Technology Lists for Teachers

Seven Stupid Mistakes Teachers Make With Technology

I definitely think one stupid thing that a teacher could do is using a school's computer like a home computer. I disagree with people that play on their computer at work, when they are getting paid to do a job. It's like stealing money from their employer. If you are on your lunch break and you need to check an email or something, I think that's fine. I also feel that if you come to work early or stay late, to make your working time even out with any time you should clock out for, that could be fine too, as long as it's not all the time. But it is not smart to save all of your personal information to the school's computer, for reasons such as if the computer messes up or your children get ahold of the computer and damages it. That is not professional!


The second stupid thing a teacher could think is that technology in schools will go away. There is no way NO WAY that technology is going away, it's only going to get more integrated every year. For one that's why we're in this class, to teach us how to use technology in the classroom effectively.


Seven Brilliant Things Teachers Do With Technology

I agree that on brilliant thing a teacher can do is make conferencing real-time. Brilliant teachers don't wait until scheduled parent conferences to communicate with homes. Through e-mail, Web sites, online grade books, blogs, wikis, and, yes, even telephone calls, technology gives teachers the ability to make parents partners who help assure students' timely, quality work. They post newsletters, spelling lists, assessment tools, assignments, grades, calendars, discussion lists, and tips. They read and respond to parent e-mails. Most parents want to be involved, but they like knowing how. This is so true, I really like my daughter's teacher this year but she doesn't have any sort of communication on a website or email. So far we've only met at Open Houses or conferences. We have also kept in contact with notes and papers sent home. However, when I taught a few years ago, I didn't communicate any different than my daughter's teacher. I didn't know much about technology and my school didn't stress the importance of it either. I think that parent/teacher communication can only benefit a student.

Another brilliant thing a teacher can do is use the kids’ own devices to teach them. Students are personal communication devices -- cell phones, cameras, game devices, iPods/mp3 players, netbooks, laptops, and PDAs. I think it's smart for a teacher to stay updated with the types of devices their students are into and know how to use them effectively. When using these devices, the students will get more interested in their work and excited about it.


New Classroom Rules

Leave your seat only when necessary, which should be often to go collaborate with others or demonstrate something to the class. I really liked this rule, because I think it's important for students to learn to work with others that are different from them. They will get to learn so much from their peers, like new ideas, different points-of-view, and cooperating with others. This rule will also teach students to ask others for help. I really liked this rule!

Be polite, courteous, and respectful at all times in both physical and virtual space.I also loved this rule! I think that so many people don't know how or choose to not be polite, courteous, or respectful. Where are peoples manners these days. Some people need to learn to hold their tongues and thoughts to themselves. It's not always the time or the place to voice their opinions.

At the Teacher's Desk

The Fundred Project


When I first checked out At the Teacher's Desk blog, I watched the videos on The Fundred Project. I found the information about the lead being in the soil in New Orleans very surprising. I wasn't aware of this problem before this video. I had no idea that lead could cause such issues for people, especially children. The explanation in the video about how the lead gets in the soil really shocked me as well, I guess I'm not attuned to things like this. I'm glad I watched this video so that I can learn to be more aware of the pollutants of the world.

I thought this project is a wonderful way for students and classrooms to get involved around the world to support this cause. The students will be able to learn a lot from this one project. They are being apart of something going to Congress. This has to let the students feel like they are making a difference. I'm curious to find out how this will turn out.

In looking at this blog, I clicked on several of the members. In doing so I wasn't able to see their blogs, but I was able to see what blogs they follow. I checked many of them out. Some were educational that I became members of, like a blog about students' shared work about space. I also really got interested in a blog about photography, I love photography.

Picture from a Class Blog about Space

In reviewing, At the Teacher's Desk, I watched videos from other school from across the world. One video was a middle school boy giving a speech in front of his whole school, he was Irish. It was hard to understand him. I went to another collaborators blog and watched him teach his class about the revolutionary war. This is a good idea for students to be able to go watch later when studying for test or for extra help.

I really enjoyed the post about the sick Math teacher needing help for the class assignment. One of the other teachers twittered about needing help and many many people came to her rescue. This really helped me understand the PLN a little more.

Tweeters Helping a Teacher

I especially liked the post about helping students create a positive digital portfolio. Mr. Chamberlain writes about how students are being perceived mostly in a negative way, because some are posting negative things on facebook or recording and taking pictures of inappropriate things. These are the things that most of the media get a hold of and report. He explains there are good sites that show our students in a positive light, but we also need to teach them what things are appropriate to share with the world and what are not, especially since you have future employers out there to see.

Michael Wesch

I found Michael Wesch's lecture to be entertaining as well as thought provoking about YouTube and our culture.

In my personal life, I rarely get on YouTube, I've been on their twice ever! I just don't have time to sit and watch the computer. But if I had extra time, I would probably get on their more often. When I say, "whatever", I'm usually meaning it doesn't matter to me. It does seem that our culture is becoming very self-absorbed. Everyone thinks they need to be a star and stand out. Everyone wants to have their own identity, which is good. But everyone can't be a star, but some do get discovered when otherwise they may have not had a chance.

Since I've been in EDM 310, I've had many assignments that required watching videos on YouTube. Most of them have been very useful and helpful in my learning. Before this year I had never heard of YouTube, and I maybe got on the computer once or twice a month. I can see how useful it is for learning and connecting with others.

For the my future teaching job, YouTube will be beneficial to have students express themselves in their work. As these college professors and their students do more research on the socialization with the media, it will help us understand how to integrate media in a more balanced light in the future.

Importance of Posting Work

Wow, I really enjoyed listening to the elementary chorus group, they were awesome!!!

