http://justinhileman.com/bio
Justin's portfolio had a really neat layout to it and was very easy to navigate through (it helps that he major in web design though.) Although I really liked the set up of his portfolio, I wouldn't really classify as a good portfolio because of the content. In his bio section, he mentioned things, like his love for his scooter named Stella, that I wouldn't really deem as "professional." Also, he didn't really have too much artifacts of things he has done in the past. The stuff he did have, however, was good, I just wished there would have been more artifacts and a wider variety of what he is capable of doing.
http://homepage.mac.com/gapodaca/digital/digital.html
I really liked Greg's portfolio and would consider this to be a good one. He showed a variety of artifacts that he has done in the past, provided different links and resources for people to go to when looking at his portfolio, and even had a podcast about photoshop. Greg's portfolio had enough information and artifacts for someone who needed a photo touched up to really make a valid decision on whether or not Greg would be right for their job.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Monday, April 11, 2011
Group Video Project
I think our video project went really well considering I had never done something like that before. Coming up with the concept that we wanted to film about was a little hard, but once we knew what we wanted to do, coming up with the story board was not that hard. I think Paige and I could have scheduled our time to film a little better than we did, but we really got a lot of our footage during the first day in class. I think if I was to do this project again, I would try to make sure Paige and I have a little better communication outside of class. For this project, I am more comfortable with using movie maker to create different films to present in a classroom setting. I also feel that I am comfortable enough with the program and filming that I would be able to teach it, on a very basic level, to a class and have the class create video projects.
Saturday, April 2, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Smartboards
For me, it was not hard to learn how to use the Smartboard because I have been using on in a classroom setting since my sophomore year in high school. My school received a grant that allowed the district to put a Smartboard in all of the math classrooms. We would often have to go and work with the Smartboards during class.
In college, I had used the Smartboard in one of my method classes during a lesson. It was for Social Studies and I had used different websites with interactive games that the "students" were to participate in.
I was also fortunate enough to be placed in a classroom with a Smartboard during my early field. My cooperating teacher used her Smartboard every day, especially during acceleration where the students would play different reading games. My cooperating teacher had shown be a little bit of the Smart technology as well.
I think that it was really beneficial when we went through all the different Smart technology, because although I have had many experiences using a Smartboard, I was never taught about the Smart technology. I think that the technology is really useful to teachers when creating lessons because our society is so technologically based that it helps the students in the classroom to connect with what they are learning. One thing that could be an issue with having a Smartboard in the classroom is having teachers who created lessons based off what they want to do with the Smartboard instead of using the Smartboard to enhance their lessons.
I personally think that Smart technology is something that should be incorporated into all classrooms because allows students to be engaged into the lessons.
In college, I had used the Smartboard in one of my method classes during a lesson. It was for Social Studies and I had used different websites with interactive games that the "students" were to participate in.
I was also fortunate enough to be placed in a classroom with a Smartboard during my early field. My cooperating teacher used her Smartboard every day, especially during acceleration where the students would play different reading games. My cooperating teacher had shown be a little bit of the Smart technology as well.
I think that it was really beneficial when we went through all the different Smart technology, because although I have had many experiences using a Smartboard, I was never taught about the Smart technology. I think that the technology is really useful to teachers when creating lessons because our society is so technologically based that it helps the students in the classroom to connect with what they are learning. One thing that could be an issue with having a Smartboard in the classroom is having teachers who created lessons based off what they want to do with the Smartboard instead of using the Smartboard to enhance their lessons.
I personally think that Smart technology is something that should be incorporated into all classrooms because allows students to be engaged into the lessons.
Software Skills
I think, for me personally, it was very beneficial to take the time out to learn about the different software tools because I do not know much about technology. I know that I had used publisher in high school to make a newsletter for my child development class, but I had no idea that you were able to change to color schemes on the different templates which was nice. I think the lesson on how to create tables in Microsoft word was the most beneficial to me because I always try to use tables but often get frustrated with them because I am never able to figure them out. Once it was shown to me, working with tables was made a whole lot easier. I was even able to use what I had learned and applied it to my science methods class to create my health assessments. Tables are nice to use for quizzes and tests because it helps the organization of the test or quiz and makes grading them a whole lot easier.
