Technology Assessment

Moodle

Moodle is a virtual online environment that enables teachers to manage and promote learning. It’s a great tool that allows students to take courses online, or simply just to organize and deliver assignments. Moodle has many features, such as blogs, forums, and even web conferencing. This site allows students to view their grades, assignments, and upload any attachments for their course. I would give this tool 5 out of 5 because it has many options for students and it allows teachers to be able to communicate in another way other than in the classroom.

 

Firefox

 

Firefox is one of the more popular internet web browsers in today’s world. Firefox is available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and many other devices. Although I do not use Firefox regularly, it is a good tool to use when browsing the internet and it allows you to be flexible when it comes to customization. I would give this tool 4 out of 5 because it has a bunch of features that are entertaining and secure whenever you’re online.

 

Google Apps

 

Google Apps is a great tool to use online and it provides multiple web applications that a lot of sites do not offer. It provides users with things like Gmail, Blogger, Calendar’s, and you can even share word documents online. I use a lot of the Google Apps since I have taken this course and it has been a great experience. I use Google Apps pretty much every day now and it has only made things easier for me. I think it’s a great online technology tool and I would definitely give it 5 out of 5 stars!

 

LiveBinders

 

With LiveBinders, it allows users to gather their information and organize it into these online binders. Instead of putting papers into a real binder, this site allows you to store your information online where it’s safe and secure. These binders allow you to store anything, from business documents, educational resources, to personal information. As a future educator, I think it’s a great tool to use and it’s only going to help you in the long run. I would give this tool a 5 out of 5 stars.

Iconosites

 

Iconosites is a free website builder that has many features in terms of customization. It is a very easy site to create and it does not require any credit card information or downloads of any kind. I thought this tool was one of the easiest to use and it has so many creative aspects that come with the website. You can add videos, different texts and fonts, and it provides a variety of transitions for your images. This is one of my favorite tools and I would give it a 5 out of 5!

Glogster

 

Glogster is pretty new to me and I wasn’t sure how it worked, but after playing around with it, it really is an awesome tool. It allows users to make creative posters or glogs that can relate to students. Glogster has a number of options when creating a poster or glog. You can add different color schemes, fonts, photos, and even sounds. I think this is a great tool to integrate into a lesson plan and when I become a teacher, I hope to utilize this tool with my students. I would give this tool a 5 out of 5 stars!

 

Wiggio

 

Wiggio is an awesome tool when it comes to working in groups. It allows students to be able to communicate in many different ways, such as video conferencing, email; it even allows you to send mass text messages to members of your group. You can share documents, update calendars so everyone is informed, and it helps you and your group members to keep your information safe and organized. With Wiggio, you can be a part of more than one group, which I thought was very convenient, since college students are always busy with group projects and meetings. This tool is very useful especially in your college career, so I would give this tool 5 out of 5 stars.

 

Dropbox

 

Dropbox is another one of my favorite tools to use. It acts as an online hard drive, which makes a lot of things easier and it can be accessed anywhere. You don’t have to store files on your flash drive or save papers in a folder because with Dropbox, you’re able to do all of that and more. Dropbox automatically saves to your computer, which makes it easier for you to access the things you need. Not only does Dropbox store documents, but you’re able to save and store pictures and videos. I really enjoy using this tool because it helps me store all my files and makes it easy for me to access. I would give this tool a 5 out of 5 stars!

http://edtechstudentl20b.blogspot.com/2012/11/technologyassessment-moodle-moodle-is.html

References

*Moodle (2002, August 20). Moodle. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from Moodle website: https://moodle.org/about/ 

*What is Firefox (2004, November 9). Access Firefox. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from Firefox website: http://accessfirefox.org/What_is_Firefox.php

*Google Developers: What is Google App Engine (2006, August). Retrieved November 21, 2012, from Google Developers website: https://developers.google.com/appengine/docs/whatisgoogleappengine

*iLearn Technology: LiveBinders. Retrieved November 21, 2012, from iLearn Technology website:http://ilearntechnology.com/?p=1081   

