voice threads in the classroom

Voice threads is something that is very new to me. They appear to be cool. One can speak live on a subject almost like a group discussion. It allows you to record a response, draw on images, and edit your text. They play videos as well. I for one would use it some in my lesson plan becasue i think its a great way to get the entire class involved without being so boring to the student.

Week 8 Power Point

Although a little confusing at times I would have to say our power point is moving right along. Me and my partner Leticia are doing our power point over Integrated technology into classrooms. Leticia is smart and laid back which makes for a good partner and she seems to have a good idea of whats going on and how to do this with me. I definantly would be struggling way more than i may be now which is not much at all if i didn't have her as a partner. She helps me with what parts i should cover and we will get done way faster than if i were by myself.

week 7 blog posting

I believe that teachers should use technology in classrooms by all means. However not all students are equipped with the same tools at home as they have at school. For this reason i believe the only way that this really can be solved is for either the teacher to reduce the amount of work handed out or the students should be given more in class time to complete assignments. I don't believe actuall online chats take away from the students learning or communication skills. Though it usually contains sorry typing skills, it is a fast way of communication and can be beneficial if something is needed right at the moment. If anything the chats help students in communicating with classmates when otherwise they may not have much to say or get their message across. Although i am a firm believer in one- on - one conversation and believe interactive classes are better than online classes, asynchronous communication sometimes has its positive attributes. Using the asynchronous method students can communicate from practically any location and it gives the student time to think about their response before making it published. They also can branch off their own thoughts off of information other students post. Thus, expanding their ideas into some they may of previously never had. Podcasting is definantly a new way of sharing info. However i don't necisarily think pod cast helps in the classroom. More often than not if someone is pod casting music its illegal because it is not theirs. If it is i have no problem with it. However often times thes pod castings are already out there you just have to find them. Although it is a great tool such as the mp3 player im not sure it is so beneficial in the classroom. I dont believe video games improve your studying either. It is more of a designing process and not so much memorization as would be done in an ordinary class. While you are studyin certain attributes it all goes to a design and every game is different so i am not sure how you would prepare from one to another. I do agree with the article for the most part. It is more of a way of learning how to desing and create different scenarios. Making video games does expand the mind somewhat because not one game or desing will be exactly the same as the previous or next one. I would have no problem at all with my kids playing video games other than if they were too violent at too early of an age. I happen to believe for some it can be a social tool as far as increase coordination.

week 5 personality type

According to the human metrics test, i am a care giver. Being the caregiver i am i can understand how students are different and how they work. I believe firmly that students with different personalities posess different learning styles. As a teacher it is my job to understand and work with all these different types of learning styles and try to merge a teaching way that covers most of them. Now that I have taken this test myself, i find it a little easier to understand how people are different and it will help me realize that every individual is slightly different from the next. This will help me as my teaching career gets kicked off. I myself had to be shown ceratain things in certain ways growing up so i feel i can cope with other students that need to be delt with in the same fashion.

Week 4 blog posting modeling with spreadsheets

I think the use of spreadsheets in the classroom today is very useful for both students and teachers. I would definantly use it in my classroom. This tool makes it easier for whoever is viewing the material to break it down and understand. Due to the fact it can calculate equations and add up certain statistics I myself would use it just to keep up with grades and save time on grading or class work.

The advantage of using a spreadsheet over a calculator or plain old pencil and paper is that it saves so much time. In todays teaching field teachers have so much work to go over and so little time. Especially if they are a coach as well. Although the calculator never lies neither does the spread sheet if done correctly.

The three primary functions are storing, calculating, and presenting the information. I find that that is all that needs to be done. Once stored, calculated, and presented there is nothing else to do. I find spreadsheets very beneficial for anyone in the school setting.

week 3 blog posting

While watching the video I found a few things that drew some interest and some things i didn't even know you could do. There are graphic organizers which can be pictures or videos that can help go into deeper depth on some power points or research papers. There is a whole list to choose from. There is also a tool called rapid fire. This tool links all ideas into one. They can either branch off one another or you can add a note box which enables you to write a paragraph of information to those branched rapid fire ideas. I found the rapid fire tool to be very useful because you can use so many ideas and tie them into one idea. I find the things in the inspiration video to be useful in the classroom. I would allow my students to use this on any research paper because not only is it a great tool, it can expand their knowledge in computer skills.

I believe that a history report/timeline would be beneficial in technology based work. Or perhaps if you were having to do a report on a famous figure. You could branch so much information off of just one thing for a certain time period you are talking about. As far as the writing goes, the students could help each other on paper by helping with spelling or run on sentences and then help on the computer by showing fellow classmates what some buttons or features do. The whole rapid fire technique is all new to me. Before watching this video i had no idea about it or what it did. I know have somewhat of an idea as to what it is and how it may benefit me one day in the classroom.

ch. 6

So the question is are blogs beneficial or are they just a waste of time? I for one happen to think blogs do have some advantages. Blogs are a great way for people to communicate and stay updated on things in the environment around them. As far as education goes blogs are superb. For instance, if a student was sick and couldent make class they can follow the blog the teacher posted and they could still do their assignment without missing out. However, some may argue that blogs are a waste of time. I can see where some blogs are useless, but as far as the classroom scene is concerned it is a great tool on staying updated and filled in. Blogs also stretch the minds of some to think outside the box and use their own thoughts and opinions to respond. If it were my class i definantly would post blogs a few times a month for my students to stay updated and use their minds to think about whats going on around them. Overall i think that blogs can be very useful.

hi, my name is matt y'barbo. I'm from Sulphur Springs. I enjoy meeting new people. I have a love for sports and music. i live at home in Sulphur with my mom, dad, and younger brother who is a senior in high school this year. His name is mason and is good at football he plays left gaurd for the cats. i have attended school at Tyler junior college, Paris junior college, and have now finally landed at A&M Commerce where i plan on graduating.