Monday, September 26, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Theory and Practice in Teacher Education 486
I am writing this blog in regards to the TPTE 486 class as a whole.
Throughout this semester I have attained a great deal of knowledge of the web tools available to me as a future educator. It has been an exciting and challenging process as well as a rewarding one. I have had the opportunity to share what I have learned with peers, educators in the field as well as teachers outside of Tennessee, including New York. I feel confident in my web based skills and am thrilled to continue the process of learning the tools available to me.
The semester was particularly trying in this class when I was unaware of specific expectations of me as a student. I feel that the reason that I failed to obtain an A on an assignment was in large part due to misunderstood expectations. I was often at fault for this as a student who did not ask questions and pursue total understanding of the assignments. Through this, however, I was able to learn as a student and as a teacher assessing student understanding.
My favorite tools this semester were most definitely the Web 2.0 tools. I have already used Wordle in a lesson that I taught during my practicuum. In addition, I created a digital field trip using Voicethread. It is a challenge for me to think of different ways to use the tools in my classroom, as I am planning on teaching in a low-income school where I can not take for granted that my students will have internet access outside of school. Taking this into consideration, I think that it calls me to use the tools in a more creative way within the classroom, as well as putting greater effort towards facilitating access for my future student. This is a challenge that I am excited to overcome.
Throughout this semester I have attained a great deal of knowledge of the web tools available to me as a future educator. It has been an exciting and challenging process as well as a rewarding one. I have had the opportunity to share what I have learned with peers, educators in the field as well as teachers outside of Tennessee, including New York. I feel confident in my web based skills and am thrilled to continue the process of learning the tools available to me.
The semester was particularly trying in this class when I was unaware of specific expectations of me as a student. I feel that the reason that I failed to obtain an A on an assignment was in large part due to misunderstood expectations. I was often at fault for this as a student who did not ask questions and pursue total understanding of the assignments. Through this, however, I was able to learn as a student and as a teacher assessing student understanding.
My favorite tools this semester were most definitely the Web 2.0 tools. I have already used Wordle in a lesson that I taught during my practicuum. In addition, I created a digital field trip using Voicethread. It is a challenge for me to think of different ways to use the tools in my classroom, as I am planning on teaching in a low-income school where I can not take for granted that my students will have internet access outside of school. Taking this into consideration, I think that it calls me to use the tools in a more creative way within the classroom, as well as putting greater effort towards facilitating access for my future student. This is a challenge that I am excited to overcome.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Ms. Bull's Classroom Site
This site is designed for you to learn about my classroom, the teacher, and various homework assignments and projects. This site will also assist in finding various resources that can be used for homework, projects, or just learning about the big world around us!
You will find links to all of the pages at the bottom of this one. You will find a bio page About Ms. Bull. You will also find a page with many resources for the wild world of Lang
uage Arts by looking at Language Arts Resources. The Teacher's choice page is full of resources for students and parents at The Global Schoolhouse and Middle School Guide. There are also many resources that can be used in the classroom at the link, Technology Projects. You can find Web 2.0 Resources at the link, Web 2.0 Tools.Although the creation of my web site took an extensive amount of time, I am so glad that I did it. As a future teacher, this type of digital tool is integral for teacher, student, parent communication. Many schools have their own websites, but for an individual teacher to take the time to make an organized webpage for his/her students facilitates a deep, meaningful, practical relationship with the students, parents, and community at large.
Check it out at: https://sites.google.com/site/kelseybullsclassroom/home
Excel Interactive Quiz
This spreadsheet, designed using the Excel program, quizzes students on Plural Possessives. It is an interactive quiz that provides instant feedback to the student, thus promoting self-regulation and self-efficacy as well as formative assessment for the instructor.
I like the idea behind this spreadsheet. The students are able to to quickly view the feedback of their performance and assess their own strengths and weaknesses. However, as mentioned in my previous blog regarding the lesson plan that uses the Internet, I am not particularly persuaded to use this type of assessment method due to limited computer access. Also, the creation of this quiz took a great deal of time. I was a new user to the program, and with my gained familiarity I am sure the next creation will be quicker, I am not completely sold on using it in the future.
I like the idea behind this spreadsheet. The students are able to to quickly view the feedback of their performance and assess their own strengths and weaknesses. However, as mentioned in my previous blog regarding the lesson plan that uses the Internet, I am not particularly persuaded to use this type of assessment method due to limited computer access. Also, the creation of this quiz took a great deal of time. I was a new user to the program, and with my gained familiarity I am sure the next creation will be quicker, I am not completely sold on using it in the future.
Web Wonders: A Lesson Plan
I created a lesson plan that allows the students to explore how earthquakes, mountain building, volcanoes and sea floor spreading are associated with the movements of the ear
th's major plates. In the lesson plan I used an internet site to accompany Direct Instruction as well as group work. The site that was used is: http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/drift2.html.
The lesson plan meets the Tennessee State Curriculum Standard 0707.7.6. Students will apply digital tools to gather, evaluate and assess information.
The idea surrounding this lesson to use Internet tools is a great one, although I see potential weaknesses of employing this strategy. Often times, it is very difficult to attain computer lab time in schools. In addition, many students do not have internet access at home which limits the amount of work they are able to complete outside of the classroom. Also, this specific lesson works best for science. I think that many strategies utilizing the web in a language arts classroom and mathematics classroom might be employed, however, real life examples for science might be most practical for this type of lesson.
th's major plates. In the lesson plan I used an internet site to accompany Direct Instruction as well as group work. The site that was used is: http://www.learner.org/interactives/dynamicearth/drift2.html. The lesson plan meets the Tennessee State Curriculum Standard 0707.7.6. Students will apply digital tools to gather, evaluate and assess information.
The idea surrounding this lesson to use Internet tools is a great one, although I see potential weaknesses of employing this strategy. Often times, it is very difficult to attain computer lab time in schools. In addition, many students do not have internet access at home which limits the amount of work they are able to complete outside of the classroom. Also, this specific lesson works best for science. I think that many strategies utilizing the web in a language arts classroom and mathematics classroom might be employed, however, real life examples for science might be most practical for this type of lesson.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Langston Hughes Meets iMovie
We used iMovie this past week. I created a story about Langston Hughes' famous poem "The Negro Speaks of Rivers." I had so much fun creating my iMovie. First, I chose what topic to use to make an iMovie about. Then, I collected photos that would adequately enhance the poem. Following that, I imported the pictures to the iMovie. Then, I chose the music to go along with it. I chose a selection that was created and performed during the Harlem Renaissance, the period in which Langston Hughes wrote. Then I added the text within the movie.
This program, iMovie, would be great to use in this way for a classroom, or for the students to create their own. In addition, the students could create biographies about authors or other prominent historical figures. They could also create a virtual field trip. I had fun making this, but now sure how accessible it will be in my future classroom.
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Personal Teaching Profiles
I have created my personal teaching profile for my future classroom. Check these out!
http://www.learningcentral.org/plp/utkecc/Kelsey_Bull.nsf?OpenDatabase
https://sites.google.com/site/kelseybullsclassroom/
http://www.learningcentral.org/plp/utkecc/Kelsey_Bull.nsf?OpenDatabase
https://sites.google.com/site/kelseybullsclassroom/
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