Wednesday, July 16, 2014

Blog Post 14 and 15

My Strengths as a Future Educator:
  • One year experience as a traveling music teacher          
  • Currently teach adolescents in private voice instruction
  • Passion towards my speciality
  • Networking skills in the fine arts-have multiple connections previously established
  • Trained and competent in various forms of vocal music, such as opera, musical theatre, choral ensembles, etc.
HS Choir Director

My Weaknesses as a Future Educator:
  • Lack of piano skills
  • Still adapting to the use of MacBooks
  • Perfectionist and can be demanding
How to Make an Audio QR Code

Ms. Michele Bennett from Gulf Shores Elementary created this video to demonstrate how one can make a personal audio QR Code. Ms. Bennett compares this technique is similar to what my generation did with recordings on cassette tapes, exception is it is conducted on a computer. She uses a website called Record mp3. Early elementary teachers use this tool to record a book and allows students to listen to it multiple times. She also provides a website that helps one generate the codes to different formats called QR Code Monkey. Both of these sites are very simple to navigate and will aid in the student's progress.

iPad Reading Center

Ginger Tuck, a kindergarten teacher, uses the iPad recorder to aid in her students's reading skills. The children first record themselves reading aloud then review the video to self-critique. Students are able to follow along with their recording and verify that they completed the task correctly.

Poplet with Ginger Tuck

Ms. Tuck uses the app called "Poplet" for one of her reading centers. She states that she gathers all books for the specific topic (this one focuses on careers). With the Poplet app, students find what the subject matter is (in this case, veterinarians) and write it in the center block. The children then select another block to take a picture of their book using their iPad and provide a caption of the photograph. Students are able to work on both their writing and reading skills using this tool.

Alabama Virtual Library and Kindergarten Students

In this video, Ms. Ginger Tuck illustrates how one uses the app for AVL and integrate it within a kindergarten classroom. The library at Gulf Shores Elementary instructs students with the navigation of the website to ensure they reach the search engine for their level. Ms. Tuck provides a list of words to her students covering various topics that the students must research using the AVL website. After watching a video or hearing audio of their specific word, the children would then draw a picture of the term. As they progress, students will write a sentence as well as illustrate the word.

iMovie Trailer for Kindergarten

After attending the Alabama Reading Conference, Ginger Tuck discussed how to instruct students how to create an iMovie. Ms. Tuck takes the audience through the process step-by-step. The method in designing the project is simple starting with the selection of "new trailer". Students can then select a song they enjoy by listening to the various options. Once a genre is chosen, the children will enter the title of the book or movie. Students can personalize it according to characters, director, and the author. When the data has been recorded, the app will take the students to the "storyboard" where the children will take pictures and integrate them, as well as provide their own text.

Tammy Shirley Discovery Education Board Builder Moon Project

First grade teacher, Tammy Shirley, discusses the use of Discovery Education. In this project, her students viewed a video regarding the moon. After watching the video, the children were required to list facts they learned and collaborate on building a board on DE's website. Students accessed the site then proceeded the Board Builder tab. Once on the page, students can customize their board with a background and title. A search engine provided by Discovery Education allowed students to find multiple images and videos so they could incorporate it onto their board. By clicking the plus sign that was located on the item, a "quick list" to display all of their pictures or videos. From the quick list, the children could simply drag a component to their board.

Mrs. Tassin 2nd Grade Students Share Board Builder Project

Julie Tassin's students demonstrate the benefits of digital learning with the use of a virtual field trip to Alaska. The students documented their findings using Discovery Education's Board Builder. After researching the topic, the two children who collaborated on this board presented their materials to the class using the SMARTboard. The images used were found and saved on Safari and uploaded the items.

Mrs.Tassin Students Share Board Builder Project

In a second video consisting of Mrs. Tassin's class, a second group shared their presentation that was created on Board Builder. The three students developed this project to also raise awareness for a local animal shelter called The Haven. Students used the resource called Hippo to aid in more complexed terms.

Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten

Dr. Strange interviewed Elizabeth Davis from Daphne Elementary and Michelle Bennett from Gulf Shores Elementary. Ms. Tuck's class, from previous videos, was discussed by Ms. Bennett and focused on involving iMovie trailers in the classroom. Ms. Bennett reiterated that the students are essentially having fun learning to read and write and discovering more objects within the apps on their own. With Alabama Virtual Library, Ms. Davis explains that the app is free to anyone residing in the state of Alabama. She states that it is a wonderful example of instructing children the idea of basic research.

Twitter for Educators

Ms. Davis and Ms. Bennett were interviewed by Dr. Strange concerning the use of twitter by educators. With teaching, more instructors are "teaching themselves" different tools to use in the classroom. One idea I was not aware of previously was the Twitter Chats that occur every evening. Tom Whitby was cited as a great example of an educator who is encouraging integration of technology in the classroom.

We All Become Learners

In this final interview, Padlet and Poplet apps were two apps that were suggested as great instruments to encourage further discussions in a group setting and can be used in a variety of settings. Ms. Bennett stated that a young student even taught her how to properly take a picture using the iPad. Essentially, with Project Based Learning, everyone (teachers, students, etc.) are all learners.







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