The Top 10 Tech Tools I Can't Live Without!!!
I have learned about so many different technology tools during my Technology in Education course at UWA that I didn't even know existed. I have already started letting my students use some of these tools with my account and they are loving it!
1. Animoto videos!!!!! (my kids love making videos)
2. Concept Mapping with Bubbl.us
3. PowerPoint presentations with animation and video links
4. BigHugeLabs.com (my kids love the graphics I make to engage them in lessons)
5. Glogster
6. iPad apps for education
7. Rubistar rubric creator (all my class projects and writing assignment rubrics are clicks away)
8. Prezi (a co-worker and I are using this tool for faculty meeting presentations)
9. Microsoft Word (I was already using this tool 50 times a day)
10. YouTube/TeacherTube (I find some great videos for concept support especially in science and history)
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Educational Apps
With the growth of technology, comes more tools for educators to use in the classroom. Here are just four ipad apps that can be used in the classroom.
Language Arts: Grammar Up
Grammar Up is an app that allows students practice with grammar content. This app gives students a brief explanation of the grammar topic of choice and then gives them around ten questions to answer using the grammar skill. The questions are multiple choice and allow students to chose the best answer for the question. You can motify the app based on level. Another good app for grammar for primary students is Grammar Jammers.
Science: Our Solar System
Our Solar System is a great app for students to visualize the solar system. Students can tap on the solar system and watch the orbit of each planent around the sun. The students can also tap on each of the planets and get some basic information. I use this app when I first introduce the solar system so the students can get a great visual of the movement of the system.
Geography: KidsWorldMap
KidsWorldMap is a great app for students to use to explore the countries and contents. Students can choose any place on Earth and get a tutorial of information for this location. This app also provides a question/game property. Students are given quizes based on open areas of the map. They get points for correct answers and new areas can be opened and studied.
Math: WormJump HD
WormJump HD is an interactive game for students to practice basic math facts. In this game students race through a maze answering math facts. They can choose the level of the game, which will change the speed of the questions and the level of the facts. If students give too many wrong answers or take too long, then they are eaten (They are a worm being chased by a bird).
Language Arts: Grammar Up
Grammar Up is an app that allows students practice with grammar content. This app gives students a brief explanation of the grammar topic of choice and then gives them around ten questions to answer using the grammar skill. The questions are multiple choice and allow students to chose the best answer for the question. You can motify the app based on level. Another good app for grammar for primary students is Grammar Jammers.
Science: Our Solar System
Our Solar System is a great app for students to visualize the solar system. Students can tap on the solar system and watch the orbit of each planent around the sun. The students can also tap on each of the planets and get some basic information. I use this app when I first introduce the solar system so the students can get a great visual of the movement of the system.
Geography: KidsWorldMap
KidsWorldMap is a great app for students to use to explore the countries and contents. Students can choose any place on Earth and get a tutorial of information for this location. This app also provides a question/game property. Students are given quizes based on open areas of the map. They get points for correct answers and new areas can be opened and studied.
Math: WormJump HD
WormJump HD is an interactive game for students to practice basic math facts. In this game students race through a maze answering math facts. They can choose the level of the game, which will change the speed of the questions and the level of the facts. If students give too many wrong answers or take too long, then they are eaten (They are a worm being chased by a bird).
Friday, September 21, 2012
Digital Citizenship
Why is it important to be a good digital citizen?
It is important to follow the guidelines of being a good digital citizen, just like it is important to be a good citizen in general. With the world of technology developing at such a fast pace, people are more vulnerable to the unknown. As people are exploring the Internet and digital programming available, they need to be aware of all the dangers of hackers and viruses. It is also important for people to use all the tools available online appropriately, respecting the ideas and hard work of others.
What value does a good digital reputation have?
A digital reputation is important to me as an educator because I represent myself, my profession, and my school system. As a digital citizen, being respectful and open to others ideas is my responsibility. If I was to bad mouth others, give incorrect information, or steal others' thoughts as my own, my credibility would be demolished. If I keep a good reputation, then other people will be more willing to provide help, information, or opinions without hesitation. Your reputation online is just as important as in person.
It is important to follow the guidelines of being a good digital citizen, just like it is important to be a good citizen in general. With the world of technology developing at such a fast pace, people are more vulnerable to the unknown. As people are exploring the Internet and digital programming available, they need to be aware of all the dangers of hackers and viruses. It is also important for people to use all the tools available online appropriately, respecting the ideas and hard work of others.
What value does a good digital reputation have?
