Final Reflection

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Throughout the semester I have learned valuable information that will allow me to incorporate technology into my future classroom. Prior to this course, I did not realize how much teachers and students rely on technology. I knew that many teachers used interactive whiteboards and computer games but I was unaware that you could use technology tools to enhance learning in the classroom.

I have enjoyed learning about all of the tools that can be used to bring technology to the classroom. I believe that all of the knowledge I have gained will definitely help me as I enter my internship and future classroom. In retrospect, I think that the most important information I obtained this semester involved the interactive whiteboard and Activinspire software. I plan on teaching in an elementary school and I know that interactive whiteboards are becoming a popular classroom feature. Interactive whiteboards can be used on a daily basis if you can create flipcharts that engage your students with the material.

I also believe that the web 2.0 tools are excellent classroom features. Nearly all of the tools are easy to navigate which allows your students to use the tools. Each tool can give teachers a unique way to share or present information with students. I am thankful that I am knowledgeable of so many technology tools and I believe that this will give me an advantage in a teaching career.

Wordle

Wordle is a fun tool that can be used to create a 'word cloud'. Wordles can be used to highlight specific words that are important in a subject or scramble the names of your students in the classroom. You can use the wordle to hang in the classroom or decorate the front of each student's notebooks. Above is an example of a wordle. This word cloud was created from the Preamble in the U.S. Constitution. I copied and pasted the preamble into the wordle generator and it chose the most frequently used words in the text.

Wordle is a great web 2.0 tool to use in any classroom. The word clouds can be used several ways in the classroom. They are perfect to place on the front of your students' folders to highlight important terms used in each subject. You can also create a word cloud of your students' names to hang in the classroom. Words clouds can serve many purposes and I think they are a great addition to any classroom!

Digital Stories

Creative writing and storytelling both play a huge role in most elementary classrooms. Whether students are using a daily journal or creating their own stories, writing and creativity are classroom essentials. Students are always encouraged to think creatively and outside the box when they write. What could be more creative than allowing your students to turn their stories into a movie?

Digital storytelling is the new way of intertwining technology with storytelling. Digital stories can be composed of pictures, video clips, text, recorded audio narrations or music. The stories can vary in lengths but most digital stories range between two and ten minutes. There are no limits to the topics of digital stories. They can be based on personal experiences, historical events, fictional tales, or educational material.

Digital stories are also very simple to create. All you need is access to the internet and a program that will allow you to create you movie. I have only worked with iMovie to create digital stories and it is an excellent program. You can easily navigate the program and drop in pictures, videos or music in seconds. If you have access to iMovie it is an excellent tool to use in a classroom. You can teach your students how to use the program and allow them to share their stories with the class in a movie format. I plan on using digital stories frequently in my classroom because it is a fun and creative new way for students to share their ideas and stories.

Glogster

Are you looking for a more 'green' way for your students to create posters and flyers? Look no more! Glogster is the perfect web 2.0 tool to create online presentations. Glogster is an online resource that allows you to create virtual posters or flyers that are called glogs. The glogs are an excellent tool for teachers or students to present information. The website allows you to select a template to begin your glog. You can then drop in pictures, video clips, sound, links, or text. The possibilities with glogster are endless.

Glogster is an easy tool to incorporate in your classroom. Teachers can use glogs to share information with students and allow them to use computers. Glogs are also an excellent way for students to present information with the class. I plan on using glogs for my students to share what they have learned with the class. Students can work in groups to gather information on a particular subject. Once they have gathered information and pictures the group can create a poster and present it to the class. Glogster gives not only gives students an opportunity to use technology it saves expenses on poster supplies.

Animoto

 

Animoto is another great Web 2.0 tool that can be used in your classroom. Animoto allows you to create a short video of pictures, text, or video clips. It seems like a difficult process to create your own video, but with animoto it is easy! All you have to do is think of a topic, collect a few pictures, and head to the animoto website. Once you are on the website you can choose a theme for your video. Then you drop in your pictures, text, or video clips. The last step is to choose music for you video. Once you are finished you can publish your animoto and share it with everyone! One of the animotos I created about adjectives and adverbs is above.

Animoto seems great but how can I use animoto in my classroom? 

This is probably what you are thinking. Animoto can be used in your classroom in several ways. I plan on using animoto to introduce new material to my class. These short, upbeat videos will get your students excited about the material your are going to discuss. You can also use animoto to recap material you have covered. You can even create a video as a study guide or a review. I would love to watch fun videos to help me learn! As you can see, animoto is a fun and easy way to bring technology to your classroom!

Scavenger Hunt

Orange Sign

Scavenger hunts are an excellent way for students to work together and have fun while learning. A scavenger hunt can be used for nearly any subject and they are easy to create. All you have to do is think of a subject. I recently participated in a scavenger hunt of colors so I will use that as an example. Once you have a subject you can compile a list of items you want your students to find. My scavenger hunt listed 10 different colors. Next, make sure you create specific instructions for your students. The scavenger I went on asked us to find 10 items that were the colors listed. We then had to take a picture of the items we found. After we found our items we uploaded our photos to a computer. Once your scavenger hunt photos are uploaded they can be shared with the rest of the class through google presentation.

I think this activity is great for the classroom because it breaks the norm of daily work. Your students will be excited to get out of the classroom and explore. They may not even realize that they are learning while they hunt the school. Here are more pictures from my color scavenger hunt.

Green Turtle

Black Table

Red Light

Interactive Whiteboards

Using an interactive whiteboard in the classroom is an excellent way to engage students through technology. You can create a flip chart for any subject you can imagine. The unique tools offered through ActivInspire allow the students to interact with the material presented on each slide. An interactive whiteboard is a great tool for the classroom and the flipcharts can even be accessed from your computer at home! That means that teachers can work on their flipcharts at home or you can post your flipcharts on your classroom website so your students can review the material at home.
 

Interactive whiteboards are a great resource for teachers to have in a classroom. The ActivInspire software is even free so teachers can create hundreds of flipcharts with no cost. Learning how to use ActivInspire and the interactive whiteboards has been my favorite part of the technology course thus far. I believe that interactive whiteboards are going to be a classroom essential within the next few years and necessary for teachers to know how to use the software.