13 March: Digital Stories 1

What? This week we learned about Digital Stories. This week me and my partner came up with a topic and created a storyboard for a digital story. 

So What?The examples that Dr. Waters showed in class helped us to see that digital stories have a big affect on people and can really help get across a message. My partner and I decided that using a story to show the dangers of eating disorders could help our students better understand how serious and important this issue is. Students are always using technology whether it is cell phones, computers, or watching TV. Students are strongly affected by images and using technology like this can speed up the process of helping them to understand different topics.  

Now What? 
I know that in the past I have seen videos like this and have strongly been affected. Although I had seen them I didn't know how much went into making them. When completing this story board I saw how important every feature to the video is. Music for example really helps set the tone and mood for each video. Now I know that when I create digital stories like this for my students I need to pay attention to every detail. I could use this tool for future assignments by having students make digital stories about subjects and topics they think are important. 

13 March: Vidcast Reflection

The Vidcast that we did was a How-to procedural instruction video named Daily Food Plan assignment. This assignment would be used for the Health Education Standard 2 Nutrition and Fitness. The assignment would meet objectives; A. Evaluate how the United States Department of Agriculture's Seven Guidelines and the most current Food Pyramid can enhance proper nutritional choice and B. Analyze and employ healthy food choices (e.g., reading food labels, calculating calorie intake).

 I thought this would be a good video to teach students how to complete and track a daily food plan. This daily food plan helps teach students how to track and improve their nutrition and fitness habits on their own. Using a how-to video could help the students by being able to go back and watch the video when they get confused or don't have the teacher for immediate help. This video will also help for visual learners who need to see what they are doing before they can do it. 

Some drawbacks to using this series would be that the students are limited to only the information provided by the teacher in the video. Also if a student doesn't have access to a computer at home they will not be able to access the video when they need to.  

I  plan to use this tool as an extra way of giving instruction for assignments. I know as a teacher often times you give assignments at the end of class when students are anxious and not paying attention. Having examples or extra instructions on my website can help my students to look up instructions when not in class or when confused. 

06 March- Vidcast

What? 
This week we learned about Vidcasts and different applications you can use to make them. We learned how to use Photostory, Jing, YouTube, and how to save them into mp4, etc. 


So What?
This was an all new experience for me since I had never used any of these applications before. These are just a few of the new amazing technology we have today. Having technology like this makes it so much easier to work with students who are struggling or just with students in general. It helps the student to have guidance from the teacher when the teacher is not around and especially helps the teacher not have to explain the same thing over and over again. 

Now What? 
This technology will be a great use to my future students. This new information shows me that giving instruction can be done in many different ways. This technology will be perfect for my visual learners when my verbal instructions aren't enough. This is not just a tool I can use in my teaching and instruction but I can also use it as an assignment for my students. My students can use these tools for performance assessments and projects. 

20 February- Podcast

What? 
In class we learned about Podcast, how to create them and how to put them on your sites. My partner and I recorded a podcast on her phone, sent it to our emails, and then put them on our sites. 

So What?
Before this class period I had never recorded a podcast. I was really excited to know that I could record it on my personal phone and upload it online. This technology is really simple to use and could be used easily by me our my students. This technology is a great new way to communicate with my students. 

Now What? 
Students now days really love technology. I think podcasts is something that is easy and convenient to use in your classroom. There are many ways I could use a podcast assignment in my class. One would be to have students do an advertisement for a health issue like the one we did in class. I think podcasts would be a great way to have students use and practice their imagination and performance techniques. 

13 February- Reflection

I think the UEN website can be useful in many ways. One thing I love about it is how connected you are to other teachers and students. It's such a great way to share lesson plans and to find information for my teaching. I also liked that it had many uses not just for educators but for the students and parents as well. I will use UEN because it is a great way to stay up to date on accurate information as well as use numerous tools off of one site. 
I thought that the Pioneer Library was a great tool for my classroom. I could see myself using it when doing research for different assignments. I like that it has not just articles but media and other resources such as encyclopedias. This would definitely be a place I would recommend and even require my students to use when doing research for papers or presentations. Not only is a great source for them but I will be able to use this resources for my own lesson plans. 
I really like the Interactives page. Media and technology is huge with this generation and they are always looking for new things to look or play with on their computers. I think the interactives are a great way to have my students engage in my content and to learn extra information. I could use the interactives for assignments, as well as extra credit or just recommendations for my students to expand their knowledge and use their time wisely. 
Overall I was very impressed with the UEN website. I know that it is something I will use in my teaching. I feel that the best way to make sure that I am always teaching with accurate information is to use the UEN website as my main resource. Having my Core Curriculum available on the website as well as lesson plans and other resources that align right with my Core will be so helpful for me and I know I will always have this website to turn to when I need help. 

February 6,2011 Google Part 2

What? 
This week in class we learned about how to make our own website. We learned how to put things such as calendars, quizzes, announcements, tools, etc. onto one website for the use of our students.

So What?
This was a great class for me. Everything we learned was new to me and was something I knew I could use in the future. Having a classroom website can really help me to organize all announcements, assignments, quizzes, tools, and such for all my classes in one place. This can also help me to provide extra information for my students as well as their parents. It also gives a concrete tool that can be used as a reference for me and my students.

Now What? 
This technology can really help me to excel as a teacher. With a tool like this to help me organize I will have a better way of communicating with all of my classes and can refer everyone to one place. This website will also help me to have homework assignment instructions, examples, and quizzes that can be assessable for the students whenever they need them. If i have students who need extra help or information they can let me know in class or email me and I can provide it on the website for them and the other students. This site will also help with students who are absent or have fallen behind and need check where they are at. I know that this is a tool I will use in my future classroom. 

24 January- Everything Google

What? 
Today we learned lots of things about google. Some of these tools I had already used but many I had not. We were encouraged to explore tools such as google docs, iGoogle, spread sheets, presentations, calendar, and forms. We are also doing an assignment on collaborative education websites and blogs.

So What?
For me this means a whole new world to explore. I had used google docs and calendar before but today I really saw how easy and convenient they can be for me. If I use this tools as a teacher it will help me to stay organized and know where I can find all of my information. I liked how today you said that google docs is more convenient than Word because it can be accessed from anywhere. I've used google docs and Word before and I've never thought of it like that. As a teacher I will be able to access all of my documents, agendas, emails, blogs, etc from one place. Adding to that idea I also made my own iGoogle page and love it already. For me this helps me to access multiple information on one page. 

Now What? 
Having this knowledge means that I will be able to use and teach it to my students. It will help them to stay organize and have an easy way to communicate with me. This new information has really taught me that all of my work and information doesn't need to be in five different places on my computer. This new information will help me to be a better teacher because I will have an easy way to communicate with my co workers as well as with my students. From what we've learned today I've seen many ways that I can assess my students using form and I can also share documents with my class rather than having to print everything out for them. This will also be useful for my students when working in group projects. Since many high school students are busy and don't get lots of time out of the classroom for projects this is will help them to work on the same document or assignment as their group members without having to meet with them.