Web Quest

At first I was a little bit intimidated by the Web Quest assignment; I wasn't sure how to even begin. I looked up many different Web Quests, and eventually found a website called "Filamentality". This site allows you to create and play with online options; on here I found an options that helps create Web Quests. It made things so easy by walking me through every aspect. Because I wasn't so concerned on the technical parts of it, I felt like I could be more creative.
I completed my Web Quest in the subject of Economics. Although I created it for a third grade class, I figured that this is a subject that I could adapt to cover many different grades. Because the subject area is so broad, I only covered money, supply and demand, and goods and services. I feel that students should get a pretty good understanding of the topic after exploring these areas. I also used the RubiStar site to create my assessment, which is also linked in my Quest.
The Web Quest was probably my favorite assignement. I had never created one before, and I am not sure that I would ever have thought to do one on my own. Once a topic idea is thought of, and what information you want to be learned, it really is simple to put together. There are also so many great websites out there for children to interact with, and a Web Quest is a great, guided way to allow that interaction.

Economics Web Quest

Fun with Data: Narrative

I would by lying if I said this assignment was easy for me. I feel like the whole process was a bit of a whirlwind, trying to figure out what I was doing and remember how I got to each point. However, I did learn a lot. In fact, I am have even begun to use some of my new skills "just for fun".
I am planning an August wedding, and am using Excel to keep track of guest, invitations sent, replies, etc. I am even trying to set up a budget sheet with it! Although it has been a little stressful, it really is a great tool and is useful to any teacher. I sort of look forward to playing around with it to expand my understanding even more.


My Narrative

Fun with Data: Manipulating Raw Data

For this assignment I had to have some assistance from my mom. She is an accountant and understands Excel. Once she showed me how to do the whole formula thing, it was not nearly as bad and I had anticipated. I can actually say that it all kind of made since. However, the way she taught me was different that described in the assignment link, but I still got the job finished. Although Excel and its formulas can be a bit mind blowing, I see how useful it can be when trying to look at data in a timely manner...something teachers are always trying to do :-)

Manipulating Raw Data

Fun with Data: Formatting

To be honest, Microsoft Excel intimidates me. A lot. The idea of all these formulas with endless posibilities is a bit overwhelming. So, when I would ever have to use Excel, I never really experimented with shortcuts, I just prayed and got the job done the best I could. Therefore, these next few assignments, I fear, will be challenging. So far, the formatting step was not difficult, I tried to use logic to make Year 2 and 3 look like Year 1. I'm not sure what the steps actualy were, but I think I accomplished the task. Though I have a mental block with Excel, I do know the importance of it. I know people that rely on it for EVERYTHING! Therefore, I am excited to continue with the next assignments and expand my knowledge and confidence.

Formatting with Excel

Assessment Form

Creating this quiz was so easy! It is a great tool for a quick assessment, or to "spice things up". The templates for each type of questions are really nice. Also, students could use this tool to create a question. The questions could then be compiled for a quiz. I created a short quiz to follow up a social studies unit on "Communities".

My Communities Quiz

RubiStar

I have created several rubrics to use as a form of assessment in my teaching experiences. Rubrics are wonderful because they help expand assessment forms and activities that are done in the classroom. I have used various "rubric-making" websites. However, I was always given a blank template in which I filled in the desired criteria. I loved how the Rubistar website have criteria already created for various subjects and project ideas. For the rubric I created, I wrote my own criteria for an existing project because there was not an already made template that was suitable. However, the site was extremely easy to navigate and the results were very usable. I had done a job fair activity during my student teaching experience where groups researched a career then presented their career in booths, where information would be provided to the rest of the class.
I will definately refer to this site. Students could also contribute to the use of this site by helping to decide what they should be assessed on. By take responsibility in this way, they may work harder to create a successful product.

My Rubric

Windows Movie Maker

Wow! There are really neat downloads available! Windows Movie Maker is unbelievably easy to use. It gives many options and step by step instructions to make movies from Power Point presentations, digital photos, and video clips. It would be useful for almost everyone for personal use; I plan to play with it a lot when I get a minute of free time. But, I can think of many ways to use it professionally as well. One way that I plan to use Windows Movie Maker in the classroom is for student portfolios. Portfolios are a great way to assess student learning, but students can feel even more responsible, as well as meeting many of the national technology standards, but creating a digital portfolio. Students can take pictures that display their academic accomplishments using a digital camera, then create a movie portfolio.

My Power Point Movie

P.S. I know that it wasn't a requirement to embed our video. However, I was so excited to know how to do thiss (embedding), that I just couldn't help myself).

Google Docs

Although I still don't completely understand Googe Documents, I have not yet had any major issues with it, so I really like it. I also like how you can view documents from any computer without worrying about a thumbdrive, etc. At first, I couldn't find where to export my Power Point, but once I did, it was easy. Plus, the embedded Power Point looks really cool

Jeopardy Power Point

I am learning a lot of useful information and ideas to use in my classroom, but I still always feel behind. I will often spend hours working on a project only find that I still can't figure out how to get it to my blog. It seems like different things work at different times for me. For this assignment, I thought the action buttons were really neat. I had never used them before, but I know I will use them again. Jeopardy seemed like the perfect activity for them!

Rainforest Jeopardy

Sometimes the Power Point wouldn't come up for me. However, it is also on my Google Documents, so hopefully you can see it there.

