I created a Website to help my students gain more information about the world long ago using technology. The Website is a project I hope to have my students do. I hope you will enjoy viewing my site.

https://sites.google.com/site/movingwestclassproject/

Screencasting- Power Point

Each year I have my students do at least one PowerPoint presentation. For some this is very simple, but for others they often forget how to select a new slide and how to deal with adding a picture. This screencast can be availabe for students who need a little reminder on how to get a new slide or picture. Using this type of system would save me a lot of time. Students would be able to refer to something instead of having to wait for me which can take up time they don't have.

Review of Free Web-based Software

Review of Free Web-based Software

                This week for class we were asked to review two free web-based software.

                The first web-based software I looked at was Google Documents.  The first 5 GB are free to the user.  If you wanted 25 GB you could upgrade and pay about $2.50 per month. The Google documents works with many types of equipment such as android devices, Chrome OS, and PC and Max. They are in the process of creating connections with iphone and ipad.  With all these connections it allows you to have your documents at your fingertips anyplace you go. This also allows for collaboration between people and easy access to documents and projects. With one click you can download your document as a Microsoft word, Open document format, rich text format, PDF document, plain text, or web page. It is easy to use as Web, email with collaboration or as an attachment.

                The Google Documents are set up similar to Microsoft word. I did find it had some feature that I really like. One of these included a research button. I just click on the button and was able to explore the web for information to the side of my document. I could also search for images and just drag them right into my document. When pictures were added it automatically added a footnote about where the picture was loaded from. I was impressed with the wide range of images at my fingertips and the ease in which it entered my document. The search time was very quick. You had your information within seconds.

                The second feature is the dictionary. When needing more information about a word, you can click on the dictionary and type in the word.  It  brings you up all the information you would find in a dictionary. In addition it has clickable links in which you can find additional information about something mentioned in the definition. Again the speed for processing was very quick.   

                It includes other easy to use and find documents such as PowerPoint, spread sheets, forms, and drawing. Each of these were simple and easy to use. It was easy to go between one document to another. I found once I started to "play" it was hard to stop.  

                Drawing was similar to other drawing application. It was easy to change background, add shapes, and include information in the document. I was not as impressed with Word Art. I did not find it as easy to change the shape and angle of the words.   Again, it can be loaded right to the web or located from other places. It would be easy to have a group of students work on an drawing application and working  from different location. 

                There where two drawbacks that I would consider. One  of the draw backs could also be considered a benefit as well.  The document is always updating which means if you don't want to save the document it is saved and stored for you up to 30 days or longer if you ask it to save for longer. This can be an advantage as well because you won't lose a document and you can always look back at the original document you created.  They save each change so you can refer back to the previous documents.

                The second is the fact that is was harder for me to figure out how to exist because instead of saving and then existing you log off instead.

                I have never used Google documents before or even looked at it. I found it to be easy and fun to use.  It gives you a place to post questions, look and see how other people are using it, and to explore new features as well. There are too many features to list all of them. I would recommend you spend some time playing on the site. 

                The second Web-based software I reviewed was FotoFlexer.  Again, this was an site I have never seen or heard of. It was fun playing with the different options and changing the look of my pictures.

                Some of the basic features included flip, rotation, fixing red eye, as  well as dewrinkle components. It allowed me to decide on different effects of my picture. Some of the effects included tint, sketch, blueprint, heartify, and pop art.

                I think some of the fun parts where adding boarders around pictures. I also turned a couple of pictures into posters with text. All photos allow the option to add written text as well as change the back ground, and word colors.  It was also easy to make a collage which allowed you to arrange in various pictures. You could have as few as 2 all the way to 12 pictures in your collage.

                You would get your photos by uploading photos, grabbing photos from the web, or from another sites. I did try to get my Flickr pictures to work with, but was never successful even though I followed all the directions. It was must easier to upload straight from the computer.

                The product reminded me a lot of scrapbooking only using the computer. It was easy to use and fun to see what a picture would look like, but also easy to change if I didn't like it.

