Web Resources for the Classroom

After exploring through a variety of websites while in class, I definietely believe that many of them can be used as tools to benefit the classroom setting.
My favorite website that was examined was "Illuminations." The site had endless amounts of activities for children to explore and learn on their own. On the website, children can complete matching activities to understand combinations, by dressing up a stuffed animal bear. They can also complete a coordinate grid to help the turtle find his way to the pond. The website is definitely education friendly because children are able to play while they are learning.
In my classroom, I would definitely use this website for those students who seem to complete tasks faster than everyone around them. While the website would occupy them for the remainder of the lesson, it would also enhance and hoan their academic skills. It might even be beneficial to use this website for simple homework assignments. Students could go online and complete practice activities, especially on the weekends, when their minds might not be getting the proper stimulation.
As a future educator, I think that the website "Rubistar " is extremely helpful. The website allows you to create basic rubrics for grading particular classroom projects. Having a website that exists to help teachers in such a way is phenomenol. Most teachers have pretty hectic schedules, and may not have time to sit down and design a rubric to grade each assignment. "Rubistar" can be a major time saver for all educators.
I also enjoyed the website titled, "United Streaming." It allows teachers to incorporate video into their lesson plans. Students can learn alot of from the power of video because it is something common to their every day routine. United Streaming allows you to play short video clips, based on a theme or themes that are being taught within the classroom. The website also allows you to create your own puzzles and worksheets by typing in the words or ideas that are being taught. There are a plethora of ways to design worksheets and activities for children to follow and study from.
In my classroom, the two sites that I will use the most will be "Rubistar" and "United Streaming." Rubistar will allow me to create accurate and precise grading systems for my students. It will also make grading assignments slighty easier because there will already be a specific set of standards for the project. Also, I could keep the rubric for times when I choose to do the project again and all I would have to do is make changes as needed.
I would use "United Streaming" alot because it is would not only be a tool for me, but for the students. Students could explore around the website on their own time as well as in the classroom. It is beneficial to allow students to use the website because in today's technological society, children often know more about the internet than adults. By embracing their abilities and technology skills children can feel comfortable to explore through the use of online video.

Using Inspiration in the Classroom

I think that the program "Inspiration" has alot of potential to become a strong academic tool for elementary age children. I would definitely invest in the program for my students because it can teach strong organizational skills.
From a teacher's point of view, I could use "Inspiration" to create a web that breaks down lesson plans into the individual academic needs of each student. I could also create a phone chain so that parents are able to stay in touch and linked with one another. This might even jump start a social network.
Across the cirriculum, students can use "Inspiration" to learn in virtually any subject area. Within the subject of literature, children can use the program to understand the concept of sequencing ideas and themes. Through mathematics, "Inspiration" can help to show children the steps to solving a problem. In the subject of social studies, students can be taught about community and society, for example, they might learn about the different branches of government. Using the program to teach science can show children the classification of different species.
"Inspiration" is a wonderful program to implement into the classroom because it allows students to create and develop their ideas while putting them into a sensible order to study and learn from at any time.

Social Bookmarking

I think that social bookmarking is definitely an innovative way to enhance classroom learning. If a student is looking for information on a particular topic, they can go to a bookmarking site and discover what others have found. Social bookmarking is a good way for students to learn from one another.
As an educator, I would definitely use the application to invest in new and exciting lesson plans. Sometimes as an educator it is alot easier to borrow from others rather than inventing the wheel. Social bookmarking becomes a handy tool because after finding several websites that you would like to mark, they can also be organized into categories. As opposed to simply, saving websites into your favorites catalog, where they easily become disorganized, social bookmarking keeps everything in order.
Even as a college student social bookmarking is beneficial. Whenever I am doing research for a paper, it is valuable to be able to save the website quickly and efficiently so that I can return to it as soon as I need it again. I can always find what I am looking for right away because all that is needed is a key word. Also, in my busy college schedule, I do not always have the time to return to my home computer, where I have saved favorite websites. Since social bookmarking is your own personal account, you can log in at any time and at any computer to utilize the websites that you have saved.
While there are dangers about finding inaccurate information through social bookmarking, if students are first, taught how to evaluate websites for clarity and accuracy that worry should quickly subside. Social bookmarking is a powerful tool in communicating and sharing information that can be effectively used by all.

Evaluating Websites

It is important to evaluate a website before presenting it to students because the material and information found needs to be accurate. A major concern in today's technological world is the privacy of children. When using websites within the classroom, it is of utmost importance that students are safely enjoying their internet privileges.
I believe that it is definitely imperative that teachers evaluate websites for appropriate and educational content. However, I think that in today's fast-paced society, it is difficult to resist the temptation of typing a key word into Google and finding a plethora of information, whether it is educational or not.
Within the classroom, an educator can easily teach an entire lesson on how to properly evaluate websites. The lesson could be fun, interactive and educational. Children should be taught how to look at a website and tell whether the information is valuable or not, by analyzing the specific list of criteria such as accuracy, authority, currency, coverage etc. Students can be presented with websites that encourage, reading, writing, mathematics and literacy. A lot of internet websites provide opportunities for children to learn in a creative manner. Educators should want to give children the best opportunities to learn and develop their skills in a tech savvy world. By assuring that all information presented to them is safe, the internet can become an advocate for education.

Incorporating Blogs Into the Classroom

I believe that blogging in the classroom is a positive way for children to express themselves. Alot of children experience anxiety about public speaking,or speaking in front of other students. By using a blog, students can feel comfortable expressing their thoughts and ideas because there is no physical audience in front of them.
Blogging is a fun way for students to enhance and improve their writing skills. Instead of sitting down and writing an essay on blank paper, students may enjoy using a blog because it, more than likely, comes naturally to them. Within the classroom, students can use blogs to communicate with other students around the world. A classroom unit might be designed to teach about other cultures. Blogging is an excellent way to post videos, journals, and experiences with students in another classroom that may even be halfway across the world.
Students could use a blog to setup a classroom newspaper. Students would update the specific blog every week to let others know what they have been doing in the classroom.
In other subjects areas, such as history, students may blog about what they have been learning, their thoughts, feelings and opinions.
By using a blog, a teacher can post any homework assignments that will be due for the following day, week, month or year. Students can view the assignments by clicking on the blog. A teacher might also create a blog for students and parents to view. The blog would be updated with upcoming classroom events and happenings.
The idea of blogs within the classroom is one that has become hotly debated. Blogs are often a great way to encourage children to write, because they are user friendly. In today's society, children have been born and raised into a sort of technological revolution. Many children know more about computers than parents, teachers and other adults. It is important to embrace the fact that students feel comfortable at a computer screen. By allowing children to feel confident in their computer abilities, they can also begin to feel comfortable in all other subject and content areas.
The downside to blogging in the classroom definitely includes the willingness of educators to incorporate them into the cirriculum. Many educators do not have the computer technology skills to feel confident in letting children use blogs. An educator may experience frustration, leading to a downturn of technology in their classroom. Another area that is widely discussed is internet saftey and privacy of students. When deciding to use blogs in the classroom setting, a teacher must be extremely careful not to disclose student identities. Students also need to be made aware of acceptable use of the internet, signing a policy that they will abide by its terms. Also, it would be most beneficial for a teacher to hold a meeting for all parents, in case any of them feel that their child may be unsafe. Any issues, comments or concerns can be discussed so that all parents can feel reassured that their child is safe, and enjoying learning!

All About Blogs

I love blogging!