Final Reflection

Parting is such sweet sorrow!  This class was a challenge for me, but I definitely learned a lot over the course of the summer.  I was exposed to several different tools and resources, many of which I did not know even existed.  I am now competent in numerous different web resources and web 2.0 tools.  If I am not competent in some, I have at least been exposed to them and witnessed the benefits of using and incorporating different technologies into the classroom.  This course was a little out of my comfort zone but overall it was very helpful, and I feel much better equipped to teach in the 21st century!  I can't believe that the summer is already drawing to a close.  I look forward to incorporating some of the things I have learned into my internship this year.  Jeff was a great teacher!  I have no idea how he was able to be so patient with me!  I've never been extremely savvy when it comes to technology but I definitely feel a lot more comfortable now and will hopefully be putting my new skills to use in the near future!  Thanks for another great adventure.

My First Project with iMovie

Digital Stories

I absolutely love digital stories and the idea of incorporating them into the classroom. iMovie was difficult for me to navigate at first. I was easily frustrated in the beginning and I still consider myself a novice iMovie user. My comfort level increased as my exposure to the program did. The benefits and uses of this tool are numerous. Students and teachers alike can use this resource in the classroom through book talks, book trailers, and numerous other media and presentations.

Animoto

Animoto is a website tool that was designed to enable people to create video slide shows to express and share stories. This application allows beginner users to create high quality videos and photo albums. Users can produce 30 seconds videos at no cost, purchase a Plus Plan for $5 a month or a Pro Plan for $39 a month. These more advanced plans allow the user to access more features. Plus Animoto offers a free version for teachers! This tool is a great resource to make mini-movies or small presentations. Students and teachers alike can use this great resource! As an English teacher I can definitely see myself using this tool for book talks or having students make their own book trailers as an assessment or summary.

Google Forms

Google Forms is an amazing resource for teachers and students alike. Google already offers: documents, spreadsheets, drawings, presentations, and now forms. I think this would be great to use in the classroom for quizzes, student projects or assignments, and possibly student feedback. I love that you can create your own test with this tool. You can make it multiple choice or short answer, which is really convenient. My only concern is for those students who do not have internet access at home.

Feeling the Inspiration

Inspiration is software available online that supports visual thinking and enables students to easily create and update graphic organizers. Inspiration also offers Webspiration for the classroom that can be used to help improve reading and writing skills! This program is great for visual learners and great for just keeping information and connections organized. I love Inspiration! I think this is an excellent tool for the classroom. I really love that they offer a free 30 day trial. If you have the patience to download the free-trial for each of your students, you could really come up with some neat projects and collaboration.

Tagxedo

Tagxedo is a website that allows you to turn blogs, tweets, status updates, and any other text into a "word cloud" or word art. Users have the opportunity to choose their own words, shape, and template. You can even upload your own picture, pick layouts, fonts and color schemes to create word cloud unique to you. This word art or cloud, can be saved or printed directly from the website.
To create this Tagxedo I merely copied the link to this blog and pasted into the form and it created this image. I played around with some of the fonts, shapes, and colors. Tagxedo is very similar to Wordle but has a few more bells and whistles. It is fun and I can't wait to incorporate this tool into the classroom!

Twitter and Delicious

Twitter is a social network used by millions of people in order to communicate. There are many other uses for Twitter besides communication including: voicing opinions, promoting businesses, and even keeping up with celebrity gossip. It allows you to create personal messages or updates; these posts can be viewed by the public. However, you may choose to change the settings to only allow a select group of people to view your messages and/or updates; these people are called your followers. Twitter allows you to send these messages via computer and phone.
Twitter can also be a valuable resource in the classroom, especially for the high school classroom since many students probably already possess a Twitter account or are familiar with the technology. Students could communicate with the teacher and with each other.


Delicious is a social bookmarking website. It allows people to mark bookmarks online so that they can be accessed from any computer. Delicious also lets users share their bookmarks so that anyone can see them. Each bookmark has a tag which allows users to easily sort through their bookmarks.
Delicious is a great website to use in the classroom especially for class projects. It allows you to save bookmarks anywhere and anytime. Students can begin working on a project at school and continue it at home. Delicious also allows students to share websites and information easily. It is a great resource to help students work on group projects and collaborate with peers outside of the actual classroom.

Word Fun with Wordle

Wordle is a fun and exciting tool that can be used to create customized word art for any occasion. It can be used in the classroom, at the office or at home. Users provide Wordle with any desired text(s) and a word art image is instantly created. This resource even permits personal editing by providing users with a wide array of colors, fonts, and styles. The images that you create with Wordle can be used however you like. Print them out, post them to blogs, or use it as a background.

