Mr. Rendon

Friday, August 6, 2010

Reflections:

1.- My favorite tools are the CREATION of videos, based on pictures or videos and the possibility to record our own voice. The intercommunication using SKYPE, which allow us to share voice and images in real time with other students, and the MODIFICATION of pictures inserting individual aspects as ideas or opinions as well.
I will plan activities for my students where they can take pictures, put them in order to create a slide show and record messages along with the slide show. I think this will be a booster in their creativity and will keep them motivated to learn by creating their own snapshots of the curriculum to cover.

2.- All these 11 tools have changed my way of thinking when teaching in the classroom, since I count with a huge variety of possibilities to better deliver instruction, targeting different learning styles at the same time.

3.- I was surprised to find some tools that will allow us teachers to intercommunicate and post our own opinions, by logging in one single site instead of sendending endless emails and correcting endless paragraphs of newsletters.

Tool # 11

About "Digital Citizenship" we must understand that it is our responsibility as teachers to make our students aware of the proper use of digit media and technology inside and outside the school.

What we have in our schools is a series of  "restrictions" to inform our students what is allowed and what is not when having access to any techological device, such as computers, i pods, i phones, sending text messages, but we should take the time to "educate" our students to be good digital citizens by showing respect and contribute to the society as active members.

We also need to be role models to our students when uploading or downloading information from the internet and be careful of copyrighted materials we need to use for instructional purposes.

I will encourage my students to act with responsibility, respect, and good citizenship when it comes to the use of technology in my classroom and outside in the community.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Tool # 10

I attended the ipod training since we are going to have a set of 5 ipods in the classroom for students to use as a learning center.
I had the opportunity to explore some of the apps these devices will have by default, and one that really captured my attention was the Dictionary. This app provides with regular definitions and SOUNDS. This will surely be of good use in my class.
I will add some more apps that I find interesting as well, like Brain Pop, a+ Math and so forth.
My students will enjoy learning with this type of technology for sure.

Tool # 9

What an amazing way to show instant information to all my contacts using Jing, by taking a picture of what I need to explain with words. My students will surely find this tool very useful when conducting research-based projects and taking pictures instead of trying to find out how to share some interesting findings.

About Skype, I Think this is a tool that allows instant video-communication among other classmates and share information in "real time". The advantage of this technology is that my students are able to contact other peers and talk and see and develop a complete formal conversation.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Tool # 8

This tool allows teachers to learn how to browse over countless video resourses to plan for a lesson using audio and video and add a wider way to approach several learning styles.
This video will illustrate one way to work in a ESL lesson.



This hot link will show a short video about the Water Cycle from Discovy Education:

http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=7CCAF63D-3C66-4020-80C2-0B805C17C7CE&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US

Friday, July 30, 2010

Tool # 7

This is a tool that will enhance my students' imagination to create and learn at the same time. I find this tool very fun to use while teaching.


Original Video - More videos at TinyPic

Tool # 6

This Wikki tool will allow my students to really collaborate in any giving project with the use of technology.
I find this tool very useful since everybody in my grade level team will be able to express/contribute individual opinions and information needed to be collected as a group.