Topic 12 Digital Photography

Picasa was so easy to use and free too. I had used other photo shop programs that came on a couple computers and they were not any better, and were not as easy to move through the various options. The presenter was very helpful in giving us experience by walking us through our first attempts. I quickly downloaded it to our computer and put it right to work. Now to use the pictures I edited to add to my blog.

Topic 7 Copyright

This provided very good information for teachers themselves and to make sure that their students also understand the importance of copyright. It is so easy with the vast information available, to make sure proper credit is given for material you use. A lesson on copyright would be good for students before they do research projects.

Topic 6 Power Point

Power points used to sound scary, but the technology, programs, and resources available make it a very valuable teaching tool and a great learning tool for students. I have worked in classrooms where students are creating powerpoints and felt helpless as they did so well with it. I am glad to get experience so I can assist students as they use these powerpoints. they are so adaptable to so many different subjects and classes.

Topic 5 YETC Resources

YETC Resources is definitely going to be very valuable. There are so many helpful things there. I spent a lot of time exploring some of the lesson plans, printable items, and one group called Nathan's treasures surely did contain a lot of treasures and will be worth going back to often to see what is new.

topic 16 Wikis & Podcasts

I had used wikis only occasionally as a way to get general information on a subject. After working with our own wiki in class, I can see why they might not be too accurate. Depending on who is inivited, the information could be altered from the origional information, whether or not it is correct. They would be a good working tool for a group that would allow information to be added quickly, which would be helpful if your group was scattered in different places. It would also allow different groups in a classroom to work on the same document.
Podcasts were totally new to me. I was amazed at the great variety available and definitely see their value for a teachers and students too as so many topics available. Student access would definitely have to be monitored and controlled, but lots of good stuff.

topic 10 Spreadsheets

I always liked getting information from spreadsheets, but felt intimidated by having to set them up. However, a couple of the websites we used made it so easy to create a spreadsheet for so many different topics. They are definitely a great tool for teachers and students alike. Giving students the chance to create and use spreadsheets for such fun topics that were presented would help them learn how to make and use them in such a fun way that they might forget that they are actually learning.

Topic 9 Word Processing

Google docs was a great new finding. It's neat to be able to work on the same document in so many different locations and share comments immediately as we each explored the site. Zoho. com was an excellent site for word processing helps for students and teachers both.

Topic 11 Website evaluations
The website evaluation form I mainly used to evaluate the sites in this assignment came from http://discoveryeducation.com . It was designed for evaluation of elementary websites so was very relevant in relation to content, useability,pictures, and reliability and ease of use for related links. The evaluation form led you to consider the validity of the sites. In the technological means available, anyone could post almost any information they choose to, whether it is true or not. So knowing knowing how to make sure your information is valid is very helpful.

Topic 4
I chose to do a lesson plan for 4th graders on using Parliamentary Procedures. I got this idea while observing a daily classroom meeting that was not too orderly. In my writing exam question, I was asked to think of a lesson plan on a non traditional topic. I had my recent classroom experience in mind and memories of a parliamentary procedure unit I had in high school. I adjusted that down to elementary level as I thought it would be very beneficial to bring order to a brief class meeting to start each day. While viewing the UEN site, I tried out a practice lesson plan on that topic. After additional work on several other interactive 2.0 web sites, I will do my first lesson plan on Parliamentary Procedures for 4th graders.

Topic 3
This Web 2.0 topic gave me a chance to see how blogs, podcasts, wikis, and other sources work and how they can be used in education. I especially enjoyed the one link to Deseret News and another site where teachers shared how they used blogs with their students and to keep in touch with parents -- much better than hand-written journals and notes sent home (that often don't even get home and back). I am glad we are getting experience to hear about and try some of these things out.

Topic 2 UEN

UEN is really great. So many different resources to help with all areas of teaching. I enjoyed it so much that I did a practice lesson plan right then and there just for fun. Now to the real one..... UEN will be a great help!

Topic 1: Today's Students

The statistics given and research definitely support using more technology in the classroom of today's digital natives. However, lack of availability would now limit how much technology can be incorporated in a particular classroom situation. Availability, of course, is determined by finances of school districts to purchase these technological advances. However it is great for teachers and future teachers to have advance preparation to be ready when more of these tools are more readily available in the classrooms.

Hello, For months I've enjoyed checking blogs of those grandkids far away. Now we'll join.