Let’s see: websites, wufoos, blogs, 3D printers, videos, youtube, spreadsheets. The list goes on and on and on. I will use SO much of what we learned in this class in my own classroom for innovative and fun additions to my lessons. These types of technologies really enhance lessons and can get students into what they’re learning.

I liked how alot of them were free or cheap. Who knew you could make your own version of a smartboard with a Wii remote? Or how about using cell phones as PRS/clickers with the free poll4u website? How about wikis as a great way for the students to share what they know with each other and for them to work together to make sure its complete in and correct? And what about those great, free online games that students can play to learn and have fun? I had no idea so many free and fun activities were out there to use to enhance lessons!

I will also use blogs and the google website creator. These are great ways to manage student homework and to keep them easily connected to resources and assignments for the class. Students can post their work on their blog and its an easy way for the teacher to keep track of who is doing their work, while students can do it at their leisure and save the teacher the hassle of collecting and grading written homework. I will also use wufoo forms for students to give me feedback on things as well.

I really loved DTSE and I don’t know what I’m going to do on Wednesday nights now. I’ll miss learning all this cool stuff and getting to play with new technology. I showed what we learned in this class to my friends, and they even thought it was cool and asked me to teach them about it! Learning in this class was fun, and I hope to translate that fun into my own classroom when I become a teacher and can actually use this stuff in my lessons with my students! Thanks for a great semester!

Online polling is a great way to get students interacting. It takes only a minute or so for the teacher to set up the question, and since it does not require any special PRS software to use, its free as well! All students have cell phones, so they can use them to answer and see the instant feedback on the screen and get interactive with the lesson. The different types of questions mix things up a bit, and can serve as quick ways/assessments for teachers to see how students are handling the material being taught.

For the project, I liked having to make a tool that students could use to help them with a lesson and its concepts. Tools work well because students can work together to use them, and they  serve as ways to remind them of something they may not remember otherwise. They are easy to make, and save the teacher the time of having to teach what could be a difficult concept if students did not have the tool.

Creating an experiment on paper is something that could also be useful. Some experiments are too costly or require space and equipment that are not feasible if done in real life. However, if carried out on paper, students can still gain and learn the skills they need from the activity, but in a more reasonable manner. This way is faster and more efficient for teachers to grade and assess, and students can work together to get the experiments done. Students still get the learning experience they need from the experiment, but on a different level.

I would definitely use all the things we learned this week in my own classroom! There is nothing wrong with quick and cheap activities to add to a lesson!

Activity 1-Create a tool on paper

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcrcqqwr_15cqsxftcq

Activity 2-Create a quantitative experiment on paper

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcrcqqwr_17dpzq7zc6

We then learned how to use the free text messaging poll service poll4u.com. This is like the response software that we learned about last week only instead of PRS devices, students can respond by sending text messages with their phones. This service is free and easy to use, and I was able to learn to create and answer questions of my own. I would definitely use this in my classroom because its free and easy to use for students and teachers!

We ended class with a quick physics review activity using protractors. My physics was a bit rusty but after a refresher, I remembered some things about normals and reflections. Overall, a low-key but fun day!

http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/NTEzMzY2MTcz

Here is a link to my multiple choice poll

http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/LTEwNjUyNTgwNDg

I really liked the Google features that Binti showed us. The shared docs feature is something I could use for my students because it would be an easy way for them to complete the written portion of a group project. They can work together as collaborators to create it and I could check on their progress as they add to it by having them make me able to view it. I would also use GoogleEarth for lessons involving maps or directions and I liked its educational activities/features as well. They are great and easily accessible visuals that could be used in class.

I feel like website design might be the most useful skill learned yet. Class webpages are a great way for teachers to share information with their students.  Instead of having to hand out paper copies of everything, students can access the info that they need for homework, projects, and other assignments on the web from the comfort of their own homes. They can also access online resources through links on the webpage to help them find additional information for what they are studying. This makes getting class information efficient for both students and the teacher.

I also like the community building aspect of a webpage.  Through a webpage, teachers can share what is going on in their classroom with students and parents. An announcements page and the various tools can allow people to see what is new or is going on that might be of use to them. I didn’t add a message board or a guestbook/comment feature to my page, but they are great ways for teachers, students, and parents to share feedback on the webpage.

