Spreadsheets, Databases, and More

So Spreadsheets are so neat and can be used by teachers in so many ways. We can use spreadsheets for gradebooks; this is a great way to see our how our students are doing and it saves us a lot of time. As teachers we should be looking for ways to make our job easier and more efficient, spreadsheets is a way to do this. Another use for spreadsheets is rolls, nametags and planning our cirriculum. Technology is great and can help us to use our time more effectively.
Do YOU love databases?
This author does. Check out this website it has so many good resources and is quite entertaining."I love databases"

YETC visit

We visited the YETC and it was way cool we learned a lot about the resources that we have available through USU. Here is a link to the online resources that we have at USU in the YETC. (http://teacherlink.ed.usu.edu/tlresources/nathan/index.html)
My favorite are the online resources. Even after I get my degree I still use these resources.

Education is very cool also because it has come so far in such a short amount of time. We have gone from the old transparencies and the overhead projectors to digital projectors and now we have a micro vision pico projector. This projector is on the back of a phone like a camera. Here is a cool video about it on You Tube.
Micro Vision Pico Projector in You Tube. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PASmagiEFCc)

As this INST class is coming to a close, I am surprised to say that I am kind of sad to see it go. I have learned so much in this class and so many techniques and enhancements to my teaching style. I hope that I can take what I have learned and keep learning more but I am not sure how I will do that. I just don't spend time on technology. One thing I need to learn is how to be a better searcher. I am a great applicator, but my searching skills are limited to what I can find on the encyclopedia of new knowledge "GOOGLE. " Since we only have one more class I feel to reminisce about the things I have learned: I have learned how to make a movie, how to use itunes, where to find podcasts, how to better use our on campus resources, about digital learners( who even knew they existed), more uses for digital cameras, how to blog and wiki, and so much more. Well I will keep this blog up. See you all soon

Check this out it is amazing

Check this out!

Check it Out! Website Evaluation

The Google Gen is growing up and as we all know so much knowledge is on the web and so much garbage as well. We need to be able to look critically at websites and teach our children to as well. One way to do this is through web evalutations. Here are a few questions regarding website evaluations...


What forms did you like/dislike? The least helpful website evaluation form was from http://www.ncsuedu/midlink/tutorial/WWW.eval.html. On this particular web eval you had to rate it from 0-4 for each section. To make this website better you could say what makes something a 0, 1,2,3,or 4.


The best evaluation form was


http://discoveryschool.com/schrockguide/. This was the best website because it was helpful for both students and teachers.


Were there any hidden secrets about a website you discovered by using an evaluation form? I discovered other website links and who wrote the websites and their credentials.


What is the value of using a web site evaluation process? There was one website as I looked at it that I thought it was a good website but as I went over the evaluation form I realized how outdated and how much better it could have been. This was very valuable because I wouldn't have realized all those points if the website eval wouldn't have pointed them out.


Although it was good that I used formal web eval for these websites there are times however where I wouldn't use a formal eval. One example is when you trust the source like on UEN.org or on the national library website.

Remember although google seems to be the encyclopedia of knowledge it is not always the most reliable so be smart and check things out.

Singing a Different Tune

As I have talked about in many of my blog entries as a teacher we need to teach the whole child, this means we have to teach the whole curriculum. But, you may say I just don't have enough time to teach music, PE, or art. What if you integrate these into your curriculum? Here are some ideas for integrating music into your elementary curriculum.
You can integrate music in your classroom by letting children listen to tunes while doing homework, you can have music to integrate culture. National Geographic has some really neat ethnic music that you can listen to and bring into your classroom. Don't let yourself be limited by these ideas go out and integrate music in your classroom. The secret to teaching the whole curriculum and the whole child is to integrate.

Here is a lesson plan from UEN if you feel brave and what a more complex music lesson.
Song Writing

Gregory the Beauiful Dragon

This is an original story written by the INST 4010 Class.

Once Upon a Time
by Amanda Beutler

Once upon a time there was a beautiful dragon named Gregory.

There was also his many dragon companions which didn't like Gregory or his beautiful scales.

One day Gregory was lounging in an open field, letting the sunlight glimmer off his beautiful scales. Suddenly, from the woods at the edge of the field, he heard a group of loud grunts and screams.

Then he heard footsteps. The sound of thousands of feet stampeding in panic, accelerating and coming toward his direction. “The trolls! The trolls!” the villagers screamed. “They've invaded!” Gregory knew he needed to do something to help. But what about his beautiful scales? He couldn't possibly risk them in any kind of battle.

So he decided that he needed to make some kind of armor to protect his magnificent body. He tried and tried to mold the metal but could not figure out how humans could make armor. He knew he needed to risk his life and his beautiful scales to save the people, but he just didn't think he had the courage.

The only other idea Gregory had that did not include going to fight was to go to his other dragon companions who didn't like him or his beautiful scales. He asked them if they were going to help save the village from the trolls. They glared at him and replied, “Now why would we do something like that?! They are just humans.”

Gregory knew he had to be the one to save them even if it meant putting his beauty at risk. He flew into the village and defeated the trolls by the sun shining off his beautiful scales. He blinded the trolls and pushed them into the water. From that day his name was changed that day to Gregory the Great. Every human and beast (including his dragon companions) loved Gregory the Great.

The moral of this story is just be yourself, only you have unique and special skills.

Learning can be fun?

