Reflections

I enjoy so much working with technology! It makes your job easier, it keeps you organized, and give you the opportunity to be updated in any topic. In my job, I have seen that students learn more motivated when you let them use web tools. I will continue using technology in my classroom and see it transformed in a 21st century learning center. The kids will develop the necessary skills that would support them to face the coming challenges. We can use the video demonstrations and samples that we used to help them create their own activities to get knowledge and practice in the skills involved.
I will continue using the video resources and start teaching Wikis, Image Generators and Digital storytelling. I am also very excited because we will have iTouch devices in our classrooms.
This was a great experience! The information was integrated and complete to move on in a sequential way.

Tool # 11 Digital Citizenship

As educators we should have a solid foundation to evaluate how our students are using technology and which could be the appropiate process to teach them how to use it. We should prepare our students how to:

1. Face a world full of technology and find the adequate material for their age and needs.
2. Find alternative activities and DO NOT abuse technology.
3. Take care of theirselves when sign up for free email address or applications, post pictures, or buy merchandise.

Tool # 10 Mobile technology and Apps

I don't have one of these devices but I my son has one I have played with. They are very useful to keep any professional organized; also to keep important information, email or pictures on hand.
In class, students can use these applications while working in workstations, projects or out of the classroom. It is a great way to develop fine motor skills, learn to search through Internet, and find appropiate activities for their level and needs.

Tool # 9 Jing and Skype

I have been thinking how to improve some processes in the classroom by using Jing. It could be useful in a Character Ed. class to refresh procedures and routines. In a Science class when we need to learn or review Lab procedures, Lab tools or for set up experiments. Also, in Math when students are learning multiplication or division with more than one-digit, we could make a video to go over and over to become masters.

Since my family and a lot of friends live in Colombia, I have been using Skype to communicate with them. It is an easy and cheapest way to talk and see them. In our classrooms, we could use it to interview people related with the topic or unit we would be developing. Even in a Career day we could try it!

Tool # 8 Video Resources

This was really fun!
I enjoyed exploring different videos at Google and SchoolTube. I have continued adding to my blog examples with Landforms resources visualizing my students doing tematic units by using technology tools. I also downloaded a video and linked another one to the post. Students could download it by themselves. Then they could follow the steps from the video to build a landform (mountain). Since it is on the video students could replay any time they would need to complete the project.

http://www.schooltube.com/video/dc96115b2277432998e0/Mountains