Final Assignment

I have completed all of the assignments (1-4) for this last week. :)

Internet Safety Reflection

1.The Savior Is Counting on You by Elder Joe Christensen
2. The video resources that I watched were all of the ones on Netsmartz. I found these ones to be very eye opening on cyber bullying and predators. I couldn't believe what some people do on the internet to get revenge or what not. I also watched iKeepsafe Faux Paws created by BYU animation I found this video and website to be very kid friendly, but it still got the message across. I also watched a video that showed what a predator can find out about you in just 22 minutes once they meet you through private chat rooms. I couldn't believe the information that they have available to them. You really need to be careful with what information you use and send in emails or other chats.
3.The most important thing that I took away from the readings and videos is that the internet is both a blessing and a curse. There are so many good things from it, but also bad things. It's amazing how such an amazing tool and resource can be used to destroy and detract from people's lives. It made me aware of the rules and procedures I want to establish in my home to provide a safe environment especially with internet use.
4. I. The people knew about "crash and tell" and to use the internet for a purpose. Never just surf the net.
II. They really enjoyed what I shared and wanted me to give them the resources that I got the information from. We had a great discussion.
III. I wasn't really surprised by their reaction.
IV.I think that the people will try to establish the key points that Elder Bednar gave in his talk in their own home, and to make sure they have a discussion with their family on what to do and are open about it. This makes it easier for the kids to come and talk with the parents if there ever are any questions or problems.

TPACK Report

Science Activity Voice Thread

Hey here is the my google earth tour URL to download it. Hopefully it works!
http://sites.google.com/site/teched09site/google-earth-tour

Lesson Plans

Math Lesson Plan
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfcz8fjz_65kvpp54dd

Science Lesson Plan
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfcz8fjz_66cc2mtbdk

Language Arts Lesson Plan
http://docs.google.com/View?id=dfcz8fjz_64d4s97pfr

Technology with Young Children

The videos showed some really great lessons implementing technology, especially with children at very young ages. The most important thing I learned while watching the videos was how technology can enhance the student’s learning. Not only does technology get the students very excited and engaged into the lesson, but it also allows them to facilitate to their own learning process. They are able to tap into their creativity and present the information that they learn and want to display in their own way. Due to this process, the students are able to remember more and develop the skills they need to be successful life-long learners. I really liked the last video where the teacher taught her young students how to access the World Wide Web and find available resources. These skills will be very beneficial to the students throughout their lives, and especially in school. It is great they are expanding their knowledge of available resources and their ability to find them at such a young age! Their technological skills they have learned while young will have a huge impact on their learning throughout their lives.

Technology Available at Orchard Hills

In the classroom I'm working with there is not very much technology in the classroom other than a cd player, one computer for just the teacher, an overhead projector, and the listening center. The teacher however does have the technology offered by/provided by the school. They have two great computer labs and then 2-3 other mini labs for keyboarding, skills, and Imagine Learning. This school is fairly new and in my interview they said that the lack of technology within the classroom (computers for the students) is normal until they receive greater funding.

I completed parts 1,2,and 3 of the assignment.

Science Challenge

For my science challenge I have decided to focus on the 2nd Grade Science core Standard 3 objective 2: Observe and describe weather
a. observe and describe patterns of change in weather
b. measure, record, graph, and report changes in local weather

As a class we will learn how to read thermometers and understand how temperature probes work, and will discuss meteorology. For one week as a class we will track the local weather using a classroom thermometer, or the local weather news. At the same time the students will have picked a place anywhere in the United States or even the world in which they will be doing the same thing (daily measuring, observing and recording the weather) using Google Earth's layer feature of weather. They will record and graph their data using a bar chart from the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. We will discuss their findings in the change of weather and patterns they may have observed.

TPACK:
1. The content I am focusing on in this activity is observing, measuring, recording, and graphing changes in weather.
2. The pedagogy that I will have my students use is observing, measuring, acquiring and processing data and then analyzing the data. This is a good fit with the chosen content because the students will be able to actively be involved in the learning.
3. The technology that I will use and that my students will be using are thermometers, temperature probes, Google Earth, and bar charts. These sources of technology will enable us to observe the weather not only locally but world wide, and record and analyze our findings.

