So Many New Tools!

Wow, last Wednesday was a very informative class- I learned so much! Must admit, though, that sometimes, it can be a bit overwhelming. Still, I feel like learning all this stuff is empowering and really will help me as a teacher someday really soon. I liked the Jing program quite a bit- how useful for instructional videos, both for us as students in this IP&T class, as well as teachers of our future students. The picnik program was okay, but honestly probably not something I can see myself using a ton as far as the classroom goes. I like google maps, and I know a lot of people swear by Google Calendar, but I prefer to have my calendar a physical, real thing. Like the class website a lot. I see myself using a class website mainly for assignments and due-dates, but perhaps for a class picture here and there, too. Click here to visit my class website.

Multimedia Project

Instructional Video Sec. 2, Wk 2, Wilkinson

I think it could be really fun to have a video instruction project in an English class where students did a "how-to." It would be informative, it would be connected to real life, and it would give everyone experience in using technology and in laying out the steps of how to do something. This connects well with UEN's 8th grade Standard 2, which says that "Students will write informational and literary text to reflect on and recreate experiences, report observations, and persuade others." It will specifically help them to

a) Organize events and ideas in order of importance

b) Focus written facts or events around a clearly stated, unifying idea

c_ Connect text to self and text to world

Thoughts on the RSS Feed

I really like RSS feed. I think its perfect for things like lds.org and other news outlets that I want to stay current on. However, I suppose it could be somewhat annoyinf if there was a constant news outlet for things that you didn't really care about. If that were the case, I would consider taking the site off the RSS feed. As far as being an educator, I think that I could use the RSS feed to keep track of new updates to the Wiki that Dr. Dean created for my 423 Teaching Writing class. On the wiki, students can add writing assignments, rubrics, etc. The way she currently has it set up, we get an email everytime someone posts something. Truth be told, its kind of annoying. I think the RSS feed is a good medium between having to go look for the material yourself, and having emails bombard and overwhelm you every time there is a new update.

HELLO blog!  So I am not a very technological person, but I am gettingbetter.  I just found out (this morning in fact) what the difference between BCC and CC emails are.  So cool!  Also, I have another blog totrack my experiences when I go down to El Salvador this summer with a group called HELP International.  I use gmail regularly.  I recentlylearned about how to format pictures on Microsoft Word.  I have a Mac Computer, but I know that I probably only use maybe 3% or less of its capabilities.  I use facebook, but am trying to not use it as much, especially after hearing Elder Bednar's CES fireside!  (don't worry, I was never addicted to it).  Overall, I don't know too much about technology but I am excited to learn!  Oh, ya, and like Powerpoint, not very good at it, but getting better.