Saturday, November 7, 2009

Technology Clips

I enjoyed watching the balance between teacher and student efforts in integrating technology in the classroom. I think it is wonderful that those teachers decided to use so much technology with such young children. I like how students were able to have a chance to take their own pictures of spiders in the first clip. One could tell in watching the clip, that they were really trying hard to explore and make great discoveries. The teacher gave them the responisbility to take the pictures, but she coached them along the way. In the other clips, it was evident that the teachers had to coach step by step how to draw and make presentations on the computer. But how great is it that next time, they probably won't need as much help and the kids will be able to probably add even more great effects to their presentations. We are a technology-driven generation and I think it is great that these teachers were willing to be brave and help their students learn new technology skills!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Technology Observations

Hello!

My initial impression of my classrrom was impressed. I wish the schools I attended in elementary could have had at least half of what my assigned school has. My teacher integrates the technology in such clever ways. They have an audio and speaker system so she gives her students the chance to share their work by speaking with the microphone. It sounds so professional and the students take their presentations very seriously. The class also has a document camera, which allows the teacher to project worksheets and draw right on them. She says they also use it for science experiments because the document camera will take pictures and store them so they can compare pictures of their project they set on it. With the document camera, my teacher uses a projector that is mounted to the ceiling to project to a screen in front of the classroom. This helps the teacher present information in a way that allows all students throughout the classroom to see. In addition to this, they also have a TV in the front corner of the room, but they hardly use it because they can show DVD's with the projector.
The students also have a lab with new PC's. Next to this, is a lab of older computers, but this one is small than the newer lab.
I am in awe of all the technology my classroom has to offer. I hope I work in one like it one day!

ps. I have completed both parts 2 and 3 of this week's assignment.

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Science Challenge!

Hello-

For my science challenge I decided I will tackle Objective 1 of Standard 1 in the third grade core curriculum.

Objective 1: Describe the shape of earth and the moon as spherical.
List the differences in the physical appearance of Earth and the moon as viewed from space.

Using Google Earth and Moon, students will explore the appearance of both the Earth and the Moon. They will answer a series of questions:
1. What shape is the earth? What shape is the moon? What are other objects you see in life that are this same shape?

2. Looking at the earth so that the equator is running horizontal across the middle of the screen, what colors do you see?

3. Looking at the moon using google moon, what colors can you see?

4. While still on google moon, zoom in to the following three sites: Apollo 11, Apollo 12, and Apollo 14. These are the places where those spaceships landed. List three descriptions of each site of what you see. Be sure to include any landforms you see.

5. Using Google Earth, zoom in to three different places of your choice. Write what places you visit and three descriptions of what you see. Be sure to include any landforms you might see.

6. Rotate views on both Google Earth and Google Moon. Compare and contrast what you see with 3 descriptions in each column for similarities and differences.

7. Draw and color a picture of the moon and a picture of the earth. Label at least five characteristics on each.

Content: Students will learn Standard 1, Objective 1 in the third grade core. They will learn that the earth and the moon are both spherical and that their appearance has both similarities and differences.
Pedagogy: I will ask the students what they have observed about the moon before. After we discuss this, I will excitedly inform them that are computers have a program that allows us to explore the surface of the moon like we have explored the earth before on Google Earth. The students will have about ten minutes to explore the moon as they wish to acquaint themselves with the technology. Then, I will pass out a worksheet with the questions above that will guide them in their explorations and observations. They will conclude the activity by drawing and coloring a picture that shows some of the observations they have made of the earth and the moon using Google Earth.
Technology: I will be using Google Earth and its special Google Moon abilities to explore the surfaces of those two spheres.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Exploring Other Tours

Hello! I just finished exploring my classmate's tours. I now have some great new ideas!

For instance, in Malorie Walton's tour, I saw how she had her students study what they saw and answer a question before they went to another area of the classroom to complete an activity. Thus, her students not only got a Google Earth tour, but a classroom tour as well!

In Ashley Howden's tour I learned that the layer's features can be great for helping students to make many different kinds of observations. And the students learn more about the technology's capabilities!

In Stephanie Anderson's tour I saw how fun it was to have the places spread out around the world so that the kids get to have a fun search while they look for them.

Everyone's tours look great!

My Tour!

Click HERE to go to my original tour.



Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Landforms!


Plan for helping students to understand the land features in an environment. Specifically. they will look at a volcano, canyon, glacier, and a mountain.
Location Activity DescriptionGoogle Earth Content
1. Mt. Vesuveus

Students will observe and record characteristics of the Volcano.

Students will measure the mouth of the volcano at its widest point.
2. Grand CanyonStudents will explore the canyon and make an estimation about how many layers they think they can see in the canyon's sides. Students will measure canyon from North to South Rim
3. Hubbard GlacierStudents will observe and record observations about the glacier

Students will observe the glacier from the lowest elevation possible. Students will measure thickness of glacier above water.
4. Mt. FujiStudents will observe and record observations about the glacier

Students will see an overlay image of the mountain. They will zoom into google earth for a closer look


I will be teaching of different landforms that are found in various environments. After we have learned the definitions of various landforms, I will have my class go onto computers to take this tour to see real-life examples in a fun and multi-dimensioual way.

Students will have a travel journal in which they will record their observatious of all the places they visit. Then, after we meet back as a class for discussion, the students will take turns telling about their "trip."

Utilizing Google Earth is perfect for this project because it will give my students to see more than just a picture of places they might not be able to go to personally. The three-dimensioual setting of the software allows children to not only observe a specific place, but they get to see it in context and how it compares to everything around it. Google Earth is a great tool because the view can always be zoomed out so that you can see the whole shape of the earth- reminding us that all the places found on our planet are in fact connected to us.