I chose my favorite apps based on ones that I find to be very effective with my 4 year old son and ones that I feel would work very well in a PreK classroom. Although I haven't taught in a classroom in 8 years, my last teaching experience was in a PreK Special Needs classroom. This technology was not available then, but I know that my students would have greatly benefitted from these tools and from the apps listed below.
1. See.Touch.Learn. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/see.touch.learn./id406826506?mt=8 This is a really neat app that encourages vocabulary development in young children. Individualized lessons can be created at various learning levels for students.
2. LetterSchool http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/letterschool-lite/id481067676?mt=8 When it comes to learning letters and numerals and how to write them, this app is a fantastic tool. It allows children to trace the letters and numerals in a fun and interactive way. Then students can show mastery by creating the letter or numeral without guidelines. My son loves this app!
3. Abby - Preschool Shape Puzzle http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/abby-preschool-shape-puzzle/id447995718?mt=8 What a fun app for creating and completing images. Children can drag puzzle pieces to the correct spot in order to complete a fun and motivating image. Then, a silly monkey awards them when the puzzle is finished correctly.
4. Things That Go Together http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/things-that-go-together/id490647359?mt=8 I really enjoy this app that focuses on the important skills of language development and problem solving. Children are presented with pairs of pictures that they need to correctly match as to which go together. I particularly like that I can add my own voice to the app so that my son can hear me reading the items aloud. It is definitely a multi-sensory tool that engages the senses of sight, touch and hearing. I also love it that it is totally customizable and can be made to fit the student.
5. The Cat in the Hat http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cat-in-hat-dr.-seuss-lite/id409977857?mt=8&v0=WWW-NAUS-ITSTOP100&ign-mpt=uo%3D2 I love this book! On this app, children can simply read the story and view the interesting Dr. Seuss images or they can listen to the story being read aloud to them. Words are highlighted as they are read aloud when touched. What a fantastic way to engage in a classical story like The Cat in the Hat.
6. Motion Math - Hungry Fish http://motionmathgames.com/motion-math-hungry-fish/ This is a fun app that focuses on addition and subtration fluency. My son thinks it is so much fun and he particularly likes how he can change the fish's fins and colors.
Sunday, March 25, 2012
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Technology Tools as Related to Bloom's Digital Taxonomy
I really enjoyed experiencing many technology tools over the past two weeks. After looking through the recommended sites (Top 100 Tools for 2011 from Centre for Learning and Performance Technologies, The 35 Best Web 2.0 Classroom Tools from Edudemic, Top 100 Sites of 2011 from Tech&Learning), I investigated many of the tools listed. I picked tools that I really enjoyed and could see myself using in a classroom. In order to be included on my map, I needed to be able to actually think of a particular project or use for the tool in my classroom. I also picked tools that were simple to use and simple to integrate into an educational setting. Next, I reviewed the tool and thought about where it would fit into Bloom's Digital Taxonomy and the skills necessary to teach our students. From there I created a map that was easy to read and easy to gain benefit. A teacher can think about the outcome that is necessary from the upcoming lesson and chose appropriate technology to utilize. If, for example, a teacher wants students to create a story map about their assigned topic in preparation for writing a report, the teacher can simply look at the skill "analyzing" and see a few options of tools that could be integrated into the lesson. Bubbl.us and Popplet are two tools that would satisfy this educational outcome quite remarkably.
Infusing technology on a regular basis into the classroom education is a necessary task for teachers. In this day in age, students need to be able to complete projects that are interesting to them and that are preparing them for the world in which we live. We live in a digital world. Educators really need to embrace this fact and align the education they are providing students with current human culture.
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Technology has Redefined Learning
W 531 from Katie Beik on Vimeo.
This video was composed to show how technology is infused into my family's life. My children utilize technology (on a limited basis) daily. They enjoy and benefit from it. They are perfect examples of children that are beginning their careers as 21st century learners.
This video was composed to show how technology is infused into my family's life. My children utilize technology (on a limited basis) daily. They enjoy and benefit from it. They are perfect examples of children that are beginning their careers as 21st century learners.
Saturday, February 25, 2012
Has Technology Redefined Learning?
Has technology redefined learning?
Yes! I believe that technology has redefined learning. Technology is a part of our daily lives and an integral part of our future. The way we teach our children needs to reflect this. Watch Alan November's video about 21st century learning, The Myths and Opportunities of Technology in the Classroom [Alan November]. In this video, it is stated that there needs to be a shift of control from the teacher to the students. Rather than the teacher feeding information to students, students need to be finding and discovering information, collaborating together to be creative and innovative and the teacher needs to facilitate this learning. Technology has opened doors that truly cannot and should not be closed. Instead, people should embrace technology. Utilize it as the tool that it is. There are so many fascinating paths that technology can lead us down. I particularly love how global technology is. The fact that students can communicate instantly with other students from all over the world and learn from them and collaborate with them on educational projects is truly exciting. These are opportunities that simply were not possible in years past. Teachers, like Josh Stumpenhorst (Josh Stumpenhorst, 2012 Teacher of the Year), are embracing technology and have successfully integrated it into their classroom. I do believe this is the way of the future.
