Using Spreadsheets in the Classroom

There are so many different ways to incorporate different teaching tools. One of the most visual types of learning methods is using spreadsheets to show the data that is collected or researched during the lesson. I show an example of using a spreadsheet to show how our students are making goals to eating better, and also keeping track of what they are actually eating. In this example they are required to log and view what they have eaten and if they have met their daily goal. Spreadsheets can be used for many different types of things. You can use them for inputting and sorting out information that the classroom has collected and inserting it into a spreadsheet. This is a fast and simple way to organize and see how the students are participating. It is also a great way to let the students gather information and view it along with how much of their goals they have actually met.

Spreadsheets will allow students to view the information gather, see it in numerical format and ask questions like: How much do I need?
What are my goals for this project?
Did I reach my goals?

Movie Project and the Tools Used

This was actually one of the most complicated and time consuming mini-projects that I have completed, but it was also the most rewarding. I can honestly say that I am amazed with the outcome. Learning to use and incorporating tools like Audacity, Freeplay and Microsoft Movie Maker help put excellent finishing touches. It added a lot of character to my movie. Using these tools like Audacity and Movie Maker also let me personalize my movie and express myself and my ideas.

I am definitely intrigued with all these free tools and I am excited to try to incorporate a project such as this one in my classroom. I will admit at first all the different tools and steps did seem overwhelming at first, but once I got the hang of it and completed the project, I felt a great sense of accomplishment and interest with the entire movie project. I also feel that if I were to design a lesson plan with this project in mind I know that my students will definitely benefit by learning the different tools and using them later on in the future; or even actually introducing and teaching someone else how to use them.

Myself, as a consumer, I am always complaining about how much things cost now-a-days. By using all of these free tools and combining them all together to make a great simple and fun lesson it made me realize how much free stuff is out there on the web and how I am not taking advantage of it.

7 Elements of Digital Storytelling

Knowing and following the 7 elements of digital storytelling will help guide my lesson plan in the right direction to making a successful storyboard. It is kind of like using these following 7 elements as a checklist and making sure to cover each one of these elements while I am composing my storyboard on helping others eat healthier. Point of view is one of the first elements. This is when the story is told in the perspective of the author of the story. Our digital stories will be from each and every student's different point of views, and how they interpret the information that they gather. Next is the dramatic question. It is a question that will be answered by the end of the story. Emotional Content is a serious issue that will speak to us in a personal and powerful way throughout the story. The Gift of your voice is a way to personalize the story to help the audience understand the context. The Power of the Soundtrack will help the music or other sounds support the storyline. Economy is simply just putting enough content to tell the story without overloading the viewer with too much information. Pacing the story is the seventh and final one. It relates to economy, but specifically deals with how slowly or quickly the story progresses. In my unit template you will be able to see what the student will be learning as well as how this will help them grow as a student.

Interacting with Technology in the Classroom

Digital storytelling allows students in the classroom to combine technology and research and make an interesting lesson plan. It also is a more interesting way to present and teach the lesson at hand. Digital storytelling allows the students to practice a tremendous amount of hands on activities and also teaches the students how to get up in front of their peers in the classroom and present their informaion.
Digital storytelling can be used in the classroom to present group projects, view other people's outlook on the lesson, and most importantly it allows the students to express their creativity. I have created a sample template of the unit plan for this lesson as well as a sample of what the slidecast should consist of.

At Home 1 [1]

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Internet Resources

Incorporating internet resources into a unit or lesson plan is essential for students to gain multiple outlooks on a topic and be able to learn with a more hands on approach. I can see with using internet resources in my classroom how it will allow my students to become more diverse and knowledgable about the topic at hand. It will allow the lesson to become a more interactive and well researched lesson with more answers and more discussion by all the students.
When veiwing all of the endless amounts of internet resources there are some that I could use more effectively in the classroom. After reviewing diffent types there are different ways that I plan on incorporating the internet into my classroom activities.

Converting to the classroom

As I am getting familiar with blogging, I am discovering that this useful tool could help me in the future when I have a classroom and students of my own. In the future as a teacher I would like to set up a station were everything would be set up and I would have the students comment maybe once a week on what they liked about the topic that we were studying and what was lacking. I would use this tool to get feedback from my students and have them give me an example of what would make learning the lesson plan more interesting. In Warlicka there is great examples of blogging and it's versatility with giving out information on a specific topic.
As many things in the classrooms are changing so are the students that are attending the classrooms. Learning neat and interesting teaching methods is a great way to keep children on the edge of their seats, and a great way to keep their attentions. Teachers should realize that blogging is an educational tool that should be taken adcvantage of. Teachers should stay in touch with their students and keep themselves involved in all the new advances of using technology in the classroom.

Inquiry & Project Based Learning

Inquiry Based Learning is a teaching methos that allows each and every student become involed in the subject that they are learning. It requires the students to voice their opinions and participate in the lesson by asking more questions and going and finding the answers for themselves. This is a great method for our students to grow on a personal level and allow them to build confidence in supporting their ideas. We need inquiry- based learning because it is so important that our young children learning the importance of voice their opinions and being able to communicate in the adult world. Project-Based Learning allows students to work in groups and experiment on their own ideas and topics that are based around the lesson plan. In project - based learning the students get to interact and become the main focal point in the classroom while the teacher merely guides them in the right direction. Both of these types of learning methods are great in the classroom because they teach the children to become involved and experiment on their own threw trail and error. Creating a unit plan is a great way to follow and keep track of the progression of the students and keep you as the teacher on track.