WebQuests

A Web-quest is an inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most or all the information that learners work with comes from the web. These can be created using various programs, including a simple word processing document that includes links to websites.

Zunal  - http://zunal.com/ and Quest Garden http://questgarden.com/ are two sites that have prepared web-quests and can also assist you in building your own web-quest.

The first step is to try a webquest, use this link http://zunal.com/webquest.php?w=137540 to access the webquest on web searches. There are thousands of quests that are available for anyone to use check some out http://zunal.com/xbrowse.php

Web 2.0 Tools

There are a number of Web 2.0 tools that can aid teachers. Check out this site http://edjudo.com/web-2-0-teaching-tools-links for a comprehensive list of tools.

Article

We are all scholars so it is important to keep up on reading. In the latest version of American Educator there is an article on "Technology in Education". Read the article and write a one page paper, including a brief summary of the article and then your opinion on each of the five myths addressed in the article. Due Tuesday April 5, 2016.

Glogster

Glogster

Create a poster using glogster. The theme of your poster should be technology in the classroom Sign up for a free account in glogster and make a poster. Due Thursday April 7. http://edu.glogster.com/
Here is my work in progress First Try

Feeling Creative?

Have you ever wanted to design your own comic but you don't know where to start. Here are two of the many sites that will help you get started. Make a comic strip using one of the the comic maker site. Don't forget to add it to your log. comic maker or educational comic maker . Due Tuesday April 5, 2016

Tuesday March 22

We are more than half way through the semester. The first part of the semester we focused on the importance of technology, guidelines for using technology, and technology used by teachers for purposes other than teaching. For the next six weeks we will be focusing on using technology for teaching and supporting student learning.

This week we will explore the types of technology that are used in the classroom to support learning. You will find examples of the types of technology and share them with your peers. There is an assignment in MyUTTC to guide you in your exploration.

Games

Games are one way to engage students in learning content. One of the common knowledge based games is Jeopardy. There are many prepared jeopardy games with the content already in place. For this assignment you will come up with a concept you want to review. With midterms coming next week you could take this opportunity to review. Once you come up with a concept search for a prepared jeopardy game. Hint: when searching enter the topic and then jeopardy, for example linear equation jeopardy. Some of the prepared games have good questions but they also have limitations.

For this assignment you will use a free online application called Jeopardy Labs  https://jeopardylabs.com/ to create a jeopardy game. You can use any content you want for the game. This will be due on Thursday March 10. You will have class time to finish the game after your midterm on Tuesday and on Thursday.

Rubrics

You have all seen several rubrics during your educational career at UTTC and other places. A rubric serves as a standardized assessment tool. As part of your midterm assignment you are asked to create a rubric for an activity. To get you started there are some websites that can help with the set up.

Rubistar,
Rubrics
Rubric Maker

March 1

Google Docs

By now you should have received access to the class story on google docs. You must contribute a minimum of 5 times to the story during class. At the end of the class I will grade the story and you will receive on class grade.

Using google docs I want you do explore the presentation, spread sheet, and documents, and make a form. With a partner or group of three create one form that you will use in your classroom for a behavior contract for your students.

Write a two paragraphs about google docs. The first should describe the software and the second should give the benefits and short comings. Make sure you add google docs to your table.

EXCEL in Class

Toady, Thursday February 25 we will be using Excel to create a database. You will learn how to enter data, change the columns, add rows and columns, use the formuals and even make graphs.

On Tuesday we will be using Google Spreadsheets to do similar charts. You will be comparing the two databases.

Thursday February 25

Classroom Rules.
As part of your fictitious classroom responsibilities you must monitor and take care of the computer lab. There are some differences between the classroom and the lab. Create a set of rules for the students to follow in the computer lab. 
Here is one example using an acrostic

AN ACROSTIC! Come to class with clean hands. Operate the equipment properly. Make sure you listen to directions. Push your chair in when you are done. Use your inside voice. Touch the keyboard lightly .Eat and drink outside the computer lab. Remember to take your printouts with you. Learn something new each time you come to the lab. Always work toward your best, not your neighbors' best. Be careful handling CD's. Above is an example of classroom rules. Select a grade level and create your own rules. You do not need to use an acrostic Due: Tuesday March 1

Week of February 22

Tuesday will be your chance to shine as you present your Smart Board lessons. Both your written lessons and presentations are due.

On Thursday we will be continuing on with our discussion on software. We will focus on the software that assists teachers with their administrative duties including the Microsoft Office Suite and Google Docs.

Week of February 15

This will be another busy week as we explore software used by educators in the classroom. This includes software as well as mobile Apps, used for instruction, classroom management, and productivity. As you are watching the presentation today I want you to create one multiple choice and one other form of question based on the presentation. Please take a few minutes to check out the below sites and remember to add them to your database. Your description should include the use of the site.

Sites
Standards Toolbox
Google Apps
Prezi
Moodle
Rubrics
Common Core Rubric Maker
IRubric

We will also be reading passages from our books today using the document camera.

