| Assignment | Reflection |
| 3.1 Personal Course Website | For this assignment, I created my own website that will updated throughout the semester to showcase my work. The website will consist of links to my work as well as a reflection on each assignment. In order to complete this assignment, I had to become familiar with NVU and Win SCP. I have never used either of these tools before. In fact, I had never even heard of them prior to our face to face meeting. I think that learning how to create and utilize this site will benefit me in this class and in future classes. |
| 3.2 Getting Started with Gmail | I used my Gmail account to email a classmate and also spent time exploring Gmail features. Gmail is a free resource that allows people to email as well as instant message. Gmail can be automatically forwarded to another email account and retrieved via mobile phone. Allowing students to have Gmail accounts allows them the opportunity to email their teachers and classmates anytime, anywhere. Having a student email account is almost a necessity these days as many Web 2.0 applications such as wikis and blogs require an email address to start the process. |
| 3.3 Using Google Calendar | The calendar feature in Google allows users to share and view others' calendars (with their permission). You can also receive reminders via email or even by mobile phone. The calendar could be used to teach scheduling and organizational skills. It would also be useful for students to collaborate and document a strategic plan for a long term project. I created a calendar using Google and invited two classmates to attend some fictional meetings as well as accepted a meeting invitation from a classmate. |
| 3.4 Creating a Blog with Blogger | I created a blog using Blogger. This is such a versatile and easy-to-use tool. Teachers can use blogs to communicate with students and parents. Students can use blogs for journaling, individual, and group projects. Blogs can be incorporated into ANY subject area and are a great way to get students interested in learning. |
| 3.5 Building a Wiki with Google Sites | I created a wiki with Google sites and invited a few classmates to contribute to it. Wikis are excellent tools for projects and almost any type of collaboration. Educators and students can benefit from this easy-to-use tool. It is very easy to add to and edit wikis. Wikis also allow users to interact with one another even if they are miles apart. |
| 3.6 Using Aggregators |
I set up Google Reader so that I would receive feeds about some technology blogs that I’m interested in. This is my first time using an aggregator, but I can already see some educational uses for it. For example, students could subscribe to different blogs relating to their current studies. The teacher can start class by asking a few students to share what they’ve learned from their news feeds that day. |
| 3.7 Google Docs | Google Docs is a powerful individual and collaborative tool that can be used by teachers and students. Documents can be easily shared, viewed, and edited among a group of people. Even though you can create files within Google Docs, you also have the capability to upload any type of file. Teachers are able to secure file sharing permissions when using this tool. For this exercise, I collaborated on a document about the use of Google Docs in an educational setting. |
| 3.8 Behavioral Objectives |
Well written behavioral objectives have a clear audience, a
behavior to accomplish, conditions for that behavior, and degree at
which the behavior is expected to be performed. My example is: Using the drawing tools in a Google
document, MEDT 7462 students will insert a shape, fill the shape with a
color, change the thickness of the outline of the shape, and change the
color of the outline with 100% accuracy. This will be evaluated through
teacher observation as students complete assignment in class.
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| 3.9 Presentation Tools | I explored www.slideshare.net with two other classmates. We collaborated on a slideshow about Slide Share. Tools such as Slide Share allow teachers and students to easily work on presentations together. It is also a great place to follow people and topics of interest. In addition, audio can be synced with the presentations to create things such as webinars. It is also a good place for presenters to post their presentations for those who could not view it live. |
| 3.10 Social Bookmarking | I explored the Delicious site and added to classmates to my network so that I could share and view their bookmarks as well. Using a bookmarking site such as this allows teachers and students to easily share information. It would be a great place to start the beginning of a research project and then would be a great place to store the links to reference later on. Using a site such as Delicious to save favorite and important bookmarks seems wise since they can be accessed at any networked location. You can even use tags to organized your bookmarks into different categories. |
| 3.11 Google Sketch Up | Google Sketch Up is a powerful and unique tool that allows users to create all sorts of three-dimensional projects such as city layouts or interior design layouts. This tool could be used by students for a variety of projects relating to math, science, social studies, and technology. I also think the tool could be used for a marketing or business class. |
| 3.12 Photo Sharing with Picasa | Picasa is a photo sharing tool with many educational possibilities. First of all, it is an easy way for teachers and students to share pictures. This would be a good way for students to collect a variety of pictures on a specific project. It is very easy to edit photos and make slide shows and collages within Picasa. You can tag pictures and search for related pictures as well. My favorite thing in Picasa was observing the person recognition tool. It was right every time on my photos. (Shared with others: Kate @ Disney) |
| 3.13 Google Translate | Google Translate is a quick and easy tool with a lot of potential for classroom use! Some ways to use Google Translate in the classroom: a typing activity, turned exciting by translating into another language; assistance in communicating with ESL students; incorporating some phrases in another language when researching countries or foreign business practices. |
| 3.14 Google Earth | Google Earth is powerful tool that allows you to travel all over the world. You can view terrain, roads, places of interest and even a street view of many areas. Teachers and students can use this tool in social studies, science, and math. Creative teachers can find a way to incorporate the use of Google Earth in most any subject. |
| 3.15 Custom Google Searches | I love this tool! This is a great way to allow students to do their own research without worrying what sites they might stumble upon. I think this is an excellent alternative to something like www.ikeepbookmarks.com because the students still get the experience of using a search engine. It is also very cool that you can analyze statistics about how your search engine has been used. Three search examples: Search1, Search2, Search3. |
| 3.16 Google Forms | Google Forms is a free, easy-to-use tool for both teachers and students. Forms can be created for surveys as well as quizzes or tests. The survey or test results are then organized in a spreadsheet for easy analysis. The information in the spreadsheet can also be used to create charts within the same program. I created a technology related survey through Google Forms and viewed the results. |
| 3.17 Internet Tool Presentation | I am presenting a 5 minute ASSURE lesson on the Web 2.0 tool, Gliffy. It is a free, easy-to-use mapping and diagram program. I will use a PowerPoint and a handout during my lesson. |