Learning about how we learn is very important for teachers, students, and parents! School is not the only environment that should be used for learning. I believe it is important for students, parents, and teachers to understand how mindset works and how it effects our lives so that we can all become better learners and thinkers. Neuroscience studies show that the brain changes and becomes more capable when we work hard to improve ourselves. A person with a growth mindset believes that intelligence is a quality that can be developed and it takes effort to make us smart- learning is the goal. A fixed mindset believes that intelligence is a fixed trait, effort is bad, and the goal is to look smart no matter what the situation. Which person has a growth mindset and which has a fixed mindset? Click this link to read more about growing your intelligence! https://docs.google.com/a/msu.edu/file/d/0B6QWYmAscn7Qa3dfSC1ZV1dIR2c/edit After attending a workshop on using iPads in the classroom at Michigan State University, I learned about many different applications that are useful in lesson teaching and planning. Some of the apps included Barefoot Atlas, Story Lines, Word Bingo, and Words Confused. One app that I could definitely picture myself using was one called educreations. This app allows you to create and share video lessons. The best part about this app, is if you don't have an iPad available to you, you can still use your browser to create a lesson. Educreations can record voice, download images, and you can even write or type on a page on the video. It allows you, as a teacher to keep lesson plans fun and engaging, and can also save time as it is extremely user friendly! Another fabulous thing about this app is that is can be used for any subject matter and you can even use other teacher's lessons that they shared. It allows for networking and idea sharing- all through one free iPad app! Recently, I found this video of a third grade class using video cameras to document field trips and trips out into the community based on their history lessons. I found that I would want to incorporate video cameras in my classrooms, even if we just went outside for a science lesson. Video cameras are extremely easy to use and are a fun technology that young students would be able to handle and use as well. Local libraries or high schools often have video cameras or photo cameras available for students or people to sign out and borrow, If I were to work for this school, I would best prepare by reaching out to local areas and getting a feel for my options and available materials around me. I would also try to find inspiration through lesson plans by networking with other teachers to see how they would incorporate this techino A lot of online resources today, deal with networking, which is very beneficial to teachers (and parents!) of any level. Networking allows for teachers and parents to communicate and share ideas on different technologies used in the classroom, what works for them and what doesn't, and allows for teachers to stay updated on the most recent findings in education technology. It is important for teachers, parents, and administrative staff, to stay connected through networking sites and educational online sites to stay on top of the ever-growing technological world. It takes all kinds of teachers, parents, and administration to provide the best possible education for students. There are so many available online resources that can be used in the classroom. Technology can really change the way material is taught and the way student's learn in an effective and positive way. Storybird, Starfall, ABCmouse.com, Wideo, and Pinterest, are just a few of the many resources a teacher can use to engage and freshen up teaching styles and, believe it or not, these resources are early-elementary user friendly! StorybirdStorybird is an amazing program that can be used on any technological device. Storybird allows you to create, share, and read visual stories based on illustrations that the site has compiled from various illustrators and graphic designers throughout the world. Storybird is a community for story tellers! This technology is truly awesome because I can use it in the classroom to inspire my class with the artwork and endless possibilities the children have with creating their own story based on an image. It is truly a gift to language arts teachers everywhere. StarfallStarfall is a free website that was created in 2002 that aims to teach children to read with phonics. Starfall offers online games, books, and various online activities that use phonics in a fun, and comfortable way. Children in a classroom would find this website very fun and could even practice with it at home. This website is a great way to teach students how to use technology such as the internet in a safe and productive way. ABCmouse.comABCmouse.com is another website that is used to teach preschool - kindergarten children a full curricula through various activities. ABCmouse.com is not, however, a free website, but does offer a 30 trial. ABCmouse.com is not limited to just reading and has a plethora of activities ranging from art activities, songs, online books, games, international education, math, and print-ables. This website is unique and useful in the classroom in the fact that the lessons are progressive, meaning they increase with difficulty of material as the child moves through them, as well as progress tracking. These features would make classroom organization easier and progress tracking would be useful as pretests or post assessments for different parts of the curricula taught in the classroom. WideoWideo is an online video site that allows you to create animation videos for the classroom, presentations, teaching lessons, or for fun! It is a very easy, and user friendly resource. One way this can be used to teach language arts is to create a video based on a story or writing piece that can be shown after reading the book. Children love to see the story come to life and can really help children comprehend literature. In relation to networking, this site is fantastic for staying connected to fellow coworkers, teachers, and parents. Pinterest allows you to create different "boards" in which you can "pin" ideas, pictures, lesson plans, or whatever you find interesting to certain boards. This site is a great way to gain inspiration and increase creativity in the classroom. This is useful in the classroom based on the fact that it can help the teacher create fun and memorable lessons in creative ways.
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April 2014
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