Tool 11

1.I think my favorite tool is going to be trying out Skype with authors. I think it will be really enjoyable and different to interact with the author of the book the students are reading and be able to ask questions on why an author wrote what they did.

2. I think the school year is going to be very full. I hope it will not be hard to integrate all the technology. I think in some cases it may be that the amount of information of a topic will be too great and overwhelming. Hopefully it will not topple over and drown not only me in trying to wade through all the great tools but also scare off some reluctant learners. 

3. I was actually surprised with how many of the tools and apps I am already using at home and in school. It makes me feel very confident and hopeful that I can combine all learning styles and sites together effectively.

Tool 10

1. I want to make sure my students understand:
A. That items inputted online through emails, Facebook, etc. can never really be erased so be careful! Watch what pictures are posted by you or even by friends, some may seem fun now yet later it could mean not getting that dream job or promotion.
B. Not everything they search and find first is right or truthful. Always look at more than two sources or be sure that the writer of the information is cited and creditable.
C. Never share information even as adults, you never know if the person reading is bigger/meaner than you.

2. Brain Pop videos on computer etiquette are awesome.They get right to the point and do so in a way that is not mean and kid friendly.

3. When searching for answers to questions during class, the Activ board needs to be at square one so the students can not only watch me enter info in to search engines but also see the reality that pops do occur and not to open them. Along with on going dialogue that narrates the steps that I am doing. Once the class and I have done this a few times, it is their turn to search for items online for the class to walk them through.

4. informing parents can be done several different ways: Parent Night, Blog postings of events to watch for, as well as assignments that require online research to be done with parent assistance (signature) that way both the parent and student learn/observe the online world together.

Tool 9

1. I think it is important to tie technology  to the objective because everything we do in the real world is tied to technology. Therefore in order for students to internalize that what they are learning is important and relevant, technology needs to a part of it. Without that vital piece many would think that they are never going to use or need what they are learning about.

2. We need to hold students accountable for the stations just like every thing else we do in class. Being able to answer test questions is not enough, the stations provide students and teachers that opportunity to really use technology in a real world application and the student is needed to understand how it works, relates, and functions so then they can take that activity and recall it later when needed.

3. Websites:
1. Big Huge Labs - this would be a great way to showcase a novel read and use technology to make it great.
2. Dvolover - looks very user friendly with step by step instructions on how to create a movie, comic strip. Can easily be adapted to a book report on either the main character, main idea, or extension or beyond the book.

4. Apps:
1. MadLibs - I like this app due to the various words needed. - I would have this as a half station or two part station - one half/ part is to play the game, second half/part would be to create their own MadLib and complete with a partner on google docs or written to turn in.
2. On This Day...
This app is just interesting listing the events and births that occurred on a specific day.
I would use this as a warm-up or free write station in which on could pick a random date, look at  the result and then create a story or research a topic that they found the most interesting on that date. One could either type, paper/pen it, or even iTalk record their story.(Thus using multiple apps at one sitting)

5. I really see my students not only using the apps provided and found for educational purposes but also using some at team building activities. There are a lot of apps out their that are starting to be able to link devices to one another so you can play together. One of my family's favorites is a pictionary spin-off where one person/group is given the word to draw and the other device has to guess the picture by only seeing the picture being drawn on their device and type in the word. What an awesome team building/working together activity!

Tool 8

New Items:
1. That teachers are allowed and able to find/install apps that they feel are appropriate for students with out having to get prior approval.

2. I did not know you could have up to 11 pages of apps/ home screens. - That's a lot!

Management:
1. The first thing I will need to do is to make sure who can/cannot have internet access depending on activity.
2. Determine who needs one or who has their own technology devices that have been brought to the room.
3. Technology etiquette lessons will need to take place several times before an actual lesson.
4. Active monitoring of all devices throughout the lesson/center times
5. Written and verbal instructions on what to do and how to get to specific activities located with devices
6. Have one student responsible for passing out the materials and a different one for picking up. With two different people many miscounts are decreased.

Tool 7

Since this is the summer and we are just starting off I am going to propose a project that will lead to an understanding of Skype and how to use it. After the project described below, the students can then begin to Skype another class since we have walked through the process together during the author study.

1. Post the following about the project:
   1. Content objective - The learner will understand the writing process of a novel from an author while reading and discussing the book in sections.
   2. When you plan to implement - During the second nine weeks (after our poetry unit)
   3. What tool(s) you plan to use - Skype with authors, blog to write and create reading Q&A sessions, novels both paper and electronic (whichever ones we have)
   4. A brief description of the project (plan - two or three sentences)- The learner will be introduced to the author and the book from the author through Skype website. They will then begin reading the novel while posting blog comments/questions/responses with the group. During weekly to biweekly Skypes, the students and author will discuss the book and the reasons/meanings behind each section read.