A digital reputation is important to me as an educator because I represent myself, my profession, and my school system. As a digital citizen, being respectful and open to others ideas is my responsibility. If I was to bad mouth others, give incorrect information, or steal others' thoughts as my own, my credibility would be demolished. If I keep a good reputation, then other people will be more willing to provide help, information, or opinions without hesitation. Your reputation online is just as important as in person.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Material Generators
Material Generators
- Desktop Publishing Software
- I use Microsoft Publisher every week to make our grade level newsletter for parents. It has all the information we will be covering the next week in class for each subject. It also has any school wide information my parents might need to be informed or reminded about.
- Worksheet Generators
- I use www.worksheetswork.com to make puzzles for my students with their spelling and vocabulary words every sixth day for morning work. The puzzles are fun for my students and I can increase or decrease the complexity of the search. It also gives my students a fun way to review spelling words before the test.
- Test and rubric generators
- I have used Exam View with my AMSTI curriculum to develop assessments for my students. This tool let me pick what type of questions I wanted and how many on each topic. I loved it. I am looking forward to looking into a rubric generator. I have always used the table tool in Microsoft Word to make my own for writing and project rubrics, but I am going to look into using one of the softwares mentioned on page 145 of Roblyer and Doering.
Thursday, September 6, 2012
5 Types of Instructional Software
Chapter 3 of Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching is primarily about using the right instructional software in your classroom to provide students and teachers with assistance in learning and practicing concepts. Here are the five types of instructional software and a brief summary of each:
- Drill-and-Practice software: provides students with questions or problems in which they respond to and are either given feedback or allowed to move forward in the program. Two examples I use in my classroom are www.ixl.com and www.brainpop.com.
- Tutorial software: provides students with the instruction for the information being presented and allows them to practice the skill. Two examples of this software are www.yourteacher.com and http://congressforkids.net.
- Simulation software: provides students with access to a simulated model of a system or cycle. Two examples of this type of software are http://www.digitalfrog.com and www.yenka.com.
- Instructional Game software: provides students with concept practice through the use of a game style component. Two sources for this instruction are http://playinghistory.org and http://www.spellingcity.com/ and a tool to make your own games for students is www.superteachertools.com.
- Problem solving software: provides students with practice for critical thinking and problem solving skills. Two resources for this software are http://www.rinkworks.com/brainfood/p/latreal1.shtml and http://www.sharpbrains.com/teasers/brain-games-and-teasers-top-50/.
Web 2.0 Resources
Technology is definately something that teachers are trying to add to their daily curriculum. Technology is all around our students and it seems to help keep their attention. This week we were asked to do a number of assignments using technology on the web. My topic for these assignments was the solar system which is a fourth grade concept that my students love. The use of technology on this topic is important for students to visualize what they cannot see exists. The first tool I used was a concept map from http://bubbl.us, which is a great tool for organizing information. Students could use this tool across the curriculum for organizing thoughts and it would be a little more exciting than filling out a concept web with pencil and paper. Here is my concept map on the solar system according to what we have to cover in fourth grade.
The next activity was to create a glog about our topic using http://glogster.com/. This was my favorite activity. I really enjoyed all the neat things you could put on this page. My glog for the solar system is http://alyons06.edu.glogster.com/alyons06-solar-system-glog/. My gifted students would definately be able to show their creativeness using this site. The next tool was a video using http://animoto.com/. This activity was interesting and I liked it, but it would have been a lot more fun to use some of the "added features". My animoto video is at
The next activity was to create a glog about our topic using http://glogster.com/. This was my favorite activity. I really enjoyed all the neat things you could put on this page. My glog for the solar system is http://alyons06.edu.glogster.com/alyons06-solar-system-glog/. My gifted students would definately be able to show their creativeness using this site. The next tool was a video using http://animoto.com/. This activity was interesting and I liked it, but it would have been a lot more fun to use some of the "added features". My animoto video is at
The last assignment was a little stressful and I thought I would have more access to my finished product than an image. I used the site http://bighugelabs.com/. The site would allow you to create graphics, but you have to purchase the actual objects on the site to have them in your classroom. Here are the jpgs of the three projects I created.
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| Magazine of our solar system |
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| Jigsaw puzzle of our solar system |
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| Mosaic of our solar system |
Thursday, August 30, 2012
Playing Games in School
I believe that the use of computer software and games in the classroom that are used as a practice or investigative tool are great in the classroom. My students use a number of interactive games to work on reading and math skills daily. We use Comprehension Expedition provided by Harcourt and many interactive games in GoMath/Harcourt to engage the students in math concepts. I use reading interactive games daily in my reading rotations and interactive math games in whole and small group settings.
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