LearnBoost

The past few classes, we have been introduced to, and are working on, our own glogster. The assignment is to create a glogster using a Web2.0 tool that we are unfirmiliar with as related to the classroom. I decided to try LearnBoost. The more I researched the LearnBoost site, the more interested and excited I became. This website gives teachers the tools to organize their classrooms, grades, students, schedule, and more. Although there are other sites out there, this one is newer and therefore has potential to become even more in depth. I could definately see myself using parts of the site, as some are geered towards older grades.

I really enjoyed this project and I know many teachers could get a lot out of this website, especially if their school was willing to use it. I also like the idea of using the web as a way to keep up with children's progess, and with this site, a teacher is able to share the data with only specific people- teachers and parents. I think it would be a great tool for the classroom.

Using Ipads in the Classroom

I recently stumbled upon this idea during a church service where the musicians were using nothing but ipads (and one ipod) for ALL of their music. They had one ipad for the guitar, one for the keyboard, and even an ipod for a synthesizer. It was incredible. Imagine how much you could do in a classroom, if given the funds. The kids would be SO much more interested in learning if they got to play on a ipad- something they might otherwise not have for years to come.


After further research on apples website, encouraging the use of ipads as educational tools, I realized that the possibilities are literally endless. Ipads have so many apps, books, and music available, there's no way you can have one a not learn! You can download whole textbooks and google anything you'd like to know. This would be an incredible educational tool if the opportunity was made available to a school. I hope that one day in the future students are able to take advantage of the incredible technology available.

Week of 3/29 and 3/31

This week we worked on our first group project of the semester and presented our video. I worked with three other classmates, and it wasn't the easiest project. I realized during this assignment that, although I can work very well in groups, it is just easier for me to work alone because I am not worried that something will not get done. All through school we mostly did individual projects, and I learned to rely on myself only, so it is difficult to work with others sometimes. However, it is, of course, necessary in the real world, and is a very important skill to learn. So we must pass that skill on to our students and help them get comfortable with it, to prepare them for life after school. It is also much easier to work in groups when the personalities are more alike, because we naturally tend to have a leader, a worker or two, and one who does nothing and keeps quiet. It is important to learn that everyone should have input. I am glad that we did this project and I feel good about ours because we worked hard and used our creative skills. I can't wait to pass on the idea of working collaboratively, rather than individually in a group.