Check out a fun program called Voki, which allows you to create custom speaking avatars. This program is used primarily in the classroom and has a wide variety of possible uses. In a library, Voki would be a great tool to use for a virtual book club. Check out Voki on my wiki for a presentation on Marguerite of Navarre, who wrote during the mid 1500's in France.

 

Check out our group work on the ASSURE LESSON PLAN

Click here for the lesson plan.

Click here for the group worksheet.

Click here for the Presentation.

Feel free to post any comments, ideas or suggestions.


Thanks and enjoy!!

Autumn (on behalf of Group 3)

Student Centered Instructional Strategies

STUDENT CENTERED LEARNING

Please click here for presentation.

Click here to access ASSURE Model paper.

Using Cell Phones as Learning Tools

The cell phone is a piece of personal technology which most students have spent a great deal of time learning about. In today’s school environment of dwindling budgets, cel phones can be used as personal mini computers for students that don’t have to be purchased by the schools. Also, electronic communication that is possible with cell phones, such as emails and texts, can greatly cut down on the amount of paper used at a school.Banning cell phones from schools because they could be used inappropriately is akin to banning pens from schools because they could be used to write notes to pass back and forth in class or pencils because they could be used to poke someone in the eye. When new technology is unfamiliar, there is a tendency to be fearful or distrustful. Cell phones can certainly be distracting, but used correctly, can be a terrific teaching tool.

There are some terrific cell phone learning strategies that can be used and customized for specific subjects and age ranges. The “flipped” classroom model of listening to lectures outside of class electronically while completing homework and projects inside of class is possible by sending the lectures to cell phones as MP3s. Programs are being developed all the time such as “School Town” which allows students and teachers to collaborate in chats areas or Wiffiti which allows the teacher to show the class a screen and the students can text in their opinions.

In the library, I would encourage students to use Evernote on their cell phones. Students can use this program to type notes, clip web pages, take photos and grab screenshots. Evernote would be an invaluable tool when students are working on research projects in and out of the library as it allows them to keep all of their notes together.

Ormiston, M. TeachHub.com: K-12 News, Lessons & Shared Resources By Teachers, For Teachers. Retrieved from http://www.teachhub.com/how-use-cell-phones-learning-tools.

My technology strengths and weaknesses:

In facilitating and inspiring student learning and creativity, I am able to model collaborative knowledge construction be engaging in learning with students and colleagues in both face to face and virtual environments. I have used Skype to chat with colleagues from other schools and model collaboration for the students by working on cross curricular projects with other teachers. I need to learn more educational software programs so that I can promote and model creative and innovative thinking.

I am able to design or adapt relevant learning experiences incorporating digital tools in my work as advisor and teacher for the yearbook class. I have worked digitally on yearbooks at over five schools and used different software programs at each school and quickly became familiar with the various techniques. I have not had the time to customize and personalize learning styles using digital tools and resources.

In producing the electronic newsletters for our school’s parents and faculty, I have collaborated a great deal with people asking me to post articles, images, photos, google docs and links. I will need to teach these programs – specifically Dreamweaver and Blackbaud – to my replacement as I am moving on to another career opportunity.

I strive to be a good example of digital citizenship, and am very polite and have good digital communication etiquette, and am fully aware that each and every electronic communication that I send can be disseminated to the world at large. I am less certain about the copyright issues that arise in my use of photos found on line that I use for internal documents.

I have been so focused on my graduate school studies for my MLIS that I have not been able to participate in learning communities other than those at the University of North Texas. I have learned a great deal in this program, but look forward to reaching out to a larger community when I am finished.