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Janice Wilson Butler

- Don't judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree - The problem with assessment - 10 views

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    I really enjoyed the article and I will say that I agree that testing is not making our students smarter. I have been in the teaching field for 22 years and year after year I see the students so disconnected with learning. Students have been taught how to pass a test, rather than how to think creatively. I have students that can't answer an open ended question in a complete thought, but can pass a state exam. I have always refused to teach to a test, and have gotten very good results at the end. Since I teach Science my class is very hands-on, so the students love the class, but they don't have the background ability to apply it on a test. These students have been trained not to think only to answer multiple choice questions. It takes me a whole semester to get them to make the connection from the experiment and how to apply it to the test. My first year at my school the teacher who was teaching Science before me gave me boxes full of TAKS materials that she used in her class and she told me that I wouldn't have time for hands-on activities. As soon as she left my room I threw everything in the trash and my principal was surprised that I didn't want her materials. Needless to say my students became thinkers by the end of the year and grew a new appreciation for Science. Being in the MTT program I have begun integrating technology in my Social Studies class and I have never seen students so interested in learning about the American Revolution. We are getting ready to create newsletters about different topics they learned about the American Revolution. They are even getting ready to create a voki to present a part of their newsletter. I have seen technology even motivate the most reluctant learner in my class. I have students that will come in the morning and begin working on their project that they need to complete. I even have students going to the public library to use the computers. I am a true believer in integrating technology. I
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    Loved this fable!! It reminded me about a book I read a few years ago titled Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell . It was a whole bunch of stories about real-life success stories such as The Beatles and Bill Gates. The one thing that all of these people had in common was that they all spent tens of thousands of hours honing in on their craft. Some of them just got lucky and had the opportunity to practice. Others had parents that knew that they had cultivate their child's passion and not force them to do things that they were just not capable of doing or that they were not interested in. This fable reminds me of what we are doing in education today. We want all of the students to be "good" at everything and never give them enough time to become great at something. If students were allowed to follow their passion, the benefits would overflow into other subjects.
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    I often use this analogy to encourage my students who feel that they are unintelligent because of their struggles to pass tests. Our school system tries to make all of our students fit a specific mold-- some fit, some adapt, and some give up. We've give up the ability to provide our students with the freedom to explore and be creative for a sense of security in "accountability." Sure, we need to hold schools and educators accountable for providing a quality education and yes, there have been schools in the past who have misused the freedoms allowed to them. However, I cannot and will not believe that an annual multiple choice test will sum up all of the knowledge that my students have gained. I strive to teach my students to think critically and be a part of the world around them. In my opinion, being able to think your way through a problem is going to be much more valuable to my students in the future than knowing the difference between rotation and revolution. (Unless they plan on being aerospace engineers that is). We need to focus on inspiring students to learn through their own drive and interest. Let's not kill their natural curiosity with our adult need for accountability.
Janice Wilson Butler

A Commitment to High Tech Education | Edutopia - 4 views

    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      Take a look at this movie about integrating technology across the curriculum.
    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      This is a powerful movie!
    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      I am going to comment here.
  • Sophisticated electronic gadgets such as probes and global-positioning-system devices catch students' interest at Harrison Central High School.
    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      I think this is great!
  • Only when we get students out of the paper and pencil learning and get them immersed in real world application, will we be able to educate students so that they can not only collect data, but analyze and interpret those resuts as well; therefore creating students who are critical thinkers!
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    This is where you share additional comments. I want to add more
Janice Wilson Butler

GetEdFunding - Free grant finding resources for educators and educational institutions ... - 3 views

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    Lot's of information for grants
Yadira Flores

My View: It's never too late to begin flipping your classroom - Schools of Thought... - 6 views

    • Sara Aldape
       
      The flipped classroom is quite interesting!!!! Loved the fact that you allow students to feel supported. When you have an inspiring environment students will learn and be successful.
    • Yadira Flores
       
      Students need more than just lecture. I think that in math like any other subject you should have the ability to see how it is done a second time. I would like to be able to record my lectures and give students the opportunity to review and ask questions.
    • Yadira Flores
       
      It is very possible for all educators to become better ones if we are open to changes. Change can be good.
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    Article about the flipped classroom
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    I read about flipped classrooms in EDTC 6321 with Dr. Corbeil's class and I found this teaching technique very useful because students are fully engaged in learning activities than lecture.
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    Great article! I was not familiar with a flipped classroom. Although, it is a new technique for me it seems to be very interesting.
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    I feel that, as teachers, we must do everything in our power to provide our students with the most effective and innovative techniques avaible. This means that technology is no longer an option, but a necessary tool to which enables students to succeed in today's modern world of technology. Our district, Los Fresnos CISD, sent out an email to encourage us to "flip our classrooms". Check out this website: http://flipyourclassroom.einstruction.com/
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    I agree with Stacey in helping others integrate technology; especially for teachers at the end of retirement. "Flipping their classroom" isn't as hard as it may seem. I believe with training teachers on how to incorporate technology and engage our students, we would have a higher success rate with our students mastering the content.
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    The article is very interesting because teachers need to understand that we need to intergrate technology more often in our classroom. For example, like stacey's mom did not want to implement technology because she was used to teach the same way for many years. But when she decided to implement technology, she realized that the students enjoyed it and was more effective for her.
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    This is a very interesting article. Stacey's mom helped her with her first year of teaching, then Stacey helped her mom to become a 21st century teacher. I like how they both were mentors at one point to each other. Sometimes that is what is needed a mentor to guide you and make you feel that you can integrate technology in the classroom.
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    This article on flipped classrooms is very interesting because it clearly demonstrates how the use of technology in the classroom benefits students to increase learning and retention. The AP exam scores before and after were an eye opener because one year it was 58% and the next year using a flipped classroom, it increased to 78% of students scoring a "4" or "5" and none below a "3". In addition, using technology in the classroom created a sense of stress free environment where students enjoyed learning. I also liked that this Math instructor also helped another (her mother) to also have a "flipped" classroom. This was a great article that we can all share with others to demonstrate how the use of technology in the classroom is very beneficial to students.
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    I really admire those math teachers especially being able to work with each other being that they were both from far ends of the spectrum when it came to the education profession. I have been hearing a lot about the "flipped classroom" and I have also been able to connect my previous course work with it. I find that being able to have all your information narrated and easily accessible for your students is a great way to reduce stress. This means that the students will be able to review the lesson at their own pace and in a comfortable environment. Even though I hear many good things, as a 5th & 6th grade Language Arts and Reading teacher I still hesitant to flip my classroom. I know it's not impossible but it will require much training and guidance for it to work effectively.. This article has really opened my eyes to where our future educational system might be or should be gearing towards.
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    As teachers we should be open-minded and ready to accept new ideas that can revolutionize the way we teach. Always keeping in mind that everything we do is to improve our teaching.
Pedro Torres

