http://www.tammyworcester.com/TipOfWeek/TammyWTechTipOfWeek/Entries/2010/5/10_Tip_85_-_Image_Search_Engines.html
Hello everyone!
I hope you enjoyed your February break as much as I did! Back to reality! :)
This week I am responding to a post about something I actually have issues with often in my placement, and that is image copy righting, citing, and even searching! Everyone, I'm sure, has had to go to the Internet to find images for a project (powerpoint, cover of a paper, lesson plans, etc) but have cited appropriately each time? I know, I for one, am guilty of not always citing my images when I use them for different projects, at the time I was unaware of the proper protocol. Now that I am a self-proclaimed ed-techie, I know better. At my placement, often, I see teachers showing students how to find images using google-images. I love google as much as everyone, but I've seen some pretty graphic pictures using the google-image search option. Are they filtering out all of the inappropriate images? Then my next question is, are these students citing these pictures? Do they know how to site pictures? Because I saw no direct instruction on this topic, I can only assume that the answer is no.
I looked through several ed-tech blogs and found this one to be quite helpful. Not only does it give an alternative site to google-images, but it shows how to find the citing information to make sure the pictures are free to use. This author has the image situation described right on the money! She knows that teachers need quick ways to get pictures for projects online, but also knows that it must be done safely and ethically as well. My first day of student teaching this semester, I spent 3 hours collecting images from various websites and digging for the necessary information to cite them as well. If I knew these websites existed, it would have saved me a great deal of time!
The blog that I am responding to has great posts on other sites and topics as well! Each week there is a new "tech-tip" for educators. Hope you enjoy this blog as much as I do!
Sarah
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Post 4: website creation
http://www.freetech4teachers.com/2011/02/10-ways-for-teachers-and-students-to.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+FreeTechnologyForTeachers+%28Free+Technology+for+Teachers%29
Above is a link to a blog posting about teachers, students, and website creation. It's something that I've, as of recent, been thinking about. I want to do a project where students, either working in a group or pairs, create their own website. I think it is a great tool to learn, and it would be a skill that would be of use in their upcoming years (no matter what the age). For instance, imagine a 7th grade student that has to make a presentation on the American Revolution. How wowed would you be by a powerpoint presentation? Not very, I'm sure. But a student that can create their own mini-website on the war and include video/pictures? I would be pretty impressed.
When I first started thinking about website creation and all that it entails, I got overwhelmed. I thought I would never be able to teach something like this at the elementary grade level. I have to say, I am becoming more comfortable with the idea as the year progresses. I have found this site, weebly.com, and it could not be easier to create a website (I even used the site for my e-portfolio!) I added videos, pictures, documents and so much more! As I was making the website, I knew I wanted to incorporate weebly into a project in the future.
The PBL assignment we have due in this class is definitely going to be centered around my fictional students making websites. I'm still thinking about topics (possibly colonial times), but I know I will definitely have the students (working in a group of 5) create a website. Each week they will add a new page (which will be about a different topic that they learned about during that week.) The students will create hands-on projects in class and then put their information up on their website. The parents will be able to check out the progress daily and the teacher will have several websites to show their students the following year. I'm still working out all the kinks, but I think this is my idea thus far.
As for the actual blog post, the author offered great suggestions to website creation as well as different sites that can be used. Google sites was one of the authors favorites, next they mentioned weebly (my personal favorite) and there were many other great sites mentioned as well. Website creation is slowly but surely making it's way into the curriculum, and is a 21st century skill that will serve our students greatly in the future.
Hope everyone is enjoying their time off- if you have this week off!
Sarah
Above is a link to a blog posting about teachers, students, and website creation. It's something that I've, as of recent, been thinking about. I want to do a project where students, either working in a group or pairs, create their own website. I think it is a great tool to learn, and it would be a skill that would be of use in their upcoming years (no matter what the age). For instance, imagine a 7th grade student that has to make a presentation on the American Revolution. How wowed would you be by a powerpoint presentation? Not very, I'm sure. But a student that can create their own mini-website on the war and include video/pictures? I would be pretty impressed.
When I first started thinking about website creation and all that it entails, I got overwhelmed. I thought I would never be able to teach something like this at the elementary grade level. I have to say, I am becoming more comfortable with the idea as the year progresses. I have found this site, weebly.com, and it could not be easier to create a website (I even used the site for my e-portfolio!) I added videos, pictures, documents and so much more! As I was making the website, I knew I wanted to incorporate weebly into a project in the future.
The PBL assignment we have due in this class is definitely going to be centered around my fictional students making websites. I'm still thinking about topics (possibly colonial times), but I know I will definitely have the students (working in a group of 5) create a website. Each week they will add a new page (which will be about a different topic that they learned about during that week.) The students will create hands-on projects in class and then put their information up on their website. The parents will be able to check out the progress daily and the teacher will have several websites to show their students the following year. I'm still working out all the kinks, but I think this is my idea thus far.
As for the actual blog post, the author offered great suggestions to website creation as well as different sites that can be used. Google sites was one of the authors favorites, next they mentioned weebly (my personal favorite) and there were many other great sites mentioned as well. Website creation is slowly but surely making it's way into the curriculum, and is a 21st century skill that will serve our students greatly in the future.
Hope everyone is enjoying their time off- if you have this week off!
