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1.  Why you have chosen to teach, and what attracts you to your field?

2. Teaching is, to some extent, a researched based profession. What you hope to emphasize in your teaching and what do you want to research?

Answers to Questions

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2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

Amid the Pyramids

The title of my webquest is Amid the Pyramids. Students will travel back in time to learn about ancient Egypt. In this WebQuest they will create a mummy, read the book Tut's Mummy Lost . . . And Found, write a newspaper article, create an amulet, and make a model pyramid. The projects assigned to my students are rather large projects. So, each project is a "team project". Every project has a different team leader except for reading the book.. Each team consists of four members. Students will be assessed using a grading rubric. They will be graded on the accuracy and quality of their work, as well as group participation.

2 a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

Quiz

Below is the link to the quiz I created in class today.

Quiz

Google Form

Today during class we created a google form. I titled my form "Fairmont State University Questionaire". It is a survey about students' experiences on campus at Fairmont State University.

My major is currently Elementary Education. If I wanted to use this survey in my professional life I would need to change the questions to fit the school where I am teaching at.

Survey

Results

Prezi

Sample on Prezi

Free Multimedia Tools

Today during class we learned about free multimedia tools:

1) Issu

2) Prezi

Intel Tools

In class today, we ranked the different WebQuests using Intel Tools.

WebQuests

For this assignment, I looked at and analyzed each of the five assigned webquests: Saving the Gorillas, World of Shakespeare, Anti-Earthquake Designer, Foreign Country Presentation, and Waves and Sound. I ranked them in order of what I thought was the weakest to the strongest.

1. Waves and Sound
The Waves and Sound WebQuest is laid out very neatly. However, there is just not much variety for the students to do. In all of the other WebQuests the students are assigned various tasks. This WebQuest is mainly busy work.

2. Foreign Country
I really like the idea of the Foreign Country Presentation. I just think the task should be a little bit more clearly presented to the students. It is a kind of vague. For a presentation, there are quite a few spelling errors that need to be fixed. I really like the variety of activities the students are assigned to complete. Those would be fun.

3. Saving the Gorillas
Saving the Gorillas is a very creative WebQuest topic that the designer must be very passionate about. However, I think it is sloppily put together and there really aren't that many tasks for the students to complete.

4. World of Shakespeare
The World of Shakespeare WebQuest is put together in a very neatly fashion. I really liked the variety of tasks that were assigned. I liked the scrapbook the best. I also like that each member of the group is assigned a role such as the Actor, Historian, etc.

5. Become an Anti-Earthquake Designer
The Become an Anti-Earthquake Designer WebQuest is very neat. I think it would be the most fun to complete. I like how the designer broke the tasks into weeks for the students to complete. The WebQuest is presented in a very organized manner which makes reading easier.

And so, there you have it (((((:

Jeopardy

Today during class we learned how to create a Jeopardy game. I was first exposed to powerpoint Jeopardy during my sophomore year of college. My Exosphere teacher reviewed for our test using her own Jeopardy game, and ever since I have wanted learn how to create my own.
In class we learned two different ways to create our own game. The first way is a website called Jeopardy Lab which is free. It is a pretty basic website. You create your own categories, questions, answers, etc. The second way is actually powerpoint. I like that way the best. It is a little more creative. You can add clip art, sound, movies, etc.


2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

Powerpoint

Yesterday during class we worked in powerpoint. I did not realize you could do so many cool things to a powerpoint! I was very impressed that you could make objects move toward each other, etc. I used a queen and a crown. I moved the crown to the top of the queen's head. I really like working with powerpoint much so much better than excel because powerpoint is much easier for me. I am anxious to see what else can be done in powerpoint.

(((((((((((:

Powerpoint

Today I created a powerpoint on dental hygiene. I believe that it is imoprtant to teach young children good oral care habits at an early age. Children develop most of their routine habits at an early age. Therefore, teaching them these basic care tips about oral hygiene will lead to a healthier smile in their future.

Batchgeo Assignment

I just completed the batchgeo assignment. It was rather frustrating for me because I hate Excel. On the other hand, The batchgeo website is neat. I really like it beacuse I am fascinated with how computers can map locations so easily. So, I did enjoy completing this assignment
I would implement batchgeo in a social studies class. This assignment is definitley to complex for elementary school students. I would definitley modify this assigmnent to make it simpler for my students.

ISTE NETS T

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.

Google Calendar

Today I updated my calendar. I have never used Google's calendar before. I do have experience with AOL calendars. They are pretty similar. I noted on my calendar that we will not be having class all next week. Below is my embedded calendar.

Resume *

We haven't had class for a few days. So, our at home assignment was to create a resume. However, I got somewhat behind because of a cyst on my face that made my eye swell shut. The swelling went down. So, I was able complete my resume today.

