Moodle is a virtual online environment that enables teachers to manage and promote learning. It’s a great tool that allows students to take courses online, or simply just to organize and deliver assignments. Moodle has many features, such as blogs, forums, and even web conferencing. This site allows students to view their grades, assignments, and upload any attachments for their course. I would give this tool 5 out of 5 because it has many options for students and it allows teachers to be able to communicate in another way other than in the classroom.
Firefox
Firefox is one of the more popular internet web browsers in today’s world. Firefox is available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and many other devices. Although I do not use Firefox regularly, it is a good tool to use when browsing the internet and it allows you to be flexible when it comes to customization. I would give this tool 4 out of 5 because it has a bunch of features that are entertaining and secure whenever you’re online.
Google Apps
Google Apps is a great tool to use online and it provides multiple web applications that a lot of sites do not offer. It provides users with things like Gmail, Blogger, Calendar’s, and you can even share word documents online. I use a lot of the Google Apps since I have taken this course and it has been a great experience. I use Google Apps pretty much every day now and it has only made things easier for me. I think it’s a great online technology tool and I would definitely give it 5 out of 5 stars!
LiveBinders
With LiveBinders, it allows users to gather their information and organize it into these online binders. Instead of putting papers into a real binder, this site allows you to store your information online where it’s safe and secure. These binders allow you to store anything, from business documents, educational resources, to personal information. As a future educator, I think it’s a great tool to use and it’s only going to help you in the long run. I would give this tool a 5 out of 5 stars.
Wiggio
Wiggio is an awesome tool when it comes to working in groups. It allows students to be able to communicate in many different ways, such as video conferencing, email; it even allows you to send mass text messages to members of your group. You can share documents, update calendars so everyone is informed, and it helps you and your group members to keep your information safe and organized. With Wiggio, you can be a part of more than one group, which I thought was very convenient, since college students are always busy with group projects and meetings. This tool is very useful especially in your college career, so I would give this tool 5 out of 5 stars.
Dropbox
Dropbox is another one of my favorite tools to use. It acts as an online hard drive, which makes a lot of things easier and it can be accessed anywhere. You don’t have to store files on your flash drive or save papers in a folder because with Dropbox, you’re able to do all of that and more. Dropbox automatically saves to your computer, which makes it easier for you to access the things you need. Not only does Dropbox store documents, but you’re able to save and store pictures and videos. I really enjoy using this tool because it helps me store all my files and makes it easy for me to access. I would give this tool a 5 out of 5 stars!
Iconosites
Iconosites is a free website builder that has many features in terms of customization. It is a very easy site to create and it does not require any credit card information or downloads of any kind. I thought this tool was one of the easiest to use and it has so many creative aspects that come with the website. You can add videos, different texts and fonts, and it provides a variety of transitions for your images. This is one of my favorite tools and I would give it a 5 out of 5!
Glogster
Glogster is fairly new to me and I wasn’t sure how it worked, but after playing around with it, it really is a useful tool. It allows users to make creative posters or glogs that can relate to students. Glogster has a number of options when creating a poster or glog. You can add different color schemes, fonts, photos, and even sounds. I think this is a great tool to integrate into a lesson plan and when I become a teacher, I hope to utilize this tool with my students. I would give this tool a 5 out of 5 stars!
The appearance of education has evolved throughout the
years. Technology has changed the face
of classrooms across the world, from writing on a chalkboard to conducting a
lesson on a SMARTboard, technology has proven to be effective for students as
well as teachers. These days, children
are exposed to technological tools even before they start school. Therefore, it is important to incorporate the
use of technology in the classroom, as well as teach students about the
importance of digital safety as early as possible. Teachers could use their
lesson plans and provide activities in order to teach their students about
digital safety in regards to cyber bullying and textual
harassment.
Bullying is a major issue in schools throughout the country.
Technology gives students a new medium in which to bully.Cyber bullying is defined as “willful and
repeated harm inflicted through the use of computers, cellphones, and other
electronic devices,” (Hinduja & Patchin, 2011).In the video Cyberbullying: What’s Crossing the Line? Amy Withers, a teacher at Amistad Dual Language School in New York
City, successfully carries out her lesson on cyber bullying through the use of
a video and class discussion (Common Sense Educators, 2013).The students were able to identify the issues
that derived from cyber bullying and are able to come up with their own
conclusions as to what the consequences are and how they can prevent the issue. Media in lesson plans and activities is a great tool for teachers to introduce a difficult concept to the class. It is also effective in evoking emotion from the students and allows them to open up and share through discussion.
Texting is a feature popular among students. Cellphones and computers are considerable outlets for these teens. It is a way for them to express themselves without being seen, and gives them a certain level of confidence in this way because they are not face to face with the other person on the receiving end. However, texting can become dangerous when done for reasons other than simple communication. Teachers can incorporate safe texting into their lesson plans by creating an activity that allows the students to determine what are appropriate and inappropriate messages. Activities on the TextED website are also a great way for teachers to instruct their students on the do's and don'ts of texting. Lessons and activities on texting and sexting should be aimed at the middle school and high school levels.
As an elementary teacher, I would use media such as videos to introduce my lesson. I would then allow my students to explore the concept of digital safety by having them complete activities such as those found on netsmartzkids.org. It is important for my students to be able to protect themselves against cyber bullies and dangerous texting, therefore digital safety concerning these issues will definitely be incorporated into my lesson plans and activities in my classroom.
