Monday, August 6, 2007

Starting the reflections....

I apologize for the Edublogs confusion yesterday.
I learned that Edublogs has several layers of security so that your students are protected.
That means that the Edublog was not ready for us when we registered yesterday.

Since we all have gmail accounts now, we thought that Blogger would be an appropriate blogging site. So here goes....

How did it go today? Is it easier to follow all of this new information?
Can you use this technology during the year in your classroom? Any specifics?

Select the comments button and let us know how everything is going.

23 comments:

shannon said...

Thank you for your patience. Today was filled with so many wonderful ideas. We started the day with rock on, revisiting web pages from yesterday, blogs, wiki, gadget's, gizmo's, etc. The afternoon was filled with information about pod casting, itunes, google reader, and many more places to visit. I did a better job with keeping up today, and have attached necessary addresses to my igoogle account. I plan on revisiting again tonight. See you tomorrow.

Mary Orloski said...

I am very excited about all the new things I have learned. I learned about making a movie and my mind went crazy with how to use the movies in my classroom. I LOVED the gizmo's and gadgets. I will definately be exploring them. The podcasts were great. I figured out how to link back to my home page off my other pages.

Ruth said...

Yesterday was great! I was so excited to set up my own i google page, and then to start a web page for my classroom. This will be a great informative tool for my parents. Today I'm feeling a bit more overwhelmed. I'm thinking that maybe if I follow one strand throughout the day, it might make more sense to me, rather than go to different topics. Deb, I really appreciate your patience and willingness to backtrack to make things clear to me.

Joyce said...

Today was great. Marilyn shared some great social studies ideas related to Google Earth, Google Maps, and Terraclues. I am excited to put together my own Terraclues adventure. I also enjoyed the Gadgets today and cannot wait to play at home!

Amy said...

I can't believe all of the new technology that is out there. Yesterday I felt so far behind in terminology and experience with it. Today I am feeling a little more familiar and a little less overwhelmed. Yesterday I learned about iGoogle and webtops. I made webtop it had a lot of cool tools like a dictionary, a calendar, the daily weather, etc. Then I started my classroom website. I am excited about this! I created links, and put information that students can access. Today I learned even more. We explored digital storybooking and photo essays. We also looked at movie making and premier elements. The widgets, gadgets were fun before lunch. In the afternoon we took a look at podcasting. I just never dreamed there were so many possibilities. My head is overloaded with ideas. I think I am going to do something with storyboarding for my lesson plan.

homero said...

I must admit I felt a little overhwhelmed yesterday even though you told us not to. Today was a lot easier because I had a better understanding of what was expected of me. Everyone was very helpful and answered all of my questions (sometimes I asked the same question more than twice). I am looking forward to tomorrow and and gaining a little more confidence.

Tracy said...

Wow! Another day with a lot of information. I spent quite a bit of time looking at Photostory 3. I also worked with CamStudio and actually made it work! I'm trying to create a "fun" presentation for our 6th grade back to school night. There are a few "snags" that I have encountered but I'm here to try and work through them. I hope to sneak some computer time at home tonight. I'm sure my children will have a lot to say about it! I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Lisa Arnold said...

I learned a lot today...From blogging to using the access database. Wow!! A lot of information in a small period of time but so many options and opportunities for the kids. I'm also using my blog account that I plan on using with my students for after school assignments and out in the field. Thanks for all of the help!
Lisa

Robin said...

I was surprised how fast today went! There are so many new ideas to sort through. I learned about creating photo essays and digital storytelling (and the difference between the two). I practiced screen capture using Camstudio and also had an intro to podcasting. I can think of many classroom uses and am somewhat overwhelmed by all of the tools available. Looking forward to new frontiers tomorrow!

Elizabeth Loyselle said...

Wow! So much technology...so little time... I have enjoyed the sesions thus far. I have been juggling the video sessions with the web sessions, both of which will be helpful in my classes...once I get organized. I visited igoogle, learned about podcasts, camstudio, blogs, and wikis and more.(These terms remind me of the Harry Potter vocabulary!) Looking forward to green screen video tomorrow!

Juli said...

