Tech Play 4

Options 2: Content Objects

I decided to choose this option because it allows me to explore more apps that can be used in my classroom in the future. I am always looking for new ways to improve technology and learning outcomes in my classroom, so I figured that by taking this opportunity to explore content apps would help with technology improvement in my classroom.

Teachley: Addimal Adventure (Math)

This app is free and it is for grades k-3 and it can be used on iPads. Teachley: Addimal Adventure is a math app that helps kids learn single-digit addition using these strategies: count all, count on, doubles, tens, and memory. Kids begin by listening to a brief comic book story about a city named El Sumado that's been destroyed by the evil Professor Possum. By completing addition facts, kids earn golden blocks to help rebuild the city. Teachley: Addimal Adventure teaches students different strategies for learning addition facts are an excellent way to build conceptual understanding. It is an excellent interactive way for students to build a conceptual understanding of addition while having fun with silly jungle animals.

Reading Rainbow (ELA)

This app is free and is for grades k-4, it can be used on iPads and Kindle. Reading Rainbow is a digital library of over 500 books and videos. Students visit reading islands that organize books by theme (animals, awesome people, and more) and choose books to download to their backpacks. Students can read a book on their own or have it read to them, and each book has a few simple animations within and an associated game. Backpacks hold up to five books; when students are done reading, they deposit their books in the return slot, just like at a library. Students can also look at the video field trips that explore history, science, animals, and more. Videos are originals, classics from the TV series, or clips from National Geographic Kids. Grownups can search for books by author or title and see a simple report of which books kids have read and how much time they spent reading

One Globe Kids - children's stories from around the world (Social Studies)

This app is for grades k-4, it can be used on iPads, iPhones and iPods touch. One Globe Kids - children's stories from around the world centers on "a day in the life" stories told by individual kids from different countries. From Aji in Indonesia to Luna in New York City and almost a dozen other kids, One Globe Kids introduces students to kids in other cultures through these photo- and audio-based stories. Kids can also hear a bit of each storyteller's language (and record themselves saying a few words, such as counting to 10), record themselves answering related questions ("How do you get to school?"), and learn general geographic and cultural facts about each country. One story is free to try; all others require $1.99 in-app purchase.

Likes: Reading Rainbow (ELA)

I liked the Reading Rainbow the most because it helps students with their reading. Students can access hundreds of videos and real books, all in one easy-to-use app on a single device. This app is a wonderful and practical way to get students excited about learning and reading. Students can lead their own reading adventure and choose their own books, and then have them respond in some way: draw a picture, write a summary, and make up a different ending. They can use the video field trips to enhance science and history units. Also students can find books that match a theme like holidays or other cultures. The reason I chose this app over the other apps is because a lot of my students struggled with reading and if I could integrate this app into my reading instruction then this could possible motivate my students and get them engaged in reading.

Dislikes: Reading Rainbow (ELA)

What I disliked about this app was that this version was made for home use, so it supports up to five different accounts on iPad only, and has limited progress data available. But the educators' version is in the works and should have more helpful features for classroom use.

Content Goals/Objectives

The goal of using this app is to motivate students to read and to help fill those independent reading gaps most students struggle with. The objective is for the students to recognize and learn new words to help improve literacy skills. Students could learn more about reading independently if they could see the words highlighted as the narrator reads them. Seeing the worlds highlighted as it is being read helps the students recognize and learn new words.

Different Tool: Teachley: Addimal Adventure (Math)

I believe if I used Teachley: Addimal Adventure for math I would be able to accomplish math objectives. This app would help motivate students to learn math because it’s a fun and innovative learning tool that engages students. While students think they are having fun they are learning different math facts to be able to advance in the game. Teaching students different strategies for learning addition facts is an excellent way to build conceptual understanding. Teachley: Addimal Adventure is a fun way for students to learn or practice single-digit addition. The strategies in the tool round help students develop a conceptual understanding of addition that goes above and beyond straight memorization. By using addition strategies, such as counting on, while working on memorization of addition facts, students can build a strong foundation for essential math skills.

Tech Play 3

Thinglink – https://www.thinglink.com/edu

When does a picture go beyond a thousand words? When there are interactive aspects to it such as images, videos, links, and more. Students can easily add interactive aspects to images they have created, as well as to maps, photographs, and other types of visual images. With the free account, students can choose icons to represent the interactive aspect. To register free as an educator, go to https://www.thinglink.com/register?student=0&teacher=1 or to register as a student, go tohttps://www.thinglink.com/register?teacher=0&student=1.

I believe this is an awesome creativity tool because ThingLink is an interactive media platform that empowers students to create more engaging content by adding rich media links to photos and videos. Out of all the tools I reviewed I believe I like the thinglink the most because it helps students develop 21st century skills, enrich their enthusiasm for learning, and engage like never before.

Booktrack Classroom – http://booktrackclassroom.com/

Have you ever thought about the soundtrack of the text you are reading? Do you have students who struggle with reading and need ways to make text more compelling? Booktrack allows you and your students to create soundtracks to text, public domain texts, or your students’ own stories. There are free sound clips including public domain songs, ambient sounds, and sound effects. Completely web-based and very easy to use, this has to be heard to be believed. To get started, teachers can create an account and add their students or have each student create an account. Click here to begin – http://booktrackclassroom.com/.

