After 11 Tools: Reflections

My favourite tools are: #7 Digital Storytelling, for making books and make students participate in the elaboration of some; #8 Video Resources, which I will use for introduction, analysis or closure of some themes; and, I will be constantly visiting the Google Reader for updated information, ideas and news on education.

Having studied these tools, I will take advantage of the fact that kids enjoy playing/working with technology: computers, iTouchs, iPads, et cetera, to set sane and strong foundations for what I think they will exploit at their maximum when they get to middle school.

The more links I clicked, the more I realized that we are just seeing a tiny little bit of the enormous amount of educational information available. Just as we'll teach our students, we must have the capacity to validate our sources and develop our critical thinking. With blog spaces, we have in our hands the opportunity to externalize our opinions, so let's build intelligent and useful opinions!

Tool #11 Digital Citizenship

I would like my students to understand that good digital citizens:

• Know how to use the technology appropriately inside the classroom and everywhere.
• Know how to search and validate sources; not everything they will read is necessarily true.
• Use technology for a good purpose, take care of using it safely and civilly.

In order to teach them digital citizenship I will first read SBISD Acceptable Use Policy, watch the Atomic Learning tutorials and visit websites like Cool Cat Teacher which seems very realistic.

I will make a summary with grade level/age related examples; then, specifically talk about iPod Touch use and blogging guidelines and the 9 themes of Digital Citizenship. I will make an analogy about literates and the new being literate, the Digital Literates.

Finally and all the time, I will model, model, model.

Tool #10 Exploring Mobile Technology and Apps

Some of the free educational apps I reviewed were:
Shape Builder which is quite good for Geometry,
123 Animals Counting to teach counting visually,
Math Ace for visually adding-subtracting,
Kids Song Machine which kids seem to enjoy a lot according to the comments of the consumers,
Glow Coloring for drawing and,
Alphabet Tracing for learning and practicing letters.

I can see the students working with these and more apps during center time and small group learning about Technology use, Language Arts, Science, Math, Geometry, Music, Fine motor skills and Communication.

Tool #9 Sharing Information Through Jing & Skype

The main use I see for these two tools is facilitating communication.

With Jing it will be easier to explain some facts to my students and collaborators by adding visuals. It will be faster to distinguish and focus on the relevant.

I have used Skype for years, exchanged documents through it, and made contacts and friends with people of other cultures and latitudes. I have used it for work and for personal purposes as well. It is fun, global and useful.

Tool #8 Video Resources

Wow!

Videos are always an excellent tool to have all students focused. I chose two videos that include what I want my students to learn about two science themes: dinosaurs and zoo animals.

Tool #7 Digital Storytelling

This is great! I really enjoyed using this tool! Visuals are always helpful for engaging and entertaining.
I will teach this tool to my students through making a class video where they can participate in images, music, voice, fonts and script!
For a hard to get concept or theme, this is a great option because it can be very creative.

Tool #6 Wikis

I will explain this tool to my students using a Party example where they will first mention all they would require and what they already have.
Later, we can use this tool, for some of our brainstorming for a new concept or theme.

The wikis will be practical for brainstorming, committees, team work, projects, opinions, et cetera with my peers.

Tool #5 Tagging and Social Bookmarking

In order to find the following links, I used education and video tags.

http://www.neok12.com/

www.teachertube.com

The social bookmarking will be useful and practical to provide lists of informative links to sites to improve my lessons and make them more engaging.

Tool #4 Cool Google Tools

I've always liked Google but had not taken advantage of these tools. Google Doc will be really helpful in most of the team work and committees in my campus. It will enhance participation and communication.
Google Reader is quite useful because all the information and materials to be used with my students will be totally updated, plus it will continuously provide with new ideas.

Tool #3 Image Generators & Mashups

I will use these tools to teach my students how they can create something using technology while applying the writing and reading they know. They will also learn to ask their peers for help and practice their vocabulary of technology, design, et cetera through reading and questioning.

Another application will be for brainstorming when introducing a concept, and for promoting achievement.

These images were created in www.txt2pic.com and ImageChef.com

Tool #2 Building Community and Comments

1. What are your thoughts about building an online education community and participating in a PLN?

I think that building an online education community and participating in a Personal Learning Network is a state of the art way to communication for both teaching and learning from many people related to education. Education is very extense; with this learning media network we'll be updated with both news and concerns of colleagues, plus we'll be practicing with a teaching-learning technology that our students will know and continue using from now on.



2. What point stood out to you from the commenting advice?
I hope we continue developing Technology matching it with social skills, so the students can enjoy all they can learn from "people" as well.



3. What five blogs did you select for your comments?
1 Ms Yollis Classroom Blog. Gal's Video
English with Rosa:
2 Goodnight Moon Video
3 Happy Holidays Bye Bye School, Hello Summer
4 Handa's Surprise Video
5 World Environment Day. Many Species, One Planet, One Future Video

Tool #1: Blog Set Up and Registration

I enjoyed setting up my blog and had fun creating my Avatar. I'm looking forward to learn from my colleagues.