Due to technical problems we are making the move over to wordpress.
If you would like to link to the new blog, here is the web address!
http://toinfinityandbeyondtheclassroom.wordpress.com/
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Podcasts in the Classroom
There are so many new technologies that are being implemented in the classroom. I was fortunate enough to experience many of these technologies in my own adventures through the public school system, but there are still a few I have yet to see effectively implemented. One of these technologies is podcasts.
I feel like podcasts would be used most effectively in middle and high school classroom settings, however I think they can be used at certain times in and elementary setting. These are a few of the ideas I have on how to use podcast technology in a first grade classroom:
1. Parent Newsletters
Often times when teachers send home the weekly newsletter, the paper either gets lost or thrown in the trash without being read. One way to reach out to busy parents would be to create a podcast that states exactly what the paper newsletter does. It will, of course, still be important to have some printed copies for parents with no Internet access. Podcasts are very easy to import onto your classroom blog and make them readily available.
2. Substitute Planning
No one likes to be sick, especially teachers. Because of the hindrance teachers often face in creating substitute plans while ill, teachers will often come to class when they shouldn't in order to avoid the hassle. Podcasts are a great way to prepare for these days ahead of time. Create a generic substitute plan and generate a podcast that is easily accessible for the substitute and stress free for you when you aren't feeling your best. Remember to include a typed copy of your plan and/or podcast that way the substitute teacher does not have to go back and listen through the podcast while trying to control 30 young children.
3.Student Projects
Often times a basic research project is included in the content area curriculum. Using a podcast would be a great way to help the students practice their speeches or presentations. Because the children are at a younger age they may require a lot of help, however this is still something they should be capable of accomplishing.
I feel like podcasts would be used most effectively in middle and high school classroom settings, however I think they can be used at certain times in and elementary setting. These are a few of the ideas I have on how to use podcast technology in a first grade classroom:
1. Parent Newsletters
Often times when teachers send home the weekly newsletter, the paper either gets lost or thrown in the trash without being read. One way to reach out to busy parents would be to create a podcast that states exactly what the paper newsletter does. It will, of course, still be important to have some printed copies for parents with no Internet access. Podcasts are very easy to import onto your classroom blog and make them readily available.
2. Substitute Planning
No one likes to be sick, especially teachers. Because of the hindrance teachers often face in creating substitute plans while ill, teachers will often come to class when they shouldn't in order to avoid the hassle. Podcasts are a great way to prepare for these days ahead of time. Create a generic substitute plan and generate a podcast that is easily accessible for the substitute and stress free for you when you aren't feeling your best. Remember to include a typed copy of your plan and/or podcast that way the substitute teacher does not have to go back and listen through the podcast while trying to control 30 young children.
3.Student Projects
Often times a basic research project is included in the content area curriculum. Using a podcast would be a great way to help the students practice their speeches or presentations. Because the children are at a younger age they may require a lot of help, however this is still something they should be capable of accomplishing.
Tuesday, May 7, 2013
We Love WOU!
Check out the Youtube video my group and I made in class today. It's commercial that we would show to prospective Western Oregon students. Hope you like it!
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
Flickr
This was the first time I had ever messed around Flickr but I actually enjoyed it quite a bit. It was interesting to see how pictures could be manipulated and changed using the website.
At first I struggled to think of how this website could be used effectively in the classroom, but after reading the chapter from Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts I had a few more ideas. Initially I thought that Flickr would be a great way to teach younger students that not everything in pictures can be 100% trusted. I would be a fun project for the students to use pictures and manipulate them into images that would not necessarily be possible.
Another idea I had was to use the annotation tool that Will Richardson spoke of in Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts. It would be a great way to create learning modules for the students. When they move their mouse over the area of the picture, a text box previously prepared by the teacher would appear. This would provide a nice way to include both images and content area instruction for the students.
I am sure that there are hundreds of other ways to implement Flickr in the classroom, but these are just a few I thought of. What are some of your ideas?
At first I struggled to think of how this website could be used effectively in the classroom, but after reading the chapter from Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts I had a few more ideas. Initially I thought that Flickr would be a great way to teach younger students that not everything in pictures can be 100% trusted. I would be a fun project for the students to use pictures and manipulate them into images that would not necessarily be possible.
Another idea I had was to use the annotation tool that Will Richardson spoke of in Blogs, Wikis, and Podcasts. It would be a great way to create learning modules for the students. When they move their mouse over the area of the picture, a text box previously prepared by the teacher would appear. This would provide a nice way to include both images and content area instruction for the students.
I am sure that there are hundreds of other ways to implement Flickr in the classroom, but these are just a few I thought of. What are some of your ideas?
Sunday, April 28, 2013
That's Not Fair!
"That's not fair!"
A phrase that is heard one too many times when teaching young children. The idea that not everything is fair has yet to cement itself in their mind, however it is our job as teachers to teach them about fairness. Morality and ethics as a teacher come into play when students will be looking to you to set an example for following the rules, rules that may not always seem fair.
