Post #12

The think that I really found most interesting from reading other peoples blogs was reading about the diffferent types of students they were going to teach and all of the different ideas that they had about using the technology that we just learned and bringing it into their own individual classrooms. I feel like I really picked up on a lot of new really cool ideas from the other students. I hope that I will be able to use some off their ideas in the future when I do get my own classroom.
I would really like to learn more about web 2.0 programs that can be used in the classroom, I always thought social networking sites should be kept out of the classroom because they would be a distraction to the students but i would like to see what other tools are out there that could possibly be useful!
My future technology related goals at this point would be to find a way to use computers to help my special needs students better connect with the world around them. I feel like using a computer to familurize students would help them further develope their social and communication skills. I am not really sure what I hope for besides that in the field of education because I have always considered myself rather illiterite when it come to anything more than a computer but I am willing to learn and grow and try new things!

Post #11

I had no previous experience with Twitter before this class. I honesty did not even know what it was or how to really use it. I was reluctant to create and account but I thought that it might be a useful tool to use in getting in contact with fellow classmates. I did not really ever end up using twitter but I feel like if I had to as an assignment I would have been more encouraged to use it. I think that it if had been more like blogger where we had to do weekly posts it would have been used more.
I do not plan on using twitter for pleasure purposes after this class. I feel like it is just another thing that I would have to keep up with and honestly I lost interest in it. As far as it being an educational tool, I feel like it would have to be a requirement. I would not really even know how to incorporate it into the curriculum. I do not plan on using it in my classroom but I will not be working with an age appropriate group of kids.

my awesome podcast

Post #10

I have never really used web 2.0 tools in the classroom before. I really have no idea where to start in using them in my own classroom. I was looking through many different websites and i found one that is a free picture website for anyone to use for any project. This tool would be really usefull when having my students create presentations and even when i make my own presentations and need pictures to draw in my students attention. Here is the link from where i found my site: http://www.edutecher.net/links.php and the actual home page is: http://4freephotos.com/

I don't really think that many web 2.0 sites should be used in the classroom but i feel like I dont really have enough knowledge to just this fairly. I was never taught to use any of these sites for an education purpose although I am sure that they can be used in such a mannor. I would really have to learn more about a site and understand it before I had my students use it.

Post #9

There are many research sites that I could use in my classroom, especially when working in a classroom with the autistic. The one I chose for today deals with how to set up a productive classroom so that the students do not get distracted and can focus. The article was written by a principle and discusses many helpful techniques in not only the physical set up of the classroom but also a few tips as to how the teacher so instruct and teach the students.
For example, one of the tips that was given on setting up a classroom was keeping the classroom structured and how to set up a visual schedule with pictures so it was easier for them to ready and understand with out an overwhelming amount of words. Another tip dealt with how to teach the children, in the sense that it demonstrated how to reiterate questions so that the students to reciprocate the answers and better remember them.
http://kendrik2.wordpress.com/2007/10/10/12-tips-to-setting-up-an-autism-classroom/
I am not sure if i will use excel or not, I really will not know until I get into the classroom and settle in with the needs of my students. At the elementary level, the only uses of excel that I would use would be behind the scenes, I would not have them using this program yet. I might use it for tasks such as creating tables and chart on the progress of each child and the class as a whole, or I might use it for keeping track of grades. Overall the uses of excel would be for my purposes only to show parents the progress or even just monitoring for my own sake.

Post #8

For my powerpoint presentation, I decided to create a jeopardy game. I used a very basic layout and a solid background color. I only used graphics and sounds on the answer slides as to not give the answers away. In linking the text I was able to change the font color once the hyperlink had been selected so that the participator knew which questions had already been selected. The powerpoint in general is very basic and easy to use.

The yellow text shows where the items have already been selected.

In my classroom pictures will be the main way for students to relate to the information that I am presenting. I also feel that soft music playing during quiet work time will be very productive. I do plan on using slide shows and other graphic displays in my classroom when presenting and reviewing information. It is always a good idea to have some type of visual aid for those students who are more visual learners.

I have really enjoyed learning about all of the fun and interactive ways to use powerpoints in a classroom setting. In highschool I had to create a story with no words using just powerpoint graphis and animation, while it was a fun project that allowed me to learn a lot about powerpoint it was not something that was really applicable to the classroom, now I feel like I have really learned more information that I will be able to take to my own classroom.

post #7

I think that using presentation software is very important to my students. Autistic children relate a lot better with visual examples instead of an abundance of words either spoken or written. With presentations I can use graphics with smaller descriptions that will help them to better understand the material I am presenting to them.
As far as the knowledge dimensions are concerned I feel that remembering and understanding go hand in hand as mentioned above, my students will be able to better relate to the graphics then just a mass of words. If I was teaching an older group, I would have them create a presentation and then have them present them and analyze and evaluate the other presentations. This would include all of the remaining knowledge dimensions.
An issue in education technology that now interest me is how people are beginning to use computers to help improve social skills for the mentally handicapped. I always thought of computers as a way to reduce social skills but with the new interactive programs that are being developed there is improvement being shown in those with mental handicaps.