Finally I have Atomic Learning! YEAH for me!
I was nervous that I would get so far behind! I really like the program! So far, since our Audio File is due Friday, I played around with the Audacity lesson. I thought it was very informative. It would be easy to use in a professional development course because the audio and visual aids are excellent. I would like to use this program for my class when we do "Fairy Tale Rap Songs". Yes, I know, 3rd grade is so cool. I think the kids would have a great time and get really into this! In staff development, I'd like to show teachers how to use Audacity as a resource for the websites if a student or parent needs extra information on an assignment. I bet it would cut down on phone calls and emails! I would change the lesson and divide it into two parts:
1. using audacity for music purposes
2. using audacity for instructional purposes (voice recordings only)
I think that would be more helpful for most teachers.
Another lesson I worked with was Power Points with Animation! Okay, for class I am a bit confused if we have to do animation, but I thought after looking at some classmates blogs, they were confused too, but went ahead and did it. I was thrilled to learn it wasn't too hard. The lesson was straight forward and slow. It was very easy to learn the different animations to make a more visually appealing Power Point. There are so many ways to use this in the classroom and in professional development. Every teacher should use this training at the beginning of the year. It can be used during Open House, parent meetings, as a link to the school's website, and for in class teaching purposes. I love to do my reviews for tests on Power Points. Now that I know all the different animation effects, I am sure I will have a much more effective resource for my students. Also, I like to have my students do Power Points at least once a quarter. I like the idea of having them incorporate different animations, which I can give them options on a rubric. I would not add or change anything from this lesson because I learned a great deal and it was very organized.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
District Data Strategies
How is our district storing and protecting data? What recommendations and questions would you make?
Our district does a pretty solid job of protecting our security. (Well, that is what I think now, but give me a few moments to ponder this and change my mind)! At my school, we have two staff members whose sole purpose is technology. One person works on security and preserving our data. The other person works on maintaining the website and communication with the parents, teachers, and students. We each have our own website to update weekly under the supervision of the technology director. We attend technology safety trainings twice a year. The teachers, students, and parents have user names and passwords. The user names are changed yearly, and the passwords are changed monthly. Now, changing a password every month can get annoying, but it helps protect us. Luckily, we also have all information stored on one main G drive on our server, plus we all use jump drives as a back up. Further, each year, teachers store all their files to the main server and a CD. We keep all our documents, files, photos, video, etc. in a "digital library". This thing is kept under tight security- we are talking Fort Knox people! The teachers can't even get in without one of the technology directors! I also really like that our personal information, and the students personal information and grades are all stored on a specific program. We are virtually a paperless school. This makes it easier on teachers and students, plus we are "GOING GREEN"! We still keep hard copies of all major documents locked in the office in file cabinets to be extra cautious in case anything ever happened.
Some questions I do have for our district involve our social security codes. I do not like signing in each day on my computer with my login as my social security, plus the computer remembers it as well. I would recommend that changes. Also, our websites can be seen for all. Can we move to a protected website where a user name and password is required for access? This is a huge safety issue, especially having photos of the students and links to email addresses. Lastly, what future trainings are in place to teach teachers and families about Internet safety and viruses? Being that our website and email addresses are open for anyone, several times a teacher has opened an email thinking it was from a parent and a virus exploded. It took three days to correct the problem. Our school was without the use of computers and it was a scary time wondering what was destroyed or accessed. I would like to see not only constant training, but also stricter safety precautions with sharing our personal information. After all, our job is to keep the students safe. I understand having a website that is accessible for all to see helps bring in potential families to our school. It is a private school, so I understand the "business" side. However, safety comes first. Thoughts for the day from me!