It is important to to model appropriate citations as well as seeking permission for use of copyrighted work to students because they need to see these ideas being implemented effectively. When students see you as a professional teacher following the "rules" for proper citation they will be more inclined to understand why it is necessary to cite correctly. It is hardly fair to expect a student to not plagiarize work from others when you feel no guilt of using copy and paste to take images straight from Google into your PowerPoint. As long as it is in the name of education right? Not quite.
Time for a PowerPoint=Nap time for Students.
Picture this:
You are in your 10 a.m. biology class and your professor log on to the computer and begins to upload his PowerPoint...The 50th one you have seen this term; and they are all the same. The slides are filled with text, there are no engaging pictures, the font is so small you can barely read it and instead of providing an interesting and engaging lecture the professor continues to drone on while reading the slides word for word.
Sound interesting? For most students, it's not. However this is the same scenario that millions of students worldwide are being forced to endure. It's no wonder students are not interested in school. What exactly is interesting about that scene? Nothing.
The author of Presentation Zen, Garr Reynolds, is encouraging presenters to revamp their PowerPoint presentations in order to make their audience engaged and interested which in turn will cause them to learn. Reynolds main point is that simplicity is key. It has already been proven that humans cannot focus on a page filled with text and listen to a presentation at the same time. Instead, provide minimal text on your slide and fill the page with captivating images generated to capture the attention of the audience and make the presentation memorable. Instead of putting the text on your slide, use a handout out and generate notes for yourself to guide the speech. After all, the audience is there to hear you speak, not to read words on a screen.
This idea is not only important in the business world, but in the classroom as well. Students do not want to attend a lecture where the professor reads text off of a PowerPoint that is quoted almost directly from the book or reading they already did for class anyways. Why learn the same thing twice? Students are paying small fortunes to attend universities worldwide to learn from professors, not to hear something they could have read from a textbook on their own time.
When thinking of my own past presentations I feel horrible for my audience members. After sitting through years of bad presentations most students, including myself, do not know how to design presentations any differently then they have seen before. Once students begin to see powerful and effective presentations they will be able to use the same techniques.
One other technique besides PowerPoint is to use a program called Prezi. If you have never seen one before, make sure to check out this Prezi I made about cheerleading!
A phrase that is heard one too many times when teaching young children. The idea that not everything is fair has yet to cement itself in their mind, however it is our job as teachers to teach them about fairness. Morality and ethics as a teacher come into play when students will be looking to you to set an example for following the rules, rules that may not always seem fair.
It is important to to model appropriate citations as well as seeking permission for use of copyrighted work to students because they need to see these ideas being implemented effectively. When students see you as a professional teacher following the "rules" for proper citation they will be more inclined to understand why it is necessary to cite correctly. It is hardly fair to expect a student to not plagiarize work from others when you feel no guilt of using copy and paste to take images straight from Google into your PowerPoint. As long as it is in the name of education right? Not quite.
Time for a PowerPoint=Nap time for Students.
Picture this:
You are in your 10 a.m. biology class and your professor log on to the computer and begins to upload his PowerPoint...The 50th one you have seen this term; and they are all the same. The slides are filled with text, there are no engaging pictures, the font is so small you can barely read it and instead of providing an interesting and engaging lecture the professor continues to drone on while reading the slides word for word.
Sound interesting? For most students, it's not. However this is the same scenario that millions of students worldwide are being forced to endure. It's no wonder students are not interested in school. What exactly is interesting about that scene? Nothing.
The author of Presentation Zen, Garr Reynolds, is encouraging presenters to revamp their PowerPoint presentations in order to make their audience engaged and interested which in turn will cause them to learn. Reynolds main point is that simplicity is key. It has already been proven that humans cannot focus on a page filled with text and listen to a presentation at the same time. Instead, provide minimal text on your slide and fill the page with captivating images generated to capture the attention of the audience and make the presentation memorable. Instead of putting the text on your slide, use a handout out and generate notes for yourself to guide the speech. After all, the audience is there to hear you speak, not to read words on a screen.
This idea is not only important in the business world, but in the classroom as well. Students do not want to attend a lecture where the professor reads text off of a PowerPoint that is quoted almost directly from the book or reading they already did for class anyways. Why learn the same thing twice? Students are paying small fortunes to attend universities worldwide to learn from professors, not to hear something they could have read from a textbook on their own time.
When thinking of my own past presentations I feel horrible for my audience members. After sitting through years of bad presentations most students, including myself, do not know how to design presentations any differently then they have seen before. Once students begin to see powerful and effective presentations they will be able to use the same techniques.
One other technique besides PowerPoint is to use a program called Prezi. If you have never seen one before, make sure to check out this Prezi I made about cheerleading!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Website Wonders
Today I created my very first website! It was quite exciting. I set it up for future use as a way to communicate with parents and families when I have a classroom of my own (which is hopefully a lot sooner than it seems!)
Follow the link above to check out my website. Hopefully it will help me in the future!
Follow the link above to check out my website. Hopefully it will help me in the future!
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