Today we learned about podcasts and how easy it really is to create them. Podcasts are audio files that students can subscribe to and they can listen to them whenever they have access to your site.
I am such a dork and would totally make podcasts with my husband. I think we would love to do restaurant reviews because we love to eat out. We also have garageband at home which will be so fun to play with and make creative sound files. This technology is important for me now because it's another creative avenue for completing assignments. I also think this would be an important tool for me to know so that I can teach future colleagues how to use this.
I think podcasts would be a very fun assignment for students to complete. They can learn technology but also show understanding in another subject area based on what subject you decide to use it for. I also think this tool would be fun for colleagues to use as they could create projects together but many current teachers don't know how to create them. I also feel like this would be a great tool to create activities for english language learners that could be used at home. I also think it would be good to record important or complicated lessons and put them on the web for students to refer to later when they are home and have questions. I didn't realize how easy podcasts were and how many uses they could have in the classroom.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
January 27 Google Part 2
This week we learned all about Google Sites. I have used Google sites in the past in your class but since then they have made improvements. I really like all the different options for what kind of page you can actually set up, it was kind of fun to create my own site.
I think Google sites could be very useful for me and my colleagues. It would be such an easy way to stay on the same page and track with what is going on. I also think a google site would be beneficial for those parents that are very involved in their student's classroom. Also, Google sites would be great for back up information because I know lots of students lose important papers and other things and it would be so nice to have the information somewhere else.
I think this could make me a better teacher because it will help me cater to the needs of various students and parents. Some parents I know would love the ease of access to all the classroom info they needed to help their child succeed. I would also like to use a Google site to keep my administrator informed about what is going on in our classroom-the site would really be a window into our little community. I also think knowing how to do this will advance me in the world of technology especially because many current teachers don't know how to use Google sites. This could be an opportunity for me to teach others how to use this simple technology to make their classroom's a better place.
I think Google sites could be very useful for me and my colleagues. It would be such an easy way to stay on the same page and track with what is going on. I also think a google site would be beneficial for those parents that are very involved in their student's classroom. Also, Google sites would be great for back up information because I know lots of students lose important papers and other things and it would be so nice to have the information somewhere else.
I think this could make me a better teacher because it will help me cater to the needs of various students and parents. Some parents I know would love the ease of access to all the classroom info they needed to help their child succeed. I would also like to use a Google site to keep my administrator informed about what is going on in our classroom-the site would really be a window into our little community. I also think knowing how to do this will advance me in the world of technology especially because many current teachers don't know how to use Google sites. This could be an opportunity for me to teach others how to use this simple technology to make their classroom's a better place.
Friday, January 14, 2011
January 20-Google Part 1
This week we learned about many different components of Google. We focused mostly on Google Docs and how it can be useful to teachers in a collaborative effort. We also started on our first assignment with our partner in which we will be evaluating teacher tools we could use in our future classroom.
There are so many things in Google Docs that make it useful for me currently as a student. I am using Google Docs outside of our class and sharing documents with other classmates to write lesson plans. I can also use it to create presentations I may have for my current classes. The tools within it make it so easy to collaborate with others which is key in our cohort. I also didn't know about the chat abilities when multiple people are using the document at the same time, that was really cool. The documents tool will be the most helpful to me because I don't own Microsoft Word so I will be relying on Google to accomplish most of my school work.
In the future I hope to teach my students how to use Google Docs. I think this would be a great tool to students that can't afford programs and need to become familiar with a word processor and power point program. I currently work with Title 1 students and they barely have enough money to eat every day. I think this tool would be key for their future success in the classroom so they could be familiar with it enough to use it later in their education experience. I look forward to using the translate tool as well for students and parents alike that can't speak English and need to know the information I send home. This feature will be so nice so I don't have to run to a school translator for everything and I'm actually going to show it to my current colleagues. ( I think they will love it!) I also think I could turn using Google Doc forms into a very fun assignment for students to create surveys and learn to take surveys and also how technology can help them record results. I think it would give them a safe way to express themselves while learning good tools.
There are so many things in Google Docs that make it useful for me currently as a student. I am using Google Docs outside of our class and sharing documents with other classmates to write lesson plans. I can also use it to create presentations I may have for my current classes. The tools within it make it so easy to collaborate with others which is key in our cohort. I also didn't know about the chat abilities when multiple people are using the document at the same time, that was really cool. The documents tool will be the most helpful to me because I don't own Microsoft Word so I will be relying on Google to accomplish most of my school work.
In the future I hope to teach my students how to use Google Docs. I think this would be a great tool to students that can't afford programs and need to become familiar with a word processor and power point program. I currently work with Title 1 students and they barely have enough money to eat every day. I think this tool would be key for their future success in the classroom so they could be familiar with it enough to use it later in their education experience. I look forward to using the translate tool as well for students and parents alike that can't speak English and need to know the information I send home. This feature will be so nice so I don't have to run to a school translator for everything and I'm actually going to show it to my current colleagues. ( I think they will love it!) I also think I could turn using Google Doc forms into a very fun assignment for students to create surveys and learn to take surveys and also how technology can help them record results. I think it would give them a safe way to express themselves while learning good tools.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
January 13-Introduction, Special Topics Blog
I decided that I would write about hobbies and interests of mine. I have a few hobbies and a few of them are my favorite. The grand list of them is as follows:
- baking
- journal writing
- creating photo templates
- reading
- blurbing
- exercising
One of my favorite things to do is create photo books. I am really bad at scrapbooking. When I try to scrapbook my OCD takes over and I just can't handle it if a sticker is crooked or the picture isn't trimmed just right. So instead I digitally scrapbook so that I can have them. I use Blurb software which is free to make my books. I put in photos, write in stories, and make it all my own. Once I'm finished I preview it, send it in to Blurb, and they print it for me. Of course the books have to be purchased but it is much more affordable than printing all the photos I can fit in a book. I love my creations and display all 5 books that I have created on my coffee table for other people to enjoy. To preview some of my books click here
My latest hobby is exercising. I have decided that I want to change my life for good and adopt a healthy lifestyle. My husband and I have been eating a very healthy diet for the last 4 months and since then I have also starting working out. I am lucky enough to have a personal trainer right now and have been working with her for 4 months as well. I never thought I would like exercising but I seriously love it. I am what you would call a gym rat. I am there 4 days a week lifting weights and doing my eliptical. I skipped a week over Christmas and by the end of the week I was missing my time there. I know it sounds selfish but a mom needs some time to herself so she won't go crazy taking care of her family. So I take 5 hours out of the week to spend on myself and it makes me feel so good. And I'm happier because I found my new hobby. I hope to run a half marathon later this year and participate in a few 5k and 10k races.
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