Our district does a pretty solid job of protecting our security. (Well, that is what I think now, but give me a few moments to ponder this and change my mind)! At my school, we have two staff members whose sole purpose is technology. One person works on security and preserving our data. The other person works on maintaining the website and communication with the parents, teachers, and students. We each have our own website to update weekly under the supervision of the technology director. We attend technology safety trainings twice a year. The teachers, students, and parents have user names and passwords. The user names are changed yearly, and the passwords are changed monthly. Now, changing a password every month can get annoying, but it helps protect us. Luckily, we also have all information stored on one main G drive on our server, plus we all use jump drives as a back up. Further, each year, teachers store all their files to the main server and a CD. We keep all our documents, files, photos, video, etc. in a "digital library". This thing is kept under tight security- we are talking Fort Knox people! The teachers can't even get in without one of the technology directors! I also really like that our personal information, and the students personal information and grades are all stored on a specific program. We are virtually a paperless school. This makes it easier on teachers and students, plus we are "GOING GREEN"! We still keep hard copies of all major documents locked in the office in file cabinets to be extra cautious in case anything ever happened.
Some questions I do have for our district involve our social security codes. I do not like signing in each day on my computer with my login as my social security, plus the computer remembers it as well. I would recommend that changes. Also, our websites can be seen for all. Can we move to a protected website where a user name and password is required for access? This is a huge safety issue, especially having photos of the students and links to email addresses. Lastly, what future trainings are in place to teach teachers and families about Internet safety and viruses? Being that our website and email addresses are open for anyone, several times a teacher has opened an email thinking it was from a parent and a virus exploded. It took three days to correct the problem. Our school was without the use of computers and it was a scary time wondering what was destroyed or accessed. I would like to see not only constant training, but also stricter safety precautions with sharing our personal information. After all, our job is to keep the students safe. I understand having a website that is accessible for all to see helps bring in potential families to our school. It is a private school, so I understand the "business" side. However, safety comes first. Thoughts for the day from me!
Current Assessment Practices
Currently at my school, our students take two forms of norm-referenced tests in the fall. The students take the test for one week in the morning. The first test is the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. This test allows educators to determine a student’s ability compared to other students’ abilities. It also helps educators compare their students to other students around the country. The other standardized test is the Cognitive Abilities Test. This tests the student’s cognitive ability and informs educators and parents if a child is reaching their ability level. Both assessments identify strengths and weaknesses for each child, and can be helpful determining students with learning disabilities and gifted students.
In terms of benchmark practices, teachers follow their curriculum given by the district. Teachers use Harcourt text book series in Language Arts. The book provides benchmarks to assess students. Lessons begin with a pretest and end with a posttest. Also, throughout the chapter, the book provides several forms of benchmark assessments ranging from quizzes, worksheets, and discussion questions. Students also journal in their writing notebooks daily about their Language Arts lessons.
The use of portfolios is greatly encouraged and embraced by teachers, students, and parents. Students select one piece of written work to place in the portfolio monthly. All posttests are submitted in the portfolio as well. Students take four Accelerated Reader tests on the computer per quarter, and the results remain in the portfolio with a chart showing the child’s progress in reading comprehension and vocabulary throughout the year. This valuable tool is used for parents to select books for their children, and passed to the child’s teacher the following year.
Fortunately, project-based learning is becoming more prevalent in my classroom. This form of learning helps students gain mastery level on important material. Also, it is helpful to use to implement differentiated instruction and meeting the needs and interests of all students. Each quarter, I provide a list of ideas for students to select from helping meet their interest. Further, I supply several options that encourage students to use different skills ranging from technology, art, engineering, writing, and creativity. I provide students with a timeline and constantly meet with students to assess their progress. Students choose to work in small or large groups.
Students use several forms of technology which helps the assessment process. Daily, the students in my class practice typing on the computer for fifteen minutes. The computer keeps a log for each child to continually monitor their progress throughout the year. Students use PowerPoint, digital storytelling, and Excel to demonstrate skills learned. Also, students love to do Web quests and internet scavenger hunts. Lastly, at the end of the year, students create a newscast using a video camera to demonstrate their investigative skills which integrates Language Arts and social studies.
