Week 7: 10 Tech tools I can't live without

As an educator, and educating children now a days you have to be more eager to learn about the new techniques of technology. During this course I have learned different tools of technology that I will use throughout my career as an educator.

1. Concept Map: This map allows students to brainstorm and collect information about the topic at hand.
2. Glogster: After figuring this out, I enjoyed making it and will definitely use this in the future.
3. iPad/iPod/Smartphone apps: There are so many apps to help and enhance students learning. Most are free but some are reasonable enough to buy to create a better learning environment for your students.
4. Delicious: Social Bookmarking: I learned a lot from this site. Super Easy! Anything that an educator feels as it will help them become a better educator and students better learning students, all you would have to do is bookmark it and it is forever in your personal storage.
5. Blogger: I love blogging and I love to see other educators ideas on lessons! This makes me want to start my own blog this summer!
6. Wikispaces: I liked making the wiki! It was pretty neat and fun.
7. Pinterest: Well, who doesn't love pinterest? I surely do, so much information is at there right at your finger tips, so many excellent, fun and exciting lessons you can tweak and make your own.
8. Desktop software: This software helps with making weekly newsletters, that I am very big on. The newsletter will allow parents to know what is happening in the classroom each week.
9. Graphic Document maker: I enjoy this! It allows educators to create classroom awards or certificates!
10. Puzzle Generators: I will enjoy making worksheets and puzzles!

As an educator we must keep up with technology! This will help students not to be so bored and to get them more interactive in the classroom! It will also be beneficial to you as an educator as well!

Week 6

What mobile apps are available for your subject area? List and describe at least 4 apps that could be used on a smartphone, iPod, or iPad in the classroom.

Technology is a must now a days in the classrooms. There are so many apps that helps students to become more engaged with learning. These apps aides students instructiveness. The students absolutely love the following apps:

1.  Starfall:  This app teaches children to read with phonics. The instruction motivates children in an atmosphere of imagination and enthusiasm, provides opportunities for child-directed instruction, and supports English language learners and struggling readers learning alongside their peers.
2. PBS Kids: This app allows children to gain knowledge of educational goals. It helps engage children with science, reading, math and so much more.
3. ABC StoryBots: StoryBots is a cool app that helps students learn the alphabet through song.
4.  ABYCA: Incorporates grade level lessons in areas such as math and language arts while introducing basic computer skills. Fun activities as well to help students indulge in learning.
5. Sight Word Bingo: This app helps students learn sight words. Sight words that are recognized immediately (on sight) without phonetically decoding or sounding out parts.

Week 5

Why is it important to be a good digital citizen? What value does a good digital reputation have?

 

        I believe it's important to be a good digital citizen because now a days everything and everybody is online. Taking the proper procedures to be a good digital citizenship will help you to become a good citizen. Social media has become the new "in" thing. So much can be put on social media and the internet. Anyone and anybody can look up your name and many things can pop up on the internet and they will access to personal information of yours. Pictures are also important, don't place inappropriate pictures on your social media websites either. Employers, staff members, and coaches could possibly look up your name for creditability to your reputation and their company. Educators, are put on such high standards and pedestals to be a great role model. So we have to be careful on what we allow on social media sites. There is always someone out there waiting and watching for something to be inappropriate to discredit your reputation, so by being a great digital citizen will help your reputation stay creditable and maintain value in your work and worth. We must show positivity for ourselves,students, employers and staff members because the wrong inappropriate mistake could possibly stay with you forever. Show positivity and learn to become a good digital citizen!

Week 4

Describe 3 kinds of material generators that you have used or would like to use in your classroom. Be specific about how you would use the tools.

The 3 kinds of material generators that I would use are worksheet and puzzle generators, graphic document makers, and desktop publishing software. I would definitely use the desktop software, to have create weekly newsletters to inform parents on what is going on in our classroom each week. Also, I would assign students to have a classroom brochure to keep them active on the activities in classroom. I make a classroom book, for each year I could make a classroom book to remember my students. Worksheet and puzzle generators, I would use this generator to make worksheets  and puzzle for different lessons that we are learning. This generator will help enhance their vocabulary and spelling skills. Graphic document maker would be an excellent way to create classroom awards, with good citizenship awards, leadership awards, birthday cards. .