Google Earth Tour

Other Tours

I really enjoyed watching other classmates' tours. They were so fun and creative!
The three I watched were:
Ashley Daley's about human settlements and geography
Kami's about ecosystems
Kellie Cash's about volcanoes

Virtual Tour Plan

Location	Activity Description	Google Earth Content
1. Parthenon, Greece	View pictures of the Parthenon and read about the essential elements of Greek Mythology, students will measure the building	3D building, ruler
2. St. Peter's Basilica, Rome	View pictures of St. Peter's Basilica and read the contributions of Christianity to the classical civilization of Rome, students will measure the building and compare it to the Parthenon	3D building, ruler
3. Temple of Heaven, China	View pictures of Temple of Heaven, and observe where other Buddhist temples throughout China are, read about and examine the essential elements of Buddhism	3D building, Overlay
4. Taj Mahal, India	View pictures of the Taj Mahal, read and examine the essential elements of Hinduism, Students will compare similarities they noticed between here and the Temple of Heaven in China, and also watch the differences and similarities Youtube video between Buddhism and Hinduism	3D building, placemarker (You tube video)

In this Google Earth Tour the students will examine some of the main religions of the world and the contributions they had to classical civilizations (as stated in Social Studies Core Curriculum Standard 2 objective 1a/b). They will examine essential elements of Greek mythology, Christianity, Buddhism, and Hinduism.
I think using Google Earth to introduce these civilizations and their religion will benefit the students' learning. It will pique the students' interest and they will be able to see that these are real places, about real people and their beliefs. It is more of a hands on, visual learning activity for the students, where they can engage and explore using what Google Earth has to offer, and further satisfy their curiosity. In addition, the students are learning about important and useful technological resources. As a teacher, I can use the gadgets in Google Earth to leave clues, or guide my students through the lesson to achieve what I want them to learn. I can have them compare, contrast, explore, and discuss their findings. It enables me to overlap many different ideas and principles that I need to introduce and teach my students.

Digital Storytelling

Here is my digital storytelling. I will use it to achieve the language arts course curriculum Standard 1 objective 2b, and Standard 8 Objective 6 a/b/f. This is an example of my own personal writing production based on a children's song. I will share it with the students to get their ideas going on what they can do for their media project.



Can also be found at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z8uNf5fUBsU

Other's Digital storytelling projects

I really enjoyed watching what others have done for their digital storytelling projects. Here are the six projects that I watched and commented on:

Nichole Mahas- How to keep from Getting Sick. This was a very fun video, very student oriented. It had some really good points that usually get looked over by kids such as keeping their hands away from their eyes and mouth.

Kami Orr- Hooray for Me! Loved this movie. It was so creative and done very professionally. She did a great job on her selection of pictures to go along with the story. It was very inspirational.

Sabrina Huyett- book trailer for Hatchet. This trailer was so intense! The thrilling music along with the dramatic narration and questions really sucked me into it, and definitely set a tone of great adventure.

Ashley Daley- book trailer for The Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe. The music selection really added to the pictures from the movie and book. I also really enjoyed the narrator's voice, it helped set a magical and adventurous tone.

Katie Matthews- Katie Did. This was such a fun story, I could tell she put a lot of work into this. It is going to be a great tool in the classroom because the students can really relate to it, and it will get their own imaginations going too.

Whitney Lethcoe- We are Family. I really enjoyed this movie and thought it was such a wonderful idea! It would let the students get to know you as their teacher, but also will teach them how they too play an important role in their own family or even in the classroom and it is great to be different!

By watching all of these very different videos I realized how much material can be done or covered in this very fun and entertaining way for the students! I enjoyed seeing the variety of ideas for movies and will remember them so I can implement them in my classroom.

Story Board for Week 3

credits page: http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AbTvyJ2jSz95ZGZjejhmanpfNTJnMng3d

Tech-Savvy

Monkey! I have learned so much this week. I had no idea that there are so many options available for free educational tools, Web 2.0 blew my mind away. I would have to say that the most difficult thing about this assignment was just getting started. Once I buckled down and perservered, even when it was very frustrating... I think I finally got the knack of it. I'm grateful that I've finally learned how to create a website and also gained the knowledge of what's out there. There is so much at the tips of our fingers! And now I am (somewhat) tech-savvy :)

Here's my link to my wiki space:
http://forrealz.pbworks.com

Screenshots:


Good Reads

Diigo
Google Reader
Conversation with My friend

Education is Life

"Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." John Dewey
Why do I love education? Because it is life. I love life. We can always learn, and grow, and attain more knowledge. There is no end to the road of education, however, there are stumbling blocks set in our way to divert us from our path. That is what I love about education. It is a challenge, a never ending journey to be better, to become something more. As a teacher it is my goal to help students overcome their individual stumbling blocks, to discover a love of learning, and that there is no end to their education; and therefore no end to their potential. I believe as Anatole France said, "Nine tenths of education is encouragement." I will do my best to encourage the young brilliant minds of the future that come within my own path. Together we will learn and gain a greater education and hopefully make a difference in this world.

Some more favorite quotes about education and teaching:

"A teacher affects eternity; he can never tell where his influence stops."
~Henry B. Adams
"Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and world better than you found it."
~Marian Wright Edelman
"Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
~Nelson Mandela