Video 2

Using an Elementary Math app on an iPad


Tips for using an application on an iPad in the classroom:
1. For elementary students make sure that the application is easy to navigate and use.
2. Make sure that the application is simple and keeps students on task.
3. iPads are great to use in centers, make sure that your students are keeping track of their use and progress.
4. Make sure to assess and provide adequate help for students who need it.

Prezi

Tips for Prezi:
1. You can put a Powerpoint Presentation into Prezi, but the animations in Powerpoint don't show up in Prezi.
2. Make sure that you save your Powerpoint slides as pictures. Then you can upload them into Prezi.
3. Make sure that your Powerpoint is semi-simple, because the motions and rotations of Prezi make it interesting.
4. Make sure you know who is in your classroom, the motion of Prezi could be a problem for some students.

Power Point

Shapes

Tips for using Power Point in the classroom:
1. Power Point presentations can be used to engage the different types of learners in the classroom by using words, videos, and pictures in the lesson.
2. Power Point is a good way to stay focused and organized during a lesson.
3. Power Point is a good way to present the objectives for the class.
4. Power Point can be used by students to do their own presentations in class.
5. Printing out the Power Point presentations for students to follow along and is a good way to help them take organized notes during the lesson.

Video 1

Tips for Windows Movie Maker:

1. Make sure that you save the video your record as a windows player file.  My computer automatically saved my files as a quick time file and it took some time to save it in the correct format.
2. Film more than you anticipate to use.  I took a lot of footage of Jerry playing the guitar (bless his heart for helping me with my homework) and it worked really well because I had a lot to choose from.
3. Make sure that you have an outline of how you would like the movie to flow.  It was easier for me to find the clips that I wanted to use that corresponded to my outline.
4. Make sure that you save your actual movie as a .wmv.  If you just save it by clicking on "file", "save" it will only save your project, not the actual movie.

Webquest

Rockin with rocks and minerals

Tips for Webquests:
1. Make sure that it flows. When you are creating your webquest make sure that the students are researching things that build upon each other.
2. Use websites that are easy to navigate. There are some websites that have good information, but the information is hard to find.
3. Make sure that the websites that you use are suitable for the grade level that the webquest is for. If the webquest is geared towards upper grades consider using more scholarly articles, rather than a straight forward website for an elementary student or middle school student.
4. Use websites that are real life applicable. When searching for sites to use in the webquest try and use sites that the students can make a real live connection to. For example, learning about different rocks in Utah, you could use a website that has a link to different hikes in Utah.
5. Be creative! Using videos and interactive websites will help different learners retain information. Reading an article only works for certain types of learners.

Using a Blog in the Classroom

5 Tips on How to Use a Blog in the Classroom
1. A blog is a great way to keep parents in the "know".  Create posts about what the class is doing on particular days and make a calender of when projects are due and activities that are going on in each class, etc.
2.  Blogs can also be used for getting to know your students.  If each of your students have a blog for your class based on what they write in their "about me" and in their blog in general it can be a helpful way to start to get to know who your students are.
3.  A blog with a private journal is a good way to assess where your students are at.  If your students are showing signs of struggle in their journal, you can address the issues that you've seen in their blog.
4.  You can use a blog for turning in certian assignments and projects.  If a project incorporates a small movie or powerpoint, your students can upload it into a blog to make it easier when they present.
5.  Blogs are a great way to incorporate interactive feedback in the classroom.  Students can submit assignments online and the teacher and other students can leave feedback as a comment or message.

Question #1

I believe using technology in the classroom is extremely important. Each year there are more advances in technology and as teachers we need to make sure that we are preparing our students adequately for the real world. But what about the parents? What if a student(s) parents do not agree with integrating technology into the classroom? How would you handle this situation if it were to come up in your classroom?