EDU 6000 Blog Post #6

Not much done this week.  I received an email from central office stating that I didn't have a good enough description for my in-service class.  I had to go back and look over the information for my class and be more specific in the goals and tasks of the in-service.  Hopefully the coming week will be a little more exciting.

Review: Using BrainPop with Promethean ActivExpression Quizzes

This was a very interesting article.  I enjoy using BrainPop in my classroom.  For those of you who do not know, BrainPop is a website that offers cartoon videos over a variety of educational topics.  Students love watching the videos and they fit many state and national standards.  The only problem I have had is the quiz function.  The website's quiz function allows students to email results that can then be graded.  This is an excellent way to save paper, but bad for clogged inboxes.  Apparently BrainPop allows functionality with Promethean ActivExpression.  This a student response system that allows students to electronically respond to questions with a handheld device.  I had no idea that BrainPop offered this!  The only drawback is that my school uses CPS a different student response system and I have no idea if BrainPop supports this.  I am definitely going to research if BrainPop has functionality with other systems.  If so than I have found yet another tool to teach my students.

EDU 6000 Blog Post #5

I haven't had a huge load of work this week.  I am waiting on approval from Central Office on my inservice class.  My building administrator approved the class so I only have to wait!  I spoke with my building's academic coach about working on the Parking Lot.  This is a school level website created thru Shutterfly.  It is designed to allow collaboration and I made a post about different Web 2.0 tools that are useful in the classroom.  I think that my next task (until the inservice) is to lend my help to developing this website.  It seems pretty bare at the moment, but I think that I can change that!

EDU 6000 Post #4

I submitted my survey to the faculty and received a pretty good turnout.  I had a total of 22 people take the survey (not all of the teaching faculty but most) and 15 stated that they would like to learn about creating a website.  I spent some time with our Academic Coach in filling out the paperwork (is it really paperwork when it is all electronic?) and submitted my request for an inservice on February 28th. 

My survey can be found here: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dDg5b1RYUGp0d3JRekZtY0JId1BHS2c6MQ#gid=0

I am also intrigued on how I could use a survey in the classroom.  I can create tests, quizzes, and other types of assessments.  While I wait to for the inservice, I may look into showing others on my hallway the various uses of Google Docs!

EDU 6000 Blog Entry #3

I spoke with Mrs. Taylor about creating a survey for the teachers in my classroom this past week.  We took some time to look over a few possible websites for creating a survey.  We spoke about www.surveymonkey.com, but I feel that Google docs provided the best (and easiest) way to create a survey.  My survey will consist of 5 questions in regards to website creation (i.e. have you created a classroom website, familiar with Shutterfly, etc) and I will send this out to the faculty this week.  This past week was pretty light in regards to a work load, but once I compile my results and begin teaching others about creating a website I expect I will be yearning for the easier days :)

Review: Safter Internet Usage

Whiteboard Blog: Safer Internet Day

I thought that this might be appropriate for my first review.  Children need to be taught about proper internet safety before they log onto a computer.  Children are taught at an early age not to speak with strangers, look both ways before crossing a street, etc and internet safety should also be included.  This blog entry includes different resources for teachers as they teach this important concept.  I really appreciate that resources for older students are also included.  High school students who begin to make purchases online also need to be aware of phishing sites that could steal their identity.  There is also a link to posters that teachers an print and post in the classroom with different tips and helpful advice.  I may very well do this myself!