Google Maps?

In our DED 318 class we were shown how to use google maps and how people have used it as an educational tool. I was not very excited to hear that we were to do a map and relate it to a lesson. However after I gave google map a try I came to find out that I loved it. It is not hard to use and very useful resource. I made my lesson and map over chronological order, and I have to say I had fun doing it. Google has made the maps a resource that both the teachers and the students can use. If you would like to see my lesson plan or my map please visit my website at http://yashiracoles.weebly.com/ and feel free to contact me either thorough the form on the contact page or by leaving a comment on my blog.
Thanks for reading!

Challenge Based Learning Reflection

For our Challenge Based Learning Reflection my group did "seat-belts for safety." We used Prezi for the presentation and google docs to share the information. I really liked Prezi. It is something that I know for sure I will use in my future classroom! I know this because it is a very user friendly resource and even students can use it as a form of assessment. I have learned a lot from it and and really recommend the source. The link for Prezi is provided below:
http://prezi.com/
Hope you guys find it useful in your classroom!

Reflection: Classroom 2.0

I am not entire sure how I feel about the classroom 2.0 web-page. It was difficult for me to find my way around there is just so much in that page but the one thing that got my attention was the forum tab. I clicked on it and it took me to a kind of blog for teachers, in this blog they express their concerns and ask for advice from other fellow colleagues! I really liked this part of the web-page it was extremely informational and it was easy to cruise through. It was also easy to manage, posting a question was easy and convenient. It was like a counselor or advise column on the go! I really liked this part of the web-site. There is also a chat button in case you need advice ASAP or just want to build your network.

Comics in the classroom!

So, I just made a comic strip to show how i could use it for non-linguistic representations for ESL students. I made mine about a few room essentials. However, there are many ways you can use this resource in the classroom. For example, one way is to use it as an assessment method to see how much understanding the student has acquired. The students can represent their understanding in their own way by making a comic about it, this could also help the other students view the material in a different way which can lead to even better understanding. This is just one way we can use it in many ways, we just have to be creative!

Edu-teacer reflection:

I really like edu-teacher! This website is full of resources and best of all you can do a search by subject or you can even search for ESL or special ed. I did a ESL + special ed. + teacher resources and it gave me a tool called abc ya! ( http://abcya.com/). This tool also has a grade search engine, but I like the one about reading. It has guided reading and activities to train the brain to remember. It also contains educational games about geography and many more. So this website is an extremely great resource for the teacher to use as a visual for the students who are more of a visual learner. I did another seach by adding special education + teacher tools + elementary schools and it gave me the apple store for education (http://www.apple.com/education/resources/). I like this link because it gave me ideas of apps that I can download into my smartphone and use in the classroom. The last search I did was a music search and surprisingly I found a website called BrainPOP (http://www.brainpop.com/english/writing/mainidea/) this is a fun website with lots of activities by subject. I has information and ideas for lessons and lots of resources. It is definatelly a must bookmark!

Kan-ed reflection:

As a future teacher I find the Kan-ed website really helpful, not only for me but for the students as well. In this website I found resources that I can use such as Pro-quest (http://proquest.umi.com/login/refurl), and some lesson plan websites that I can use for the development of my class. For students I found links such as online tutoring (http://lhh.tutor.com/default.aspx?ProgramGUID=d9a59c92-f331-440e-a34a-38b0c47eb4fb), and the "4 kids website" (http://www.4kids.org/) that the students can use to better their academics. I found the website because of how helpful it can be especially for new teacher who are looking for resources and ideas. This website even contains a grant writing link (http://search.grantwrangler.com/), that's how resourceful and reliable it is. I really will keep this website in mind and for sure use it!

Twitter reflection:

I have tried twitter for a semester now and I still do like it. Yes, there is a lot of information there and resources posted by teachers but it is not for me. Since I opened the account back in January I have posted about three times in there, I use my facebook more than twitter. It is just not for me. I gave it a try but I have made up my mind on which side i take when it comes to twitter. But who knows maybe in the future I will find it more helpful when I am in the classroom. But for now I will more than likely not use it.

Podcast reflection #12: Life Practice:

In this episode we have Ginger Lewman, the director of Turning Point Learning center in Emporia Kansas. In the episode they talked about making connections to their learners and bout many other things that make or shaper a 21st century education. Connections that they use are through technology. These projects are so that the students can step out of their own little world and join the entire would and see it and discover it as it really is. They enforce thinking of life beyond their surrounding and thinking of life and culture of the world. I like this because it gave me ideas of what I can use in the classroom and what I can do to link that material to the students more effectively.

Podcast reflection #11: No Flute? Play your iphone!:

For this episode of driving questions they are playing the ocarina, an app for the iPhone form Smule. While he was playing he was thinking what it would mean for children to have this musical tool anytime anywhere through the phone. He also explains how to get to the app and how to use it. He mentions that this music app can be played with multiple and just like a regular flute you would have to blow in it for sound to come out and the keys need to be pressed as well. So this app is like actually playing a flute. I wonder what this apps hold for the future music classes and how that would change the educational expenses since it can potentially replace actual instruments.

Podcast reflection #10: Geocaching in education:

In this episode of diving question Bentley Richert, Tammy Worchester, and Becky Herl share a recent geocaching lesson they recently did with kids in Burton schools in Burton Kansas. It is said that the preparation and design came from thinking about the students and the life cycle for science. They listened to what the students wanted to learn and a team came up with an activity/ lesson. This lesson is very technology based. They used GPS for a type of scavenger hunt for the students to have some discovery learning. This team recommends the use of GPS for kinesthetic students, it helps them link material together and remember it more affectively. I liked this podcast because the team used a common topic and made it fun by implementing technology and team work. I liked how creative the team was and how they though about the students, their interest and learning styles.

Podcast reflection #9: Rural 21st century learning!:

Walton 21st century rural life center is a public charter school on a mission to promote rural family farm value while developing 21st century skilled learners. The principal mentioned that the hands on approach work for their diverse learners and that is why they have managed to integrate farming into the curriculum. They also use technology and show the students how to use it in the farms by seeing how farmers use it today. This school and their strategies are well organized and its very student focused. I like how the material is focused on farming but can be used in real life.

Podcast reflection #8: Driving questions: Micro-wave cookbook

In this episode of diving questions they interviewed regional Arizona cooking celebrity Dee Dee Czarnowski. She has 24 years of experience when it comes to cooking with a microwave. She went to cooking classes at Sears to learn and later on became the teacher of the class. She teaches micro-cooking at an alternative school and at a juvenile detention center. At the juvenile detention center she teaches the students how to keep a budget and still be able to eat. I like this interview because she seems very passionate of what she does. She also appeared as very credible women and teaches the kids what she knows best keeping in mind their learning differences. For example, she uses DVDs and hands on activities for the students learning. Although I am still not sure what this interview had to do with education but I liked how dedicated she is and how she found a way to help students in her own way.