Week 14 (Prezi)

ed 480 on Prezi

1. Our presentation was about Tablet PCs and PDAs. 

a. We researched the advantages and disadvantages of each and how these can be used in the classrooms. We used Prezi for our presentation. It was my first time using Prezi so it was hard for us at first to put things where we wanted it to be. It kept on zooming so I was frustrated at times. 

b. 9 We basically had all the information, pictures, and how it can be used in the classroom. We followed the rubric that was provided. 

c. If I had to do it again I would make our presentation more interactive and creative. 

d. Using Prezi was frustrating at first but it was fun and interesting to see presentations with this software rather than using the powerpoint. At first it wasn't user friendly because I had a hard time trying to put things where I wanted it to be. It kept zooming in but later on I figured out how to put textbox or words in the designated place. I would try it use this software again when doing presentations in the classroom. I have seen classmates from ED 480 use this software in other Education classes. One of the challenges was when adding pictures to the slides it didn't look nice when moving from one slide to the other. So we had to think of where exactly we wanted each picture to be and how it would look when moving from one slide to the other. Basically it was difficult for us to use this software, and for first time users they would most likely have a hard time using prezi. 

e. I would use this in my future classroom not all the time but several times just to show the students that there are other ways to do a presentation rather than using the powerpoint. 

Blog Entry Weebly

1. Describe the assignment.
This assignment was for us to create an account on weebly in order for us to create an online portfolio.
It had to have the Home, Experience, Education, Skills & Awards, Hobbies & Interests, References, and the website to Blog ED 480.

2. What are the benefits of having an online portfolio?
The benefits of having an online portfolio is that people can just easily access it online. They can see your background information and personal experiences easily since it's already organized online.

3. What are the features you liked about the weebly site?
I liked how we can change the designs. There were so many designs to pick from. I was also able to change the fonts for just the title, or the text and the sub-headings. It was also nice to be able to add pictures together with some text.

4. What were the challenges?
Since we did not graduate and have teaching experiences it was difficult to input information for that sections. I wanted to put some high school graduation pictures but I wasn't able to find them. Overall, it was fun! :)

5.) How would you use weebly in your future classroom?
As most of the Education classes use weebly, I may use it for posting homeworks, assignments, projects, and links to videos that students can watch or even if students are at the level, ask students to post projects so that everyone else in the class may be able to see it without student actually brining in all the posters and pictures.

Weebly

Week 7 (i-movie)

1.) Describe your assignment.
Our assignment was to come up with an educational invention or device which can be used in the classroom. We decided to come up with a pen called AA pen. This is called Academic Amazing Pen. Basically the device is whenever students use it, it instantly transfers to the teacher's computer. This would be easier for the teacher to quickly see what students are writing.

2.) What features did you use in i-movie to enhance your video?
We used captions for our first part of the movie. We had different ways to show how the words will display and how it will pop up. We also found the music online and added to the video clip. We also use the microphone to record our voices, saved it, then added to the place where we wanted the voices to play.

3.) What did you like/dislike about i-movie?
I liked how we are able to edit cut out and add different parts to the video clip. I didn't really like the way how when we chose a template that we wanted to use in the i-movie, we couldn't change some words we had to just use the ones that was there. So we decided not to use that template.

4.) Would you use it in your classroom? If so, how? Give other example lessons.
Yes. I would ask students to perform or role-play a story or their favorite part of the story. I can also have students film each other like an interview having interview questions and acting it out. (The assignment can be interviewing a profession that you want to become.)

5.) How did you like using the flip-cams? pros&cons
Flip cams were helpful because we were able to use the zoom in, zoom out, and the resolution was pretty good. It wasn't as useful because the flip-cams did not have the "pause" button.

6.) Give an overall rating of this assignment.
Overall rating of this assignment would be 8 out of 10.

Week 6 (Quiz and rubric software)

In class we created an online quiz which other classmates had a chance to answer the questions. I didn't thought that this website can be used as a tool for students in the classroom. First we had to input questions and the multiple choices of answers about the sun. Then we switched with our classmates and took their quiz. This can be used in a real classroom except if it's take-home then students will cheat by having another page open and looking through or reading it again to find the answer. Other than that this is an interesting tool that teachers may be able to use integrating technology. 