I think webpages are an easy and professional way to share class information on the web. I would definitely use them when I become a teacher!

We learned how to make webpages using Google’s tool. With some great tips from the TAs I soon had a page that included subpages, announcements, and a dashboard. I changed the appearance to make the page more visually appealing and user friendly in terms of being able to find things.

I also learned how to add cool features like filing cabinets, links to files, a gradebook, and videos and pictures to my page. Students could click on a page, find the file marked homework, and in it would be a homework assignment I created for them. I also created a page for links and cool stuff and posted links to things that could enhance student knowledge about what they are learning in class.

We also learned about some neat Google features from Binti. She taught us how to create shared documents and how to invite people to collaborate and view them. She also introduced us to SketchUp which I feel is a far superior figure drawing/creating tool to PP. In addition, we learned about book search and given that I am an avid reader, I cannot wait to use this! Finally, we used GoogleEarth. I was already familiar with this tool, but its always a fun thing to use and play with!

Today was alot of information, but I feel like all of it was very useful. I can’t wait to try these things out with my own class!

Activity 4- See my Class 12 Notes page!

Compare and Contrast SketchUp and PP Modeling

SketchUp and PP are both easy way to create figures or drawings to enhance a lesson. Visual representations are important learning tools, and these programs are an easy way to create ones that are appealing to learners. Both have neat tools like different colors, shapes, symbols, and graphics that can be utilized to create a figure. SketchUp is a more advanced modeling tool because it has far superior graphics, and is strictly a drawing program. It allows you to create neat 3D images and is super user friendly. PP is more basic and is good for basic figure creation. It doesn’t have as many options in terms of neat tools and features, but is an easy way to create a figure to add to a lesson or a PP.

GoogleBooks

This is useful in the classroom because it can help students find other literary sources and references to expand their knowledge of a concept or topic being discussed in class. From this source they can acquire further and different information from what is taught in class to give themselves a wider and more comprehensive view of what they are learning. It can also teach them where to go for reliable and quality information on a certain subject or topic.

GoogleEarth

1. Population Density-view population density all over the world

2.Real-time Earthquakes-see fault lines and sites where earthquakes can/could occur

3. Natural Lights of the World-see where light pollution and man-made light occurs most

4.Coral Reef Animation-see where coral reefs are located in the world and how they are growing

Turning Point

Turning Point was easy to use, and I would use it in my own classroom.  I used the features that allowed you to insert pictures, and make response slide answer choices from them. I like being able to use different types of media to test student knowledge because it makes them think in different ways.

I also feel like Turning Point is a quick and easy way to get student feedback, and it increases student engagement in the lesson. Questions that are designed the right way can teach students the deductive reasoning skills that they will need to correctly answer multiple choice questions on other assessments they might be given on the material being taught. Clickers are also an efficient way to guage student understanding. With the click of a button, the teacher has instant feedback on if the students are understanding and grasping what is being taught, and if certain areas need to be re-emphasized.

Clicker questions can also promote community in the classroom because students can debate the answers to questions and work together to arrive at the right one. This will require them to use critical thinking skills. They will not only havr to defend and explain what they know, but how they know it. This healthy form of debate isa great way to get the students engaged in the lesson and expand their understanding and knowledge of what is being taught.

Letter to Science Department Head

Turning Point was easy to use, and I would use it in my own classroom.  I feel like its a quick and easy way to get student feedback, and it increases student engagement in the lesson. Questions that are designed the right way can teach students the deductive reasoning skills that they will need to correctly answer multiple choice questions on other assessments they might be given on the material being taught. Clickers are also an efficient way to guage student understanding. With the click of a button, the teacher has instant feedback on if the students are understanding and grasping what is being taught, and if certain areas need to be re-emphasized.

Clicker questions can also promote community in the classroom because students can debate the answers to questions and work together to arrive at the right one. This will require them to use critical thinking skills. They will not only havr to defend and explain what they know, but how they know it. This healthy form of debate isa great way to get the students engaged in the lesson and expand their understanding and knowledge of what is being taught.

I think clickers are a great tool for the classroom if used correctly. They should not be used to merely take attendance or see who is paying attention and remembers to click, but as an actual learning tool. By getting the students engaged in the questions, not only will they have fun while learning and testing their knowledge, but the teacher can know whether to move on or if certain things need to be re-taught.