My Favorite Assignment

I have genuinely enjoyed each assignment in this class (once I figured them out). The "Create Your Own Web Blog" was definitely the most challenging assignment for me. I thought I might never figure it out. However, once I did, I thought that this assignment would be the most beneficial thing that I have learned in this class to apply to my own classroom. I have thought so many times about creating a class Facebook or Twitter Page, but I have seen a lot of teachers have issues with that sort of thing. That's where I think the class blog would be the perfect middle ground. While it isn't social media and wouldn't have to include all of the headaches and trouble that come with it, it would be an excellent resource for any classroom. That is why I plan to keep working on my blogging skills and experimenting with it, so that I can implement blogging into my classroom next year. I would make the blog a place for not only my students, but their parents as well. On my blog, I plan on posting things that parents need to know, but often never find out because notes rarely make it home with middle school students. A blog would be a great place to post classroom procedures and upcoming events. This will be especially helpful since I am in charge of planning and fundraising for my students 8th Grade Trip, and am in constant communication with their parents about this matter. Additionally, I plan on using the blog is to post assignments for the students. Since the winter months bring us lots of snow days, a class blog would be an excellent place to post reminders and some small assignments so that the students don't forget the material they have been learning. A class web blog has endless possibilities and has worked its way into this teacher's classroom!

I Have Learned So Much!

This class has been very challenging for me as I am not very tech-savvy. However, I have to say I have learned SO much. I am always throwing something new and different at my students. Since I teach middle school, redundancy is not an option if I want them to continue to learn and grow. Once they get bored, you have lost them. The thing that I have loved about this class is that it has forced me to branch out and learn to do things that I would have never taken the time to learn otherwise. I have plans to use EVERY assignment in my own classroom. Through taking the time as we went to brainstorm practical uses for this technology in our content-areas, it will be easy to integrate these assignments into the curriculum. I, for one, can't wait to use the things in this class to keep my students on their toes!

Jing: Small name but BIG resource!

Okay, so when downloading Jing onto my computer and trying to figure out what I was going to do in order to create a screen cast, I was afraid I was getting in too deep with trying to figure out this technology stuff! But thanks to Dr. Rubin, Jing was downloaded and with his instructions, I was able to create a screen cast in no time at all! I thoroughly enjoyed this project; this will be a great resource to use in my classroom. I believe that with this technology, I am able to teach my students even when I am not present. I love the idea that they can still hear my voice and gather information without me actually being in the room. Another great resource that I have learned from a great EDUC 573 class!

Web blogs: A GREAT teacher resource

So I was sort of skeptic about trying to design my own web blog. When I noticed all of the instructions I were to follow in creating it, I almost backed out! Once I started and realized that it was very self-explanatory and I just clicked to add what I wanted, it was so much more FUN! I loved the way my classroom web blog turned out and I'm very excited to get back to school so that I can notify my students' parents about it! I think this will be a WONDERFUL resource for my students and their parents! And I  loved that I was able to create my own design and background templates! Pink is one of my favorite colors! :)