Final Evaluation

1.      What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

I always enjoy learning about new Web 2.0 tools. Although I have seen Voki before and used Wordle in the past, it’s always nice to remind myself of these tools, especially at the beginning of the school year. I want to try and incorporate these tools more often into my lesson plans. I also really enjoyed using Blogger. It’s extremely user friendly and a great place to reflect back and record my thoughts during the school year.

2.      How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

My main goal for my students this year is to help them develop a love for reading and writing. I think that several of the web 2.0 tools I explored will help supplement this goal. I want to give my students opportunities to create book trailers using Animoto or PhotoPeach, and also write summaries or describe characters in their books using Wordle.

3.      Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

I can’t believe it’s taken me so long to try and make my own blog. I can’t think of a better place to store my thoughts and ideas. This is easy to access.

4.      What could I do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

There were some links that were no longer working or available, but other than that I truly enjoyed exploring the different tools that are available. I also like how you have chosen the most updated tools.

Thing #16: Photopeach

Athens, Greece 2010 on PhotoPeach

Thing# 15.5: Twitter

The Twitter lingo intimidates me. I am slowly learning how to use the @ symbol and the # hashtag symbol. Ever since Facebook has allowed Twitter users to update their comments on the Facebook news feed I have started becoming more familiar with all the symbols.

I think Twitter would be a great form of communication between the parents and myself for keeping them updated with what's happening in the classroom. I'm sure that when parents ask their child what they did in school today, they still get the typical answer, "not much." I could post questions for my parents to ask, such as "Ask your child about the different weather instruments we learned about today."

Unfortunately, I tried getting on the Twitter website at school and it was blocked. Hopefully, if I express how I would like to use this feature in the classroom, they will unblock the website.

Thing #15: Skype

I love using the Skype video feature. I tried it out with a friend of mine who had a baby not too long ago in Washington D.C. I love not only hearing her and her little newborn, but also getting to see them.

I still keep in contact with the teachers I taught with in Dallas, and I would love to have our classes Skype with each other about different units. We could each have our students create questions to ask the other class. We could Skype once a month about different writing ideas used in the classroom or to discuss literary elements found within class read alouds.

Katy ISD provides different opportunities to Skype with Authors. The district is so large and everyone is excited about doing this that you have to sign up quickly before the spots are taken. The author will inspire students with talking about the writing process and allow for questions. We spoke with Dan Gutman a few years ago and the students were engaged and excited to hear from him.

Thing #14: Podcasting and Bookmarking

I found a podcast called 50 Essential Strategies for Every Writer By Roy Peter Clark. I used to always procrastinate when writing papers because I never learned the tricks and tips that are necessary to develop a well written paper. The amount of papers required in grad school has helped me somewhat get over this fear. There is always one paper after another so there’s not enough time to “fear the paper.” I have learned that the main key is getting your thoughts on the paper. Once your ideas are free from your mind, you can rearrange and reword them multiple times until they sound just right. I’m continuing to learn how to become more succinct writer so this series on iTunesU will be helpful in attaining my goal. I have such a long drive to school each morning, iTunesU is a great way to use my time wisely in the car.  Click on the picture below to experience this podcast.

I absolutely love using Pinterest! I have found some recipes that I am excited about making, especially some soups for the winter. I have also recently explored classroom ideas. I am a visual learner so I enjoy browsing by picture first before I click on the link to learn more about the project. 

My friends have always been very into Etsy. They have ordered various invitations and home goods from the site. I would always forget to browse the site until I started using Pinterest. Lots of these different home ideas I have found are from Etsy. I am very into the way burlap looks so I have found a wreath, bed skirt, and wall decoration that I really like. When I get the time, I’m going to learn how to make some of these items. 

 

Thing #13: Using YouTube

Who knew it was so easy to upload videos to YouTube?? I knew it couldn't be that hard, everyone does it all the time. I have a friend who snaps videos of her child on her phone and uploads them and sends the link all the time. This is such an easy way for family to stay connected and updated with what's going on in each other's lives.

A couple years ago my school had invested in some FLIP cameras to try out in the classroom. I happened to have one of them at home with me when we got snowed in one day, and I couldn't think of a better way to capture the funny moments of my dog in the snow. I don't kids so I have to treat my dog like he's one.

For my students, this is a great way to allow them to share their classwork with their relatives that do not live nearby. I can't think of a better way to display a piece of published work. My students would know they are not just doing their work for me and the grade that I put at the top of the paper. YouTube can help them realize their is value in the work they are producing. It won't be thrown away once it's been graded. They can cherish and access their work all the time.

Thing #12: Discovering YouTube

Last year when I taught Science, we had to learn about the Skeletal System and all the scientific names of the bones. I thought it was going to be extremely overwhelming for third graders to learn the names of that many bones. I found this Hannah Montana video and it was right up their alley. Most of the students in my class had seen this episode and already knew some of the words of the song. It was a great way for kids to engage in the science lesson and want to know more about the scientific names.