Opening the Doors to the Future

One topic that many of our class sessions seemed to focus on was all of the different Web 2.0 tools and how we could incorporate them into our classrooms. As I started reading through the different resources that our teacher provided for us, I was amazed to see how many Web 2.0 tools there actually were! I didn't know most of them even existed! While looking through them, so many ideas were coming into my head as to how I would be able to use these tools in a classroom. Let's face it...as teachers, this is what our world is coming to and this is the way of the future. Pretty soon, there won't even be chalk boards or white boards in any classrooms...Everything will be technology-based. That's why it's so important now to get a grip on this technology and slowly start integrating it into our lessons that we teach our students.

One of our assignments based on this topic was to pick two (2) Web 2.0 tools out of the millions that exist out there and explain how we would use each of them in the classroom. When I found out that we could only pick two, I wasn't even sure where to begin! How was I ever going to decided on just two?? However, after doing a little research on a couple of them that seemed to stand out at me, I narrowed my choices down to Flowgram and Quizlet. Flowgram is a tool that allows its users to create interactive guided presentations by combining an assortment of web pages, Power Points, and photos. Another option this program has is that it allows you to record your voice into your presentation. This is a feature that I think all students would enjoy because it really adds that personal, unique touch. The presenter can record his or her voice to narrate and guide his or her audience through the presentation, and give them the opportunity to explain what everything is about. I could definitely see myself using this tool in my classroom in the future. This could be used to create a project in just about any subject area. Two subject areas in particular that I would definitely use this program for are Social Studies and Science. For a Social Studies project, the students could choose a historical figure or event that took place in history, include a variety of web pages that highlight that person's life or details relative to that event, design a Power Point that discusses that person or event, then record his or her own voice into it to guide his or her audience through the presentation and explain what everything is. The same concept applies for a science project. For example, if the students were to create a project on the human heart, they could include different web pages that explain the different parts of the heart, pictures of the heart, a Power Point presentation about what the function of the heart is and all its different parts, maybe include a You Tube video on how the heart works, then again, record his or her own voice into it to guide their audience through the entire project. This is great way for students to really personalize their work.

The second Web 2.0 tool that I thought was interesting was Quizlet. Quizlet is an excellent study tool that, in my opinion, would be geared more towards Junior High School students and older. Quizlet allows students to create their own flash cards on any topic, or they could copy and paste facts from other people's cards, they can play games, take tests and quizzes, and they can even set up study groups. This is also a great tool for teachers in that they can create study sessions which allow the students to sign in and all of the material is already set up by the teacher for the student groups to study together. What's nice about it is that there are quizzes, tests, and games on almost every content area subject. I think this would promote healthy study habits among the students and keep them engaged and interested in the material. If I were to teach at the secondary level, this is a tool that I would definitely use with my students.

Take a look at this video about Using Web 2.0 Tools in the Classroom! Very informative!

Flowgram

Quizlet

The Dangers of the Internet...Who Knew!

I am amazed by everything I have learned so far during these last couple weeks! Our whole-class meetings as well as our group meetings seem to be going very well! One of our first assignments was to create a lesson plan about internet safety and cyber bullying that we would teach our students during the first week of school. While children think that the internet is all fun and games, many of them do not know the dangers that it possesses. My lesson plan plan focused on knowing what type of information is ok to give out to people and what information should remain private. During the lesson, the students will also learn about the different safety rules that parents should enforce while their children are in cyberspace. The lesson also focused on cyber bullying. The students will learn how to analyze different behaviors that could be considered cyber bullying, and also how to come up with solutions if they or someone they know is a victim of cyber bullying. I believe that lessons like these are important to teach at any grade level because these days, children of all ages use the computer and have access to the internet. We, as adults, jsut have to make sure that they are being careful and following the rules while they are on there. Before I developed my lesson plan, I took a look at the different websites that my professor had posted for us. They were very informative and served as a great resource to me to help me figure out what type of lesson I could come up with. I think the websites that she provided to us would serve as an excellent resource to any teacher who wants to teach their class about internet safety. Below is a link to my lesson plan that I created:

Internet Safety and Cyber Bullying Lesson Plan

Check out this short video clip on internet safety

So I know it may seem weird that I'm posting all of my blog entries now, but I've had a lot going on these last few weeks! I just finished moving into a new house and all of my stuff for school was scattered all over the place, then I didn't have access to a computer for a while. I've had my entries written out on paper, and am now finally getting the opportunity to post them on my blog and share them with you!

On The Road to Success...

Our first group meeting was a huge success! Luckily, we got to pick our own groups which makes the whole process of collaborating and working together much easier. To host our group meeting, we used a program called WizIQ. I have never heard of that before up until our first meeting, but I was actually quite impresssed with it! It's very user friendly and there is so much you can do with. See...I learned something new already! We also used the time during our meeting to come up with a name for our group: "The Tech Savvy Trio." We also had to come up with a slogan for our group. After looking at what the next few weeks of taking this course would bring, I am very excited to learn about all of the different technology that I hope to one day be able to use in my own classroom.

WizIQ

Web 2.0 Word Cloud

Check out this word cloud that our group made using the Web 2.0 tool Wordle. All of the words featured in this word cloud describe Web 2.0. Enjoy it!