This week our group talked about how we could incorporate technology with Interactive Writing activities we teach in the schools. We came up with a few ideas. You could use a smart board and write like you would on a big piece of parchment paper. Using Microsoft word you would highlight words in stories that emphasize what you are learning about. Example, highlight describing words, words with -ing endings, words that make the long a sound and so on. You could also make powerpoints that teach different aspects of writing. I liked hearing about the different ideas from other groups on how we could use technolog with Shared Reading, Read Alouds, Shared Writing, Guided Reading, and Readers Workshop. I think that using powerpoints, web images, smartboards, interactive reading activities and many more things will enhance our teaching and keeps students involved and engaged.

Virtual Tours

This week we created a virtual tour on a Utah State Curriculum Objective. We decided to do physical education and focus on how physical education provides opportunity for enjoyment. I talked with Emily and Ana and they had their virtual tour on Early American Explorers. They basically showed where the explores went and gave a basic overview of what the explorers did. I think this is a great way to make the study of American Explorers interactive and fun. They had some really fun ideas for assignments at each of their place marks. I also talked with Kamden, she is doing her virtual tour on wetlands, forests. She is having the student's learn that there are different types of lands all over the country. For one of her activity she is having the kids go to a link and look at postcards to learn about the type of land located in the state. I think as a student that would be such a fun activity. These virtual tours are a really great tool for teachers. It allows students to see exactly where they are learning about and I think it is a great way for them to interact with the material.

Google Earth!

This week we worked with Google Earth. I have used google earth before to look at my house and to see where my roommate when on her study abroad but I really liked learning about the different tools that are available with this program. I am excited about creating our virtual tour next week. I think this is a great program to us in school but also it is a great program for individual use. During a lesson on weather I would have my students go to Madrid Spain using google earth and compare the weather there to the local weather.  Here is a link to the kmz I would have my students use. 

 www.inovaprime.com/InovaPrime%20-%20Madrid%20Office.kmz

Today we finished our Animal ABC digital storytelling. I think it turned out great. I had fun learning how to use Teacher Tube and Photo Story. I think Photo Story is a fun idea to use for projects in my future class. Students can record book reports, create curriculum projects and just have fun. I liked that we worked in groups for the project. I feel like students learn better when the work in groups and are able to help each other figure problems out.

Animal ABC

This week we learned about digital story telling. We decided to do an ABC Animal story board where we will discuss some facts about animals starting with the letters A-I. I felt like this was a neat way to incorporate technology and create an interactive lesson for students. There are a lot of different ideas you could try some examples are story re-telling, book trailers, documentaries and more. I am looking forward to finishing this next week.

Animal ABC

Tech Savvy Teacher!

This week we created a Tech Savvy Teacher guide to inform teachers of some ways that you could incorporate technology. It was actually more fun then I thought it would be. I think that taking this class is definitely helping me know how to find ways to incorporate technology in my class.