Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Project Sharing

One thing I learned from listening to the others presentation was that integrating technology can be so simple. Using technology does not have to take hours to prepare but can be as simple as projecting a math game on the internet. I also learned that technology can be used in every core subject. The options are endless!

Internet Safety

1. Which article did you choose to read for your fourth article? Fighting Internet Filth
By Mario Hipol
2. What were the most important things you learned from the readings? You don’t have to be a computer expert to protect your family from filth on the internet. Knowing a few simple tips can keep you and your family safe. I found the following tips especially helpful:
Use bookmarks .Some pornographic Web sites use common misspellings of popular sites or searches in their URLs—their Web page addresses. When you accidentally mistype a website, you may end up at a pornographic site. Using favorites or bookmarks rather than just surfing, doing a search, or typing in a URL can help Internet users avoid this problem.
Use credible search engines. Predators or pornography peddlers can actually purchase specific phrases so that their Web sites will be included in the results of an Internet search for that phrase,
3. How will what you have read influence your actions as a parent and/or teacher of children and youth? With the widespread use of internet in nearly every aspect of our lives including school, work and family but it is impractical to not allow children to use internet. As a parent and teacher it is then my responsibility to educate myself how to be safe and adequately teach my children and students.
4. How can you use what you have learned from the reading to have a positive influence on family and friends? Internet safety does not have to be a scary thing. By educating my friends and families, I can help them stay informed in the best way to keep them safe. While it may seem overwhelming, parents should not give up. Internet safety is possible.

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Week 11

In one of my water lessons, I am creating a Google Earth Tour to show water in its many different forms. I am going to create a virtual tour that starts at Canyon Elementary and moves around to show lakes, rivers, waterfalls, icebergs etc. I think the students will really like seeing different representations about what we have been learning about as well as seeing where they are in relationship to the world around them.

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Tech Lesson Idea

My first grade classroom is in the middle of a water unit which I am helping to teach. They are learning all about the different properties of water and how water can change from one state to another. I am hoping to use the digital thermometers to illustrate to the children how the change in temperature causes the water to change states form solid to liquid, liquid to gas etc. The students love doing hands on activities and would love to be able to further explore.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Technology Inventory

After spending 6+ weeks discovering the great variety of technology resources, I was surprised how little technology is available or used in my school and classroom. In my classroom there are only 2 computers, one for the teacher and one for the student. The teacher only used her computer for a few minutes at the beginning of the day to take roll and count lunches. The student computer is set up with a reading program and the student rotates about 10 different students throughout the day to spend time on the program to help with beginning reading skills. Besides this, my teacher hasn't used any other technology. Teachers can check out TV, DVD/VCR, overheads, projectors but they are not found in every classroom.
My teacher however does have a microphone that she uses quite often throughout the day which helps save her voice as well as makes directions from across the room very clear.
The school has 2 computer labs equipped with about 30 computers each. Each computer comes well equipped with many different kinds of software. I found programs for art, science, reading, typing, math, writing, and social studies. Each class is assigned one 30 minute period each week to work in these different programs under the supervision of the lab specialist.