Reflection on Week 16

This is our last class period together! We found out today that there is no presentation for Project C, so all we have to do is submit Project C on the deadline, and ensure that all links within our websites and Project C work.

Reflection on Week 15

In class today, we reviewed the iPad Presentations and reviewed presentation basics. We were also introduced to MS Publisher and needed to make a flyer for the school presentation.

We had time to work on the flyer, and got clarification on the rest of Project B and Project C, as well as the layout for the rest of the semester. It was a nice and simple class period.

Screencast

 

 

I was told by a classmate that I needed to include the sample Screencast that we made a few weeks ago in my google site. However, the file was too large and would not upload to my site after multiple attempts. I included the video here, instead, because it fit on this page.

Reflection on Week 14

In class today, we revisited Alysha's newspaper article about technology in the workplace and its implication in home life for teachers and other professions. We had a couple of really good discussions about how much teachers should be expected to be available to their students, how much their workday should be considered 24/7. A lot of my classmates really believe that it is up to each teacher's disgression how much he/she will be available, and they think that although the technology is available for their students to always reach them (cell phones, e-mail, etc.) they don't necessarily have to respond. I believe I agree - as said by one of my classmates, "You are a person before you are a teacher." Yes, we love what we do as teachers, but the key is a balance.

We were also introduced to ebooks today. They can be known as "electronic books" or "enhanced books." We saw an example of a book all about Richard Nixon, and there were videos inside the book - it was really neat! I can definitely see how that type of experience, including reading, listening, and interacting, can enhance a student's learning!!

The rest of the time in class was spent fine tuning Project B to create Project C.

Reflection on Week 13

I was excused from class today, I had a family emergency situation and needed to be out-of-town.

Reflection on Week 12

First this week, we each watched the video about 60 Apps in 60 minutes from one of our classmates. It was a really good resource, and it is always interesting to be able to share such findings with other classmates.

QR = quick response

BYOD - Bring your own device - is that the future?
          In this class, there have been iPads for us to use for those of us that do not own our own, but there are not enough for everyone unless at least a few people bring-their-own-device. Will this be the future of our classrooms? Will there be enough funds to supply every student with a device (whatever it is that we're working with), or will the responsibility be placed on families to own certain technological devices??

What are QR codes
Where do you use them
What do you need to use them
How can you use them in the classroom

In class, we did a search for 3 websites dealing with qr codes. We were to copy the urls, generate the qr code, and post it in a new page on our google site, name the page QR. I've never learned anything about QR codes, and I don't know anything about how to use them - I'd be interested in learning more about them, since they are so popular and seem to be helpful!

This was my perspective from a discussion from this week's class: I think it is VERY incorrect to say that most students in my classroom will be familiar with all modern technologies and want to use it.

Reflection on Week 11

Today we talked about Mobile Computing. We decided that the definition of a mobile computing device was anything that did not have wires (was not connected to a wall, like a board) and that was a communication device. Examples include Smartphones, ipads, tablets, laptops, PDAs, etc. We also talked briefly about different operating systems, including: Google, Android, MAC = IOS, MS = Windows, Nokia, and Blackberry.

Secondly, we created a brief Smart Notebook assignment about different kinds of mobile computing devices and operating systems.

Next, we each used our own personal ipad for a little while. We were supposed to look up a tutorial on how to use an ipad, but I don't have my own headphones and I didn't want to disturb my classmates, so I couldn't listen to the sound. Something interesting that I learned about the ipad that I didn't know before I happened to look in the Settings area is that the ipad has Siri! I don't know much about "her" other than that it is a computer that you can talk to and it can essentially communicate back to you.