As a teacher, technology is something that will be used on a daily basis. It is important to have backup plans in case some of the technology in the classroom does not work. Having us put our projects onto transparencies was a good experience because it taught us how to make them in case we teach in a classroom that does not have a smartboard or projector system. Also, the tips and tricks we learned in the class made creating the projects easier, which will allow us to have more time on preparing more important things, like lessons.
As a teacher, technology is something that will be used on a daily basis. It is important to have backup plans in case some of the technology in the classroom does not work. Having us put our projects onto transparencies was a good experience because it taught us how to make them in case we teach in a classroom that does not have a smartboard or projector system. Also, the tips and tricks we learned in the class made creating the projects easier, which will allow us to have more time on preparing more important things, like lessons.
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Inspiration and Web Resource
Inspiration is definitely something that I would invest in. I know that I have used it to create a concept map for a unit and have also made an outline for a unit. Inspiration is fairly simple to use, so my students would be able to go onto it and create concept maps and outlines for different projects in all the different subject areas. The ability to add pictures easily makes the concept map portion of the program more attractive to the teacher, the students, and the parents. Using inspiration in the classroom, I could whole group teach and outline the key components of the lesson that I want the student's to pay particular attention to. Inspiration can also be used as a review tool after a unit.
I think that all of the Web Resources that we have used so far in this class are good and very beneficial to future teachers. One of the web resources that I like the most, however, is diigo. I like that I am able to bookmark many different sites and can access those sites from any device that has internet capability. It is also nice how you are able to follow other people's pages and see what types of sites they have tagged for new ideas.
Another good web resource that has a lot of practical uses for a teachers is the united streaming website. This resource is especially helpful to me now as I am taking the science method class and can now incorporate it into my lessons.
I think that all of the Web Resources that we have used so far in this class are good and very beneficial to future teachers. One of the web resources that I like the most, however, is diigo. I like that I am able to bookmark many different sites and can access those sites from any device that has internet capability. It is also nice how you are able to follow other people's pages and see what types of sites they have tagged for new ideas.
Another good web resource that has a lot of practical uses for a teachers is the united streaming website. This resource is especially helpful to me now as I am taking the science method class and can now incorporate it into my lessons.
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Social Bookmarking
I think that Social Bookmarking has a very practical use both inside and outside the classroom. Teachers are able to access different websites that they have bookmarked as long as there is internet access, making it easier to plan different activities and lesson plans wherever they are. Teachers are also able to "friend" other social bookmark users to look at the different websites and resources that they may not otherwise have found.
One great feature about social bookmarking is that teachers are able to create different lists that their students can access to help them with homework or research from websites the teacher deems reliable and useful.
Students can also benefit from social bookmarking. If a student is doing research for a specific project and has an account, that student can bookmark a website at a school computer and then pull up the same website at home or at the public library. Some social bookmarking sites also have a feature where the user is able to highlight specific parts of a website that they consider to be important.
As a current student, social bookmarking can really help when looking up different standards and lesson plans quickly and efficiently. I am also able to look at other user's tags and websites to help me find more information. Social bookmarking is definitely something that I am glad I was introduced to because it will help me significantly in the future.
One great feature about social bookmarking is that teachers are able to create different lists that their students can access to help them with homework or research from websites the teacher deems reliable and useful.
Students can also benefit from social bookmarking. If a student is doing research for a specific project and has an account, that student can bookmark a website at a school computer and then pull up the same website at home or at the public library. Some social bookmarking sites also have a feature where the user is able to highlight specific parts of a website that they consider to be important.
As a current student, social bookmarking can really help when looking up different standards and lesson plans quickly and efficiently. I am also able to look at other user's tags and websites to help me find more information. Social bookmarking is definitely something that I am glad I was introduced to because it will help me significantly in the future.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Google Apps
Google Apps is one of the coolest things that I have seen. This application allows for real time collaboration, something that can be effectively utilized by students who are working on a group project. I think that teachers should really begin to utilize Google Apps into their classroom, especially since there is an education edition, making this application designed specifically for the education world. One huge advantage that Google Apps provides is constant updates allowing a teacher or students the newest features automatically. Another advantage is that you are able to access these application from anywhere where there is internet access with an advice that has internet capability, allowing people to access the information being shared and edited as soon as possible. One disadvantage that you may think of is how is someone able to know who is revising a document, and when was the last revision made. Google Docs, along with other Google Apps have features that allow you to go back a view what changes have been made, when these changes were made, and who these changes were made by.
