Augmented Reality (wk 8)

I have heard about technology that is enhancing the medical field and other professions, but I didn’t realize that it was augmented reality that was causing these professions to be so successful. Now augmented reality is becoming part of the education field. Many educators are using augmented reality to add detailed information to subjects that students may or may not have been able to understand by themselves. I think that taking learning out of the classroom is a great idea and this new technology will allow teachers to be able to expand student learning. (Educause, 2005)

7 things that you should know about augmented reality. (2005, Ocotber 15). Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved on August 8, 2013 from http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-augmented-reality. 

Sites for Creative Commons Images (wk 8)

This class has taught me about the standard for using images from the Internet.  Now that I understand what Creative Commons is all about I am more conscious to use those types of pictures.  Now because of this article I have four new spots (we were already introduced to Flickr which would have made up the fifth site) to locate images that I may need for a project. These sites are also places where I can direct my students to look for images that they might want to use for a project. I have already placed the sites into my Delicious account for future reference. 

Byrne, Richard. (2013, August 6). 5 good places for students to find public domain images. Free Technology for Teachers. Retrieved on August 7, 2013 from http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/08/5-good-places-for-students-to-find.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freetech4teachers%2FcGEY+%28Free+Technology+for+Teachers%29#.UgLo31PgJO0

Collaborative Editing (week 7)

Honestly, before reading the article, 7 Things You Should Know About... Collaborative Editing, I really didn't think that it was a good idea. I mean exposing your notes to people and allowing them access to edit as they see fit... stresses me out! But after reading the article and getting a better understanding of how this works, I am starting to like the idea of it and wondering if there is any way I can use it in my classroom. Collaborative editing seems easy to use and there isn't much needed in the way of technology.

7 things you should know about.. Collaborative Editing. (2005, December 15) Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved from http://www.educause.edu/library/resources/7-things-you-should-know-about-collaborative-editing

Bringing iPads into classrooms (Wk 7)

The article The Dos and Don'ts for Integrating iPads,  the author gives a few suggestions on how to let students explore with iPads in the classroom and to trust that students will use them appropriately. The authors suggestions were valid and he even went ahead and gave suggestions for how to ease reluctant teachers feelings about using iPads in their classrooms.

Johnson, Ben. (2013, August 1). The dos and don'ts for integrating iPads. Edutopia. Retrieved on August 2, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/dos-donts-ipad-technology-integration-ben-johnson?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29 

Social Bookmarking

 Before the start of this class I really didn’t have experience with social bookmarking. I was actually very intimidated by the Delicious website. Now that I have been using it and putting all of my information into it I am so excited because I know that I will always have that information. I also downloaded the free app to my iPhone so accessing the information I tagged is literally at the touch of a button. Social bookmarking makes my job of being a teacher a bit easier especially now that there are the free apps that go along with the website so accessing information is easy. 

In the article 7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking, I found the article interesting and I liked how the article explains what social bookmarking can do for education. Teachers are always looking for ways to save websites for future use and now there is a way to do that. 

7 things you should know about social bookmarking. (May, 2005). Educause Learning initiative. Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7001.pdf

 

Creating quizzes

This article is short, sweet and to the point even though I had to read the name of the website discussed in this blog more than once because it’s well… interesting. The article is about an online quiz generator called Quizpoo. (Byrne, 2013) If you are looking for a quick, easy quiz with an option for photos Quizpoo is your answer (Byrne, 2013).

Byrne, Richard. (2013, July 25). How to quickly create simple online quizzes. Free Technology for Teachers. Retrieved on July 25, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/07/how-to-quickly-create-simple-online.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freetech4teachers%2FcGEY+%28Free+Technology+for+Teachers%29#.UfHtG1PgJO0 

 

Wikis (wk 5)

In my experiences with wikis I have really learned to like them and am trying to figure out a way to use them in my second grade classroom. The ease of adding and editing information makes the wiki a great tool for group work. I have considered talking to our principal about incorporating a wiki as our agenda for our staff meetings so if anyone has something to add to the agenda they can just get on the wiki, edit the page and write in their discussion idea.

The article, 7 Things you should know about… Wikis, gives information about what wikis are, whose using them and other ideas like, how wikis can help educators.  The article explains the positives and negatives of a wiki. The article is very informative and also gives an example of how a wiki can be used.

7 Things you should know about wikis. (July, 2005). Educause Learning Initiative. Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7004.pdf 

Parent Involvement (wk 5)

This is a great little article giving ideas to teachers on how to keep parents involved in their child’s education. Whether the teacher keeps parents involved through modern day technology or with paper. Keeping everyone up to date on what is going on in the classroom will keep students more involved and possibly increase student success.

Mims, Lisa. (July 17, 2013). Old school or new school, keep parents involved. Retrieved on July 19, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/old-new-school-parent-involvement-lisa-mims?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

Math! (wk 5)

Why does math have to be so hard for so many? I love math! I love the way it challenges me to think, work and solve to find the correct answer. So when I read  Ainissa Ramirez’s  Blog, “Do the Math… Right”, I started to understand a little more about why people don’t enjoy math. This article was so interesting for me to read. Ramirez has some good suggestions on how to “fix” educating students in mathematics. (Ramirez, 2013)

Ramirez, Ainissa. (July 17, 2013). Do the math…right. Edutopia. Retrieved on July 19, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/do-the-math-right-ainissa-ramirez?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

Leadership - Week 5 Blog

Leadership isn’t easy especially going in to a new school that you have little knowledge about. Our school is getting a new principal this year and with that comes change. This article stood out to me this week because of the change we are about to undergo. The article has great ideas on how to be an effective leader. This information can be used for anyone that is taking on some kind of leadership role. Click below to read the article.  

