Lesson Plan 2

here is the link for my lesson plan http://ia.usu.edu/viewproject.php?project=ia:8249. Sorry about any confusion.

Lesson Plan 2

I created my lesson plan using Instructional Architect. It is created for teachers, but has a link posted for students to use. The lesson is a basic overview of the life cycle of a butterfly, which is second grade core curriculum. I wanted this lesson to be applicable to teachers, easy to use and easy to understand. This lesson is used to introduce the subject, and makes use of technology. The web site is really fun and easy for students to use. The site will help broaden their knowledge of the subject, as this lesson is used for introduction.

http://ia.usu.edu/index.php--the student login is: Mrs. Cragun.

During my practicum hours, I used a version of this lesson for my second graders. It would have been really great if they had been able to view the lesson, and use the links.

Reflection

This has been one tough semester but I am really grateful for all that I learned and have used. My last Mentor teacher relied on me a lot to do things on the computer that she was not familiar with. I am grateful that I was able to use the computer with confidence. I did realize that I will need constant technology education. In the future there will be even more available on the web for teachers. I see teachers using the same old stuff year after year because they have NO idea what new information is available on the internet.

One of my goals in my teaching career is to be really communicative with parents. A class blog is a great way for parents to see what their children are learning. It is also a great place to post links to the state core, so they can see WHY I am teaching what I am teaching. During My practicum I helped my mentor teacher create a survey, and I told her about the benefits of Google and making a survey using google docs.

All in all I really learned a lot about the benefits of technology in the classroom, and how necessary it is to continue learning in order to have an effective classroom.

Photo Assignment

Cameras are a fun way to involve children. It is very hands on, and lets children be creative. I have always used cameras, but letting students use them would be really fun. Camera's can be incorporated into any subject, as we did with math. It puts math into real world concepts. I can tell that doing an assignment like this with students is a surefire way to make sure that the students understand the concepts.It would be great way to assess each student. They would work individually and come up their own definitions. It would really help them to understand angles, or any concept. It would be something they wouldn't forget.

It was also really fun to use comic life and create a comic book. I can see using this application for many other things. Comic books are a great way to discuss sequence, but having the student's create their own comic would be a blast. It is really great for the students to have their completed photo books. A great addition to the classroom library and a great way to study the concepts.

It is always beneficial to make subjects more enjoyable. Students are more likely to remember the content, as well as the experience.

Web Site Evaluations

1. What form(s) did you like/dislike? Why
   The form I found the best was Midlink's web page evaluation form. It has a rating system for each question. After adding up all areas you see if it is a valid source of information. This form was also the clearest and easiest to use. I wasn't too technical and could be used with students. I also liked the Critical Evaluation of a Web Site Elementary school level. This too could be used with students, it was pretty basic however.
2. Were there any hidden secrets about a website you discovered by using an evaluation form? It is important to check links to make sure they are in working order, as well as anything posted. It was important to remember to look for author's or contact information for each site. That way you can verify the site.
3. What is the value of using a web site evaluation process? By evaluating what is on a website you can decide if you trust the information. It helps validate your work, if citing information. It is also good to teach students that not all information found on the web is valuable, current or correct. It helps us find the right places to search.
4. Are there times you would/would not use a formal evaluation? It is always important to make sure that links work, you know who made the web site. If you are just looking for fun a formal evaluation is not necessary, but it always helps to verify information on the web.
   

Instructional Architect

Learning to use instructional architect was really great. It was a bit hard to understand at first, but once you saw how it could be used in the classroom it really made learning about it worthwhile. I enjoyed that there are many places for me to find factual information on my topic. I felt like the IA database was a bit formal and too educational for elementary education, but it offered many ideas. It is great that I can search for other teachers lessons/projects on IA. I made up a mock project http://ia.usu.edu/viewproject.php?project=ia:8249 (it's really basic and simple, just for practice) on the life cycle, as that is part of the core curriculum in second grade. I chose the first things I came across, but there was a lot of other teachers resources available for me. I didn't have to spend hours on search engines and compile it all by myself. It was wildly helpful and would be a great way to organize the classroom. It would be great to have my unit posted online for parents to see, bringing more parent involvement into my classroom. Something else that was brought up in class was the way students can access your project. It would be fun to have an online project or game that was posted in your project that the students can access. It would really create a hands on learning project. As I have spent time in my practicum I have seen how vital technology can be in the classroom. I spent a lot of time doing things on the computer that my teacher didn't know how to do. As teachers it would be nice for you to teach the good things about the computer instead of all these technology savvy children teaching you. I also feel like it is a good way to bond with your students. If you don't know what they are doing in their free time, then how can you expect to really bond with your students.

GOOGLE SURVEY

I loved using the survey on Google doc. I can see myself taking advantage of it. I am always interested in finding useful ways to engage the parents of my students. It would be a great way to get to know my students. It would also be helpful in evaluating what the students enjoy about the curriculum. It is really helpful that the survey results are then posted in a spread sheet. There are so many technical things available to help teachers, we are lucky.

If you are interested in my survey here is the link. http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?key=p5z5OIso6yQ1bGtSsUxL-eg.
It is just for fun but, really easy to use. The students could even make their own survey.

YETC

I am so thrilled that we can use the YETC. There are so many useful things that us as teachers could really use. I love the checkout system and how easy it is to use materials. There are so many useful things that we get to use. Most people don't realize how much this university has to offer us as teachers.

As Nathan showed, the Internet has so many useful applications. From Google Earth to PHUN!! Also I am really excited about Celestia . My nephew LOVES the solar system and what a good thing for him to do on the Internet. I worry about children on the Internet, it makes me think of the Internet as a negative thing. I need to look at the positive things on the Internet.

Lesson Plan Ideas

Title: Personal strengths and Talents
Fourth Grade Health Lesson
By using powerpoint the students create a slideshow that shows about their talents, strengths, and interests. Using photos, clip art and text. Then present to the whole class.
Lesson plan Idea: UEN Lesson plans-Fourth Grade-Library Media

My UEN and Class Reflection 9/15

Here is access to my public UEN web page: http://my.uen.org/212804. I can see that UEN is a great resource and I like the idea that parents can have access to a web page that is affiliated with Utah School Districts. I hope that the parents of my students would like my blog, but in case they aren't too keen on the idea they could see and use the UEN web page.

In the group presentations today, I really liked how it was demonstrated that there is so much information available on the internet. Some is useful and helpful, and other information is nonsense!! I think we all need a reminder that all info out there isn't exactly 100% correct.

I am exhausted:)

What a WEEK this has been. I am very tired as I have spent the
last week teaching in a second grade classroom. The students
are great little dears but I am BEAT!!!! I have a feeling that
all of you level 2 students feel the same way I do!!

Class Reflection 9/8/08

Technology is crazy. I still picture myself as a teacher using a chalk board and overhead projector. Those days seem to be leaving quite quickly. If I don't embrace technology in my classroom I am sure to be left behind. I do want what is best for my students. I hope that I can learn to like technology and share that with my students.

I really enjoyed all the presentations. Very creative:) and Interesting. Another reminder that chalk boards are a thing of the past. I am not even that old!!!

I can see that my students families will have blogs and that is a great way for me to get to know my student. I think that can be one more way for me to get connected with each of my students and their parents. Which is vital.

This is Just for School

I only have this blog because it is an assignment for my Educational Technology Class.