The only advantage that Office apps have over Google Apps that I can think of is that Office Apps may be easier to use, especially for the technology immigrants in the world. Google Apps may overwhelm, or even scare people from older generations and many may want to stick with the familiarity of Office Apps. Luckily, Google Apps are relatively easy to use, so hopefully everyone will be able to incorporate them into a classroom setting.
The only advantage that Office apps have over Google Apps that I can think of is that Office Apps may be easier to use, especially for the technology immigrants in the world. Google Apps may overwhelm, or even scare people from older generations and many may want to stick with the familiarity of Office Apps. Luckily, Google Apps are relatively easy to use, so hopefully everyone will be able to incorporate them into a classroom setting.
Blogs in the Classroom
"OK class, let's take out a piece of paper and begin writing." This is a common statement that you can hear in a typical classroom, a statement that is being played like a broken record. It's time for teachers to change and begin to incorporate more technology into the classroom. Blogs are more and more frequently being used on a daily basis by students outside the classroom, not it's time to incorporate them into the classroom.
Blogs can really be beneficial in the classroom from daily journaling to creative writing. Student's know that they can have an audience who actually reads what they have to say. Comments on a student's blog could spark new ideas that a student had never thought of before or could allow a student to defend something that they believe in. Since blogging occurs on the computer, the students have access to things like spell check and dictionaries and thesauruses online. I know for me personally, it is much easier to type a word in Microsoft works and use spell check than to page through a cumbersome dictionary to find the correct spelling of the word I'm trying to use. Student's today want quick and easy, not always the best method, but, for whatever reason, hard work, or even something that requires a little more effort than normal is becoming the norm among students today.
Blogs should also be considered for those students with special needs. Take a student who has a hard time with writing. With a piece of paper and a pencil and a time limit of 15 minutes, a student who may have a problem connecting his thoughts to the paper because of a physical barrier may not receive the best grade on a daily journaling topic. However, if you give that same child a chance to write his thoughts on a screen with no physical barrier of the pencil, he may have written a daily journal that merits a high score.
One major downfall of using blogs in a classroom is that it is being shared on the internet for the whole world to see. Teacher's really need to be responsible and do their research to find sights that will protect their students but still allow them to creatively express themselves. Teacher's should also remember to teach their students about how to be safe when using a computer and what information can be shared and what information should never be shared on the internet.
Blogs can really be beneficial in the classroom from daily journaling to creative writing. Student's know that they can have an audience who actually reads what they have to say. Comments on a student's blog could spark new ideas that a student had never thought of before or could allow a student to defend something that they believe in. Since blogging occurs on the computer, the students have access to things like spell check and dictionaries and thesauruses online. I know for me personally, it is much easier to type a word in Microsoft works and use spell check than to page through a cumbersome dictionary to find the correct spelling of the word I'm trying to use. Student's today want quick and easy, not always the best method, but, for whatever reason, hard work, or even something that requires a little more effort than normal is becoming the norm among students today.
Blogs should also be considered for those students with special needs. Take a student who has a hard time with writing. With a piece of paper and a pencil and a time limit of 15 minutes, a student who may have a problem connecting his thoughts to the paper because of a physical barrier may not receive the best grade on a daily journaling topic. However, if you give that same child a chance to write his thoughts on a screen with no physical barrier of the pencil, he may have written a daily journal that merits a high score.
One major downfall of using blogs in a classroom is that it is being shared on the internet for the whole world to see. Teacher's really need to be responsible and do their research to find sights that will protect their students but still allow them to creatively express themselves. Teacher's should also remember to teach their students about how to be safe when using a computer and what information can be shared and what information should never be shared on the internet.
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