Response To Dr. Butlers Question - 41 views

In our campus we are starting to use Kindles in the classroom. We will issue out the Kindles to the teachers this year and the 3 MTT teachers will provide trainings and strategies to implement the...

technology butler allsemesters

vincent briseno

Ten Tips for Engaging Underperforming Students | Edutopia - 22 views

    • vincent briseno
       
      These are all excellent tips for every classroom. Performing all ten of these on a daily basis would be a challenge for me. Is there a particular strategy you would or have struggled with in your classroom?
    • Maria D. Martinez
       
      I believe my major struggle has been time constraint. Once I begin I keep going and going and at times I forget about the time. It flies by and I see myself running short to what I had planned for that day. It would be ideal to have more time with the students but since that is not possible, I have to go with plan B which is to allocate a certain time to every section and abide by it.
    • R. Palomares
       
      Vincent, This article is great and the ten Interactive Learning Non-negotiables strategies are great when planning the lessons. I think #4-"limited lecture" would be challenge because finding a stop during the lecture can be difficult at time. On the other hand, I believe #1 the "Essential Question" is the most important because this will guide the students towards the end goal. In addition, I liked #10-"Student Centered" because that's where you plan the use of a technology tool to make the lesson engaging and relevant. This will be a great article to share. Thank you for sharing.
    • Jaime Villarreal
       
      In my experience tip #2 has been my greatest challenge in my classroom. Implementing an activating stratetgy to activate student thinking is very crucial to capture their attention and curiousity which will then trigger learning. The challenging part is making the time and carefully planning each activity and following lesson timelines at the same time.
    • vincent briseno
       
      Maria and Romel I know a couple of teachers who use a kitchen timer and set it for no more than 15 minutes. It is a bit crude, but it is a cheap solution and easier than setting a timer on your phone, watch, etc...
    • vincent briseno
       
      Jaime I have issues with finding an activating strategy as well. In math, it is difficult to connect slope with something relevant to students, but sometimes we over think things. I showed a terribly stereotypical video to a group of kids on slope and they still talk about it 3 weeks later. You'd be surprised what kids will relate to.
    • Leonila Pena
       
      Vincent, those ten tips are great, thank you for the link. I can see how incorporating those ten strategies into your lessons on a daily basis can seem quite daunting, but if you think about it, as educators we are required to plan out our lessons based on the objective(s) that we are teaching. What I would do is use this as a guide when I plan out my lesson, maybe create a checklist out of it and use it while planning my lessons. I'm one of those that tend to over think things, I always need to write down what it is that I need to do or achieve so that I stay focused on just that.
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    I think a particular strategy i would struggle is about time. Sometimes we go "on and on" on one concept that we forget about time especially if we are team teaching and the time frame is shorten.I like the video which explains the ten tips the teacher should follow. I am going to share this video with my coworkers in school. Very informative :)
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    These are great strategies. I love how they suggest for teachers to involve kinesthetic movement, hands on activities and providing experiences as a way to make teaching the content meaningful and easier to recall. By creating student-centered learning activities, the teacher will reach a greater population of the students through the use of incorporating several learning styles. Learning modalities need to be considered for the lesson to be effective.
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    In my experience tip #2 has been my greatest challenge in my classroom. Implementing an activating stratetgy to activate student thinking is very crucial to capture their attention and curiousity which will then trigger learning. The challenging part is making the time and carefully planning each activity and following lesson timelines at the same time.
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    Mari I completely understand. Time gets away from even the best teachers. I am a coach and this is the issue I have most difficulty with on the field (that and yelling). I always carry my watch with me and set timers. Some teachers use simple kitchen timers to keep both the teacher and the students on task. It helps both know there is a limited amount of time to complete tasks. It keeps the class moving and students engaged.
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    I really enjoyed the article Vincent, I'd agree with limiting lecture because student's haven't developed a cognition level of grasping information in one sitting. So breakout sessions work best along with collaborative group work discussions. The way I've learned to keep a class engaged is use a timer system online and students are aware of how much time is left. From experience I noticed that time flys by fast.
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    Vicente, thanks for sharing! I agree that those are ten of the basic steps we as educators can take in helping or students become successful. I believe that sometimes we as teachers are pressured in keeping up with our timeline, that we're teaching more than one lesson, making it harder for students to learn and retain what was taught. If there wasn't so much pressure in standardized testing, perhaps we would be able to better reach all our students and not feel inclined to teach the "bubble" kids. Graphic organizers are a must in my classroom. Not only does it better illustrate for all students, but it also assists those students who need the visual and have modificiations. All the other key points listed make me believe that this is geared towards PBL. I think it's great! Students will still be required to use higher order thinking while still conducting a student-centered activity. Great job Vincent. I'll be sharing these tips with my fellow co-workers.
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    This was a very interesting article about how to get underperforming students to improve. The one tip that would be a challenge for me would be the movement on a daily basis. I only teach math to my fourth grade students and I try to get my students to use manipulatives as often as possible. When they use the manipulatives I do tend to become stressed due to the movement of the students. I know it is good for them to move around and I will try to implement this tip more often in my classroom.
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    lI like this article because it gave each step and then the author explain it futher. Making each of the step a "Non-Negotiables" is sometimes difficult. But once you practice doing them in each lesson I'm sure you can change with time making each day better and each lesson engaging.
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    Vincent, great article I really appreciate all of the valuable tips for engaging students in the learning process, a way as to actively involve each student. I do incorporate a few of these tips with my students, and I agree that it will keep the students in control of their learning. Nonetheless, using these tips will make the students aware of the content that is expected to be learned on each subject area.
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    I really appreciate all of the valuable tips for engaging students in the learning process, and I am aware of how each can be used. However, my huge frustration is in the fact that in a self contained classroom it is so difficult to plan for each class subject in such a way as to actively involve each student. I try my best, but it really is a challenge. I do incorporate a few of these tips with my students, but I guess more time would make all the difference.
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    I think the particular strategy that would take me longer to achieve would be limited lecture. Finding a different activity to do with them and keep them focused will be very challenging after a while.
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    Great article, very informative and awesome strategies to implement in my classroom. The ten interactive learning non-negotiable strategies are great when planning the lessons. I do see some resemblance to the 5-E strategies I use in my classroom, but to use all ten strategies on a daily basis might be a challenge to keep all the students engaged.
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    This is what my student population consists of. Great article!
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    I like the strategies, every bit of guidance and tips will defintely help us implement innovative and interactive lessons. I think we are all guilty of going on and on, because we become engaged as well. These strategies would go very well with PBL instruction.
Sergio Perez