References: Common Sense Educators. (2013, June 19). Cyberbullying: What's Crossing the Line? [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/educators/lesson/cyberbullying-crossing-line-6-8 Hinduja, S. & Patchin, J. (2010). Cyberbullying fact sheet: Identification, Prevention, and Response. Cyberbullying Research Center. [PDF File]. Retrieved [2013, November 18], from http://www.cyberbullying.us/Cyberbullying_Identification_Prevention_Response_Fact_Sheet.pdf
Today's classrooms are significantly different from the
classrooms twenty years ago. Students
with disabilities are now being mainstreamed into the regular classroom and it
has become a rewarding, yet challenging task for teachers. Today’s teachers no
longer rely solely on the assistance of a one to one aide, but they now have
the opportunity to work with students who utilize and rely on assistive
technology. In the video Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams, students like Susanna Sweeney-Martini and Lukas Bratcher have exceled
in their educational and musical careers thanks to the use of assistive
technology (The George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2005). However, in order for
teachers to continue helping students like Martini and Bratcher succeed, they
have to formulate and revise activities in their lesson plans to fit the needs of all
students including those with disabilities.
There are a few steps that need to be taken into consideration when planning activities. One major step is to know the student and what they are capable of doing. A great source of information pertaining to this area is the Individualized Education Plan (IEP). According to Laura Kaloi, National Center of Learning Disabilities Public Policy Director, the IEP contains detailed information on the student's disability and whether or not he or she requires assistive technology. The IEP also contains appropriate goals for the student that are set to be attained by the end of the school year (The National Center for Learning Disabilities, 2012). Activities in the lesson plan should be designed to help the students work toward those goals stated in the IEP. This is a critical step so that the student may not have the feeling of helplessness and isolation.
Another major step that could be taken in revising or building a lesson plan to accommodate a student with disabilities is to ask several key questions such as:
1. What is the goal of the activity?
2. Is the student able to actively participate in the activity? If not, how can I make it less challenging for the student?
3. How will he or she complete tasks within the activity while utilizing their assistive technology tool?
These questions should be given deep thought when creating activities in order to successfully plan and execute the activity. The learning goals of the activity must also be met by not just the student with the disability, but by all the students within the class. The student has to be able to participate to the fullest extent with the least amount of difficulty. Most importantly, the assistive technology tool has to be recognized and integrated into the activity in order for the disabled student to gain understanding and successfully apply the knowledge gained from the activity. For example, in the exploration stage of the lesson plan, students are required to expand their minds through active participation. If there is a student who is like Susanna Martini from the video Enabling Dreams born with Cerebral Palsy, they may find writing activities to be difficult to complete without the use of a voice activated software. Because of this tool, Martini was given the opportunity to excel alongside her peers, and look toward a brighter future despite her disability.
Creating a revised activity in a lesson plan with accommodations and modifications is a difficult task. I have had the opportunity to create lesson plans and facilitate activities within those lesson plans through my methods courses. However, I have not worked with a student that required assistive technology tools in my practicums. Therefore, I believe it is important to do the research on the disabled student as well as asking key questions that will guide you in the creation process of the lesson plan. Assistive technology whether it may be low tech such as magnifiers, or high tech such as voice activated software or onscreen keyboard devices along with a revised lesson plan, allow disabled students to reach further than they could have ever imagined. It will also enable them to look toward a brighter future giving them better opportunities throughout their educational career and their life.
References:
The George Lucas Educational Foundation. (2005, February 02). Assistive-Technology: Enabling Dreams [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video
The National Center for Learning Disabilities. (2012, August 30). What Is An IEP? [Video File]. Retrieved from http://www.ncld.org/learning-disability-resources/videos/video-what-is-an-iep
Online educational games are alternative learning tools for students. According to Chatzidaki (2011), educational games could also be used to enhance student motivation, demonstrate practice skill, and enhance strategy and problem solving skills. These qualities are all essential for learning any subject in order to enhance students’ level of mastery of a topic. In choosing an online educational game to use in the classroom, the teacher must first evaluate the game and determine if the game is safe, engaging, and meets educational standards. One effective way to evaluate an online game is through the use of a rubric. A rubric is a type of performance assessment that can be used to effectively assess many aspects of the game. These aspects may include the interface, navigation, levels of difficulty, and accessibility. When developing a rubric, it is important that the rubric is organized, reasonable, understandable, and feasible (McMillan, 2011, p. 247). A poorly developed rubric may lead to false evaluation of the game, and could allow the teacher to use the game inappropriately. When utilizing the rubric to evaluate a game, it is important to keep in mind the categories in which you are evaluating. Thorough game play is required in order to effectively evaluate the game in each category. Difficulties in evaluating the game may be the type of game being evaluated and the evaluator's preference for the game. If the game is not engaging and has a boring interface yet fulfills educational standards, the evaluator may give the game a low score. On the other hand, if the game is highly engaging and appealing, yet does not fulfill educational standards, the evaluator may give the game a high score. Therefore, it is important to determine which type of rubric would be best to rate the game. Analytic rubrics, those in which individual scores are given to each criterion (McMillan, 2011, p. 244) is recommended in evaluating an online game. In this way, the evaluator will be able to determine individual areas that require improvement. In conclusion, online educational games are a great way to assess students' knowledge on topics previously taught in class. However, not just any game can be used to enhance student learning. The online educational games must go through repetitive play and effective evaluation through the use of a rubric. Developing and utilizing a detailed analytic rubric is the best option in evaluating a game. References: Chatzidaki, E., Kostaras, N., Xenos, M. (2011). Assessment of an educational online virtual game environment: The case of SimSafety. [PowerPoint slides]. Retrieved from website
http://www.gast.it.uc3m.es/ied-summit-2011/slides/iED_Eleni_Chatzidaki.pdf McMillan, J. (2011). Classroom assessment: Principles and practice for effective standards-based instruction. Boston, MA: Pearson.
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