Thing 16: Final Evaluation

Check out the link below:
Shapes Around the City

PhotoPeach was a new tool for me to explore and the quick uploads were put nicely together in a short video clip. I definitely see myself using this tool again. Can't believe I've never heard of it. My mind is already starting to wonder what wonders could I do with this tool. I am sharing this with my teammates and collaborate different ways to use this particular tool. So far I'm thinking if I share with the Math teachers they could teach students shapes and look through images for different shapes they can spot.


Evaluation:


1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

One was definitely blogging! I've never had a blog nor have I ever signed up for one, yes I knew what a blog was and seen others but thought it would require to much because everyone else blogs look amazing. Reflecting back on my blog it wasn't so bad, I feel like I have a better handle on blogging since my first post and I have learned a lot through these 16 things.

 2. How has this type of program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

This program has affected my lifelong learning goals because I can use like a Weebly and upload information to store. Also, I can use my blog for parents and even if some parents/ guardians are technology immigrants, I feel like the yare still able to read and understand my blogs.

 3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from the 16 Things exercises that surprised you?
I was surprised that I had heard of a few of these Web Tools but never tried them. I feel like I've been robbing my students of a good education (it's  a joke). I'm just glad I know how to use these tools to a certain extent to guide or help others.

 4. What could I do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I feel like just taking my time to really get to understand the different programs available.

Other great videos I found on YouTube:

• A Pep Talk from Kid President to You

https://youtu.be/l-gQLqv9f4o

• 10 year old intellect, Dalton Sherman's keynote speech

https://youtu.be/yZm0BfXYvFg

Thing 15: Skype and Things like Skype

I have used Skype before and have found beneficial. For this blog post I Skyped with my younger sister since she is away at college and I know she has a Skype account. I like Skype because 1. I am a visual person so for me to see what people are saying, how they are saying their words makes a different to me on how I take the information that is given.
I have done a conference through Skype with a college classmate that taught in China for a year. In Social Studies we were learning about different cultures and I thought it would be a great idea for our kids to see a cultural classroom.
Another way I have used Skype is through Fort Bend called Poetry Jam. Teachers are paired across the district and have a video conference where the students are reading their own poetry to the students in a different classroom. This was a neat experience because the kids are in a safe environment able to share their work with new kids their age. It made the kids work really hard on their poems because they were sharing with someone else outside their school.
You can have students learn how to write letters correctly and set up a pen pal at a different location, mail the letters to the kids and Skype when you received the other schools letters.

Thing 14: Podcasting

We have had to use Podcast for a previous class but I did not have the chance to really view multiple tools to create a Podcast.
Podcast allows you to download particular content from the internet which is made available for you to listen to.  You can use this tool various of ways such as the first day of school to welcome students and parents. While you are talking or introducing yourself to one person the Podcast can play to give instructions to others. The podcast are set up like albums/channels where you may go in and search for content that may be useful to download to listen to or look at.  You are able to view or listen to content without logging on or being online once items are downloaded. As I explored through the applications it made me think of other ways to use this tool.  It can demonstrate an audio of what is being taught that can be used for online or flipped classroom.

The podcasts range from informational, to inspirational, to lessons, and more. In the Texas Education Agency search I found the channel "Keep Texas Wild." I liked this one because I could talk to the students about the location of animal habitats and what type of landform surrounds those habitats. New vocabulary is introduced such as preserve and I can use dictionary skills to have students get information from the dictionary such as guide words, part of speech, definition, and entry words.

My podcast is a welcome back to school to send out to parents/students for the new school year and what is expected.

Click the link below to view Podcast:
Welcome Back Podcast

Thing 12 and 13: Discovering and Using YouTube

Discovery Exercise 1:

I never noticed the Autoplay button (it’s really small) in the right corner. All this time I quickly have to close videos or pause at the very end to give me time to talk or minimize the page.

I like that there are so many videos on literally EVERYTHING! My friend said they changed their oil based off a YouTube video. I learn how to try different hairstyles from watching other people videos. I think it can be helpful for so many things.

