Zoomerang.com

My survey can also be viewed at the Zoomerang website. Today, I created a poll on my blog (please see it at the top, left side of the webpage) and also created a survey. Creating the poll was easy, as I only needed to add a poll gadget to my blog. Creating the survey was a little more difficult. Zoomerang.com is a website that provides a variety of tools to help you create and personalize your very own survey. There are many templates and question formats to choose from. Both of these activities could be helpful in the classroom when getting to know your students and what interests them. It could also be a helpful tool for assessing student comprehension or assessment of the teacher/curriculum. Using these types of tools reflect the ISTE NETS T standards 1.a., 1.b., and 2.a. By creating and completing surveys and polls, students can be creative, inventive, and inquisitive while using digital tools.. Students or teachers could provide a poll regarding a possible new food for the lunch menu or ideas for a new gym activity. This could also help students think about real-world issues and solutions for these issues.

Online Graphing Tools

Today, I learned how to use technology to create a graph online. I was instructed to complete one activity relating to fourth grade reading scores. The second activity related to eighth grade reading scores. First, I gathered the information to use in my graph at NAEP and then entered the information at Kid's Zone, which is a website that helps to create multiple styles of graphs online. Then, I created my two documents (see the first two links above) on Google Docs. I uploaded my graphs to Google Docs and then included the required narratives as part of the documents.For the first narrative, I presented an argument for the need for more funding for reading programs, and for the second narrative, I presented an argument that the funding for reading programs is adequate.I was able to manipulate my graphs to back up my arguments. This was a very interesting and fun activity that could be used in a multitude of classroom activities, such as providing a visual aid that can strengthen an argument. The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to this activity are: 1.c.,  3.c., and 3.d. This is because this activity uses collaborative tools (graphs) to clarify the student's understanding, communicate relevant information to students, peers, and community (through the executive summary/graph), and students are able to facilitate effective use of digital tools (graphs) to analyze information resources to support research and learning.

 Please see the links above for the entire documents including the executive summaries.

Word Cloud

I created a "word cloud" using Wordle. I found a passage that was important to me and copied/pasted it in the wordle box. Then I saved the document and uploaded it to my blog. I used a passage from one of my favorite novels, To Kill a Mockingbird, which I would use in a high school English classroom. This is a really neat website that could be used to create interesting visual aids in the classroom and promote comprehension. Students could also use this website as a creative outlet. The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to this exercise are: 1.a. and 2.a. This activity can promote creative thinking and inventiveness in the classroom and can be used to design relative learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote learning and creativity, as students are able to create their own "works of art" related to the current topics being studied.

Batchgeo Part 2 Map Creation

View class map in a full screen map

This was my first time creating a map using Batchgeo.  Batchgeo is really interesting tool that makes a map from data gathered on a spreadsheet. My map can also be viewed through this address. Integrating this activity into my classroom would definitely make feel like a 21st Century teacher, as I could never imagine using this type of technology (even just a couple of years ago). Utilizing this technology provides many educational opportunities (practice with spreadsheets, geography, using modern technology, appealing to visual learners,collaborating with peers in a virtual atmosphere, etc.). Students in an English class could use this tool to create a visual representation of the birthplaces of the authors of classic novels.  The ISTE NETS T standards that most closely relate to this activity are: 1.d., 2.b., and 3.b. By utilizing this activity, I was able to create a map by engaging in an activity with my classmates in a virtual environment, develop an activity that enabled me to pursue my own curiosity and assess my progress (by completing the map and posting it to my blog), and I was able to collaborate with my peers using digital tools to support student success and innovation (by working with classmates in completing a spreadsheet).

Jing #1

Today, I downloaded Jing, and used it to create a graphic for my hypothetical English class. I downloaded the Jing tool and found an image of William Shakespeare that I could use with Jing.  This graphic can be helpful with introducing William Shakespeare, interesting facts about him, and an introduction to his works. I did have difficulty embedding the artifact on my blog, but once again used my snipping tool to do this.  Jing can be a very helpful tool when introducing visual information and organizing information in the classroom. The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to this assignment are: 2.a. and 2.c. This activity provides resources to help design relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools that can promote student learning (by providing a visual aid) and to customize learning activities to address student's learning styles (such as the visual learner) using digital tools.

Self Portrait

I created my self portrait at Picassohead.com. This was a fun activity and it was interesting to create my own "masterpiece." This activity could be useful in the classroom with all age groups and skill levels. It could also be useful when studying a lesson on Pablo Picasso. I experienced difficulty while attempting to place my art on this blog. After saving my image on the website, I tried to send the picture directly from the website to my blog using the "share" button, but only the link would show up on my blog. Instead, I utilized my newly learned skills with the Snipping tool and was able to "snip" and then insert the snipped image on my blog. The ISTE NETS T standards that relate to this activity are standards 1A and 2A. With this activity, teachers can promote creative thinking and inventiveness, and teachers can design relative learning experiences that use digital tools to promote student learning and creativity(such as a lesson about Picasso). Students will be able to use their creativity in creating their own personal "Picasso."

Snipping Tool

For today's assignment, I learned how to utilize a tool from Microsoft Windows called a Snipping Tool. I am not currently teaching, but am majoring in Special Education and English is my content area. So, for my hypothetical English class, I have included a "snip" of reference sources that could be used in my classroom. Due to my classroom being a special education classroom, some of my students may not know what a thesaurus is, or even how to use a dictionary. This image could at least provide a starting point for their understanding and comprehension.The snipping tool is actually very easy to use and I can see myself utilizing it often to provide visual examples for my future students. The ISTE NETS T standards that mostly relate to this assignment are: 1C and 2A. By utilizing the snipping tool, teachers/students can reveal and clarify understanding and teachers can design relative learning experiences that incorporate digital tools (visual aid) to promote student learning.