Sunday, November 10, 2013
A Way to Change Things Up Next Semester
The tool I learned in this class that I am most likely to incorporate into my class next semester, would be schoology.
Schoology is a great platform to enable and access communication with students. I have so many problems with e-mail. The number one problem, their e-mails are always going to my junk mail folders. In schoology they would be registered to our class, there would be no problem accessing and receiving anything.
Another problem I always encounter is FAQ's, those frequently asked questions. Schoology has a homepage, students can post questions that allow myself, the teacher, to give one response instead of numerous repetitive e-mails.
My office is always so cluttered with papers, schoology offers teachers the option to go paperfree, a concept that all of us should begin to embrace. It appears to be an excellent way to organize ourselves.
Schoology allows not only the teacher to share all assignments and all materials used in class which is a very clever tool, but it also allows students to share any helpful links, tools, and tips they too have discovered. Sometimes, a student will come across something useful that can help his/her classmates, students normally run into similar problems when they are trying to complete assignments, Schoology's homepage enables students to share any resources and collaborate as a whole.
I truly feel next semester I will be saying goodbye to clutter and a chaotic inbox, and hello to organization, better communication between myself and my students, and better student to student communication, thanks to this new tool.
Schoology is a great platform to enable and access communication with students. I have so many problems with e-mail. The number one problem, their e-mails are always going to my junk mail folders. In schoology they would be registered to our class, there would be no problem accessing and receiving anything.
Another problem I always encounter is FAQ's, those frequently asked questions. Schoology has a homepage, students can post questions that allow myself, the teacher, to give one response instead of numerous repetitive e-mails.
My office is always so cluttered with papers, schoology offers teachers the option to go paperfree, a concept that all of us should begin to embrace. It appears to be an excellent way to organize ourselves.
Schoology allows not only the teacher to share all assignments and all materials used in class which is a very clever tool, but it also allows students to share any helpful links, tools, and tips they too have discovered. Sometimes, a student will come across something useful that can help his/her classmates, students normally run into similar problems when they are trying to complete assignments, Schoology's homepage enables students to share any resources and collaborate as a whole.
I truly feel next semester I will be saying goodbye to clutter and a chaotic inbox, and hello to organization, better communication between myself and my students, and better student to student communication, thanks to this new tool.
Saturday, November 9, 2013
Friday, November 8, 2013
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
Monday, November 4, 2013
A New Tool, A Better Teacher
When asked the question "What is my favorite tool I learned about in this course?", well a lot of us are going to have the same answer......"Ah there are so many". Honestly though, the first one that immediately comes to mind is Prezi.
I had never heard of it before and now I speak of it as an old friend. Let's be honest, if you look at the Prezi on my blog, I am still working out the kinks, but I find it very easy to navigate.
I am extremely excited I took the time to learn this, and am looking forward to incorporating it into more of my lessons. There is actually a reason why I chose that particular lesson to do my Prezi on.
I don't bring much technology into the classroom, only because, before I didn't have the ability. I had originally given my students this assignment, but I had explained it to them on paper. The big problem is, my concept was being lost in translation. The thought of trying to create a visual aid was too overwhelming. Luckily, Steve and his assignment to the rescue. Last week, I unveiled my first Prezi to all my confused students. Well, twenty lightbulbs went off at the exact same time.
Now, I am kicking myself. Why did I have to wait for Steve to come along? This wasn't fair for my students. Yes, they have the information now and are moving forward, but wow, I really held them back because I wouldn't face up to my fears and learn how to put together some type of visual aid for them.
The other great thing, and, I will actually hold Prezi responsible for this, even though it probably isn't, but I found once I tackled such a huge project all by myself, anything technology related seemed possible.
So, there is the answer, clear as a bell, and I bet all of my students will agree, Prezi is by far my favorite tool. It was easy for me to navigate, it helped me get over my fear of technology, and on top of all of that, I am having less trouble attacking and completing the rest of my assignments.
I understand we were given so much useful information during this course it might seem a little ridiculous to write about Prezi, but if you want an honest answer, Prezi it is.
I had never heard of it before and now I speak of it as an old friend. Let's be honest, if you look at the Prezi on my blog, I am still working out the kinks, but I find it very easy to navigate.
I am extremely excited I took the time to learn this, and am looking forward to incorporating it into more of my lessons. There is actually a reason why I chose that particular lesson to do my Prezi on.
I don't bring much technology into the classroom, only because, before I didn't have the ability. I had originally given my students this assignment, but I had explained it to them on paper. The big problem is, my concept was being lost in translation. The thought of trying to create a visual aid was too overwhelming. Luckily, Steve and his assignment to the rescue. Last week, I unveiled my first Prezi to all my confused students. Well, twenty lightbulbs went off at the exact same time.
Now, I am kicking myself. Why did I have to wait for Steve to come along? This wasn't fair for my students. Yes, they have the information now and are moving forward, but wow, I really held them back because I wouldn't face up to my fears and learn how to put together some type of visual aid for them.
The other great thing, and, I will actually hold Prezi responsible for this, even though it probably isn't, but I found once I tackled such a huge project all by myself, anything technology related seemed possible.
So, there is the answer, clear as a bell, and I bet all of my students will agree, Prezi is by far my favorite tool. It was easy for me to navigate, it helped me get over my fear of technology, and on top of all of that, I am having less trouble attacking and completing the rest of my assignments.
I understand we were given so much useful information during this course it might seem a little ridiculous to write about Prezi, but if you want an honest answer, Prezi it is.
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