The students have a specific computer teacher to assess their computer skills and meet the standards. However, the computer teacher and I integrate several assignments together. Students must continually work on their typing skills. Also, students are expected to independently use Microsoft Word and Power Point. Using Excel, students learn how to create graphs. Students also must be able to save their own work, pictures, and videos. The most important standard for students is to learn the safety of the internet and use it wisely.
Overall, I feel integrating technology into the classroom at the earliest age is vital. For third grade language arts, I feel confident that I do a job using technology to assess my students, and using available resources. Integrating with the computer teacher on assignments is an easy way to give students another form of assessment rather than a test. I look forward to learning new ways to continue to use technology as an assessment tool.
In terms of benchmark practices, teachers follow their curriculum given by the district. Teachers use Harcourt text book series in Language Arts. The book provides benchmarks to assess students. Lessons begin with a pretest and end with a posttest. Also, throughout the chapter, the book provides several forms of benchmark assessments ranging from quizzes, worksheets, and discussion questions. Students also journal in their writing notebooks daily about their Language Arts lessons.
The use of portfolios is greatly encouraged and embraced by teachers, students, and parents. Students select one piece of written work to place in the portfolio monthly. All posttests are submitted in the portfolio as well. Students take four Accelerated Reader tests on the computer per quarter, and the results remain in the portfolio with a chart showing the child’s progress in reading comprehension and vocabulary throughout the year. This valuable tool is used for parents to select books for their children, and passed to the child’s teacher the following year.
Fortunately, project-based learning is becoming more prevalent in my classroom. This form of learning helps students gain mastery level on important material. Also, it is helpful to use to implement differentiated instruction and meeting the needs and interests of all students. Each quarter, I provide a list of ideas for students to select from helping meet their interest. Further, I supply several options that encourage students to use different skills ranging from technology, art, engineering, writing, and creativity. I provide students with a timeline and constantly meet with students to assess their progress. Students choose to work in small or large groups.
Students use several forms of technology which helps the assessment process. Daily, the students in my class practice typing on the computer for fifteen minutes. The computer keeps a log for each child to continually monitor their progress throughout the year. Students use PowerPoint, digital storytelling, and Excel to demonstrate skills learned. Also, students love to do Web quests and internet scavenger hunts. Lastly, at the end of the year, students create a newscast using a video camera to demonstrate their investigative skills which integrates Language Arts and social studies.
The students have a specific computer teacher to assess their computer skills and meet the standards. However, the computer teacher and I integrate several assignments together. Students must continually work on their typing skills. Also, students are expected to independently use Microsoft Word and Power Point. Using Excel, students learn how to create graphs. Students also must be able to save their own work, pictures, and videos. The most important standard for students is to learn the safety of the internet and use it wisely.
Overall, I feel integrating technology into the classroom at the earliest age is vital. For third grade language arts, I feel confident that I do a job using technology to assess my students, and using available resources. Integrating with the computer teacher on assignments is an easy way to give students another form of assessment rather than a test. I look forward to learning new ways to continue to use technology as an assessment tool.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Audio File
So, after playing around with Audacity for sometime while babysitting, I think I created a decent file. The kids thought it was loads of fun and we played around for the entire afternoon. I decided to unleash my dorky side, and honor my Mom by instructing how to bake the perfect pound cake. I had to write out everything and record several times before I was satisfied. My Mom of course was thrilled, but she obviously is biased. I created it as a WAV file, but I am still working on the edit process. There are so many options, and after hearing it over and over, it is hard to tell what sounds best. I figured it was wise to leave it be for now, and start the edit process again in the morning with "fresh ears". Does that even make sense??? Either way, this is all brand new to me as this is my first technology course, and I have never done it before, so I am proud of myself and looking forward to using this with my class next year!
Friday, June 11, 2010
First Day
Well, I just learned in class how to create a blog! I am feeling very proud and productive! Now, I just have to learn how to operate this thing!
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)