Tool 6

1.One of the tools that I really like and use is Skype. My family and I have been using this and it is alot of fun and extremely useful since my sister lives in New Zealand. By using Skype we get to not only talk to each other but also see each other. We also use our cameras to walk around and show the scenery/houses to each other.
Skype

I can really see this being useful in the classroom by having a sister school in other states/countries converse over specific topics that are unique to their geographic location.


2. I am very interested in the poll everywhere site. I like that we do not have to keep up with Activ Votes or other district materials, it is solely student materials. That also being said, i do have to make sure that all my students have access to the needed materials.
The multiple choice is neat however, I really like the availability to have a text answer for up to 32 students so the questions could be more open ended/ thought provoking.
Poll Everywhere

I think both of these programs would encourage participation due to the availability of technology and meeting people from somewhere else. The option of being able to use their own materials would be a big plus to many students.

Tool 5 - Wordle

Tool Choice 2 - Wordle

The learner will use their personal narratives to reduce the number of high frequency words used in their writing. They will also share their Wordle with the class in order to help others find new/different words to use while writing.

The one I created could be used to find new verbs for run/walk that one may not think of at first.

Tool 5 - Animoto

Tool choice 1 - Animoto

The learner will: create a free verse or rhyming pattern poem and present it by using animoto to illustrate it. The pictures can be taken from them or downloaded from the computer. They can be people, places, or things as long as they move/illustrate the poem.

The one I created could be used to prompt a rhyming or free verse poem on sisters

My Animoto Video

Tool 4

1/2. I have in the past and currently this summer sent and received Google docs. Thus far I have in the past coordinated with 4 other family members on an itinerary for our family summer vacation. We created a Google doc, share it, and then add or delete activities per day of the vacation. This also works for our expense report of the trip so everyone can see where the money if coming from and if everyone has contributed a shared amount.
In work, I have received our campus calendar and have in the past shared lesson plans/activities that have been edited depending on the items needing to be added or deleted from the lesson.
3. In the classroom, Google docs can be used from the classroom to the home. I am excited to try paper writing by starting a paper in class and then sharing the document with the students to complete at home on various nights. having the students assigned on different nights will allow more editing and hopefully ideas to develop.

Tool 3

I am going to embed one personal and one professional video:
1.

This was made with my two daughters (9 and 7) and the cousins (11 and 9). It just shows you how much the younger generations know about technology!

2. I picked this video because I like the way that the things I watched in the past are still used and loved today. That even though we have cartoon network, nick., and many other children shows Cookie Monster is still recognizable and loved by all. (who doesn't like cookies?)


3. Copyright and Fair Use: I found this video/concept very interesting and wide ranging. I thought this because one of the main points of Fair Use is to ask yourself if I added value. That seems very subjected to public/personal opinion. As in the first video I posted from my kids and nieces, they used a country song and to them added value and purpose but to others even the artist may not agree. Thoughts?

4. Dropbox:
This seems very much like Google docs. I can download documents and share them with anyone I choose.
This could be very helpful in papers that my students write, I can drop their papers in and then grade them on any device that is convenient to me. I could even have a folder per topic in my classroom and add folders/pictures/examples/Activ activity so during the lesson I can just open the folder in order to have all materials right there.

Tool 2

1. Diigo:
This site is great! I really like that you can not only access info found on the laptop but also portable devices (iPhone, iPad). I can really see literature circles taking off and even moving to longer discussions that can be done outside of class by having students and teachers highlight, discuss specific portions, and even tag articles that justify certain views during discussions. This is one that I really would like to try not only in the classroom but also at home in order to keep all project ideas, hobby info, and interest reads together.
2. Google Reader:
At first this site is not as user friendly I think as other Google sites. Once I started searching my own topics however, it is turning out to be more interesting. My favorite one, (I even subscribed) was when I entered middle school language arts and got The Reading Zone. This one not only catalogs a teachers way of explaining certain books but also has feeds and reviews of other popular titles. Very helpful in swimming through all the new young adult books out there to find a review that can be helpful in the school setting in not only pairing a book with a child but also background info of the authors to tell kids.
I have also joined Book-A-Day Almanac that not only gives a summary of the book but also sample pages of books for middle school students.
3. The blogs I visited were: The Nerdy Book Club : nerdybookclub.wordpress.com/, drferreri.blogspot.com/, and www.fromthemixedupfiles.com/

All the blogs were very useful in giving opinions about books as well as insight on how or when to read certain books discussed. 

4. I am not worried or scared about sharing information on the sites that I found since all them are reviews/insights into books that are read by middle school students. I did not share any thoughts at this time since I had not read the books that the bloggers were actively discussing.  I do not or will not feel comfortable on sites that describe the teacher's day teaching and their comments on their students whether it is positive of negative.(as seen/reported on news)

Tool 1

I did not find creating a blog to be difficult. Google/Blogger has made it very user friendly and it helps that it walks you through all parts of creating a blog and personalizing it. I have used a blog in the past with my 4th grade students and can not wait to dive right in to another blog with 7th graders! I am hoping my students this year will be more actively engaged in the blog and be able to navigate/post easily on to the blog since they are older.