Reflections

Going throught the 11 Tools for the 21st Century Learner made me realize that there were many advancements in educational technology which I was unaware of or had limited knowlege. I enjoyed learning all the 11 tools and I believe my students will also benefit from them. I will certainly incorporate more technology into instruction.
My favorite tool in my digital technology toolbox is Photostory digital story telling. I think my students will be excited to use the flip camera, videos and images on the internet to create and share stories. I also think wikis will be beneficial and fun for my students. My students will be able to use wikis in cooperative work to create stories and they will be able to write sentences using newly learned words posted on the wiki.

Tool # 11

I would make sure my students know digital etiquette. They would need to recognize inappropriate digital conduct when they see it and become responsible digital citizens. I would also make sure my students know that the internet is not necessarily a safe place and it is often used by people to commit crimes such as identity theft. My students will also be taught to search for information at reliable websites, approved by the school district to ensure accuracy of information.
I will model the attributes of digital citizenship in the classroom when using the Activeboard and the internet to teach a lesson. I will talk to my students about digital security and etiquette.

Tool # 10

I reviewed several apps for education. Some of them are Word Magic, abc PocketPhonics and KidsCalc, great for spelling, reading, and math respectively. Our students will definitely benefit from the technology that will be available in our classroom this year. The IPod Touch can be a great center for students to practice skills learned in the classroom.

Tool # 9

Students and teachers can use Screencast to upload images, record video and record voice and share them with others.
Skype is great for video conferencing. Teachers and students can use skype to have video conferences with other classes anywhere in the world.

Tool # 8

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=24266&title=Mr_Duey___Fractions_Official_Video

http://www.teachertube.com/viewVideo.php?video_id=7708&title=Water_Cycle_Song

The first video is a song that shows students how to convert improper fractions into mixed numbers and fractions into percentages. The second video is also a song with visuals on the water cycle. These videos can capture the attention of 5th grade students and can make learning fun.

Tool # 7

Photostory is a great tool to use in creating your own stories. It is so easy to use; students can create their own stories as well and share them with the class.

Tool # 6

Wikis are great in collaborative activities that require the input of groups of students. Students can work as a group on creating stories and they can write sentences using newly learned words posted on the wiki.
My team can use wikis to share student information and can be particularly useful in grades that are departmentalized.