Edutopia

I checked out http://www.edutopia.org/groups/special-ed
I saw a place where teachers and others involved in special education services can support each other, discuss topics and share information. Some of the topics recently discussed are: "Building Parent/Teacher relationships", "Self Contained Classrooms", "Should Special Education Students Participate in Standardized Testing?" and "Inclusion Help". Teachers and others who work with special education can join this "community" and discuss many different topics that can help each other while working in this field. I think I might want to join in this group. I may get a new job as a special ed. assistant or a one on one in the future and it would be a good idea getting ideas and information to help with any difficulties in the classroom.

"Great Skype Batman!"

So Little Miss Nelly introduced me to Skype life the other day. At first, we skyped by type, but I said, "Hey, I bought this microphone to be able to skype, what do I do to hear you?" So she educated me. Nelly is a whiz at this. She skypes to family out of the country. At first, we discussed how difficult it was to find time to work on our unit plan with work and other classes homework too. Then I said, hey! Where is your unit plan, I'd like to see it. So she sent it to me on skype. I didn't know you could do that! She told me that on some computers you can also see the other person. We didn't try that though. I don't think my computer has a visual thingy on it. If a sick or special needs student couldn't physically come to school, with a webcam and Skype, they could still participate visually and verbally with other students or the teacher. Also, if the teacher set it up, the students could possibly skype with students in another country. Neato! Technology, wow!

Let's Toast, To the Meta-Post!

I know, corny title, but it got your attention right? Maybe someone will be interested and want to read it. Maybe someone will post a comment to it!? Looking back on my past blogging, I can see that I've treated it like an assignment.(Well, da Toni) Very few really have any personality in them. In all but three of them, I've just been answering questions to the best of my ability. In "Well, Isn't That Delicious", I was writing in the mindset of unorganization and relief that my stepdaughter came over to give me a hand. She has been a Godsend. In the "After Action Report", I was very disappointed and bummed out about the group project. In "Blog 1" I was actually amazed that I was able to create a blog. I suppose the blogs I enjoy doing, are the ones that are left open for me to be my silly, joking self. Humor about mistakes and stresses in life is what makes life bearable sometimes. (Did you know that laughter is good for the bowel?)(Just try it sometime when you get constipated!)

"Integrating Technology in the Classroom"

http://powertolearn.typepad.com/teaching_with_technology/integrating_technology/

I listened to the podcast called: "Trends for 2010" by Jim Lengel. To access it, I started at blackboard week 9-10, under Podcasting and Education. Then on "Where to Find Podcasts Page", I clicked on, "Teaching With Technology Podcasts" and that is where I saw, "Trends for 2010".

In this podcast, Mr. Lengel speaks about how teachers are integrating technology into the classroom more each day. They are allowing students to bring in their laptops and other devices to use in the classroom. Teachers are more carefully preparing their presentations with interactive questioning and media. In their lectures they are using online companions so the students will be occupied while they are on their laptops. Teachers are seeing that they don't need to always be the center of attention in the classroom. With technology, the students can focus on content and ideas instead of the teacher. At Killingly High School, each of the students carry a laptop to every class. The middle schools in New York City all have smartboards in their classrooms. Many young students go home with new stories and texts on their iPod or Kindle. With an iPod, a projector the same size, and a short cable, a teacher can present slides, and show student work. One iPod can hold hundreds of books. All of these would be great to have in the classroom. I chose this podcast because it showed me how much it could aid a teacher in getting her lessons understood by all of her students and not just a few. I would recommend this podcast to others because it shows just how important technology is when used in the classroom.

YouTube, "SMART Technology, SMART BOARD Video Contest Winner"

I chose this video because I could see the many different ways that the teacher was able to use this in the classroom. The teacher could use it for so many different subjects, and also use it to access how much the students have learned so far. I think it could be used in my unit plan, by having many different body parts on the screen, and also have the words mixed up under the pictures for the students to match together. They would be having fun and learning at the same time. Possible obstacles one may face using this is, that it would need to be monitored to make sure the children do not put an inappropriate video on the screen. That might cause quite a ruckuss!

A Database For Kids

KidsKnowIt.com has a database for kids. It's a free children's learning network. The different categories it teaches are: The Human Body, Outer Space, Dinosaurs, Geography, History, Math, Spelling, Memory, Geology, and Chemistry. The children will want to use it for fun, not even realizing how much they will be learning in the meantime! The NETS they will be acheiving are: Creativity and Innovation, Communication and Collaboration, Digital Citizenship, and Technology Operations and Concepts. The only disadvantages I could see, would be not enough computers in the classroom, or not enough time for all of them to be able to use it each day!

Word Processor For Kids

At applefritter.com teachers and parents can find a word processor for kids called "TykeWriter". This aids children in reading and writing. It's fun for them to use and easy to learn. Children will be excited to see their own writing in print or hear TykeWriter read it back to them. Teachers can change the level setting for each student. It can be used with the keyboard or with the mouse and on-screen alphabet. For NETS it supplies, creativity and innovation, communication and collaboration, digital citizenship, and technology operations and concepts.