Don't forget you will be presenting your Smart Board lesson on Tuesday February 23.

Thursday February 11

Take Two

On Tuesday we had a dry run with the Socrative quiz. Today you will access Socrative on your phone or the computer and take the EDU 288 Quiz 1, which is a ten question quiz on chapter six. You will access the quiz through the student site by entering room 721640.

The rest of the class time will be to work on your Smart Board lesson. You can find lessons and ideas at Smart Exchange. You will have access to the Smart Board in B03 to practice. Your lesson and presentation was originally due on Tuesday February 16, I moved it back until Tuesday February 23. You will have today's' class and part of Thursday February 18 to practice with the Smart Board.

You will also need to select a children's book that you will share with the class using the ELMO document camera on Tuesday February 16.

Tuesday February 9

Your classroom design and explanation are due today, remember you should have a floor plan and a word document.

In class we are going to focus on computer hardware types, applications, and evolution. The interactive whiteboard is an example of hardware that you will be using to teach your "Smart Board" lesson next Tuesday. You will have time in class today and Thursday to practice with the  technology.

One of the most commonly used examples of computer hardware is the smartphone. Today you are going to use your smartphone to take a quiz on the topic of hardware. First you will need to download a free app called Socrative https://b.socrative.com/login/student/. You can also access the site from any computer which makes the software very user friendly. For today you will be the student, all you will need to know is the room number 721640 to take the quiz EDU 288 Quiz 1. I also want you to sign up as a teacher so you can create assessments and look at the reports http://www.socrative.com/. Remember to add the site to your table.

Classroom Design

The classroom environment is an important role in learning. For this assignment you will identify a grade level and design your classroom. Your assignment will include the physical layout of the classroom this should be accompanied by a typed rationale for the tangible elements (desks, tables, lighting, technology, etc.) in the room.

Here are three sites that can assist you with the physical design of your classroom. Classroom Architect, Class Set Up, and Lakeshore Learning. This site might give you some ideas to get started
floor planner. Remember to add the one you like to your resource table.

The Assignment is due on Tuesday February 9.

Extra Time

Have you ever wanted to take a class just for interest and thought I don't have the time to go to class or don't really want to pay for an extra course. Take a look at all the free MOOCs that are available. What is a MOOC you ask. well a MOOC is a Massive Open Online Course, it is a model for delivering learning content for any person who wants to take a course with no limit on attendance. When you complete your MOOC you will receive a grade and a certificate. You can find a list at MOOC. 

Web 1.0, 2.0, & 3.0

Tuesday January 26

Today in class we will be discussing the planning process for implementing technology in your classroom. Having a solid process in place will help ensure a smooth transition. In the the next chapter we will address using technology to assist with Diverse Learners and you will have an opportunity to implement what your learn.

My Wordle

Wordle

What words best describe you. Express yourself with this fun use of technology. Create a wordle.

Assignment for Thursday, January 21

This 2-part assignment is due on Tuesday Februar1 by 9:00 a.m. You will have class time today to work on this assignment.

Newsletter

• One of your roles as an educator will be to communicate with and educate the families of your students. Your assignment will be to create a newsletter for families. Your newsletter should include the information I provided regarding e-mail etiquette. Upload your finished document on MyUTTC under the newsletter assignment.
• Make sure your newsletter contains sufficient information about email etiquette, your contact information for the reader to use if they need additional information, an aesthetically pleasing design, correct grammar and spelling, an appropriate tone for families. This must be on one page.

Create a Calendar

• Your calendar can be created in some versions of Microsoft Word, by downloading a template, or you can use Microsoft Publisher.
• The calendar should be for the month of March.
• Add spring break, St. Patrick's Day, daylight savings time, the first day of spring, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. Your calendar should have text and graphics to indicate the special dates.
• The calendar should have a header and graphics that are appropriate for the month.
• You will upload your assignment to MyUTTC on or before the due date. 

Email Etiquette

It's easy to see why email is the preferred form of communication in today's workplace.

Smartphones allow us to send and receive messages from anywhere. It's convenient, and you aren't afraid that you might be interrupting someone by texting or calling them on the phone.

But it's this convenience that leads people to  making embarrassing mistakes that may be detrimental in a professional interaction. For example, you could easily miss a spelling error while typing out an email on your phone or come off as too casual or unprofessional in tone or content. 

1. Include a clear, direct subject line.

Examples of a good subject line include "Meeting date changed," "Quick question about your presentation," or "Suggestions for the proposal."

2. Use a professional email address.

If you work for a company, you should use your company email address. But if you use a personal email account — whether you are self-employed or just like using it occasionally for work-related correspondences — you should be careful when choosing that address.

You should always have an email address that conveys your name so that the recipient knows exactly who's sending the email. 

3. Think twice before hitting "reply all."

No one wants to read emails from 20 people when it has nothing to do with them. They could just ignore the emails, but many people get notifications of new messages on their smartphones or distracting pop-up messages on their computer screens. Refrain from hitting "reply all" unless you really think everyone on the list needs to receive the email.

