Wednesday, March 30, 2011
BLOG 6: NEW & EMERGING TOOLS
One of my favorite new tools is called Wordle. You can click this link to visit the website: http://www.wordle.net/ . You can put in any words and it create elaborate graphics with all the words. You can pick the font, color, shape, etc. To use in class, you might have students pick words that describe a person or character and have them create a graphic. Also, teachers can use this with learning new langauges and vocabulary. Personally, I enjoy using it for creating signs around our classroom. I have one by our classroom library and one above our doorway that has all of our names and positive phrases. This is an easy tool for beginners or younger students. Another new tool I enjoy learning about is Prezi. In our third face to face meeting, Christi and I showed the class this tool. I like it because its new and still gets information across. I like to nickname it PowerPoint on steroids! I love that it is not in sequential form, so the user has more freedom. You can zoom in on pictures and have them linked together. It is free for educators and they have examples ready made. It's similar to YouTube in that it has several videos already to use. For example, in class we looked at the Lifecycle of a Butterfly. Next, I have to mention Apple's applications. As Dr. Lan mentioned in class, we are moving from web-based learning to app. based learning. Well, I thought I was a tech-savvy teacher having my students study their multiplication facts online or with computer games. However, this year my students are using their parents' IPHONES and IPADS and downloading applications to practice multiplication daily. My students love this. I require 10 minutes per night studying facts. However, students are so crazy about playing with apps and discovering new ones, some of them practice an hour. When the kids are with their parents in the car, grocery store, and sibling's game basically anywhere where they are bored), they ask their parents if they can play an app. This is an excellent opportunity for teachers to meet students' interests and use it as a learning experience. I think these tools are supported by Bloom's learning theory. With the app practice, students are recalling data and using their knowledge. In Prezi, students are creating and using higher order thinking skills. They are translating what they know and using application and synthesis. With wordle, students are creating as well. They are using recall, lists, knowledge, and creating a product. I hope these ideas help you in your classroom!
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Topic 5: PowerPoint Presentation
Most Important PowerPoint Terms Learned:
1. New Slide
2. Text Box
3. Animation
4. Transition
5. Background
6. Hyperlink
7. WordArt
8. ClipArt
9. Spell Check
10. Font (Size, Color)
11. SlideShow
12. Design
13. View
14. Insert
15. Sound
16. Table
17. SmartArt
18. Chart
19. Notes
20. Slide Number
Like many of you, we have been "killed" by PowerPoints over the last decade. We have sat through countless presentations where the speaker simply reads off word for word each slide. We have all thought to ourselves, "I can read this. Why am I here"? Well, I have learned an effective presentation has much less on the actual slide. It only has the important points. That way, it is not overwheleming, adn the audience listens to the speaker. Also, I learned you can record your voice and narrate your PowerPoint. This is extremely useful for distance learning courses. Now, PowerPoints allows you to hyperlink videos, incorporate movie clips, add animations, sounds, tranistions, and more to make it much more appealing. Further, I learned there are proper formats to creating a PowerPoint. For example, a title page followed by an outline is appropriate. Slides should have bullets in point form, rather than lengthy sentences or paragraphs. Although all the multidemedia componets are exciting, one must be cautious not to go overboard as it will distract the audeince. Slides should be in simple form with an easy font to read. Colors should be in the same family and a simple background should be used. Here is a great video to give you some tips on how to make your PowerPoint meanigful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFfFQ9XU7Jw
1. New Slide
2. Text Box
3. Animation
4. Transition
5. Background
6. Hyperlink
7. WordArt
8. ClipArt
9. Spell Check
10. Font (Size, Color)
11. SlideShow
12. Design
13. View
14. Insert
15. Sound
16. Table
17. SmartArt
18. Chart
19. Notes
20. Slide Number
Like many of you, we have been "killed" by PowerPoints over the last decade. We have sat through countless presentations where the speaker simply reads off word for word each slide. We have all thought to ourselves, "I can read this. Why am I here"? Well, I have learned an effective presentation has much less on the actual slide. It only has the important points. That way, it is not overwheleming, adn the audience listens to the speaker. Also, I learned you can record your voice and narrate your PowerPoint. This is extremely useful for distance learning courses. Now, PowerPoints allows you to hyperlink videos, incorporate movie clips, add animations, sounds, tranistions, and more to make it much more appealing. Further, I learned there are proper formats to creating a PowerPoint. For example, a title page followed by an outline is appropriate. Slides should have bullets in point form, rather than lengthy sentences or paragraphs. Although all the multidemedia componets are exciting, one must be cautious not to go overboard as it will distract the audeince. Slides should be in simple form with an easy font to read. Colors should be in the same family and a simple background should be used. Here is a great video to give you some tips on how to make your PowerPoint meanigful!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFfFQ9XU7Jw
