PSA

PSA for my SEDU183 class. I had a good time making the video with my group but the program to edit and create the final video was very frustrating. I was somewhat pleased with the final outcome but I believe that if we knew how to use the program better we could have made a better video. Next year I would hope that Mr.Smith would show is classes how to make and edit a video before throwing them into the project.

Instruction

I think that making a video could be helpful for when the teacher is absent and also to help introduce or conclude a lesson. Many teachers do not use a variety of resources and this is one that can be applied in many ways.

Assessment

Teachers can record lessons and or activities to evaluate the students work and progress and even their own work and progress. This can be helpful so that the teacher can alter their teaching styles and help the children in their weaker areas.

Communication

Teachers can send videos to their students for homework help or test hints and review. Teachers can also send a video to each parent of how their child is doing and even add in clips of their child working. This would help keep the parent and teacher relationship close and on the same page when it comes to their child's education.

Prezi and Finale

Prezi

Prezi seems to be a great tool for the classroom. I would use this site in the future and even for class presentations now. I think Prezi could be used for group projects and individual assignments for students. I feel that teachers could use this tool to help introduce a new lesson or get the students attention to learn harder material.

The presentation was good but I still don't really know how to use Prezi. I also am not to certain of its limitations. I will have to explore Prezi some more and teach myself of ways to use the website to its full potential.

http://prezi.com/

Finale

Finale is a very interesting program and it could be useful in classrooms just probably not mine. This tool would be ideal for music teachers or teachers with a background in music. personally I know nothing about music so the program is pretty much useless to me.

The presentation was good I got the general idea of the program (especially how costly it is). If I knew more about music I feel I would be more thrilled about this program but I got lost in the explanation of what you do and how you do it with all the music terminology.

Let me Know

Reflection on Popplet, Storyjumper, Wordle

Popplet

Popplet seems like a very good source for teachers to use in expanding the classroom beyond school doors. Personally as an Early Childhood and Special Education major I plan on using this site often in class and out. I think it would be great to help students get a jump start on assignments and create classroom discussion. Another reason this tool is great is that the students can share information that others may not know yet and therefore expand a simple lesson into a great lesson with many inputs and views.
Colton did a great job presenting, he made it easy to understand and even explained ways to use this site that I wouldn't even think of. After his presentation I feel like I could go onto the website and create a Popplet with ease.
http://popplet.com/


Storyjumper

Storyjumper seems to be a very limited tool but yet useful. Personally I would like to create my own books to help with lessons in the classroom. If there is a way to share each story with one another in the classroom it would be a very useful tool. Students could create their own story or the ending of a story created by the class then share them among the class. Once this is done the class could talk about what stories they really liked other than their own and why. This would be a great way to get children thinking creatively and give them a sense of sequencing through a story.
The presentation was very good and helped me get an idea of the pro's and con's of the website. I still don't really understand how to use the site to its full potential but it will be investigated.
http://www.storyjumper.com/


Wordle

Wordle is probably the only website I wouldn't use very often if at all. The only ways I could even think of using this site would be to create posters or have the children introduce themselves. If the website had more opportunities for sharing and saving the finished product then it would be a different story.
The presentation was good for how limited the website is, I couldn't have done it much better. I got an idea of what the site has to offer and definitely got an idea of what the site lacks. If Wordle plans on being used more frequently they need to step it up and become more useful.
http://www.wordle.net/

Glogster

Tutorial of Glogster:





So we are supposed to find a different type of technology that can be useful in the classroom that we have not used in class yet. The only issue I am having is the simple fact everything we have used in class is all I know like Google docs, PowerPoint, blogs. I stumbled upon this site called Glogster and even though I have never used it but it looks like a fun tool for the classroom. Glogster is a site where students or teachers can make a virtual poster about anything they desire. this can be helpful for presentations and even how to get to know your students in the first few weeks of school. Personally i believe i will try this site out as a teacher and maybe even for some of my classes in college.


Here is a video of how Glogster can be useful in the classroom.

Education in the Smallest Places

I think this video is good for teachers and students so that they can see how children learn in other countries. this video will make you realize how lucky we are to be in America and how a lot of us do not take advantadge of all the educational resources around us.
This video also shows how the ways of teaching need to change. Teaching is more sucsessful through fun, if you were to make a lesson through the fun of dance or music learning becomes easier.
Its time to set back and learn from those less fortunate than ourselves.

School Lunches in Erie Pa

In my Sociology class we have been talking about poverty and how it effects children and their decisions to further their education or even make it through high school. Most children living in lower class families where no adults in the household have gone to any further means of education past a high school diploma or GED do not find it necessary or even an option to further their education. I feel as if teachers and schools need to take that extra effort to make these children want to learn and want to do something amazing with themselves. Schools need to become the fun and comfortable place where these kids can feel as if they can do whatever they put their minds to.


 After talking about issues like that in class I recently heard on the news that the Erie and Millcreek school districts are planning on raising prices and/or even taking away free lunch or breakfast. This issue really got to me as an aspiring teacher and I feel as if I need to start making steps to help. Students need their breakfast and lunch to keep them energized and alert enough to absorb all that they learn through the day. Yes not all school provided meals are healthy or even semi-healthy especially for the free or reduced meal children, but their minds and bodies cant run on empty. Hopefully I am not the only one who sees this as an issue so that more people can help keep free and reduced meals and possibly improve the nutritional value of the food offered in schools. This is where I start my helping by making you all aware and learning more and more each day about issues like this and helping take a stand for what is best for the children of our future.


Here are a few places for further research:
http://yourerie.com/fulltext/?nxd_id=195237
http://www.examiner.com/national-school-lunch-program-in-erie
http://www.erietvnews.com/story/15606585/big-changes-for-cafeterias-in-erie-school-district