Elias, Maurice. (2013, July 18). Six paths to better leadership. Edutopia. Retrieved on July 18, 2013.  Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/educators-improving-school-leadership-maurice-elias?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29  

 

Inspiring student writing

I love finding new ways to inspire my students to get more creative with their writing. Richard Byrne writes about Phrase.it a website that a teacher or student can upload a photo to and then attach words to the pictures with speech bubbles. Byrne gives the idea to use this site to allow students the opportunity to “create stories in a comic strip style.” Check out Richard Byrnes article, Create Stories with Phrase.it because it explains more about the website and what it offers.

What iPads can do for the classroom

This article was very informative and gave me more ideas for uses for iPads in the classroom. The author Beth Holland goes on to explain how iPads can enhance, or "support" student learning.  She also goes on to explain how iPads give students the opportunity to explore or dig deeper into their own learning. This article has some great ideas for uses of an iPad in the classroom and some great Apps that she has also found successful. 

Holland's article

Math Puzzles

I knew that puzzles are were good for keeping the mind sharp, but now they have a different meaning for me. I now plan on implementing puzzles during my center time activities. Check out the following article for some math puzzle knowledge. 

http://www.edutopia.org/blog/recreational-educational-value-math-puzzles-deepak-kulkarni?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29  

 

iPads in Education

This article dicusses the impact of iPads in education.  I was surprised to see that the study showed that the iPad was more successful in “Primary and special schools than in secondary schools.” (Byrne, 2013)  See the article to get all of its information on the impact of iPads in the classroom. 

http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2013/07/best-of-2013-so-far-studies-of-ipad-use.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+freetech4teachers%2FcGEY+%28Free+Technology+for+Teachers%29#.UdgjqFPgIzY

Searching for Technology

I completely agree with this article and the fact that, “teachers want more Edtech.” (Steyers, 2013) This article also goes on to explain that teachers do want to use technology. But they just don’t know how to find it or use it. The article shares a new website for teachers. “Graphite is a free online resource that combines independent reviews of edtech products with rigorous ratings that have relevance and meaning to educators. (Steyers, 2013) 

Fortunately for us we are involved in the educational technology degree. Otherwise honestly I probably wouldn’t be using as much innovative technology as I do in my classroom. I have found so many interesting and useful programs that I wouldn’t have had the time or desire to find on my own. I now have my coworkers coming and asking me how to use these new technologies because they see me experimenting with them in my classroom. Now I can just give coworkers this website and hope it helps them. 

Steyers, James. (2013, June 26). Connecting teachers and students with the best digital tools. Edutopia. Retrieved on June 29, 2013 Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/connecting-teachers-best-digital-tools-james-steyer?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29 

 

Summer Brain Drain

Wondering how to stop the summer brain drain from happening to your children or your students. Teachers, do you send home summer packets hoping the information they worked so hard on through the school year will stick? I know I do and when I send these packets I know full well my students won’t touch them over the summer. I even go as far as to bribe them with some kind of goodie I think will motivate them to do SOMETHING over the summer. Well blogger Jennifer Peck has come up with some creative, educational and reasonably priced ideas in her blog, “Summer Matters. How Parents Can Keep Their Children Learning All Summer Long.”

Peck. Jennifer. (2013, June 26) Summer matters. How parents can keep their children learning all summer long. Edutopia. Retrieved on June 27, 2013. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/parents-preventing-summer-slide-jennifer-peck?utm_source=feedly&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+EdutopiaNewContent+%28Edutopia%29

Creative Commons

In the article, 7 Things You Should Know about Creative Commons, the most frequently asked questions about Creative Commons are looked at and answered. The article goes on to explain what exactly Creative Commons is and how it effects people, mainly educators. The article also explains what is important to know about Creative Commons and how anyone can use Creative Commons to protect and share their creation with anyone that wants to borrow it. I think this article is very informational and clearly explains what Creative Commons is.  (EDUCAUSE, 2007)


7 things you should know about Creative Commons. (2007, March). EDUCAUSE
Retrieved from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7023.pdf

More Technology

In the blog by Ann Obrien titled, How to Build Support for Education Technology, she explains that there is a new push for more technology in classrooms. This push can be as simple as getting students access to the internet. Obrien discusses how the President is also behind this push for more technology in education. She is encouraging people that are already advocates of technology in classrooms to start talking about how important technology in the classroom is. This can be done by using inspiring language to hook the naysayers or to just get them thinking about how technology is changing the world. And if its changing our world, shouldn't it be changing the way our children are educated. (Obrien, 2013)

Obrien, A. (2013, June 20). How to build support for education technology. [web log post] Edutopia. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/blog/building-support-education-technology-anne-obrien

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