Improving Reading Skills through the use of Technology

Lexia is a technology based reading program that many schools are using. Price Lab School in Cedar Falls is one of them. In Judy Evans 4th Grade classroom, Lexia is a scheduled instruction and assessment strategy for many of her students. While participating in level II field work at Price Lab School, I heard repeatedly "can I do Lexia" from students. Watch the video below to grasp a better understanding of what Lexia is all about.

Do YOU "Glog"?

There is a new website that has really taken off! I first learned about Glogster in my Elementary Curriculum class.Anyone can access glogster however; the content of a glog is based on the person who creates it. For the purpose of this blog, I will discuss how it can be used in an educational setting. Take a look at the picture below. What do you see?

used with permission from pics4learning.com

The picture you just saw is that of a traditional poster board that a student may present in the classroom. Now take this image presented, and imagine it all on a computer. That is what glogster is. It is an interactive website  that allows the creater full creative control! Honestly, the posibilities are endless! You can add images, videos, gadgets, various content- anything the creator wants.
I found an awesome example of Web 2.0 on Glogster. This example defines web 2.0, ISTE standards for students, uses of wiki, presentation tools, and links to podcasts and examples.
Now that you know about GLOGSTER, go try it out! There are easy to follow steps when you sign up.

So  after looking at this blog, the question I leave you with: is do YOU GLOG?

Technological Advances- Beyond the Computer

I find it amazing how far technology has advanced in the classroom. There is so much more to educational technology than computers. There are still computers but with the computers come foreign language exploration, cultural diversity exploration, art creations, games, as well as robots. Technology skills are an absolute must in today’s world. Teachers need to be preparing students for the real world and today, the real world is technology. Since the curriculum standards have changes since many of today’s adults were in school, there are also adult training courses to aid in the advancement of technology. The following video explores the advancement in technology and the uses of technology besides basic computer application.

A complete list of tentetive 21st century skills(depending on your state and districts standards) for each grade can be found by looking at the Iowa Core Curriculum website and selecting your desired grade.

Instructing and Learning- VIRTUALLY

I found an eye catching and interesting article from EducationDigest written by Katie Ash.

(Image used with permission from Pics4Learning.com)

A teacher by the name of Jim Kinsella made the leap from using technology in the classroom to being fully immersed in teaching online classes. The school he taught at was not experienced in aiding students online however; Jim Kinsella’s curiosity and ambition lead him to and teaching online classes. In the article, he shared ideas on how to create an effective online learning environment and ways to meet the needs of students taking part in an online class.

            A big part of leading and teaching an online class is communication. By effectively communicating with his students as well as parents and guardians, Jim Kinsella made a huge impact in the effectiveness and meaning of the online class. One idea that could be used in other virtual classrooms is that each individual student must meet with the teacher via phone or skype at least once a week. I though that this was a great way to ensure regular communication. Kinsella had a wonderful view on teaching online, "You have to really care about students and want to go out of your way to help them be successful. That means working long hours and staying on the phone for an hour to get a student to understand an important concept."
          I thought that the article made a good point in saying that online teaching is not for everyone. It is a big responsibility as students and teachers do not participate in the classic face-to-face encounters. I also like how the article held teachers accountable for knowing and understanding the technology. Teachers should expect technological difficulties at some point and should know how to handle them if they are leading the class in a virtual classroom.
            I thought that the most memorable quote from this article was "Online teaching is much more hands-on than face-to-face teaching. The interactions that I have are one-on-one, so I get to know my students much better and in a much different way."

This is me!

Hello everyone! My name is nicole and Im in Ed Tech & Design with Mr. Galloway! I've never made a blog before (so I think this is pretty neat). Technology sometimes makes me nervous but I think I can handle this! Alright, so thats all for now.

:) Nicole