Top 10 Technology Tools I Can't Live Without

Choosing just 10 technology tools I can't live without was difficult. My list is compiled of tools I need for not only the classroom, but for everyday life as well!
1. Iphone- smartphones have to be the most useful technology tool ever! You can call, text, access the internet, download apps, take pictures, and more! My Iphone serves as a little bit of everything for me, and I don't know what I would do without it.
2. LCD Projector- I live by this thing! I use this for bell ringers  notes, play videos and even games like "Jeopardy" and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire".
3. Laptop- this is the reason I am able to take the online classes I love! Mine is small enough to carry with me anywhere.
4. MiFi- this is my instant WiFi that I can take with me everywhere. Every place I travel doesn't have free WiFi, so this is so helpful.
5. Microsoft Office- Microsoft Office has so many tools I use including Word, PowerPoint, Excel and event Outlook for email.
6. Socrative- this instant quiz maker and grader that students can participate with and I can get instant results is amazing!
7. Animoto- creating historical videos is such a great learning tool for my kids. They love adding the music and the words. I only wish the free version was as long as you want it to be like it was my first year of teaching.
8. Instagram/Facebook- these are technology tools I use for my personal life. I love them because it is how I keep in touch with old high school and college friends that I don't see everyday. I will say I am not a fan of Twitter and will be deleting that as soon as this class is over.
9. Interactive Maps/Map Banks-when discussing World History with my students, I like for them to know what area of the world I'm talking about. Interactive maps help me to explain things visually. I also can go to map banks, print maps,and have the students label and color them on their own.
10. ALEX-the lesson plan ideas here are helpful. I wish there were more for my subject area, but I like to use this for ideas and make them my own.

Week 6

Apps for my IPhone are something that I do not know how I've lived without. I wish I had an IPad and a cord to connect to my projector, but that's something I'm looking into getting soon. My favorite apps to use in my classroom are the Socrative, Edmodo, and Animoto. Socrative is the one I love the most. There are quizzes already created, but I usually create my own and use them as pre-tests to see what the students know before I begin a unit. The app grades the tests instantly and I can either make the students enter their names or I can get a collective summary on how the students did quickly. It's so quick that I can even discuss the results with students right after they take the quiz. Our school district has started this new initiative "BYOD" or Bring Your Own Device. We can't afford to supply every student with a mobile device so we can encourage students to use their own. I allow students to use my stuff, some kids will bring multiples, or we just take turns sharing. Students love it! Edmodo is an app that is very similar to the Facebook app. Students can post questions, the teacher can post assignments or critical thinking questions, and everyone can instantly interact like Facebook or Twitter. This makes learning more enjoyable. Finally, Animoto is a tool I was introduced to my first year of teaching. Students can make a quick video on their topic for free. I think it's best for the teacher to create a quick video to use as an icebreaker for students. I would love to find more Apps that do wonders for the history class. I only wish that ALL of my students could have an IPad and that would make life so much easier.

Week 5

First off, as educators we must teach our students the importance of good digital citizenship. However, it is very important for educators to maintain good digital citizenship as well. Basically, the best standard to go by is to remember that someone is always watching. As educators, we must be careful what information we post, what pictures we post, and when we post because we are held to higher standards than most because of our positions as role models. Employers now often will search your name before hiring you because your digital reputation says a lot now, since so much of our lives are spent on the web. So, our students must not only understand, but we must understand the repercussions of not using good digital citizenship. Our lives, as well as those around us, can be affected. Leading by example, showing them with lessons, and modeling good behaviors is the best practice to create good citizens on the web.

Week 4

I have used several of the materials generators, but I was excited to find new tools! The first that I have used is RubiStar, a rubric maker. I usually use this tool when students have created a project, such as a PowerPoint or poster. I have also used discoveryeducation.com's puzzle maker. Particularly in my Basic Skills vocabulary class, students like crosswords to help them review vocabulary words. Finally, I would like to use centronsoftware.com's Test Creator. This would make things easier on me because I usually make my tests from Microsoft Word since I do not use the textbook tests.

Week 3

Many believe that computer programs can teach since they are able to do clerical tasks so quickly and efficiently. I do not believe that computer software should ever take the role of the teacher, as some do. Computer software should be used as a teaching tool to add in a teacher's toolbox to reach students of our technology-savy society. Below I have listed and described the five types of computer software, along with an example of each.
1. Drill and practice software gives the practice and rehearsal time and repitions that students need in order to place things in their long term memories. This software is beneficial to teachers because they receive immediate feedback about specific objectives.
         Example: Vocabulary practice software http://www.brainpopesl.com/
2. Tutorial software is a replacement for a teacher. The software literally has instruction on a topic without any other materials needed.
         Example: instruction software for teaching history subtopics such as the Constitution of the U.S. http://congressforkids.net/Constitution_writingconstitution.htm
3. Simulation software uses computerized models to teach how the system works. Simulations can be either physical (users can manipulate things) or iterative (speed up or slow down the process for learners).
         Example: stock market simulations http://nationalsms.com/
4. Instructional games attempts to make learning more fun and effective by merging games, fun and learning.
         Example: Jeopardy review games or vocabulary review games http://www.superteachertools.com/jeopardy/
5. Problem solving software is created to build a learner's problem solving skill, something that the country is placing a huge emphasis on.
         Example: Memory games http://www.criticalthinking.com/index.jsp

Web 2.0 Resources

I enjoyed each of the resources. Glogster took me a while to figure out, but I believe I will have my students create a glogster of their own. Animoto is a tool I've used since my first year teaching. Since then, the free video has been cut to 30 seconds so I don't use it as much. Finally, Voki was my favorite. Maybe hearing someone else's voice and making it an interesting character will help students remember important information.

http://crookj.edu.glogster.com/world-war-i

http://animoto.com/play/1m4pZ2TZ0gd0yaWUNlDVhA

http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=7855418&height=267&width=200

http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=7855437&height=267&width=200

 

Week 2: Should Wikipedia be forbidden in students' social studies research?

As a Social Studies teacher, I understand why this is a hot topic. I once told students that they should not use Wikipedia because much of the information is not reliable because anyone is capable of posting to it. Now, especially with the new career and college readiness standards being implemented, I am starting to allow them to use Wikipedia. As we focus on those higher order thinking questions, I have begin teaching my students to not rely on one source. Students need to understand that in basically every aspect of life they should do their research before forming their opinion. For instance, we do current event articles and I try to make students understand that reporters, news companies, magazines, etc. often lean towards a side and by forming your opinion from one current event you may find yourself leaning too. With research, teachers can let students use whichever resources they want, but force them to use several resources so that they will have to do the research and compare sources to find which sources are most reliable. Wikipedia may be reliable or unreliable in different instances.

WEEK 1 ED505 Introduction

My name is Jessica Crook. I currently teach 9th grade World History at Alexandria High School. I  coach volleyball and basketball at Alexandria, and I also coach club volleyball for the Southern Select Volleyball Club in Birmingham. I graduated from the University of West Alabama in 2010 with a degree in History Education. I played on the UWA Volleyball team while there and was an ambassador, among other things. There is truly something about this place! I will be getting married March 30 of this year to Brandenn. He works in Bessemer, so we will be living in Moody, AL (halfway between our jobs). I am eager to get new ideas with technology in the classroom because that seems to be a big push in my school system!