Integrating Technology into Science and Math

Advantages of Integrating Technology

Schools today are so very different than when I was a kid, and we are NOT going to talk about how long ago that was. :) Science was pretty hands on, and that was great, but Math consisted of me sitting at my desk while the teacher droned on and on about confusing math concepts. Honestly, I fell behind in high school, mostly out of boredom. Today's teacher has the advantage of integrating technology into math and science! How, you might ask, will I find time to do this? Isn't it so much easier to tell the students what to do. Well, yeah, it is so much easier to just lecture them all day, but we want them to learn, don't we!?! Also, think about how much every person uses technology every day in the workplace. We need to prepare our students for life! "Technologies provide students with the opportunity to visualize and make more concrete the abstract world of mathematics. Technologies can also serve as a catalyst to move teachers toward an instructional style that is more student-centered, active, and relevant to the world in which they live" (Roblyer, 2010, p. 310). 

Disadvantages of Integrating Technology

Do I even need to state the obvious disadvantage of integrating technology? Just in case this has not happened to you in your personal or professional life, heads up people, technology is great, but sometimes, for no apparent reason, it shuts down. Besides the obvious, there are some other disadvantages, like, why should students memorize facts or algorithms when they have access to a calculator or app that will spit the information out for them? I can not tell you the amount of students in college that can not compute simple math because they rely so heavily on their calculators! Even so, technology is relevant, and completely necessary because of how much it encompasses our lives every day, and let's remember that technology, when used correctly in the classroom, aides in a "deeper conceptual mathematical knowledge and insight" (Roblyler, 2010, p.311). Simply placing a child in front of an iPad is not what I am talking about, let's dig a little deeper teachers! 

Specific Activities, Programs, etc...

My most favorite thing about technology integration is that it "bridges the gap between abstract and concrete with visual manipulatives" (Roblyer, 2010, p.312). I am such a visual learner and I am programmed to teach this way naturally in my classroom, technology helps me explain concepts in a way I never would be able to otherwise. A resource you might want to check out is the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives. http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html This site is AWESOME! One, it's free. And two, there is even an offline version! Teachers, please consider using this in your classroom. A great Science resource available to you is Journey North. https://www.learner.org/jnorth/livecam/index.html This site has multiple live webcams where you and your students can observe animals in their natural habitat! Let's strive to use these wonderful resources that have been made available to us, to enrich the lives of our students. 

Roblyer, M. D. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching

 (7^th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

Google Drive- Let's Dive in!

All About Software Support Tools!

Do you use Google Drive in your classroom? If not, you should be! Google Drive is so much more than GoogleDocs, Sheets and Slides. Did you know that GoogleDrive offers a whole host of apps? YES!!!!!! In your google drive, under "NEW", click more, and then click connect more apps. Voila! Start being amazed. It's the same feeling I got when I purchased my first iPhone and downloaded a bunch of awesome apps! I've already researched a few google add ons, as well as some other tools outside of GoogleDrive to get you started. Let's start making our classroom run smoother together!

Materials Generators "help teachers and students produce instructional materials on paper and online" (Roblyer, 2010, p.141). I feel like this is a given, but I have to include Goggle Docs. It's cloud based, allows for add ons, able to voice type, has a research tool, allows for collaboration, templates, and even shows your revision history! https://goo.gl/gkwV8r De Mobo Slides is an add on in Google Drive that allows you to connect your phone to your computer and use your phone to control your presentations. As long as your phone and computer are on the same wifi, you can use it! You can also use your laptop's camera as a projector. You just need an iPad holder so your camera can be set up like a projector. No need for an ELMO. How cool is that!?! https://goo.gl/kaIoqj

Data Collection and Analysis Tools "help teachers collect and organize information to provide feedback and decision making" (Roblyer, 2010, p.141). Google Forms allows you to quickly set up a questionnaire that you can email or send as a link. Teachers can use this to collect immediate data from students, as well as parents. Teachers can also use this as a way to make a self-grading quiz! https://goo.gl/gkZr0J INOW is a school wide program teachers use to keep digital records of students attendance and grades. The program also allows parents immediate access to their child's information through a password they set. 
goo.gl/4Ely2J 

Testing and Grading Tools "help teachers collect and track assessment information to measure student progress" (Roblyer, 2010, p.141). Rubistar is a rubric generator that helps teachers create and edit rubrics online, best of all it saves loads of time!  https://goo.gl/gMybcb Pear Deck is a formative assessment tool used to engage your students in the classroom. It's fun to create too! It's available as an add on in Google Drive. Best of all you can integrate it with Google Classroom!!! https://goo.gl/n9Djzp

