Web 2.0 tools

This class has really been helping me to see how much technology is out there that I actually have access to.  The Excel list of Web 2.0 tools that was provided for us this week has really shown me that there are a lot of sites that I can use with my students.  I have always struggled with ways to incorporate technology into my classroom other than having my students play educational games on the computer.  Now, don't get me wrong, I do think educational games are great ways to reinforce what students are learning, especially at a young age.  I want to do more than just use educational games, however, and I think I have found some ways that I can.

I plan to look more into online interactive whiteboards.  I have always heard how great interactive whiteboards are for early childhood (I even wrote one of my research papers on that topic) and many times when another student in my class is an early childhood teacher they say that the majority of the technology that they use in their classroom is done with an interactive whiteboard.  My school does not have interactive whiteboards and we have been told that the wiring of our building does not allow for them.  So I'm thinking that maybe I should check out some of these online interactive whiteboards and see if any of them would work with my students.

I have also been trying to incorporate  some PowerPoint presentations in my class.  I have used them to introduce some different topics.  We learned a lot about the appropriate way to use PowerPoints in the classroom in EDTC 620.  I found that one of the Web 2.0 tools that was provided on our Excel list contained ways to make 3D images to use in PowerPoint presentations.  I would like to check out that site more and see if I could use it to make some engaging PowerPoints.

Speaking of presentations, I noticed many of our classmates talked about Prezi in their discussions.  This looks like another good way to create presentations that I could use with my students.  I am going to look into this site more.  Finally, another of our classmates posted a presentation that she created using Animoto.  This is another program that I plan to look at.  I could definitely see myself using this program to create presentations.  I would definitely say that I have learned a lot this week about how much technology is out there that I actually have access to and is appropriate for early childhood.  I can't wait to check more of it out!

Research topic chosen!

Well I have finally chosen my research topic!  I am going to research the effective use of tablets in the early childhood classroom.  My school is supposed to be getting tablets for the students next year so I thought it would be nice to have some ideas on how I can use them with my students.  I think it would really benefit me to do some research on how I can use them effectively in my class.  Let's now hope that my topic gets approved!

School's out for summer... kind of!

Well, I am officially done in my classroom as of this past Tuesday.  Summer has begun but I guess technically school is not out completely since I am taking an online class this summer!  I do feel that I can focus much more on my school work during my summer classes because I am able to do a lot of my work while my daughter is napping (which is happening now) and I still have some "me" time.  I feel like I don't get any "me" time during the school year!

So this week I will be focusing on narrowing down my scholarly research paper topic.  I have not yet completed the Library conference but plan on finishing that up by tomorrow.  One of my classmates mentioned SMARTTAbles, which really interests me because they sound like they could be great for young students.  I also think that my school may be getting Ipads for our students next year so I am thinking about focusing my paper on that as well.  I think that I will look up both topics in the library search engines to see which I can get more information on.  If anyone has any feedback on me researching either of these two topics for my paper, I would much appreciate it!

Frustrations of working at a school with little technolgy...

When I began working at my school about 7 years ago (wow, it's been that long already?) I was fresh out of college and excited to become a teacher.  I was hired at my school as a Pre-K teacher and really didn't have much experience with technology in school and what kind of technology should be provided for students.  It wasn't until I decided to get my Master's in Technology Education that I realized how far behind my school was becoming in technology.  I decided to pursue a Master's in Technology Education because I know that technology is ever changing and felt that it would be a good field to go into.  I was in disbelief when I began my courses and read what some schools are doing with technology!  I couldn't even believe what was being done with Pre-K students as I struggled to find any way to introduce technology with my students. 

I now find it very frustrating to say the least that my school is so outdated.  I have still been able to do very well in my courses and I have learned so much.  I have been able to develop units and lessons that I would love to do with my students but can't always do every aspect of them because they require technology use that I do not have access to. 

This leads me to my assistive technology discussion.  I have no experience with assistive technology because I have none available to me at my school.  Once again, I had to answer a discussion question with no experience in using the type of technology that we are learning about.  Can you see why I am frustrated?  I believe that all teachers should have access to assistive technology.  My life as a kindergarten teacher would be so much easier if I had software that allowed my students to speak what they want to say or have written into a microphone that will dictate it for them!  I would even love to be able to plug my students' headphones into the computers in the computer lab so that they can get online and play educational games that talk to them and give them the directions without having to hear the other students' computers.  I can't even do that but it would be great if I could and so beneficial for my students.

Well, thanks for listening to my rant!  I have been told that HUGE technology changes are coming to my school over the summer so I am very optimistic that I will be able to use technology more with my students next year!

Week 1 Reflection

Well I found that it was pretty easy to set up my blog, although I wanted to do it sooner but I have been sick.  Since I work with younger students, I think I would have to use a blog as a way to communicate with parents.  I definitely wouldn't be able to have my students have their own blogs since they are unable to navigate the internet by themselves.  I would definitely be able to set up a blog for classroom information and incorporate links to educational sites and photos of activities in the classroom so that my students could look at and interact with the blog while they are with their families.  I think a blog could be a great way to get classroom information to families and could replace weekly newsletters.  I already send my newsletter electronically so a blog would not be that much different except that parents would have to get on to look at it instead of a newsletter being sent directly to their emails.