, I’m still not really satisfied with it. Also, I found that adding images (even though I didn’t want to add many) was a huge pain because you couldn’t copy and paste. Another major difficulty I had was with coming up with an idea, and really following through with the idea then creating something that makes sense, and that would be appealing and relevant to my pretend students. When you are not actually teaching, coming up with a lesson is very difficult because you are never really sure if what you are doing is correct. But I tried to make a good webquest that would be useful in a real classroom, I’m still not sure if I succeeded….

Week Five EDOL533

Blog Week 5
I have not yet used online communication tools in the classroom. As a sub, I have not been able to create and use my own lessons, and no lesson plan has been left for me that included using an online communication tool. I do, however think online communication tools are very useful for aiding in classroom instruction and I plan to use them in my future classroom.
One online communication tool that I feel would be very beneficial to my future classroom is Skype and videoconferencing. I feel like Skype is a universal connector for students, and their global peers. I remember when I was in elementary school having pen pals from across the country. We had pen pals for multiple subjects, and the use of pen pals taught us many things from communication, to writing techniques, to culture, and more. In college we learned about travel abroad opportunities, and had much communication back and forth with colleges and students from around the world in places that we were considering studying.
I think Skype can be used in the modern elementary classroom in numerous ways. Skype and video conferencing can be used one on one and by multiple people at once to have a live, audio, visual chat session with peers, teachers, or whoever. Videoconferencing uses the best of many online communication scenarios, you can chat with a group or one person, as well as have the benefit of seeing that person to view things as simple as their dress and manner, to being able to view their school project, room, home, family, classroom, school, anything! Video conferencing is a synchronous communication tool that can be used anytime in collaboration with whoever you are chatting with.
In order to prepare my students for using video conferencing I will first show them how to use the software, or the website associated with the tool, i.e. the Skype website. They will learn how to safely navigate the site / software according to the schools AUP on communication technology. Then I will find people for them to communicate with and assign projects associated with the video conference. For example, I will research and find a school somewhere else in the world to do a group virtual pen pal project with. I will then monitor the progress of the student’s assignments to see that they are making the most out of their time during the video chat, reaching the goals of the assignment, and learning about technology, culture, and enhancing their knowledge of others as well as communication technology.

Week Four EDOL533

http://www.superteacherworksheets.com/spelling/lista13.pdf (I am not yet teaching so this is where I found a first grade spelling list)
***I have emailed my power point to the class***
Amanda Bryant
Week 4 Blog
January 31, 2011
***I am not yet teaching so I created a hypothetical presentation***
1. What was the presentation about and to whom did you present it?
The presentation I created was for a first grade classroom. I created a power point presentation for a week spelling list. The spelling list theme is colors and the list consists of eight words. The words are red, green, blue, pink, purple, black, yellow, and brown. I found this list of words on the above website and they appeared to be appropriate for first grade and are similar to an actual spelling list that was given in a first grade class that I observed recently.
2. Of which item in your presentation are you the most proud?
I really like the power point presentation that I made. I feel like it is simple enough for a first grade class while still being creative enough to keep their interest and attention. From what I have observed, spelling tests are now given via worksheets that have sentences with misspelled words (the spelling list words) and the job of the student is to correct the misspelled words and rewrite the sentence using correct sentence formation, punctuation, and grammar along with correcting the misspelled word. The presentation I made has each word on a separate slide. Each slide has the word in its color (for example the word “pink” is in pink lettering) as the title of the slide, then the word is used in a sentence where the list word is in all capitals as well as in its correct color. The bottom of each slide has a picture of something that is the color of the word (for example a red stop sign). The sentence example also correlates with the picture.

3. What might you do differently if you could create the presentation again?
If I were to do this presentation again, I would like to find out how to add video and sound to the presentation. I think it would be very helpful if the students could hear and see the words being said out loud, spelled out loud, and somehow being used in a visual manner.

4. How did your students respond to the presentation?
I was not able to show my presentation to any children, however I was able to observe a first grade classroom going over their spelling words and they were very engaged in the lesson. The lesson did not include a power point but the smart board was used to show worksheets that helped students review the words before their spelling test.

Week Three EDOL533

WEEK 3


I chose to use the Microsoft word desktop publishing software to create a weekly student award flyer for spelling. As a teacher I would have weekly awards to give out for high achievement on things such as spelling tests, behavior, attendance, math, or other academic awards. These awards can be customized for each student and type of award from a basic format found on desktop publishing software, in this case, Microsoft word. Microsoft word has many different templates for desktop publishing that can be used in a classroom. Some examples include awards, flyers, agendas, posters, announcements, letters, and charts. As a teacher I plan to use desktop publishing software for many purposes. I think many of the desktop publishing uses would be helpful in my classroom, and as handouts for students to take home for their parents. As for the classroom, I would use the desktop publishing software to make posters of what we were working on, lists of classroom rules, subject matter posters / flyers, spelling lists, word banks, and other meaningful classroom decoration. For the students I would make weekly newsletters that would be sent home explaining the upcoming week’s assignments and announcements. The newsletters would also include the previous week’s awards and other news. I would also like to maintain a classroom website with information similar to that of the newsletter but also including pictures of what is happening in class.

I chose this award format because I plan to be an elementary school teacher and this award is simple enough for a younger student to understand, yet it is also customizable so that I could decorate it to fit its particular use. Many desktop publishing software templates can be distracting because they may be too wordy or have too many graphics to the point where the message the teacher is trying to convey gets masked by the imagery and decoration. I feel the most appealing types of desktop publishing materials / handouts are the ones that convey a clear message, with minimal yet meaningful decoration. I like this particular award template because it is simple and friendly for both students and parents. I added the student’s name, the date, the award subject, date, and signature. Originally, the template had only minimal decoration so I added the stars to give it a little more appeal. The additional information that you can add to any desktop publishing template is truly unlimited.

Week Two EDOL533

Provide a URL of one Web site that discusses spreadsheet and/or database use in the classroom.
http://teachers.net/lessons/posts/2582.html
Describe something you found that surprised you about how databases or spreadsheets can be utilized in the classroom.
The most obvious ways to use databases and spreadsheets in the classroom are for scientific experiments or skill sets, and mathematics. It is probably also common to use spreadsheets for assignments and grading. What was surprising to me was the idea of using spreadsheets in conjunction with a geography or social studies lesson. This website provides a lesson plan for studying Africa. The students present information they learned about (population, economy, resources, geology, and points of interest). Many elementary school students do a social studies report on a country of their choice and using a spreadsheet or data base for this assignment is a surprising, creative, and technologically strong way to present this project. The students work and subsequent spreadsheet / data base can also be presented via a power point presentation or even on a more traditional board with print outs to share with the class.
I also found it surprising that spreadsheets can be used for the student’s calendars and grade tracking. I think if the student’s keep their own grades and calendars they will be more responsible and accountable for their work. I want students to feel good about the work they’re doing, and to try their best. If they know how they are doing they will take more pride in the good job they did. Using databases and calendars helps a lot with student organization!
Discuss how you have used spreadsheets and databases in the past. Include ways you have used them with your students or ways you have used them as an educator.
I am not yet a teacher but after this week I am confident that I will implement the technology of databases and spreadsheets into my classroom. I see now that almost any subject area as well as class schedules, student agendas, grade tracking, and parent communication can be completed in this technological medium. I will also use spreadsheets to track student grades for my own records. I would really like to post these data tables online so that parents can follow the student’s progress and see any feedback that I gave.