Monday, February 22, 2010
BP11_2010021_Link to another's blog.
BP10_2010021_Link to another's blog.
BP9_2010021_Web2.0 T3 -Go!Animate
http://goanimate.com/go/movie/0FBnMx-RaYUU?utm_source=emailshare&refuser=0vk7z_NJl_bs
The clip made could be used to introduce a number of ideas. For use in a computer lab, students can utilize this to show their understanding of vocabulary. I used fiend in the clip. The wanted poster that surfaces in the second portion shows there is a wanted man, or fiend. Lower elementary classroom teachers can put this to use by using the comic to strengthen their students’ abilities in visual discrimination. The caption could be changed to “What Missing”. Students would identify the phone booth as the missing object in clip two and they can also identify the poster as the missing object in clip one. Upper elementary classroom teachers could use this as a tool to teach the literary concept of irony. Instead of the lady being alarmed by the missing phone booth, she is overwhelmed and taken by the thought of the fiend removing the phone booth.
Now, these are just suggestions for the piece I created. Imagine what teachers and students could do with site. I am always a stickler for appropriate use in the classroom, this site as well as any other site with the ability of free verse usage needs to be monitored. Before students are allowed to publish from this site, I strongly suggest a review of what’s being uploaded.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
BP7_2010021_Link to another's Blog
BP6_2010021_Link to another's Blog
Sunday, February 14, 2010
BP6_2010021_Flickr
I’d never used flickr prior to this week’s assignment. I am deeming it a wonderful organizational tool for photos and media. What came to mind for implementation in my work environment wasn’t exactly the students, but my peers. The teachers often have ideas that they want to share. They’ve talked about calendars with their class photo and greeting cards as well. The storage that we are allotted on the campus isn’t feasible to the number of pictures taken for the events that are held on the campus. I’d used flickr as a general storage area for the teachers on the campus. Since it has the capacity for private use only, this would be an excellent tool.
The lesson would be presented during a faculty meeting. Prior to the staff development, teachers would be asked to bring the names of the picture folders that are stored on the common site for the district. During this meeting, teachers would be introduced to the concept of flickr. The mobile lab would be used to enable teachers to login and create individual or grade level accounts. They would be able to peruse the site and discuss in small groups the benefits of using flickr for picture and video storage. As a whole group discussion, the teachers would discuss the benefit of using Flickr in their classrooms as well.
Flickr is yet another Web 2.0 tool that has endless possibilities for the classroom teacher.
Friday, February 12, 2010
BP5_2010021_Web2.0 T2 -Phrasr
http://www.pimpampum.net/phrasr/index.php
As a computer literacy teacher, I have the honor of working with all students in the building. This gives me some insight on the triumphs and challenges that the regular classroom teacher faces as he/she services English Language Learners (ELLs). Vocabulary or lack thereof has been a major concern for the teachers in the building of upper elementary students. These students are labeled as being in transition. That transition has proven to be quite the task because words and phrase are presented in black and white. There is the notion that there isn’t a need for the picture that is associated with the word. This is a fallacy. A student may be in the 5th grade, but if that child has never seen a pier, can he or she really get the full meaning of a story or poem?
The Web 2.0 application Phrasr works through Flickr as a component that puts a picture with a word. You type a sentence, select a picture from the gallery provided by Flickr and then a virtual presentation is given as the words are highlighted under the prospective picture. Sentences come alive. A strong suggestion would be for the teacher to make picture selections prior to the presentation to the whole group.
This is the link to a sentence made to illustrate what a pier looks like.
http://www.pimpampum.net/phrasr/?id=22062
Phrasr is a wonderful tool for the classroom teacher from PreK – 12th grade. The integration in the lesson can be modified to fit any level. For computer literacy teachers, it would be an excellent tool to integrate with the Smartboard.
Monday, February 8, 2010
BP3_2010021_Web 2.0 T1-Write4net
I’ve found that blogging is an excellent way to inspire students to freely express themselves. In addition to their exposure to free verse and critical thought, blogging allows them to utilize technology to reach like-minded cohorts who may or may not share their same interests or who would like to politely express an oppositional thought. The Web 2.0 tool http://write4.net/en enables students to do just this.
This publishing tool is as easy as the disclaimer states that it is. Students are introduced to not only blogging, but also Twitter. A twitter account is needed for students to be able to publish their thoughts to the masses. This is a plus because Twitter is one of the few social networking sites that are not blocked by the district. This makes this application an asset for the classroom teacher.
A lesson plan that could be used weekly for this application would be quite simple. Students would use write4net to express their feelings on the headline of the day on the local news. They could access this information via the Internet or traditionally via the television. A set word count would be established at the beginning of the first initial offering and would remain the standard throughout the course. The skill set would include the following:
(1) Signing up for an email account using yahoo or Google mail.
(2) Signing up for a twitter account.
(3) Signing up for a write4net account.
After these requirements are met, the students would blog weekly and the instructor would give feedback via the blog interface.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
BP4_2010021_RSS Feeds
The Houston Independent School District is once again in transition. We have a new superintendent and there are major changes on the rise. The changes have that have particularly caught my attention are the ones that will guide teacher ratings and influence termination of positions.
(1) EducationNews.org
This web runs the gamut in reporting on breaking conventions that affect education.
(2) Ed.gov
This web is a direct link to the Dept. of Education of our nation’s government. All mandates surface here first.
(3) Education Week
This web provides resourceful links to a number of articles useful for research.
(4) Texas Education Agency
ThThis web is the state of Texas governing body for educational resources, curricular changes, grants and research.
(5) Scholastic News
This web is a major provider of curriculum assets for our district. The news feeds for students is exceptional.