Graphics Tools "allow manipulation of images to illustrate documents and Web pages" (Roblyer, 2010, p.141). Google Slides is a tool in Google Drive that is similar to PowerPoint. I use Google Slides when I teach as a way to keep the content interesting and visual. I also use it to keep track of what I need to do next as I am teaching. https://goo.gl/TdcTyU Google Drawing is a tool that teachers and students can both use to create posters, flyers or other graphic documents. https://goo.gl/DssdeM

Planning and Organizing Tools "help teachers and students conceptualize, organize, and communicate their ideas" (Roblyer, 2010, p.141). Common Curriculum is tool that allows teachers to easily and flexibly create lesson plans online. Best of all, it integrates with dropbox, Google Drive and OneDrive! https://goo.gl/6i0QZ6 Google Calendar is a great way for teachers to organize their schedule. One thing I love about this is that Google Calendar will automatically add birthdays or events that are in your gmail. You can also use multiple calendars within Google Calendar. You can separate your personal life from your work life. https://goo.gl/vog0Hf

Research and Reference Tools "let students look up information in electronic versions of encyclopedias, atlases, and dictionaries" (Roblyer, 2010, p.141). Encyclopedia Britannica can be accessed online and is an invaluable tool for both educators and students. This is also a reliable alternative to wikipedia. https://www.britannica.com Google Maps is an excellent tool for the classroom. Teachers can use Google Maps to teach geographic concepts to their students. https://goo.gl/Lm5vzc

Content-Area Tools " support teaching and learning activities in various subject matter areas. Teachers can use the NOOK kids app for reading instruction if their school has access to an iPad. Within the app, the students can read to themselves, or the app will read to them! This is a great tool for struggling readers. https://goo.gl/DdA9UM Currency Converter Real-Time is an add on is Google Drive. This is a great way to introduce the differences in currency in various countries. https://goo.gl/x28azg

Roblyer, M. D. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching

 (7^th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

Digital Citizenship

Digital Citizenship

Search Engines and Web Navigation

Wow! We live in an incredible age where information is literally at our fingertips! What an overwhelming duty we have to our students to instruct them on how to properly and responsibly access the internet to retrieve information. Most students, no matter their age, have an idea of how to use the internet before they even enter our classroom! However, it is our job as educators to expand their knowledge by showing them how to make the most out of the internet in regards to their education. One of the tools the internet has to offer is the ability to navigate information on the web through the use of search engines. “According to the Search Engine Watch site, in the United States the ‘Big 5’ search engines are: Google, Bing, Yahoo, Ask.com, and AOL” (Roblyler, 2010, p.183). Teaching students how to properly use search engines by using keywords and advanced searches will allow your students to access more specific information for the topics they are wanting to know more information about.

Website Evaluation Video

“As students learn how to make use of online sources for school purposes, an essential skill they must acquire is being able to evaluate information critically and to look for indications that content is accurate and reliable” (Roblyler, 2010, p.199). Teach them to stay away from Wikipedia! I love mnemonics, don’t you? I still to this day know the color order of the rainbow, lol! Teach your students about the CRAAP test, to find out whether the information they located is “crap”, or not; pun totally intended. CRAAP stands for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy and purpose.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbvqKaVZxUw

Favorite Professional Websites

Some of my favorite websites specifically designed for educators, as well as students, are http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/ and http://aptv.org/IQLEARNING/index.asp. Both sites are organized and “reflect characteristics and features that are easy to use” (Roblyler, 2010, p.199) They each have search engines that make it easy to locate the information you need for your lessons. You can also rest assure that within each site, the content and media are both appropriate for young ears and eyes.

Online Safety and Security

The internet, while beneficial, also has many downsides. So much information is easily accessible to anyone who is willing to search for it, and unfortunately that opens up the potentiality and likelihood that someone will access inappropriate information, sometimes even by accident. It is imperative that we take the steps necessary to ensure our students’ safety. Fortunately, most schools have firewalls or filtering software installed through their school’s network to prevent students from accessing inappropriate material. With the use of BYOD (Bring Your Own Device) implemented in many schools, it is essential that we remain vigilant in our efforts to make school a safe place for students to access the internet.

Roblyer, M. D. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching

 (7^th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

Using Software Tools in the Classroom. Why every teacher should!

