Reflection Over The Semester

• Three “Wow/AhHa” Reflections
• Letter Pop – Letter Pop was one of the neatest tools that I learned about that is just out there and if free. I think it is a great tool for teachers to use. I think if more teachers knew about it, they would utilize it. It is so simple since the format is all set up for you, and you can customize it however you want. This is definitely something that I plan to use in my classroom and will share with other teachers that I meet.
• Learning how to make a website – I really think that learning how to make a website was one of the most valuable things that I learned in the classroom. I really liked using eZediaQTI, because it is so simple to use. I am very excited about keeping my website up, and changing it around to use in my classroom. I hope that I can share my knowledge about how to make a website with fellow teachers if they ever need help.
• Learning how to make a podcast – When I first entered the class, I hardly knew what podcasting was, nor did I have any idea of how to make one. I thought that you had to have an iPod. I’m so happy that you can make a podcast on either a Mac or a PC. I hope to do some podcasting in my classroom. I think it would be really helpful to do a podcast in the classroom if there are a bunch of students absent.

• Six Classmates Website Reflections
• Jennifer Meyer

Great website! I love how it is so colorful and fun! I really like the fonts! I’ve got to find out where she got them from. The whole site is very kid friendly. I like how there is a professional tab; I think I will do that on mine too, next semester.

• Nikki Moody

I like how the website is so simple. Very easy to navigate around. I like the idea of putting a quote on the first page; I have noticed I few people have done that. I think I will too sometime.

• Kerri Sherman

I think there are a lot of buttons on the first page. This would probably be okay for a personal website but not for an elementary classroom. Also, I would make all the buttons the same size and same font for consistency.

• Kayla Juenemann

I like the idea of having photos, which I do have. I really like how she split her photos into two categories, classroom photos and personal photos. I also like how easy it is to navigate around her website. There are not too many buttons, so it is not overwhelming.

• Sheila Harvey

Another fun website. I like how it is not appealing to either boys or girls (it is not pink or blue), they are very neutral colors. I think the only thing I would change on this one is to get rid of some of the buttons.

• Jessie Deines

I love her first page! It is so colorful and inviting! I think this is another well put together website. It is very easy to navigate around. I really like the colors of the first page, that is what made me look further into it.

• Reflection Over My Own Website
• I really like my website. I think that maybe over the summer or next fall I will change a few things before I start meeting various schools. I know I will put a professional tab on my website, that way I will have a better place to put my resume, classroom management plan, and things like that. I also like the idea of having a quote that inspires me on the first page. I know there are tons of good ones about teachers out there, so I plan on putting that on the first page instead of information about me. I also may change my fonts. I found a lot of really neat ones on my classmate’s websites that I would love to use, ones that are really kid-friendly. Another thing that I may do is change my photos around. I think it would be a great idea to have a section for classroom photos and then a separate section for personal photos. The last thing that I know I will do before I start teaching is change the background of my website. I will need to make it less “girly”. I really like my website for now though. It fits my personality, and is more about me then the classroom that I do not have yet. I think it will be easy to change because I feel confident in working on it by myself.

• Cyndi – I had a great time in your class this semester. I have learned so much. If it wasn’t for this class, I do not know what I would do when it came to technology in my classroom. I am also so happy that I was with Shannon last fall with the Smart Board. Through you two, I have definitely gained so much knowledge about technology. I don’t know what I will do if all of my students don’t have their own laptops in my classroom, and if I don’t have a Smart Board (or something similar). Thanks for being such a great teacher this semester! - Ashley

Blogs Are Not The Enemy

Blogs Are Not The Enemy

I have to admit...I am completely new at blogging. In one of my other classes at FHSU, we had to do a blog thing..and now I have to do it in my instructional technology class. When I was interning, the students did their daily journal writing in blogs. Personally, I do not know if I will use a blog in my classroom. It depends on what grade level I am teaching. I did like the idea of using it for journals..but I think that checking them would be much more difficult. I'm not sure what other uses I could come up with for using blogs in my classroom.

The One-to-One Tsunami

The One-to-One Tsunami

We are seeing in schools everywhere, that each student has their own laptop. The school furnishes these, and of course the students are required to give them back at the end of the school year. This is not something that is happening in big towns. It is happening in Hays, Kansas...and also in my hometown which is a 1A school. It is a great idea for each student to have their own laptop/tablet computer. I think this will spread through every school soon.

When Digital Kids Rule The Clasroom

When Digital Kids Rule The Clasroom

I think that kids teaching the teachers how to use technology is not necessarily new. I remeber when my brother was in high school. He was, and still is, one of the really smart computer people. He worked on all the computers at the school, and knew more then the "computer guy" did. When somebody had a question pertaining to the computer, they would just go and get my brother. I see nothing wrong with students today teaching teachers how to use the technology. After all, they are the ones growing up with it, the teachers out there now, most of them have been in the field for a very long time, and all this technology is overwhelming to them. I think that it is also good for students to do this because they enjoy it!

Pod Show

Pod Show

I guess I'm really behind on cool new websites. I have never heard of this one either. Sounds kinda interesting. I will have to check it out and get back to you on what I think about it.

Ask Vox

Ask Vox

Has anyone used this new search engine yet???? I hadn't even heard of it. Seems like there are so many out there. Guess I always just google everything. Maybe it's time to change????

Teachers to recieve laptops

Teachers to recieve laptops

I think all teachers would agree with me when I say it would be great if districts would provide all teachers with a laptop for school and personal use, and a projector/elmo for your own classroom. These are two very vital things in a classroom. I guess I could say, if you haven't seen one used in a classroom, you need to get out more, and really talk to whoever is in charge at your school.