So much to learn.....

I am surprised by how much I have learned this semester in TPTE486. I am surprised because I know that knowledge of technology and patience with technology are not two of my stronger attributes. My husband made the comment tonight that I should be proud that I have put an entire website together. To tell the truth - I think he is more suprised by new skills than I am. He knows how impatient I can be when I am trying to come up with something new and technology-oriented for my students.

Standardized Testing

I will refrain from pondering the usual stresses of AYP EOC season, even though the biology EOC will be conducted THIS Thursday. I am curious as to why we are not yet giving computerized versions of the state tests. I will assume it is because not every school has equal access to this important equipment. Just think of the paperwork load reduction...... and the speediness of test results.....and the decreased emphasis on test security.....

More thoughts about technology.......

I had a discussion just recently with a fellow teacher regarding textbooks. It seems that some parents become concerned when their child is not issued a textbook. For some reason, they take the lack of a book brought home as an indication that the teacher is not really teaching. Wow! Really???? Yes! You would think in our technology driven world that we would no longer need to require students to drag around that 25 lb. burden. After all, most textbook companies now offer the book on disc. So it seems that we still have a need to balance the old with the new.

Web Site Construction

As I work on putting together a website I find myself asking, "As a student what do I want to find on a website?". Most of all I want a website that is easily navigated. Next, I want to find useful information that is important to the course AND important to my life. Lastly, I like a little entertainment value (cool pictures, video, etc.).

Please go to http://bit.ly/ainaDE and take a look at my first poof book. I am so proud. I am most excited that I found the template on-line and did not have to come up with one myself. My new rule - always search on-line first.

Movie......Finally

After adding a few more gray hairs I have mastered, at least partially, the art of movie making. Please check it out and make comments.

Movie Making

I enjoyed making a movie this weekend using Windows Movie Maker. What a fun way to share your photos! I can see how this can be used in the classroom as well. Earlier this year I had my students create a presentation on an environmental issue. I gave them freedom on the type of media to use. I had one group to create a movie using Movie Maker. It was a hit, especially the music.

Spreadsheets

While I have worked on spreadsheets for years, I have yet to really use them in a classroom setting. This is my first spreadsheet assignment - http://bit.ly/bneoo9 - I will be using it this week during my introduction to genetics. The tricky part about spreadsheet software (and most software) is that if you do not use it on a regular basis you forget some on the details. I find this occuring with Excel. While I am very good with the basics, I know that many of the formatting tricks have left my brain. The lesson in class was a good reminder.

Using Inspiration

I have been exploring the uses of the software, Inspiration. I can definitely see how it will help me in creating graphic organizers with the details included as I see fit. While most textbook ancillaries now come with graphic organizers, many times I find myself not content with those and wishing I could change them up to fit my teaching style. I am anxious, however, to figure out more uses for the software. I am also thinking that if all the school computers were to have this software I could have my students create their own graphic organizers. Please check out http://bit.ly/cfgmLr for a sample of my work.

Digital Images

Differentiated Instruction

Friday I attended an in-service training on differentiated instruction for co-teaching classrooms. I came away with some useful ideas. Have you ever seen a poof book? However, I did notice that very few of the ideas involved any type of technology integration. Co-teaching is a strategy in the inclusive classroom and many of these classrooms have smart or active boards. So, hopefully this is will be the next step in co-teaching training. I know what I am going to write on my evaluation.

Frustration

Here is my story of technology frustration......On Friday of last week I gave one of my biology classes a blogging assignment. They were to blog on the topic of "nanotechnology in biology" and complete it by the end of the school day on Tuesday. Some of the studedents came to me today (Tuesday) and told me they do not remember their passwords to the school website.............ughhhhhh.

Webquests

I am currently working on a webquest for my biology classes. The topic is mitosis. Rather than reinventing the wheel I started by looking around on the web for mitosis webquests that had been posted by teachers. I found a couple of really well developed quests. The good ones used several very nice and reputable websites. The quests required students to not only get information from the websites, but also think critically about the information they had discovered.

My plan is to have links to all of the quest websites on my page on the school website. This will reduce confusion and time spent typing in a long URL. I expect a positive outcome from this activity. Mitosis is a concept with which understanding best comes visually. By conducting a webquest each student will be able to observe the visuals on their own and take the necessary time to gain understanding.

http://bit.ly/bCPP50 - check this out for some great ideas for honors classes. I struggle with ideas for gifted students and sometimes I think it is because I spend so much energy trying to "pull up" struggling students.

I am learning all kinds of new and useful things (and some not so useful) on Twitter. Today I have discovered Snorg Tees, thanks to Steven Anderson. Dr.Biology sent a link to a great ASU website, http://ecologyexplorers.asu.edu/, that is now saved to my favorites.

I am multi-tasking today for sure. I am finishing my assignmnets for U.T., lesson planning for KHS, praying for my father-in-law's surgery tomorrow, getting my daughter's stuff together for cheerleading practice, and cheering for Peyton. Speaking of the Superbowl.........I am attached to the Colts because of Peyton. However, I have a sentimental spot in my heart for New Orleans since I visited the city 2 months before Katrina. It was 104 degrees and I was 7 months pregnant. A trip I will never forget.