http://www.4teachers.org/ - 13 views

Very useful website, Sergio. I've used Rubistar before especially when I have my students present. I loved the quizstar teacher tools. Thanks for sharing.

education technology classroom integrating

R. Palomares

James Rosenberg: Technology in the Classroom: Friend or Foe? - 4 views

  • technology provides greater access to information and new ways for students to learn, it can become a crutch hindering creative problem solving and cognitive development.
    • R. Palomares
       
      Do you think technology is providing greater access to information but becoming a crutch hindering creative problem solving?
    • vincent briseno
       
      This is a great, thought provoking, question. I believe, as with everything, moderation is the key. Should students be immersed in technology? Absolutely, but not at the expense of human interaction, written expression, or the acquisition of social skills.
  • arguments in favor of technology in the classroom include: • Exposing children to technology at an early age prepares them for college and the workforce where knowledge of technology is essential for success.
    • R. Palomares
       
      Do you think exposing children to technology at an early age will help prepare them for college?
  • Where do you stand on the use of technology in the classroom?
    • R. Palomares
       
      Where do you stand? In Favor or Against?
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    I'm the "host" of the discussion question for this week 14. I wanted to share this site with comments and annotations on the significance of that site to you as an Educator! * Below is the checklist "grades" for those who respond to my post(s). 1. Do you think technology is providing greater access to information but becoming a crutch hindering creative problem solving? 2. Do you think exposing children to technology at an early age will help prepare them for college? 3. Where do you stand on the use of technology in the classroom? In Favor or Against?
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    So far I really enjoyed reading the article of age for technology growth for students. Very interesting article because technology can work both ways and I truely feel that there are students who abuse the power of technology in classrooms. It's up to us as teachers to monitor them in every way possible. Technology education in classrooms has evolved so much that students are becoming more technological advanced then we are. Interesting article and I do feel that exposion of technology in an early age will prepare them for college.
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    Yes Albert, technology can work both ways and it has evolved so much that it's amazing what students can do now than what was possible just a few years ago.
Isabel Cabrera

Digital Footprints and Digital Dossier - 25 views

To Adam, I think when something happens to these students they will remember the crazy old man that told them to be careful what they post. I have a teenager as well and I tell him, but he thinks ...

Digital Citizenship Classroom Education 21st century skills technology

Cora Mendez

Best content in EDTC6343 | Diigo - Groups - 5 views

    • Cora Mendez
       
      Ana you are right education needs to change. Teachers teach the way they were taught. That is so true.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      Hopefully everything we are learining helps us make small changes that help to change education.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      Very well put Ana. This is exactly how it is.
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    • Cora Mendez
       
      Good point Christine. When used appropriately, technology can enhance learning.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      If we set high expectations, they will meet them. They are very capable Albert.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      I know your are making a difference already Cesar. All we need is one person to get the ball rolling. You have already done that. Keep encouraging your coworkers.
April Canales-Perez

If Technology Motivates Students, Let's Use It! | Edutopia - 4 views

  • I believe many students are bored and unmotivated because of the way they are being taught, with heavy reliance on reading textbooks, memorizing facts and figures, and listening to lectures, over and over.
    • April Canales-Perez
       
      This is true for students who have teachers teaching to the test. Students are not motivated to learn because they are not engaged in meaningful learning. What do you think?
    • Cesar Mata
       
      As a STAAR testing teacher this year I sometimes feel ashamed to admit that I feel like we have no other choice than to "teach the test." With so much pressure on us to get the students to pass we often resort to what we know works, and that is drill and skill. So yes, I agree that students lack motivation and how can we blame them?
    • Janice Wilson Butler
       
      Good insight - I think it is what most of us resort to. It is a shame that the "powers that be" don't see that this is happening.
  • Technology in its many forms is showing how teaching and learning can paint with a much broader palette of colors, from images and music to games, simulations, wikis, and many others, any time, any place, on laptops, desktops, and smartphones.
  • Today's students find this new world of digital learning to be very motivating.
    • Dara Cepeda
       
