Google docs

I really enjoyed learning about Google docs. I think they will be a great resources to use in a classroom. I imagine that when I'm teaching, I'll have computer and work and then another computer at home, and I can already see some problems arising. I can use Google docs to store my information so I will be able to access it from any computer.

As far as incorporating it into my lesson plans, I think it is a great tool for students to use when working on group projects or peer editing. This way they won't have to email each other attachments and there won't be problems with opening the attachments depending on how the file is saved, etc. It is a great resource to use and allows the students to work on it based on their own, individual schedules.

Google Earth

I decided to take an in depth look at Google Earth. I had seen other people use it before but I had never used it on my own, so I thought it would be a good idea to check it out. Using my mouse, I was able to navigate my way across the whole world. There are small compasses in the upper left hand corner of the screen that help with navigation. There is also an option that allows you to zoom in or out. Since I have always wanted to go to London, I made my way across the ocean and then zoomed in. I was able to zoom all the way on to street level where I saw cars in the streets and all of the different buildings in London. There are three different aspects that I was able to use when looking at the city. I could use a street map which took away the buildings and cars and just showed the streets. There is a satelite map that showssatelite imagery of the city, and also an Earth map which is 3D. The user can also type in different searches in the Search Bar to find different locations in the city. I typed in "Fish and Chips" and it found hundreds of restaurants around the city where I could eat fish and chips. I did notice,though, that as I zoomed in closer and closer, the images started to get a little blurry and fuzzy.
Google Earth could help accompany lessons where students are learning about different countries or regions. They can virtually travel to those places and see what the landscape is like, if it is mainly rural or urban, and many other things. They can navigate their way around cities and find different locations. I would suggest, though, that Google Earth should be accompanied with photos and readings about the places of study. While it is informative,it isn't enough to use as the only source of information for a place.

Twitter

I can see how Twitter is a quick and effective way to communicate to a large group of people. It makes me feel connected to people I have never met, or friends that I have grown apart from. On a professional level, a teacher could set up an account and have his/her students become followers. She could post homework assignments, readings, or articles that the students could be interested in. It would make the classroom more interactive. It could be problematic, though, if the teacher used Twitter to post assignments without announcing them in class. If a student didn't check online or didn't have online access, there could be issues when the class rejoins the following day.
On a personal level, I'm not a very big fan of Twitter...yet. I like it when people post interesting news or articles, but I think all of the personal tweets can be a little bit too much for me. I think my Twitter use will be on a more professional level.

Creative Commons

This is the photo I licensed with Creative Commons.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/50861686@N06/?saved=1

Using Images

Images can be very useful to use in a classroom. They can help focus the students' attention and provide a visual image that can connect the teacher's thoughts to the students'. I have noticed that when someone includes images during a lecture, either using PowerPoint or some other form, it helps keep my attention on the topic at hand. Using images is a way to incorporate different styles of learning into a lesson plan. I know I am a visual learner, so if I can see pictures of what is being discussed, I am able to gain a better understanding.


Photo Attribution:
Original Image: "The roots of education are bitter"
http://www.flickr.com/photos/schluesselbein/3111180478/sizes/s/
By:Schlusselbein2007

Released under an Attribution
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en

Technology in the Classroom

I felt that my last placement had a lot of room to improve on integrating technology into the classroom. There were 3 computers in the classroom that the students would use periodically when working on projects or doing any sort of research. The school also had a computer lab that the teacher could request for half an hour intervals. There wasn't any sort of classroom website or ways for the teacher to communicate to the entire class online. The school, however, was in a lower-income community and from talking to some of the students, not everyone had internet access at home. There were probably still ways that the teacher could have creatively incorporated technology into the lessons.