Interactive Whiteboard

In class Thursday, we talked about using the Interactive Whiteboard, powered by Promethean, in class when we start teaching. We were able to get up in front of the class and interact with the board some, while tools where being taught. I thought it was neat all the tools that can be used with this board, and I am sure next week we will learn a lot more that can be done to help all types of students learn. It seems like this type of tool can be used for many different subjects, but would probably be best for Science and Social Studies. I liked the idea of being able to hide clues and answers behind pictures on the flipchart, and allows student interact with the board and finding answers. I think with this, it makes learning more meaningful than just a worksheet or reading out of a textbook. Creating a flipchart seems a lot easier than making a PowerPoint, and it offers more tools for learning than just words, pictures, videos, and website links, although all of these are available within the Interactive White Board. It is also handy to be able to find flipcharts that have already been created on http://www.prometheanplanet.com/en/.  One must look into the presentation first though before using it in the classroom, because not only are there excellent flipcharts, there are also some bad ones as well, due to anyone being able to upload to this website.  I look forward to learning more about the different tools that can be used for teaching, and also different areas that the Interactive Whiteboard can be used for within the classroom.  I think this will be an awesome tool to use with student who are deaf and hard of hearing that I will be teaching soon.

Digital Scavenger Hunt Social Studies

This week we talked about digital scavenger hunts in TPTE 486. My group went out onto UTK's campus and found ten pictures that related with Social Studies. These included a newspaper, map, directions, inanimate object over forty years old, technology invented in last five years, differences and similarities, an event that changed the world, example of political bias, a political symbol, and a calendar showing an important date in history. Even though The University of Tennessee is a large campus so of these items were difficult to find, while others had a few opportunities for examples. I thought this was a neat exercise because a teacher can go out into the world and find examples to use in teaching a subject. With this, students maybe able to better connect the subject matter and what it means by using real world objects. We also talked about the importance of whether or not a photo can be used in the classroom that may be found on the internet. This is due to copyright laws. Last week we watched a video using Disney films about this that really helped me understand what can and cannot be used in order to follow these laws. Picasa Web Album Google Presentation

Wordle

This week in class, students starting presenting Web 2.0 Tools that we all worked on creating last week.  On Tuesday, the Wordle group presented.  I have actually seen ideas like this type of Web 2.0 tool while exploring on Pinterest, but they never seemed to work like they should, so I was excited to learn about this Web 2.0 tool that I can easily use to create visuals for my classroom.  I know this type of technology tool will be helpful for students who are deaf that are visual learners.  This is also something easy that they can go about creating themselves for lessons being learned, creating word walls, and using for important information before a test.  I also think there is a wide variety of using this tool outside of the classroom, an example being invitations.  I look forward as the semester continues to learn about other Web 2.0 tools that can be used in the classroom.

Here is an example of Wordle from this blog post.
http://www.wordle.net/create

Web 2.0 Tools

This week in TPTE 486, we worked in groups to create a Resource Wiki for Web 2.0 tools.  My group created educational videos using Animoto.  With this tool you can upload photos from a computer or any website, as well sharing videos online.  Educators can use this tool to generate interest in the classroom.  Animoto videos can be customized easily with photos, music, text, and an assortment of backgrounds. It can also be used to create thoughtful media creations, teach vocabulary, topics, periods in history, study guides,etc. Students can present creation in front of class. The Web 2.0 tool can also create video flash cards, and simulated field trips.

This allows students to use their imagination when creating videos.  Educators can apply for a free “Classroom Code” for 6 months of unpaid membership, but must use school email address to apply and the code can be renewed.  Students can be signed up under the “Classroom Code” to create videos for classroom use.  Unfortunately the tool does not allow voice to be added into the video with the free membership.  Also, teachers must make sure that they use the Education Edition so that all content is appropriate for students. 

Animoto

Our Resource Wiki for Animoto

Inquiry Based Assesments & Webquests

Last week we talked about webquests and how they can be used in the classroom.  We at first evaluated webquests to see which is best for teaching with using time management, technology, interaction, and higher level thinking.  I really enjoyed being able to think about these four things when making a lesson or activity for students.  After evaluating, the class picked out a webquest to review and gather information.  I hope that this is something I can use in my future classroom.
Webquests

This week we focused on Inquiry Based Assessments.  We chose a textbook to guide us through standards that must be met for specific grades and subjects.  I chose to do 5th grade heredity.  I liked being able to get experience in coming up with a worksheet for students to fill out after using technology to learn about a subject.  This will definitely be something I can use while working with students who are deaf or hard of hearing.  I also like the idea that with the Wiki we can go back and look at other classmates' information that they found for their lessons and standards that must be met.
 Wiki about Heredity

Rockstar Trading Card Presentation

I enjoyed learning about using the wiki program to present our rockstar trading card about Golden Topaz.  I had never heard of wiki's before this class, so I have learned a lot already just in the short time that we have spent with the program.  I liked hearing how this type of lesson could be used in different content areas, because it helped me realize that in deaf education I can use this for my students who are visual learners.  Also, the wiki's could be used to show parents so that when the student comes home it would be available for study and review materials later on.  This could also be something that is shared with other teachers to present ideas that might be helpful in their classroom.
Also I was glad to be able to actually check out a textbook for teachers to use for the curriculum assignment.  In a few of my other classes, we have done assignments with state standards and curriculum, but there is so much to take in that it is still confusing to me.  I hope that being able to make a lesson from a textbook with information on how to get the standard into learning will help clarify what it means to have to reach all state standards within the year.

Golden Topaz Rockstar Trading Card

Evaluating Websites

Although I have never really thought about how to evaluate websites for accuracy, I have realized that one as a teacher must make sure that the information presented will be accurate and up to date for the students to learn effectively.  For our learning experience this week, we had to evaluate a website that would be used for teaching students.
I chose to evaluate www.pbs.org/teachers, PBS Teachers.  This site is packed full of wonderful resources for all grades and subject areas.  It is also very nicely sorted for easy finding.  Once a grade is chosen, the next step is to choose what subject are you want to look more into.  Once that is chosen, pages upon pages come up with lesson plans, games, offline activities, interaction activities, etc.  Subjects presented on this site are art, health and fitness, math, reading and language arts, science and technology, and social studies.  This website does need flash player and real player to play games, videos, and audio. 
The credibility and reliability of PBS Teachers was presented with details about the author, founders, collaborators, PBS teacher leaders, and PBS teachers advisory group.  There does not seem to be an bias of information presented, as all issues of learning are presented in different formats of presentation.  I did not find any difficulty in navigating the home page or reading any information that was listed.  I would highly recommend this website because it has an abundance of helpful links for the novice or advanced teacher, and it is free!