EDCI 505 @pkossow-blog-blog - Tumblr Blog

Today, for my #EDCI 505 course, I created an ePortfolio using Google Sites. I found Google Sites to be easy to use and to create. For this assignment, I made a portfolio of all of the tools that I have used and created for my EDCI 505 course. I included embedded videos, links, and screen shots of each of the tools. I also provided an overview of each of the tools so that the reader can get an idea of what to use the tool for. Using Google Sites, I was able to choose a theme and a background. I also added several tabs, an introduction, and a conclusion. I found all of this to be easy to do, I had no trouble adding anything. I believe that creating and having an ePortfolio is great for a classroom. This tool gives students a tool to use so that they can save all of their assignments online and be able to locate them quickly and without frustration. This would also be a great tool for teachers to save assignments.

#edci505 #education #googlesites

8th Grade Biography Webquest

For my #edci505 course today, I made a Webquest using Weebly. I was assigned to create a lesson that would have students utilizing the internet. I chose to do an eighth grade research project since I am going to be teaching middle grades language arts. I decided to have the students research any author of their choosing. I provided the students with a list of information that they would need to find about their specific authors. I then gave a step by step outline of what the students should do to obtain the information so that everything was clear. After the students had gathered all necessary information, they were assigned to create a powerpoint. This powerpoint was also detailed in the outline that I provided. I also created a rubric and grading scale so that the students would know what to expect. Using Weebly was quite simple and very fun. I had no idea that creating a website would be so easy. When you sign up for Weebly, and it's free, you are prompted to create a Weebly name. Afterward, you can choose from a list of templates and decide which one is best for you. There are so many templates and they are all beautiful. After choosing the template you are allowed to edit and customize almost everything. I found Weebly to be a great tool and I will definitely be using it in my classroom. Please feel free to check out my Webquest above!

#education #weebly #webquest

Today, for my #edci505 course, I created a Wiki using Wikispaces. Wikispaces is a tool that allows both teachers and students to create a Wiki that presents information. Wikispaces is easy to sign up with, simply visit the site and choose the "sign up" tab. After this, you must choose what kind of Wiki you would like to create. I chose the classroom Wiki because it was assigned and free. In addition to choosing the type of wiki you'd like, the site prompts you to choose the topic of the Wiki, the grade you are teaching to, and whether or not the Wiki will be educational. Once you've completed this step, you will be taken to the homepage of your wiki. For the purpose of my assignment, I deleted the text on my homepage. You will now be able to change settings and add pages to your wiki. You may also create projects. For my assignment, I added two pages, one for each emergent technology review that I had to complete. I chose from a list of many technology reviews and decided to review UtellStory and Powtoon. Using Wikispaces, making these pages was both fun and easy. I was able to add links and bullets simply and without any issue. This assignment gave me the chance to use several technologies and get a feel for how they work. I would definitely recommend this tool to both teachers and students. Wikispaces is easy enough for most students to use, maybe for something like a presentation. However, teachers may also use this tool to present new ideas. In short, I found Wikispaces to be simple and a great learning experience.

I just created a movie for my #edci505 class. I used powerpoint to create some slides. Using Powerpoint, I was able to choose a fun theme and add information necessary for my video. After I created some slides, I chose to use iMovie to create my video. I had a few issues getting my slides to transfer to iMovie, but eventually saved them as pictures and it worked. Once in iMovie, I was able to put all of my previous slides into the movie and add some transitions. Transitions are very important for engaging your viewers. This makes the movie flow and adds character. In addition to this, I was able to search the audio library in iMovie which was really cool. There is a huge assortment of sound effects ranging from nature sounds to background music. Once I had chosen my music, I added it to the video. This, however, is where I started to have some trouble with iMovie. For some reason, iMovie would not allow me to share my video to Youtube, which is where the video needed to be published. I tried multiple times, and eventually got it to work. However frustrating, I was glad to have been given the chance to play with this tool. I can imagine using videos in the classroom would be creative and helpful. It’s nice to have something for students to watch rather than constantly being lectured to. Overall, I found that this would be a tool that I would use in my classroom.

My gradebook.

My quiz responses.

Today, for my #edci505 course, we used Google Docs to create a quiz, grade book, and spreadsheet. At first, I was really apprehensive about the whole project. I thought that using Google Docs would be a bit more complicated than it turned out to be. This was not the case at all, and I honestly suggest this tool to any students or teachers. This was amazing, it displays all of the information in a nice and organized way. In addition to this, if you are having trouble finding anything, there are plenty of instructional videos to guide you. First, I logged into my Gmail and selected Google Docs. Here, I chose to create a form. When creating the quiz, you can choose from a list of templates. After you've done this, you can name your quiz, make a description, and begin making questions. I found this part of the assignment to be particularly fun. I then chose to create a spreadsheet to record the grades of the "students" that would be taking the quiz. I took the quiz three times, pretending to be a student, and then recorded the grades. Using the spreadsheet, I was able to record grades and see the class max, min, and average. The spreadsheet is also customizable, you can change colors and font to help organize your data. After I'd done all of this, I moved onto creating the last part of my assignment which was to make another spreadsheet. Once again, I found this tool to be easy to use and simplifying. I cannot say enough about how nice it was to use this tool. All that I can say is that if you haven't tried this tool yet, you should do so immediately.

