INTASC

A brief summary of a few various tools which have been used in this blog site are described on the Evaluation Table.  Although it is concise, it does not reflect the depth of knowledge that I have gained while learning all the applications demonstrated on this blog site.

Multimedia Project Using Screenr

Screenr is an incredibly simple way to create web based screencasts.  Record and interject your personal thoughts and opinions before sharing with the world on Tweeter, Facebook, or where ever you decide to embed your creation.  This would be a great way to engage kids to explore, learn, and record information they would like to share in class, with both their friends and teachers.  The added feature that allows students to voice over what is being recorded will only bring to life their meaningful perceptions.  This application would also extend learning outside of the classroom.  Screenr could be used to demonstrate lesson plans, example problems, or bring to light current events, while including personalized comments to post on the class web site for all students to access.  It is an excellent fun overall tool, which would supplement any learning style, to incorporate into the classroom.  

Student Data & Trends Using Google Sheets

I thought the exercise with Google Spreadsheets was a great way to compare and familiarize myself with a program similar to Excel.  Analyzing student data from a slightly different angle forced me to reevaluate my perspective on their results.  For example, by isolating and comparing the test results from students who fell below the class average (for tests 6 through 10), I was able to clearly determine the test scores showed a general increase in their trends. I could also observe in the classroom how and why these students were able to accomplish this success, and focus on the teaching style that had allowed them to improve. It also might help to boost their confidence by acknowledging their success shown in these trends. They might even learn to appreciate how graphs are used to extrapolate useful information, especially as it pertains to them.

I took the analysis a step further and compared only tests 6 and 10 for each student in this group.  This graph illustrates two pieces of information, 1) it shows improvement by comparison of the two tests for each student and, 2) the area between the lines representing the two tests visually proves that every student was able to achieve better test scores on their last test. Although these students tested below average for the class, it is more important to see that they are learning and improving their skills. 

To see student data click on the link below.

http://tinyurl.com/yheylr3

TinyURL Presentation

 TinyURL is a really cool tool for LINK CONTROL!  I highly recommend this nifty little site to reduce "linkage stress" that you will probably encounter sometime in your personal and professional technology life.
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Edmodo Application for Teachers

Edmodo is a great web2.0 tool for engaging students by utilizing their opinions to increase learning enhancement. It also allows teachers to effectively communicate privately with their students, and adds versatility and convenience for turning in homework.

Web 2.0 Presentation

http://docs.google.com/present/view?id=dddvm7rf_39gszkkddh&interval=30

I interpret Web 2.0 as web based applications, for personal and/or professional uses, with accessibility advantages (access from any computer, anywhere), which help to simplify organization, collaboration, and social interaction. NO SOFTWARE REQUIRED!

Web 2.0 can instantly become advantageous to any educator. Its uses could considerably benefit any aspect of education, including, effective learning, communication, implementation of procedures, as well as providing a way for students to get involved with their own education. The technology provides a simple way to organize all the needs of the teacher. I personally have been impacted from learning of Web 2.0, and has changed my outlook on learning strategies as a future educator.

Edmodo is one very effective application which was designed to help teachers privately communicate with students. It provides educational activities, actively involves students in diverse learning, and allows anonymous feedback from the students. Educators could utilize this tool as a means for improving learning activities and lessons from useful opinions received from the students. It's privacy would likely prompt students to give their feedback, and teachers could use this information to make decisions and adjust their curriculum. It's a great way to promote participation.

Another application I love is Nota-grab it, mix it, share it. The title says it all! A collaborative tool used to mix photos, text, videos, or pretty much whatever you can get off the internet, to create any type of project imaginable. Use it in conjunction with Jing to record and capture images and video displayed on your screen to share. It's a cool and easy way of adding visuals to the content of the project. These applications can be applied to collaborative learning in any subject. Students would have access to infinite knowledge that could easily interpret or represent their understandings of concepts. And it would be fun!