Tech-y Tools for Teaching

When I began this class, I knew how to do e-mail, word documents, and a bit about power-points. Now that I've been introduced to the many options of using technology in the classroom and for personal use, I have realized that I knew quite a bit already!
Some of these newly found sites have already become favorites, and some are still being investigated. Here is a sampling of a few which are being used with great regularity and an assessment of EIGHT of the most frequented.


1.

This free bookmarking tool has quickly become a favorite, allowing for organization of websites and information in an online three-ring binder. It is a visual portfolio of resources and has a presentation mode making it easy to share pages and sites in a classroom. Resources are catagorized by tabs and subtabs, and are easily rearranged if necessary. Links can be uploaded, either documents or PDF formats, in one binder; can be rearranged, deleted, or added to with ease. With tutorials and webinars available, as well as a plethora of subjects available in public binders by other educators, this is a library of educational information!
There seems to be no down side to this tool, and I'm excited to introduce it to students in my classrooms.
This one rates a - 5
http://www.livebinders.com/welcome/about


2. Firefox is free open source web browsers which has 25% of worldwide use, and is the third most widely use browser. Its success is due to continual updates and improvements, now in its 14th revision with another version soon to be released. One of the favored features is the multiple tab useage, as well as links for bookmarks, history, and tools. Particularly helpful is the "URL complete" in which only the first few letters are typed into the address bar, which activates a drop-down with choices of previously visited sites with those characters. Searches are easy and it lists recent downloads. It has a faster response rate than Internet Explorer, and has regular updates as well.
This one rates a - 5
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/11.0/releasenotes/


3.
Google Apps is an array of products from the Google domain name which has multiple customizable applications for many different uses. The most popular is G-Mail which has several features making it more favored above Yahoo mail. On the G-Mail site there is access to calendar, documents, maps, search and more. Documents can be viewed and/or downloaded, and shared; worked on together in different locations, or grant permission for others to edit documents. It is a complete office suite of applications.
The calendar can be customized with colors and icons, as well as G-Mail. Chats are availble with those in the contact list, or there is a tab in which one can catch up on world news, sports and entertainment. One of the more enjoyable features is Google Earth, which allows for exploration of the entire world or just the neighborhood of residence.
Google Apps has editions for business and for education, which makes it easier for teachers, admin, parents and students to communicate and stay connected. There is much more to learn about Google Apps and the many ways in which it can be used.

This one rates a - 5 +

www.google.com/apps 4. This is a course management system which educators use to create online learning sites for students to navigate their assignments for various courses. Features of the Moodle site are: easy assignment submission, forums, participant list, online calendar and grades. It is a protected environment so only those with a password can get into the site. Navigation within the site is simple and easy to follow. Students can access instructors or other participants by e-mail or by chat. This site allows for collaboration and communication and is FUN to use! This one rates a - 5 http://moodle.com/ 5.

Another FREE online toolkit assisting groups to work together with ease. (Check the link for YouTube tutorial.) Being the least tech-savy member of two groups, it was easy to send a link, attach a file, set up a chat, and schedule a reminder about class. Yet to be explored are the conference call and virtual meeting with the current group members. Although the initial focus was on the college market, it could easily be used by families or groups of friends. With the ability to add, schedule, create and send this is a perfect site for use by almost anyone!

Definitely rates a - 5
http://www.wiggio.com/




6.
Prezi is a non-linear, cloud based presentation tool. The ability to zoom into the slides, to rotate them and create a path from one to another makes it fun to use and promotes the use of imagination rather than boring stacked frames of Power-Point. This tool brings ideas and presentation to life, by transitioning with a path. It possible to present offline, share Prezi's or conduct a meeting by Prezi. This was the most impressive presentation tool and it will be used more in next years' classroom assignments. There is still more to learn and master with this one, especially with the acquisition of an I-Pad!

This one rates a - 5
www.prezi.com



7.

Another FREE website builder that has a simple user-friendly drag-and-drop format. Most reviews listed cite positive interaction with the site, yet there are a few negative comments about the 'pro-fee based' upgrade. Personally, I did find it easy to start a website and it too, can be used as a blog. And, the many YouTube tutorials provided instruction which made it possible to set up a website in only a few minutes. The personal website is still under construction, yet the confidence gained from actually having a website now is encouraging more technological adventures! Because of the lack of experience still,
This one rates a - 4

8.

Video mail was a new experience. The introduction which had family members contacting each other and the business partners provided aspirations of possibilities. Not only is it possible to send from computer but also from a mobile device. (For those of us old enough to remember Dick Tracy comics, it has come to life!)
One can pre-record videos and use as a mobile business card. This provides video chatting on the go, no downloads necessary, and unnecessary for others to be online to receive the message. And, yet another tutorial on how to use video mail as an educator in the classroom gives an updated view of digital technology.
So many possibilities with this tech tool! More adventures and possiblities are presenting themselves to this educator! Still learning how to make more use of this tool, so it also will rate - a 4
http://corp.eyejot.com/


These have not been the only technology tools that I've used. With great regularity Facebook, Twitter, Skype, Yahoo IM and LiveText have also been accessed. These eight tools are the best that I have encountered in the very short time span of this class. Yet, I've been given lists of other search engines, web conferencing tools, web site builders, and more. These though, have taken me through the threshold of intimidation into a portal of excited possibilites!

Benefit of Educational Games

Educational games engage students in ways that are more understandable to them and easily accepted by them. Games are more than just entertainment in the field of education today, and provide a way of learning which combines enjoyment, motivation, gratification, and social interaction (Keesee, 2011). Since most games are now online, it is imperative for educators and parents to embrace and understand the necessity of computer games and how to use them for collaborative development.

The fact that video games are now recognized as excellent teaching tools is reflected in the fact that there is now a senior policy analyst in the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (Toppo, 2012). Constance Steinkuehler is developing games which improve health, education, civics, and more, all designed to push a national agenda. A new genre of 'serious games' is emerging which will engage participants in educational subjects using the mechanics of video games, many of which children are already well versed.

For the purposes of this assignment, the game that was chosen by my group focused on math, specifically the skill of division. It allowed for active participation, showed results, provided motivation and gratification by seeing the scores and their improvement. For elementary or middle school students it would be preferable to memorization of math facts. A rubric was created easily, to "grade" the game for possible inclusion into the classroom. It is a good suggestion to use for other games, especially in this genre, as the rubric created is generic enough to be used for most online video games.

From a personal standpoint, it is not a game that would be used in my classroom, due to subject matter and age appropriateness. It is difficult to see how a game would benefit or be useful to the grade and subject which is taught at this time by this author. While it is easy to say that upon entry into high school, serious study should be encountered by our students, one must be open to the possibility that learning grammar, or literature genres, or vocabulary could be enhanced with the use of video games. As professor Cathy Davidson from Duke University said, "We're not worried about the fragile mental state of our children, we know games work." (Toppo, 2012).

Academic Skill Builders, (2012). Demolition Division. Retrieved from: http://www.arcademicskillbuilders.com/games/demolition/demolition.html

Keesee, G. (2011, February 6). Educational Games. Retrieved from: http://teachinglearningresources.pbworks.com/w/page/35130965/Educational%20Games

Toppo, G., (2010, February 2). White house studies benefits of video games. USA Today. Retrieved from: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2012-01-26/edcuational-video-games-white-house/52908052/1