Hi everyone,
I would like to share with you my newly created web site that is directly geared to the course that I teach entitled "Studies in Racism and Diversity". Please feel free to visit the site and leave comments based on what you see - thanks!!
Visit web site...
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Web Authoring: Assignment Due 4/5/10
Given the fact that there are so many technology applications (eg. PowerPoint, Windows MovieMaker, Storyboard, etc.) where the inclusion of music can significantly enhance the end product, the "FreePlayMusic" site more than fit the bill! Many of the tasks that I engage in with my students allow for the insertion of music, audio, and sound byte files that peak the interest and enthusiasm, not only of the student who is creating the product, but additionally those who will be privy to seeing these student creations when they are traditionally shared in the classroom on my laptop and overhead projector or even the Elmo. Upon spending some appreciable time with the site in checking the vast array of music genres and styles, it is very evident that this site is an indispensable resource for students and teachers alike in adding "pizzazz" to their creations. Admittedly so, teaching the Holocaust and genocides course brings with it not a host of happy and upbeat material, so when students are asked to create a product along these topics and include music as an enhancement, it goes without saying that anyone would be hard-pressed to locate a comfortable variety of music from which to select a musical piece - this site was more than adequate in offering appropriate "material". I personally chose the music file entitled "We Will Be Together Soon Underscore" as a piece that I might have chosen if I were to have to create a Holocaust task and need to add a musical accompaniment that was relative and in good taste.
One additional comment I wanted to make was in regard to our Chapter 12 weekly reading assignment - it has to do with the last paragraph on page 258 of our coursebook. It states, "...and each page within the site should use consistent colors throughout." I took exception to this suggestion and firmly believe that, if there are distinct varied topics or subjects being presented within the site, having pages with their own color scheme is a definite draw rather than hindrance. As long as the pages are not too gaudy, "electrified", or busy, working to achieve separate page "identity" will captivate rather than distract students.
One additional comment I wanted to make was in regard to our Chapter 12 weekly reading assignment - it has to do with the last paragraph on page 258 of our coursebook. It states, "...and each page within the site should use consistent colors throughout." I took exception to this suggestion and firmly believe that, if there are distinct varied topics or subjects being presented within the site, having pages with their own color scheme is a definite draw rather than hindrance. As long as the pages are not too gaudy, "electrified", or busy, working to achieve separate page "identity" will captivate rather than distract students.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Assignment Due 3/22/10: Chapter 8 - "Diagrams, Maps, and Webs"
This chapter was very informative and actually gave me some deeper understanding on technology tools I am already using like Inspiration. I was pleasantly surprised to find new tricks to implement when using Inspiration like the "Transfer" button that allows for importing of diagrams to MS Word. Also exciting was the ability of converting Inspiration diagrams to HTML via the "Export" button to enable posting to a web site for students to view AND use!
One serious intention I have in utilizing diagrams will be to use Inspiration to have my students create a storyboard when my 10th grade class is reading "Of Mice and Men". My #1 priority year-long goal for them is to have tall of them increase their reading comprehension skills. Progressive storyboards would work well toward this end!
Three sites I found helpful were:
1. A great Inspiration diagram that charts the Cambodian Khmer Rouge. This would be a boon to my instruction in the racism course I teach.
2. Another site was "Education World: Timelines" which displayed a sample timeline at the top of the page and then provided related information below.
3. Lastly, "Graphic Organizers by Scholastic" provided a great graphic organizer that could be used in my Prep ELA 10th grade class that acts as a sort of sociogram that charts relationships between characters in a novel as well as charting plot, conflict, etc. This type of organizer really aids these students, who are traditionally 2-3 grades below grade level reading ability, to comprehend more of what they read and to interact more significantly with the text.
One serious intention I have in utilizing diagrams will be to use Inspiration to have my students create a storyboard when my 10th grade class is reading "Of Mice and Men". My #1 priority year-long goal for them is to have tall of them increase their reading comprehension skills. Progressive storyboards would work well toward this end!
Three sites I found helpful were:
1. A great Inspiration diagram that charts the Cambodian Khmer Rouge. This would be a boon to my instruction in the racism course I teach.
2. Another site was "Education World: Timelines" which displayed a sample timeline at the top of the page and then provided related information below.
3. Lastly, "Graphic Organizers by Scholastic" provided a great graphic organizer that could be used in my Prep ELA 10th grade class that acts as a sort of sociogram that charts relationships between characters in a novel as well as charting plot, conflict, etc. This type of organizer really aids these students, who are traditionally 2-3 grades below grade level reading ability, to comprehend more of what they read and to interact more significantly with the text.
Assignment Due 3/22/10: Chapter 7 - Digital Images
Currently, the course that this week's assignment would apply to the most would be "Studies in Racism and Diversity". The lesson plan that was created requires that students would engage themselves in the creation of a PowerPoint presentation that exhibited their new knowledge pertaining to the Holocaust. They were expected to utilize digital images in the PPT slides, where appropriate, in addition to adding other audio-visual enhancements such as sound files, static and animated graphics, and movements of slide components.
I plan on continuing to utilize digital images in instructional PPT's I develop that I use in establishing contextual knowledge prior to initiating a unit plan for instance on Edgar Allan Poe.
Also, a great use of digital images occurs in the development of web quests where animated images always stir excitement and interest.
I visited 3 Chapter 7 companion sites that I thought were very worthwhile.
CoolCLIPS was full of clip art that contained both simplified graphics and professional looking work also.
CoolText.com offered a magnificent array of labeling options for such uses as headings in PPT slides or just insertion into word processing documents. I've used similar programs before and this one clearly seems like a winner!
