Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Week 8

This class has definitely exposed me to many resources that will help increase my knowledge of technology. I was familiar with twitter. I have a personal account, but I have never used it as educational purpose. I saw twitter as another website filled with television show gossip and friends chatting. In the school setting social medias are blocked because students often abuse the privilege and ignore the educational part. I had to learn a few things about twitter.

I found there are sites and also people who have experimented with certain technology that I haven’t used. I found that if you use certain hashtags it is easier to see everyone who has mentioned or discussed a specific topic. Many students often use Facebook, but twitter has articles, thesis, and other papers that are available on a variety of topics. I created a new twitter account just for educational purposes. I followed a few people who are very enlightening.

Many teachers are turning to social networks to communicate with parents. I would not use twitter as one. Our class group using the hashtag #ED505UWARAY but using that hashtag everything is public. People who are not your followers have the opportunity to see what one is discussing. I would use twitter only for research. I have a follower who keeps up with all of the latest technology trends and the pros and cons to them. I would use a closed facebook group or a blog to communicate with parents. @Derek Mcoy is one of my favorite followers when it comes to giving pros and cons to technology.



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Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Week 7

Students are all very different.  Chapter 15 outlines the different technologies that can be used in Special Education learning.  There are many types of special education.  There are many growing technologies that can assist students in their learning.  Special need students are entitled to learn no matter what their disability may be.  According to the text special educators use two types of technology: assistive technology and instructional technology. (Roblyer.D, Doering. A, pg 403. 2008) The text breaks down what each disability is and ways that technology can help students.  Today may computers, ipads, ipods, etc are equipped for special needs.  There are voice texts available, there are ways to enlarge fonts, there are apps available to help students understand a specific content area better.  There are many sites and software available to help gifted students build their own web page about research or an invention.  Chapter 15 lets us know that no matter what disability you may have there is a way to assist with learning.



Mild disabilities: Students with mild disabilities have either a learning or serious emotional disability.  Many students with mild disabilities need help more academically.  There are many gadgets available to assist students with mild disabilities.  There are an abundance amount of software available.  During reading time Text-to-speech is a wonderful software for students.  The Quicktionary Reading Pen is a great source.  Many ipads and Ipods are now equipped with a software that you can listen to information that cannot be read. There are a few websites that will help students with reading assistance, writing assistance, and math assistance.  Dragon Talk is a site that will help with writing and speaking. (www.dragontalk.com)

 

Moderate and severe disabilities: Students with moderate and severe disabilities need more help with day to day activities.  Many students with moderate and severe disabilities need help adjusting to daily living.  There are different apps that are available on that helps with counting and balancing money.  This app is available, https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/time-money-fractions-on-track/id364361439?mt=8.

 There are magnification and reading board machines that are available to help.  Students may have trouble working the keys on a computer, there are alternative key boards such as Intellikey keyboard.  This will magnify the letters for the students.  Touch screens that voices out each letter to students would be of great help. 

Physical disabilities: Students with physical disabilities are often wheelchair bound.  There are joysticks available students and use to move the wheel chair.  There are cursors and lasers available the student can use.  The laser can be used with an interactive smart board.  There has to be a special app that will allow students to point and draw on the board while being in the wheelchair.  There are also adaptive keyboards available.  There is a helpful website www.intellitool.com that will give more information regarding the adaptive keyboard.    Voice recognition software can be very useful to these students. 

Sensory disabilities: Students with sensory disabilities have hearing or vision lost imparities.  Many students with vision lost often use braille.  There are now updated technology that will convert information into voice.  This software is the same as text to speech.  There are canes available with sensor technology that helps navigates.  Technology is constantly growing there are robocarts available that helps the blind navigates through different places.  There are open sources available for text readers at www.projectpossibilityorg.  Students who are deaf have accommodations as well.  There are software that are magnifiers.  One in particular I’ve used is the Supernova Screen /reading magnifier.  Many are turning to sign language.  Many people do not recognize sign language.  There is an app and software available at www.projectpossibility/signlanguage.com.

 

   

At-risk behaviors/situations: These students do not really have a disability.  They need a task that’s going to require them to think and work hard.  There are so many online quizzes available for these students.  For younger students the website www.brainpop.com is a great source.  These students normally struggle because of their behavior.  The students just need tutorial software and other sources to help increase where they are weaken.  Track star is a great site to engage students in instructional activities. 

Gifts and talents: Many students with gifts and talents have trouble pacing themselves.  These are the students who “think outside of the box” to get things done.  These students have a desire and passion for learning.  The students could use web design pages to discuss a research project he or she may work on.  There are wiki pages that can be available. Gifted students are able to think and do for themselves.  Alien Rescue is a challenging site that gives students environmental information that they can build on.   Students have the opportunities to experience distance learning as well. Destination Imagination is a site I’ve used before that allows access so many places and things without leaving the home.  This can be found at www.destinationimagination.org.

