5 in 1, But Better Late Than Never

"Technological change is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal. "

--Albert Einstein



OK, so I was so good about keeping up on my blogs until the beginning of April. I'm not one for making excuses, but I feel the need to explain. I was taking my three, absolutely, positively adorable, yet sometimes out-of-control children to Walt Disney World for the very first time, and yes, I was more excited than they were. Actually, even before Disney, we spent a week in Naples, so I had Florida on the brain. And planning a vacation for 5, yes 5--me, my three kids, and my husband--who is really like a fourth child (he most likely will not be reading this), takes a lot of time! And although we had the best time--just getting to enjoy my family without any interruptions of day-to-day life is priceless--I needed a week to recuperate...sort of like a vacation to get over my vacation. And then reality hits, and OMG, I'm behind on like 4 blogs!
So here are some quick, but hopefully, some useful thoughts on the things that I have been learning in class:
Backing up to Photostory--I really liked this. I thought I liked moviemaker, but then my instructor introduced photostory, and my immediate thought was, "...and why didn't we just learn this in the first place?" But I know why. Because we were being taught to appreciate...appreciation for hard work. Moviemaker is work. Photostory is not--and photostory is just as fun. So, if I had to choose between the two to use as a tool or an assignment in my classroom, photostory is a no-brainer. Of course, all kids need to learn to appreciate hard work, so I might just throw moviemaker in there first.
Unfortunately, I was not in class to learn about Animoto (it was the Florida thing), but from what I've read in my classmates' blogs, it sounds like a really cool tool. That's all I can say on this topic for now, but you can be sure that I will investigate animoto further. I feel like I would be doing myself a disadvantage if I didn't explore it.
And even though I wasn't in class for Google Maps (I swear if you didn't know me, you'd think I was a slacker...but again the Florida thing), I am educated on this subject. Before taking this class, I used Google Maps and Google Earth (Iwas in class for this one!) all of the time, and still do. By the way, I really don't see much difference between the two, except that Google Maps is available through the window of your browser, and Google Earth is an application that is downloaded and installed on your computer so you can view satellite imagery. Anyway, when we moved from Ohio to St; Louis, I used Google Earth to show my family and friends where I was living. And when I miss my mom, which is like every day, I'm able to pull up her house on street view. Since taking this class, my mind has been opened to using Google Earth and Maps to more than just staring at my parents' house. Geography comes to mind, but so does History, and math--measuring and showing distance. Do you know how difficult it is to explain distance to a 6-year-old? Google Maps and Google Earth are all about visuals. A great tool to utilize in the classroom.
And last, but not least (getting ready to present a final project in two days), is Audacity and Podcasting. http://www.mrcoley.com/ is was I got out of this class--need I say more? Check it out yourself if you don't believe me. This guy has got it goin'on! He's a fifth-grade teacher that I can only hope to be. He has more than just podcasting on his website...which reminds me...I was about to talk about that. Audacity is a sound editing device--that you can download for free--for a podcast. You record into audacity to make a podcast. When I was first trying to make sense of this new devise (very new to me--I'm almost 40), it reminded me of the hand-held recorders I used in my early college years. The difference between the two? Technology. A podcast is for an oral learner. There aren't too many of them out there. But there are a lot of visual and kinesthetic learners, and I thought, how cool would it be to combine the podcast with visuals. It would certainly strengthen the oral-learning part of our brains. This device can be used with every subject that is taught...seriously, just think about it.
And I guess that raps it up. I thoroughly enjoyed taking this class. When I finally do get back into teaching, I am going to be a totally different teacher than what I was nine years ago. But, hey, change is good, and so is technology!

A chocolate webquest? I'm listening.

"Life is like a box of chocolates...you never know what you're gonna get."

--Forest Gump (Tom Hanks)

When I saw there was a webquest done on chocolate, I was sold. What is a webquest? It is a lesson format in which the students inquire information that is all found on the web. The lesson format is the key word here. There are five elements to a webquest: the Introduction, the Task, the Process, the Evaluation, and the Conclusion. It is the Introduction that draws you in. Then once you're hooked, the Task explains the adventure; it gives the directions. The Process is the fun part. This is where you'll do all the research from the given websites. The Evaluation makes sure that you completed the Task correctly. And if you did, then the conclusion should be a happy one!

Webquests are a fun way to gets kids to take an active part in their learning. You as the teacher may create a webquest as an assignment. Or better yet, let the kids create a webquest for their fellow classmates. Whether they're creating or completing it, learning is taking place for both sides.

If you're not familiar with a webquest, and you're looking for an innovative way to find and capture your students' ambition to learn, you should really check out this link: http://www.teachersfirst.com/summer/webquest/quest-b.shtml. And there is so much more out there on the web. Just like I said: When I found a webquest for chocolate, I was sold!

(http://mws.mcallen.isd.tenet.edu/tiftech/ci/projects/radame/aajWebquest.html)

"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions."

