PLN 5 Webinar

Going 1:1 with Google for Education


         I watched a Webinar about 1:1 technology. This means that every student will have access to technology, such as iPads, in their classroom. In this day in age, technology is all around. Teachers and higher ups have begun to transform education using technology to their benefit. I chose this because it will be affecting me soon when I become a teacher!
         Open technology is the key to education at Google Education. They want to help students be open to a world of possibilities and have four tenants to express their program. These are: empowerment, choice, teamwork, and scalability. These are what will help make the student well rounded with technology. Teachers need to adapt and change the way they teach by having reliable and secure devices. 
          I will use this in my teaching because every student will have access to a laptop or iPad, so I will need to start learning as much as I can about technology! I really like how they talked about virtual lessons, where you can learn about sea turtles without ever having to go on a field trip. I think technology makes lessons so much more interesting. I really hope my students can each have an iPad one day. This could be used to my benefit the most because I am familiar with this device. 

Eschoolnews. Going 1:1 with Google for Education: Firsthand Experience with Tablets and Chromebooks. Kathy Kaputo. Joel Hammer. Alissa Green. Jennifer Harmstead. 

http://www.eschoolnews.com/2014/02/25/going-11-google-education-firsthand-experience-tablets-chromebooks/
Link up top!

PLN 4 SMART Notebook Files

Notebook Files

The files I found were for younger grades (kindergarten-1st grade). The first one was related to art and is called Color Bugs. 10-20 bugs of different colors appear and it is the student's job to drag the bugs to the appropriate color circle. The color circles have numbers on them, too, so students can also learn math! The Color Bugs This file was found on SmartExchange. (I would use this to teach younger students colors and math). Another file is Snap! Reaction Time Widget. This is a file that once you've finished adding content onto the cards, two cards will be displayed randomly and students have to press SNAP when the card's match. (I would use this for math and for a fun, interactive game). Race against the timer to complete the game as soon as possible! This game can be used for grades 1-12. This was also found on SmartExchange. Lastly, the file I found was Picker/Fruit Machine Widget. Randomly select a topic, or a student by using a fruit machine style picker. Type in names or objects and press enter to add the next one. This is for grades K-12 and can be found on SmartExchange. (I would use this for math and language arts).

PLN 3 SMART videos

Teacher-create SMARTboard videos: Interactive Whiteboard Demonstration by boomerpetway
Video

This is a beginner instructional video from a teacher showing how to use the interactive whiteboard. He demonstrates various aspects of the SMARTboard and answers questions. He shows how to write, erase, and copy pictures. He also talked about how you can purchase a wireless keyboard and wireless mouse so that you can use that instead of the actual board since it can be pesky! This is a basic video that helps for first time users!

Teacher-created SMARTboard videos: Gameboards for SMARTboards by aprissm
Video

This video shows you how to create a game for your class for review, or whatever purpose you want. She shows you how to use the gallery tool to create shapes for the game, and then you insert text to ask questions and have answers on the "back." She shows you how to lock tiles in place. You learn how to center, change color and size of tiles.

Creating Content for the SMARTboard: Magic Pen Demo by SMARTclassrooms
Video

This video shows you the ways to use the Magic Pen. One way is by spotlighting anything on the page in which you draw a circle anywhere and a spotlight instantly appears. Next, you can magnify objects by drawing a box around any area you want to focus on and then you can enlarge. Lastly, you can use the magic pen by writing notes without having to erase them later. You write anywhere, and text disappears within 10 seconds.

Visiting Other Blogs!

I first visited Zoey’s blog, and commented on her post about Motion Math. I thought this was a great app filled with games to help students learn mental math. In one game, students can operate a pizzeria where they learn to add and subtract! I thought this was a great tool to help students with their math because it is a fun way to engage them and get them interested.

Connection to teaching: I would love using this as a racing game to help students with their mental math.

Next, I went to Kim’s blog and she had a post about using tablets in the classroom. I love the idea of implementing technology in the classroom and thought her post was great, especially because she listed fun apps that had to do with art because she wants to teach that. There are so many interactive learning games on tablets that can help kids with learning; I think they should definitely be used in the classrooms.

Connection to teaching: Personally, I believe tablets, Smart boards, computers, anything technology wise, really helps students visually and auditory understand the subject better-I will use them whenever I can.

Lastly, I visited Shanay’s blog and she had a post about Miss Kindergarten. This was a great tool to help kindergartners learn how to surf the web. They are at a young age, and I think this tool is so helpful in teaching them the beginning of using the internet. I would definitely use this in my classroom if I were teaching kindergartners.

Connection to teaching: I would use this tool for kindergartners, and if I was teaching older grades, there is probably a tool on how to effectively search the web as well. 

Get Crafty for Winter

Snowy Day Inspiration
This winter, give students a break and let them get crafty! I love this idea because students get to use paint and get messy :) The idea is for the kids to think about what they want to be when they grow up. Once they have a future occupation in mind, they make a snowman to look just like the person they want to become! 

First, teachers can get the crafts from JoAnn Fabrics using Teacher Rewards. 
Materials Needed: 

• white paint
• blue construction paper
• Sharpies (variety of colors)
• plastic, clear photo frames
• paint brushes 
• white paint pen

Students can use their fingers in the white paint to create the snowmen. Then, decorate the snowmen how they want with Sharpie & write "When I grow up..." in white pen on their project. Last, but not least, they can frame their artwork so everyone can see!

Boom Writer

Boom Writer is the new way to inspire creative writing in your classroom!! 
Boom Writer Blog

Boom Writer

Teachers presents all kinds of writing-nonfiction, narrative, persuasive. Creative writing is always forgotten about in the classroom! Many times, it is hard for students to find inspiration on what to write about. This fun, interactive tool uses technology and writing for students to learn how to get started on creative writing. 
How it works: the website gives the students a start to a story->students then pick characters->once finished, they submit their work for reviews & revisions->the class voting begins->students do not know who wrote the pieces (their work is anonymous)->winning selections become the book's next chapter! Students will love this way to write stories, since they get to read everyone else's, and impress the class with their own. Boom Writer is putting the fun back into writing! This will also help students get all the practice they need to become experienced writers!

Feedly

Reader of Choice
I have chosen to use Feedly for my news and blog feeds. I have found this tool to be very easy to use.