Final Project

The Christmas Project is for 3rd graders at a private Christian school.  The students are doing this because it is important for them to know the real meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate this holiday.  

The students will research about the birth of baby Jesus, how His birth influenced Christmas, and gift giving and why do we celebrate this holiday.

Students will then write the story about what it would have been like if they would have been there during the birth of baby Jesus.

Tech tools used:

1. Flip snack- used for writing the story
2. internet- used for researching

Earl’s:

1. Communication:

The student uses listening and observation skills and strategies to gain understanding

2. Writing:

The student writes clearly and effectively.

Record music and voice >>

Week # 8- Twitter

After spending some time on Twitter, I have come to learn that it is actually a very beneficial source of communication.  It allows people to share their knowledge and insight with others.  I used to think it was a place for one to follow Justin Bieber or Hollywood people to brag about what they just did, but now I see that it doesn't have to be about that kind of stuff. It is useful because teachers can find lesson plans and ideas for class management. Also, it can help be a way for teacher's or even parents to relief stress by expressing their thoughts, concerns, and frustration, and then having other's comment and offer up support and advice to help.

Reflection # 6

My boyfriend was suppose to meet me at a restaurant, however, he got there before I did, so he was waiting in his car for me to get there.  While he was waiting, a lady walked up to his car and opened the back driver side door and set a bag in his car.  She quickly realized that she had the wrong car.  However, she was talking on her phone and did not even realize it until she set her bag in his car.  She apologized and i am sure felt extremely ridiculous.  Later, my boyfriend told me the story and he and I got a huge laugh out of it.  He agreed that when people are talking on the phone they easily get distracted and do not pay attention to whats really going on around them. 

Reflection # 5

There is a bus stop right in front of my house for the elementary and middle school kids.  I noticed that so many of these young kids have their very own cell phones...even the elementary kids!  What shocked me the most was I saw a little kid who looked to be a kindergartner which means he would have been about 5 or 6 years old.  This little boy was not even paying attention as he was walking home off the bus.  He was so zoned out on his cell phone.  I didn't get my first phone till I was 16 years old and driving...and here this little boy who is so very young already had his own phone and was texting so much that he was completely unaware of his current surroundings.  In a way, young kids having their own phones can be dangerous because if most kids are texting a lot like this little boy was, kids could easily get kidnapped or even run over because they are not paying attention.

Reflection # 4

Technology is amazing when it works properly.  However, when it does not work how or when it is suppose to, it can be rather frustrating.  During worship at church on Sunday, I noticed how the lyrics to the songs were always off.  The lyrics were at least one to tow pages off each time...which this was bad because new people may not know the words to the songs.  I talked to the media people after church and they said the computer was acting up that day and being very slow.  Most times technology does not fail us...but when it does, its hard to function because we rely so strongly on it. 

Reflection # 3

My phone that I have now is very old and out of date.  I decided to keep up with the new technology that I would get a new phone which happens to be a touchscreen smart phone...I am a little nervous because I have never used a touch screen before.  I made this decision to get a new phone because I realized that if I want to be a teacher I need to have an understanding of how to use technology and I need to keep up to date with it that way my future students someday will not have to teach me how.  I want to be prepared and ready to face the new and improving technology that comes my way daily...so this is my start! 

Blog comments

1. Whitney- http://www.wright2whitney.blogspot.com/2012/09/week-1-technology.html
2. Bethany- http://www.bethanylowesblog.blogspot.com/2012/10/week-6.html
3. Sigrid- http://sigridthoreson.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-5-distractions.html?showComment=1350343444873#c8427001772748872600
4. Sigrid- http://sigridthoreson.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-6-wiki-page-sign-ups.html?showComment=1350343913872#c4421573742405125576
5.Amanda- http://amdowns8.blogspot.com/2012/10/week-8.html#comment-form
6. Trey- http://treybotten.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-4.html?showComment=1350344778588#c223194589890213612
7. Angie- http://angiegarza12.blogspot.com/2012/09/week-4-918.html?showComment=1350416568782#c113601859804985768
8. Kendra-http://kendracotton.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-6.html?showComment=1350417076273#c6357390045632818559
9. Heather-http://heatherkristinsadventures.blogspot.com/2012/10/reflection-5.html?showComment=1350417401553#c6526061700879593384

Reflection # 2

I nanny a four-year old boy.  Today when I got to his house he was playing on his mom's iPad   At first, I didn't think he should be playing on it because he is too young but then his mom told me she lets him play on it because it has several educational apps on it that help teach him.  This is wonderful because after he got done playing, he told me some cute facts that he just learned.  Therefore, I can see first hand how technology helps teach young people today.

