End of Semester Reflection

I have learned so incredibly much this semester. Sometimes I still feel a bit overwhelmed when I think about all of the technology that is out there, but I'm not afraid of it like I used to be. I definitely had the tendency prior to this class to simply shut out technology, rather than try to figure things out. After being thrown into something like this though, I see the value that technology can have in a classroom and in an overall learning experience.

After taking this class, I can't imagine not using technology in a classroom. I think so many subjects can take on a whole new life just by introducing a bit of technology into it. Especially with this generation. There are so many great resources out there for students and teachers, you just need to know where to look. I feel that this semester really helped with that. Now I have some definite resources and starting points for my technology adventure. I am more at ease with using large pieces of technology such as the smartboard or even just the projector and computer. It was also really nice to see that technology doesn't always work, and though it's frustrating, it's not the end of the world.

Never before have I ever thought that technology was so valuable in a classroom. I've always had it stigmatized in my head as "something for adults". But with today's world, it's becoming more and more something for kids - and we as teachers need to realize that and take advantage of that. Our job as teachers is to prepare kids to the best of our abilities for the world ahead of them, and today, that includes technology. After a semester of being immersed in technology, I now believe that if we don't at least introduce kids to the use of technology and do our best to expose them to as much as we can, we are being neglectful in our duties as teachers.

Reflection #10

So apparently my mind has been a lot on how to get technology into the classroom on a budget, because I found another site that has cheap gadgets that could be very useful in the classroom. This one I actually found thanks to my fiance who recommended it. It's called think geek It's a website full of all sorts of gadgets - from things for the office, home, computers, and even a section for kids. They're not your typical gadgets either, but they're things that would be fun to use for some variety in the classroom. The prices aren't bad either... not super cheap, but definitely manageable for most things. I really liked the section on kids too. They mostly had toys, but some of them were very educational and technology based. The only thing with this site is to be careful what you order and where you are looking at it. There's nothing blatantly inappropriate, but there are some things that if a child became curious, might not be the best saying or joke to explain.

Reflection #9

I'm sure we've all heard of youtube... but have you heard of school tube ? It's just like you tube, except specifically for schools. It's a "moderated safe site". I'm not really sure how... but that's what they advertise. Schools can create an account and then share all different types of media with other schools or even just family members who want to see what they've been up to. They also have a site with educational games that they're working on, so that students can go there to play games rather than playing mindless free games they find on the internet.I think this would be an awesome site to use in with schools to get kids interested in and using technology, as well as a great way to network with other schools all over.

Reflection #8

Gizmodo! is the name of a new site I found that is about all sorts of different gadgets out there. It's actually called the "gadget guide." I spent a little bit of time looking at it and it has everything from cellphones, to cameras, to computers and more - providing updates on what new has come out, rumors about what might come out and lots more. It also has this really neat feature which was the selling point for me... it's called the "holiday dealsmodo". They have all sorts of popular gadgets for really cheap prices. The only problem is I don't know that they have this portion of the site all year. If they do though, it could be a really valuable source as a teacher trying to get technology into the classroom.

Reflection #7

Have you ever wondered how to do something? Well, I've found the perfect site for you to find out how to do it! It's called ehow! This site has everything on it. There are all sorts of recipes, arts and crafts and tons of other things. It is a great resource for a teacher on the go. Looking for a quick art project? E-how probably has one . There's a whole section on education - both for students and teachers. It also has a section on technology that could be very helpful for a quick technology fix. There are even video how-tos. This could be a great project for a class. You would have to create an account first, but I believe it's free. As a class together - or maybe in groups if it is an older class - you could figure out what kind of instructional video you would want to do and make it to post on this site. So take a look! I'm sure you'll find out how to do something you've always been curious about.

Reflection #6

I found this really neat site for your photos It's by adobe photoshop, and is really neat because of all of the effects you can do with your photos. It's a lot more than just a site to store your photos on and make a few adjustments. You can distort the images, make them into comics, change the colors, make albums, etc. I especially liked that it has a link to other sites you might have pictures on so you can access those as well. It is a really fun site and great for sharing photos with friends and family.

Assignment #4

So here it is... my technology project! I created a website using freewebs.com. It is such a great site! So incredibly easy to use... and cute too! Mrs. Wagner's Class is the name of the site. I used my married name so I wouldn't have to change it in a matter of weeks:)

I had so much fun creating this site. I was amazed at how simple it really was. There were a couple of things that were kind of tricky, but if I just spent a little time I eventually got it. I loved how there are so many options and things you can do with your website. They have all different kinds of pages you can use - like wikis, videos, blogs, a regular page, and many other things. Plus the freewebs has all sorts of widgets you can use. Even someone who has no knowledge of technology could use this site pretty easily with a little bit of time.

I learned a lot through this experience too. I learned that I can create a website! I also had to put a lot of thought into my future classroom, and activities that I might want to do with them, so that was fun. I also got a feel for working with widgets and the layout of a website. I feel like I can navigate through technology so much easier after taking this class and working on this project all on my own. Technology that I actually used during this project included:

• creating a website
• animoto
• widgets
• wikis

The only part I was a little confused on of those was the wiki. The one that I used through freewebs didn't look the same as the one we have used for this class. I think that I set it up right though. I think the difference is that the parent will have to sign in to the website for some reason before they can add their name to the wiki. This might be cumbersome to them, so I will probably play around with it a little more later to see if I can figure it out better.

I had a ton of fun using animoto! I hadn't really played with it during class like a lot of others, so I really enjoyed getting to see what all the fuss was about. I think this will be a great tool to use in the classroom, just as a fun way to get kids using technology.

Nets Standards: The two main standards that my project uses for students are the Standards 1 and 2. They are: 1. Creativity and Innovation
Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processesusing technology. 2.Communication and Collaboration
Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance,to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students will be interacting with this site regularly, adding stuff to it, creating projects for it, checking it for assignment updates, etc. They will be using it together as well as individuals.

Standards for Teachers that my project incorporates:

• Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
  Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society.

I will be modeling the use of technology through this website. I will continually update the site and post new information on there that will be beneficial for students and further their knowledge of technology.

Overall, I had a wonderful experience creating this website. I am excited to see how it grows and develops when I actually am in a classroom. Hope you enjoy it too!