Webspiration

I just created a Webspiration for my #edci505 class. It was fun and it is nice to have a tool like this for the classroom. However, I found using Webspiration to be a bit confusing and time consuming. First of all, visit the Webspiration site and create an account. When you're creating an account, the site prompts you to "join" a classroom. I'm assuming that this means a teacher can create a "classroom" on Webspiration for students to join which is pretty cool. Anyway, you're then taken to a page where you get to decide what kind of document you'd like to use to display your ideas. I chose a diagram because I find diagrams to be quite simple, however, there are many other templates to choose from. Once you start creating your diagram, you are able to use graphics, change text, play with colors, etc. I found this part to be the most fun and made all go my topics into little clouds. I also realized that adding information and links was pretty easy. I would definitely use this tool for my students because, although it is harder to use than the previous tools, I found Webspiration to be useful for such things as outlining. Webspiration is also a good tool to have for just laying out all of your ideas so that you can organize them. Overall, Webspiration was fun and useful.

#webspiration #education

Today, for my #edci505 class, I created a Glogster. Glogster is a website where both students and educators can create a little board which is both customizable and interactive. After you've signed up, you are prompted to either create a template or to choose from a mix of already designed templates. For my assignment, I was told to use the blank template.Once you've chosen your template, the fun begins. Here, you can choose a background color or image, graphics from a list of different subjects, and many other things. I had to add two videos and found that embedding them was quite simple and fool-proof. The creator even has the ability to add cool frames to the videos. Overall, I found Glogster to be really easy to work with. I do think that this would be a great tool to use in the classroom. I can imagine students really engaging with Glogster because it is so hands on and fun to work with. There are so many ways to get really creative with your Glogster that learning actually becomes fun and exciting. I also think that Glogster would be a great tool for teachers. I know my account is for an educator and I really believe that because Glogster is so simple to use that anyone could use it.

#glogster #education

I Just created a Symbaloo for my #edci505 class, it was simple and fun. To create a symbaloo, you must visit the site and register for an account. After you've verified your account, you are ready to get started. What is really fun about this tool is that it is totally customizable. The creator can make a fun name, description, background, choose the size of the tiles, the colors of the tiles, everything. I also have to say that I found it extremely easy and hassle-free to find and add links to the Symbaloo. I can see how Symbaloo would be a great tool to use in the classroom. I found it to be fun and simple and I know that students would enjoy this creative tool. Also, there are so many educational links and videos that I never thought of prior to this assignment. I can see students doing exactly what I was assigned to do, but finding educational blogs and videos to aid them in their classes. I also saw a tutorial where a young lady actually added her classes agenda to the Symbaloo so that she could have all of her assignments in one place. Symbaloo seems to be really useful.

#symbaloo #education

http://l-www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=9568570&height=267&width=200

Above is a link to my Voki. One of my first assignments was to create a Voki and to share it with my classmates. A Voki is an avatar which you can customize by making it look like yourself or an animal, or a character, what ever you want. There are many different backgrounds to choose from including nature and travel. After you've customized your avatar you are asked to give it a voice. This is a really neat feature and can be done using a microphone, your cell phone, or simply a text to audio. In addition to this, you can choose an accent for your Voki to have. The whole process is really simple and actually pretty fun. I honestly believe that this would be a great tool to use in the classroom. Just as I was creating my Voki, my 10 year old sister came and hovered over me, asking if she could try. Once again, this seems to be an activity that would engage students and get them to use their creativity. I also know that many students are shy and would rather not speak in front of a classroom. This activity gives students the opportunity to share their thoughts without having to stress over speaking in front of their classmates.

#voki #avatar #education #creativity

Tumblr URL

For this assignment I was asked to create a blog and to make a couple of posts. From a list of options I chose to use Tumblr. I chose tumblr because I am familiar with it, having a separate personal blog as well. I believe that using tools like Tumblr for blogging in the classroom would be beneficial to the students because many students already use tumblr for their personal accounts. Using Tumblr in the classroom would give the students a chance to use a platform that they are already familiar with and would make learning creative and fun. Blogging gives students a hands-on learning experience that would help them engage. From this assignment I have learned to create and to customize my blog. Even having used Tumblr prior to this assignment, I had no idea how to do certain things. The assignment challenges what students already know about blogging and assists them in learning new techniques. I am a fan of using technology to teach students as it seems to hold their attention and bring out their creativity. Also, the blog is convenient as it offers a place for students to submit work and eliminates the need for physical homework which could easily be left at home or forgotten.

#education #blogging #creativity

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