      Sometimes as educators we don't understand administrators when they constantly remind us to motivate students and teach them with new tools, but at the same time they contradict themselves when they expect you to teach specifically from C-scope. Luckily, there is no C-scope for my teaching subject, Art, but I see the stress of my colleagues when they want to try something new, and then the administrators getting after them for not following C-scope. Students need to be taught in their language..which is technology and multimedia tools.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      I like that Dara:" to teach them in their language" because this is what they know technology.
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    • April Canales-Perez
       
      How are you motivating your students to learn using technology?
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    Teaching to the test can be BORING and un"motivating" for students. If we would teach the TEKS, using a variety of strategies and techniques, including PBL and technology, I believe students would be in even better prepared for lifelong learning. In many ways, I believe teaching to the test inhibits how far we take our students. I think the bottom line here is...planning is vital.
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    With all the new legislation in the state house and senate hopefully we can get away from so much testing. With many of the new bills the state is taking away the number of state tests the students will have to tak but they will still have to take some tests. Hopefully this will give teachers more "wiggle" room to teach more interactively and engaging. Most of our students know more about technology than we do. We should be using it to reach them.
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    As a second grade teacher, we still have a little "wiggle room" to incorporate fun reading graphic organizers and fun mini projects for science and social studies. It is getting to the point that our 3rd grade teachers want us to do what they are doing (paper & pencil), but I disagree because with 7 and 8 year olds, they still need the phonics, visuals, and hands on to learn and stay engaged. They have a short attention span and are still developing.
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    It seems that transitioning from no technology to technology really gets students motivated and excited, however, they also expect guidance if not they'll just play games. Incorporating technology inot what we already do does make a huge difference in student motivation and participation. I will add though that school can still be exciting even without technology, it's just a lot harder.
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    As a first grade teacher, I have the opportunity to introduce and implement technology. My students are not interested in using the textbooks, but prefer the online texbook and interactive avtivities. Students at this young age are eager to use technology and hands on activities.
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    All I can do is allow more opportunities in the library with the use of iPads so that the younger students are exposed to devices and apps. For older students, I made sure I covered digital citizenship, evaluating websites, and introduced credible research databases, to lay a foundation for our teachers. Our teachers are very strong, and they are always on task, but many time are limited for all the reasons we all know, lack of tools, time, etc.
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    I agree students are bored and unmotivated with textbooks and lectures. I think teachers are too. I really like the comment that technology can paint with a much broader palette of colors. That's a great way to look at it. Technology definitely brightens lessons I've tried to inegrate technology into as many lessons as possible; however, not nearly as much or in the way I'd like to. Right now my students are working on Prezis. They are creating a presentation on an ecosystem and they're loving it. The lesson actually called for a diorama - the shoebox version. The Prezis have been a huge hit. Also, technology is integrated in to Health lessons by teaching Internet safety - this is an on going lesson with several sections. Our District subscribes to several sites (Aha Math, Think Through Math, Aha Science, etc.) we use in centers or all together in a computer lab.
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    It is really hard to motivate certain students, but I'm doing my best to get them ready for college or a job. On a separate but related note, I make a point to tell them that not everything will be to their liking and they'd better be ready to produce.
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    I agree with all of your comments. It is extremely difficult to motivate students when as teachers we are limited to our teaching strategies and overwhelm with the pressure of having to pass the STAARS test. We are limited with resources. Yet, we must learn how to use technology and learn how to motivate both our students and teachers. Give them a new resource a new way of teaching..
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    I agree that we should use technology to motivate students. They look forward to a story, game, video, drawing tool etc. using technology verses pencil and paper.
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    I for one love technology but also love lectures and insight from experts. To me it is not always about hands-on and group work. I guess I am a bit of an introvert in that regard.
April Canales-Perez

Free Online Resources Engage Elementary Kids (Tech2Learn Series) | Edutopia - 12 views

    • April Canales-Perez
       
      View this video to see how Nicole Dalesio motivates her students to learn through the use of technology and free online applications. 
    • Edna Orozco
       
