Reflection #8

For last weeks blog I watched a video on apps. Now, I know we have learned about a ton of different apps this semester, and I have been surprised to see how many apps I never even knew existed. However, after watching this session, I was amazed to learn about how many apps I have never heard of or seen before. I have no idea where they come from, or who makes them. Although I have not used all or many of these apps, I feel like they are all so very helpful. I have wondered, with how good our technology is, why these apps are so unknown. Maybe it is just because I don't play around too often or look. I just go straight to what I already know and I don't branch out very often. I think I just get comfortable with what I already know and don't want to waste the time to learn something knew. But, after seeing this session and how easy and helpful these apps are I think I will be much more willing to give these apps a shot. I mean, they are simple and seem like they would make life so much easier.

Week 13

Word
Spell Check
Tables
Clip Art
Borders
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Copy and Paste
Paragraph settings
Font settings
Excel
Grids
Tables
Business-if you know the codes it will add/mult/find % for you
PowerPoint
Clip Art
Back Grounds
Font settings
Slide Choices
Insert items
Copy and Paste


3 Projects for Students
1. PowerPoint Presentation
2. Make a grid on Excel, inputting data (this way they learn to use the codes)
3. Write a story in Word and use pictures

Online Learning Experience

The Wizard of Apps

I visited the Wizard of Apps session. Basically this session talked about tons and tons of different apps you can use on the computer for various different things. It talked about different apps for research, for checking reliability of research, enhancing drawings/visual presentations, and ways to practice presenting a presentation, with an "audience" even when you do not really have people watching you. They made the video a little more interesting because they used the Wizard of Oz theme and it just livened the presentation up a little bit. I had looked at a few for a few seconds before watching this, but some where rather boring. I think this session is very helpful and I can see myself going back and using it/watching it again to get new app ideas. There were so many that were named, that I had never heard of before. I have learned of many just in this class that I have never heard of before, but this session gave even more. With all these different apps, it seems like any presentation I have to do would be so much easier if I used some of the apps to complete my presentation. I think this session is worth watching and I found it very helpful and insightful.

Comments on other Blogs- 2nd half

Melissa Newhouse

Bethany Pitroff

Daley Landon

Inna S

Matt Walton

Melissa Newhouse

Educational Blog

Blog

This blog was about parent involvement. Do you want it/need it? What is too much? What is too little? How do you involve parents? etc. I realized that this idea of parent helpers is not only new to me, but new to many people. I never grew up with any kind of parent in the classroom helping out. Now it is so greatly emphasised, I wasn't sure if it was just because I grew up in Montana, and was a Washington thing, or if it was a new thing everywhere. This lady wasn't sure how to incorporate parents so I think I am not the only one who this is a new concept for. I just commented and said that I have learned a lot about how helpful parents can be in the classroom and gave examples from experience and from what I have heard from others. I also added a few tips that I have learned that get parents on your side and should set you up for more smooth sailing that year. I tried to give helpful and relevant information to add to the community.

Reflection # 7

I have a question to pose in this reflection. It may be easily answered, but I have always wondered about it. For example, the Activboard vs the Smartboard. There are pieces about the Smartboard that I like, and pieces about the Activboard that I like. I think most people come across the same pros and cons for both of these boards. Some people may be more critical of one than the other; however, there are a few common things about each that is liked or disliked. My question is... "Why does someone not make one that is a mix of both?" Now there may be copy right rules and legal things that stop this from happening, and if so, then my question is answered. However, (i could be wrong) I do not think this is the case. I have always wondered why, when technology is so advanced, a third person doesn't come up with a technology that contains "the best of both worlds." If you know what is good about one and what is good about another, you research what people like and prefer, then why is a third not made that has the pros from both and eliminates as many cons from both as possible? This is the same with so much technology. I have just always wondered why the third person never came along made a combined piece that essentially is better than the first two that were created.

NU Educators Panel

Do you find incorporating new technology in the classroom to be an helpful/easy task or more time consuming?

What is your best piece of advice for a first year teacher?

What is the one thing that you learned while teaching that has impacted you the most in your life/beliefs/teaching styles?