Teachers, if you aren’t using software tools in your classroom already, you should be! If you want your life to run a little bit smoother, continue reading!

Word Processing Software

What is word processing software anyway? Ever heard of Microsoft Word? There are too many benefits to mention, but here a few. According to Roblyer (2010), Word processing can save you time (p. 114). Why rewrite your materials, when you can modify them, and let’s face it, teachers are constantly modifying all kinds of materials! Also, typed documents look more professional than handwritten notes, and allow for documentation. Now what did I write to Sally’s mother last week, and what day was that on??? Hmmm… if it was handwritten you are OUT of luck on figuring that out! There is a slight problem you need to consider when using word processing as an instructional strategy. “Research shows that word processing alone cannot improve the quality of student writing” (p. 115).  Students can become too dependent on technology. Does auto correct bring up a red flag? Word is a great motivator to get students to start writing more though, and that is always a great first step!

Spreadsheet Software

Spreadsheets scare me a little bit, which is kind of hilarious because I love to organize everything under the sun.  Spreadsheets can help you organize attendance to grades, with a whole lot in between! Spreadsheets will help you stay on track in the classroom! When using them with students, “Spreadsheets help people visualize the impact of changes in numbers” (Roblyer, 2010, p. 121). Make math more fun by introducing a new way to look at numbers! One thing you should look out for is that spreadsheets are less straightforward than Word and this might pose a problem for some of your students.

Presentation Software

I love a GOOD PowerPoint, don’t you? Notice I emphasized the word good, because there are some really horrible ones out there. When used correctly, presentation software can greatly enhance your lesson as well as teach your students how to correctly present information, “its emphasis on sequencing and breaking information into component parts can promote a more organized approach” (Roblyer, 2010, p. 127). A problem you might run into is “the overuse or improper use of bullets and lists [that] can cause problems for learners as they process the information they are hearing (p. 127). If there is one thing you take away from this blog about presentation software, it’s this, keep it simple silly!

Classroom Use- Chosen Software

While I plan on using all three tools in the classroom, word processing will be the tool I use the most, simply because there are just so many ways to use it. My personal favorite tool to use is Google Docs in Google Drive, because of its fantastic ability for collaboration. Students share one document at the same time, allowing for easier collaboration within groups. I also love the use of the cloud. There is no need to worry about my students losing their work, and I will have access to their documents for assessment purposes throughout the process as well as the ability to answer questions, give feedback and send encouragement. Want to learn more? Check it out! 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WWu8kN51Gw

Roblyer, M. D. (2010). Integrating educational technology into teaching

 (7^th ed.). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Merrill.

Tagxedo. Yay or Nay?

Today in class we played around with Tagxedo. Funny name huh? What exactly is Tagxedo? Do you know what a word cloud is? Maybe you have heard of wordle? In class, our professor instructed us to type out 15 words to describe ourselves, pick a shape, and be amazed! I chose a coffee cup because at this point in time, I am basically surviving on the stuff. I love this site! Not only is it fun, but what a great way to learn about your students! You get to know them and they get to have a blast creating something awesome you can display in the classroom! Now get to it teachers! Show your class how fun school can be! http://www.tagxedo.com/app.html ***Helpful Hints. You must install silverlight. Click create, load, and enter your text. Click options for shape, and theme for different colors. Save your image or share it! Check out this cool apple I made. I hope someone describes me in these words when I become a teacher!

Hello World!!! My name is Rachel and I am a "Teacher in Training". What exactly does that mean? I am a student who desires one day to BE the teacher. I'm a work in progress. I am a mom to three kiddo's, so I've taught a few little people a thing or two. I also taught preschool for a couple of years, and decided it was time to go back to school! Two years in and I can finally see the light, hallelujah! Maybe I'm crazy, but I sure am having fun. Is this my first Blog? Yes. Why on earth am I blogging in the first place? I mean, every SuperMom/ Student out there knows I have just loads of time on my hands! But, seriously...I am taking a technology class at the University of Montevallo for my Elem.Ed. major, and this is part of my assignment. Cool class, huh? This semester I am going to learn about all the neat things that teachers are incorporating in their classrooms (or should be), and in case YOU are interested, I will blog about all of it here! I will list the things I like and the things I don't. YOU can make your own judgement. I am pumped about becoming a teacher, and I believe education should be fun! Students should enjoy learning. I mean, why not? I am totally having fun in school right now. :) Until the next blog.....