Power Point

I have created a few Power Point presentations prior to this activity. I enjoy the process because it allows some creativity. This time, I created a Power Point about the rainforest. This is a topic that interests me because it is so vast! I love to learn about the mysterious plants and animals that live there.
The Power Point program could easily be used in the classroom by both the teacher and the student. From my experiences, students love to create things, with this program, they could work individually or with a group to create a presentation for the entire class. It could even be used as an assessment.

Power Point Show

My Power Point Presentation

Podcasting...grrrrrr.

To be honest, this has been the most aggraviting assignment ever. I created my podcast, and even enjoyed the podcast, but figuring out how to link it to my blog has been a nightmare. I still haven't figured out how to do it; I've followed all the advice I've been given, but still no luck. I'll keep trying though...maybe eventually I'll find success.

My PodCast

PodCast Script

Anyway, podcasting could be used in many ways to "spice up" the regular curriculum. Children love recording things, and I think they would enjoy, and learn a lot, by creating a podcast to share with their class, or the public.

Web Album

I had some difficulty with this activity. I had tried for several days to download Picasa. I was able to get my photographs to the site, but was unsuccessful in downloading the program. Eventually, I tried Web Album Generator. It doesn't seem as nice as Picasa, but it worked.
I love the idea of using digital photography in the classroom. Children love taking pictures, and it would be beneficial for them to have a place (such as web album) to place their photographs. It is a good idea because they can view their work from home as well as at school.

My Web Album

Sometimes I have been unable to view the web album using the like. If you experience this problem, type the following address into your toolbar:
C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Desktop\ThingsILove\index.html

Photoshop Express

I had a lot of fun with the Photoshop Express website. I especially liked the feature where you could basically erase any flaws. I also liked the sketch application, which made the photograph look cartoonish. The picture that I have posted is of me and my fiance, watching a beautiful sunset at Stonewall Jackson Lake.

My Photoshop Express

Crappy Graphics

I liked the Crappy Graphs website. It was nice to have a colorful template to plug information into. It is also so easy to use, that teachers to use the resource quickly to show information. I used the Venn Diagram to organize a small amount of information about communities.

My Crappy Graphic

Kid Zone Graphs

I have used the Kid Zone website before; it makes things so easy but showing you where to plug in the numbers and labels, and Whaaalaa! A graph. It would be so useful in the classroom because it not only makes graphing simpler but it guides you in what types of graphs (pie chart, line graph, bar graph, area graph) best show the information you want to show.

My graphs

Kid Zone Graphs

National Mathematics Assessment Scores

Poverty Statistics

IEP Statistics

Image Capture

To create this image, I found a virtual tour about the parts of the earth. This virtual tour would benefit students because it compares the size of the parts of the earth to common things, such as an apple.
However, because of the animation, I was unable to copy and paste the image, so I use the print screen button on my keyboard. With the print screen button, I was able to use the image from the virtual tour; I also labeled necessary parts using the text application in Paint. With the print screen button, animated images become still, and can be used to show students bits and pieces of a larger presentation.

Desktop Graphic

My blog is a day late, but I am SO excited that I finally figured out how to link a Word document onto my blog...I spent a lot of time over the past few days trying to figure out how to get my desktop graphic linked here, but with the help of a friend, last night I learned how. Except that the power had gone out (thanks to our winter thunderstorm). However, I did it, and I am so glad.
My desktop graphic isn't anything too complex, but it is neat to see the ways information is being stored in our technology class...I have always considered myself "low-maintainace" in the world of tech. but I feel excited and proud of myself for knowing about, and even understanding a little about these resources.

I read an article titled, "Multimodal Learning through Media: What the Research Says". It is always interesting, to read about and try to understand various theories about learning. Throughout history, educators have tried to discover the mystery of how people learn. Personally, I feel we all learn differently and in a multitude of ways.

My Narrative

FTP

I had learned about my FTP space on my Fairmont account in one of my undergrad technology classes. This became quite helpful during various other experiences (especially student teaching) to save documents. Because of my past experiences with the application, the adding a link to one of my documents was not difficult; however, the link cannot be viewed without my username and password...so I'll have to figure that one out...Until then, here it is! http://ftp://studentsftp.fairmontstate.edu/LessonPlanFormat.doc

Web Publishing

I am a hands-on learner, and I think in pictures. Therfore, I am having a difficult time with understanding the whole process of web publishing. As an assignment, I was asked to web publish a resume. The resume part? Easy. I feel like I have written and updated tons of resumes over the past year. However, I am not sure that I fully grasped the web publishing part. Here is the link if you want to check it out. http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=df4fs5rn_0dmpnzmrq

Who Am I?

Today I started, finished, and published my first Photo Story. Whewww. Actually, I learned a lot; and once I got used to hearing my voice over and over, I enjoyed it. I even told my little brother that I would help him make one sometime. It's neat that you can narrate your story, but the most impressive part to me was that I could record and re-record one picture narration at a time until I was satisfied, without having to redo the entire thing. If you would like to see my video debut, check out http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_j0Gg83Wh9k.

My First Blog

In my Education 6305 class, we learned how to create our own blog. For my technologically-impaired self, I am proud to say this is my first. And so far, it has been successful. I hadn't realized the capabilities that were available with blogging. Of course there is the fun stuff, like changing the color of your backround and adding pictures; but you can also add links to sites that are commonly used, which is very helpful. So far, I have the class website linked and a couple other Fairmont State webpages. Through our blog, students in our class will not only post their progression through the semester, but assignments will also be attached and turned in through each students blog spot. I feel a weird sense of accomplishment and I look forward to the progression of my blog.