My Portfolio

Here is the link to my portfolio:

http://www.myteachersite.net/EDT-510-Portfolio/home.html

Educational Grant

Hello everyone sorry the late post I had multiple Thanksgiving to go and now found time to post about the grant. I came from the public schools in California where there was lots of technology. Instead of snow days we had power out days. The public schools, especially the high schools in the north coast of California was using technology and always able to update their computers. Almost every classroom had at least 3 to 4 computers and a projector for presentations. I was in a digital high school where we had a user name and password that\ we could use to log in anywhere in the school and this was even back in 1999. Now I move here to the west coast and it seems that technology is not as prominent in schools today or the teachers' are not using what they have available. I have seen schools get funding for technology, but it never really get's used and I have seen schools not get what they want and still making a technology driven classroom. I went on the website to search for a grant and found lots to choose from. I wanted one that was for a private non-profit and the YMCA fits that perfectly  In the classrooms at the YMCA technology does not seem to be apparent as it should. It would be great to integrate technology into the curriculum, but I do know that technology is not cheap. It is actually quite expensive. Choosing the right grant with lots of flexibility is important to me because it will allow me to design a classroom to how I think it should fit based on the ISTE standards.

• What is the grant?

The grant is a Dr. Scholl's grant which allows for lots of opportunity in the private non-profit school system that has lots of different categories which can give a school anywhere from $5,000 to $25,000 and possibly more depending what the is needed in the classroom.

Dr. Scholl Foundation
1033 Skokie Blvd. Ste. 230
Northbrook, IL 60062

• Why are you interested in it? Why did you choose it?

I am interesting in this grant because it allows for lots of freedom in choosing what you want for this grant. This means that I can propose an idea and if they like it they will give me money for it which I really like. I teach in a  Pre-K setting right now and i have lots of good ideas for what I would like to see in each classroom that could greatly benefit the students' My idea would be to put a smart board in every classroom so circle time and other related academic activities would be greatly improved. There would be no more taping and stapling onto the board of each classroom and in the long run it would save the school money on paper and certain supplies.

• How would you apply for this grant? What would your next steps be?

I go about applying for this grant by writing a formal letter and talking to them on the phone to ensure that what they are offering is actually true and to get a feel for what they are looking for so I can make my written proposal in a way that caters to what they want and to what I want in the classroom. I do not have much experience in applying for grants, but I would like to try and really see if I can get the technology that I desire in all the classroom of where I work. I would also talk to the YMCA that I work and see what additional technology they would like for students' in the classrooms. After that I would write my proposal and have the people at the YMCA view it before I submit to this Educational Grant.

My Curricular Project

Here is the link to my curricular project and other class assignments. Everything is located at the website link below. If you have any question please feel free to ask me. Have a great day! :)

http://www.myteachersite.net/EDT-InstructionalDesignTech-EDT.html

Educational Teacher Tool

Hello everyone!

After reviewing the different tools for teachers on our online D2L website I would use Edmodo because it seems really easy to use and the design is simple. It does not seem to get overcrowded with too many features. I chose this tool specifically because it is easy to use and it's free to join. I believe that this is a very powerful tool to help students stay engaged outside of the classroom. There are so many different features on this website. Honestly I would probably pay for something like this, but ti's great that it's free to use. Also, it's really easy to join which I also really like because it allows you to complete your profile later after you join. It also gives you the option to have a personal website name so it is easier for students to find. I would use this tool to ensure that students get all the assignments, notes and other class information when out of the classroom. I know that papers can sometimes get lost and I think that this is a great idea to keep everything in one place. Also, we can save lots of paper by using this website. I have made other classroom websites in the past, but I have never really used Edmodo and will most likely use it when I start teaching in a school district. However, I do like making my own websites because I have more options when it comes to design, but in reality as long as it looks nice and everyone can easily get the required class information that is really all that matters. Anyways I would definitely use this for my classroom when I eventually teach a higher grade level. Thank you for reading my post and have a great day.

Here is the classroom website that I have made:

http://www.sobe1.net/myclassroom.html

It's not currently in use, but I would like to use it soon. The only features that is lacking are the tools for online exams and quizzes and a drop box where you can attach files. Let me know what you think of my website.

Overall design: 5 out of 5
The design of this website is very clean and organized. there are no formatting issue with most web browsers.

Ease of use: 5 out of 5
All links and buttons are a good size and this site really keeps the teacher organized. The website looks very similar to Facebook and is very easy to view assignments and announcements for the class.

Website Features: 5 out of 5
There are enough features to make it a good tool, but it is not overloaded with too many features. It is as easy as D2L platform in which you (the teacher) can add different features to your classroom as you deem necessary.

Compatibility: 5 out of 5
The website seems to be compatible with all Mac and Windows operating systems and the most common web browsers such Fire Fox, Google Chrome, Internet Explorer and Safari.

Total: 20 out of 20
Recommended for teachers: YES

Get started now:
http://www.edmodo.com/

Videos:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzPHQr1ONaA

Apple App Review

 My curricular project is on nutrition so it important that students have the correct nutrition facts, especially when they make a healthy daily menu plan. I chose the app called Nutrition Information - My Food. I have tried a couple of other apps and they seemed to have too much in them such as making your own meal and automatically calculating the calories and everything else. This was of no use to me because I want the students to be able to do this themselves. Technology is great, but knowing how to do something such as adding, subtracting, multiplying and dividing without a calculator can be very beneficial. The app is very clean and only has what I need in it. You can click on a certain type of food such as an apple and it will give you the food label for that one apple as well as all of the vitamins it has in it. It also provides you with a link to Wikipedia source to learn more about the food. You can also search for the food so you don't have to search through a big list which is very convenient  The app was very quick to load and it can really help students learn about the different attributes about the foods they eat. I was able to see everything clearly and each food item had pictures next to it so it was easy to locate what you are looking for whether it be an fruit or a grain. I would give this app 5 stars because it fits the use of what I need it for in my nutrition unit plan. I have provided you with some screenshots so you can can a look at the app yourself. Thank you for reading my review.