Although there are several ways to post your work on the Internet, three that come to mind are: Podcasts, Vodcasts, and Blogging.

Podcast by Elementary Students
Podcast on iTunes
My group made a podcast about blogging. Making this podcast took work from all group members to make it flow nicely for the listeners. It gives lots of information in a short period of time, for the audience. The listeners could learn while listening to their iPods. The podcast shows our instructor what kind of time and effort we put into creating our work. He can tell that we had to research how to do a podcast, and about our subject. The end product gives the students a since of accomplishment. When they know that more than just their teacher will hear it, they will try harder to make it the best they can.

Students Vodcasting
Vodcasts can show so many talents a student has, such as musical, acting, and much more. It takes a lot more of the student to make a vodcast, students can be even more creative. The students in the video that we watched for this blog, were wonderful. If it weren't for their teacher posting it, they never would have been able to share their talents with the world and especially Stevie Nicks. Wow how awesome for this opportunity! In some of our past homework assignments, we saw middle school and high school students using video for their projects, some made game shows, some news, and even their own documentaries. It can show the teacher so much about the time and effort they put into their assignments. Plus the students really seem to enjoy it and learn more when they're having fun.

Student Blogging
How to for Student Blogging
Blogging can show a students work through their words, links, pictures, and videos. They are able to right paragraphs about what they are learning, like keeping a journal of their work. But this journal can have some creativity with color, font, pics, and much more. They also can have feedback from their teacher, peers, parents, and even others around the world. This will help them do their best work if they know others can see what they've done. This can also help shy students that have a hard time speaking up in class.

ACCESS is a distance learning plan created to give equity through additional educational offerings for all Alabama public high school students. This program allows high school students to choose a class not offered at the school such as German or French, instead of the typical Spanish. Each student in the class would have access to a laptop notebook. The school has to have all the certain equipment for the program to work. The students will attend a class where they are being led by a teacher on a computer and the teacher is relaying the work to the students by a smartboard. There are cameras set up for the teacher to view the student's homework as well. The students can use these classes to get dual credit. The classes are offered for the advanced students.

The ACCESS site gave information for teachers or schools to find information about registration and course catalogs. It also had other resources available as well as technical support for the program. I would not use this program since I have my degree for K-6th grade. If I were to teach high school, this would be a great program. When I was in high school, I think that I would have enjoyed access to classes offered outside of my school.

ALEX

ALEX stands for Alabama Learning Exchange. In this site a teacher can find so many useful tools. There are several links including: Courses of Study, Web Links, Lesson Plans, Search, Personal Workspace, Professional Learning, Podcast Treasury, and Help. In the Courses of Study, a teacher can find what the state department wants teachers to teach for each grade level and subject. This will help guide the teachers to stay on track during the year. Web Links has 3 categories: Teacher Web Links, Administrator Web Links, and Student Web Links. Each of these categories has very useful sites for education. In the Lesson Plans category a teacher can click on the subject and grade level they need to find specific lesson plans. Once you get to the right subject and grade level, the site has clearly labeled which course of study is covered and other helpful sites to go along with the lesson plan given. The Search category is helpful when you need to search fro something specific. You have to sign up to work in the Personal Workspace area. Te Professional Learning site has links to help teachers stay on top of their professional development as well as useful sites for teaching. The Podcast Treasury has links to educational podcast.

When I have taught in the past I used ALEX to help me find courses of study and lesson plans. Now they have updated this site with new informaton such as the Professional Learning, Web Links, and Podcast Treasury. I would use their lesson plans to help me find creative plans for the proper course of study. The way they have their site organized is very helpful for teachers. I like all of the web links they give teachers to help them find educational information. I would use the Professional Learning site to give me information to stay on top of my professional development. I also think the podcast treasury would be useful to me to find educational podcast on a particular subject that I would be teaching.

Mr. Chamberlain: Dear Kaia

I enjoyed reading these blogs that unfolded the story of a brave dad, Jabiz, exposing his daughter to an eighth grade class in Missouri. Mr. Chamberlain's class discovered a 3 year old little girl, Kaia's photography through her personal blog her dad created for their family. Jabiz read, The Last Child in the Woods, to Kaia and it got him to think about how Kaia should be spending more time outside. So the two of them explored their desert surroundings and took some pictures. Jabiz was teaching her to look closely at what is around her, take in the beauty, even if at first sight most people disregard as ugly. He teaching her a valuable lesson at finding the positive and beauty in everything. Kaia's pictures were beautiful, I loved seeing her home from her perspective.


Mr. Chamberlain's class watched Kaia's video essay of her pictures and they made many comments. Jabiz responded to the class and told them he would read the comments to Kaia, but it would be a good idea to send a video response to her since she can't read. Mr. Chamberlain's class did just that through You Tube and Voicethread. Then Mr. Chamberlain and Kaia's dad communicated for the dad to Skype into the class and answer their questions and give them information on where they live, Doha, Qotar. He is a teacher himself and he realizes the importance of learning.



I find these blogs so informative. It amazes me how easy it can be to communicate with strangers from all over the world. I don't even know where Qotar is, I will be looking it up after my post though. It has me thinking about my contacts for this class across the world. I'm very curious to see what I find. I agree with the dad's post on the Intrepid Teacher post about how scary it is to put yourself and especially your children out on the Internet. From reading the comments though it helped me to see that I should teach my children now the right and careful way to use the Internet. It is amazing how much you can learn out there. I could definitely see myself using these resources in my classroom to teach my students. I think it would be so educational and exciting for them to see what is out there for them to learn.

To read these blogs yourself you can go to the following links:

Mr. Chamberlain's Class Blog
Kaia's Blog
Intrepid Teacher