I am undecided whether to add blogging to my curriculum at this point. I believe a lot of work wouldhave to be done by our computer tech department to get internet and the ability for students to blog up and running on these ancient computers in my classroom. We are moving to a new school and hopefully a new curriculum (STEMS) instead of Technology Discovery this coming school year. So, unless our computer tech department and administration are ”game” to the idea of adding the ability to blog then….I doubt it will happen this year. Maybe next year? As far as my continuing to blog for my personal use….hmmmm possibly. If I can find the time! I don’t want to blog then ignore people. What’s the point in blogging if you don’t read your comments and post more. If I could use blogging in my classroom with students, parent, administrators, etc. then I know I would blog. Happy blogging to all!
Posted in Uncategorized December 15, 2008
Isn’t it great how you can go on the web and find a video on how to do almost anything. I checked out TeacherTube and found a great video on how to add animation by use of clip art, animated pictures, and cartoons to PowerPoint presentations. I’ve known how to add clip art but never added animation, animated art or thought about making a PowerPoint cartoon. The video showed how to move the clip art to different locations on different slides to create the impression of animation. It also showed how to make the clip art follow patterns in a single slide to animate the image. For cartoons, it showed how to place the clip art in a slightly different location on each slide. Then, you are to change each slide quickly to make it look like a cartoon. Anything to help keep the attention of students is a great tool for us teachers to learn. Now, I’m going to pass this information on, hopefully by use of that video or a similar video, to my students so they can too create great PowerPoint presentations.
Posted in Uncategorized December 10, 2008
Ok everyone, I’m figuring some of this stuff out! If I can do it so can you!!!!! I’m putting a link to the RSS feeds I’ve subscribed to through Bloglines. I’ve included some of your blogs (the ones I could figure out how to view) as a feed to update when you post anything new. This is great! The link is http://bloglines.com/public/snicaise .
Posted in Uncategorized December 1, 2008
Technology can be so overwhelming! The idea of being able to gather information you may be interested in into one area from so many places is unbelievable. The use of RSS feeds to accomplish this task opens up a new way of doing research for students. The knowledge students will be able to gain about technology and the ease of being able to find information will be so greatly improved in my classroom. Right now I’m a little (VERY) confused! It’s funny how things seem sooooo very complicated when we first use the technology, then later find it so very easy! Right now I’m definitely at that overwhelmed stage! I’m supposed to be adding my feeds to this blog……… HMMM, sorry I couldn’t figure out how just yet! I will be glad when I am able to do this with such ease and teach my students how easy it is to accomplish! Hopefully, my next post will be full of fascinating feeds about technology. Wish me luck!
Posted in Uncategorized November 25, 2008
Keeping up with changes in technology can be mind boggling! New inventions and innovations come about every day. Students blogging about technology will enable students to learn about different technologies that are constantly changing our world. Parents viewing of blogs will enable parents to also keep abreast of what their child is learning through the Technology Discovery course and from other student blogs. Parents may learn about things they did not know existed. So…., when their child comes home and says they “want a rock band” for a present they will not think their child literally wants to join a rock band. Through reading student blogs about exciting new technologies, parents and students may have learned that there is a new game out there that allows players to perform in a virtual band. Three different peripherals (a lead guitar, a bass guitar, and drums) are used to simulate the playing of rock music. Players can learn basic skills needed to be able to play a real instrument. Also, when their child comes home and talks about a ”blackberry storm” and how much they wish one would show up at their house, parent won’t think their child has lost their mind. After reading student blogs about the evolution of the telephone, the student and parent may have learned that there is a new phone coming out called a “BlackBerry Storm” that includes a built in GPS, wireless e-mail, a browser, a camera, a video recorder, maps, a media player, corporate data access, an organizer, a touch screen with an on-screen keyboard, and of course a phone among many other capabilities. Keeping each other informed about SOME of the new and/or improved technologies out there is a never ending task.
I think students being able to blog about new technology and current events that include the uses of new technologies will greatly enhance their learning and desire to learn about the importance of technology and its roll in our forever changing world. My being able to add blogs to student blogs and the knowledgeable input from others will be of benefit to everyone. Sharing information is what it is all about.
Posted in Uncategorized November 18, 2008
