Hey Everyone! Last "official" post for my EDU 560 class! Having learned about cool technology tools such as glogster, blabberize, wordle, etc., I am definitely more inclined to use technology in my classroom. I love glogster for doing newsletters to parents and blabberize to get the students excited for the day! I feel like I am more prepared with using new technology in the classroom because I have been exposed to them in this class. It opened my eyes to feel comfortable and capable of doing something different for the students so that they want to learn more. Before this class, I was only familiar with basic technology such as Microsoft Word or even sites like Kidspiration or Starfall. Paper and pen stuff can be boring so using technology activities will keep them interested in subjects that they normally would not be. Even if I just wanted to show them a powerpoint, using prezi or making a glogster is something new to them and will keep them wanting to see more alone.
My EDU 560 teacher showed us videos of young students who did incredible work in projects that I am doing in grad school. For one, I never thought such young children could do something that looks professional. They even make better digital storys than me! For two, it made me feel more secure and to appreciate young minds. They are capable of doing more than people give them credit for. At first I was worried about doing a digital story, but now, I think it is a great idea for students to do. I learned a lot from my classmates when we did our own that I never knew about. It is a great tool to get everyone to be creative and aspire others! Overall, I learned a lot in EDU 560. I am glad that it is a requirement. :D
Sunday, December 2, 2012
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Wordle
Hey!
Just wanted to share another tool with all of you! It is called Wordle. Wordle is a visual representation of words. I never heard of this type of tool until my professor had brought it to my class's attention. The way it works is that you type in whatever words you may want to represent in a word cloud. For example, a teacher or a student can use this type of tool for describing themselves, as a welcome sign with student names, to describe a school's mascot or learning vocabulary words. Other examples include students creating a word cloud of the national symbols in our country or to illustrate a period of time or events on a timeline.
I decided to make a wordle on the national symbols. Wordle is easy to use for all grade levels and it even helps children to be aware of what their learning about in the classroom.
Below you will see my sample of a wordle! It did not take long to make, but now the students are able to have a visual of the symbols that will be taught in class. My dislike would be that I can't arrange where I exactly want the words to go. One just has to play around with the randomizer until one finds where they want the words to fall. You are, however, able to change the color of the font and the text font.
My wordle can be used as a game to see how many national symbols they can find.
Glogster
Hey Everyone!
Are you looking for something to keep your students interested in your lessons or keeping your parents informed? Try Glogster! It is an interactive poster site. Check out my sample for my EDU560 class (My Glogster). Every month at my daycare center we have to send a newsletter out to the parents to inform them on what is going on in the classroom. This site was a great way to incorporate what I want them to know. It has fun colors and lets you add videos and images! I can put images or videos of a fun project we did, special events that happened at the school, or videos that were shown in class and will help the students. Instead of using a typical Microsoft Word document, I think Glogster lets you show your creative side and spruce up your letter.
There are lots of other ways one can use Glogster such as presentations (who needs to buy a poster board anymore), learning about a student or a teacher, and teaching a lesson! There was a sample board that already had the format on making a lesson on the site such as the steps one will need to take to do the lesson and the directions on how to do it. I am really glad I got introduce to this site. I will definitely use it in my classroom. I think the students will enjoy it because it is a new way of learning and doing a project.
Although I enjoyed making my sample poster I did find it difficult at first. Just like anything else that you are first learning to do, it took a couple of trial and errors before I familarize myself with all the buttons and how to work it. Once I figured it out, it was easy and I couldn't wait to finish it!
This image is a screenshot, please click on "My Glogster" at the top for direct site!
Blabberize
Hello!
As part of an assignment in my EDU560 class I made a blabberize! Blabberize is a website that you can upload an image of choice and make the mouth move and say things you want. You can say a welcome message or even do a biography on a person. I chose to make one because I thought it was a different learning tool and I wanted to get myself familiarized with this website. I know I will definitely be using it more often!
I found this site to be super easy and so much fun! It can be used for various activities in school. For example, teaching the students their vocabulary or even having them create their own story on a particular person. I made mine for a preschool class as an encouragement for them on their first day back of the week. I know my kids LOVE Caillou so showing this blabber will hopefully make them excited for the day or in some cases, it may even scare them. :0
In case my blabberized image doesn't show up, click this link!
As part of an assignment in my EDU560 class I made a blabberize! Blabberize is a website that you can upload an image of choice and make the mouth move and say things you want. You can say a welcome message or even do a biography on a person. I chose to make one because I thought it was a different learning tool and I wanted to get myself familiarized with this website. I know I will definitely be using it more often!
