Tuesday, March 21, 2017

Module 3 Blog

Materials Generators
Using Google Docs in the classroom would be beneficial to the students because they are able to create documents online and access them from different places if need be. The students would also  be able share the document with others and critique each others work online. The Puzzle Maker would be beneficial to the students because like Roblyer states, "Teachers create puzzles and worksheets to allow skill practice." (2016, PG 144) Using a puzzle to work on skill practice would be engaging for the students.
Testing & Grading Tools
I believe that the teacher using an electronic gradebook would be beneficial to the students because the teacher would have more time to focus on her students instead of calculating grades. Even if the teacher does this after school, this gives them more time to prepare for the next days lesson rather than calculating the weighted score on their own. Also, having an online site that creates rubrics would be beneficial to the students because the teacher would access to different ways to grade the student. The student would benefit because they would also be able to know what the teacher is looking for in an assignment because the rubric would have it listed for them.
Graphics Tools 
Using KidPix would allow the students to sit down and create graphics into their documents easily. Roblyer states that, "drawing is a representational form of communication that is a precursor to writing, and recommend drawing software on a tablet computer for its versatility." (2016, PG 157) The software would be beneficial to the students because they could communicate their thoughts and ideas in another way rather than writing and use the drawing as a stepping stone in communication. Google Drawings allows the students or teachers to add in drawings into their Google Docs or other Google online software.
Planning and Organizing Tools 
Mindomo would be a beneficial software for students because the "concept mapping software tools are designed to help people think through and explore ideas or topics by developing concept maps." (Roblyer, 2016, PG 160) The app also allows the students to convert their map into an outline which would benefit the students if they needed to do a presentation for the class. The Schedule Maker software allows the students and parents to see times that the teacher is available to meet. Not only is this beneficial to the students, but also a quick and easy way for teachers to keep their schedules readily available for others.
Research & Reference Tools 
Google maps would be beneficial to use in the classroom because you are able to pull up locations and sites that students may be learning about. You are also able to interact with the towns zooming in to see what the area may look like as well. Dictionary.com would be useful and beneficial to the students because the site allows the students to look up definitions and gives synonyms for words as well.

Wednesday, March 1, 2017

Online Tools, Uses, and Web-Based Development

Search Engines

Learning to use search engines and proper Web navigation can help the teacher and students to find better information that is useful to them. Knowing how to determine a reliable site will help determine if the site is a reliable resource. Knowing how to search on a search engine will cut down time spent looking through irrelevant links.

Website Evaluation Video

Included is a useful video that can be used in the classroom as a tool to teach students about how to determine if a site is reliable or not. Remembering the 5W's is simple and will help the student determine if the site could be trusted to use their information.

Favorite Professional Websites

One professional website that will be useful when I am a teaching professional is ReadWorks.org. On this site you are able to locate different passages based on reading level, topic, lexile level, and/or to target any specific reading skill or strategy. You are able to locate a passage that relates to the topic being discussed in class or a specific strategy that can be focused on during reading intervention. I found the website to be organized well and easily navigated (Roblyer, 2016).
Another website that I found useful is https://kids.usa.gov/. On this website it includes lesson plans, videos, and links to reliable websites that can be used in the classroom.

Online Safety and Security
Cyberbullying is very common in the technology world. "Cyberbullying is the practice of using technology to harass, threaten, embarrass, or target another person" (Roblyer, 2016). Creating a safe zone within your classroom with help teach the students how to interact with others online. The website Kids.gov that I mentioned earlier has information on how to teach students about online bullying and what to do if it ever happens.