Top Ten Tech Tools I Can't live without!

This course has been so informative.  I really have enjoyed learning about these tech tools.  My favorites are glogster, wikispace, voki, animoto, bubbl.us, delicious, prezi, blogging, twitter, and rubistar.   I have already started incorporating some of these tools and plan to incorporate more of them. 

What mobile apps are available for Science?

What mobile apps are available for your subject area?    Science involves everything around us so there are many mobile apps available for science teachers to incorporate into lessons in the classroom.   One of my favorites is NOVA Elements app.  Through this app, students can access an interactive periodic table of elements to learn fun facts about elements.    Another app that I find useful is Frog Dissection.  This app gives students an alternative to actually having to cut on a real frog.  It has 3D pictures and dissection tools.   Expedition White Shark app is another one that gives photos and uses satellites to track tagged sharks as they swim all over the world.   3D cell is a good one for Biology students.  This app allows students to look at the cell on all sides and study the organelles.  Also, it has videos for students to watch.   Mitosis is also a good app for Biology students.    It has images of cells dividing under the microscope and students can actually see what happens in each phase.   Pocket Heart is an app for Anatomy students that gives a 3D  images of the heart and can help with review for exam on the heart.

Digital Citizenship

Why is it important to be a good digital citizen?   What value does a good digital reputation have?

Digital citizenship involves teaching users the rules of good citizenship online.   Everyone needs to realize that once something is put on the internet, be it comments, pictures, videos, etc, it is there to stay.  Today’s social media is bigger than ever and growing at astounding rates.  Having good netiquette is crucial these days to protect yourself and others.   We can never be too careful with our personal information especially today on the internet with cyber stalkers and hackers waiting for their next unsuspecting victims. 

    Educators especially need to heed caution when posting comments or personal pictures, videos, etc.  We are held to a higher standard than most professionals and many things can be seen as a bad reflection on our careers.  Many companies are searching online for information about applicants before they consider them for employment.  Unattractive things online about an applicant could hinder them from being hired and even cause current employees of companies to lose their positions.  

I think it is very important for everyone to be aware of the dangers of revealing too much about themselves online.  

Material Generators

I have used many different types of instructional software over the past 18 years.   Test generators is the type that I use the most.  I use it weekly and even sometimes daily to create tests and worksheets with practice problems for my Chemistry classes.  The Exam View version that I use is great because it has the capability to scramble the questions, make up multiple versions of tests, and even change the numbers in the problems for more practice.   I have also used the puzzlemaker for making review puzzles at the end of chapters to help with learning vocabulary definitions.  I usually use the crosswords but have been known to create word scrambles and word searches with this software.  In my Biology classes, I have my students create a biome brochure and in Chemistry, I have them create an element brochure. They can create these in microsoft publisher or in microsoft word setting up the columns and inserting pictures with facts.  I create a rubric from rubistar including the minimum to maximum requirements and points assigned to each requirement.   I print them off and give each student a copy so that when they create their projects they know exactly what is expected of them. 

Web 2.0 Resources assignment

I found the use of Glogster, Animoto and Voki actually kind of fun.  I have looked at Glogster before and thought about using it but just didn't make the time.  Animoto is a great tool to create videos that could be inserted into powerpoint presentations and Voki was just plain fun.  I really enjoyed this assignment and I know that I will incorporate these tools in future lesson planning. 

Glogster -    http://guybuwa64.edu.glogster.com/blood-types

 

Animoto -   http://animoto.com/play/kZ0eHDC1vC4pXTnfCrLSJg

Voki - http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=6556079&height=267&width=200

             http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=6556162&height=267&width=200

         

            http://www.voki.com/pickup.php?scid=6556003&height=267&width=200

  Sorry I forgot to attach my concept map.    
 

 

Top of Form

The Five Types of Instructional Software

The five types of instructional software are Drill and Practice, Tutorial, Simulation, Instructional game, and Problem solving.  These are designed to assist or deliver instruction of a topic to the student.  
Drill and Practice software allows the learner to work problems or answer questions and get feeback on correctness. 
             www.chem1.com/chemed/insoft.shtml
            www.slideshare.net/.../drill-and-practice-instructional-software

Tutorial software provides information and instuction activies to help the learner master the concept, including summaries, explanations, practice routines, feedback and even assessments.               
            www.phonicstutor.com
            www.highergrades.com/physics-tutorials.html

Simulation software are interactive and model how things work or provide demonstrations. 
            www.explorelearning.com/      (good one for math and science)
            cse.edc.org/products/simulations/catalog.asp

Instructional game software increases motivation with games rules being added to drills and demonstrations.
            www.learningtoday.com
            www.learn4good.com/games/for-high-school-students.htmCached

Problem solving software provides direct teaching of the steps involving solving problems and helps students with problem solving skills. 
            www.carnegielearning.com
            http://ceressoft.org/

Should students play games (software) in school?

As a teacher of science, I feel that games are beneficial to students in many ways.  In the teaching of Chemistry and Biology, I have my students use computer games and eclick software to review for chapter tests.  The competition that the games bring has had a positive impact on my advanced students.  My inclusion Biology class last year seemed to enjoy the use of the computer games and the competition among the students was positive as well.   I do think that the games should be done in cooperative groups and should not take the place of the actual teaching of a course.  They should be used instead as a review or to enhance teaching.    

Introduction

Hello everyone, I hope that each of have had an easier time blogging than I have.  My name is Brenda Guy and I have been teaching Science for the past 18 years in Tuscaloosa County.  I have been married for 26 years and have two grown daughters.  Returning to school has been an adventure for me to say the least and this technology class is a real eye opener. I am excited to get to know everyone and hope all do well in this class.