      It is amazing to see these children so young and so interested in technology, and the way they talk about technology AMAZING!, I would love my daughter to be part of this new era of students. The advantage of this type of learning is that schools do not have to invest a lot of money on buying expensive software, like the teacher mentined using the cloud or Web tools for free are simply great for school districts that do not have the funding.
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    Teach2Learn Series offers engaging ideas!
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    I liked the video a lot. The way the teacher planned the lesson allows students not only to choose the project they like the most, but also to choose the tools they feel are the best to complete the project. The students seemed to be on task all the time and collaborating so they all finish their project. It is truly inspiring.
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    Great video, Heather. It is an eye opener to all educators to what little children are capable of doing with the technology that is offered to them and the variety of technologies they can choose from.
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    That was a great video. I was really impressed how advanced the students were with the use of technology. I am a high school teacher so it is great to see how elementary teachers are getting the students engaged through the use of technology in the early years.
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    Cristina, you are correct. These type of lessons require a lot of preperation, but the outcome is fantastic. The students are engaged and collaborating, furthering the depth of knowledge for all.
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    Isabel, I am always amazed by how quickly young students learn to manipulate technology. Many times, I go in with only the basics and allow the students to teach me the "good stuff". They are so excited and can't wait to show off their final product.
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    Jessica, I am glad you were able to see first hand what children can accomplish in their elementary years. In my opinion, elementary is the best time to integrate technology, because the students are like little sponges. They learn so quickly and more importantly, they are motivated and engaged! As a high-school teacher, what would you like to see in term of technology knowledge from your entering students - Web 2.0 tools; Word; PowerPoint; etc.?
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    Thank you for sharing such an interesting video. I like how the teacher gives the students a variety of options for assignments. The students have more freedom when deciding what projects they want to do and with what resources they like. It seems like the learners would be more motivated to succeed when they have these choices. I also like how the teacher is able to integrate multiple subjects within a single project. The students aren't just learning technology, they're learning how to work with each other and develop collaboration skills that will be needed throughout their lives.
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    The Roman philosopher Senneca said that "While we teach, we learn." When students are able to create presentations and even games to explain a lesson or information to others, the creator in turn learns as well. To be able to properly teach a subject, we must first fully understand it. Using technology for this purpose ensures that the students properly understand the concept being taught to them.
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    Isabel, the Edutopia video was evident that teachers have to find innovative resources when resources are scarce. The students were engaged and enjoing the activity. The students were able to work and explain the steps of the projects to their teacher. They had some great ideas to use for future projects.
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    Christine, This brings you and what you are doing in your classroom with your students. Although they are in first grade, you have introduced different apps and programs for them to use. I wish all this was available when I taught, but even then I made use of all the actual software we had. Kid Pix, iMovie, MacDraw.... it is much easier now, with all the free software and apps out there. Teachers need to get excited about teaching, and incorporate one program or app at a time.
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    Loved the video. It shows that learning can be fun and that students are not just using the computer for games. I loved watching the students collaborating and helping each other out. They were even using technology terms to explain themselves. I would have loved to see their final product.
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    Nice, I really enjoyed this video..it gave me so many ideas to use with my students. Very dynamic and creative teacher, she's a great example in motivating students to learn by using interactive technology tools! After I watched this video I had to explore her website and visit some of her students' final products. She is very organized and uses web tools to the max! Thanks for sharing this with us
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    This was a very nice video. You can tell the students were engaged, and they were familiar with what they were doing. It shows very good examples of how students can collaborate and integrate technology in learning.
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    The issue at hand is finding applications that you can correlate to the TEKS you are teaching and having the computers available for your use.
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    Wow! There is so much I'm not using! All year I've thought about integrating a movie projec, but haven't been able to. . This video is definitely a motivator. The students in the video were so knowledgable. Those skills will be so useful throughout their academic career. There are so many free tool and I agree with the teacher in the video - it's an answer to cut backs and actually much more motivating for students!
Heather Luna

Fun Technology - YouTube - 15 views

shared by Heather Luna on 11 Feb 13 - No Cached
    • Heather Luna
       
      Even parents are beginning to consider available technologies as more than a "toy".
    • Juan Betancourt
       
      Seeing this video, and the previous one, makes me feel like i'm underusing my computer lab. It makes me want to do more with my students. I need to borrow some of the information on both.
    • Isabel Cabrera
       
      It is great what they are doing at North Side ISD. The students were engaged as they were communicating to their pen pals using Skype. They are learning and sharing things with each other. Great video!
    • Heather Luna
       
      Juan, I am glad to see that the video has inspired you to utilize your campus computer lab. The computer lab can offer endless oppurtunities for your students. How do you think you will use the lab in the coming weeks?
    • Juan Betancourt
       
      This week for one of my classes we are creating a basic personal wiki for the students and incorporating a voki as part of the introduction to the wiki. For the last six weeks, I plan to incorporate whyville.com the way it was showcased in class by exploring and collecting clams then, making a clam scale for the grade in one of my classes.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      Wow Juan sounds like the video has inspired you begin some great projects with your students. The students will love using voki and I am sure that they will be thrilled to play whyville for a grade. Sounds like lots of fun. They will be totally engaged.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      Great video Heather. They are incorporating interactive technology at that school. The students were really excited to meet their pen pals through skype. The concept of seeing people that are far away projected in their classroom live is pretty amazing to children. I remember when I did the lesson through NASA space center last year with my 1st graders. They were so excited to see that a live person was on the other side talking to them.
    • Heather Luna
       
      Cora, I am glad you were able to use the NASA lesson last year. Do you anticipate incorporating a distance learning lesson in your classroom this year?
    • Dara Cepeda
       
      Wow This school is a great exaple in using interactive Technology in education. I have seen how the kids get engaged with technology in their hands. I'm so happy and excited to see this video because it just reminds us of some of the many possiblities in using technology. I just had a technology meeting with my school district and found out that very soon we will incorporate the "bring your own device" to use it in the classroom. I'm very excited about this!
    • Cora Mendez
       
      I am not sure Heather?
    • Heather Luna
       
      Self-guided learning! Amazing! Challenge students and teachers simultaneously. 
    • Jessica Burnias
       
      This video was amazing how it should all the different levels of engagement through the use of technology. I believe that technology used properly can definitely be used to engage the learner. Through the use of technology, as an educator we are able to engage all types of learners. For example: kinesthetic, visual and auditory.
    • Heather Luna
       
      Jessica, thank-you for your comment. The video does reflect the varying levels of engagement. I agree that when used correctly, technology provides an opportunity to reach all learning modalities.
    • Diana Arcaute
       
      You know I really did enjoy this video. I love how the school uses a Wii system to get students motivated and ready for the day!
    • Adam Hovde
       
      I really liked the video. It is good to see more and more schools adopting technology into the classroom. My school district has a BYOT set up but we are struggling because our infrastructure can not handle that many electronic devices. As a teacher I am wanting to use more technology but many times when I try and use it we get bogged down because the network is too slow. I am glad some schools out there are able to use the ipads and nanos hopefully all schools will have the infrastructure necessary to run these devices. Great choice for a this diigo group.
    • Diana Arcaute
       
      Adam, I think you have a great point about all schools hopefully one day having the same infrastructure necessary to run the tools. Often, some schools are left behind to fend for themselves, while other schools within the same district advance. It blows my mind that students are not given the same opportunities for growth yet, they all take the same state test.
    • Jessica Burnias
       