There is so much to learn. It seems as if for every one new thing I learn, I find 10 more things I don't know. I wonder if I will ever get it all down. I worked with the podcasting and video stuff today. I think I am closer to knowing how to do a podcast. The screen casting was interesting, but I need to practice. I don't have it down yet. I have a lot of things that I want to investigate further at home. The technology info. is very exciting.

Eileen said...

What a day. I learned how to download more programs and unzip the file! Some of this was done with and WITHOUT assistance. I was very proud of myslef. I have also dove into the podcasts and downloading some stuff for my classroom. I am feeling more confident with the computer, yet as I learn more I feel that I know less.
I also added a couple of things to my blogger. I like the gadgets and I think my students will enjoy them too!

Mary Orloski said...

My brain hurts. I loved the webquest info today. It was fun exploring all the possible webquests that are out there. I played a bit with the widgets. It was cracking me up. Sorry Amy, I hope I didn't disturb you too much. . . .We certainly had some laughs. We got a bit frustrated with the pbwiki. Perhaps it needs a bit of the j to sweeten it up. hahahahaTomorrow will be a great day.

Lisa Arnold said...

Wow! I did a lot of work today and am seeing my project come together. I have connected my wiki to my google pages and put in a pic from google earth! So much fun and passwords to remember!!!! My brain is having fun processing all of this information. Thanks for all of your help DEB!!!!

Amy said...

Wow, I thought I learned all that my brain could hold but I learned more today. I really appreciate the patience of the instructors. I enjoyed exploring GoogleEarth. That was amazing. I did get a little frustrated because the webquest I worked on all morning and part of the afternoon was dumped by pbwiki!!! I decided to redo it in word and post it later. I am excited about the project I am working on for my class though. It will be worth it when I am finished.

Tracy said...

Tracy said...
Each day I feel a little less overwhelmed. I had more time to get some documents and resources off of Blackboard today! Yea... I also "played" with photostory and incorporated some slides from PowerPoint to begin creating a movie that I will use in a few weeks. I'm having fun (and eating well).

homero said...

Today was a good day for the most part. I (with the help of Deb) some great material for social studies on the Louisiana Purchase. Most of the work was done by someone else but I was able to modify it. I am hoping to incorporate it later this school year.

shannon said...

Another action packed day. My head is so full. Today we learned a lot about making movies. I completely lost the entire first movie and had to start over. We learned about google earth, a few good computer tips and worked together with other staff. Lots of things to work on tonight at home. I need more tech. money.

sheree said...

What an exciting day! I got several new ideas and worked on two PPT, one on Canada and one on Mexico. I hope these will help to bring life to my new ss curriculum. I discovered many new technological helps: Infonation which will allow students to compare up to six countries. This will be helpful for ss. Geogame will be a nice way for students to work in groups and then share their research with the class. I may also use Terra Hunt.

shannon said...

WOW! Today was action packed. We started today with a few wonderful ideas and web sites from adults in the class. I really plan on using the do2learn.com site for my AI early childhood children. We learned a great deal of information on downloading music for web casting,pod use and blogs. A special "Thank you" to Joyce C. for helping me find my lost movie. Skype, GCast,podomatic, audacity are very intense. I need a lot more time to play/work. Looking forward to tomorrow.

Tracy said...

Yea- I went to Picasa and created a picture that I imported into Photostory. I'm finally figuring out Photostory and plan to "move" on to Movie Maker soon. Do you suppose we could postpone the first week of school and have some more work time? Thanks again.

sheree said...

Much more information today. I wish we had another week to do all my ideas. I completed my Mexico PPT, lesson plan including preparing a visual ranking on line to be used for this lesson, and thought of some new ways to use technology this next year.
I was introduced to a few ways to use Excel to help me teach data and charts. I found some math casts that I will be able to use next year as tutorials. I could use Audacity to record assignments to put on Blackboard and to use to show decibels and volume with sound in science. I found checklists for students as they work in groups, both for individuals and to evaluate other group members.

shannon said...

For someone who was sharing her e-mail with her children at the beginning of the week, I am amazed at what I have learned this week. A huge "THANK YOU."I was hoping for the caveman technology class but it didn't exist. I now have a igoogle account, make simple movies, have a greater knowledge of all sorts of technology, own two web cams, a mic, a recorder, a hard drive back up system, and a web page that needs editing. I'm broke but happy and growing as an educator.