Saturday, July 10, 2010

Tool #4

Someone told me about Google docs sometime ago, but in my mind sounded complicated, what a nice surprise to realize how wrong I was. It is super user friendly, I created a document and share it with Donna. Amazing to see how the document was changing and loved the chat window on the side. I can see myself using this application with the both the leadership and the Science teams.

For Google reader I added some blogs I'm following and register for NASA and a Hurricane tracker

Tool #3 Glogster sample "Water cycle"





Thursday, July 8, 2010

Tool # 3

Discorvery Education images was a great finding! When doing GLAD I need to get a lot of pictures. Cool Flikr Spell, really easy to use.

Word Cloud algo got my attention, I think I can use it in Science as a pre-assessment; the students can create a word cloud including all the words realtate to a X or Y science unit.

Glogster simply blew my mind!, it is a digital poster/bulletin board maker, a great way for students to create a project.

Wednesday, July 7, 2010

Tool # 2

Natural sequence nowdays for kids to build knowledge
1. "My mommy and daddy told me ______________Therefore, _______________ is true"

2. "My teacher told me _______________ Therefore, ________________ is true"

3. " I found ______________ at Google, Therefore, ______________ is true"

I agree on the importance of building a PLN; as educators either we use them or not, we like them or not , our students are networking, creating knowledge that make sense to them and having access to an unlimited number or sources and people.
My ideal role as an educator would to be Tech facilitator, so the students can analyze resources with a critical eye, they would learn there are trusted and not so ethic sources and make distinctions between the two.

Tool #1

Two years ago, I got to create my Yahoo Avatar, the one at Voki.com is interactive and fun, but I really wish I could have my Wii one, which really looks like me, who knows maybe in two years ;)
Lately, more and more bloggers are trying to get an audience, you can actually follow them now if you want; All I can think now is the "Julie and Julia" movie, It all started as a blog.
I'm thinking we can integrate literacy skills and blogs
. Purpose: Do they want to share knowledge and resources, keep a track of learning, or try to get followers.
. CCP: What elements we can find in a good blog, we can Consume, Critique and then let them Produce their own blogs.
.Fiction vs. Non fiction: Do they want to write, illustrate and animate their own stories, or want to follow current events on the news. Use www.stormpulse.com to track storms and make weather predictions.

Tuesday, August 5, 2008

Thing #23 Patting my back!!!

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
This summer was rather a busy one; I taught summer school 7 hours for six weeks, I wrote curriculum and of course have personal vacation plans. I almost dropped this training. Well, I’m glad I didn’t as I’ve been thrilled with all the learning. I loved delicious, the cartoons, teacher tube and how to unblock you tube videos. I love having my blog, commenting in others and adding pictures, videos and avatars.
2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
I learned technology is moving fast and furious it’s not longer optional for teachers using it in the classrooms IT IS A MUST and we as educators need to move along with the trend in order to provide our students with tools that will make them succeed.
3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Statistics, made me reflect on my teaching style, my social responsibility as educator and how my campus/district is ready or not for the challenge.
4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I’d like to see examples made by students/other teachers, there you go perhaps a create a Technology Showcase Nings. Having the program over the summer was a great idea.

5. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?

Totally  !!! By all means please –begging here- keep planning for more trainings

6. How would you describe your learning experience in ONE WORD or in ONE SENTENCE, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities?
Dynamic
7. Now go and comment on some of the other Players' blogs?
Yes

Thing # 22

I visited the three suggested nigs, being the teachers’ the one I liked better. They’re writing about going back to school and I’m totally relating to the very same feelings.
Not sure if I actually will use a ning very often just the eternal complaint NOT enough time. But like all of the other things, once I know of something, I begin to think and find a way to integrate it in my classroom.
Reading the article I learned how to make useful for my students as they to create their own social/learning networks. Imagine create a grade level one for science or social studies, there students can add their findings about an specific topics –birds, habitats, heroes- .

Thing #21

I’ll have to get back to this one later as I don’t have much of my files in this computer and I’m out of town.
However I know which ones I want to make. Every year my second graders “teach” a science lesson to First and Kinder students about butterflies. They use a pocast I found in internet but I do think it will be more meaningful if they can use one they made themselves.
Can also be used for timelines and Heroes’ biographies.

Thing #20

Awesome I had not idea we could do this!
I love animal’s videos it was up-setting gather my class around the TV just to found a blocked site sign on the screen.



Last year we did several author studies, research on the web was a big component, likewise blocked sites –I did not about teacher tube- was frustrating. This is so neat; I’m picturing in my mind all the neat presentations students will be able to make now. Patricia Polacco was HUGE in my classroom this past year, so her name was the first came to my mind.