This week's assignment
seemed to focus all on wikis - what they are, why they are used, and how they
can be used in a classroom setting. We also dove into the world of Excel
spreadsheets and how they can be applied to a classroom setting. My reaction to
this week’s assignments was that they were amazing. Both of these resources
were items that I was familiar with, but never knew the potential they had in a
classroom setting!
One of the subjects that interested me the
most this week was the idea of databases and spreadsheets in a classroom
setting. There are of course many reasons that I can think of from a teacher
standpoint, whether it be performance charts, grade books, or rosters, but
there are so many more that can apply to this setting. I was most interested in
finding that students can use them as well! When researching this topic, I
found a blog titled "Class Chatter"
(http://classclatter.blogspot.com/2011/05/spreadsheets-and-databases-in-classroom.html).
The author is actually from Monticello, KY which is somewhat near me -
exciting! It seems like the author Erica Casada may have done this for a course
as well, as it only spans over a couple of months, yet it is still very
informational.
I found it interesting that there were many suggestions
for Excel use for students. I really liked the idea of having students create a
vocabulary list for the books that they are reading. It is a great way for
students to learn to use Excel, as well as apply and study their vocabulary. I
know as a student, it was always better for me to write and apply my
vocabulary; this way includes technology!
My background before pursuing an Elementary
Education degree was Interior Design and Architecture. There were spreadsheets
in both of these areas! The first time that I used a spreadsheet and created
one using functions and formulas was in a Materials and Methods of Industrial
Design. It was one of the most confusing and brain-torturing courses I have
ever had - I used Excel spreadsheets to literally calculate exactly how many
bricks a building would have. It was mind bending and annoying all at the same
time. The second time I experienced Excel was under a more enjoyable
circumstance - Merchandising. This involved formulas galore and I felt that I
had a better understanding of the program. It also helped that the teacher did
not make me cry!! This is something that I want to avoid all together with my
future students. I do not want to make them cry. I do not want to make them
despise such wonderful technology. I want them to love and appreciate it, to
find it useful and accessible.
As a teacher, I would love to incorporate
spreadsheets into my future classroom. I envision myself using it for
attendance records, grade books, as well as list making. For students, I think
it would be a wonderful idea to have students keep track of their own grades,
participate in group projects, etc.
This week's Tech Explorations were marvelous
to say the absolute least. There were so many programs that I discovered with
these Tech Explorations that I found myself wondering how I ever lived without
them!
The first Tech
Exploration included researching mind mapping. I was astounded at the
simplicity of the sites as well as the just plain awesomeness of them! I am a very
organized and graphic person. I cannot be organized without having some sort of
visual, and I know that there are many others who are just like me. I am not
the type of person that can make a “mental note”. If it is not written down,
emailed to me, or set out for me to see, I am forgetting it! These websites are
a lovely fix for this need. They allow you to make a visual plan from your mind
and map it out. It helps you to better organize your thoughts, and I cannot
think of a better environment to use these resources in than a classroom. As a
teacher, we teach students how to organize your thoughts and that it is
important to map them out so that they are clear. These resources, such as
bubbl.us allow students to clearly create a plan that is neat and easily read.
It helps them to organize their thoughts and clearly see their ideas. I loved
these websites!
The second Tech
Exploration included researching Animoto, a website that allows users to create
a video. I loved this one as well. Although it was not totally free, I found it
to be extremely inspiring and innovative. I found that it could be very helpful
in a classroom setting. I think that it would be wonderful as an introductory
assignment where students were required to introduce themselves. This site uses
pictures to create a video. I think that this would be a fun, yet
technologically stimulating project.
The third and
final Tech Exploration for this week required us to research Google Docs and
PhotoPeach. I am in love with Google Docs, and have been since January. I
recently got a new computer without any Microsoft and all of my homework was
done exclusively on Google Docs. I find it a wonderful and free (my favorite part!) resource for all ages. I envision it being
a wonderful resource for an online portfolio that is accessible everywhere.
PhotoPeach was however a new website to me, but I find it very intriguing.
Creating a slideshow is important for everyone to know. I imagine this being
included in a classroom setting requiring students to create a slideshow
informing their peers of a country they have yet to study. This could be a very
fun addition to a classroom setting for the teacher, and the students!
Overall, I found
this week to be an amazing, information-packed lesson. I loved all of the
resources we were required to research and I definitely imagine myself using
them in my future classroom!
Lesson Two Technology Explorations:
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