Power point in the classroom

I've finally learned to do a powerpoint! Suprisingly easy to do. After seeing some of the powerpoints used in classrooms, being able to create one can add variety to my teaching techniques. Perhaps more importantly since students as young as my son in the 4th grade can create their own powerpoints, it's great to know what and how they are created. I imagine most high school students that present oral reports use Power point as the base for their presentation.

I guess this means I'm joing current technology

Great Web-Site for NEW Teachers!

While surfing I came across a website that would benefit all! Check it out.
Anastasia http://honolulu.hawaii.edu/intranet/committees/FacDevCom/guidebk/teachtip/teachtip.htm

Why not?

I did it!
I can't believe I did it! For many, posting a blog may seem trivial or at best a minimal undertaking but, for me - the technologically handicapped - this is huuuuuuge. You see up until about 24 months ago I had never written or received an e-mail, I've only "chatted" on line once (last week during a classroom exercise) and have never even read a blog let alone posted one. I want to take this opportunity to thank Mr. Henry Hill for his patience, enthusiasm, and encouragement. He didn't make me feel stupid and in no way hurried me to keep up with others and here I am!!!!! I remember commenting to a friend, about 3 years ago that I wanted to learn how to edit pictures and her laughing at me because I hadn't even figured out how to work my digital camera and was still using my 35mm. I can feel my dream unfolding and getting closer one click at a time!

Understanding How a Wiki works

I think that using a Wiki in our future education classes will help to bring the students together. It allows each child to share their thoughts and feelings on different issues we are covering in class. I am eager to learn more and to be able to apply this to future classes.

Loree

united streaming log on info

Try this:
http://www.unitedstreaming.com/ enter colliercounty in the userid and password. When I wanted to download video I had to choose "windows media player"
I've used this on early release day as a hook exercise on Colonial America.

Let me know if you see anything cool
Paul

I spoke to my son's 4th grade teacher today about technology in her SeaGate Elementary classroom. She had never heard of Tapped In and a Virtual Classroom. I sent her an invite to look at the classroom that I'm starting to build. I offered to help her get one started. So I guess we are on the cutting edge!

I was in the classroom today listening to the students present a story for their first Writer's Workshop. The teacher plans to have a Writer's workshop each month when the students read a story that they've written and are particularly proud. I suggested that she could start a blog so that the parents that couldn't attend the workshops could see what everyone was doing. Of course the students could also see their piece on display. She loved the idea. Wow, one more technology thing that I can share in the real world!

Cathy

I'm still playing

I'm still learning just to "look around". I am getting there....slowly!

Educational Websites

I agree that technology is great for the classrooms. It's amazing to me that my 4 year old can operate a computer, find a website under our bookmarks, and can play the games. As I am doing research for our classes of looking up lesson plans and motivational strategies, I am beginning to understand that time is the only limit to our learning!
Both of my children's teachers (Pre-K and 2nd grade) have posted on their school website some educational websites that we can use at home. I believe they use some of these websites in school to create interest in different subject areas. A few of the ones that we have tried already include:
www.starfall.com (great for my preschooler)
www.aplusmath.com (provides flashcards, worksheets, etc)
www.kidskonnect.com
www.seaworld.org
www.zoobooks.com
Have fun exploring!

Sandy D.

Get Students Motivated!

I believe that by using technology in teaching, you automatically have a student's interest. Students love working on the computer (at all ages). By starting a wiki in your classroom, and allowing your students to contribute to their class wiki, you will get a lot of input and participation. You are also teaching them valuable skills, which they may use in the real world. They are learning to participate and interact in a group project. You may allow them to decide what they want to use the class wiki for. Some ideas would be to help each other, through peer tutoring , on assignments they are having problems with. Or they could publish poetry or expressive writing. This gives students the opportunity to use creative thinking and self regulation skills. In doing this students are learning, improving their writing skills, and having fun while doing it. A suggested website to use for creating a wiki is pbwiki.
Pam G.

Wikiversity and Group Work

One place were people are attempting to build online courses is Wikiversity. Templates, suggestions, and more are offered. Generally, student assignments for a wiki will be group work. A great site for group work is Collaborative Learning: Group Work and Study Teams which offers suggestions on general strategies, designing group work, organizing learning groups, evaluating group work, dealing with student and faculty concerns about group work, setting up study teams, and references.

Wiki Can Be a Great Tech Tool

The use of Wiki appears to be an easy way to provide a place to organize information for both the students and the teacher. It can be used by the teacher to upload all the appropriate links and material for the day's/week's lessons for easy accessability in class. It can also be used by the students to add their own info and participate outside of class while keeping updated with extra information and assignments. It is similar to having a webpage.
It is fluid and simple to use for everyone.

Florida's Applied Technology Curriculum Planning Companion for the Sunshine State Standards

FLORIDA REGIONAL WORKFORCE BOARDS
Preparing All Learners for Tomorrow's Work Force: Florida's Applied Technology Curriculum Planning Companion for the Sunshine State Standards
http://www.fldoe.org/workforce/title.asp
Efforts are currently focused on the dissemination and training regarding the Office of Workforce Education's latest division wide application document PREPARING ALL LEARNERS FOR TOMORROW'S WORKFORCE: Florida's Applied Technology Curriculum Planning Companion for the Sunshine State Standards.
This document is a resource and a guide for local educational communities as they restructure their schools and programs. It presents broad, comprehensive concepts and ideas for development of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
Instruction in all subject areas must support the development of the essential skills described in Florida's School-to-Work initiatives. Connections to the community and the work place should be fostered within real life and work-based projects. Awareness, orientation, exploration, preliminary career focus and career specialization may be provided through the following benchmark levels:
Pre-K - 2 - awareness
Grades 3-5 - orientation
Grades 6-8 - exploration
Grades 9-12 - preliminary career focus
Grades 13 + - career specialization
Educators, this document will:
Give examples of performance descriptions of how students might demonstrate acquired skills and knowledge;
Correlate sample performance descriptions to Florida's Goal 3 Standards;
Encourage districts and schools to develop curricula that are guided by locally developed vision;
Provide overviews of models of good teaching, learning and assessment;
Present ideas for developing connections between applied technology and other disciplines; and,
Provide suggestions for the professional development of teachers.

What can we do?

As if you couldn't guess what my question is here goes... What can we do with today's technology in the classroom. I think there are some ways we can use technology in the classroom, for starters we can help students who miss class by getting them involved with www.tappedin.org. We can also increase our resources by looking up lesson plans, ways to motivate kids, and so on. Please let me know what you think.