Tool 8 - Taking a Look at the Tools

As a Special Education teacher I will have an ipod available for shared use with my team. My librarian allowed me to check out one of the school's ipods over the summer so I could become familiar with it. I was really glad I did that because it was very helpful to have the ipod in hand while watching the 11 tools tutorial video. I think that before watching the video, the only thing I knew how to do on the ipod was to turn it on. So, everything was new to me but to list a few pieces of new learning: I learned how to drag the screen to choose an app; I learned how to sync the device to my laptop; and I learned how to set up a wireless network.

The first thing that came up in my mind in terms of management was how to schedule and share the device between the teachers on the Special Ed team. We may need to have an ipod calendar so that teachers can designate the times that they would like to use them in their classrooms. Working with small groups makes student management a little bit easier. But, I think that it would be important to come up with a list of rules and procedures for proper use of the device with the students. Then, to remind students of our agreements each time the ipod is used and have the list posted for easy reference.

Tool 7 - Reaching Outside Your Classroom

I had a difficult time coming up with a good idea to collaborate on so I started reading the blog posts of my team members for help. One member of my team came up with the idea to have her students create a Google Presentation with the images they associate with emergent reading strategies they use to become better readers. I commented on her blog post for this tool, because I have groups that would benefit from that project. The reading group that I would like to collaborate in this project currently only has one student in it. I think it would benefit that student greatly to see that others are learning the same strategies he is to become a better reader. It will allow him to have peer contact even though he is alone with me for that block of time.

Tool 6 - Web Tools to Promote Discussion

1. Choose at least two of the tools from the above list. Create an account for each (if required) . I created a Twitter account, a WallWisher account and a Edmodo account. I tried to follow a couple of points on twitter but couldn't really think of a good way to incorporate it for my particular classroom needs. I think that I could definitely use Edmodo though for classroom discussions on just about anything. I created a sample where I might post a question about the main character of a book and ask the students to share their thoughts. I also used wall wisher to ask students to post any goal they might have for their 4th grade year.

Tool 5 - Producing with Web 2.0 Tools

1. Use at least two of the tools above to create products.
2. Then, embed both products in your blog or link to the products from your blog.

Describe for your readers how you think each tool can be incorporated into your classroom - how you could see the tool being used by you instructionally and your students to demonstrate their understanding of a concept or topic in your classroom.

I think the students could use many of the tools on bighugelabs.com to demonstrate understanding of a subject while having a chance to be creative. I particularly like the cube maker, map maker and poster maker. I think that Animoto would be a fun way to show progress on a longer project the students work on or to show progress throughout the year. I typed in some reading comprehension strategies into wordle and that may be a fun way for students to express what they know about delving deeper into a book.

Tool 4 - Google Apps

1. Create at least one document in Google Docs and share it with a few others on your campus or within your department.

I shared a document on some information I learned at a summer training. I wanted to share the information with my team anyway, so this is an easy way for them to access the information.

2. Create one form in Google Docs and send it via email to at least two other people and ask them to respond.

I created a form for students to set a goal for their 4th grade year.

3. Briefly discuss how you can use the tools in Google Apps with your team or department.

My team members and I share many documents that we use for our students and I can see how this will be a very useful tool. Go Google!

Tool 3 - Video/Image Resources

Visit several of the video hosting/streaming sites mentioned above. Share with your readers which sites you found most useful for your content and why.
Youtube and teacher tube are my favorite places to go for videos. They pretty much seem to have everything.

Find and select two videos that may be useful resources in your classroom. Embed them in your blog.

Here is a young author giving a great lesson on personal narrative writing and descriptive writing.

Tool 2 - Establishing a PLN

Visit at least 5 blogs of fellow educators and comment to one of their posts. Share your thoughts.
I wasn't too excited about having to spend time on using wetools until I started visiting blogs of my fellow educators. Now I get it!! What a great way to share ideas and resources. I visited the blogs of all the teachers that I will be working closely with next year and am very impressed with their knowledge and creativity.
Share the url or name of a website or social network that you plan to visit in the future.
I visited several websites that were recommended by my fellow bloggers. I have never used an ipad before but will have have one for classroom next year so I found this wiki very helpful and plan to re-visit it often http://elearning-mesc.wikispaces.com/ipads+for+learning