Presentation 1

This is my updated power point presentation. I revamped this animal presentation for my first grade class. It has very little text and great visuals. The only text included are the key terms my students will need to know. Each term is highlighted with a visual to explain the meaning. Check it out!
Amazing Animals, by Kelly Mitchell

Jeopardy

We are always looking for new ways to teach, reteach and test knowledge in the classroom. This Jeopardy game template allows the user to create their own version of the game with a chosen topic and questions. I noticed they also have games others have made that you can view and access as well. This is helpful if you want to use the program, but do not have the time to create the game.  

I like the idea of the program and the fact that I could create a game and save the link to use in class, without having to design any background or fancy page layouts. I think a teacher in an upper grade could use the program to have students make the game as part of a review to any subject.  This would relate well to NETS standard 1. Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity. 

I think the downfall for me with the program is how 1 dimensional it seems. I would not use it with my first graders very often, because it is too much text and there are too many steps for each question. For example, after you flip over a question it does not change color or show it has been used. you have to click 2 more things before it clears off the board. Too many steps! It would also be nice to have picture options for the boxes or a read aloud feature for younger players.

Overall, it is a neat program and could be a useful way of using technology as a study tool for older kids or classes.

Pictochart

After exploring this program I was able to find some layouts I really liked. I think this would be very useful to use in a business or to represent data. I chose to use it for some data my students have been compiling.  It was easy to create a very visually appealing display for our material. I was quit happy with the results. See how I used it below.

Word Cloud

I have heard about using word cloud and the fun of using it in the classroom. I have to admit it was on my teaching "to do" list, but sadly until now I had not explored the fun. It is a creative way to brainstorm or express a topic. Part of the fun is looking at the art piece and thinking about each word individually and its relation to the topic. My students enjoyed finding the words and highlighting them. The completed word cloud continued topic discussion in our class when one student questioned the use of one of our words. It is a fresh look at brainstorming and is simple to use...even my first graders can do it!

If I look at the two word clouds I created for NETS they both show the emphasis and connection to technology. The 2008 standards reveal a more student centered focus, while the 2000 standards reflect the inclusion of technology for student learning.

Below are the links for both of my NETS Wordles and my classroom Wordle on the constitution, which we created today for Constitution Day.

The Constitution, by Mrs. Mitchell's First Graders

The Constitution

NETS 2000

NETS 2008

Jing Screencast

It took me a while to figure out what to screencast. I am gearing up for Back to School Night and I will be sharing some at home learning options with my student's parents. I decided to create a screen cast to teach them how to navigate through the online reading web site our students use. This way they can use it at home as well. Here is my screencast for Tumble Books.

It was fairly simple to create and share a screencast once I became a little familiar with Jing. The "sun" or Jing icon in the top corner of the web screen allows the user to pull down a box to capture the screen. Once I captured the area, I pressed the record option in the bottom left of the screen. Once it begins recording, then everything you do on screen is recorded for the future viewer. Simply click the stop button when done.
Once you stop there are save options. Saving can be done by uploading it to a file on your computer. It saves as a SWF video. It also provides a URL that can be pasted and shared as a link. It can also be found in your Jing history.

Jing Image

Jing Image is a neat source where one can capture a screenshot and annotate directly on the spot. After the project is done saving and sending are both options. This can be useful to capture an image quickly, add a note and email to a friend or coworker all in one swoop without downloading or saving prior to editing. I see how this can be a fun tool to use with friends, useful for work or school projects and easy to manage.

I took a snapshot of a poem my class will learn how to write. The students will need to refer back to this sample when writing new acrostic poems throughout the year.

Jing Image for Acrostic Poem

Here is the link for this Acrostic Poem Sample.

DIIGO

After exploring DIIGO I am beyond excited to begin using it. I have already stored a few frequently used sites to my page along with a useful YouTube video.  I shared some of the capabilities with my team of teachers and we may share a login as a place to house some useful sites we need to share. When I first started exploring DIIGO, downloaded the add on and created an account, I was using Google Chrome. It was extremely user friendly, easy to navigate and everything was one click away. However, the following day I went back to my page and experienced much more trouble when working in Safari. The DIIGO browser add on in Chrome was much better. Now I only use it when I am in that browser.

I feel the use of DIIGO relates best to NETS standards 5, Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership, and 3d, Model Digital-Age Working and Learning where teachers evaluate and use information resources to support research and learning.
NETS standard 5, Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership
Teachers can use this resource as a means to grow their team knowledge and work collaboratively with other teachers in their community to better store resources for learning and teaching. This is one way I have begun to incorporate the tool into my professional development.
NETS standard 3d, Model Digital-Age Working and Learning where teachers evaluate and use information resources to support research and learning
Teachers can teach students how to use this add on to better their performance on papers, reserch and learning of all types. I see this happening in an older grade where students are already familiar with computers, browsing and researching. In my 1st grade class this may not be a realistic tool for my students, but in time they will learn it.

Prezi

I explored Prezi a bit and was actually more satisfied than I originally thought I would be. At first glance it looked like a lot of work and I wasn't sold on the functionality as a first grade teacher. After downloading the free version and "playing" I found it to be quit fun. I quickly created an addition strategies presentation for my students that we can add to together, share on our class web page and print as a PDF. Prezi offers a fresh face for presentations and projects. For this experience I used the a template that was clean and simple. I like that they give the option of using a blank slate so the user can add as much or little as possible. I plan to explore it more, but I am not sure yet if Prezi offers as many tricks and tools as Power Point or a SMART Notebook which I am used to. Stay tuned for more ideas and discoveries. :)

Millennials

As I set out to explore what a Millennial was, I was curious to find how I would compare to the generation. Surprisingly, I was not as close in mindset as I may have expected. Millennials are those in the generation now approaching 30 (I just missed this by a year) and as young as teens. They are very technology savvy and can't remember when texting wasn't a part of their life. :) Hard to believe for some of us!
Here is How I Measure Up
After taking the Millennial Quiz, I scored right between the two generations of Generation X and Millennial. My profile score of a 48 puts me in and out of the information age. When I took the test there were areas I could clearly identify the areas that separate my score from the Millennial generation, such as having a land line telephone and no Facebook page...yeah you read that correctly.
What Does This Mean As a Teacher Today
Although I am not 100 percent in the mind set of the Millennial age, I do not feel like this puts me OUT or unable to teach my students better than the next teacher. Some of the things that brought my Millennial score down are the very things that keep me grounded and able to relate to a broad range of generations. Although technology is our way of life and will continue to be, it is important to be able to relate to the parents of our students as well. I see myself as being technology capable and informed, yet able to bridge the gap between my students and their parents.
Frand's Construct of the Information Age
This quote really makes me laugh and is a great visual of what a millennial is. Frand states,
"Many young people today are accustomed to watching TV, talking on the phone, doing homework, eating, and interacting with their parents all at the same time."Read more.
His construct of the millennial age is outlined by these 10 characteristics. They describe a change, how people do things, and subliminal needs. All of these characteristics contribute to an advanced technology based culture.
1. Computers Aren’t Technology
2. Internet Better Than TV
3. Reality No Longer Real
4. Doing Rather Than Knowing
5. Nintendo over Logic
6. Multitasking Way of Life
7. Typing Rather Than Handwriting
8. Staying Connected,
9. Zero Tolerance for Delays
10. Consumer/Creator Blurring