My Tutorial on Google Maps

This is my tutorial on Google Maps. Below are a list of my references that I used as guidelines for a meaningful and productive presentation.

REFERENCES

(2010) Camtasia Studio 7 (software) Available from http://www.techSmith.com/

(2010) Jing Software (software) Available from http://www.techSmith.comCorporation

(2009) YouTube Video Available from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlRf78BB_Uk

Autumn Leaves (instrumental)

Today is the beginning of Fall/ Autum. It's a beautiful season filled with rays of colors. My fellow colleagues as we continue to  embark on this technology journey, remember how creative and colorful we are. Continue to produce excellent work. Never try to be like anyone else but let's be ourselves . As the leaves fall and change their colors. Fall into technology and change the young minds that you teach in a positive way.
As we watch the various designs of nature ,all of us can truly say that we are so thankful for our Professor, Dr. Watwood who has ably exposed us to various ascpects of technology and WEB 2.0. Continue to shine let nothing stop us.We're not looking back but we are moving FORWARD!
HAPPY FALL/AUTUM MY FRIENDS!

Top 10 Reasons to Use a Blog in the Classroom

Very informative video I found on You tube. It talks about the top 10 reasons to use blog in the classroom.
How prepared are we to accommodate our students' approach to learning? Do you believe that blogging will take over our education system soon?
Please share/ leave your comments.

Using Wikis in the Classroom

I would like to share this video. It talks about using Wikis in the classroom.  I am very excited about this course!! I did not not that so much is available for our students to use.

Reflection On Vicki Davis and other Readings on Blogs

Vicki Davis is a phenomenal woman that empowers herself with technology. According to Wikipedia, "Technology is the usage and knowledge of tools, techniques and crafts, or is the system or methods of organization......" http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology  Vicki's class speaks truly to the definition.


After coming from a fun filled summer vacation, students are not all that motivated to face the "walls" of schools and the tasks that is are out for them to do. Vicki thinking about the needs of her students, creates at learning atmosphere through the use of technology and  also incorporating the use of cell phones.


I would be excited to have Vicki as my teacher. She is very creative in making education through the use of technology interactive and interesting for students. Students have accounts where they have free access to their school work, daily calendar, the teacher's lesson plan,  and class links ( just to name a few. They even are  exposed to tagging which they use to display any given assignment.  Tag ‘codes’ are used to help students remember assignments.


Looking at the detailed lesson plan, one can say that she is very organized and she knows what she is about. All students are aware of their daily task / classroom activities.


According to Carly Fiorina," Many people see technology as the problem behind the so called digital divide. Others see it as a solution. Technology is neither. It operates in conjunction with business, economics, political and social system.” http://thinkexist.com/quotation/many_people_see_technology_as_the_problem_behind/201925.html
 I do agree with this quotation.  I believe Vicki operates her classroom in his format in order for her students to be successful.


Simple Navigations are used, to create a student friendly environment and easy manipulation. Links and homepages are created for each grade level.


The video on the page even though seems entertaining, displays a meaningful picture of the importance of cell phones. Cell phones are most times viewed as “dangerous weapons” for the young minds. As a parent and also a teacher I am well aware of this. However Vicki being the “queen” of technology created an environment for her students, where they have the opportunity of using their cell phones as a learning tool.  Students are allowed to store important information on any given topic related to various lessons, others chose to use their cell phones to remind them of upcoming tests and quizzes.


The good BOOK says, “Without a vision the people perish.” Vicki has a vision for her students. Based what I have seen and read the vision is to prepare them for the “working world” being equipped with technology in the 21^st century.


What scares me the most is the fact thatI am not a  technology  specialty, therefore will I be able to create such meaningful gadget/s to benefit the students that I teach. Will my students become “technology frozen” because I am unable to create a technology atmosphere for them?


My concern is, as a regular ed teacher, when will I find the time to incorporate various web tools in my lesson planning or expose my students to these web tools when I have to prepare them for State exams/ assessments. One might say integrate technology in your lesson planning. Is their enough money in the budget that can be totally spend on Technology?  
                         
                       ED BLOGS


I was fascinated by the way in which Dr Scott McLeod created a list of Ed blogs that will be beneficial to educators including me.  He had a wide variety of Ed blogs for elementary and secondary teachers to choose from.


I enjoyed reading the Canadian teacher list. She gave detailed description as to what each Ed blog entails and its purpose.


Finally I would also like to give credit to the top 50 Ed blogs. This gave full explanation on how educators should use the Ed blogs mentioned.


Ed Blogs have advantages and disadvantages:


* They most of them are user friendly.
* Encourage effective communication.
* Develop writing skills.
* Easy for students to read and give constructive feedbacks

      * May not be easy to maintain and to update
      * May be difficult for students who have low computer skills or no access to the computer/internet.

*  Blogs are not confidential so you must be careful what you post.

http://www.journalpioneer.com/Opinion/Editorials/2010-09-17/article-1772036/Moving-toward-a-digital-classroom/1

Technology in Jamaica

Here is a very interesting link about the use of technology in Jamaica Schools.

http://www.caribbeanpressreleases.com/articles/2989/1/Interactive-Whiteboard-Technology-for-Jamaica-Schools/Page1.html

Do not allow your students to be more equipped that you!!!

As educators, lets us not sit back and watch technology move pass us without grabbing on to it.  I did a survey with  my students on Septemeber 9, 2010 and I was fascinated with the results. 90 percent of my students have cell phones, 80 percent send text messages and 95percent have access to the internet. One particular high school is now having their students use iPods in their English classess for online research, to define words, listen to music of historical periods and more educationl interests.

Another school have fifth graders responding to wiriting topics they discuss in language arts, math social studies etc. and their ideas become posts to classroom blogs- BLOGOSPHERE-

I am ready to move forward with technology. I want my students to be exposed to differentiated learning which involves technology.  Researchers have shown that the more students are exposed to technology the more they will be high achievers.
LETS CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD AS WE GRAVITATE TOWARDS TECHNOLOGY!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiisteObuhk

Educational Technology: "Get Hooked on Technology": Video Reflection.

Educational Technology: "Get Hooked on Technology": Video Reflection.: "'Get Hooked on Technology': Video Reflection.: 'After watching the You tube video, I am very impress with the usage of technology . I love the way this twelve year old student used the web and applied it to her educational needs. She effectively explained in a timely manner the different uses of the Web 2.0 for the audience at different levels to understand. She also displayed good time management skills. She made sure that there was a balance created for social networking, school work and with her level of responsibility she is not easily distracted. This typical twelve year old enjoys interacting with the Internet she is not afraid to use the web to be successful. she is very versatile and creative which made her tutorial appealing.
This students is a digital native who finds the use of technology to be more effective than 'paper and pencil', this makes learning lasting. The information is not just taken from the teacher but they are encouraged to be researchers and communicate effectively with individuals with expertise across the world, making the world a smaller place.
I would implement the use of technology in my classroom by having this student be a good resource person through the use of skype. This typical twelve year old is well aware and up-to-date with Web 2.0.
My main concern is if administrator, teachers and parents would welcome this use of techology (PLE) within the education system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEls3tq5wIY&feature=player_embedded