This tool is wonderful for any teacher that teaches English. I believe this is a great tool to use for both students and teachers because it helps assist those students who aren’t very well at reading. The students will be able to listen to the books online and the teacher is able to keep track of what the students have read.

Zaption – https://www.zaption.com

Zaption allows you to take videos from passive tools to interactive ones where you can add links, questions, surveys, and so much more. There are even reports to see progress. To sign up for a free account on Zaption, go to https://www.zaption.com/signup and choose the basic free account. That account will have more than enough to get you and your students started with the tool.

I think this might be a good tool for teachers to use because it allows you to make surveys and questions. The teachers can make questions for a test and then have students get online and take the test instead of doing paper formatted test.

Piktochart – https://magic.piktochart.com

Piktochart is a free, web-based tool that allows students to create infographics. Students can use their own images, visuals from the web, or icons from the tool. By tying together images, text, charts, and other visuals, students can make information come to life. To create a free account, go to https://magic.piktochart.com/users/sign_up.

This would be a great tool for students to use because they can create wonder presentations or blogs. They can use Piktochart to bring dry reports to life and make it fun, it can also be place in slide show format to help spread your information

2. I believe the thinglink creativity tool can help support learning because it allows students use their own creativity to create masterpieces. The TPACK model is Effective technology integration for pedagogy around specific subject matter requires developing sensitivity to the dynamic, transactional relationship between these components of knowledge situated in unique contexts and I believe the Thinglink tool falls into place with the guidelines of the TPACK model. Individual teachers, grade-level, school-specific factors, demographics, culture, and other factors ensure that every situation is unique, and no single combination of content, technology, and pedagogy will apply for every teacher, every course, or every view of teaching.

3. Thinglink uses tools such as images, videos, links, and more. Students can easily add interactive aspects to images they have created, as well as to maps, photographs, and other types of visual images. ThingLink is an interactive media platform that empowers publishers, educators, brands, and bloggers to create more engaging content by adding rich media.

4. It is important to start with a clear definition of what we mean by creativity, as there are two completely different types. The first is technical creativity, where people create new theories, technologies or ideas. This is the type of creativity we discuss here. The second is artistic creativity, which is more born of skill, technique and self-expression.

Creativity is an essential change management tool for effective teachers. Creativity is more important than ever, considering today's accelerating rate of change in businesses, schools, and students everyday lives. In fact, it's an essential change management tool for effective teachers.

Tech Play 2

An e-portfolio (electronic portfolio) is an electronic collection of evidence that shows your learning journey over time. Portfolios can relate to specific academic fields or your lifelong learning. I believe that an e-portfolio would be more meaningful then creating a regular paper copy. By creating an e-portfolio you can always go back and make changes or add more information, verses creating a paper portfolio it would be harder to make changes. E-portfolios can last a life time and it can display your learning’s throughout your educational career. E-portfolios can show long term growth and progression over time. It allows the students and teacher to reflect on what the student has learned throughout the year. E-portfolios can be life-long because you can always go back and view it or add to it whenever you decide.

I chose to use Weebly for my e-portfolio. The reason I chose is because it looked user friendly and it seemed like it would make a really nice portfolio. There are so many different features to use on the Weebly. A few of the features that you can use to help create your e-portfolio are themes, pages, layout, title, images, backgrounds, text, links, and so much more.

I currently teach first grade so I wouldn’t have my students make an e-portfolio because an e-portfolio would be too advance for first graders. But if I taught high school or college level I would definitely have my student make an e-portfolio because they would be able to display and reflect on their learning’s and once they graduate they are still able to add to it. An e-portfolio can also act as a remembrance of one’s educational background. Sometimes people like to look back on what they have learned or accomplished and by making an e-portfolio students will be able to reflect on previous learning’s.

E-portfolio Link:

http://keyreynolds.weebly.com

Tech Play 1

1). I chose to use blogspot.com because I was able to use it through my Gmail account. I figured this would be the most reasonable to use since I already had a Gmail account and I didn’t have to create any other accounts. I have never used a blog before so this will be my first time blogging. I was so lost while I was attempting to create my blog I had to ask for help because I had no clue what I was doing, but I finally got it together.

A regularly updated website or web page, typically one run by an individual or small group which is written in an informal or conversational style. A glog is the name used to describe a publicly accessible graphical blog. A vlog is a blog in which the postings are primarily in video form. A discussion board is another word for message board which is an Internet site where people can post and read messages, usually on a specific topic or area of interest. All of these different web pages are forms of writing messages or information for others to see publicly.

2). As a learner the blog post allows me to share my ideas and what I have learned with other learners. Using a blog differ from other technology because it allows me to show my work to others without me having to email it to everyone like if I had created a PowerPoint slide. Anyone is able to go to view what I post on my blog, which is amazing.

3). I will not be able to use blogs within any of my lessons because I teach first grade and that’s too advance for first graders.

4). I haven’t seen any obstacles yet but I imagine I will come across a few within these next few weeks of have to use this blog site.