Last day Reflection

Did I meet my goals? For the most part I think I did. Although I did not use lots of animation in my final project I did experiment with it and feel like I will be capable to use it in my future presentations. I put I wanted to learn how I could use inspiration in the class and I really don't feel as comfortable with inspiration as I do with Kidspiration. Even though I am going to teach 7th grade I think that I could Kidspiration with slower students. I am leaving this weekend feeling more confident in my technology skills.

Final Project

I am creating a PowerPoint presentation to use on my orientation night. I plan on using it as a continual loop for parent to read when they come into my class. I will be there to answer any other individual questions parents have. This is a good way to give the same information to everyone and also being able to meet each person without having to repeat the basics over and over. I feel like I have a good grasp on how to use PowerPoint. I would like to use more animation in a presentation where it would be more appropriate.

kidspiration

For my project I made posters for math. One of the posters used the fraction bar templates in the program. I thought that it would be great to make a game using these bars and have the students find as many fractions as possible for 1/2, 1/3, and 1/4 using the fraction bars and moving them to line up and prove the equivalence. This would also be great for making worksheets on fractions easily. My other poster was about naming polygons by their sides. This program would be great for the students to make their own connections about different polygons. They could use mine as an example and have the students make a web showing how all the different triangles relate to each other and their possibilities like that the only type of equilateral triangle you can have is acute. They can also organize and explain the different quadrilaterals and their characteristics using this program. It is very user friendly and students can definitely benefit from organizing their thoughts in this manner.

Goals for weekend 2

This weekend I would like to learn about how I could use Inspiration in my class. I am also excited to learn more about power point. I use power point to guide my lessons most days. A lot of times I want to do something in my presentation to make it more effective but I can't pull it off because my lack of knowledge in that program. If I learn more about animation and adding sound in my presentations I think I will be able to get the effects that have been looking for.

Technology benifits for special needs and extreme learning styles

Technology can benefit all students, especially the ones with special needs and extreme learning styles, in all parts of the educational process. There are web sites and special programs out that can enhance the understanding of our students. Some great websites that we discussed using with our students are kidsnumbers.com, edheads.org, brainpop.com, and united streaming. These sites can be used by the students individually or as a teaching tool to the whole class. I have seen students with special needs work much harder for me when there is technology involved. One of my science students last year complained about every assignment unless it involved the computer. He would work on the edheads assignments for hours and was successful at learning the concepts being taught through that site. Some of the programs that we discussed using were accelerated math, A+ Math and discreet trial trainer. I used the A+ with students who worked better alone and going at their own pace. It was very successful for the extreme intrapersonal learners and the visual or linguistic learners.

Adobe Photoshop

For my picture I changed the background using the paint fill tool.

I chose different colors for the diferent spaces.

I created the photo layout using one photo with rough edges.

I added the text.

I wanted bright bold colors because I think the expression on her face calls for that.

Class Blogspot

Beverly-handmadebyheart.blogspot.com
Cyndi- cyndi-pepper.blogspot.com
Sharon-s-turner.blogspot.com
Baria- brooklynraisedme.blogspot.com
Rachel- soledad-nanna.blogspot.com
Keith- thoughtsandmemoriesofamadman.blogspot.com
Margo-margohuskey.blogspot.com
Tamara-tamaraespnosa.blogspot.com
Allison Brown- stampqueen1.blogspot.com
Kristle Banks- southernthundercloggers.blogspot.com
Leslie- nordmann-leslie.blogspot.com
Allison Bate Hardy- potterschick.blogspot.com
Jennifer- fiddlesticksrock.blogspot.comwww.myspace.com/fiddlesticksrock
Ashley- mcanly.blogspot.com

Beyond Presentation using PowerPoint as an Effective Instructional Tool

There is a difference between using PowerPoint and using it effectively.
Technology can help differentiate instruction. Many times teachers get caught up in thinking that programs are so complex that they don't think about how they could use it in their instruction. Technology can provide more intellectual engagement with the content they are learning. Teachers need to adapt the use of technology to their style and their curriculum.
Teachers need to be the facilitator and students the investigators. Teachers should provide opportunities for students to understand how the concepts, principles and skills to work to make meaning and to be useful.
PowerPoint Applications for instruction.
-Advance organizers
-Review tool- games
-Introduce new concepts
-Enrichment tool- open students' minds to the possibility of further study through hyperlinks
-Learning centers- give students choices of where their learning goes through the use of the action buttons
-Assessment tool- multiple choice tests with use of the action buttons
-Step by step manual or a work at your own pace tutorial
Many times teachers make PowerPoint less effective because they dump too much information into the shows or add to many bells and whistles that distract students. There needs to be a balance between the information provided and the activity on the PowerPoint. Teachers need to make it a part of the teaching not to do the teaching for them.

My Goals for GARTS 6008

1-I really want to learn more about blogging so that I can use it in my class for communicationg with both students and parents.
2-I would like to be able to edit photos to make them more attractive and learn what digital scrapbooking is all about.
3-I want to be a more effective researcher.

The Underworld Visual by www.PDImages.com

Born into Brothels by Zana Briski

What a moving movie. It was amazing to see what one woman was able to do for the children. To think that she had no inentions of woking with the children when she started her work in India. It all started by teaching them about photography. In the end she had made such a difference in the lives of these children. The one who said he didn't have "hope" is now in a school that has the word "hope" in it's title and will soon be coming to America to study art. She worked to get the children in a place where they could see hope and a way out of the life they once thought they were destined to stay in just like their mothers and grandmothers. You could see such a difference in their feelings about thier futures.
The children's compostions and there thoughts about their work was really interesting. The creativity that they showed with their photography was inspiring. It makes me want to be more creative with the pictures I take everyday. I loved this movie and can't wait to share it with my sister. Her undergraduate degree was in journalism and photography and she is now working on her masters in education.