Google Part 2

What was taught in computer tech class this week? We are learning about google sites this week in the classroom. In class we went over google sites and how to create one. We named the site whatever we thought would be appropriate for a school teacher's web site, we were asked to have six pages with different information on each page. We could set each page up by either having a web page, a file cabinet, an announcements page, and list page, I named my classroom website torgdman sixth grade. We could arrange the pages how we wanted as long as all the content assigned was placed in them. I made clouds as the background, I don't know ho that will be as a teacher, it might have to be changed sometime.

So What? I was a little lost when we stated talking about links and how to link one thing to another within a website. Google sites are new to me, it is not something I have ever seen or even dealt with. I always had in mind that creating a website was a hard thing to do. My brother in law created my web page for my hardwood flooring company and he took about a month to finish it. I didn't now before this week that creating a web page and posting things on the Internet could be so easily done. It is awesome how technology has come right to our font doors, allowing all who want to view to be able to post information to all the world can do so. We did information flyers and brochures last semester in computer class, but paper is not even really needed anymore. A teacher can show any information about the classroom on the web. I started college again after waiting ten years to make my return, and I was surprised to see how much education on the college level has also changed. If I need to know any information about the class, or about what assignment is due, I can look online and find the answer. I think education is just going to get better students know way too much, so why shouldn't we know way too much?

Now what? I'm going to first, finish the assignment on my web page so I can remember how to do this stuff in the future. I want to do a web page in the future with my classroom. My wife teaches 3rd grade this year, and she says she has a website. I don't think she uses it the way I am planning on using mine in the future. I plan on using a calendar o map out all assignments due for each day they are assigned. i also plan on using the web page for all announcements I want my students and the parents to read. I will give information on resources that will aid students in homework or help them to understand the lesson better. I will post study guides on the web just in case a student needs it last minute, or he or she has forgotten it at school. I will sure love to implement the google sites in my future classroom. It is easy to manage, we did this all in class time. If I am able to learn it in two hours my students will surely know how to do all these things I am learning in two years. I can tell my brother in law that I do not need his help to create a web page anymore. I am excited to teach school with all the things I am learning now. I will use all the things I am learning to make myself a better teacher.

Video, Do schools kill creativity?

I was asked in an interview to get into the program, if I thought that the arts were important in our schools today. I think arts allow the mind to create, I also think that we learn more with creativity than we all know. I thought this video was hilarious, and very interesting. He was trying to be funny,but he brought out some good points. Degrees are not worth anything, because of the academic inflation, he said intelligence is dynamic. Creativity comes from the different ways of seeing things. In schools technology seems to be taking over, which is not a bad thing, but we cannot take arts out of the curriculum because we can't destroy the different ways the children of today see things. Hands on art brings creativity, and creativity brings greater learning. It was a good video and I enjoyed listening to it. I do think that twenty minutes is a long video to reflect on for just one or two paragraphs. It is our job to help children make something out of their own lives.

Google Part 1

What? We are learning about google. This week we are learning how to work with google docs ad presentations. This means we are learning how to create documents and view the over the web without having or needing a program running on your computer. All information is saved on the google mainframe.

So what? I am being a little redundant with this blog because I had the same assignment last semester. I think that google docs are great, and I do have more experience with them this time than I did last semester. The reason I know more now is because I do like it so much. I used Google Docs all the time for everything I could think of to use it. I taught my daughter how to use Google Docs. I like all the things I can do to share with others. One thing that makes me a little frustrated is the compatibility issue with other programs. It is also not reliable with the printer. I will finish a document and print it and it is all different from what the document said it would be. I have had to print preview and fix before I print. I guess it is worth it when I don't have to save it and carry a zip drive with me all the time. I am a fan of google and all it has to offer.

Now what? I do hope that google works out some of the quirks with the programs and printing compatibility. I will use google I am not a fan of blogging, but I am sure that blogging with blogger is better because it is a google based program. I will use google docs and presentations to assist me in my teaching. I will try and use them for my sixth graders and use them for writing and sharing activities. I am excited to see what I can do with google in the future.

Video I had ever heard the speech that The President gave a while back. I was interested in what was said. He was talking to all the students and pleading with them to be better and strive to learn. Education is not an interest to many of our students today. I am glad the President is making a stand to get the education in the nation built up with more incentive for the learning. The video was long, but I am a slow typist so I could listen while I typed. I liked it a lot.

My Ideal Classroom

My ideal classroom would be a classroom that is well organized. It would look similar to a sketch drawn here;
The layout would be 5 groups of six desks bundled together in the center of the room. Along one of the walls we would have the media center with at least 5 computers, preferably Macs, but any would work really. I would have a Smartboard hanging on the wall above the instruction center. It has to be a Smartboard because I am a horrible scriptorian. It is legible, however, I would be so much cooler if I had a Smartboard. I could also watch videos and all the other things that I plan on doing with technology. The room will be set up for the techie of all techies. The classroom is going to be different in two years, so I need to start preparing now for that time. Technology needs to be present in the classroom, so I hope it will be possible for the classroom to have the computers in the room. When the students need to look up some information for a certain subject, they could do that there. Also, I would love to have the computers there for activities when a student completes an assignment early. I will have a good library of interactive learning tools they will be able to use there. I will also convert the Media Center to a Listening Center for reading or reading comprehension.

I want to have a large area for teacher reading, or Share Reading. It would be cool if I could have a rug of some sort on the floor there. In the corner there will be pillows or something comfortable to sit on. It will be a great area for group interaction. It will also be a great place for inside recess on those horrid days we can't go outside. The room needs to be big, because I need a lot of space for the ideas that are on the sketch. I am getting excited just thinking about how things Will look in the classroom. I would even give up some of my space in the teacher corner to make some of these things happen.

In the other corner opposite the teacher corner is a reading outpost. I call it this because I will construct a little shack for a reading corner. The kids won't want to do anything other that read because it Will be so cool. Well, that is if the computers won't take over. There are only going to be five of those so the reading post will be an option for all as well during extra time. The other wall will have many books to choose from. I hope to start a library so some day it will need to be a large bookcase that goes all the way across the wall.

Then comes the Math Center. It is going to be the place where all the math for the day will be displayed. It will have brainteasers,sample math problems, harder math problems from upcoming lessons, and many other things that will keep the students learning math. I know the layout and it will be a classroom ready to learn. All of my students will have a learning experience there.

Do you believe in me? I remember this video from the first time I watched it. I didn't like it very much the first time. It was kind of annoying hearing the kid say the same thing over and over. this time I was interested a little bit more because I was able to recognize how important we are in the lives of these students. We as teachers are going to have a big load on our shoulders to guide our students through life. The students are trusting towards us to help them and teach them, do we trust them enough to help them.