. . . Vici!" tpte 486

I must say, I was extremely hesitant to take this class. As I have mentioned before, I am not a fan of computers because I often tend to accidentally mess things up. I have had set-backs in this class that have affirmed this unease as well. However, and this is a great "however", what I have learned in this class has given me the confidence and skill appropriate to entering my internship year. I have shown what I have done to several people in my family and they have been shocked at what I have learned to accomplish. I cannot wait to show my skills to my mentor teacher and possibly spice up the instruction in the classroom.

My favorite activity has by far been the webpage. I think it is the perfect culmination of this class showcasing everything we have learned prior to this assignment. I am extremely proud of my webpage and will use it in my classroom continuously adding to it. I especially love the quote I found that appears on the home page, and the pictures that were taken at a visit to a Shaker Village in Kentucky found throughout the webpage. Even these pictures I can use to model how history exists all around us, one major theme I want the students to take away from my class. I love photography, especially if it has a story.

My least favorite activity was the iMovie, because it was so complicated when it appeared it should not be. I saw a friend creating an iMovie the other day though, and was surprised to see that her program was simpler and allowed much more creativity without glitches and headaches. Hers came with a Macbook pro though, which explained the better program. I was happy with my completed iMovie, but felt extremely amateurish next to what she was creating. Her version made me like the program better, but I am sure it is an outrageously expensive piece of software for a PC.

Overall, I have enjoyed this class immensely. I feel like I have learned so much that is applicable to classroom instruction and assessment. I would like to thank Joey, Tucker, and Jeniffer Lubke for putting up with my frustration and confusion throughout the course.

The Softer Side of Germany

Using iMovie was extremely frustrating at first. This program at first appears like it should be easy and fool proof. However, I soon learned that you cannot simply try using a feature, then delete it or change it. Actually, you can, but it leaves a hidden little booger that gets in the way when trying to do something later. It keeps a copy of what was deleted and hides it underneath the new slides inhibiting future creations. This probably makes no sense, unless you have used iMovie.

In the end, I must say I am happy with the end result of my iMovie. The pictures are not too clear, but the sound match up with the pictures is pretty good in my opinion. I would love to use this iMovie in my ninth grade Geography class during the unit on Europe. I think kids have a hard time enjoying Social Studies, but if different instructional methods, like the iMovie, are used in class, it can be more interesting and enjoyable.

The Five Themes of Geograhy via Inspiration

I absolutely love using Inspiration! I had so much fun developing this diagram, selecting the images, making notes, adding hyperlinks, choosing colors, and of course, researching the content. In the simplest form, this tool can be easily used in all content areas to create great visuals for visual learners. On a level in which students can in fact have access to a computer, these diagrams can provide a higher level of understanding for every type of learner. This can also be used for assessment to encourage higher order thinking, but only if the tools are equally available to all students.

I always thought it was unfair when a teacher would assign extra-credit for creative ways to demonstrate interpretations of content and suggest making a movie, or something that involved expensive technology. For example, in Senior English during the lesson on "Beowulf", a group of boys who had been hand-fed by a golden spoon their whiole life, had access to movie making programs and equipment. They created a mini-movie interpretation of "Beowulf" to show to the class. I was so jealous, and felt as though nothing I could do was worthy of even turning in for extra-credit. Thus, I find it extremely important to make sure that if a tool like inspiration be used as a form of assessment, it be equally available to each student. Scheduling class periods in a computer lab for instance would ensure its fair use.

Overall though, I find this tool extremely useful and incredible. The knowledge of how to use this program will aid greatly in providing my lessons with interesting and fun activities. I cannot wait to apply using this to the actual classroom.

Social Studies Scavenger Hunt

I had so much fun and many laughs with Joey and Tucker on this project. When I read over the different scavenger hunts, I actually thought this one was one of the more challenging hunts. We were told that we did not necessarily have to do the one for our content area, but I was happy with the items on the social studies list because it encompassed all aspects of social studies. This includes Geography, History, Economics, and Political Science.

For any of you who may view this slide show as being random, and not having a theme, let me explain each slide and how it does in fact relate to social studies. The first two slides, "Similarities and Differences", explain in social studies that for all the different cultures, religions, locations, etc., there are across the world, everyone shares similar hopes, dreams, fears, needs, love and hate. The second slide, "Newspaper", is an item that is used in social studies classes everywhere. I am sure we all remember having to review news articles in social studies for current events. "Political Bias" is the next slide, and this is a Political Science term that is discussed in every social studies area whether it is in History when explaining how propaganda played in the selection of our leaders, or in Geography when explaining how cultures like those in South Africa were greatly affected by political leaders controlling their people using political bias. Need I explain the "Globe" slide? "Something created in the last five years" versus something "Forty years plus" has everything to do with History and how objects can sometimes provide drastic effects in cultures. Maybe not the torch bearer, but he is part of the utk history. Market Economies thrive on the "Exchange of Money", this is a major theme when teaching Economics, but is addressed in every area of socail studies as well. Finally, the entire world's history has been a push and pull of "Conflict and Resolution". Does WAR and resulting treaties ring bell?

Hopefully now you may fully understand the nature of our slide show. Again, I was happy with this list because it contained many items that spread across each area of study of social studies. I loved this activity and will definitely use it in my classroom.