 

 
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Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Week 6


Try our slideshow maker at Animoto.

 
 
 
 
 
 
This was my very first experience using any of these web resources.  Glogster was very interesting.  I used the flyer template.  This would be very useful inside of my classroom.  I could use this as an interesting way to create a study guide for the students.  There are a variety of template designs, one I will definitely be using which has the sub note design.  Animoto is a great way to see what the students know.   I would set aside Animoto as a review for students.  Students will be able to create a video that will show their knowledge of the subject that they are being tested on.  I also created games.  I would use this as one of my centers during intervention.  The students will have the opportunity to play games as well as get a review of the subject matter.  These were some great web resources that are available for teachers.  Chapters 6 backs up my idea of allowing the students to create presentations. According to the text, having learners become the designer creates a learning domain with integrating technology. (Roblyer M. Doering A. , pg 188 2008)  Students have these different web resources that will give the students the opportunity to explore things right inside the classroom.  There are many different virtual environments.  The texts gives information about virtual field trips.  These resources will be very beneficial to a class wiki.  Chapter 7 defines the word wiki as a collection of webpages located in an online community that encourages collaboration and communication on a daily basis. (Roblyer M. Doering A. , pg. 223, 2008)  Students need learning communities to be a reinforce when they are not at school.  This learning community can be a social network just for the students that are in that specific class.  Students will have the web resources to use to help them gain a better understanding of a specific lesson that was taught.  In the state of Alabama there is an ARMT writing test.  There are so many web resources available that will help students.  Glogter has different maps and outline templates available.  Students could use those online materials to brain storm their ideas.  The concept maps would allow them to put their ideas together. Chapter 9 discusses those maps and the usefulness they will have inside the classroom.  When it comes to students in higher grade levels that are given writing assignments this would be very handy for them.  The learning community, web resources, and technology integration will create a very engaging and successful learning environment.  

 
 
 
 
 

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Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Week 5



This video shows how different types of technology can be beneficial inside the classroom.  Having technology especially Ipads are very convenient.  Many people may see it as being a distraction to students, but it could serve as a motivation to students.  Young boys and girls find them very interesting.  Kids especially, can take a new gadget and figure out how to use in within a matter of seconds.  There are numerous apps available to help students with various things.  I would use the I pad inside of my classroom for motivational purposes, and also research.  Students will be allowed to use them during group assignments as well as during some free time that they may have.  The Ipads will be very handy for students.  Ipads are also very convenient for teachers.  Students will learn how to download, they will also have the kindle app that will have access to books.  I would definitely use the Ipads for students who may need extra practice in certain areas. There are apps that will give then tutorials and extra practice.

Apps: Nearpod: Allows teachers to present a presentation and have all control of the student's gadgets.  Nearpods are set up where the teacher can monitor all activities.  This is a great app to use for lesson where the students would be accessing the world wide web. This app will be very beneficial while working with students of various age groups.
http://vimeo.com/nearpod

Rocket Math: This app gives older students the opportunity to work and get guided tutorials on different math assignments. The are 3-D interactive games that will allow students to build rockets and other crafts once they reach different levels of completion. https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/rocket-math-free/id408770902?mt=8

Word Monster: This is an app I use with students I often tutor.  It helps them with their reading and sounding.  It starts students out on the levels they may be on and increases at their pace.
http://www.appsplayground.com/apps/2013/03/19/the-word-monsters-want-to-teach-kids-to-read-on-ipad/

Kindle: This app has tons of books for all ages.  This will give the students an opportunity to use the Ipad to search for books that may not be in the library or the classroom.
https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/kindle-read-books-ebooks-magazines/id302584613?mt=8


There are various apps that are available to help improve student's knowledge of a specific area.  The 3 chapters all give background information regarding technology.  Technlogy is very useful inside the classroom, but there are proper ways to use it.  Many times students are given ipad or other electronic devices and misuse them.  The chapter talks about cyberbullying.  Cyberbullying is becoming a growing problem with teenagers.  There are apps that are available to help decrease that inside the classroom.  Teachers can monitor all of the students activities.  Many schools are not as fortunate as others to have these technologies, but there are various grants available to help schools get equipment.  The usage of technology can also help students collaborate with each other.  Students will be able to share and enjoy using the equipment.  Statistic shows many students do not have the privilege of having the technology at home. The usage of technology is preparing their skills for the real world.  Everything in today's society is ran by technology.  Students are now taking writing test on the computers, which all the different word processing skills will help them. Overall technology is steadily growing.  Students are needing to know how to work all of these electronics and get the experience.






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