What is a Storybird?

And what does it do? What can you become if you go to this website too?

I highly recommend any new writer, any creative individual to check out www.Storybird.com. It is a fantastic and interesting way to create stories for children or peers (depending on your age).  The site is incredibly easy to use and aw inspiring. 

When you log onto the site and create your account, you are able to create a story.  But the way you create your story is backwards; you choose your picture to describe your story FIRST, then you create text based on the picture.  Most of the time, when one creates a story,t he art is the last thing the author adds.  Instead, Storybird makes it the focal point of the book.  Many people forget that the pictures are able to tell a story too, often without words.  The art that is feature on the site is beautiful and there is something for everyone.  You are able to tell the creators of the site spend time looking for a wide variety of artwork for the creators to choose from and from many different artists.

When I logged on and started creating my story, it was so easy.  I am not very inventive and it is not always easy for me to create a story off the time of my head, but I had no trouble this time.  I felt like the pictures I choose gave me the words to write.  It was so easy and enjoyable.

This is a highly recommended site!

Databases and spreadsheets

I enjoyed using databases and spreadsheets to organize information that I find.

I think that spreadsheets are a useful tool to use while trying to present information to a group of students as well.  It is organized and structured which allows children to not get lost while reading the information.  For spreadsheets to be usable, they have to have labels above all the individual information they are trying to present.  Teachers need to make sure that the information they are gathering and organizing is clearly labeled for their students' optimal usage.  Spreadsheets are also so easy to create.  One of the great things is that children can create a spreadsheet not on a computer so they have one handy for whatever circumstances may come.  Spreadsheets should constantly be used in the classroom if teachers need to organize a lot of information.  The programs that we find on computers present day are excellent.  There are so many options and things one may do on a computerized spreadsheet that the possibilities are endless.

Databases are something that the internet age can not live without.  They keep track of all the information one may find anywhere on the internet about anything.  Databases are used by any age level because they are so easy to use and understand.  While language may differ between databases, the concept of a database is irreplaceable.  The entire internet is one database of sharing ideas as a whole.  I find databases to be extremely resourceful and necessary to do any of my work or research.

WebQuests

      Before this assignment, myself, like probably most of the world, had no idea what a WebQuest was.  As it turns out the concept and idea of a WebQuest is a smart and effective one.  It can be used anywhere where there is an internet connection whether it be school, home, public, or private, and they can be really successful indicators of thought.  As I browsed the site that hosts thousands of WebQuests, I stumbled upon some good ones, some bad ones, and some exemplary ones.  

     But what is a WebQuest you may ask.  Well, a WebQuest is simply an online lesson plan that spells out what a student's task is, what is expected of them, resources for them to use online, and a rubric to help self evaluate themselves as it goes along.  The lesson or task at hand needs to be completed by a student or a group of students by following the directions given.  There are tabs on the left hand side of the page that helps the student navigate what the should be doing and what the task comprises of.  I actually think the idea of WebQuests are great tools for extended vacations where you can give the students one assignment to complete.  It allows the student to reflect back on the assignment as often as they like and the goal of the teacher or creator of the WebQuest is to make is as clear as possible.  

     So think of it like this: you are a teacher and you need to give your students and assignment.  You want them to build knowledge,  you want to induce higher ordered thinking, you want them to use online resources to help them gain said knowledge, then a WebQuest is the type of lesson plan for you.  It allows children to work at home on their own and understand the entire task because it is spelled out for them.  With the Evaluation tab at hand, children have no reason to not know what to expect when they are graded on the already given rubric.

    But users beware; there are good ones and bad ones (as is the same with any lesson plan or anything in the world for that matter).  It takes a lot of weeding through the so-so and bad WebQuests online if you do not want to create one yourself.  But many tasks are great for a variety of students and there is no shortage of them by any means. I would definitely use one during my teaching career and experiment once to see if I liked it.  

Inspiration and Kidspiration

So while navigating these programs for a few days and finally finishing my product, I have to say I am not very happy.  The child's program was much easier to use for some reason.  I was having a very difficult time with my Inspiration.  On the Inspiration program, it would not allow me to open any templates so I had to do one on the fly.  It didn't give me any options; it said there were some available online but I did not think that was what I should do since I did not buy the program.

The Kidspiration program was much easier to use even though they are basically the same thing.  I was simply having much more trouble with the one geared for older children.  It is very rare that any software programs elude me but this one had me confused for most of it.  I don't think I would ever use the Inspir. program again.  It seemed like there are more efficient programs out there like PowerPoint, Paint, and Microsoft Word.  It was definitely not very user friendly (at least for myself).