"Using Technology in the Classroom" was a site that offered 20 activities for older students where the use of digital cameras could generate some very exciting projects such as taking photos of school staff at work and then creating related captions underneath the picture and then posting these at a career fair.
I plan on continuing to utilize digital images in instructional PPT's I develop that I use in establishing contextual knowledge prior to initiating a unit plan for instance on Edgar Allan Poe.
Also, a great use of digital images occurs in the development of web quests where animated images always stir excitement and interest.
I visited 3 Chapter 7 companion sites that I thought were very worthwhile.
CoolCLIPS was full of clip art that contained both simplified graphics and professional looking work also.
CoolText.com offered a magnificent array of labeling options for such uses as headings in PPT slides or just insertion into word processing documents. I've used similar programs before and this one clearly seems like a winner!
"Using Technology in the Classroom" was a site that offered 20 activities for older students where the use of digital cameras could generate some very exciting projects such as taking photos of school staff at work and then creating related captions underneath the picture and then posting these at a career fair.
Monday, March 15, 2010
TTCR: Fluency, Vocabulary, and Comprehension
1) Technology That Supports Fluency: I visited "Visual Thesaurus". This site closely resembles the Wordle concept whereby a student can enter a word and the program will generate a web of synonyms. This site is a timely one for me personally due to the fact that I have started a new trimester as of today and I am utilizing a new method of handling vocabulary usage with my students. One of the five pieces of information that the students need to enter is a synonym for the assigned word for the week. I can't wait to share this site with my students and have them offer some feedback to me regarding their usage of it.
2) Technology That Supports Vocabulary: I visited the "Humanities" link, the Beaverton referenced title, and poetry. Currently, I have a 10th grade American literature class that I am teaching and the curriculum requires that during one part of the trimester I examine Robert Frost with the students. One of my primary concerns ALWAYS is that all my students can access much of the material that we cover in class. I can now link this to my web site and have the students complete a task independently between class meetings.
3) Technology That Supports Text Comprehension: I visited the Inspiration web site - this is actually a software program that I have the highest regard for!!! One of the books that I share with my students is "Seedfolks" by Paul Fleischman. I use this book in a 10th grade lower level ELA class where the need for visual enticement and successful interaction with the material at hand is of utmost priority. I generate a number of graphic organizers for each of the book's segments to generate interpretation of the book's key concepts/themes.
2) Technology That Supports Vocabulary: I visited the "Humanities" link, the Beaverton referenced title, and poetry. Currently, I have a 10th grade American literature class that I am teaching and the curriculum requires that during one part of the trimester I examine Robert Frost with the students. One of my primary concerns ALWAYS is that all my students can access much of the material that we cover in class. I can now link this to my web site and have the students complete a task independently between class meetings.
3) Technology That Supports Text Comprehension: I visited the Inspiration web site - this is actually a software program that I have the highest regard for!!! One of the books that I share with my students is "Seedfolks" by Paul Fleischman. I use this book in a 10th grade lower level ELA class where the need for visual enticement and successful interaction with the material at hand is of utmost priority. I generate a number of graphic organizers for each of the book's segments to generate interpretation of the book's key concepts/themes.
Inserting Video to Our Blogs
Last week, on Monday, we were requested to experiment with adding a video to our own personal blog. After a considerable degree of effort and numerous attempts to do this, not only with Teacher Tube videos, but with one or two from my own videos stored on my home desktop, I failed to achieve this step. I mentioned this in class tonight and via of advisement from our course instructor, I'll try this step once more. So here goes: click on the arrow below the video screen and see if it will "magically" whisk you away to the video I chose, which by the way, is a good one!
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Assignment for 3/15/10 - "Spreadsheets"
This week, 3 web sites I visited were extremely helpful and one in particular, entitled "GRAPHS", was a perfect complement to the lesson that I wrote this week with regard to having students who were not familiar and/or intimidated with the use of MS Excel could actually receive tutorial assistance with this program when apart from the comfort of a partner in school or the teacher. Suzanne Alejandre's user friendly web site was easy to work with and used "snapshots" of Excel screens one would encounter while utilizing this program and visually depicted the how to's in navigating through Excel.
The second site that was awesome in terms of an interactive site for students was "Create a Graph at Kids' Zone". I tinkered around with this site for about a half hour and really got captivated with ease of use and just plain fun that this site offered. Anyone who uses this site should come away with a great hands-on knowledge of how to create practical and visually attractive products in Excel. Again, this is a boon to students who WANT to learn a spreadsheet program such as Excel at their own speed and convenience.
WOW! The 3rd site I was impressed with was the "Safari" site. Not only did it have a list of all major Excel terms but, more importantly, it offered a feature that instructed on how to use Excel to create vocabulary tests in content specific areas. Being an ELA teacher, I would jump at the opportunity to use this "tool"!!
Steve 3/13/10
The second site that was awesome in terms of an interactive site for students was "Create a Graph at Kids' Zone". I tinkered around with this site for about a half hour and really got captivated with ease of use and just plain fun that this site offered. Anyone who uses this site should come away with a great hands-on knowledge of how to create practical and visually attractive products in Excel. Again, this is a boon to students who WANT to learn a spreadsheet program such as Excel at their own speed and convenience.
WOW! The 3rd site I was impressed with was the "Safari" site. Not only did it have a list of all major Excel terms but, more importantly, it offered a feature that instructed on how to use Excel to create vocabulary tests in content specific areas. Being an ELA teacher, I would jump at the opportunity to use this "tool"!!
Steve 3/13/10
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