      Adam, I know exactly how you feel at our campus we have the BYOD and we have the same problem. They are hoping to work out the kinks and for next year they are hoping the whole district will be BYOD right now it is just our high school and 9th grade campus.
    • Cora Mendez
       
      Diana, I liked the idea of using the Wii too. I liked that they are getting the whole school motivated to exercise, and they are doing it in the morning which is the perfect way to start the day.
    • Heather Luna
       
      Diana, I agree with your comment. It is discouraging to see that schools within a district have such different infrastructures. All students should be provided with equal opportunities for learning. I too would like to see how the infrastructures change and develop over the course of the next few years.
  •  
    Northside ISD is using technology to keep there students engaged.
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  •  
    Love the autonomy that these children have when using the ipods to listen to the video at their pace! The lesson is guided with the questions and they control the playing of the video. Everyone wins! Diana, I agree with your comment, it is often unfair how one school can offer so much, yet another in the same district cannot, and we are the ones to make sure we give our students the best. Many times we don't give our all because of the support we have, whether with infrastructure or to in bringing our visions to life. We must not forget that we have the BYOD option as well..we need to do whatever it takes to motivate learning.
  •  
    I really like the way the school is using the technology in the classroom. Many schools are bringing in the itouch and iPad but are not showing the teachers how to use them and that is a sham. I really like that the students have controll of how they listen to the information they can pause or replay as many times they need until they understand without the embaracement of other knowing how long it took to get it.
  •  
    It is great to see success with technology. It is disheartening to see how so many school get stuck in infrastructure problems such as what Ana was mentioning. Because of that, the teachers never get to flesh out the ideas they have for technology. Hopefully more success stories can motivate existing districts and campuses to make more investments to properly support BYOD and technology investments.
  •  
    I love what Northside ISD is doing with technology. Districts need to start taking technology serious and realize that it is how most of our students learn these days. My little first graders learn so much from the technology that I use. I sometimes feel like I am doing something wrong on a day that I do not use technology.
  •  
    Great video Heather! It's amazing to see what these iDevices are capable of in the right hands. I see iPods in a whole new light now. I especially liked the one where they're learning a math concept from the iPods. Students might be more interested in math if they are able to use technology to learn it.
  •  
    Thank Goodness that I don't have to say anymore, "I wish I could do that in my case." I have a classroom set of 23 I-Pads with a cart to synchronize them all, and we do some really cool things on them in language arts. I really like the Wi system and its purpose from the video. I'm going to mention it on Tuesday at my digital classroom monthly meeting and see if they can do anything providing us with one. That might be wishful thinking.
  •  
    Heather, After viewing the video, it is apparent that an additional computer lab is needed at our campus. Our district is currently using ours to implement a new mandatory 45 minute program. The alloted times for grade level 1-5 has taken away the ability to use it for other purposes. Writing grants for C.O.W. and Ipads is a necessity to ensure other applications are being utilized.
  •  
    I think our STaR Chart results, key area IV, portray why anyone would think that I-Pads and I-Pods in a classroom would be used to play, for fun, or to distract. Most schools don't meet or are even come close to having a 1:1 ratio when it comes to internet connected device per student. For that reason, many people don't fully understand their potential.
  •  
    What an awesome video! I liked how the students were learning math concepts through the use of the ipod! I totally agree with Cesar, maybe if we allow students to use the technology to learn math they will be more accepting and interested in learning math.
Christine Claudio

An Introduction to Project-Based Learning | Edutopia | Diigo - 4 views

  •  
    This is Gayle using Christine's account.... We all have learned the benefits of PBLs and have seen how they inegrate technology wonderfully, but in our test driven public schools, are they realistic? One speaker in the video says we have to forget about curriculum and explains that means we don't teach a certain thing on a certain day. He says students learn as they need to. Can we realistically do that? If so, how? Does our current system support project based learning?
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  •  
    Gayle, I think that when a PBL is used in the classroom one must consider what content will be taught or integrated through it. I listened to the video,but as an educator I know better. I cannot forget about the curriculum, but I can figure out ways to imbed it into my PBLs. I can only imagine how difficult it must be for the testing grades to find time to implement PBLs. I think that the beginning of the year or after testing would be the best times to try PBLs in the grade levels where time to teach the content is so critical before the test. However, I think that PBLs help children make real life connections, and they learn things in a way that it will stay with them forever.
  •  
    Cora, I agree we can't forget about the curriculum, but like you, I think PBLs really help make those connections and there is real learning going on. After testing seems to be a great place for PBLs.
  •  
    Problem Based Learning is integrated using all subjects to learn about a specific topic. You are applying research which requires reading and writing, analyzing your data in order to interpret or communicate your results. The students were engaged. One comment that one of the girls said was that their first wing was not that great, but went back and made the second wing better. They learned from their mistakes, which was just trial and error. In conclusion, I really liked that the students had to present in front of a real panel of experts of engineers to communicate their findings. It really holds students responsible to learn their material before presenting their data and findings.
  •  
    I have seen it implemented in a school year round, and once teachers understand it, they can successfully implement it with the core objectives embedded as scaffodling activities. It has so many benefits, but the training must be thorough as what I was fortunate enough to experience. We cannot send ambassadors, who bring back info without exposing all teachers to the actual settings in real classrooms. So much information and experience is lost unless teachers see it first hand.
  •  
    PBL are an excellent way to get our student's learning and thinking at a deeper level. Unlike a traditional assignment or practice test, the impact of learning may not be seen immediately, but I believe the learning is what I would refer to as "TRUE learning". For example, I can teach a lesson on plant and animal adaptations and give an assignment, in which all students do well, but does that mean that they truly understand adaptations and can make connections beyond what was taught? Is the information temporary or permanently stored? PBLs promote critical thinking which will allow students to begin thinking beyond what is being taught. I agree that teachers need proper guidance and support to properly implement, but it can be done.
  •  
    I have tried to incorporate more PBLs into my lessons. I find sometime the PBLs take a lot longer to do and some of teh students do all the work while others just "come along for teh ride". I think the PBL is a great way to teach concepts it just seems that I run out of time to truely do the PBL justice.
Santos Alvarado

