Marge's+Journal

**I am sure there are many effective methods of using the internet in any classroom, and while I can only write a few sentences on this topic now, I hope that by the end of this class I will be able to write, well, more than a few sentences. For now, I will focus on what I can do in a 3rd grade classroom as that is the age I will teach this year. I can use the internet to both display and have students explore a number of educational websites. For example, in my children's lit class we explored various authors' websites in which they explain how they write or illustrate books. Websites such as these could be used in whole class activities or for individual students or small groups to research and then present. Of course the internet can be used, even in a 3rd grade classroom, for all sorts of research. I can guide students to certain websites to learn about anything from current events to animals for a science project. Furthermore, I can use the internet as a way to connect the students to each other... like wiki, for example. Students can post new thoughts, ideas, or assignments whenever they want to (from home or school) and view their classmates' responses from any computer. The same thing could be done on paper but would only be accessible at one site, could only be accessed by one student at a time, and would kill lots of trees :) THE END
 * July 6, 2008 - What are some effective methods of using the Internet in your classroom?

I think this process will be a very ongoing one as I have a lot to learn about the web as a classroom tool. I also think the process itself could be just as valuable (if not more) for students than the actual usage. It is always authentic and effective to learn about something with your students. The students learn that you are a lifelong learner, and that you are always interested in learning new things. They also learn that they can teach you things - something I think many teachers refuse to believe. This belief, when shared with students and incorporated into your classroom philosophy, can help create a respectful learning community, and it can do wonders for students' self-esteem and efficacy. More specifically, I am aware that the process of learning and using the web could be a rocky one, particularly in an under-funded public system, and it will require patience and flexibility! It will also require open-mindedness and sometimes extra work, but I think and hope it will be worth the effort and rewarding for both teacher and students. THE END
 * July 13, 2008 - Reflect upon the process of learning and using the web as a classroom tool...**

**July 14, 2008 - What are some effective methods of using the Microsoft Office Suite in your classroom? ** I'm sure will use Microsoft Word in my classroom in my writing curriculum. Students will publish their writing pieces by typing them in Word and then printing them out (the curriculum I will use has them type on the bottom half of the page and then illustrate their story at the top). I might also use Powerpoint as a way for students to publish and then present their writing pieces. We could scan in their pictures and they could type the text into pp slides (same format with text at bottom of slide and illustration at top). Students could either read aloud their "pp books" while classmates watch the presentation (on TV, big screen, whatever), or students could simply view their classmates pp books as they please on the classroom computers. I could also use powerpoint to put together digital research packets for kids... I will have students do research for a few different projects, and for younger students, it is way to overwhelming to simply set them loose in the library or on the computer. So I can make (quick and easy) presentations with links in them about certain topics, and they can research within my powerpoint presentations (I have actually seen the paper version of these in a USN 1st grade classroom). By making it in pp, kids learn a little more about computers, and again, we save trees! I hope to use Microsoft Excel as a grade book. I'm not sure what the other teachers on my team do, but I plan on making one for my project, and hopefully I will become familiar with it and be able to use it in a way that would be more efficient than keeping up with grades on paper. THE END 

I really enjoyed learning more about Microsoft Excel and setting up a grade book. I kept having to check back over it though to make sure that all of my formulas were perfect and set up so that they would be correctly altered as I added new grades in. It still makes me nervous, to be honest, to trust that for my grades. I know I will be tempted to check the math with a calculator for a while! Also, I am aware that I will really need to push myself to use this grade book this year so that I get in the habit of it and it becomes easier than just keeping the grades on paper. Old habits are hard to break, and once the school year starts, and I want to be using whatever method is easiest and least time consuming.
 * July 20, 2008 - Reflect upon the process of learning and using Microsoft Office as an effective tool.** (late, i know, no excuse!)

First of all, I know I will use it to photoshop kids in to group pictures. It drives me crazy when people are missing for a group photo. I also know I will use it for the annual family Christmas card as our family has grown to over 10 people and are rarely all together (and in a peaceful enough state to all sit and smile for 10 minutes). I bet I will also use photoshop just for documenting what our class does everyday. I like for parents to be updated (via pictures on the wall or on a website or wiki or email) on what we have done in class. For video... Video is good to use when students perform readers' theater or other plays, skits, etc. It is also good for interviews and for virtual tours to places that you cannot take the whole class. I think our group project is going to be a virtual tour of some of Nashville's hot spots for students who have, for example, never left their neighborhood. THE END
 * July 22, 2008 - What are some effective methods of using digital imagery and video in your classroom?**

Well, it was hard! Photoshop is really neat, but it just took me a while to even get the basics down. But I really did enjoy using it, I am excited to look at the ways my classmates used it. I don't foresee myself actually teaching my students (3rd grade) to use it, but I might use it for class pictures, collages, etc - and also, as I mentioned, for personal photos. We have yet to edit our video, but I learned a few things from the parts I filmed. 1 - I cannot hold the camera still! Tripods are good. 2 - Voicing over is much easier as there are always interruptions - even at peaceful Radnor Lake! 3 - It was so fun to use the camera! If I at 25 enjoyed it so much, 8 year olds would love it. I hope to be able to allow my students to use the camera themselves. I do know that we have a class digital camera (not video), and I will have a photographer as a classroom job so we can document our year. THE END
 * July 23, 2008 - Reflect upon the process of learning digital imagery and video.**

I will probably allow the students to use the internet for research as research is something we learn to do in 3rd grade. I will need to set some very explicit rules and procedures, though, for how students can use the internet and what websites they can visit. Also, we have been told that all Metro classrooms will get a projector soon, and I will be able to project whatever is on my computer onto a large screen, so then, the possibilities are endless! I hope to use teachertube and GoogleEarth, etc. We may even eventually get SmartBoards which, of course, opens up many more possibilities as well. THE END
 * July 29, 2008 - Brainstorm other effective uses of technology not discussed thus far in class.**

I had a great time in this class. Seriously - even when I would get frustrated cause I didn't know what I was doing, I was still having fun. I think a lot of that had to do with the fact that there was very little pressure and that everything was within my reach (or in my zone of proximal development to use a hot phrase). Each project stretched me just enough but not to any breaking points. I think it was good to have a brief overview and chance to play/work with each of the major technology topics (Office, internet, etc.) that we are likely to use as teachers. I know it is difficult to plan and teach this class as people come in with such different levels of skills... much more so than any other class, I can imagine. So I enjoyed the brief introductions and then the freedom to choose (in a way) our projects. It was definitely effective for me as it just opened my eyes to all the wonderful possibilities for using tech in my classroom. I have come out feeling much more confident in my technology abilities, and I am excited about using it in my classroom. I am glad this was my last class before I started teaching (partially because it wasn't stressful) because had I not had it now, I don't think I would push myself to use much technology. As a first year teacher, I will be overwhelmed and thinking about a billion other things at once... and I have heard the other teachers at my school complain about the computer/computers in their room and how they never work and they don't have time to think about how kids can use them, etc. But coming right out of this class, I will be motivated (and feel empowered) to use them effectively. HOORAY FOR TECHNOLOGY IN THE CLASSROOM! THE END
 * July 30, 2008 - Reflect upon this class, its effectiveness, its content, and your place in it.**

back to Marge's page and portfolios