If you have children that are visual learners or just want to spice up your cirriculum here is a fun idea for teachers. "Children want to learn to the degree that they are unable to distinguish learning from fun. They keep this attitude until we adults convince them that learning is not fun."-- Glenn Doman

This website has some really fun games on them that you can use for your classroom and integrate into the cirriculum.

Powerpoint Games

As a teacher do you what in your classroom your visual learners pay the most attention to? The answer is your blackboards. It is so important in your all learner friendly classroom to make your bulletin boards educational and informational. What is it about bulletin boards that visual learners can take their information? When visual learners are able to "see" the concept they will be able to comprehend more. Knowing this what can we as teachers do in the classroom that will be more comprehensive to visual learners? We need to make handouts, we need to use overheads, what is another option? Just what I talked about earlier is powerpoint games. With these powerpoint games you will not only be able to help the visual learner, but the auditory, social, and tactile learners as well. Make sure that your cirriculum is sensitive to all learners and don't forget you can have fun too. As I have taught in the classroom I have noticed and science has factualized this as well that if children learn as they are "geared" to learn they will retain the information faster and for longer periods of time. Don't rely on just me; however there are so many books out there on multiple intelligences. Check it out! The original source is titled Frames of Mind by Howard Gardner, the father of multiple intelligences.

Teaching the Children of Today

Digital Cameras are a necessary tool according to Kurt Johnson professor of Instructional Technology at Utah State University. But what will you ask can I use a digital camera for? A digital camera can teach children so much. Depending on your district policies you can post pictures of students for the parents to see when they come to parent teacher conferences. You can let the students control their own education. Isn't that what we strive for individualized education. One example is that you send children on a "hunt" to find letters around the area. They can take pictures of letters and compile their own alphabet. What a way for children to learn the alphabet not too mention personalize it. In an early childhood classroom you could let the children take pictures of what they like and label them thus increasing their vocabulary and also in the zone of proximal development. If you stop and think about it you too will easily be able to come up with more ideas and uses. Another question you may ask is that digital cameras are so expensive, what if the children break them? We need to teach children that digital cameras are tools and privileges; once they understand that principle we are arming students with power. I am sure we all know the saying "Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day, teach a man how to fish and you will empower him to fish for himself" Aren't all teachers trying to create independent competent citizens or empowered fisherman? Teaching children of the day with the equipment of the day we create capable citizens for our future.

Copyright Law

I found these websites that are easy to navigate
Copy Right and Fairuse in The Classroom

http://www.kcsd.k12.pa.us/technology/copyright/index.html
As teachers we need to be very aware of copyright and fairuse. Violating copyright is illegal and you can lose money and even your teaching lisense for it. My suggestion is to go and study a little bit about fair use and copyright. Another good resource I have learned is your library media specialist. In the second link listed they have a some teacher tips on copyright. Teachers need to be educated in every area most especially intellectual freedom. Learning about copyright not only protects you but intellectual freedom everywhere. Now go out and study about copyright.

Cars 2008

I have been thinking of buying a new car but when buying a new car you want to make sure that you get the best deal here are some cool websites that are the top ten for 2008.

Higheset Resale Value 2008

Least Expensive 2008
http://comcast.vehix.com/tv/topTenLists.aspx?year=&list=Least%20Expensive%20Vehicles%20for%202008&cid=443

Most Fuel Efficent 2008
http://comcast.vehix.com/tv/topTenLists.aspx?year=&list=Most%20Fuel%20Efficient%20SUVs&cid=445

Paulo Freire Educational Quote

This is from Freire's book Pedagogy of Freedom on page 31-32.
"When we live our lives with the authenticity demanded by the practice of teaching that is also learning and learning that is also teaching, we are participating in a total expierence that is simulatneously directive, political, ideological, gnostic, pedagogical, aesthetic, and ethical. In this expierence the beautiful, the decent, and the serious form a circle with hands joined."

Quotes

"Where there is an open mind, there will always be a frontier."
-CHARLES F. KETTERING
"Teachers open the door; but you must enter yourself."
-CHINESE PROVERB
"It is not true that nice guys finish last. Nice guys are winners before the game ever starts."
-BERN WILLIAMS
"When patterns are broken, nwe worlds can emerge."
-TOLI KUPFER

Instructional Architect in the Classroom

I am an teacher in training and as such I am learning everyday how to make my classroom a better, safer, and more individualized classroom. I just learned a new program in my Instructional Technology class today that is called Instructional Architect. It is a great tool and helps you to individualize your lessons for your class. You are welcome to look at a sample lesson that I have created on the Desert. Go to ia.usu.edu and go to student login and type inst arch
You should try it out it is an excellent new teacher tool. Talk about integrating technology into the classroom.

Integrating Technology: Lesson Plan

Kindergarten: Content Cirriculum

• Language Arts Standard 2 Objective 3
• Title: Adaption of the Boy Who Cried Wolf
• Link to the UEN website http://www.uen.org/Lessonplan/preview.cgi?LPid=18781
• I like how they use one of my favorite websites on this lesson plan...pbs.org

Podcast Subscriptions

English as a Second Language Podcast
KidCast
National Geographic

Blog Subscriptions

http://educationalblogs.com
http://educationpolicyblog.blogspot.com
http://edwatch.blogspot.com*
* No RSS feed

Creating this Blog

I created this blog as a request from one of my Instructional Technology classes. I hope to accomplish a lot with these blog, some goals are listed: be able to find some good educational blogs because as teachers know we need to stay in touch; we need to be educated. I hope to show a little bit of what I am about and find other people who like the same types of things.