I dislike the inappropriate ads especially the ones that are not age appropriate for my students. The school district had to block YouTube for different reasons but YouTube also has some good videos that are beneficial to learning.
I am using the “Ocoee Middle School- Gotta Keep Reading” video because I’m a reading teacher and feel like they use the words in a powerful way to encourage the kids not to give up. I want to try this after STAAR with my kids and maybe they can perform it on Awards day at the end of the year for their parents. I feel like if my students learn the words it will empower them to continue to strive for the best.

I see how I could use this website in the classroom by showing quick clips to introduce a lesson. I can create my own video of the students throughout the year and keep as private to share at the end of the year.

Discovery Exercise 2:

I created a video and uploaded it on to YouTube from my phone. I changed it to unlisted instead of private or public for viewing. I have attached the link below.

 

Thing 11: Discovering Presentation Tools

 



For my presentation tool I decided to try a new presentation called SWAY. SWAY is a free account and works with Microsoft 365 users as well. The SWAY I created is about Landforms and I would use the SWAY over time for the Landforms lesson. I liked that I could arrange my ideas that I think would be best for the students to learn but if I noticed it didn't work well for the first class I could easily change the order for the second class in seconds. I also likes how this Tool helps me find images and videos to go along with my lesson. I haven't found anything that I dislike about the Tool but at first it could all be confusing because there is so much you can do. There are YouTube videos that walk you through the different steps so it's not that bad.

 

Some useful features were the links provided to learn more about the tool, it's free, it is an organized tool, and can share with others to collaborate.

 

 

https://sway.com/iaNOt3VS5FAlVYLa

 

Thing 10: Discovering Animation Tools

I decided to do ComicHeads which is an app designed to help children create their own comic design. I have found it useful because I can create a comic with pictures and have the students write in their own speech bubbles. I never realized how many different stories are created with just a picture and no words.
This is a free account and you can look at other public comic strips, photo comics, or comic books.
The website already has preloaded images you can choose from, layouts, and multiple tools to choose from. There is even a  step by step list to inform you what to do next. You can preview what you have so far, zoom in and out, rotate images, move speech bubbles with ease, and have different ways of creating text boxes. You can change the color, bring pictures front to back, and choose different categories for more options. There is a lot you can do to create a professional looking comic strip just for fun.
It is easy for students and the teacher can create a simple rubric for guideline expectations. As you practice with students you can add more detail expectations as the year passes by. You can have ample amount of differentiated instruction going on with the lesson.
There is also a language change so the comic does not have to be in English.

My Photo Comic will let the students view the pictures and tell me a story of what's happening through the changes of the butterfly cycle.
You can reverse the lesson and have just words and have students create pictures and tell a story through their pictures of the butterfly cycle.

http://www.comicshead.com/node/10641#.VvE5NnI7HkM.gmail

 

Thing 9: Online Productivity Tools

For the discovery exercise, I began by creating an account in Zoho Docs on my mobile phone.  I did so by going into the playstore, the application on android where you purchase your apps, and I downloaded and installed Zoho. It asked for me to confirm my email address so I decided to continue working through the webpage on my computer to take a few screen shots of my activity.

Zoho Docs gave you the option to sign in using your Google account that was the other discovery exercise to explore. I do notice that a lot of tools let you log on through Google Docs.

Zoho Docs allows you to create documents, spreadsheets, and other presentations while also saving them. You are able to access the information from any location using a device with internet connection at any time. As an example, I created a quick document from notes that I took from a meeting.  This application was so convenient that I was able to type it right from my phone and save it. If I also shared my notes with my team member that was absent from the meeting.

When logging back on to the website it automatically pulls up all the documents that were created and automatically saved. There is also a way for you to create your own network with the choice of it being either internally or externally  within you organization. Zoho also allows you to create a mailing address for free.  However, for businesses and/or organizations  it would cost, depending on what particular plan you chose which was also based off of how often you used the server. Getting started you can create, upload and edit your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations online. You can add users and organizations share and collaborate with colleagues. Many of these tools are the same from Google Docs but it has a little more to offer. I like how it points to the area to go to and gives you a quick idea of what you are about to work on. Very organized!

 https://docs.zoho.com/file/thfrzeb2a0089c87f4df0a0f8a1fd0b0cf786