Week 3

Instructional Software is a general term for computer programs designed specifically to deliver instruction or assist with the delivery of instruction on a topic. There is 5 instructional software functions: Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Simulation, Instructional Game, and Problem Solving.

• Drill and Practice allows learners to work problems or answer questions and get feedback on correctness. Examples of drill functions are flash card activities, chart activities, extensive feedback activities and branching drills. (Language Arts)

Earobics is a software that gives practice in phonological awareness and other reading skills
http://www.earobics.com/

• Tutorial acts like a human tutor by providing all the information and instructional activities a learner needs to master topic: information summaries, explanation, practice routines, feedback and assessment.

Congress for Kids is a great tutorial that provides instruction on various aspects of US government. It includes assessments to check comprehension and review concepts. (Social Studies)
http://www.congressforkids.net

• Simulation models real or imaginary systems to show how those systems or similar ones work or to demonstrate underlying concepts.

Lemonade Stand is an online flash game that teaches kids how to run a lemonade stand. Students will have control on pricing, quality control, inventory control, and purchasing supplies. (Math)
http://www.coolmath-games.com/lemonade/

• Instructional Game increases motivation by adding game rules to drills or simulations.

Where in the USA is Carmen Sandiego? OMG, I loved this game. It helped students study history and geography by answering questions which provide clues to where Carmen is hiding. (Social Studies)
http://www.riverdeep.com/

• Problem Solving teaches directly (through explanation and/or practice) the steps involved in solving problems or helps learners acquire problem-solving skills by giving them opportunities to solve problems.

Alien Rescue in this program it helps to teach scientific inquiry. Students must find a new home planet in the solar system to match the needs of different aliens. (Science)
http://www.alienrescue.com/

Web 2.0 Concept Map: 5 Senses

Web 2.0~ Senses Wordshoot

5 Senses Wordshoot Arcade Game

I enjoyed using this site to make games, very interesting.
 

Web 2.0..Senses Dustbin

Click here for larger version

Web 2.0..The 5 Senses Unit..Animoto

Make your own slide show at Animoto.

The 5 senses unit video.. This video will help and allow students to recognize the 5 senses. See, Touch, Taste, Smell, and Hear! We get to SEE with our eyes! We HEAR different sounds with our ears! We TOUCH textures to get the feel of how objects feel! We TASTE delicious foods with our mouth! We also get to SMELL great and smelly smells! So many different things that connects with our 5 senses! ENJOY!!

Week 2

       Should Students Play (software) Games In School/

Should students play games in school, is the question.. In my opinion, absolutely! Educational games is an excellent way of getting students more involved, being more social, and a fun way of learning.
The usage of smart boards, Ipads, Ipods  and computers helps students to interact and be more engaged with learning. Now a days, students are more pronged to playing video games anyway but adding the educational aspect of a game will be very beneficial with getting them to enjoy school and learning. Educational games will allow students to be better academically. Doing regular textbook work is very boring, so if students are introduced to an educational game on the subject/unit this will help students to get more involved. Combining education and excitement into the classroom is always a plus. Using educational games as group activities and competitions can help stimulate students to be better and take pride in learning. Playing educational games will also stimulate the learning process. Students have the opportunity to have trial and error, if the student misses an answer he/she will be allowed to try it again until they understand how to correct the answer. Students gain academic skills and having fun at the same time. So, again I totally agree with students playing software games in schools!!

Week I: Introduction

Hey classmates and welcome to my blog!! 
     I am very new to blogging but hoping this will be a fun way to learn more about each other. Well guys, I am Khaleena Purifoy. I am 28 years old and a mother to a handsome little boy, Kadin! He is 7 years old and he is my world! I keep him active and busy with sports, other activities and hobbies to keep myself busy, so we are always on the go!             
         I currently work as a paraprofessional at a school in Jefferson county, Burkett Center, for the special needs students. We have 9 students in our class and 7 of out 9 have Autism, the other 2 are wheel chair bound. I love working with these special kiddos! They hold a special place in my heart, each and everyone are special in their own special way.
       I graduated from Athens State University in 2010 with my B.S. in Elementary Education(K-6). I haven't landed my own classroom yet, so I decided to start back to school to pursue my Master's in Early Childhood Education, but since working with special needs, I am debating whether to switch to Master's in Collaborative Education K-6. So, hopefully I will figure out which I would like to do more by the end of this term. 
   I am looking forward to communicating more with you guys and learning how to integrate technology more in the classroom!!