*Iconosites (March 2006). Retrieved November 21, 2012, from Iconosites.com website: http://www.iconosites.com/page/about-us/

*Glogster (2007). Retrieved November 22, 2012, from Glogster website: http://edu.glogster.com/what-is-glogster-edu/

*Wiggio (2011). Retrieved November 22, 2012, from Wiggio website: http://wiggio.com/about.html?cid=

*Dropbox (1998). Retrieved November 22, 2012, from Dropbox websit: https://www.dropbox.com/dmca 


 

Digital Safety and Privacy

            This digital project was nothing new to me and my group. We have done many projects together and are very cooperative with each other. With this project, we decided to go with iconosites.com, which was something new to all us. This tool was very easy and fun to use and the features that the site provided were very entertaining. It made our presentation stand out in many ways and I would definitely use this tool again in the future.

            With our topic digital safety and privacy, my group and I thought the five topics went together very well and it was a very informative project overall. All the topics kind of overlapped each other, which made the presentations flow easier and made you comprehend the information more. It explained what digital safety is and how students can avoid the different types of scams online and how to tell a good site from a bad one. Students today can access the internet in many different ways and educating them about the importance of digital safety and privacy is something that should be taken very seriously (Common Sense Media, 2010). How students interact in the digital world and how they interpret the things they see online can be very critical in terms of safety and privacy (Privacy Matters, 2012). I think we covered most of the topics, in terms of the internet and its reputation. That’s why as teachers, educating students and providing them with the proper knowledge on these topics can really make a difference in their lives.

            Although my group and I did not use Wiggio that often, it did help us communicate to provide information for this project. We basically used it to set up dates and times so that we could all meet as a group to work on the project. Wiggio is a great tool to use when conducting group projects, but I would like to try some other tools like ooVoo.com or any other video conferencing tool to use in the future. I wouldn’t change anything with this assignment because it hits all the target points in relation to the internet and what it’s all about. All the key factors came into play and I thought it was a great presentation.

With all the different tools available online, communication is evolving and it continues to expand and create endless possibilities. The digital world can be a very difficult environment to adapt to and without the proper guidance and knowledge, you could get lost or into serious trouble. As future educators, we need to be up to date with all the latest technology in order to make learning easy, fun, and safe.

 

 

References

Common Sense Media. 2010. Help your kids stay safe and secure in a 24/7 digital world.   Retrieved from http://www.commonsensemedia.org/advice-for-parents/help-your-kids-stay-        safe-and-secure-247-digital-world

Privacy Matters. 2012. Computer Hacking and Identity Theft. Retrieved from http://www.privacymatters.com/identity-theft-information/identity-theft-computer-hacking.aspx

http://digitaldelta.iconosites.com/

 

 

 

Enabling Dreams

Having assistive technology available is a great opportunity for students with disabilities. Most of the time parents and teachers are not aware of the assistive devices that could help students with learning and with their everyday lives. After watching the Enabling Dreams video, it showed me how these devices can be crucial when it comes to a person’s development and how it can help promote a better life for students with disabilities.

There are many assistive devices that can help students with disabilities. They range from low tech devices, such as pencil grips and magnifiers, to more high tech devices like voice activated software and on-screen keyboards. These devices are more than just tools that the students use, for some it’s a way of life. It opens up many opportunities for students with disabilities and it allows them to accomplish more than what is expected. A student in need of a specific device to help them understand the curriculum is something that the student must receive and be accommodated for (Smith and Tyler, 2010, p.38).

As a future educator, creating a lesson plan that would allow students with disabilities to participate in would be very challenging, but with the right attitude and ingenuity, I believe students with disabilities can easily be a part of class activities. A good example would be Lukas Bratcher from the video Enabling Dreams. Lukas is unable to use any of his four limbs fully, which can be really difficult in many ways. Although his disability may seem like it slows things down, Lukas does not let it get in the way of learning and pursuing his dreams. Lukas was able to pursue his passion of playing the horn in the school band by having the proper tools and technological devices to help support him with his disability. This allowed him to be himself and to participate in an activity with all his other peers.

