Like many other people I was a Firefox and Safri user. It was not until recently that I made the switch to using Google Chrome, and I'm glad that I did! One thing that I love is that it is definitely quicker than other web browsers/OS. Though it has taken some getting used to I don't see myself switching back to another web browser.
One application that I checked out was Newsela. I had heard about it from a few teachers at my school, and only took the time to check it out briefly. I'm glad that I spent more time with it now. I can definitely see myself using this upcoming school year. In 4th grade we focus on current events as part of our social studies curriculum, so Newsela will be a great resource for my students to use. I don't know if it is because it is summer, but I saw that there didn't seem to be too many current articles on the site. If the site stays 'current' during the school year I will definitely use it as a resource. One thing I really liked about it, is that there are different reading levels which is a great way to differentiate for our students!
One of the extensions that I really liked was 'Ad Blocker' I have been doing some of the 'things' on my personal computer at home, and since installing 'Ad Blocker' I have seen a real decrease in ads coming up. I have used a different blocker in the past, but it does not seem to be as effective as 'Ad Blocker'. It is a great free product!
Finally I spent some time messing around with 'Typing Club'. First of all, I love that it is a free application. I also like that the lessons are fairly quick to complete, which is perfect to have students spend just a few minutes a day working on their typing at home or at school. In the past my students have used 'Type To Learn'. One issue with that program is that the lessons can take students a long to time to complete, and there is no save option in the middle of a lesson which can be frustrating to a student. I will definitely introduce my students to 'Typing Club' so they can use it when they have a few extra minutes of morning work time.
Overall, I'm a big fan of Google Chrome. Again I love how quick it is overall, the free applications are great, and 'Ad Blocker' seems to do exactly what it advertises.
Monday, June 27, 2016
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Thing 4 - My Experience with Google Apps...
Being a long time Microsoft Word user, I have come around on seeing the advantages of using Google Docs, especially for my students. Overall I feel that Google Docs is very user friendly.
This past school year I felt that my 4th grade students got into a pretty good groove of using their district Google accounts. As a class, we got in the habit of using Google Docs for many of our 'published' writing assignments and bigger projects (biography reports and The Great Brain). The students found Docs to be easy to work with, especially with not having to worry about saving their work, and the ease of being able to put images on their documents. One thing that I really love about my students using Google Docs is their ability to share their documents with me, so I can help them make revisions in their work. This upcoming school year I want to use the 'comment' feature more with my students. I think that it will be very helpful for them during the revision process if they know exactly what to revise based off my comments. I look forward to continue to using Google Docs with my students moving forward.
I would say that Google Slides is one of my favorite Google apps. I have used both Powerpoint and Keynote in the past, and have had my students use it for our Great Brain project too. I find that Google Slides is easier to use then both of the other programs. For example, my students loved learning that inserting images and video clips into a slide presentation is a simple one or two step process. My students' parents were blown away at how 'professional' their child's Google Slides presentations looked for their Great Brain presentations. I will definitely look to find more opportunities to create Slide presentations for my students, as well as find more ways for my students to use Google Slides throughout the year.
Google Calendar is fairly new to me. I had fun 'playing' with it, and saw that it is not too difficult to add and edit events. I think that it can be a valuable tool to use with both my colleagues, and parents/students as I grow more comfortable using it. I think that I can start by exploring it more this summer by filling in my own summer events, and then work to use it this upcoming school year. I can see myself creating calendars for both our class Biography project, as well as our Great Brain project.
This past school year I felt that my 4th grade students got into a pretty good groove of using their district Google accounts. As a class, we got in the habit of using Google Docs for many of our 'published' writing assignments and bigger projects (biography reports and The Great Brain). The students found Docs to be easy to work with, especially with not having to worry about saving their work, and the ease of being able to put images on their documents. One thing that I really love about my students using Google Docs is their ability to share their documents with me, so I can help them make revisions in their work. This upcoming school year I want to use the 'comment' feature more with my students. I think that it will be very helpful for them during the revision process if they know exactly what to revise based off my comments. I look forward to continue to using Google Docs with my students moving forward.
I would say that Google Slides is one of my favorite Google apps. I have used both Powerpoint and Keynote in the past, and have had my students use it for our Great Brain project too. I find that Google Slides is easier to use then both of the other programs. For example, my students loved learning that inserting images and video clips into a slide presentation is a simple one or two step process. My students' parents were blown away at how 'professional' their child's Google Slides presentations looked for their Great Brain presentations. I will definitely look to find more opportunities to create Slide presentations for my students, as well as find more ways for my students to use Google Slides throughout the year.
