Technology

=Types of Technology=

In the Classroom
I think that these have a wide variety of uses, from getting to know you as we saw on the first day, to reviewing for a class test that is coming up soon. I have also seen it done as part of a step by step process to get opinions based on the limited facts given to a group, one at a time. This sparked a lot of debate as at extra information point groups could support their decision. The benefits to this are, it's different from just using a show of hands, while still the same outcome, but it also has a sense of anonymity because no one knows who picked which option, only how many picked each one. I hope that this is an option I have at my disposal when I am working in a school.
 * Clickers** []
 * used very successfully multiple times during my placement, the students loved them

This is an online program, which can be submitted through SMS texting, the web, or Twitter. This is a free resource but limits the maximum responses to 30. This should be appropriate for any high school class size. It is a caution to be sensitive to students who may not have cell phones due to monetary restrictions.
 * Poll Everywhere** []

There is a clock online that can count either up or down from a given time, and serves as a visual reminder to all students of how much time is remaining for the given activity.
 * Online Stopwatch** []
 * was not used during placement due to a lack of internet on my laptop. I hope to find a similar stopwatch that doesn't require the internet before my next placement

I am not very familiar with how to best utilize a SMART board within the classroom. I am hoping that there is a class where I have some time to devote to learning more about the SMART Notebook question. I can use the basic functions of the board, but I want to be able to create an effective tool or resource before I begin teaching a class.
 * SMART Boards**

Here is an online website that students can use in the classroom or at home while doing homework. It includes both trig and inverse trig functions on there.
 * Scientific Calculator** []

This is an online website that can let students see a visual representation of any function typed in. You can also have multiple functions and choose colours to differentiate between them. This URL is rather long, so I might make a tinyurl to make this more accessible for students both at home and at school in the lab.
 * Graphing Calculator** []

Resource Sharing
This is a great resource when students have internet at their disposal and I have enjoyed using it in class. It could serve as a great way to have a small group show an example, and together with a course wiki the link could be posted there. I could recommend this to students as a way of collaborating when there is group work to have happen.
 * Pirate Pad** []

I have experimented with creating videos in this program now that I have created an account and downloaded it to my computer. It makes it very easy to make a video, and I think it's a great way to convey information that can be posted online for students to refer to again and again. I hope to post a video I have made here shortly.
 * Jing** []

I would love to create a course wiki for each course that I teach. I think this would enable to students to work on assignments together, have an easy way to check course information, and generally help each other by posting resources and questions even while at home. It could also be used for a way to edit and check each others work for a group work activity such as a Culminating Task or ISU. I am using a Wiki to complete an assignment for my ICT course. I feel that this is a great transferable resource that I can combine all of my teaching resources/knowledge in one place online.
 * Wiki** []

This account can list multiple websites by the account holder. This would be great to post multiple sites that students can refer to for research. It would also help for students to access new scientific discoveries, and add to it themselves to share with all their classmates.
 * Delicious** []
 * requires a yahoo login to utilize this service

This is a website that can make a resource or URL link that I would like to share with a class easy to remember and more personalized to the students, because I will be able to choose the name of most of the link, while the part I can't choose (tinyurl.com) will be consistent throughout the course.
 * Tiny URL** []

Linking to Literacy
This would be a creative way to get students to write journals, but hidden is the use of technology and a way to communicate that high school students today are much more used to and comfortable with. I could see blogs as a great way to review articles or science news that is recent, and discuss implications that this could have to Canada, or the world as a whole.
 * Blog** []

Social Networking
For the first time, in ICT class, I saw what the Twitter screen looks like, and how the status work with their limitations. It would be a great way to broadcast updates in the Science world to connect with my students. However, I would have to watch any personal Tweets that I posted if students are following my profile. I would have to carefully consider my options before creating an account.
 * Twitter** []

This is a great resource to have discussions and post pictures in a place where students are already very familiar with navigating. However, this would expect all the students to have an account and be willing to be "friends" with their teacher on their profile. I would likely create a separate profile with my last name for students to find me. This would assist with business being separate from my personal life. While I am already monitoring my Facebook account to maintain professionalism at all times, I would not chance being friends with students.
 * Facebook** []

With anyone who has a gmail e-mail account, files such as spreadsheets, word documents, presentations, forms, drawings, and folders can be shared amongst accounts. I currently utilize the e-mail account mostly, but I have uploaded multiple files when working with others to create long term plans. This has included calendars, word documents, and spreadsheets. The up to date editing is a great advantage to this tool. I plan to sync my google calendar with my phone when I upgrade my phone plan shortly.
 * Google Docs** []

Presentation Tools
This is a great presentation tool that can look very flashy if you are familiar with it's features. I used this program to create a submission for our ICT course, but I felt that I didn't learn enough to really replicate a worthwhile resource for my students. However, I believe that students who are very tech-savvy would find a great challenge in utilizing this program and teaching themselves how instead of using a more common tool such as Powerpoint.
 * Prezi** []
 * I am planning to have a workshop to give many TCs at UOIT to learn how to use Prezi to at least a basic level

Use this program to create a collage of sorts with words instead of pictures. Different words are different sizes to produce key concepts which will grab a person's eye before some of the smaller words. I didn't find it particularly useful, as I wasn't familiar with how to put more emphasis on certain words. I would like to play with this some more.
 * Wordle** []

Videos
There are lots of educational videos and clips on this site which can be used during class time. There are general information clips, as well as clips about specific topics, including some curriculum topics.
 * TeacherTube** []


 * YouTube** **[]**
 * This site has a multitude of videos on almost any topic imaginable. This is a tool that students may find information from, or can be shown in the classroom if they are relating to the class topics.**

Personal Resources
RubiStar **[]**
 * This is a resource to help teachers create effective rubrics. They can be accessed in multiple locations and is free with registration. Certain templates are there as a start for various subjects (i.e. math) or kind of work (i.e. Writing).**

Dropbox** [] This is an online back up system that I can place files online to be accessed from any computer. I can also share folders with other people (co-workers or students) to be able to edit the same files and see what work has been done if it is impossible to meet. I can also recommend this website to students when working on larger group projects.

=Reasons for Using Technology in the Classroom= __Oct. 1__ I believe that technology should definitely be used in the classroom. The students in our classrooms today are thoroughly intrigued and well versed in so many types of technology. Anything technology based is an easy way to attract attention of the class, especially if a new type of technology could be introduced and taught to them. I think that technology is something several teachers take for granted in both extremes (using not enough or too much). I want to make sure that if technology is used, there is a purpose behind why I used it. I feel that this would be a great hook in my placement that is upcoming in elementary, since it would be a refreshing change from the types of resources they are used to being available by the financial limitations of the school.

__Nov. 7__ The involvement of technology clearly sparks interest in all of the students. This was especially the case at my placement school because the amount of technology at their disposal is minimal due to the lack of money and resources at the school. It got the students excited, but I was worried it took away from their learning at first. I was careful to not overuse the technology because I feel that it was an extra, and not something that I required to have a successful lesson.