The Nerdy Teacher - 4 views

  • I needed my kids to view blogging as an important task. To do that, I promised my students I would write every single blog post I asked them to write on my own teacher blog. I told them I would never give them "busy work" because I'm too busy to do it myself.
    • Santos Alvarado
       
      Thank you for sharing this great website Joshua. The teacher has many different post that one can learn from their experience. I really enjoyed that the teacher is allowign the students to blog. I like the idea of blogging because allows the students to take more pride in their work. Heres a website: 6 Reasons Kids Should know How to Blog http://blogs.kqed.org/mindshift/2011/08/six-reasons-why-kids-should-know-how-to-blog/
  •  
    I wish we had the ability to blog, at our district technology is a bit limited and we have a lot of hesitant people. It's very much like Reflective Journaling except with the twist of technology. Great website.
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  •  
    Santos so are you doing this to encourage two-way communciation? I've started using http://www.edmodo.com/ Feel free to check it out. I believe students in the high school level have used it more effectively then MS students.
  •  
    "The Nerdy Teacher" is a great blog for educators and students because many new updates on education are posted monthly. Thank you for sharing!
  •  
    Thank you for sharing this website. I agree with the comments that others have mentioned, like; giving students the opportunity to share and collaborate in this website. I am using Edmodo with some of my classes as a way to share, collaborate, assess and keep in touch with my students.
  •  
    This site would be great to use but unfortunately we can not use it in our district. Under some certain clause chatting or blogging is not permitted. Other than that this site would have been great to use.
  •  
    Great reference tool but in my district I'd need approval of administrators. I know in my district we use Edmodo for school related purposes. I hope that one day the district I work for will allow more web 2.0 tools available to students.
  •  
    Thank you for the link, I agree with many of the other comments that the district does not allow student/teacher blogging, but there are other ways around it. This year, my campus is using "Weebly" to create thier classroom website and it has the ability to interact with students via a blog, which is great. I am a true believer that in order for students to get aquainted with current technology tools, we must make it available to them. Thank you for the link!
  •  
    This is a great way to integrate blogging into the classrooms. Many of the postings are very interesting and provide us with more resources to use in the classrooms. Here are the top 10 blogging websites: http://topsitesblog.com/blog-websites/
Yadira Flores

Multiplication Games For Kids -By KidsNumbers.com - 3 views

    • Yadira Flores
       
      Look at the cool links. Really liked website... Thanks for sharing very resourceful.
    • Alyssa Tanguma
       
      Need this for our basic math class!!!
  •  
    Another great site. I hear our students that even though they are in MS, they still have trouble with the foundation such as multiplication. I'l be sharing this one too!
  •  
    Yadira, this website is awesome! The students will love this website because there are numerous games that they can choose to play while learning at the same time. I really liked the educational game that's called, " Addition Flash Cards" because in this game the students practice their addition and check their answers immediately after inputting their answer. This is a great Fun Educational website to share with others! Thanks for sharing.  
Sara Aldape

The 100 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools Chosen By You - Edudemic - 15 views

    • Alyssa Tanguma
       
      Great Classroom management tool to use. It is very similar to facebooks older layout (the one we all loved).
    • vincent briseno
       
      Thanks for sharing this website. I am always very interested to know what other teachers are using. Teacher recommendations give credibility to the sites and this list helps limit the lengthy process of evaluation web 2.0 tools.
    • Alyssa Tanguma
       
      I am a special education teacher and I've created a couple of these for the students to learn from....THEY LOVE IT!! Instead of the traditional lecturing or using a, excuse my language, boring ppt, a glog is something new for them to venture with as wel as learn from.
    • Sonia Aldape
       
      I agree that GlogsterEdu is great for students to utilize and work in the classroom for reports or Biographies. I hope to introduce this web 2.0 tool to my 4th graders to develop their presentation for a Biography that I have assigned. Great web site. Thank you Alyssa.
    • Alyssa Tanguma
       
      How many of use have heard, "Miss, I forgot my pindrive at home?" or "Miss, I lost my pindirve!" I sure have had my fair share. Dropbox allows you to be pindrive free.
    • Sara Aldape
       
      Oh yes!!!! It even helps me when I don't have my pin drive with me. Thanks for sharing these tools.
  • ...7 more annotations...
  • To share your Web 2.0 tool, just leave a comment on this post or on the Edudemic Facebook page.
    • Marivel Garcia
       
      I have not taken the Web 2.0 class yet but I have been very lucky to have a team that utilizes these tools very effectively. As a team we use Dropbox and are very faithful to it. I can see how this would be a great tool for the upper grades to avoid the "I forgot my work" routine.
    • Marivel Garcia
       
      There are so many great websites to help ease those of us that are hesitant to expose our students to this type of learning. I love using Voki in my classroom and I also like to occasionally go on a Web Tour and allow my kids to read up on all the different types of tools that are available and others just like them are using. Great Info. Thanks
  • EDMODO: My personal favorite is www.edmodo.com – the look and feel of Facebook with the educational perspective…polls, assignments, a gradebook, and now quizzes!
    • Yadira Flores
       
      I signed up for an account but have not really explored it. I will make sure to use it. If it is like facebook my students will love it.
  • GLOGSTEREDU: GlogsterEdu is my and my students’ current favorite Web 2.0 tool. It gets technology out of the way, letting us express, share and discuss our ideas in unique, creative ways. Besides, it is just plain fun!
  • DROPBOX: My favorite web 2.0 tool is dropbox.com. I have shared many files with this and have accessed my files from a myriad of computers – even when out of the country!
    • Leonila Pena
       