I found this site to be super easy and so much fun! It can be used for various activities in school. For example, teaching the students their vocabulary or even having them create their own story on a particular person. I made mine for a preschool class as an encouragement for them on their first day back of the week. I know my kids LOVE Caillou so showing this blabber will hopefully make them excited for the day or in some cases, it may even scare them. :0
In case my blabberized image doesn't show up, click this link!
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Hello!
My EDU560 teacher wants us to have a twitter account. I NEVER thought I would get one, but it seems to be a useful resource to get teacher information. I am following a PBS show called Betsy's Kindergarten (https://twitter.com/BKAdventures). Her Facebook link is also posted (http://goo.gl/CTW2U) in case anyone is interested. I was able to use something taught in class! A URL shortener! WOO!!! :) Anyways, Betsy is a show created by Betsy Quinn and it is told from the perspective of a five year old named Betsy. The show is supposed to ease a child's transition from a home setting to a school environment. It also aids in addressing typical five year old concerns such as uncertainty, educates children in learning new things and the joy of making new friends at school.
The website posts upcoming events, awards, and new products that have come out for parents or teachers to purchase.
In the future I hope to teach Kindergarten so it is nice to read useful resources that I can use some day in my own classroom. This website has recipes, motivating quotes, events, creative projects, and lots of other cool stuff! Since Betsy has several DVDs out, I can purchase the DVDs for my students to watch on movie day for a learning experience.
An example recipe posted by Betsy: http://www.marthastewart.com/313947/boo-nilla-shake-recipe
YUMMY!!! Gets me in the Halloween spirit! :)
Just an FYI, my Twitter account is www.twitter.com/lmarzec19! Tweet me :D
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Stages of Technology
A study done by Apple Classrooms of Tomorrow indicated five stages of technology. They include entry, adoption, adaptation, appropriation, and innovation.
I love this! I completely agree with the stage that I would be in and that would be adaptation. I remember when I was student teaching; each room had about five laptops for the children to share. At first, I was a little uncertain to have the children do activities on the computers. I did not want to be responsible for what happens to the computers and I was not really sure what kind of engaging learning activities I could provide kindergarteners. A lot of them did not know how to use a computer so I needed to start off slow. Hmm.. something easy to teach and fun for them. :/ STARFALL!!! Once I showed the children this site, they loved it! They could not wait for it to be their turn to use the computers! Even the students who had no interest in learning their letters and sounds wanted to use Starfall.
During my student teaching experience, I also had to use a MAC and a promethean board. Both the MAC and promethean board were brand new to me. I was scared and lost at first, but once I started getting the hang of it, I began to like it.
As a student, I am the type of person who needs to first write out the assignment with a pen and paper and then type it out. It just makes me feel secure that I have a back up written copy in case a printer is not available, etc. In the future, when I have a classroom that are older in age, I will definitely give them the option to do this as well.
I leave you with two things that I felt true and fit perfectly with what we are learning and talking about in class. One is a quote taken from my social science class book that proves how fast word travels with technology and the other is a picture quote that was found on facebook. I believe it shows how times have changed with technology.
"When the television networks announced that President Barak Obama was to speak to the nation about bin Laden, social media flashed the news across the country and the world. Sean McDonough, an ESPN announcer calling the Phillies baseball game that night, reported the next day that everyone in the stadium knew that bin Laden was dead in less than two to three minutes. Blackberries lit up, people tweeted or went on the Internet to confirm the news. Only the ball players and umpires, with their cell phones in their lockers, didn't know and wondered why the fans---Phillies and Cardinals alike---joined in unison in shouting "U.S.A.!!! U.S.A!!!" over and over again (Farris 7)."
Farris, J. Pamela. Elementary and Middle School Social Studies: An Interdisciplinary, Multicultural Approach. 6th ed. Long Grove: Waveland Press, Inc., 2012.
I love this! I completely agree with the stage that I would be in and that would be adaptation. I remember when I was student teaching; each room had about five laptops for the children to share. At first, I was a little uncertain to have the children do activities on the computers. I did not want to be responsible for what happens to the computers and I was not really sure what kind of engaging learning activities I could provide kindergarteners. A lot of them did not know how to use a computer so I needed to start off slow. Hmm.. something easy to teach and fun for them. :/ STARFALL!!! Once I showed the children this site, they loved it! They could not wait for it to be their turn to use the computers! Even the students who had no interest in learning their letters and sounds wanted to use Starfall.
