The Web

Over the this semester I was taking a technology in the 21st century course.  We learned about the computer and the different parts of it such as the monitor and the mouse. 

Then we began to learn about web 2.0's.  Which includes social networking like twitter, facebook, and tumblr.  Web 2.0 was created by Tim O'Reilly.  Since his creation it has grown into the web we use today.  The web is a easy way to share information, learn about anything you want, and meet new people.  What do you like most about the web is it sharing you memories through a blog.  Learning something new through Google, Yahoo, or the search engine of your choice? Well whatever it is enjoy and lets help teach younger generations the best part of a new way to learn. 

Pictures. Pictures. and More Pictures.

Pictures are a great way to keep track of the memories made through ones life.  But after you take your thousands of pictures what do you do with them? Do you put them online? Are they printed out and placed in scrapbooks? We recently learned about a new web 2.0 Flikr. It is a website that allows you to keep track of your pictures.  You can organize them, make slide shows, and even share them to the public if you wish.  Flikr is just one of the many websites that allows you to share pictures. But not only can you share and organize pictures you can use Flikr in an educational way as well.  Did you know pictures that are placed into a slide show can be used as a presentation?  Well they can.  This can be a new creative way to get your students online and creating picture shows of something new in their life or on a specific topic.  Would you use Flikr in your class?

Social Bookmarking: Delicious

Social Bookmarking.

When you read that phrase what comes to mind?  In class we learned about how to bookmark social websites and how to share them.  There are many different sites that allow you to do so but the one we used in class is delicious.com, which I highly recommend. You may be wondering why it matters or how is this useful tool.  Well, I have the answer for you.  Most people when they find a new useful website they add it to their bookmarks on their computer.  This is not a bad thing but after 30 saved sites it can become hard to find what you need.  This is where a social bookmarking site comes in handy.  The site allows you to bookmark the sites you find quickly but also place tags on them.  These tags are like folders.  So, when you are looking for something under art.  You type it in your social bookmarking site all the websites you saved under art will appear.  You can even create folder or stacks with curtain sites.  These simple steps can allow looking for websites to be fast and easy.  I thought this lesson was great especially in the eyes of a teacher because there is going to be so many things that we have to search and look up over time.  Social bookmarking is a safe and easy way to save sites and share them with colleagues.

Site mentioned above:
www.delicious.com

Math Help!

Math has never been my favorite subject but if taught probably is easy for me to do.  I am working this year with a first grader for my service learning hours.  Her weakness right now is math.  We go over her homework then do different activities to make sure she is grasping the concepts being in taught in school.  Which made me think how much does a "bad" teacher affect our lives.  For example,  math is something that will follow us for the rest of our lives.  If a student lacks an understanding and drive to learn math will they become at a disadvantage for the rest of their lives.  What do you think?

Math in first grade is very easy.  Adding, Subtracting, Grouping and so on and so forth.  Yet without these fundamental concepts it is nearly impossible to continue learning new ideas in math.  What do you think are useful tools to help younger students learn to grasp the concepts of adding, subtracting and grouping?  Your feedback is appreciated.

Power Point vs. Prezi

There are many ways to display information in the classroom in this tech savvy age.  Most people are use to seeing powerpoint in the classroom to display information slide by slide.  But now there are so many different programs that allow you to do the same.  The one I will be examining is Prezi.  Prezi is an internet based program that allows you to make moving shows of information that can zoom in and go in a pattern.  Prezi uses the same concept of power point in an upgraded form of motion and engagement.  Look into it.  Prezi is free for all and can be easily accessed from the internet by typing Prezi into google.com.  So as an educator which would you use?  Do you think it matters?  I do.  I feel that anything that you can use to grab and hold the audiences attention is something worth using.  The only downfall I feel to Prezi is that is more time consuming.  What do you think?

Ipods and Blogs. Yes or No?

Teachers use many different devices and tools in the classroom daily.  As time continues the technology around us continues to evolve.  From informational slides and videos to interactive computer programs and internet sites.  There is so many things that can be useful to teachers in the classroom.  The two I am focusing on today are ipods and blogs.  Do you think they are useful in the classroom? 


Ipods can hold music, connect to the internet, and have a large variety of apps and games.  In the classroom a few ways a teacher can use an ipod are as follows:

• To play music.
• Music can be used to keep children motivated and focus.
• As a tool for memorization.
• Also a fun and easy way to learn a new language.
• To store games.
• Students can play educational games.
• For example: A teacher may have a few ipods for students to use personally when done with the given assignment.  Not only will students want to finish their work when done they have an educational game to keep them busy and learning.

Blogs are very useful websites that release information to the public.  Just like the blog I have just created, millions of Americans can use blogs to communicate to others and share information between each other.  Blogs can be very useful in the classroom.  But not only can they connect students to the teacher in the classroom, they can connect teachers with the same problems or different experience world wide. Some examples of how blogs can be used are as follows:

• To share information with students and parents.
• New Letters, Upcoming Events, Vocabulary for the week, etc. 
• They can be used to connect classmates.
• Share information about assignments and upcoming group presentations.
• To connect teachers and education personnel.
• Teachers who are looking for ideas on maybe science fair or class projects.
• Teachers who are struggling with problems and need other teachers advice.

Blogs and Ipods are just two technologies that can be implemented in the daily classroom regimen.  Technology is constantly changing and continues to change the world we live in.  Why not use it for a great cause.