Wikis in the Class

Wikis are a useful tool in the classroom these days. They are great because they promote collaboration between students and teachers and it can allow for student creativity to shine. I would use wikis in my class, however, I understand the concern of those who might balk at using them. Because anybody can add information to many wikis, they might not be the most reliable for information. I would discourage students from using them for information while researching a project. As far as creating projects, I think they are great, especially in social studies. There are limitless possibilities. I would create interactive time lines with pictures, music etc. I would also like to use them for cross curriculum projects with an English teacher, or maybe a project with a teacher from another school. It is exciting to think about!

The Use of V-Trips, Scavengerhunts, and Digital Storytelling

I have not have too much experience with any of this technology, I have used Scrapblog to keep students and parents notified about up coming class events. There are many benefits to using this technique in a class, I just have to get more comfortable with it. The V-trip is something that I could see using all the time. It is easy to create and there are limitless possibilities to what kind of information you can present using them. The scavenger hunt is a lot like a webquest so that will be used in my class because it allows students to explore the internet and find what resources are good and what are not so good. These tools are valuable and allow for students' creativity to blossom

Making Good Use of Social Bookmarking

I have been using Delicious as a tool for a couple of months now and I must say it is extremely beneficial. You can save any kind of site you may come across and ad tags to easily identify what each site is used for. This is a great way to prepare lessons for your class or if you have sites you want your students to use, simply bookmark it and show it on a smartboard. I think students can also use this site as an alternative to APA formatting by just showing you the sites use instead of listing them. This also allows for collaboration to take place beyond the walls of your school which is always a positive.

Smartboards

This week we are exploring the use of Smartboards in the classroom. Many districts have them in their classrooms already and these students are very fortunate. Smartboards allow for interactive lessons to take place and use technology in new and exciting ways. I have used my lesson before to help students with geography. The lesson I used was a map of Eastern Europe and it allows students to click on the country and find capitals and other interesting facts. More steps need to be taken to get this type of tecnology into every class so all students can experience the greatness of the Smartboard.

A New and Wonderful Tool

Podcasts will have a place in my classroom. First, they are easy to do and there is so much you can do with them. It is perfect to record a lecture and students can access it and listen to it as many times as they please. It is also a great tool to use to keep students and parents up to date with the on-goings of the class and what will be expected of the students. Students can use them to create projects, an alternative to writing out papers, and it allows for students to be creative with their presentations. This is such a great tool! I really has limitless possibilities.

Webquest are Great!

This was a great project for me to do. I have heard so much about webquest, but I have never actually done one. Well it was a great experience. I used the site Zunal.com to create my webquest. It was really easy and it walked you through all of the proper steps to create a webquest. I did one one Reconstruction. It will be something I will use in my class in the future. If you want to look at it, here it is; http://zunal.com/webquest.php?user=25392

I am a Digital Immigrant!

I realized that I am a digital immigrant. I did not grow up with computers and I still am trying to feel my way through the technology maze. I came through school when computers were first being seen as a resource in the classroom. We would play some games and use the computer for a few assignments. I did not have a computer until I came to grad school. I still do not know how I got through my undergrad without a computer, but i did! I now see the value of web 2.0 and I love so many of the new programs and sites I have come across. It can be intimidating though. I know I will use technology in my class, but I have to pick and choose when and where to use it. I am becoming better using the computer but I am a true digital immigrant but I am becoming more familiar everyday!