During my student teaching experience, I also had to use a MAC and a promethean board. Both the MAC and promethean board were brand new to me. I was scared and lost at first, but once I started getting the hang of it, I began to like it.
As a student, I am the type of person who needs to first write out the assignment with a pen and paper and then type it out. It just makes me feel secure that I have a back up written copy in case a printer is not available, etc. In the future, when I have a classroom that are older in age, I will definitely give them the option to do this as well.
I leave you with two things that I felt true and fit perfectly with what we are learning and talking about in class. One is a quote taken from my social science class book that proves how fast word travels with technology and the other is a picture quote that was found on facebook. I believe it shows how times have changed with technology.
"When the television networks announced that President Barak Obama was to speak to the nation about bin Laden, social media flashed the news across the country and the world. Sean McDonough, an ESPN announcer calling the Phillies baseball game that night, reported the next day that everyone in the stadium knew that bin Laden was dead in less than two to three minutes. Blackberries lit up, people tweeted or went on the Internet to confirm the news. Only the ball players and umpires, with their cell phones in their lockers, didn't know and wondered why the fans---Phillies and Cardinals alike---joined in unison in shouting "U.S.A.!!! U.S.A!!!" over and over again (Farris 7)."
Farris, J. Pamela. Elementary and Middle School Social Studies: An Interdisciplinary, Multicultural Approach. 6th ed. Long Grove: Waveland Press, Inc., 2012.
We are teens. 2012. In Facebook. Retrieved 7 September 2012, from http://www.facebook.com/weareteens
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Feeling Old
Today I read The Mindset List:2016 List as part of a class assignment. This list explains our generation gap between the in coming freshmen college students who were born in 1994.
Was I surprised by what I read? No.
Not only was I nodding my head in agreement to all the statistics and statement that was written, but I kept thinking how old this list was making me feel.
Technology has inceased. This article is right. Most of the time, people do not watch T.V. on a television set. There are other ways to do that now. A cassette? What is that?
Society spends a lot of time trying to stay connected with others. Facebook, texting, etc. I am guilty of that too. I know that no one would be texting me throughout the day while I am at work, yet, I find myself looking at my phone several times before the day is over, hoping that maybe I would get one. This brings me back to a time when writing a letter and mailing it out was the thing to do. Now that no longer exists. It is sad when you think about it. I would love to get a pen and paper letter from someone. To me it is more meaningful than an email. How many of you text when you are outside to pick a person up instead of walking to their doorbell? It is amazing how much times have changed.
I think having this mindset list available would help teachers understand the greater level of their students. The list would help show what their generation is into and what kind of knowledge they know. The research findings may not always be true, but it can be always be used as a starting point.
A story comes into my mind when I read this article. One day when I was drawing with my preschool students, I was randomly drawing a person while my students were doodling and practicing their fine motor skills. Bored, I started adding various colors to the body parts and my picture started to resemble who I thought looked like Marilyn Manson. I looked at my picture knowing my 2 and 3 year olds would not know who it was, but my student worker who goes to Dominican and is about four years a part from me, did not know either. Shocked, I walked over to the connecting room next door to mine and asked the teacher assistant and student worker in that room if they thought it looked like Marilyn Manson. The student worker in that room had no idea either, but the teacher assistant did. Grant it, lots of people from my generation probably would not know who that was unless they like that sort of music, possibly pay attention to music culture, etc. I found it amazing how age is a factor of such knowledge.
FYI, I do not listen to Marilyn Manson, but I do know who he is. :D
I leave you with a video of a show I used to love when I was young. I am sure my student workers would not know this show! :D
Was I surprised by what I read? No.
Not only was I nodding my head in agreement to all the statistics and statement that was written, but I kept thinking how old this list was making me feel.
Technology has inceased. This article is right. Most of the time, people do not watch T.V. on a television set. There are other ways to do that now. A cassette? What is that?
Society spends a lot of time trying to stay connected with others. Facebook, texting, etc. I am guilty of that too. I know that no one would be texting me throughout the day while I am at work, yet, I find myself looking at my phone several times before the day is over, hoping that maybe I would get one. This brings me back to a time when writing a letter and mailing it out was the thing to do. Now that no longer exists. It is sad when you think about it. I would love to get a pen and paper letter from someone. To me it is more meaningful than an email. How many of you text when you are outside to pick a person up instead of walking to their doorbell? It is amazing how much times have changed.