4. Use exclamation points sparingly.

If you choose to use an exclamation point, use only one to convey excitement.

"People sometimes get carried away and put a number of exclamation points at the end of their sentences. The result can appear too emotional or immature," she writes. "Exclamation points should be used sparingly in writing." 

5. Be cautious with humor.

Humor can easily get lost in translation without the right tone or facial expressions. In a professional exchange, it's better to leave humor out of emails unless you know the recipient well. Also, something that you think is funny might not be funny to someone else. Something perceived as funny when spoken may come across very differently when written. When in doubt, leave it out.

6. Know that people from different cultures speak and write differently.

Miscommunication can easily occur due to cultural differences, especially in the writing form when we can't see each other's body language. Tailor your message depending on the receiver's cultural background or how well you know them.

A good rule to keep in mind is that high-context cultures (Japanese, Arab, or Chinese) want to get to know you before doing business with you. Therefore, it may be common for business associates from these countries to be more personal in their writings. On the other hand, people from low-context cultures (German, American, or Scandinavian) prefer to get to the point very quickly.

7. Reply to your emails — even if the email wasn't intended for you.

It's difficult to reply to every email message ever sent to you, but you should try to. This includes when the email was accidentally sent to you, especially if the sender is expecting a reply. A reply isn't necessary, but serves as good email etiquette, especially if this person works in the same company or industry as you.

Here's an example reply: "I know you’re very busy, but I don’t think you meant to send this email to me. And I wanted to let you know so you can send it to the correct person."

Aside from these email tips, always make sure to proof your messages so that there aren't any jarring mistakes that make you seem unprofessional. Pachter advises to always add the email address last so that the email doesn't accidentally send before you're ready.

What is Due Week 2

Tuesday January 19

• Learning Styles Assessment

Tuesday January 26

• Multiple Intelligence Technology Tools

What is Your IQ?

Check out the child geniuses. Child Genius.

Take the IQ Test and see how you would do against one of the child geniuses.
IQ Test

ISTE Standards

• We're going to review the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) standards for students and educators. These can be found at http://www.iste.org/standards.

Multiple Intelligences

Complete the multiple Intelligence test.
Multiple Intelligence Test
Work with a partner to create a graphic organizer that shows technologies that can be used to build multiple intellegences into instructional activities. For example you could O-Generator which uses popular and world music to enhance music intelligence. http://www.o-generator.com/.

There are many sites you can use to help you create graphic organizers. Here is an easy to use set to help you get started http://www.worksheetworks.com/miscellanea/graphic-organizers/kwhl.html.
You can use any site you like, and remember to add the site you like to your database.

Learning Styles

Three primary modalities for learning style

• Auditory – Learn best by listening
• Visual – Learn best by seeing
• Kinesthetic – Learn best by doing

What is your preferred learning style? Use the link to determine your learning style. http://www.personal.psu.edu/bxb11/LSI/LSI.htm

E-mail me your learning style and one technology a instructor could use accommodate your style.

What do you think your classmates learning style is?

Predict what the learning style of one of your classmates is (use someone who you have had a class with if possible). Why did you select the learning style? Were you right, if not why do you think your prediction was not accurate.

Week Two

This week in class we are going to discuss theoretical foundations of learning. Identify learner characteristics that most impact learning. You will complete assessments that will identify your learning style, right/left brain, personality inventory, and multiple intelligence.

Reflection Week One

Assess your technology skills and list three areas in which you could improve your abilities. How would you go about improving in these areas. Email me your reflection for week one by Tuesday January 19.

Additional Resources

Check out The 10 Minute Lesson Planner at http://www.10minutelessonplans.com/
Add the site to your table.

Share my lesson is a share lessons and learn best practices. http://www.sharemylesson.com/. Review the site and add it to your table.

Assignment

Sign up for ClassDojo  https://www.classdojo.com/and explore the site. Write a brief description of the site, include your opinion on the sites usefulness in your future classroom. E-mail me your paragraphs by Tuesday January 19 at 9:00 a.m.

We are going to create a table to track all the sites we review during the semester. You can use word or excel for your data collection.

Tuesday Jan. 12, 2016

Today in class we are going to review the syllabus. You will also need to become a follower of the blog, but before you do that I want you to create a google e-mail that you will use for this class. This is the e-mail you will use for all your assignments and memberships for this course.

The blog will provide you any information about this class you need. I will post all assignments, reminders, announcements, and any other information. You will receive a notice every time I post and it is your responsibility to check the post.

All assignments must be sent electronically unless otherwise indicated.You will also need a flash drive for this class which you will keep all your assignments. As part of the final project you will create an electronic portfolio and presentation so all your work will contribute to this assignment

Welcome

Welcome

Welcome to EDU 288 Technology in Education. This course will enable the you to facilitate learning with technology in the classroom setting.