Reflection

Yeah! I finally finished!! What a great learning experience. It was challenging and most of the tools were new to me but I am grateful and now know about them. I liked the digital storytelling the best and learning about WIKI. I can see teachers using lots of these resources in a PK classroom. I really enjoyed learning about Skype and might use it personally to communicate with my in-laws.

Tool # 11

Digital Citizenship

We live in a new world. I don't even remember having my first computer until I was in high school and it was a Tandy. I know what the dewey decimal system and in college I lived in the library researching articles for papers and that wasn't that long ago (12 years ago?). I can't believe how much technology has influenced our lives and the lives of our children. I have a two years old and I can't even imagine what technology will be out by the time she starts school.

We have to teach our kids how to behave on the WWW,, just like we do face to face.
They need to learn to be weary of strangers, to not give out too much information about themselves. Just like we do when there is a knock at the door. We have to teach kids to not believe the first thing they read and to look at multiple sources before coming to a conclusion. We also need to teach kids about cyberbullying and that what you write is just as important as what you say to someone.

Tool # 10

Unfortunately, I do not own an iPad, or iPhone but my sister does and I really like the easy access to apps. You can access information so quickly. It rakes me so long to acees what I want on my cell that I would just rather ask someone who has quicker access or look it up on my labtop. I can't wait to get my own! Kids will love using the apps from this technology.

ABC Phonics- talking and spelling the alphabet, matching animals, and letter balloon pop
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abc-phonics-animals-free-lite/id335670787?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
Sign Language- students learn signs for letters, colors , numbers and more...
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/sign-language/id321202730?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2
Alphabet Tracing- similar to a doodle pad with visual graphics for letters and numbers.
http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alphabet-tracing/id374493089?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D2

Tool # 9

I had not heard of Jing before but I think it can be useful for students who are sick or homebound. What a great way for homebound students to get the same lessons their classmates get from their teachers! It would also be great for teachers who need to be absent. They can record a lesson and the substitute just has to play it on Jing and monitor the class. this would be great for those hard to teach subjects.

Skype is something, my fanily has been thinking about gettings for awhile so my daughter can communicate with her grandparents. I think it would be great in the classroom. This would take the place of penpals and you can have Skype pals!

Tool #8

Teacher tube is awesome. I am going to share this with others who aren't taking this course. What a great resource for teachers and students.

I chose two videos. The first is a version of Brown Bear, Brown Bear that first grade students created and narrated called Reindeer, Reindeer, What Do You See? What a great way to move beyond the knowledge and comprehension stages and have students extend new learing by creating their own book and using technology to represent their work. I loved that each student recorded their own voice to narrate the story. I can see PK students loving this activity and parents.

Reindeer, Reindeer, What Do You See?
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=75557

The second video is about the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. I loved that it was a short video long enough for PK students and that is showed the actual stages of the butterfly. I had never seen it shown that way before so I know the students will love it!

Monarch Butterfly
http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=124222

Tool # 7

Digital Storytelling is a great way to get students involved to dramatize a story, as closure to a long-term study project in PK such as the Project Approach or a science unit. You can also retell a field trip. You can record a "how to" and have students write about the steps.

Tool # 6

WIKIS are cool! There were some great ideas on the websites I visited such as using a powerpoint to demonstrate student work, using a wiki as parent outreach to list homework assignments, important dates to remember like open house or field trips, and a list of volunteer jobs.

I think for older students this would be a great way to work on group projects and collaborate on essays.

Even in my own role, this could be a great way to discuss a particular topic of interest.

Tool # 5: Tagging and Social Bookmarking

I decided to join diigo. I used the tags early childhood education, special education, and technology for pre-k. I found two websites to be useful to pre-k:

www.literacycenter.net (offers ideas for literacy activites using the website)
www.speakaboos.com
( famous actors read stories aloud, anything from nursery rhymes to the Arthur's books)
This third website provides some food for thought...
www.differentiate-with-technology.wikispaces.com

Numbers Book

Tool # 4: Cool Google Tools

The google doc will be beneficial to share information with each other. As a diagnostician we often write team reports, google docs would be a great way to edit add information to the same document rather than copy and pasting onto an attachment sent from email.

I really enjoyed using google reader. I have never thought of a website that has all your favorite sites in one place. Great idea! This is great for educators to use for work or personal use. I can see older students using this to work on group projects together. Early child teachers can use this to keep favorite websites visited frequently for pre-k like pbs.org.

Tool # 3: Image Generators and Mashups

I used imagechef to create wordart using one word. This would be great for just about any subject area to display the definition of a vocabulary word, to express feelings from a poem or story.

I have also used Animoto before at a previous training. I loved it! It was a quick was to insert photos, add music, and have a video ready for students within minutes. I used it to put photos together after a field trip to the zoo and Dewberry Farm.

I found a short book on numbers already created on bookr which was awesome. This would be great if you don't have your own photos and want to introduce a new concept to students using technology.

Tool # 2: PLN

Tool #2

I think interacting in a PLN is a great way to share thoughts and ideas with a community of people who share a common interest. It allows more people to express ideas and thoughts because you have the freedom to comment at your convenience.

I will rember to post questions and to invite comments for others to leave messages on my blog.

I posted comments on the following blogs:
Lilia Amaro
Nikki Pilon
Cathe Hefner
Rita Simon
Freda Martin

Tool # 1: Set Up

Creating the avatar was fun! It took awhile to figure out the blog and the avatar but I'm glad I took the time to figure it out. It wasn't too bad. On to the next assignment....