Today was a very busy day in class. We started out the day by creating a blog post that had information regarding our professional education website on diigo. We wrote about the upcoming events our site was planning. Then we created a website and calendar. Here is the link to my calendar:

National Education Association

The National Education Association will be having it's Fall conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma on December 1-4, 2010. Attendees of this NCUEA will be able to participate in training sessions and seminars to help them augment local programs and keep-up-to-date on changes in urban education.

* Standard 5c

Today was our last day using Microsoft Excel. We used functions to work with a gradebook spreadsheet to find the minimum, maximum, range, and average of the students' grades. Then, we converted the numerical grades to letter grades. I found that to be the most difficult part of the assignment. This assignment was very beneficial to me because in this present time most grading is done using excel. I can use the knowledge I gained from class today and apply it to my future classroom when recording my students' grades.

Performance Assessment

Today we did a performance assessment during class. We were unable to talk while doing it.

Action Research Project

So far, we started organizing information on traditional, nontraditional, male and female student's test scores. We organized the information using Excel. We did many different calcuations and also included charts. Then, we started putting our information into a paper.

YouTube Video Created Using Photo Story

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/digitalphotography/photostory/default.mspx

Where is all of my stuff?

I used Microsoft PowerPoint to show the physical and virtual locations in which I store my work. The con of having virtual storage is if I am unable to connect to the internet then I am unable to retrieve my documents. The con of having physical storage is the risk of me losing or damaging my storage device.

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

a.	promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.

Embedded Video

Jing Video

Self Portrait

Here is the self portrait I created for class today that does not look like me.



http://www.picassohead.com/

Jing

Jing doesn't work on my computer in the lab! I had a picture of a german shepherd picked out to use. (O:

Snipping Tool

Today we learned how to use the snipping tool ((((:

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
b. engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

Personality Rest Results

I took the online personality test. The results said I was an idealist. I honestly debated about whether or not I predicted I was going to be a guardian or an idealist. I am pleased with my results. I could use the results of the survey to assist myself in leading a class of students by explaining my results to my class so they could better understand me as a person. It would also be a fun activity for me to do with my students to help them learn a little bit more about themselves.

Four Personality Temperaments

I have very little experience with personality tests. My mom is a therapist and has given them to me in the past. However, I do not remember the results. I took the personality test assigned for this class. In order from most to least like me the results are as follows: guardian, idealist, artisan, and rationalist.

I am most like a guardian. I am a very dependable person. If I say I'm going to do something, I do it. I rarely miss scheduled appointments. I always do my homework and attend class. I am also very helpful. I would give someone the shirt off my back if they really needed it. I try to help people who are in need. For example, I am a volunteer for the Hope Inc. Domestic Violence Center. I work with the sexual assault victims who are in need of assistance. I raise money yearly for the Children's Miracle Network and am a donator to the Mannington Food Pantry. Along with helping out local charities and organizations, I also help my friends, family, etc. I am very hard-working. I always try to go above and beyond when it comes to my school work because I am very dedicated to school. I am a full time college student, a volunteer cheerleading and Fairmont State Reads coach, and as I mentioned before a volunteer for the Hope Inc. Domestic Violence Center. I have a very busy schedule. I have to work hard to succeed in all that I do. I am a very cautious person. I do not trust anyone. Period. It is very hard for someone to break down my wall. If you succeed in doing so, you will quickly find out that I love deep. If someone has my trust it is because I value them being in my life and I love them with my whole heart. As I said before, gaining my trust is almost impossible. As a result, I am a very trustworthy person. If you tell me a secret I will take it to my grave. I am so fearful of dishonesty and have so many issues with trust that I have learned to use my fear in a positive way which has motivated me to be a very loyal and trustworthy person. Finally, I do not like to "wing" things. Everything I do has to be scheduled. When things change, so does my whole mood. I have to know where, when, and what's going to happen all of the time.

I am least like a rationalist. I am skeptical of just about everything. I have a hard time believing anything anybody says. I am self-contained. You could say that I'm content with everything I have in life so far. I am an independent person. I don't like to work with other people. I would rather complete a task on my own. I feel I am held back when I work with another individual. I do, however, depend on my parents for money somtimes, etc. I am the total opposite of being even tempered. I am about as hot tempered as they come. I am the biggest hard head and I hold grudges for so long that sometimes I don't even remember why I was mad in the first place. Finally, I can sometimes be cold and distant which causes me to come across as being stuck-up but I am really not.

*

Introductory Blog Post

My name is Kristin Wilson and this is my first blog post!

I am currently enrolled in Instructional Technology with Dr. Pierce for the Fall 2010 semester. I am a senior at Fairmont State University majoring in Elementary Education.

Any questions, just ask (O: