Wednesday, 22 February 2012

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. 

Wednesday, 8 February 2012

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.