VoiceThread

During my group activity, I discovered the tool VoiceThread. Voice Thread is a multimedia slideshow that can hold pictures, videos, and documents in the slideshow. Voicethread allows others to see these tools and comment on them through text or through audio. People are able to record their comments on people's work. I thought that this tool was a really interesting tool to use in the classroom. This would make my presentations a lot more interactive and interesting for the students. It also has all the material that I want in my presentation in one central location, not multiple. This will make the presentation a lot more organized and easier for the students to learn.

I could use VoiceThread in the classroom by presenting the presentation and having students post comments about the presentation and their reflection and questions via the 5 different ways. I could then also post questions on the presentation and have the students post their responses as a comment making it a discussion presentation. After the students get more familiar with VoiceThread I would then have them create their own presentation based on one of the topics we are learning about in school. Then the students watching their presentation could post comments and questions about the presentation. This would help the students with their public speaking skills because they would post their opinions and have to explain their ideas to the full extent. Overall, I think that VoiceThread is a very cool tool to use.

LeapFrog

I reviewed LeapFrog, specifically for elementary school. I plan to teach any of the grades between 1st and 4th grade. LeapFrog is a entertaining and enjoyable way to get the students excited about reading and any other kinds of subjects. When you use a LeapFrog the student can go through the story but when they get to a word they do not understand they can move the pen over the word and the LeapFrog will say the word so the child can repeat it. LeapFrog also provides other online activities available once you link the LeapFrog to the computer. This lets the child explore many other possible learning activities.

At the LeapFrog website there is a place where parents or teachers could go to see what their child or student is working on and see what they are doing with their LeapFrog. This is called Learning Path. You can decide what you want your child to learn. Once you link the LeapFrog to the computer you can see what the child is learning and even see what question they are answering. This is a free online tool at www.leapfrog.com/learningpath. Here is a link to show you how to use it: http://www.leapfrog.com/en/landingpages/demo_page.html

Click on this link to see a demo of how to use a LeapFrog Leapster2: http://www.leapfrog.com/gaming/leapster2/demo.html

Microsoft Publisher

Microsoft Publisher is a really neat way to design things such as newsletters, flyers, thank you notes, resumes, all sorts of things. An example would be if the teacher wanted to send a newsletter out to the students' parents to see what they have been doing at school, the teacher could go to Microsoft Publisher and make a newsletter by just filling out the information with a pre-made template to take care of all the design.

Here is link to a demo of Microsoft Publisher:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/2007-rlt/en-US/Publisher

Knowing how to use Microsoft Publisher would be very beneficial for a teacher because it would be an easy way to create newsletters. The teacher could also teach the students how to use it by making them have to create a thank you note to someone or a flyer corresponding to something they are learning in class. Microsoft Publisher would fit in two "e"s. It would be efficient because it would lessen the amount of time to create a newsletter and it would also be enhancement because it enhances what the students are learning.

ABC Ya!

ABC Ya! is a really kid-friendly website that provides games and tools for kids to learn. It provides the students a fun way to learn important information while using technology to make it more enjoyable. One example of an ABC Ya! game would be "Learn to Count Money." This game gives you a certain amount of money and the student is supposed to put the exact amount of money in the oragne box.

Here is a link to the website: http://www.abcya.com/

This would be beneficial for a teacher because they would be able to show the students this website and have them play specific games and activites that corresponds with what they are learning at that time. It would provide a fun way to enhance their learning even more. The "e" that ABC Ya! goes with is enhancement because it provides a creative and entertaining way to enhance their knowledge of a certain area.

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Word is an easy way to develop and write papers on your computer. Students can learn how to write papers and then revise them using Microsoft Word. You can also use Microsoft Word to create many different kinds of projects using the pre-made templates. An example of using Microsoft Word would be having to write a letter home to the parents and using Microsoft Word to enhance the letter and use photos.

Here is a link to a tutorial on how to create different projects using Microsoft Word:
http://www.microsoft.com/office/2007-rlt/en-US/Word

This would be beneficial for a teacher because it provides the students an easy and organized way to create word documents and different other projects. Microsoft Word is very easy to learn and teachers can also use it to create rubrics and other different things that they give to the students. The "e" that corresponds with Microsoft Word is efficient because the students are able to type and not write by hand making it easier for the teacher to read.

Windows Movie Maker

Windows Movie Maker is a really easy way to make movies to show to your students. One example of how I used movie maker was in my class W200 or Using Computers in Education, we had to make a digital story about how we imagined our future classroom to look like. We had to incorporate how technology make impact or shift our classroom.

Here is a link for a video tutorial on windows movie maker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9C-D30_P8Q&feature=related

Knowing how to use Windows Movie Maker would be beneficial for an elementay teacher because they could make their own movie to show a different and fun way to learn something that they are learning. This way they can put all the information that they want to learn and nothing else. They will not have to rely on another teacher's video. The "e" that relates to Windows Movie Maker would be enhancement because the video would be a cool and different way to learn new material.

Microsoft Powerpoint

Microsoft Powerpoint

Microsoft Powerpoint is a very useful tool for all teachers of all ages. It provides a wonderful graphic for kids to look at but also provides room for information. When making your powerpoint, a teacher could put in a link to a clip on "Teacher Tube" to demonstrate a fun way to learn about fractions or the American Revolution, and then provide information on the powerpoint after the teacher shows the video clip.

Here is a link to a tutorial on how to make a powerpoint:

http://www.microsoft.com/office/2007-rlt/en-US/Powerpoint?WT.srch=1&WT.mc_id=7F944FFC-2130-4CB7-9451-245FB2517737

Microsoft Powerpoint is a wonderful way to deliver information in a organized, artistic, and technological way. An elementary teacher would benefit from using powerpoint because it would have the information be given in a cool way that would interest the kids. The teacher could also provide numerous links and videos on the powerpoint to give another dimension to their teaching. The type of "e" that Powerpoint would use would be enhanced because the powerpoint would make the quality of the teaching better.