I like being introduced to new programs.  It helps broaden my knowledge of school-related software which is something all teachers should strive for.  Although one of the two programs did not fit me well, I still loved exploring it.

Technology Haiku

To be without you
Bird without its flying wings
Tech flows in my blood.

Ode to the Newsletter

This past week in class we discussed the idea of creating and utilizing a newsletter in our own classroom.  Are newsletters important? Are newsletters useful? Is it hard to even make one? The good news is that the brief answers to these three questions are yes, yes, and no.

The classroom newsletter is an informal way to update/remind parents, guardians, and the children what has happened that past week, what will happen in the immediate future, and any other interesting information that is going on in their classroom.  The newsletter can relay information to parents that the children simply forgot to tell them (because we all know that sometimes, children just simply 'forget' to tell us things).  Since it comes directly from the teacher's fingertips, the parents or guardians are sure to be able to rely on the information given.  Most parents are incredibly involved in their child's education, so they actually do appreciate the update every so often.  The most important question over all are whether they are useful or not.  Yes.  Do parents what to know what their children are doing? Yes. Do parents want to be reminded of what is coming up? Yes they do.  Do parents want to know about where their child spends 6 hours a day? Yes, they definitely do.   Newsletters answer questions for parents without the constant emails or phone calls to the teacher every day or week.  Newsletters help parents remember, because they need help too.

Not all newsletters are created equal and not all newsletters have to be the same.  The beauty about newsletters is that anyone and everyone can make one.  Sure, you might have someone that is incredibly technological savvy create one, but it does not take immense skill to do so.  Over the summer I work at a day camp and am required to write a newsletter every Thursday to send home with the children on Friday.  My summer newsletters are simply, contain only a few pictures and are only 1 page long.  We tell the parents what the group will be doing that following week and any reminders of special events.  We also tell the parents what we did the past week and in addition remind parents of simple things like lunch, water, and sneakers.  My summer newsletters is simple and not incredibly aesthetically appealing, but it got the job done.  Creating my newsletter for this class has opened new doors of wonder.  From beautiful Fall templates to starting from scratch, anything can be achieved.  It is the imagination of the individual to create their own newsletter with their own preference.  Creating a newsletter for myself is not difficult.  I believe I am part of the demographic who is not afraid of computers and can navigate any sort of technological item in front of me.  I know that creating a newsletter for the assignment will take a copious amount of time, but I am willing to sit there and create something interesting and appealing to prepare myself for the future.

Technology and the Newest Generation

Although many might disagree, I believe that my generation (ages 18-30) were the "testers" and "first wide-spread users" of modern day technology. Although most technology is an improved spin-off of older and currently outdated...machinery...the generation I currently and will always be affiliated with helped start the momentum of present and future products that will come out on the market.

But has anyone realized the newest generation in the classroom and how they work with new technology? We all had to learn how to use products. We all had to become familiar with the lingo and logistics and hardware and software and every other type of "ware" out there. But these children just seem to know how to use it from the get-go. And how? Are the children in utero taught how to use it so when they pop out you can shove an I-Pod in their hands and they know how to find the artist and song they want a.s.a.p? Are the invisible gamma, x, uv, micro, and etc rays invading their minds with technology before they are born?

I say this because as I walk into the classroom tomorrow, I expect every child to know how to use the Smart Board that their classroom will have. I expect every child know how to use a computer better than my parents' generation. I expect every child to bring in some sort of electronic during the school and get it taken away from them because you aren't supposed to bring electronics to school. And I know I will not be disappointed.

This past semester I had second graders. They were the light of my life. And they all knew how to use a Smart Board better than me (but not for long...I'm still older and still a littttttleeee bit smarter).  It was incredible that these children knew the ins and outs of the newest school technology and they didn't really get to handle it everyday (even though they used it with the teacher). It was simply remarkable. I couldn't imagine trying to teach an adult how to use technology; often they seem stuck in the older, slower and outdated ways of operation (even though there is nothing wrong with it).  My generation and the younger ones strive on quickness and efficiency. We strive for  better and faster equipment for our knowledge.  And this is not a bash on any one older than me, its just simply working with adults and working with children, that I notice a large and growing divide. Children and young adults are ready to tackle the newest $500 software, my uncle wishes he still had a Polaroid camera. It might be cool, just outdated.

But "technology in the classroom" is a phrase that will never become outdated.