Video Redo

I forgot my CONFU notice on the first one, so I added it and changed the musci. I think it runs much smoother, now. Here's the link. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sme_gNJcb0M

Games

I agree that games are an essential part of education in the 21st century. Not only do digital games give students the computer skills they need, they also teach them essential skills. With my Pre-K class I do not use simulations because they are not ready for those types of games, but I do use basic skill games everyday. They love them and beg for me to turn the smartboard on each day. They think they are just having fun and playing, however, little do they know they are learning colors, shapes, letters, phonics, numbers and computer skills. Games add such an important element to education, and they allow many students to be reached who otherwise would not be.

Movie Maker

I have to admit that I was a little nervous about this project, but once getting into it found that it was the easiest thing, ever. I have really come to enjoy movie maker and intend on using it alot in the classroom and in my personal life. The children would have a great time making their own movie and watching it on the smartboard. I can see that really capturing some students interest where nothing else would. I plan on using movie maker at the end of the year for a graduation video and throughout the course of the year to supplement many themes I teach. I am glad I got to know this software and really plan on using it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hu9JU_mf6Lc

This is the link to my video project. When I went in to check it, I had to sign in and it said you have to have permission to view it. Let me know if you have problems and I will see if I can change the setting so it can be viewed without permission.

Sketchcast

This looks like such an awesome resource. Unfortunately, I was not able to actually make one because there were loading problems on each computer I tried to use. I may have my tech facilitator look at it at school because I really want to use it. The possibilities seem endless with this program. It can be used to teach just about anything. You can easily make little lessons, books, anything you can think of. The children can even make their own sketchcast. This would be great fun for even my little Pre-K students. I can just see the awe on their faces as they watch a simple line they drew appear on the smartboard. That's a major deal to them, and with a little practice they could be making their own books. I can see them drawing the pictures and telling the story. I am so excited about sketchcast, and when I get one completed I will add it to my blog.

Curriculum Proposal

Briefly address the following questions:
1. What is your chosen subject area, theme or topic?
Apples
2. Who is your intended audience? (Please briefly describe your students)
4 year-old pre-k students
3. What standards are you addressing from your curriculum?
Pre-K does not have a curriculum however these are the areas that we will work on.
-creating and understanding graphs
-sorting objects based on color similarities
-finishing and creating patterns

4. What are the educational goal(s) and objective(s)?
-children will create and read a classroom graph
-children will sort apples according to color
-children will create their own patterns with red and green apples
5. What is the specific problem or question you will pose?
How much fun can we have with apples?
6. What will be the specific assignment the students must accomplish?
-create a classroom graph of favorite apples
-sort apples by like color into baskets
-continue already created patterns with green and red apples
-create their own patterns with green and red apples
7. What is the expected outcome of the lesson?
-children will be able to create and understand a simple bar graph
-children will be able to create their own patterns with apples
-children will be able to sort apples by color

Proposal for Curriculum Project
Your project needs to focus on integrating literacy and/ or media production into the curriculum. Please add state and national standards.
Include the following items in your Proposal.
Name Shanna Leviner(Sam)
Expected time/ timeline to complete the project: One week
Tentative title/ theme: Apples
Goals/ Objectives; Be as specific as possible: Children will create and understand a simple bar graph,
Children will sort apples by color, children will continue and create simple patterns

Rationale : (Why you picked this topic? How will it improve your teaching/ parenting, etc?Apples are a big part of the fall season. This theme allows many areas to be covered in an interesting and exciting subject for young children.
Medium (Which form you will create your project. Livetext, website, URL address, Videotape, Burned CD, file attachment, in the mail, etc.)
Smartboard
Target Audience: 4 year-old pre-k students
Lesson ideas or lesson plans that you searched in this topic. For instance, provide URL links.
Teaching Strategies and Methods: hands on, centers

Evaluation Methods: Assessment strategies: How will you assess your students outcome?
-their ability to add to and read the class graph
-observing them sorting apples
-demonstrate their apple pattern
Resources/ Credits: the print material, electronic resources, websites you already found. APA style.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YivNhN_W8GQ

Article Reflections

The Pew internet article did not really surprise me. With the birth of facebook and other social networking sites, it is easy to see why blogging has gone down. A facebook page is basically a blogging site in itself. You may have to make your statements a bit shorter, but this day in age anything that can be done quicker and faster is considered a good thing. On that same note, with facebook and many other sites going mobile, it is so quick and easy to update your page from anywhere.

The MacArthur article brought up some really good points about education in the 21st century. The school district I work for is constantly telling us that we have to prepare these kids for the 21st century. It is even part of our school mission statement, and it is so true. Technology is here to stay and it is important that children today know how to use it to it's fullest potential. I was a little surprised, but also very happy, to see that technology does help children learn. In Pre-K, we get fussed at for using technology too much because it supposedly is bad for the children. I have a hard time believing that, and I'm glad this article backs me up on that. I use technology everyday in my Pre-K class. The children love it, and it is imperative that they get used it and learn how to use it because technology is only going to become a bigger part of education as the years come and go.

Sites to See Reflection

The CML site looked as though it would be great for teachers and media specialists. It was full of videos on many topics. It would be helpful for those students who need a visual to help them understand a certain topic of subject.

I really enjoyed the the video of the children building their own restaurant. It incorporated many subjects and allowed the children to really take ownership of what they were learning and creating. This type of project based learning seems like a more productive approach to teaching. It seemed to capture the children's interest and they could see how what they were learning could be useful in everyday life.

I could not get the you tube video to play, but as far a my own addiction to social media goes I do not have a problem at all. I don't even have facebook page. I have in the past, but when it seemed as though someone had hacked into mine, I decided it was not worth it. I have not missed it in the least, and do not have any desire to have another facebook page of any other social media page.

I hope I did this right, and all of you can see this. Hahaha