Monday, May 24, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
BP9_2010053_Web2.0Tool#3
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
BP5_2010052_Web2.0Tool#2
This is a free downloadable program, in which teachers can create interactive multiple choice questions, crossword puzzles, jumbled sentences, etc. Worksheets can be created for any subject area and at any grade level. This is what makes this program so unique. After downloading “Hot Potatoes,” you will see six applications on potatoes piled up and labeled JCloze, JMatch, JQuiz, JCross, and JMix. The sixth application is called the Masher. The Masher is used for teachers to create Units on subject specific exercises. You can also upload files to hotpotatoes.net. These are all different applications that are used to create different worksheets geared toward the concepts being taught.
This Web 2.0 tool is an excellent program for spelling, vocabulary, sentence and comprehension development. On the JCloze application multiple choice questions can be created, on the JMatch application you can create matching vocabulary worksheets, on the JQuiz application you can create quizzes, on the JCross application you can create crossword puzzles, and on the JMix application you can create jumbled sentences. The website also provides tutorials for each application. In addition, this program also provides links to software called “Half-Baked software tools and other resources that are very helpful. These tools and resources show example exercises created by Hot Potatoes 6, tutorials for all of the applications, how to write good multiple choice questions, and many other teaching tools. Overall, “Hot Potatoes 6” is a very useful tool for teachers to create subject and concept specific worksheets for students.
Sunday, May 9, 2010
BP4_2010051_Web2.0Tool#1
Here are just a few ideas in which StoryStarter can be implemented within your classroom.
* Split the class into small groups and have them work on each step in teams and brainstorming ideas together. After each step, have the class share the results and vote on which team's idea to use.
* Split the class into two groups. After each step, have the teams trade worksheets, and then have them continue, building on the other team's progress.
* Character Building: Have your students create trading cards using their characters. Use the questions in the Character section to develop attributes. Collect all the cards and mix them in a hat/bag. Have students select a card(s) at random from bag. Take it a step further by dividing the cards between Hero/Villain groups.
* When the students have completed their worksheets, they are ready to begin building their books on the StoryJumper website. Follow the instructions in Part B for creating a free online version of their story that they can share with friends and family.
Overall, Storyjumper is a highly motivational technology teaching tool and more importantly, a way for students to be creative, build character and confidence in their writing skills.
BP3_2010051_RSSfeeds
This website has articles, videos, blogs and even displays comments from other teachers and professionals, in which anyone subscribed can post a comment. This RSS feed will be very beneficial for my teaching career because I want to get more ideas on how to integrate technology in the classroom, so I can utilize them effectively.
This blog website provides many links to a variety of educational games and simulations. This will benefit my teaching career because it provides top research findings in game-based storytelling and many other interactive multimedia technology innovations.
This website has many articles on ways to help students have FUN with Math. Throughout my teaching career, I have witnessed that many students dread math time. This website will benefit my teaching career because it provides games and activities that can be played at school or at home. I can utilize these games and activities in a FUN way, so students won’t even feel like they are learning math skills. This website also provides many related links and articles.
http://www.brighthub.com/education/special/articles/70618.aspx
This website explains the effectiveness of “collaborative learning” and why it’s the most popular method of teaching in the 21st century. This website is extremely beneficial for all teachers because we want to teach in innovative ways that meet the 21st century standards. I’m a special education teacher and many learning disabled children can benefit from collaborative learning. This article explains how studies show that collaborative learning brings about less competitive behavior and more cooperation. Students who work in teams can learn from each other and therefore, find answers to problems collaboratively and confidently. Overall, collaborative learning encourages a wider acceptance of students with special needs and since the population of children with learning disabilities has increased, this teaching technique is an important one to implement within the classroom.
This website provides an abundance of information on ADD and ADHD for both children and adults. This website is very beneficial for me because it is going to give me a lot of important information needed for my AR project. One article I found to be very intriguing was on how to treat ADHD with computer games to help with their attention and concentration. The system is called “Play Attention” and involves the child playing a fun, educational computer game while wearing a helmet. The helmet picks up brain activity in the form of EEG waves related to attention. As long as the child concentrates they control the game, but as soon as their attention waivers the game stops.
BP2_2010051_EducationalUsesforBlogs
Diana Dell (2009) informs her readers of many educational uses of blogs. She says blogs can be utilized in teaching to help students complete writing assignments, and in creating a portfolio of students writing samples. Also, it allows students to express opinions in which students can write comments or questions on blog posts. Blogs also allow students to express their opinion at home on a discussion in class, in which they didn’t get a chance to. In addition, she explains how students can write about class topics, using subject area vocabulary words; create an online book club; create a collection of story starters; create a class newsletter, using student-written articles and student photography; use the blog as a reading response journal; allow your class to communicate with another class somewhere else in the world and more importantly, showcase the student created projects such as art, poetry, and creative stories (Dell, 2009).
The most intriguing aspect about blogs is how they can be implemented at all grade levels and in any subject area. As teachers’ we can post a blog for a reading assignment or writing prompt, which students can respond to and be able to comment on each other’s work, suggesting an improvement. This is an excellent way for students to collaborate and learn from each other, especially for those who might not be very out-spoken in the classroom. Another way to incorporate blogs in the classroom is to assign a weekly blog team to create the blog entry, describing the daily events (Teachers First, 2007). This has students striving for creativity as a team to create a blog, letting them be the teacher or leader for the week’s blog assignments. Also, family members can get involved by making a comment on the blogs. More importantly, if a student is home sick, he or she can still be involved with a few clicks of a mouse. Overall, BLOGS can be a very useful technology tool in education and they make learning more fun and interesting.
References
Dell, D. (2009). Educational uses of blogs and tags. Retrieved May 8, 2010, from http://www.slideshare.net/sqoolmaster/educational-uses-of-blogs-and-tags-234136
Teachers First. (2007). Blog ideas for the classroom. Retrieved on May 8, 2010, from http://www.teachersfirst.com/content/blog/blogideas1.cfm
