Interactive Slides

 Today I learned how to do interactive slides.  This was very new to me, but I am so proud of the final project.  

Here is the link to my two lessons: Interactive Slides on Dinosaurs and Helen Keller

 (Links to an external site.) . One on Dinosaurs and the other on Helen Keller.  Enjoy!

Screen Cast Web-Based Tools

 Today I was able to share with my peers a program that I adore and use on a daily basis.  I made a video and gave an overview of Flocabulary.  Check out the video.  I hope you will want to explore Flocaulary after learning more about this wonderful resource.  Enjoy!

Link to video: Overview of Flocabulary

Formative Assessment Review

 Read on to learn more about my favorite online tool to use for formative assessments:

1) What is a useful web-based or app-based tool for formative assessment?

I really enjoy using Google Forms.  It is super easy to use.  I am not great

with technology, but even I find it to be straight forward and user-friendly. 

There are a variety of options, yet not too many options to feel overwhelming. 

I appreciate the amount of customizing it allows.  Also, as someone who has

completed many google forms that other people have designed, google

forms are always clean and easy to complete.  I feel that this is a valuable

tool for formative assessments not only for teachers but for students as well.  

 

2) How can it be used in a classroom? 

Google forms can be used as tests, quizzes, surveys, or just to gather

information.  It is helpful to use with students, parents, and colleagues.  

 

3) What information does it provide to you that will guide your future instruction?

Google form is a great way to check for understanding throughout a

lesson.  This is beneficial to teachers because it tells the instructor if a topic

needs to be revisited.  

 

4) What are some advantages and disadvantages of this tool?

I have not found a disadvantage of using google forms.  It works well

for me and my classroom setup.  One of the greatest advantages of this

tool is that is very user-friendly and allows for customizing without

being overwhelming.

 

5) How does your tool connect to course readings and/or videos

within this module?

I appreciate that through the provided readings I  was reminded

that online formative assessments can help support teachers with

what pace to move and what materials to use.  Also, the immediate

feedback from these assessments can show teachers who requires remediation and who needs enrichment activities to challenge their

learning of the concept.

Home-based Weekly Unit of Study

 This was a new and challenging assignment for me, however, I am pleased with the weeks worth of lessons and studies I put together.  I also really enjoyed learning SMORE and will definitely use that again.  Here is the final project: Smore Weekly Newsletter

Virtual Field Trips

I have not participated in a virtual field trip, but if I did, a virtual trip to Canada to learn about Polar Bears sounds fascinating.  Discovery Education, which is a wonderful resource, sends e-mails to my work email address, and this is one virtual field trip that they are offering this year.  The group, Polar Bears International, is hosting the event, which is titled, “Tundra Connections: Learning with Polar Bears.”  The almost 45-minute virtual experience tells all about these magnificent creatures.  They also tell about how the bears’ cold habitat brings about opportunities and challenges.  Something else that appeals to me about this virtual field trip opportunity is that Discovery Education provides multiple instructional activities to enhance the viewing experience of the students.  This would be an ideal science lesson for any K-8th grade class.  Tundra Connection Virtual Field Trip

Symbaloo

Symbaloo Webmix

Symbaloo is user-friendly and easy to learn.  It is an excellent way of organizing different resources.  I had never heard of Symbaloo until recently. I am glad I know about it now. I am especially intrigued with the social studies resources I discovered through my research.  More specifically, I am looking forward to exploring more closely Nearpod and History for Kids.  

I used several different methods for finding links to add to my Symbaloo webpage.  I talked to my children, I looked at the resources I already had on my computer, I did some google searching, and I when back to past assignments from my EED class to see what resources my classmates had shared. These different ways of researching, allowed me to find some really great web-based programs.  As technology continues to become more embedded in education, I am going to need a reliable method to keep resources organized.  I foresee Symbaloo being very handy for this task.  

I encourage all my teacher friends to check out this wonderful program too!

Adobe Creative Cloud Express

 

Today I investigated a new technology tool. This is the first time I have ever used

Adobe Sparks, now known as Adobe Creative Cloud Express.  It took a lot

of research to figure out the program.  I watched several videos and played

around with it, and finally figured out how to use it. 

Once I learned the program, it was easy to use.  I am pleased with my

final project.  This is a program I will use again in the future.  Technology

is hard for me, but I am thankful that I got out of my comfort zone to

learn this particular program.

Here is my slideshow on digital citizenship, if you are interested in watching it:

Slideshow on Digital Citizenship