Google Calendar is fairly new to me. I had fun 'playing' with it, and saw that it is not too difficult to add and edit events. I think that it can be a valuable tool to use with both my colleagues, and parents/students as I grow more comfortable using it. I think that I can start by exploring it more this summer by filling in my own summer events, and then work to use it this upcoming school year. I can see myself creating calendars for both our class Biography project, as well as our Great Brain project.
Tuesday, June 21, 2016
Web 2.0 and my thoughts about 21st century learners...
I think that Web 2.0 is realistic to how we are going to adapt our teaching practices. With technology (laptops, iPads, Chromebooks) available for all of our students, we have no excuse not to use what is out there...rather we should be open to find ways to embrace all that is out there. Our kids all use technology/hand-held devices at home (in some capacity). I know that I want to use valuable programs more and more in my daily teaching. I feel that because we have laptops and iPads available every day in our classrooms, that I should take more advantage of using them. I want to reach out to my colleagues (other grade level teachers, and RC teachers) and find ways to build the technology into the curriculum that we already have in place.
Thing 1 - My reflections of being a Lifelong Learner...
I view myself as a Lifelong Learner. I believe that to be the best teacher that I can be is to be willing to constantly learn and grown in different ways, both formally eg.(workshops, conferences, courses like this one) and informally (eg. conversations with other teachers & students). I think that if I did not see myself as a Lifelong Learner, then I would not be fully dedicated to the students that I teach. I have realized more and more that to grow as a learner, especially in the 21st century is to try to 'keep up in the game' in new technologies that can be effectively used with my students. And that is the reason that I decided to sign-up for this course.
At times I feel overwhelmed that there is SO much out there in regards to new programs/websites to use and share with our students, but often times don't feel like there is enough time in a school year to effectively use more than one or two of the new 'things' that are out there. One of the biggest challenges for me is finding the time to sit down and explore good programs that I can use with my students; and with some that I use, such as ST Math, I feel like I'm just scratching the surface on all that it has to offer. I wish we truly had the time to really feel like with are proficient or 'experts' with a few solid programs.
'Beginning with the end in Mind' might be the toughest habit for me. With all of these 'thing's being brand new, I feel like I'll have a hard time planning what I want to learn before really exploring the new 'things'. I feel confident that I will be able to explore, learn, and then be able to apply some of these new technologies to my teaching next year.
The habit that I think will be the 'easiest' for me is to 'Have Confidence in Myself as a Learner'. I do have confidence in myself that when I have the time to explore and try new technology I am able to apply it. I know the challenge will be with a busy summer that I might not have as much time as I would like to dive in as deep with some 'things' as much as others. But, I'm going in with an open mind that I will learn 'things' that will be valuable for me to use in my classroom.
I feel that the most important habit for me is 7 1/2 'Play'. I love that we teach in a district that values hands-on, experiential learning = play. I value the opportunities for my students to 'play', and I think that new technologies is a perfect way for both me and my students to learn. I'm looking forward this summer to 'play' with all the new things that this course will offer!
At times I feel overwhelmed that there is SO much out there in regards to new programs/websites to use and share with our students, but often times don't feel like there is enough time in a school year to effectively use more than one or two of the new 'things' that are out there. One of the biggest challenges for me is finding the time to sit down and explore good programs that I can use with my students; and with some that I use, such as ST Math, I feel like I'm just scratching the surface on all that it has to offer. I wish we truly had the time to really feel like with are proficient or 'experts' with a few solid programs.
'Beginning with the end in Mind' might be the toughest habit for me. With all of these 'thing's being brand new, I feel like I'll have a hard time planning what I want to learn before really exploring the new 'things'. I feel confident that I will be able to explore, learn, and then be able to apply some of these new technologies to my teaching next year.
The habit that I think will be the 'easiest' for me is to 'Have Confidence in Myself as a Learner'. I do have confidence in myself that when I have the time to explore and try new technology I am able to apply it. I know the challenge will be with a busy summer that I might not have as much time as I would like to dive in as deep with some 'things' as much as others. But, I'm going in with an open mind that I will learn 'things' that will be valuable for me to use in my classroom.
I feel that the most important habit for me is 7 1/2 'Play'. I love that we teach in a district that values hands-on, experiential learning = play. I value the opportunities for my students to 'play', and I think that new technologies is a perfect way for both me and my students to learn. I'm looking forward this summer to 'play' with all the new things that this course will offer!
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