Being able to create an activity that allows students with disabilities to participate in is something that I would definitely promote. Every student who has a disability is unique and requires different accommodations and modifications, which must be addressed (Smith and Tyler, 2010, pp.319-320). As a teacher, I would look into student’s profiles and find out how I can revise certain activities to where it meets their specific needs. By doing this, it enables students with disabilities to be a part of the lesson and to not let them feel as if they are not important. I want to ensure that every student is grasping the information and comprehending the lesson that is being taught.

Having a family member or friend with a disability may be tough, especially when it comes to their education. I personally do not have any family members or friends with a disability, but I have been exposed to students who have disabilities. I recently had to observe at a school, with the requirements being that it had to be in a special education classroom. Most of the students I observed had a learning disability, but there was one student with a hearing impairment. This student was required to wear an F.M. unit, which helps optimize the speaker’s voice and block out any background noise. This device allowed the student to be able to hear the teacher more clearly so that the material is easier to understand. I think in this situation, assistive technology has proven to enhance education and to really allow students to reach their full potential.

Technology is evolving so rapidly and is one of the most utilized tools in today’s society. Having assistive technology available for those who need it really changes the way a student with a disability learns. These devices help students with disabilities express themselves and it teaches them to be independent. I think if we introduce the various types of assistive technology devices to students and parents early on, it will help benefit students learning abilities and expand possibilities.

 

 

References

The George Lucas Educational Foundation. (2005, February 02). Assistive-Technology: Enabling Dreams [Video File]. Retrieved October 9, 2012, from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video   

    Smith, D. D., & Tyler, N. C. (2010). Introduction to Special Education: Making a Difference (7th ed., p. 38). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

 

The educational game

The educational game that my group and I had chosen was very simple, fun, and entertaining. Creating a rubric for this game was fairly easy because we were provided with a variety of tools to communicate with each other, which I thought was great. These tools allowed us to contact each other whenever we had any concerns regarding our rubric or presentation. When I become a teacher I want to be able to use all these tools and resources and incorporate them into my lesson plan. It allows students to be exposed to the technological aspect when it comes to learning, and hopefully I can accomplish that in my teaching career.

The rubric for our educational game was simple and easy to understand. It covered the main concepts, such as criteria, a rating from unacceptable to hitting target points, and we also included our own evaluation as a group. My group and I did not seem to run into any complications when creating the rubric. As a group, we all contributed to the outline and overall structure of the rubric. The content was relevant and appropriate when evaluating an online educational game. We organized the rubric very well and it demonstrated a lot of points and advantages to the game.

As a future elementary school teacher, I think the game our group chose is great for the students. It helps them think critically and helps them come to conclusions on their own. The game has great animation, which is something that the students can find attractive instead of having them drift off subject. The game also challenges the students with their vocabulary skills, grammar, and technological skills as well. When I choose an online educational game for my students, I will make sure that all the objectives of the game are clear and that is related to the curriculum that is being taught. With the game that my group and I chose, the objectives were very vague and I want to make sure that the game I assign to my students has clear objectives so that they know what to look for and how to play the game.

After being introduced to Wiggio, my group and I have used it to communicate with each other whenever we were out of class. It is a great way for students who are in groups because it allows them to still be informed with what is going on without actually being there physically. It is a great tool that allows you to have web conferences, it acts as a chat room, and it also allows you to work on documents for school or work. A lot of the tools we used were pretty new to all of us, but once we got the hang of it we were able to put together a great presentation.

This class has shed light on a number of useful tools and resources that I have never used before. It is a great opportunity because these tools will not only help me in this class, but also with other classes in the future as well. This course has taught me a lot, from sending video emails to creating your own website and with all this new information I will definitely use it to my advantage.


http://edtechstudentl20b.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-educational-game.html

This is my first time using blogger.
This is my first time using blogger.
This is my first time using blogger. 
This is my first time using blogge. http://campus.uogdistance.com/?siteid=1&p=307