Reflection

1. I guess I could say that my favorite tool that I have in my personal technology toolbox is Photostory. I am working on many organization projects and sharing them with my children. It helped me give myself time to organize all the pictures and having fun doing it. I am looking forward on doing it with my students, as well. I look forward to gathering their pictures during the school year to capture the moment of their learning experience in this totally new environment. I think our kinder students should feel lucky to be at Ridgecrest, not just because of the new building but of the cutting edge technology. They will be the first generation to experience from kinder to 5th grade in these new conditons.

2. I certainly have in my mind that this year will be full of innovations. Again, looking at a new school and combining it with all these technology tools makes me rethink of my methods that I will apply to obtain the best results in benefit of the students' learning. We must change with the changing times. I feel this will be a great opportunity to apply all the technology to obtain the best quality of education.

3. I must admit that I did not think I would have so much fun. At first I was concerned with the time and I wanted to be sure I would finish. But once I started I found that these were very helpful and useful things that I didn't even think the district would allow us to use. Many which I used already. I am happy and surprised that we are able to apply these applications.

I think what surprised me the most was that as I was about to end my reflection one of my students showed me what she did on her DS-XL. To my surprise, she had created a photostory. I am sure it was easier for her to do it than for me, it seems innate to them. I was so pleased to see the creativity they apply on their "games".

Tool 11

The importance of digital citizenship is as important as teaching the students the class rules in the first week of school and reinforceing it all year long. It helps the students to direct their time and attention to learning and not the dangers that the surroundings may have. We as educators must direct them to use technology for educational purposes and explain to them that giving information to strangers is not right in any setting. The three things that I would have clear for the students in this subject is the clear idea of the purWe must make it clear of the dangers that this implies through examples. For kindergarteners the school is new to them and they need to know how to handle themselves. Although technology may not be new to all of the students they need to know its appropriate use.

Tool 10

I was amazed at the fabulous apps that were on in the iPod touch in Lion Lane PreK Center. They are wonderful for the students to use and learn through. The iPod Touch had games related to every subject, several levels and in English and Spanish. It is very user friendly. I mostly liked the ‘i write words’ app where the student will write the letter with their finger on the screen helping them reinforcing the letter. This will help with a student who comes to class in the middle of the school year with no school experience. Which I had a bit of this year. There are songs, puzzles, and interactive games. I could certainly see how this could be used in a classroom. I could use them in centers, in groups, and on an individual basis when a child needs that extra support. I have noticed that many of the software that we have worked on in the 11 tools are on the ipod touch, like Photoshop.

Tool 8

Stingrays
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nbuu1Fa-c1k

Crabs
1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR">http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/crabs-journey/6301ff8079f3d60716356301ff8079f3d6071635-38674432123?q=crabs&FROM=LKVR5>1=LKVR5&FORM=LKVR


I have added two videos about ocean life that could be very helpful for the summer ocean unit. The children love the books, but they also enjoy the videos and they awe at the images. I think the videos are great resources for teaching. It complements the lesson very well and helps the students understand better and write about it with better understanding.

Tool 7

I took more time deciding which pictures to use, but once I decided on the pictures, the story came to mind and I had the music thought out as well. It was very enjoyable as many ideas came to mind. I could see the students working as a group or in bilingual pairs creating their stories. I could imagine them making drawings and using them in a photostory. We could easily take a picture of their drawing and downloading them on the computer and adding music and their own words. I could see them feel the excitement as they do with other projects that we've had in the past and raise it up to this new technology format.

Tool 6

The use of wikis gave me many ideas for students to collaborate upon a story just like they do in the sharing period when they all give their input on a topic. The students' will transform from passive consumers where some may easily tune out to increasing their engagement therefore responding more, changing and improving their final product. I believe wikis also stimulates discussion and metacognition.


As for the team, I am sure it will help to collaborate in a document or file in planning as we do. We could view a constant changing plan much easier instead of scattered ideas in emails back in forth. We will get used to viewing our wiki on a regular basis as we are used to doing with our emails.

Tool 5

Social bookmarking will be useful in the classroom to organize the sites and to be able to instruct in a timely manner. It will be usefull, as well, to research, share, and collaborate as a team.

I have added this website for the Summer ocean unit. I believe it could be useful to show the students for the visual effect, to complement the reading and the writing on the topic of all the ocean animals.
http://www.google.com/images?q=ocean+life&rls=com.microsoft:en-us:IE-SearchBox&oe=UTF-8&rlz=1I7TSNA_enUS354US357&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=univ&ei=wTMmTOuwAYL6lwf2opjJAw&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CCcQsAQwAA
I added this math webpage with childrens' activities for them to use in their computers during centers:
http://www.pbs.org/parents/earlymath/prek_activities.html

Tool 9

1. Students could use screencast to view videos or images. The inquisitive kinder students may download videos and images he has navigated and found to the library to share with the other students for teaching purposes. There is much better retention for the student when he explains what he has found.

2. Skype could be used to view another classroom in a lesson or share the activities in the classroom and the students will put their best effort in showing what they have learned and therefore will obtain more of the lesson.

3. I have Skyped in several occasions, the one that stands out the most is on a Mother's Day where I was present in my mothers celebration with all my family in Mexico through Skype. It made my mother very happy to see me and hear me and I felt I was there, as well. We literally had dinner together and greeted each other, I enjoyed seeing all the little children interact in their cute way. I am sure this could be transfered to a classroom setting for teaching purposes.

Tool 2

1. I think that the online education community is a great way to keep the team informed and working together. The PLN will not only help us in our grade level team, but the staff in the school and the district, as well. I believe that the leadership roles have done an incredible job in giving us the tools to work in conjunction to improve and have the best outcome for the students. I believe we will become accustomed to check periodically as we do our emails and learn to input important information.

2. The point that stood out to me of the commenting advice is the importance of the process more than the final product. I am sure we will have more opportunities to use all these programs and applications once we do our teaching projects. I have not yet had any commenting advice. I will respond as soon as I do.

My blog was lost somewhere in cyberspace at first, but with the kind help of the managing team, it was found.

3. I have selected 3 of my team members, that are up and blogging at this point and 2 others that have finished with the 11 tools. I soon hope to say the same about me.

Tool 3

OMG! I truly enjoyed creating a Wordle! I could see the students using and creating their own. It is a great way to practice their vocabulary words as well as their creativity.


I also enjoyed the creating the Wordit, but decided to add the link because the blog somehow was not able to show it. I used the words from the science topic of dinosaurs that we see in Kindergarten, thinking of something the students themselves would create.

Tool 4

These two Google tools will definitely aid us in our classrooms. I am sure that Google Docs and Google reader will also help us as a team. I could really see the evolution on the emails. It is a good idea replaced by another great idea. I could see the children collaborating in their work. It is a great way to see the growth in students' writing.

My Wordit

View my wordit through the link-it takes up too much space on the blog

http://worditout.com/word-cloud/8326

Wordle

Tool 1 - 11 tools to technology

I am looking forward to learning the 11 tools to technology and applying it in the classroom. As I think ahead to Fall with the new school and with all the ipods and notebooks that will be in our classrooms the thought is truly exciting. I am sure the children will benefit in many ways as they grow and learn with these new tools.