Week 7- Blogs for educators

I looked at Mr. Avery's blog.  I thought it was very interesting all the different ways that technology enhances  learning for math.  Using a blog makes learning and teaching math more fun, creative, and overall interesting and enjoyable.  I liked how Mr. Avery has interesting facts about his classes field trip to Yellowstone National Park.  I think this would be a great way to list math facts and have students solve the math problems using their own blogs.

Animoto video

Make your own slideshow at Animoto.

Reflection #1

I was standing in line at Chipotle yesterday and there was a long line of people ahead of me and behind me.  I noticed that atleast 3/4 of the people were either talking on their cell phones while waiting in line or else texting.  Just a few years ago this would not have been the case.  In the past people would talk to others around them and strike up a conversation even if it was only small talk.  Now days, we are losing the ability to small talk with those around us that we do not know.  I am scared to see what will happen in 10-15 years from now...will we be such robots that we do not pay attention to the world around us, except to the digital device thats in our hand or right in front of us?

Week 6- Generation IM Article

The "Generation IM" article is very interesting.  It amazes me how even young children spend so much time on digital devices outside of school.  "Young people spend about 6.5 hours a day outside of school using media. That’s more than 44 hours a week reading, surfing the Internet, playing video games, listening to music, and watching TV. And more than a quarter of the time, kids were “media multi-tasking.”   The article also says that 67 % of preschoolers use the computer.

"While fears of online predators and cyber bullying have made many adults wary, the National Association for the Education of Young Children’s Web site states that “despite the potential known and unknown dangers of going online, this technology can be useful to develop literacy, cognitive, and social skills.” I do not neccessarly agree that using technology helps one develope literacy, cognitive and social skills.  If anything, I think it does the exact opposite.  I think people lose the knowledge and ability to use social skills from always being on a digital device. 

You could use this article in a science lesson by having your students keep track of how many hours a week they are on some sort of digital device and then compare that amount of time to that of their parents.  From there you could have your students investigate their technology skills and compare theirs to their parents or grandparents, since this generation of students are digital natives and the older generations are digital immagrants.

Week 5- Promethean ActivBoard

The Promethean ActivBoard is very similar to the smart board.  Like the smart board, the promethean activboard has many different features such as a touch screen, digital sounds, it can show pictures, moving objects, etc.  It has an impact on learning because it better engages studnets and draws their attention in with it's amazing features.  Unlike a white board, with the promethean activboard you don’t use dry erase markers on it. You can see it is much more, it is a PC, a VCR, a flipchart, a PowerPoint, a DVD player, an interactive lesson with your students, a center during class, the Internet, a TV for special events and more. An ActivBoard can be attached to a PC, either a laptop or a desktop running ActivStudio Professional or ActivPrimary for Elementary Schools K-2. Also standard with our ActivBoards are speakers with an Amplifier and a DVD/VCR. Along the line we will be adding a document camera, but you can also attach an ELMO and other devices to the ActivBoard.

I think the promethean activboard board sounds very amazing.  However, I am wondering if the promethean activboard is better than the smart board?  The smart board is very user friendly, however, I do not know how the promethean activboard is to use for teachers and students.

http://edutechation.wordpress.com/2007/03/14/activboards-a-new-way-to-teach/

Week 4- Smart Board

I really liked learing how to use the smart board.  I have a great respect for technology and how it has progressed over the years.  I learned that the smart board is very handy for teaching.  A person can use the smart board to teach any subject and there are lots of different features a teacher could use to enhance their lesson.  I would like to play around using the white board again just to further my experience with it, however, at this point I would feel comfortable enough to teach using it.