Podcast Reflection #13 Ed Tech #28

This podcast is about a program called SynchronEyes.  This application is easy to use and is great to use when in a computer lab or have classroom computers!  This program allows you to share the computers screens and respond to students using a chat instead of walking to each individual student!  This application also allows you to monitor each students machine on your screen!  This is a good way to keep the students on task and make sure they are not on facebook or playing games on the internet!

Podcast Reflection #12 Ed Tech #37 Pic Lens

This podcast is about a tool called Pic Lens.  It saves time from searching all over the internet for pictures!  Pic Lens is a tool you need to install but once you do an image search it comes up with an easier to navigate thumbnail search!  You do not have to wait for your internet to download the images when going to a new page anymore!  This sounds like a great tool, I am going to look into downloading it!

Podcast Reflection #11 Ed Tech #39 extra normal

This podcast is about a website Xtra Normal.  It is a video building tool that is easy to use and you do not need any software.  "If you can type you can make a movie."  is their tag line because all you have to do it type your script!  You get to create your own movie and pick your characters and their voice!  They even have different languages to choose from for bilingual students!  All you have to do is type what you want your character to say and your movie is done!  Students at various age levels can use this!  It is an easy and fun site to make any type of movie!  As a teacher I can have my students make a movie about someone in history and present them to the class.  It is a fun way of learning!

Podcast Reflection #10 Learning in Hand #24

In this podcast Tony Vincent explains that the most popular hand held today is the iPod and iPad.  If you use these devices along with the computer you have mobil learning.  Mobil learning can happen in a classroom, on a bus or even at home.  He mentions that portability is not as important as the learner to connect, communicate, collaborate and create.  Student have access to learning resources anytime and anywhere.  He even shows you a project he made about the President!  It is crazy to think that there is so much more to do with the iPod and iPad than just listening to music and surfing the web!  I have an iPod touch but have no clue how to use it!  I mainly used it to listen to music only.  I am definitely going to research some more about this!  

Twitter Reflection

I had a Twitter before this class but had only used it because my friends made me.  But now that I have had it and am using it to get in contact with teachers I find it a lot more beneficial.  I like the idea that you can network with other educators.  I do not tweet much but I do follow a lot of educators who have interesting insights to teaching, tips as well has some helpful sites and tools to try!  I did not think of Twitter being a site I would use once I am a teacher until now.  I will definitely keep my Twitter account and follow more and more educators!  

Comic Reflection

I recently used toondoo to create a short comic strip.  At first I was a little sceptic about creating a comic and how to make it.  But this site is actually really easy and fun!  There are tons of different clip art pictures to choose from, such as kids, animals, food and different sceneries.  I will definitely use comics in my future classroom.  They allow the student to be creative when expressing a topic.  I think it would be fun to find ways that the students could create projects on different subjects and make comics to present them to the class.  I think students of every age will enjoy making their own comic!  The younger students could use it to tell a story about themselves instead of subject matter.  I will definitely explor this site some more and start adding to my comic collection for future lessons!

Challenged Based Learning Reflection

In our class we made a Prezi based on challenge based learning.  A Prezi is a web-based presentation tool that uses a map layout and zooming to show contextual relationships. We were put into groups of five or six and were instructed to come up with a topic that was a challenge and needed awareness.  My group chose preventing texting while driving.  We researched online and found some disturbing details about the effects of texting while driving.  We thought this was a good topic because even at a younger age the students could tell their mom, dad or older sibling to stop texting and driving.  This website is a lot more fun to work with and look at than the standard Power Point.  Students will enjoy thinking outside the box and creating their own challenged based activity on Prezi.

Podcast Reflection #9: Tech Chicks #84

In this podcast they discuss "10 Things that CIO’s Can Learn from Angry Birds." 
"You have to play to figure out the rules, the same is true with technology."  Through out this whole podcast they relate education to technology through the game 'Angry Birds'.  They mention that everyone has their different strengths and talents that make them unique.  Teaching is never going to be simple just like this game is not simple to get to the next level.  


They also talk about "Little Bird Tales" which is a tool for younger students to create a story.  There are three steps; upload artwork, record or type text and email to friends!  It is a green alternative to books which is a good thing to be promoting to the class.  It is a complete digital book.  You are only limited if the recordings are too long and the pictures are too large, otherwise you can have multiple pages and lots of fun!


One other thing they mentions was "MyFakeWall".  You make a fake page based on a person or a character.  It is an easy to navigate free site.  It is a great assessment piece, they have to know their persons background, some events and who they might be linked to.  This seems like a really interesting funny site that students of every age would enjoy!