March 9, 2012
Another two weeks flew by and during that time I was able to get know technology even better.  It seems the more I learn, the more I realize how little I know in the tech world. I was a little over ambitious taking this course but I am so glad I did.  Thanks to my computer class, I am more comfortable with exploring its many opportunities. It seems the tech world is also one of problem solving.  Over these last two weeks I had to figure out why I kept getting bumped off the Internet while working on the computer.. So I had three trips to the Apple store fixing my home Mac Mini.  I was sure I had picked up a virus with all the new programs I visited and opened.   But actually there was no virus.  My problem was a worn out "Air Port".   So one hundred seven dollars later I am good to go.  Thankfully my daughter's laptop worked just fine during the repairs. One always needs a plan B.

I have put together a power point program on the Life Cycle of Frogs and also created flash cards and a quiz on Quizlet.com.  The two programs support each other and this spring the K1 kids will be studying the Frogs' Life Cycles and Habitats.  Building the power point slide show took me a long time and that is exactly what I don't have a lot of.   The process was good  to go through and hopefully the students will enjoy it!  What I really found to be teacher friendly is the website called Quizlet.  I chose five words from the PowerPoint and created  flashcards with definitions.  The website then creates games, tutorials and a test using the vocabulary words. I must sign off but I am looking forward to tomorrow's class to see what those techies have come up with next for their classrooms.

This weekend I had some time to explore a few more technology tools.  I am looking for manageable tools for the young ones.  I ventured into docs.google.com.  It seemed to open doors for me.  I now have a google doc page that brings me to my google calendar, and a new YouTube Channel!  This should be very handy when viewing lessons for the kids and school volunteers who work with small groups of kids.  I am excited to share two new instructional videos with the Kindergartners.  Both videos, one on addition and the other on subtraction illustrate how to use the number line and how to draw equations.  I then was able to use google docs to create a number line worksheet that students can use as they watch the videos.  The worksheet needs a little more attention as I was unable to cut and paste the number line.  I was hoping to get about eight repeating number lines for practice.  These two activities will cover at least the first five InTASC Standards.  These Standards are about being aware of the learners' development, varying learning differences, providing a supportive environment for learning,  and also providing multiple perspectives.  Math problems can be solved in more than one way and these introductory videos show different perspectives in solving the problems.  I then can be beside the learners to support them as they listen to the instructional video and as the students try using the number lines.  The man's voice on the video is articulate, friendly and interesting.  I hope to load more lessons on docs.google.com and on my youTube channel.  The assortment of tools on docs.google.com may even support lesson plans with all the loaded spread sheets and working templates.  I know I have only scratched the surface of the depth of this multifaceted site.

The Kindergartners and I had fun this last week viewing a YouTube tool for educators (www.youtube.com).  I was able to pick up 3 attention-getting songs on video for the kids which they truly enjoyed while also enhancing some math skills.  Memory and learning will be easier for the students when done with song and rhyme.  Learning songs do just that!  The educational Youtube Tool has so much potential if used wisely.  Those lively songs met the In TASC Standard Number 8, that discusses the importance of using a variety of instructional strategies that encourage learners to develop understanding and connections to build  their particular skills.  The kids were learning to count while having a great time singing along.  The lesson was a win-win situation, except for the fact that my classroom is lacking in technology equipment.  However, that day is coming with our new technology standards.  It would have been nice to have the video on the large screen.  Nevertheless, we were all able to gather around my computer and sing along with the three counting songs.  One student made my day when she said, this was the best day ever!  The students were able to participate in unison singing along with the songs.  I was also able to cover Oregon Standards KCC.1 and K.OA.1. Two of the songs were for counting: "Can You Count To 20?" and "Let's Count to 100".  The students need to know names of numbers and also know how to count in sequence.  "Let's Count to 100" also emphasizes place value.  The song "Five Little Monkeys" illustrates with cartoon pictures how subtractions works, and counting backwards.  I will be using these songs for fun and repetitions of some important skills the students need to know.  I have added them to my favorites on my educational gmail site so they will be easy to pull up.  There are many more wonderful learning video songs out there...I just need more time to explore YouTube.com.

Nothing like burning the midnight oil!  I have finished up a jam packed week of school and family activities.  That is exactly why I am working on the Google Calendar tool.  It is a handy visual and two things I would like to do is combine all my calenders into one area so that I can avoid over-booking which is so easy to do.  Google Calendar will let me keep several calendars going in one spot if I wish.  The great thing is each area would be at hand so I could coordinate all the monthly, weekly, and daily responsibilities plus some extras.  That is my goal to keep my personal and professional responsibilities in balance.  Feeling organized gives me a sense of peace.  Now that I have seen the capabilities this system can do for organization...I could really use a smart phone so that I could pull up my calendars at any time.  Just as I read in The Technology Toolbelt, technology evolves and progresses to the next step all by itself.  This high powered system of the google calendar needs higher powered tools to run on.  I need a new smart phone to make the best of the Google Calendar.  The calendar will take some time to master but it is user friendly.  I am even able to read the news while on my calendar.  I think Google Calendar is very exciting.

I have appreciated the weekend to find some extra time to catch up with life's duties and I just finished reading chapter one of our class book, The Technology Tool Belt For Teaching  written by Susan Manning and Kevin Johnson.  It is technical reading, but worth the time.  Technology is a process and it enables us to gain knowledge and systems which solve problems and extend human capabilities.  The schools need technology for organizing, research and data collecting.  The students (and all of us life long learners)  can benefit from community-oriented technology.  Learning is about making meaning, sharing one's thinking and stretching one's thinking through social interaction.  Our schools are going to need to make some changes to catch up with the technological progress.  Some of the challenges in our schools are:  How do we keep up with all of the changes?  How do we make time for technology?  How do we pay for the computers?  How do we keep students in safety?  How do we teach etiquette?  Who will teach the teachers how to best teach the students?  I am sure there are many more questions to be asked.  I hope technology can make my job a little easier.  I hope that technology can lead me to better organization and time saving tools.  The computer world has evolved so fast and comprehensively.    It is fascinating that the  rapid changes and developments are happening by technologies themselves and it will be interesting to see what evolves next.  I am looking forward to reading more of the book.