      Love, love, love Dropbox. It has gotten me out of so many of those situations where I have forgotten my pen drive. In my last job every year hundreds of pen drives would be ordered by administrators to pass out to the teachers so that they could save the training materials that were provided by the trainers. This year, as part of the IT dept. we made the recommendation of using Dropbox in place of pen drives to save money. The departments saved hundreds of dollars and many teachers loved it because they could access their materials from anywhere. This also reduced the spread of viruses, which are most often brought in to the network via pen drives.
    • Alyssa Tanguma
       
      I think we are going to make it mandatory for ALL the students to create an email account within the next two weeks of school. I'm going to recommend that at the same time they create a dropbox account.
    • Yadira Flores
       
      Good idea! It would be great that all of our students at our campus had one and that our administrators would enforce it. It would be easy to have a collaborative folder like dropbox.
    • Yadira Flores
       
      I wish I had time to learn about all this tools. I think it is not impossible and if we introduce one to our students every week, they will be ready. Great resource page, thanks for sharing.
    • Santos Alvarado
       
      I really enjoy using Vuvox, its an alternative way to present information in a slideshow. Students also have fun be creative with their information. Heres a great website on Web 2.0 Tools: Effective Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom https://sites.google.com/site/educationalweb20tools/
    • Sara Aldape
       
      I have used photobucket in the classroom and also personally. Keeps your photos organized. Great Web 2.0 tool.
  •  
    As the title says, The best 100 Web 2.0 classroom tools. I know many of us are still a little new to a lot of the tools out there. This link is my tech bible. I constantly look at it when I want to grab my students attention again and challenge/intrigue them with a new tool. I have noticed that there are a handful that do not appear on this list, so.... Your assignment: 1. Add a sticky to at least ONE of the tools you like to integrate most. If the is already sticky, comment on it. 2. Add a sticky on one you would like to familiarize your self with more. 3. (Optional) Add a sticky anywhere on the screen if there is a tool you use that is not on the list. I do know this list if from 2011 so I'm sure you have other favorites you like to use. http://youtu.be/0VSymMbMYHA Check out the video above. It gives me the chills for some reason.
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  •  
    One of the tools I like the most is VOKI. Voki is awesome because it catches the viewers attention since the first time they look at your presentation. One of the tools that I have not used yet but would like to try it out is "PENZU". I actually had never heard about it until now that I looked at this list. This website is a GREAT RESOURCE to have available. Thank you for sharing Alyssa! I actually did not want to put this in a sticky note on the original website page because then it would say that I shared this website even-though it's you who is sharing it.
  •  
    @ R. Palomares: Is that why it does that (referring to the sticky)? I was wondering why it had said I had shared the website for another link. Thanks!! Yeah, there were a lot of tools I had never heard about on this list. It helps to better understand my knowledge for this 21st century shift.
  •  
    This website is Super Helpful! I have already shown it to a couple of teachers in my wing and they are excited to have so many site to choose from. I've spoken to my principal to give a mini training on a couple of site in 2 weeks. I defintley will start with Dropbox for the same reasons L Pena explained above (always forgetting my pindrive). Penzu was impressive something our English department will enjoy and Poll Anywhere is great way of getting students started with BYOD in the classroom.
  •  
    It is great to be able to have all these different sites available with ideas on how to use them. I was able to see how it's even divided into categories, like sites for teaching, sites for planning, sites for reinforcing it is a great website and another one on my favorites list. There is not one that I prefer over another they are all so useful. In my grade level we have become faithful users of Drop Box in order to plan more effectively and have instant access to all lessons. Also Prezzi is one that my kids get easily engaged with we have been enhancing our novels with this. Great job, thanks for sharing.
  •  
    Amazing article I read on here. I would implement as many web 2.0 tools as possible in my classroom. In my computer lab however students are only working on science components in preperation for the science STARR and end of course review sessions. Students have used stixy notes for note taking strategies. I would highly encourage web 2.0 tools in classrooms and get approval from administration what tools are used.
  •  
    Great resource website for Web 2.0 Tools. I really enjoy using Vuvox, its an alternative way to present information in a slideshow. Students also have fun be creative with their information. Heres another link for Web 2.0 Tools: Effective Web 2.0 Tools for the Classroom https://sites.google.com/site/educationalweb20tools/
  •  
    My favorite is Dropbox it is a great way to collaborate we utilize it within our integrated grade levels, 5th and 6th and we have immediate access to any new idea or information that benefits our teaching.
  •  
    Hey Alyssa, does this use up space like icloud? I know I tried getting my students to use icloud or any other online storage space BUT our campus said it takes up too much bandwidth. Does this work the same?
  •  
    I am using some of these tools in my classroom, but I was not aware that there were so many Web 2.0 tools. I am going to look into some of these Web 2.0 tools to integrate in my classroom.
  •  
    I'm using a couple of web 2.0 tools in the classroom and its going great so far.
  •  
    Every tool is useful for my students but the one that they are most familiar with is glosteredu. They have use this web 2.0 tool to create a poster for their presentations. i would like to be more familiarize with dropbox.
Delilah Alegria

Ten Reasons why Technology is Vital to education - 9 views

I remember when we had to carry a bunch of textbooks to school, at school, and after school. My backpack was always heavy. I think that laptops are a good solution even though not everyone can affo...

Noe Granado

How much do you let your students use technology in the classroom? - 12 views

I make sure technology is being used 100% of the time. Students are expected to either use Web 2.0 tools or if they have a better Web 2.0 tool they must share it with the classroom. They have acces...

Delilah Alegria

How has becoming an MTT change you? - 45 views

When I first started the MTT program, I was a bit skeptical about my abilities to perform at a high level. I quickly realized that becoming an MTT was more of a learning experience than an assessme...

tech classroom

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