Week 5 (Pixton)

In class we were introduced to Pixton. This was a site where we were able to create comics by adding characters, words, bubbles, pictures, and other elements. Our topic was about technology so our group decided to use an alien for our main character. It was a little difficult to drag things and trying to make the size the right size you want it because once you move or change the size everything follows that and changes. This is a great tool teachers can use because this can motivate students and engage students because they love comics and being on the computer. Creating comics themselves with a topic or theme given can be highly effective for they will be using their imagination and creativity. Overall, it was fun. 

Week 4 (Web Quest)

1) Talk about the project concept and/ or how you chose the topic for this project.

Our group chose solar system as our topic. It is always interesting to learn about other planets that exist. I personally enjoyed learning about the solar system and the planets. 

2) Why did you choose this topic? What is the learning outcome or purpose of your Web Quest?

We chose this topic so that students may have a better understanding of the correct order of the planets from the sun and out. They may also learn how the planets orbits. 

3) In what way will this Web Quest improve your students learning?

This web quest will improve students learning by giving them a better idea of the solar system. They will watch a video which will basically touch the solar system and all the planets in the solar system. Students will also be doing a crossword puzzle on solar system and writing or labeling the planets in order. 

4) What did you think was the most important lesson you learned from this activity?

 I learned that this activity is one tool that can be used in a real classroom setting. Students may be able to familiarize how to use the computer and all the technologies that the web quest offers. By having different activities for students on web quest, it will help students to be motivated and engaged towards the different topics. 

5) What did you like or dislike about the software or web-based online tool you used?

I liked how we can write in all the different sections such as for "evaluation" we were able to create a rubric from the site just by writing the task and how we will assess students when grading them by giving a 1, 2, 3, or 4. It was easy to use and upload or update different things on the web site. 

6) What would you do differently next time you do this activity and/or use this tool?

I would try to find more information and web sites that may be helpful for students to learn more on the topic. 

Week 3

1. Today in class, we learned how to create a blog! We first had to create an account on www. blogger.com. Then we learned how to link other people to our blogs, change the format (layout), change the design, color, and more.
2. It was helpful for me as a teacher because we can use the blogs to communicate with parents, students, and other teachers.
3. You can probably have students do a science journal on experiments asking students to upload pictures with the descriptions. By doing so, other students can see how for example how a plant grows. Students would be able to see the progress and the process of the plant cycle.
4. 9. I thought it had lots of features on how to create a blog. Having different designs, layout and pictures but I recommend having more designs and background pictures.

Week 2 (Flow charts)

1. In this week's assignment we had a wordle activity and the organizational flowchart. The wordle activity was fun because we first had to write comments on each other's back. Then we had to write our names about 20 times in the website with all the words that was mentioned in the comments. I thought it was interesting how if we clicked "random" it gave random designs which you can pick from. The flowchart was an activity where we had to add "technology" in your personalized school system.
2. The wordle activity can be helpful when students are brainstorming just random ideas. The flowchart is helpful when you want things to be organized and labeled in a nice format.
3. Like I mentioned earlier, you can probably use the wordle site for Language Art by brainstorming what the story will be about and more. For the flowchart, you can have your students create or write story elements such as what happened first, middle, and at the end (summary of the story, main characters, conflicts, and more.)
4. 10. I really enjoyed using both sites because it was helpful, useful, and fun to use!

Week 1 (Timeline activity)

1.  We had an introduction for the class. We all created an NMC online account together with the student email and engrade. We learned how to write forums and learned how to comment on people's post. We were given time to look around NMC online (moodle).
2. It was very helpful because we should all know how to create an email account, set up accounts for NMC online to communicate with the teacher and other students, and know how to use engrade. Engrade keeps track of your grades which can be helpful for both the teacher and the student. This way you won't always have students asking "what's my grade?."
3. You can probably use the timeline site in a social studies class. You can have students arrange the dates of each important events and put it in the timeline. It can be a helpful site for students to create and study for a quiz or test of different events.
4. I would rate the timeline site "8." It was very helpful and useful for students and teachers when they talk about events in the past, present, and things that may happen in the future.