I think having this mindset list available would help teachers understand the greater level of their students. The list would help show what their generation is into and what kind of knowledge they know. The research findings may not always be true, but it can be always be used as a starting point.
A story comes into my mind when I read this article. One day when I was drawing with my preschool students, I was randomly drawing a person while my students were doodling and practicing their fine motor skills. Bored, I started adding various colors to the body parts and my picture started to resemble who I thought looked like Marilyn Manson. I looked at my picture knowing my 2 and 3 year olds would not know who it was, but my student worker who goes to Dominican and is about four years a part from me, did not know either. Shocked, I walked over to the connecting room next door to mine and asked the teacher assistant and student worker in that room if they thought it looked like Marilyn Manson. The student worker in that room had no idea either, but the teacher assistant did. Grant it, lots of people from my generation probably would not know who that was unless they like that sort of music, possibly pay attention to music culture, etc. I found it amazing how age is a factor of such knowledge.
FYI, I do not listen to Marilyn Manson, but I do know who he is. :D
I leave you with a video of a show I used to love when I was young. I am sure my student workers would not know this show! :D
Lewis, Shari. (Creator). StretchyCat (Poster) (2008, February 17). Lamb Chop's Play Along-Lonely Lamb Chop [Video] Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N445qz-Uepo
"The Mindset List: 2016 List." Beloit College. 2012. Web Retrieved: 2 Sept. 2012. http://www.beloit.edu/mindset/2016/.
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
All About Me
Hi Everyone!!!
My name is Lisa. I did my undergraduate at Dominican University in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in psychology. I worked at a daycare called Dobbs Preschool for two years while completing my undergraduate program. October 2011, I received a job offer at the Priory campus's daycare called Rose K. Goedert Center. Currently, I am the teacher assistant in the penguin room. The penguin room consists of children who are 2 and 3 years old. I love my job! It allows me to do what I love best and be creative with the children.
I am full blooded Italian. I have four brothers. One of which is my twin. My two older brothers are twins as well. Amazing, I know! :) Think I might have twins??
I got married in June of this year and have a beautiful home. My husband and I just finished remodeling our basement. My husband and I are huge Chicago Blackhawk fans and we are in the process of decorating our Blackhawk basement. I am very excited! I love paintings. We have about four canvas paintings in our home right now and I hope to purchase more in the future. Both my husband and I have just started graduate school this fall. We both want to future our education.
As far as my opinion and experience with technology, I am pretty experienced with the basic stuff such as Microsoft. I know this class will teach me things beyond what I know and even knew existed. I believe everyone should know about technology considering technology is a growing field and new discoveries are done everyday. It will help knowledge ourselves as well as spark the interest of students who get bored easily. Showing them new ways to use technology to learn with help them stay in school and perhaps find an interest in the field as well.
This year has been full of surprises. I am very excited to see how my first two graduate classes turn out!
"Yahoo! Image Search Results for Chicago Blackhawk." Yahoo Images. Web. 2 September 2012.
My name is Lisa. I did my undergraduate at Dominican University in Early Childhood Education with a concentration in psychology. I worked at a daycare called Dobbs Preschool for two years while completing my undergraduate program. October 2011, I received a job offer at the Priory campus's daycare called Rose K. Goedert Center. Currently, I am the teacher assistant in the penguin room. The penguin room consists of children who are 2 and 3 years old. I love my job! It allows me to do what I love best and be creative with the children.
I am full blooded Italian. I have four brothers. One of which is my twin. My two older brothers are twins as well. Amazing, I know! :) Think I might have twins??
I got married in June of this year and have a beautiful home. My husband and I just finished remodeling our basement. My husband and I are huge Chicago Blackhawk fans and we are in the process of decorating our Blackhawk basement. I am very excited! I love paintings. We have about four canvas paintings in our home right now and I hope to purchase more in the future. Both my husband and I have just started graduate school this fall. We both want to future our education.
As far as my opinion and experience with technology, I am pretty experienced with the basic stuff such as Microsoft. I know this class will teach me things beyond what I know and even knew existed. I believe everyone should know about technology considering technology is a growing field and new discoveries are done everyday. It will help knowledge ourselves as well as spark the interest of students who get bored easily. Showing them new ways to use technology to learn with help them stay in school and perhaps find an interest in the field as well.
This year has been full of surprises. I am very excited to see how my first two graduate classes turn out!
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