Literacy Scavenger Hunt

Digital Collection Activity

My niece Jorda Lynn recently had a Mickey Mouse themed party for her second birthday, and she was the inspiration for this theme.

Webquests, Picnik, and Glogster

So this week in TPTE 486 we have been introduced to three different technologies. I really enjoyed learning about webquests, as I myself have never participated in a webquest. This is a resource that is not only engaging, but educational and all teachers should implement this into their curriculum.

Picnik is a really fun web-tool that allows you to edit photos online. The basic membership is free and offers many of the same components as Photoshop. You don't even have to sign-up for an account if you don't want to! You can simply go to the website, upload an image, and have fun editing!

Glogster was my favorite out of all three. Glogster is an interactive website that allows people to create a more diverse blog, or something comparable to a "digital poster." You can add images, text, videos, graphics, etc.

All of these tools and resources can be easily used and adapted for classroom use! Brush up on your online resources to help improve instruction for the 21st century classroom!

Website Evaluation

http://www.readwritethink.org/

This website’s mission is to provide educators, parents, and afterschool professionals with access to the highest quality practices in reading and language arts instruction by offering the very best in free materials.  Read Write Think offers numerous classroom resources, such as lesson plans, classroom interactives, as well as professional development resources.  ReadWriteThink strictly uses classroom-tested, evidence-based lesson plans, printouts, and strategy guides for the Classroom Resources and Professional Development sections.  All content on ReadWriteThink is reviewed by a minimum of two literacy educators.  Professionals who review serve on a volunteer basis, use an Internet-based system to complete reviews, and can review different types of content, from lesson plans to booklists to out-of-school resources, depending on their respective areas of expertise.

The International Reading Association and the National Council of Teachers of English are both leaders in the field of literacy, reading instruction, and English instruction.  IRA is an international membership organization dedicated to improving the quality of reading instruction, disseminating information about reading, and encouraging the lifetime reading habit.  NCTE is a membership organization dedicated to improving the teaching and learning of English and the language arts at all levels of education.  Sponsored by the Verizon Foundation, Verizon Thinkfinity brings teachers, students, and parents free, online education resources.

  

Every lesson plan on Read Write Think has been aligned not only to the IRA/NCTE Standards for the English Language Arts but to individual state standards as well.  This website is an excellent resource for English and reading teachers everywhere.  Whether you need a lesson plan, an interactive, or professional development, Read Write Think provides numerous options and legitimate resources for many of your teaching needs. 

Evaluating Resources on the Web

http://www.unhm.unh.edu/current-students/library/research-help/research-guides.php?id=35

http://www.lib.berkeley.edu/TeachingLib/Guides/Internet/Evaluate.html


Both websites offer step-by-step instruction on how to evaluate websites and resources on the web.  The UCBerkeley site is an excellent resource because in addition to offering techniques to determine the credibility and usefulness of a website, this source also provides great questions to keep in mind while researching.  This site is also helpful because it also lists what some of the implications may be if the website does not meet the criteria. 



The University of New Hampshire site is helpful because it offers numerous links to other sites and  resources that could be potentially helpful while researching. 

Learning Goals & Expectations

I must admit that I put this class off until the very end.  I procrastinated in taking this course for numerous reasons.  First and foremost, I am not very savvy when it comes to technology, and my lack of skill and ability make me slightly anxious.  I have several learning goals for this class but my biggest expectation is for me to break out of my comfort zone where computers and technology are concerned.  I hope to learn an array of strategies and techniques for incorporating technology into the classroom.  I hope to discover how to build, create and find new resources and classroom tools.  I am open to any new ideas and techniques that will help make my classroom a better place and anything that will help to make me a better teacher and educator.  I hope to stretch my thinking and learn a great deal so that I can help better meet the needs of my future students. 

Intro to TPTE 486

Short bio:
I am finishing up undergraduate degree this summer.  I am an English major with a concentration in Literature and a minor in Secondary Education.  In July I will begin my professional year at Alcoa High School, and intern with their English Department.  This fall, in addition to interning, I will be pursuing my Master’s Degree in Secondary Teaching as well as earning my teaching certificate.

Professional bio:

Informal Introduction to class:
My name is Ashley Stroud and I was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee.  I graduated from West High School in 2006 and have been at UTK ever since.  I have always been passionate about reading and literacy.  It is that passion and drive that have inspired me to become a teacher.  I hope to teach my students how to become life-long learners as well developing critical thinking and close reading skills.  I absolutely adore football and anything UT.  My favorite teams are the Vols and the Indianapolis Colts.  In my spare time I enjoy reading and swimming.