Blog Reflection

This was my first time ever blogging. I do not feel like I have good enough writing skills to keep a blog going. This project or assignment (whatever you would like to call it) was definitely out of my comfort zone. I do like the idea of blogging. I think that it is a great way to get your ideas out there for everyone to see. I think the fact that I got to choose what to make my blog about helped me out tremendously. There were a couple times I caught myself putting no effort into my blogs (or at least feeling like it took no effort) because I was so into my topic. I would definitely recommend picking a topic that you are truly passionate about if you are going to start a blog. It makes it so much easier. I think that if I was teaching in an upper elementary classroom I would definitely use blogs. One thing that comes to mind is having my students use a blog as their science notebook/journal. The most difficult part of this assignment for me was trying to make my blogs informational, but at the same time, interesting.

How to Use Technology in The Classroom

In my last two blog posts,  I have talked about why we should use technology in our classroom and what technologies to use. In this post, I am going to focus on how to use technology in the classroom. I think that using technology is important, but it is very important for teachers to know how to use it properly. Newer teachers are probably better at using technology than older teachers, just because we grew up learning how to use it.
One great way to use technology in the classroom is by using PowerPoint. PowerPoint can be used for game such as Jeopardy. Kids love this and it is a great way to review (Haynes). PowerPoints can also be used for presentations. I know students love making these presentations. High schoolers even secretly enjoy it.
Sure, teachers can have the class listen to podcasts, but how awesome would it be to create a class podcast?! Creating a podcast is actually very simple. All you have to do is make a SoundCloud account, and hit record! Trust me, if I can do it, anyone can. The kids will love this! It could be anything from reading a book to singing a song!
Teachers can also create a class website. This is pretty simple too. The best thing about class websites is that you can share information with parents without printing off all of those newsletters. Teachers can also publish their students' work on the class website. Not only will the parents love this, but so will the kiddos. They will think that it is the best thing ever that their work is on the Internet. (you can make the parents have login information so that a bunch of random people can't see your students' work)
Teachers could use the Smart Board to Skype with people outside the classroom. It would be a great way for students to interact with others. This could be done with other students from a different classroom or even a different school. It could be done with other adults, like a police officer could give the students a virtual tour of the police station.
There are so many ways to integrate technology in the classroom! Most of them are very simple. Teachers just have to be willing to put in the effort.
References:

 Haynes, K. (n.d.). 12 Easy Ways to Use Technology in the Classroom, Even for Technophobic Teachers. Retrieved October 13, 2016, from http://www.teachhub.com/12-easy-ways-use-technology-your-classroom-even-technophobic-teachers 

What Technology is Best for Classroom Use?

Technology makes the classroom more interactive and more collaborative. I feel like both of these things are very important elements of education. Students have the opportunity to work with other students without being in the same area as them. They have the opportunity to interact with students from another state or country. Technology opens so many doors for our students, and I think that it will only continue to get better. In this post, I am going to talk about the best technologies to use in the classroom.
The first technology that I think that every single classroom should have is a Smart Board. I know that some schools do not have the funding to get these, but the students really benefit from these. Smart Boards allow students to get involved in interactive activities of any kind. They also allow teachers to show videos, play podcasts, etc.
The iPad is the second technology that I think that every student should have access to at school. Kids love these things, and they are so great at using them! It is crazy to me how well my three year old students can operate my iPad. The Apple Store has a huge selection of educational apps and games that the students can use. They can also share their work on the iPad, connect to the internet or research, etc.
I think that upper elementary classrooms, middle school classrooms, and high school classrooms should have access to laptops. Laptops allow the students to connect to the internet, but they also give the students access to a full keyboard for typing. This is a great way for students to be able to use Google Docs, or any other kind of collaborative website.
I think that teachers should utilize the websites on the internet. They can use youtube for videos. Sound Cloud is a great site for podcasts. There are so many different websites that students can use for presentations. Some of these websites are Prezi, Powtoon, Google Slides, etc. The great thing about these presentation sites is that they are collaborative. The students can work together on their presentation even when they are not together at school.
Teachers should take advantage of all of these different technologies. There are also many more that they could use. No matter what technology teachers decide to use, they will be enhancing their students' education.
REFERENCE:

 Top 28 Technology Products for K-12 Classrooms. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2016, from http://www.k-12techdecisions.com/photo/top_25_technology_products_for_k12_classrooms_in