--Albert Einstein

This last assignment for my class was one on Glogster. Of all the new technology that I've been learning, I think this has to be my favorite so far. A glog is an online collage. I don't know if you know much about collages, but they spark creativity. And they're fun to make. But, making a collage requires a lot of various resources from which you cut, glue and arrange in a unique way that will capture attention and tell a story. The story can be for pure entertainment or it can be educational. On Glogster (http://www.glogster.com/) or Glogster EDU, which is for teachers and students (http://www.glogster.com/search/), you can tell your story, and let it be heard on the internet--if you choose, or you can keep it private. But making the glog is so much fun, and all your cutting and pasting is done online--so you can pull from all of the resources that are available to you on the internet. We all know that this is infinite! What I liked best about using Glogster EDU, was the thought of the endless possibilites of how this tool can be used in the classroom. It can be used with every subject! It's a great way to present a report, an essay with illustrations, math terminolgy, a history project, a science experiment. This tool allows the students to take and active part in their education--and I'm all about hands-on. All it takes is a little work and a lot of imagination!

Mickey Is My Inspiration

"Mickey Mouse is, to me, a symbol of independence. He was a means to an end."

--Walt Disney

I do love Mickey Mouse..in fact, we'll be taking the kids to Disney World for the first time! But, Mickey Mouse is only one of the reasons that Mickey Jobst is an inspiration to me. Who is Mickey Jobst? Well, she may not be as popular as Mickey Mouse, not outside of my son's school, anyway; but in her Pre-K classroom she's everyone's favorite. As a teacher, she has a knack for understanding the young mind of a child. She has a way of opening their minds to think outside the box. She teaches them to think independently. She allows the kids to be actively engaged in their own education. They're learning and they don't even know it! All these things are awesome traits, but there's something else that is admirable about Mickey Jobst--through all of her hard work and dedication to her classroom, she's also battling cancer. She's been through chemotherapy twice. She's lost her hair twice. And even on her worst day, you'd never know it. She never misses a day of work. And when she shows up, she's always smiling. She has an inner strength that comes from her faith. So, when I was asked to make a Moviemaker about a teacher who has inspired me, the answer was a no-brainer--Mickey Jobst, of course.

Something New to Share

"The joy that isn't shared, dies young."--Anne Sexton

I'm not sure how many teachers know about this, but I love it and I want other teachers to love it, too. It's called Voicethread and I learned about it in class this past week. Through Voicethread, group conversations are collected and centered around images, documents, texts and videos--all from you and/or your students. Check out the link: http://voicethread.com/about/. I have a love for poetry and literature. I know that poetry may not be the most exciting genre to especially middle-school students, but then I thought about how each student could either create his/her own poem, or choose a favorite poem, and create a Voicethread with that poem. He/She could add images and analyze it with voice comments. Then the students could view each other's poems and add their own voice comments. It brings poetry to life--real life with real voices. Voice thread could be used for student brainstorming, creating a story, Literature Circles; use it to introduce resources, or to present research projects. Kids can role-play using Voicethread. Can you tell I'm a big fan?

Power Point--Easy As Making Peanut butter And Jelly

"The genius of it is that it was designed for any idiot to use. I learned it in a few hours."

--David Byrne

formerly of the Talking Heads

I've seen Power Point presentations given: My son's teacher has all their study guides in Power Point form--and Chris studies! At Open House, my daughter's teacher had a Power Point Presentation that explained the curriculum--so much more exciting than reading it in a pamphlet. My EDU teacher showed us what not to put in a Power Point presentation through a Power Point presentation--pretty clever. And then I learned how to make slides for a Power Point presentation...and play it like a slide show...for the whole class to see. Granted, it was on how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich--I'm sure my classmates have witnessed more elaborate presentations, but, no matter, I did it! And I understand it, and now I'm confident that I can take this tool and use it in my classroom. I probably won't be showing slides on PB&J, but I can use it to introduce a lesson, sum up a lesson, for study guides, and to communicate with parents--just like at that Open House. If used correctly, Power Point can be an effective teaching tool. Just ask one of my classmates about how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. And, it's that easy.

Speaking My Language

"It is today we must create the world of the future" -- Eleanor Roosevelt

I know a person who could have said these words first-- if Eleanor didn't beat her to it. Her name is Meg Ormiston, and her passion lies solely on transforming teaching and learning through the power of digital tools. She is an author (Conquering Infoclutter and Digital Storytelling with Power Point), a retired school board memeber, an adjunct professor, blogger, consultant, a keynote speaker, a successful grant development specialist, and a mom. All of her credentials might make Meg seem a little intimidating; however, I believe she is just the opposite--and that's why I like her. I'll be the first to admit that I'm far from being technology savvy, but I'm willing to learn. One of the problems I have encountered, though, is finding a person that can speak my language. I don't need a show-off. I need someone who really wants to help me master the art of technology in the classroom--and not only for me, but for the benefit of my students. Meg Ormiston does just that. If you don't believe me, just look her up yourself:

www.techteachers.com/megportfolio.htm; www.megoblog.blogspot.com; www.classroom20.com/profiles/bloglist?user=megormi.

And when you read her words, listen to the excitement in her voice. It's contagious. Makes ya want to go and become an updated teacher.