Tools to Use in Classroom

My class has asked me to share one of the tools I use in the classroom and answer with the following questions :)

1. name of the tool
2. platform(s) on which it works (web-based, iOS, Android, etc.)3. what it does4. one way it could be used in your situation (classroom, PD, etc.) Be specific with your ideas!


1) Kahoot
2) Web-based & iOS
3) Its an interactive quiz site. You can make your own quiz or search through the thousands of pre-made quizzes. I often find that are already quizzes out there for the things I want to test my kids over (kitchen tools, cooking terms, child development). 

4) I love using it the classroom. It is a fun way to end or even begin a unit. The kids love to compete with each other and they are taking a quiz at the same time so its fun.  :) Its fun for me to watch them and then see how well they know their terms or whatever it maybe we are testing over. It really makes them practice their critical thinking skills as well because the questions are timed! 

VHS to Youtube

I have only been a teacher for 3 years now... Subbing and being in the classroom for about 5 years in total. But even when I first started teaching when I was subbing I would put in Educational Videos that would still be on VHS. Then it started being DVD's, if the schools/program were lucky enough to afford to buy new videos (usually video sets are $150-$250). Now I am at the point in my teaching life that I don't have a desk top computer, I have a lap top, I don't have a DVD player in my room, or a disk drive on my lap top. 

So how do I show my education films? Youtube! and other live streaming options for videos. It's just amazing how if I want to show my students about knife skills or kitchen sanitation, or maybe show a  clip about career research. I can just type what I want to search into google or youtube and find videos that will explain it all for me for free! 

Its nice to show up close videos of sewing or tying knots on the smart board that my students can see versus me trying to hand demo in small groups were not everyone can see or maybe understand what I am doing it. 

Just another great benefit of being a teacher in the 21st century :)

Technology Outside of Teaching

So this weekend I ran the 5/3rd River Bank 10k in Grand Rapids, MI. I have ran many 10k's, and 5k's and 1 1/2 marathon. My mom trained to complete the 25k!!! So I decided to run the 10k with her. 

Anyways this race was so cool because of all the neat technology that they had throughout the race. 

There was live TV streaming for people watching the race. There were video cameras at the start & finish lines. And for the Elite runners there was a live action DRONE that followed them to record them. 

It was just such a neat experience to go back at the end of the race, type in my bib number and see myself cross the finish line! In most normal races you may be lucky to have a photographer snap your photo, or if you family is paying attention they will capture you crossing the line. But never have I had the experience of watching myself do it! 

Its just so amazing how much races have changed since I first starting running almost 7 years ago now. 

Technology Integration Matrix

We were asked to compare our lesson plans with those that are provided by the TIM (Technology Integration Matrix), and to answer the following questions in reflection: 

• 1. Where would you rate yourself in each area?

• 2. Where do you think you could reasonably be at the end of the next grading period?

• 3. What steps will you need to take in order to make the growth happen?

I chose to compare some of my vocabulary integration lesson plans with the TIM Collaborative Learning | Adoption Level | Language Arts: Vocabulary. 

Below I have copied the Objectives & Procedures from this lesson plan:

Objectives

• Students will use online reference to define vocabulary words
• Students will digitally create a document which includes text and visuals arranged in a specific manner.
• Students will attach meanings of vocabulary words through visuals as well as through context within written articles.
• Students will digitally share information and documents.
• Students will use the Internet to locate articles involving their word.

Procedure

• Distribute "The Most Dangerous Game" handout
• The 5 steps involved are relatively self explanatory; once they get following document, you are out of the loop until they need to get you the final product.
• Because it is the PROCESS and not the content that is important here, you could use vocabulary from any story; I chose Richard Connell’s The Most Dangerous Game.
• If all goes according to plan, NO paper will be generated by this project.

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1) I would say on a scale of 1-5 (1=bad 5=good) I would rate myself at a 3.5-4. I love having my students try to  find other sources for their vocab terms (like using the Internet or reading materials that may have the terms listed in them). I really like to have my students make projects with there terms. My 7th graders recently just made a  Food Groups book for children that incorporated their terms in book as well as incorporating healthy eating habits. 

2) I mean ideally I would like to stay at a solid 4 or even improve to a 4.5. We have 3 weeks left of school. And a lot of field trips/excursions so realistically I am not sure if I will see much more improvement before the end of the year. But I am hopeful to start next school year off strong and definitely using more ideas and concepts I am learning from this course into my future lesson plans. 

3)This summer I have to do curriculum mapping with my school for my 6-8th grade Family Consumer Sciences classes. I think by having this course I will be able to really apply these concepts learned into my curriculum mapping, making myself a better technology integrated teacher.