Week 5 Reflection questions

I have never heard of the NTeQ Model before. It pointed out the difference between a student who is computer -literate and a student who has technological competence. I never realize there is a difference between the two. I always thought if a student could get around a computer and type they were fine, but to picture the computer as a tool to solve problems is a different process. This takes students to a deeper level of thinking. It makes real world applications various simulations. It talked about the need for teachers to make a prototype of the activity to determine what may happen or the length of time. In some ways it is overwhelming to think about creating a 10 step lesson plan and a prototype for the multiple classes I teach each day. However, as I have thought about it, it may make things easier because I could incorporate many different areas of learning into each exercise. I was a little taken back when they talked about testing and that the "gains on high-stakes tests were inconsistent." I always felt that students who had a rich technological back ground may do better because of having to think though various aspects on a computer. I think it goes back to the information shared with NTeQ that there is a difference between computer-literate and competence. However, I questions rather technology in some cases have been integrated but merely added to the curriculum- the one more thing to teach mentality. This happens I feel because of the limited teacher training or the inadequate teacher training. With the implementation of the Common Core standards, and the change in testing material, it will become critical that students learn how to think deeply and I think technology can help create and shape this process. I think one thing educators can take from the business and industry world is the technology-bases training delivery. Using Web-based training can help in all age levels. From the younger students all the way to teachers it can help deliver real-life situation. It allows learners to gain information, respond to the information and then receive feedback right away. More and more education is starting to more towards this information. However, I think more than having students learn how to use this type of instruction also teaching them how to create this type of learning could help them with deeper level thinking. There is a multitude of information they have to consider when creating a Web-based training. It can open their minds to other cultures and ways of thinking. Another item that education can take from the business and industry world is "the designer as a researcher." I think the greatest aspect that hit me was the part about "reflection as critical component in the problem-solving process." I think adding this element as a major part of the students work will help them see things differently. I think students have to be taught how to reflect on their own work. I don't think it comes nature for most students. Some students have a tendency to be too hard on themselves or to easy. Reflection really hit a high-point with me. When students create a technology project it is critical that they think about what worked, and what they would change next time. Often times the reflection part falls on the teacher, but putting it back on the students "can promote self and professional development."

Concept Map

This concept map is an example I made from one of our trade books we read this year called Shadow Creek Ranch. This map would be used to teach students about creating concept maps and reviewing the character. Joey was one of the main characters in the book. The map shows who he is, what he does, where he lives, and who he lives with. All of these elements affect his life. This is a broad score concept map. I would have students create their own concept map after completing the reading of one of our tread books. For older students I would have them focus on a couple of aspects from the persons life and give more detail. Students would demonstrate their comprehension of one of the characters and show the relationship between the character with others in the book. Students would need to select a primary character in which to create this web with. Students would then take their web and create a document about the character. This concept map provides three areas for assessment. The first being the use of the concept map to demonstrate student's comprehension. The second would be their ability to expand on the concepts they created into a paper. Students would also present their concept map to the class and explain each of the elements they included and why. Each of these elements will help students remember the key information because it will be seen, spoken, read, and heard. After using a concept map from the computer it excites me with the possibilities for both myself and my students. It was much easier doing it on the computer than creating one on the board or by paper. It would be great to create a concept map together as a class for like Science class. The concept map could be uploaded through the projector and the class could create the map together. It could help as a review at the end of the lesson.

Google Map activity for students

View Battle Creek Historical sites in a larger map Since I teach middle elementary, I would use this map as a starter for teaching both Battle Creek History and Michigan History. There are 4 cameras that students could look at to start. The class would start out by adding additional information to at least one of the sites already on the map. Students would have an opportunity to continue adding famous historical sites in Battle Creek. Students would work in teams of 4 to study a different historical site that is not listed on the map. Students would then add additional sites and information to the map. Along with the information, students would create map search questions that would be shared with their classmates. Using a starter map like I have provided will help students get accustom to the use of Google Map as well as providing them an example on how it can look when they are done. This would be a spring board for a bigger research project in which students would again be broken up into teams. This time Michigan would divided up into different regions. Students would use Google map to insert historical information and identify locations of importance in the history of Michigan. Each team would have their own Google Map site in which to locate and import information for their region. Students would present their Google Map to the class in an oral presentation as well providing the web address. Students from each region would create questions on the information they have located. These questions would be shared with the class and each member would be given opportunity to go on the Google Map to locate the information.