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
TOPIC 4: Database
Here are the most important database terms that I understand:
1. Create
2. Table
3. Report
4. External Data
5. Export
6. Import
7. Link
8. Text Formatting
9. More
10. Data
Researching databases, I searched through Atomic Learning, I learned several important skills while working with databases on Microsoft Access. I also used the Question Mark in the blue corner to connect to Microsoft Office to help me if I had questions. In Atomic Learning, I learned how to cut and paste data. Further, I learned how to manipulate columns and rows. For example, I learned to hide certain columns. Also, Atomic Learning explained how to export my data into Microsoft Word. Also, I researched how to make the material more visually appealing. I researched a tutorial on tet formatting. Then, to make my database effective, I researched how to link and save the data. I researched the various ways databases are used in education. For example, they can be used to keep student information, letters to large groups, grade storing, and personal information. This tool is very effective and saves an enormous amount of time.
In my own experience with databases, I was extremely intimidated at first because I had never used this program, specifically Microsoft Access. I thought databases meant Microsoft Excel. At first, I simply played with the program. Then, I studied the tutorials on Atomic Learning. I made sure I had a significant amount of time and followed instructions step by step. I completed a rough draft at first. Originally, I was frustrated because I thought when I linked my database to Microsoft Word that only one page linked. However, once I printed it, I realized all the recipients were there! I printed 23 pages accidentally! Then, I realized how much time this could save me. For example, I constantly write letters to my students' parents. I always type each students name, print, then erase the previous name, and the process repeats itself. However, this method is much faster. I really enjoyed manipulating the letter to make it look appealing. I used skills learned from previous assignments. For example, I put in a Watermark and a border around the page. I also inserted clip art, used text wrapping, and word art. I feel using databases will be very beneficial for me in the future!
1. Create
2. Table
3. Report
4. External Data
5. Export
6. Import
7. Link
8. Text Formatting
9. More
10. Data
Researching databases, I searched through Atomic Learning, I learned several important skills while working with databases on Microsoft Access. I also used the Question Mark in the blue corner to connect to Microsoft Office to help me if I had questions. In Atomic Learning, I learned how to cut and paste data. Further, I learned how to manipulate columns and rows. For example, I learned to hide certain columns. Also, Atomic Learning explained how to export my data into Microsoft Word. Also, I researched how to make the material more visually appealing. I researched a tutorial on tet formatting. Then, to make my database effective, I researched how to link and save the data. I researched the various ways databases are used in education. For example, they can be used to keep student information, letters to large groups, grade storing, and personal information. This tool is very effective and saves an enormous amount of time.
In my own experience with databases, I was extremely intimidated at first because I had never used this program, specifically Microsoft Access. I thought databases meant Microsoft Excel. At first, I simply played with the program. Then, I studied the tutorials on Atomic Learning. I made sure I had a significant amount of time and followed instructions step by step. I completed a rough draft at first. Originally, I was frustrated because I thought when I linked my database to Microsoft Word that only one page linked. However, once I printed it, I realized all the recipients were there! I printed 23 pages accidentally! Then, I realized how much time this could save me. For example, I constantly write letters to my students' parents. I always type each students name, print, then erase the previous name, and the process repeats itself. However, this method is much faster. I really enjoyed manipulating the letter to make it look appealing. I used skills learned from previous assignments. For example, I put in a Watermark and a border around the page. I also inserted clip art, used text wrapping, and word art. I feel using databases will be very beneficial for me in the future!
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