After 11 Tools: Reflection

I love all the tools I have in my personal technology toolbox and I surely enjoyed learning about all of them. I especially like PhotoStory. I am planning to use it with my students by having them create their own stories or change the outcome of a story they already know.

After I completed this training I have transformed my thinking about the use of technology in the classroom. The number of technology tools you can use with the students is amazing. I am looking forward to incorporate more technology into my lessons. I think the learning will be more fun and will be greatly impacted.

I was surprised to discover all of the free learning app’s available for all the subjects. And that you can use the iPod not only for entertainment, but for learning purposes too!!!

Tool 11

The three things I would make sure to teach my students about being a good digital citizen are:

1. - Digital etiquette or netiquette. Just the way we set up class and school rules at the beginning of the year, it is imperative to establish a set of rules of how to behave online and use technology appropriately. It is important for them to understand that the use of technology is a privilege and no right and as such, you can loose it if you do not follow the rules.
I really enjoyed the BrainPOP videos about digital etiquette. I am sure the students will enjoy them as well.

2. - Teach them how to access accurate and credible sources of information.

3. - And most important, keep themselves safe, never share personal information, and making them aware of the dangers of the digital world.

Tool 10

Last week I went to a training on how to use the iPod Touch instructionally in the District. Everything was a WOW for me. We received a long list of approved Apps (all subjects) for the iPod Touch, all for free!!! I am particularly interested in the apps related to Language Arts. For example, I Can Read Lite helps the young children learning to read and spell.
Lit2go has a large collection of poems and stories, fiction and non-fiction arranged by grade level, author, content area, reading level.
I can see the iPod touches being used by the students in centers to review concepts learned in the different core subjects. The things that the teachers and students can do are amazing. The sky is the limit!!!

Tool 9

I actually used Jing to complete my tool 7 assignment. I had the book I used for my digital story telling downloaded in my computer, so I captured the pictures of the screen using Jing. It is a great tool to add visuals to your lessons, and students can add visuals to their projects too!!!
Students can use Skype to communicate with other students and people around the world and exchange information. Also, Skype could be very useful when a student is absent. You can bring the lesson to his/her home!!!

Tool 8

I found this video about how implement Guided Reading in a classroom. I think it would be useful to train new teachers.


I also found this video on YouTube to teach the young students the alphabet.

Tool 7

Creating a digital story telling was a lot of fun!!! Students can create audio books from their own stories using pictures they download from the Internet or pictures taken at school.

Tool 6

Wikis is a great tool to collaborate and share information with other teachers, students and parents. Students can collaborate to edit and revise research projects and writing pieces. The possibilities are endless!!!