Excel Crossword Puzzle (Nets-2)

I used Excel to create a crossword as a way of making a fun learning tool. Within Excel I was able to add hints to the crossword and it also has a cool feature that lets you know if the first letter is correct by it turning a different color.

iMovie PSA (Nets-3)

I used iMovie a tool on Apple that helped me create a public service announcement for CSUSM.

Classroon Newsletter (Nets-1)

DRnewsletters

This is a classroom newsletter I created using Microsoft Word. I used different tools on Word to create a creative and artictic way of communicating with my potential classroom students.

Wiki (Nets-3)

The wikki I created is for a learning tool called Kubbu. Kubbu is a cool tool for educators because it allows you to create quizzes that your students can take online. It also allows you to grade and give back feedback on the site. The wiki gives you access to many cool teaching web 2.0 tools. All of the ones I explored could be very helpful if implemented in the classroom and best of all they were free!

Cyber-Safety Website (Nets-4)

This is a website that I worked on collaboratively with some of my peers. It is a cyber-safety website created with Google sites. The site covers identity safety, cyber predators, cyber-bullying, inappropriate content, piracy and plagiarism, and social networking. This site has many tips for teachers, students, and parents in regards to cyber-safety.

Journal #10: No, Never Alone (Nets-5)

Conley, K. (2010). No, never alone. Learning & Leading with Technology, 36. Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/

This article is about the advantages of building a personal learning network. Many teachers feel that they need to do all their learning on their own which can be very limiting. With resources such as the Internet and Web 2.0 collaboration tools, like Nings, wikis, and video/photo sharing sites, no educator should be trying to do it alone.  With so many tools available it can be easy to be overwhelmed and not use any of the tools.  A great tool to help educators start up there learning network is Educator’s PLN which is especially designed for educators and provides an easy to use format. You can quickly learn how to view videos, photos, articles, twitter feeds, and forums that are accessible on the site. Sites like this one will allow you to connect with educators from all over the world and give you resources that you otherwise wouldn’t have at your fingertips. With all of the resources available educators need to take advantage in order to become more effective teachers.

Q1. Do you think there are benefits to having a PLN?

I do think there are great benefits from having a PLN because you have knowledge from so many people throughout the world. You can learn from people that have been teaching for many years as well as from new educators that have new ideas.

Q2. How does this change your view of teaching?

This makes me feel more comfortable with my decision to become a teacher. I was one of those people that thought I would have to learn everything on my own but since I’ve taken this course I have realized there are great avenues for information available. I now feel that my transition into the classroom will be easier because all of the valuable information I can get from other educators in my personal learning network.

Journal #9: Stop Making Students Type Nonsensical URLs (Nets-5)

Bellow, A. (2010). Stop making students type nonsensical urls. Learning & Leading with Technology, Retrieved from http://www.iste.org/

Adam Bellow the author of this article believes there is solution to the problem of not being able to share multiple links easily with students and teachers.  The solution is a website called Only2Clicks (www.only2clicks.com) which is a tool on the web that allows you to create a free webpage where anyone can access any number of links you put on the webpage. Within the site you also have the ability to create tabs to separate different types of links, like school subjects, grades, etc.  The site is easy to work with and is great for all ages.  It is especially helpful for young students or students with special needs who have difficulty reading.  Teachers can use this site in many different ways. Some teachers might use the site as a default homepage for student computers or they can post the address where all students have access to it. With this free online tool, students no longer have to suffer trying to type in long nonsensical URLs.  The site allows easy access to all the sites you want your students to locate by only two easy clicks.

Q1. Do I see myself using this tool in the classroom?

Although it seems as if this site is designed for younger students I think it’s a cool tool to be aware of because you never know if you might be able to use it in the classroom in the future, even with high school students.

Q2. What are the benefits to this site?

The benefits are that you can access many sites from one easy to remember webpage. You no longer have to worry about typing long nonsensical URLs. It also helps that this site is completely free.