Author: Jordyn Geenty

• How did it go?

I thought that this class was a really fun experience. There was a lot of new applications that we got to work with that I think would be very fun to use in my classroom in the future. I though the assignments were easy to do because they were not black and white so that we could take what we learned that day and make it something that we could use in the future.

• What did you learn about edtech?

I learned that there is still a lot to learn about edtech since it is something that is always evolving but some of the best ways to learn how to use these technology is to just press all the buttons and play with it.

• What did you learn about yourself as a learner?

I learned that I like to use technology as a tool for creating lessons for students. There were a number of apps that we used that combined different technologies (videos, notes, quizes, etc.) that save time from trying to go around to different places or make things from scratch even.

• Are you on your way to becoming a “tech-savvy” teacher?

In my first post I said that “tech-savvy teachers need to be willing to fail”. I believe that is something that I experienced this semester as I would get close to finishing a project just to find that it wasn’t something that I really felt like was my best work and had to start over. There were also times where I would be using a new app and I just had to figure it out through trial and error. Once I had worked through it for a little while I felt very comfortable using it. Being willing to fail is one of the only ways that we truly learn anything in my opinion.

I am in agreement with everyone else. I think that it would be fun to make a book using some of the different websites that we work with this semester. This way we can all showcase some of the work we have done that will cover multiple grade levels and subject areas. We would also be able to get creative with the different ways we present our material in the book based on the different widgets that we would be using. This could also be a nice guide for teachers to follow if they like the websites that we choose or if they like the lessons themselves the content would be ready for the students to use right away.

I chose to use Edpuzzle to create a video lesson. I found this website to be very easy to use with some really fun features. You can use videos from a lot of different websites such as youtube, Ted Talks, Khan academy, etc.. You are able to shorten the videos, add comments, overlay your voice to create your own content that goes along with the picture content in the video and add questions or comments for the students to answer.

The video I created was based on a 50 states and capitols video I found and I added some fun questions that you can test yourself with.

I worked with the adobe spark video app and here are some of the pros and cons I found from navigating the app:

Pros:

There is not a lot extra options for people to play with so this would be a really good app for people who are just learning how to use a video presentation app. There is also a section to find free photos that you don’t have to worry about copyrights. You are also able to add some background music that they have also supplied and it is categorized by genre which also don’t have to worry about copyrights with or you can upload your own. You are also able to add characters similar to an emoji  but with only black coloring. You are also able to overlay your own voice into the slides very easily to individual parts. There are also templates that you can choose from to help start your project and give some ideas or you can start from scratch and make whatever you want. You can take your own pictures in the app as well and then add them straight into your presentation as well. What is really nice if that you can use this on a phone, tablet or computer and you can access any of your work from any of the devices.

Cons:

This app is very limiting on creativity. There are only a few themes/fonts that you can use when you are writing which can be frustrating if you are looking for a certain look.  The free music and photos are limiting if you are looking for something specific. The app is harder to find some of the features than if you were using a computer. There is also a limit of 10 seconds per page (which some people may find to be a pro) and a limit of 1 character or piece of writing that you can use per slide. I also could not find a way to shrink my writing or move it around unless you change the layout but that was still limiting. You are unable to take videos in the app like you can with the pictures, they must already be on the device you are using. There are also not free videos that you can use which I find interesting since it is advertised as a video app.

Overall I think that it is a good app but it is limiting on what you can add and how creative you can get with the information on each slide.

The teacher that make this video as a way to introduce new units or topics to the class in a meaningful way using clips that the students are familiar with. This video goes over what makes a fairy tale.

What I like about this is that students can go back and review the lesson/information given when they need to. You can also have students use iMovie to show their understanding/create a presentation of a subject to share with the class like in this second video.

I could see myself using this technology in the same way in my future classroom. The first video is also great for students who were absent to get caught up on work without feeling like they missed some important information since it is all right there.  I also like having this as an alternative to using a powerpoint when students give presentations.

Both videos found here

March 7, 2033

It seems like only yesterday I was training to be a teacher in EdTech Methods class. Fifteen years have gone by and my teaching career is going great. You won’t believe how some things in education changed and others stayed the same.

For starters, all the students now have hologram devices. I remember when schools were just starting to hand out chrome books and iPads to their students and now every kid in America has one and it does so much more than the ones they had way back when like virtual teaching where they can all have their own little 3D teacher right in front of them to help them during class. They also have a virtual reality room where we can take our students on field trips around the world to help enhance their learning and help them see places that do not exist anymore like ancient Egypt or China. One of my favorite things that have changed over the years is the layout of the school and the spaces that we can use. There are outdoor learning environments that are great to use for science, a lecture stairwell for large group discussions with a projector and just the open spaces that we have throughout the school that make it feel more inclusive.

However, coming from a time when technology was just starting to make its way into the schools, I still hold onto some things that I find to be important from when I was going through school. For example, I still have my students use pencil and paper when first constructing their writing assignments, there are physical books that they read from and direct instruction from the teacher. While it is easy to turn these things over to technology because it is easier and it could save resources. I think that these are dying art forms that shouldn’t be lost just because then the next generations will begin to lose things from the past and not be able to connect with the history that has brought them the technology that they use today.

For my padlet projects I gathered some of my favorite classroom setup hacks to update and organize a classroom. I have been gathering these tips for a little while now and I like that padlet can put them all together in an organized way that can be rearranged and added to while also getting other people’s thoughts on the classroom tips.

This is a sway that I made all about me. I would use this with my students at the beginning of the year as a “getting to know you” assignment. I would show the class mine and then the students would create their own and would get to share them with the class so that we can all learn something about each other.

Kiana and Jordyn’s  MyMap is intended to be used during a Social Studies unit on States and Capitals. Students will have the opportunity to participate in a virtual road trip throughout the continental United States. Each Geotag includes a picture so students can see what each capital looks like. Throughout this unit students can click on each capital and then research information about the state. As the unit progresses students will continue to add facts they learned in the description resulting in a detailed MyMap at the end of the unit.

This lesson is connected to Oregon’s fifth grade Social Studies standard “5.7 Identify, locate, and describe places and regions in the United States.” In utilizing this MyMap teachers are able to meet this standard while allowing students to explore, collaborate and learn as a class.

This is an instructional resource for primary elementary grades to use during a weather unit. This is an exciting way to help students associate appropriate weather attire with the seasons. This also provides students with the unique opportunity to learn through exploration independently or as a class.

While making this Google slide show we learned how to hyperlink slides to other slides. We also learned about other ways to make lessons more entertaining and engaging for visual learners while still teaching important content. We are both looking forward to creating adventure stories, and other Google slide show lessons, in order to utilize technology effectively in our future classrooms.

This video is for students and parents to show them how to log on to the classroom Seesaw page to either add content on the students end or for the parents to see what the class is working on.

I would add this to my classroom or school webpage as a reminder to students on how to login to their account if they forgot or if they were using an internet browser rather than the app that the school uses. This is also helpful for the parents because they are able to access the page as well in case they aren’t sure how to logon or if they forgot too.

My activity uses deductive reasoning. In my public domain search I found these images while looking for Native American clothing. I would use these images with the class to decide what Native American Tribes we like based on their clothing. Students should be able to use what they already know about Native American supplies to help make inferences based on the pictures provided.

1. What kind of materials did the tribe have access to?
2. When do you think these clothing items would be worn?
3. How are they different from the clothing you wear?

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Copper Eskimo-Daderot

Ute Doll-Daderot

Native American Plains Tribe