Sarah
Monday, February 14, 2011
Post 3: I-Pads and a teaching certification exam= my week in review
Well, it's backwards to do a week in review on Monday, but why not? This week I will be, mostly, working with 1 kindergarten class and 1 2nd grade class using the the I-Pads. The k class is using apps like a math game app (which has various mini-games on it that the students can play together) and tangrams (in which they fill out a template with shapes or make their own design) and the second grade class is using a racecar typing game (familiarizing the students with the touch screen keypad) and Oregon Trail (I have yet to discover the educational reasoning behind this app... but it is a ton of fun!). It is amazing to see how quickly the students adapt to the new technology. With every lesson I start by asking them if they have ever seen an Ipad (most hands raise) then I ask if they have ever used an ipad (again, most hands raised)- this is both classes mind you. It is amazing to see a 5 year old use an ipad correctly, carefully, and with a partner. As my mentor teacher says, "we have the coolest game in town!"
I was wondering, do any of you ed techies know any interesting APPS for the Ipad for the K-2 age group? Do any of you have any ideas for how to integrate these ipads into the curriculum further besides just having the students play with apps? I am helping my mentor teacher integrate the ipads into all of the schools, and we decided to start with the youngest school and the high school (each school has 12) the 3-5 school and the middle school will have access to them next month (we'll see how that goes!)
At the end of this week I will be taking my final state teaching exam (cst-educational technology specialist test) and was wondering if any of you have taken this test before. I am incredibly worried about taking this test, although I did do a review with the materials provided online. It is a hard test to review for because us Ed Tech Specialists have to know a great deal, not just about technology, but how to incorporate technology into an already jam packed curriculum! I will let everyone know how the test goes after I've recovered!
Only one week until winter (February) break! Hope everyone makes it!
Sarah Jeanne Marbach
I was wondering, do any of you ed techies know any interesting APPS for the Ipad for the K-2 age group? Do any of you have any ideas for how to integrate these ipads into the curriculum further besides just having the students play with apps? I am helping my mentor teacher integrate the ipads into all of the schools, and we decided to start with the youngest school and the high school (each school has 12) the 3-5 school and the middle school will have access to them next month (we'll see how that goes!)
At the end of this week I will be taking my final state teaching exam (cst-educational technology specialist test) and was wondering if any of you have taken this test before. I am incredibly worried about taking this test, although I did do a review with the materials provided online. It is a hard test to review for because us Ed Tech Specialists have to know a great deal, not just about technology, but how to incorporate technology into an already jam packed curriculum! I will let everyone know how the test goes after I've recovered!
Only one week until winter (February) break! Hope everyone makes it!
Sarah Jeanne Marbach
Monday, February 7, 2011
Blog 2: What to do with tech-breakers?
Lately, this is something that has been on my mind because it's been part of my student teaching experience for the past 2 weeks. I know I have mentioned this before, in many of my classes, so it may sound like old news to many of you, but it's been bothering me more as of recent. The fifth grade classes have been abusing the laptops provided to them on the laptop carts by picking off the keys. The first time I encountered this, I was sure it was an accident. Maybe the student was typing a little too hard and a key popped off, no big deal. Then, it kept happening. In one day, I replaced (I kept a record) 7 laptop keys... that means 7 students thought it would be a good idea to rip keys off of a keyboard while their teacher was teaching, helping another student, or just had their back turned. 1 time is a mistake, 7 times makes me question things a little. The keys are hard to get back on because they are so tiny and consist of 3 different pieces (2 little hinges and the actual key). I've actually gotten to be pretty good at putting them back on, so every time one comes in, it's immediately delegated to me on the helpdesk.
The reason I am writing this as my chosen topic for my edtech blog is because I want to know what all of you ed. tech specialists would do in this situation. Would you take the carts away from the students? Would you hold an assembly explaining that it takes time to put the keys back on (or would that just give students the idea of picking off keys)? Would you enlist the help of the classroom teachers? The technology coordinator? The principal? Or would you simply leave it alone, and fix the keys as they come in broken, hoping that all of the pieces are still there? Because I am an intern, I simply fix the keys with a smile, return the laptop to the cart, and go about my day until another students walks in with a laptop in his hands saying "They just fell off!"
It really bothers me, especially as someone living in the community, that the students would purposely damage brand new laptops. The community, which always passes the increased school tax budget proposal, paid for these laptops for students to enjoy and use. It is unfair that several destructive students are able to ruin it for the entire school population. I hope the students decide to make better decisions this week, I am tired of putting keys back on!
The reason I am writing this as my chosen topic for my edtech blog is because I want to know what all of you ed. tech specialists would do in this situation. Would you take the carts away from the students? Would you hold an assembly explaining that it takes time to put the keys back on (or would that just give students the idea of picking off keys)? Would you enlist the help of the classroom teachers? The technology coordinator? The principal? Or would you simply leave it alone, and fix the keys as they come in broken, hoping that all of the pieces are still there? Because I am an intern, I simply fix the keys with a smile, return the laptop to the cart, and go about my day until another students walks in with a laptop in his hands saying "They just fell off!"
It really bothers me, especially as someone living in the community, that the students would purposely damage brand new laptops. The community, which always passes the increased school tax budget proposal, paid for these laptops for students to enjoy and use. It is unfair that several destructive students are able to ruin it for the entire school population. I hope the students decide to make better decisions this week, I am tired of putting keys back on!
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