Ease of use: 5 out of 5
The interface was quick and the navigation was easy to use. I believe that anyone could use this app.

Clarity of Information: 5 out of 5
The information in this app was accurate and complete and provided you with a web link to know more about the food that you searched for on this app. The information was displayed on a list which made it easy to find.

Features: 4 out of 5
The features of this app were pretty good, although you would have to buy the full version to see all details on certain vitamins and minerals.

Use in a classroom: 4 out of 5
This app has great potential for use in a class, but it depends on what you are using it for. It you are using it for looking up food items then it is great, but if you are wanting a nutrition tracking app then you might want to download another app from the app store.

Overall: This is a good app and I recommend that you download it if you are wanting to know more about each food item or if your a teacher wanting to teach healthy eating with proper nutrition intake. Even with the free version it gives you a lot of items to see in the food list so it would still work very well in a classroom.

Total: 18 out of 20
Recommended: Yes

Download this app by clicking here:
https://itunes.apple.com/app/myfood-nutrition-facts/id396836856?mt=8

Action Map

I like to keep it simple when making an action map so it is clear and to the point. I used to make these on paper all of the time.

Curricular Project

http://www.myteachersite.net/EDT-510/CurricularProject.html

Which of the six emerging technologies mentioned in the Horizon Report are you most excited about? Why?

I am most interested in the technology that allows for the personal learning experience. An example of this would be the use of an iPad in and out of the classroom with the educational applications (apps). I was thinking about this more and more and thought how great it would be if every student could have one of these in the classroom and then be able to take it home so they can experience the same classroom setting from where ever they are via 3G, 4G or Wi-Fi connection. I hope that the educational technology movement can make this happen over time. Remember to have an iPad like device it does not cost $500, in India they made the same type of device for about $40 and in the United States there are other tablets that only cost around $200. It would be great if traditional K-12 schools went digital to an extent and maybe even have a day where students go only a half day every week and then have a discussion when they got home about the classes that they are in. Also, there are a variety of apps that allow students to learn effectively. Were not in the old days of online through mail school we are at just in the very beginning of what technology has to offer us (last 40 years) and it is only going to get better. Even in a college setting why not have a device such as an iPad or other similar devices put in as tuition so then students can have the hybrid class experience throughout their entire college career. For example if it was a Monday, Wednesday, Friday class, maybe the class would be held two days out of the week and the other for self reflection and discussion on class material. Feel free to respond back. Have a great day.

Week 2 Assignment

Please read and respond to the blog posts of your group members. In your groups, come up with three quality questions for Karen Cator about the National Education Technology Plan and her ACU presentation.

1. If Obama is not elected as President of the United States for the next term will the educational technology continue? Will there still be funding?

2. How would you plan on educating all teachers when striving for a more digital classroom?

3. Will there be a program for all individuals to be educated with technology or is this primarily for students in a classroom setting?

4. Is there also a movement for making a digital classroom adaptable for students with disabilities?

Reaction to the National Education Technology Plan (Executive Summary)


Collaboration in the classroom is most important and I believe that technology in the classroom is the key to making that work effectively between students, teachers, parents and other faculty. This article describes that in the year 2020 people of our nation will either have a 2 year or 4 year degree and students will be more prepared to enter college. Technology allows students to learn in many different ways such as distance education if the student is not able to attend an actual school or make things easier for students in a regular classroom setting. Overall this article was very good and had lot's of good information how technology is going to be improved and how it will be used in and out of the classroom. It describes how technology can be used for assessment and how it can help students and teachers both teach and learn together. After reading this article I really did appreciate how it describes, "seat-time" and how that old method does not work in today's world. Technology has improved all over the world and it was good to hear that technology will be integrated in more schools nationwide to ensure quality instruction from teachers that will reach more students whether they be in a classroom or a distance virtual classroom setting. I have read many articles describing that technology should be improved, but never had a clear answer as to how it would be done. This article clearly shows how the technology will be implemented. I like how the article also describes the challenges and what we must all do collaboratively to accomplish the goal of more digital classrooms across the country. I do strongly agree that we need the improvement of technology to stay globally competitive in the global economy. I guess the question though is that can this really be pulled off in ten years. In my opinion it is tough to say because the economy right now is not at it's best so I believe that our money will be put elsewhere. For me personally I would like to see multiple computers, a smart board and learning centers in each and every classroom, but they may not be a reality in ten years. Although I always look at the class as half full I do believe it can be done it just may take a little bit longer than projected. I have seen the good and bad with technology usage in the classroom for those with little to virtually no funding for technology, those who have it and don't use it all and those that have it and use it daily and teach students how to use the many resources that technology can provide. From what I understand about this article and about the technology movement for a more digital classroom I can clearly see that we are headed in the right direction and educational technology standards should be put in place because technology is the future. Without this very technology we would not have this EDT 510 class online or at all. Good article and please feel free to comment below. Have a great day.