Weather I will

I have always had a fascination with weather, so I chose to do my slide show on different images of weather. My dad always joked that I would either grow up to become a meteorologist or a storm chaser. My favorite image is the picture I took while driving down Amherst road. I saw this beautiful scene of rain bursting out of a cloud that appeared to be just over downtown Knoxville. So, I pulled over in a parking lot and took a picture. I just love the shot. Also, I love satellite images of weather, and I find the capture screenshot tool extremely useful for taking a picture of satellite images. Now that I have a satellite image tool, and know how to take a screenshot, I will be taking screenshots of weather constantly.


After this activity, I feel confident knowing how to upload various types of images. In addition, I now have had some good experience changing picture sizes to better display for a class or lesson know. hopefully what I have learned from this activity I will get to use in my class. Whether I will be able to have my students use some of these computer applications for personal use still rests on the availability of computers to students in the school. I hope you enjoy my images.

Google docs across subjects

I have really enjoyed using google docs, and working with Jennifer on our "Shake, Rattle, and Roll" lesson plan. I will definitely use google docs in the classroom, and I hope to encourage others to use it as well.


I think collaboration in similar subject areas would be greatly beneficial to teaching. So much of what is taught in History and Geography intertwine because you cannot teach one without giving background to the other. Geography affects the development of cultures, men's accomplishment with imperialism, and so much more. Thus, many lessons can be cross referenced using collaborative lessons on google docs. Also, collaboration between different subjects could be done. For example, the plan that Jeniffer and I did is on plate tectonics covers much of the same material in Biology. Biology focuses more on the process rather than the effects on people. Or, when teaching an English class on "The Crucible", a lesson could be tweaked for a History lesson on Early New England Colonies. Students will need an understanding in the background of that time period in order to understand the hysteria that followed the first accusation.


I am becoming less and less overwhelmed by these computer tools the more I use them and recognize their potential for aiding with instruction.

The possibility of using some of this looks slim

When considering the use of technology tools such as WebQuest in my classroom, particularly for my internship this fall, there are two issues that I will face affecting the use of technology for instruction. For my internship year, I have been placed at Anderson County High School. According to the 2009 TN report card, 48.5% of the ACHS student body is economically disadvantaged. This presents a problem when considering the availability of technology at home for many of the students.


Another issue facing me and my fellow social studies pals, will be the lack of additional funding for our not so important area of study in comparison to the other more important subject areas. ACHS only has five teachers in the SS department, eight in science, and ten in both English and Math. The teachers of these subjects have computers in their classroom along with other tools for instruction. Just this last year, the SS department head, who I observed for my field experience hours, was finally able to buy two computers for his classroom that all five SS teachers will take turns sharing for their classes. He bought these computers with the money made from selling sodas to the students at the beginning of each class period, along with money from the SS teachers.


All of this being said, I would love to use tools such as WebQuest in my classroom, but realistically, do not see it as a usable resource. I do not think I will have access to the tools needed to carry out the activities, nor do I think the students will have the tools outside of the classroom for further collaboration. Both of these factors are disappointing and frustrating because neither of which I can control, and both prevent me from creating fun and exciting lessons using technology.

All of this computer stuff might not be so bad

I have to admit, I have really enjoyed every activity that we have done thus far in 486. This is all so new to me, and at some times, a little fast-paced. But each activity is, in my opinion, extremely interesting and somewhat enlightening. I had no idea that these programs existed, but the possabilities they have in being used in the classroom is encouraging. I have heard of blogs, of course, but never even considered starting one. Now, I find myself checking my blog almost as often as I check my facebook profile to see if anyone has commented on a post. It is quite addicting.


Last Thursday in class, there were two activities that I feel I learned a lot from, and enjoyed. The first, was the activity that showed us how to create links. I have always wondered how to create hyperlinks by simply selecting a word or phrase in a sentence and creating a hyperlink to redirect the reader to the intended site. I thought the process would be more involved, but it is simple once you know how to do it. The other activity was the practice wiki. I cannot tell you how frustrating it was last semester to have my friends talk about their wiki while having no idea what a wiki was or what it involved. Now the mystery is revealed, and soon I will be talking about my wiki, maybe even confusing others. The cycle continues. I have a feeling that the wiki is a greatly untapped, unknown resource of the education profession.


Along the lines of what you said Jennifer, I have never seen a teacher use a wiki in the classroom. In fact, I have never witnessed teachers use any of the tools that I have seen thus far in this class, nor in other classess I have taken in the education program. I cannot imagine having veteran teachers learn to use these tools, but wonder how much more efficient instruction could be with these tools being used for lessons and assessment. I think we will have a huge advantage in our classrooms if we continue to use what we have learned, and I think the benefits for our students' will be greatly rewarding.

Determining the usability of websites for the classroom

I have found that the information on the website " The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" by Susan E. Beck provides helpful insight on determining the usability of websites for use in the classroom.

What I hope to get out of 486

I currently do not have much confidence with technology, well, computers really. I more often than not always run into errors while working on computers. These issues can be as simple as trying to open Internet explorer and getting a message that the server cannot connect. Then, of course, my husband will come over and click the button and eureka, the Internet is up and running. I was intimidated to take the 486 class because of my bad luck with computers, and the fact that I dislike being bad at anything. I wish that I understood technology better and I hope this class helps with my technology competence.


In addition I hope that taking 486 will increase my confidence with computer use and provide me with skills that I can widely use in the classroom. For example the tool used in class to demonstrate our overviews of chapter four by creating a web was something I found interesting and applicable to any content being taught in Geography or History. This will be especially important when including differentiated instruction in the classroom. Today's k-12 students are greatly tech savvy, and providing them with forms of assessment that use technology will be extremely beneficial to them. I am looking forward to learning as much as I can to incorporate in my lessons.