This week in class we learned how to use spreadsheets to create interactive quizzes. While I am not sure how I would use this tool with preschool children, I do think it would be a useful tool to use with early elementary students. One interesting aspect of the tool is the immediate feedback the students receive when they enter their answer. If the answer is correct they receive a "Good" and ten points are given and totaled at the bottom. If the student does not answer correctly, then they receive an "Uh-Oh" and no points are given. The student is then able to enter other possible answers until they get the correct answer. This feature would be great to use with special needs learners because they receive immediate feedback and are able to change their answers until they get it correct. This tool can even help the students improve their spelling and typing skills because the answer has to be spelled correct or no points will be given. This type of tool would be great for vocabulary practice or a review of a topic.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Spreadsheet
This week in class we learned how to use spreadsheets to create interactive quizzes. While I am not sure how I would use this tool with preschool children, I do think it would be a useful tool to use with early elementary students. One interesting aspect of the tool is the immediate feedback the students receive when they enter their answer. If the answer is correct they receive a "Good" and ten points are given and totaled at the bottom. If the student does not answer correctly, then they receive an "Uh-Oh" and no points are given. The student is then able to enter other possible answers until they get the correct answer. This feature would be great to use with special needs learners because they receive immediate feedback and are able to change their answers until they get it correct. This tool can even help the students improve their spelling and typing skills because the answer has to be spelled correct or no points will be given. This type of tool would be great for vocabulary practice or a review of a topic.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Diagrams
This week our assignment was to create a web diagram using Inspiration or Kidspiration. I had never used either of these programs before, so I was not sure what to expect. I chose to use Inspiration to create my document and was surprised when I realized how easy it was to use. I loved the search feature on the symbols because it offered on average 3 to 4 more pages of a particular image than the one or two images listed in the libraries section. I also enjoyed being able to re-size the images and freely move the images where I wanted to place them. Both Kidspiration and Inspiration would be excellent tools to use in classrooms of all ages. Students can create story plots, math diagrams, cycle of life diagrams, creative outlines, and so much more!
Digital Images
Tonight in class we created Power Points featuring digital images from various sources: an original photo, clip art, scanned image, screen capture, and a picture from an Internet source. While retrieving images and photographs from various sources is nothing new to me, I had never resized images to fit certain criteria. That process was a little frustrating because it appeared that my images were the correct DPI and size, however, when I uploaded them into Picasa they were either too large or extremely tiny. Once I fixed those issues I was able to load the images in the Google docs Presentation fairly easily. I was also able to embed the presentation into my blog, but the original size was too big and only 3/4 of the presentation was visible. With help from my teacher I was able to fix that issue and the presentation is a normal, viewable size now. While it was frustrating learning to use these new to me tools, I believe that they will be beneficial to me as I finish my degree at UTK and in my classroom as I try to integrate technology into the curriculum.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
iPhone Apps for Preschoolers
To the shock and amazement of their parents, many preschoolers today are able to operate iPhones and other pieces of technology with seemingly little effort. These children can easily unlock the devices, search and download apps, and switch from app to app. Some even know how to operate the device better than their parents!
Since children today are capable of using various pieces of technology, it is important for parents and teachers to provide them with age-appropriate and educational games and activities. Parenting magazine published an online article that lists 25 iPhone apps designed for children (http://www.parenting.com/gear-gallery/Gear/25-iPhone-Apps-for-Kids/1/). The list includes the typical games such as Memory, Mad Libs, Checkers, Word Search, and Tic-Tac-Toe. One of the unique apps is "The Pianist", which is an app that features a digital piano with the keys labeled in the different chords. With this app children are able to make music and record their songs to play back."iSign Alphabet" is an app that lists the ASL alphabet along with image accompaniment to demonstrate how to correctly form the signs. Another interesting app is "Scribble", which is a Paint app designed for preschool children.
Some apps are more age specific, such as "Airport Mania", that is designed for children 6 and up. In this game children design and run their own interactive airport. I was surprised and excited to see several apps on the list that are specifically designed for toddlers. "iPlayPhone" is an app that features a brightly colored numeric keypad that toddlers can safely play with and dial with abandon without moms and dads worrying about them calling Tokyo. Another app that is designed for toddlers is "iTot Toddler Flashcards". These flashcards feature familiar animals, foods, and other objects. What is unique about this app is that in addition to the picture of the item and the English label, the item is also labeled in French and Spanish. "Toddler Teasers: Shapes" is another fun, interactive app designed for toddlers and preschoolers. In the app children are quizzed on shapes and receive a virtual sticker each time they get four correct in a row.
These are just a few of the educational and age-appropriate apps available to children. I have also seen an app that read classic books to children, such as The Cat In The Hat. Also, majority of the apps listed in the article are free or under $1.
Since children today are capable of using various pieces of technology, it is important for parents and teachers to provide them with age-appropriate and educational games and activities. Parenting magazine published an online article that lists 25 iPhone apps designed for children (http://www.parenting.com/gear-gallery/Gear/25-iPhone-Apps-for-Kids/1/). The list includes the typical games such as Memory, Mad Libs, Checkers, Word Search, and Tic-Tac-Toe. One of the unique apps is "The Pianist", which is an app that features a digital piano with the keys labeled in the different chords. With this app children are able to make music and record their songs to play back."iSign Alphabet" is an app that lists the ASL alphabet along with image accompaniment to demonstrate how to correctly form the signs. Another interesting app is "Scribble", which is a Paint app designed for preschool children.
Some apps are more age specific, such as "Airport Mania", that is designed for children 6 and up. In this game children design and run their own interactive airport. I was surprised and excited to see several apps on the list that are specifically designed for toddlers. "iPlayPhone" is an app that features a brightly colored numeric keypad that toddlers can safely play with and dial with abandon without moms and dads worrying about them calling Tokyo. Another app that is designed for toddlers is "iTot Toddler Flashcards". These flashcards feature familiar animals, foods, and other objects. What is unique about this app is that in addition to the picture of the item and the English label, the item is also labeled in French and Spanish. "Toddler Teasers: Shapes" is another fun, interactive app designed for toddlers and preschoolers. In the app children are quizzed on shapes and receive a virtual sticker each time they get four correct in a row.
These are just a few of the educational and age-appropriate apps available to children. I have also seen an app that read classic books to children, such as The Cat In The Hat. Also, majority of the apps listed in the article are free or under $1.
Preschoolers and Technology
I continue to be amazed by the ease preschoolers today use technology with seemingly little instruction. Over Spring Break my husband and I visited his family in Louisiana. While having a family dinner his four-year-old cousin began playing with her mother's iPhone. She showed me how to check the calendar, write memos, take and view pictures, and sort through the various apps. She can even search for and download apps by herself!
There are several You Tube videos available that feature toddlers and preschoolers using iPhones and other pieces of "high tech" equipment, such as this video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Are3FxkhtoU.
Because children are using more complex technology at younger ages now, I wonder when I will find it necessary to include a "No cell phones allowed in the classroom" rule in my list of class rules for a preschool classroom. I feel that day will be coming sooner than we think.
There are several You Tube videos available that feature toddlers and preschoolers using iPhones and other pieces of "high tech" equipment, such as this video : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Are3FxkhtoU.
Because children are using more complex technology at younger ages now, I wonder when I will find it necessary to include a "No cell phones allowed in the classroom" rule in my list of class rules for a preschool classroom. I feel that day will be coming sooner than we think.
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