On the other hand, I find great value in hands on learning that does not involve technology. I think it is important to know how to have a polite verbal conversation with someone. It is important to go out and play, to grow a garden, to read paperback books, to listen to music and then to create more music and to engage with toys and manipulatives without the use of technology. There needs to be a balance. Teaching chidren purely through the means of technology would be just as big a disservice to our children as ignoring technology all together. Technology is an amazing tool that can enhance learning. It most certainly has altered the definition of learning and how teachers should facilitate learning.
Check out out collaborative notes that we took during our class readings this week. It was fun to read everyone's opinions as we progressed through the assignments.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Digital Citizenship
We have been discussing digital citizenship this week. I have created a presentation and an action plan which are posted below about cyberbullying, a very serious issue that needs to be addressed in schools and at home. I truly hope that we find a way to educate parents and educators how to put an end to cyberbullying. I think that process will begin by implementing a strong curriculum teaching about responsible digital citizenship beginning in kindergarten. Enjoy!
Presentation
Action Plan
We have been discussing digital citizenship this week. I have created a presentation and an action plan which are posted below about cyberbullying, a very serious issue that needs to be addressed in schools and at home. I truly hope that we find a way to educate parents and educators how to put an end to cyberbullying. I think that process will begin by implementing a strong curriculum teaching about responsible digital citizenship beginning in kindergarten. Enjoy!
Presentation
Action Plan
Sunday, February 12, 2012
New Literacies
This week we have been discussing new literacies. In the past, literacy referred to one's ability to read and write in order to be a contributing member of society. In today's world, a much broader definition of the word literacy is necessary. The rapid growth and expanded use of technology requires an individual to have sufficient proficiency with varying technological tools, adequate skills in information gathering, assessing and evaluating and a strong ability to think critically about the data gathered from a variety of multi-media resources. Below I have displayed a concept map which depicts just a few of the new literacies that are important to be aware of so that children can be successfully educated in skills that will help them be a literate, contributing member of the 21st century society.
Additionally, I have attached a link to a document that further discusses these literacies.
New Literacies
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
The Digital Divide
This week I was introduced to a tool on the web entitled VoiceThread, which enables asynchronous conversations amongst a group of people. I really enjoyed using this tool this week and can visualize many educational conversations that could take place within a group of classmates. I particularly love how the comment can be recorded with the contributor's voice, an image of the contributor is apparent and a visual that the contributor chose on his/her topic is evident. It simply makes it a more personalized conversation when you can hear the individual's voice and see his/her face. I also think it is fantastic that the comment could be made via text because if an individual does not have access to a microphone, that person can still participate. If an individual is unable to speak or has difficulties speaking, that person can still participate. It seems to be a tool that is universally designed to be accessible to a wide range of people. Furthermore, once a thread was begun by a classmate, I like the fact that others could add a comment to the thread. And, once again, the picture and voice of the person commenting is right there. A link to our voicethread about the digital divide follows.
https://voicethread.com/?#u2445396
Our topic this week was the digital divide and how it has changed over the years. This topic was very interesting to me. Truthfully, I have never given much thought to the situation and was unfamiliar with the term digital divide. After much review of this issue throughout the week, I really gained a better understanding of a very important educational issue. What once was a divide on who had access to technology and who didn't, is now a divide on what kind of access people have. The introduction of internet access via cell phone has brought many groups of people, African Americans and Latinos particularly, into the world of the World Wide Web. Although cell phones are wonderful pieces of technology and it really is amazing that they have brought internet access to so many people that otherwise would not have it, they are primarily used for entertainment. It would be so difficult, if not impossible, to use a cell phone to complete a research paper, to apply for jobs or to update a resume. People need access to a computer. They need to know how to use the computer in order to empower themselves. This education has to begin at a young age. Teachers need to know how to incorporate digital education into their classroom curriculum and routine. And, finally, teachers need to provide all students with this education.
https://voicethread.com/?#u2445396
Our topic this week was the digital divide and how it has changed over the years. This topic was very interesting to me. Truthfully, I have never given much thought to the situation and was unfamiliar with the term digital divide. After much review of this issue throughout the week, I really gained a better understanding of a very important educational issue. What once was a divide on who had access to technology and who didn't, is now a divide on what kind of access people have. The introduction of internet access via cell phone has brought many groups of people, African Americans and Latinos particularly, into the world of the World Wide Web. Although cell phones are wonderful pieces of technology and it really is amazing that they have brought internet access to so many people that otherwise would not have it, they are primarily used for entertainment. It would be so difficult, if not impossible, to use a cell phone to complete a research paper, to apply for jobs or to update a resume. People need access to a computer. They need to know how to use the computer in order to empower themselves. This education has to begin at a young age. Teachers need to know how to incorporate digital education into their classroom curriculum and routine. And, finally, teachers need to provide all students with this education.
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