In tonight's class we discussed how a classroom newsletter could be useful to teachers and parents and we learned how to design one. Classroom newsletters can be used to inform parents of things that are going on in the classroom, ask for parent volunteers for various projects, inform parents of upcoming events, and to announce awards and accomplishments achieved by the students.
We also discussed multimedia and digital media. Multimedia includes text, graphics, audio, video, and animation. It is a program used to help with instruction and is not really interactive. It can be used to teach parts of the body, the four seasons, or the solar system. Digital media allows us to create new forms of interaction, expression, communication, and entertainment in a digital format. Examples of digital media are You Tube, Wiki, PowerPoint, CD's, and simulations.
We learned about computer-based Instruction which is used because it reduces time, teaches new skills, gives instant feedback, and is a self-paced study. We also discussed the advantages of electronic books. It would be very useful to have textbooks on a device like the Kindle2 because they would be easier to carry and you would have them all in one place; easily accessible.

7-19-2010 What we learned in class

Today in class we learned about different software applications and how they can be useful in the classroom. There are many different programs that can be useful in business, schools, and in homes and personal business. Application software that might be useful in the classroom is word for notetaking and gradebook software. For home and personal use, word can be used for legal documents and excel for budgeting and taxes. The most widley used group of application software is for communication. Outlook can be used for email and chat programs such as yahoo messenger and AIM can be used to instatly chat with someone. We loked at Kidspiration which is a software application for K-5 students. It supports EEl and ESL students by using strategies such as pictures of concepts and sight vocabulary. These types of software programs give students more opportunities to grasp new concepts. We disscussed WIKIs and went over our blogs that we have been working on. Wikis can be useful in the classroom because they allow a group to colloborate with others on one document.
We looked at googledoc which is an online program that saves time and effort on group projects. A project can be put on googledoc and everyone can make corrections or add material right to the website. This is a good program for working together in a group on a project; wish I had known about it earlier because it would have saved me lots of time and energy!
Application software can be used in the classroom to make learning fun, engage the students, and help students master a concept!

What I have learned in EDU3040 Technology Class and how to use it in the classroom

July 12, 2010
In tonight's technology class we went over the accessibility options in Windows that make using technology accessible to all students; the magnifier, narrarator, and the on screen keyboard. These features enable students with disabilities to use the computer to help them learn in the classroom setting. Students who have vision impairments can use the magnifier to enable them to see the text on the computer, students with hearing impairments can use the narrator to have the computer read the text to them, and students with poor motor skills can use the onscreen keyboard to enable them to type on the computer. The narrator can also read books to children who may not have anyone at home to read to them. We also learned how to do blogs and set up our own blogs. We talked about how technology can help the student and the teacher in a classroom setting. Blogs can help teachers keep parents informed and give other teachers ideas that may help them in their classroom.