Blog Reflection Week Eight (Web Projects)

The following is an account of the projects that I created this week, as well as a link to each of the web sites.

1. The rubric was fairly easy to create. I was unaware of such a helpful rubric creator site on the Internet. I love doing class projects, so I will use the Rubistar site again in the future! I have learned that using a rubric to assess students' work is both easy and fair. I have decided that in the future, I will use a rubric for most class project. Students will then know exactly why they received the score they earned.

Rubric

2. The APTE Puzzle creator presented more of a challenge to me. I chose to create a simple wordsearch puzzle, but I did not have the proper plug-ins to view it. My machine had trouble downloading the necessary plug-ins. However, once downloaded properly, I was able to create a wordsearch with ease. One thing I learned was to be patient with technology when "it" is not cooperating like you think it should. I already use a puzzle creator to make educational games out of spelling and vocabulary words for my students, and now I have yet another resource with which to do more.

Puzzle

3. I have used EasyTestMaker before, and have found that it is a great place to quickly make up a test. It is user friendly and even creates an answer key. I don't plan to use it often, because I already use software in my classroom that pairs with clicker devices.

Test

4. The Website Evaluation was a great way for me to reflect about an Internet site that I already use in the class. I chose the Harcourt School Publisher’s website, since I use it weekly to supplement my lessons. On the evaluation, instead of circling the appropriate answer, I highlighted my choices. One problem I ran into was answering questions about the author, since the site is done by a publishing company, so I substituted “publisher” in place of “author.” I did not experience any other problems. Actually, in completing the evaluations, I discovered a few features of the site of which I was formerly unaware; for example, a link to science and social studies videos. I could see how evaluations like these would be important to parents, and I plan to utilize these more in the future.

Web Evaluations

5. The Trackstar assignment presented a new discovery for me that I am excited to use in my classroom. It seems easy to use and helpful when assigning research assignments. My only problem is that many URL links that I found while searching at home are blocked by the school’s filter. Therefore, I will have to create my tracks at school to ensure that the sites are accessible. I will use this in the classroom when we do class research projects.

Trackstar

Blog Reflection Week Seven (Chapters Seven and Eight)

2. What is the difference between asynchronous and synchronous communication? Name and describe the Internet communication tools that fall into each category.

The terms asynchronous and synchronous refer to the time lapse between the communicating parties. In synchronous communications, the participants are communicating at the same time. However, in asynchronous communications, the participants are conversing, but at different times. The Internet is a place with room for both types of communication, and can be a useful tool for writing and communication in educational environments.

The most common type of asynchronous communication available today, through the use of the Internet, is electronic mail, or email. As its name implies, email is an electronic alternative to postal mail, and works similarly in concept. A user creates a log-in name that works much like a post office box. Other users who know the email address can create and send electronic messages that are held your electronic mailbox until you retrieve them. Once they are retrieved, you have the option to keep and file, or delete the message. Email can be used in the classroom in many ways: as communication between the student and teacher (or the parent and teacher), as a turn in tray for assignments, and as a way to communicate globally through keypals (the electronic version of pen-pals). Another feature of email is the use of mailing lists in which the user can sign up to receive automatic emails from a certain company or organization.

A second type of asynchronous communication is discussion groups. Using discussion groups allows one person to communicate to several individuals, allowing each person to comment and respond on a message. These responses to a message create a “thread” or chain of responses by many users. In education, the use of discussion boards is a great way to cultivate literary think-and-responds.

Synchronous communication, as mentioned before, is one in which the participants are communicating with each other at the same time. Chat and instant messaging are examples of synchronous communication. Chat participants schedule a real time and a virtual location (chat room) in which they meet and type their messages for all others in the chat room to see. Other participants respond immediately to messages posted in the chat room. Whereas chat rooms are the virtual equivalent of conference calls, instant messaging is the virtual equivalent of a private telephone call. Basically, instant messaging is a one-on-one chat.

Another type of synchronous communication is videoconferencing. Videoconferencing allows participants to see and hear each other through the use video and audio equipment attached to their computers. Videoconferencing systems can range from low quality to highly sophisticated quality based on the capabilities of the components (computer speed, audio/video equipment, videoconferencing software, etc.)

The educational system is an appropriate place for all types of communication, but it’s up to the instructor (and/or administration) to decide which specific types work best for them. Using electronic communication, both synchronous and asynchronous can be beneficial to the teaching and learning process.

Blog Reflection Week Six (Microsoft Projects)

This week presented no great challenge to me. I have used Microsoft Word, Excel, and PPT many times before and am familiar with the features of each. Having said that, I still spent a good amount of time trying to create professional looking documents that I could actually use in my classroom. I hope my readers enjoy looking at these projects as much as I enjoyed creating them. I will continue to use the three resources in my classroom to create documents weekly. I will use Microsoft Word to create word documents in which I use to communicate with parents. I will use Microsoft Excel to create tables and graphs that are useful for my students. I will use PPT to create vivid lessons and quiz assessments for my students.

Flyer in Word

Progress Chart in Excel

Quiz in PPT