Google For Educators

Well, the first classroom tool that I would use in my class from Google for Educators would definitely be the Google Book Search. I love that students can not only look for any book they might need, but also look within that but for specific topics or characters. I would let students use this as one way to work on a research paper. iGoogle is also a tool I would use. It has a great layout that I can personalize for my class and have them see posts, current events, class schedules or announcements. Its almost like having our own website for the classroom. I really like it. Third, Google groups would be an awesome way to track and encourage group activities. It is like a safe chat room that students could use to do projects, discuss books etc. I love all the features it involves. Using Google Docs with students can open a whole new door in the class. We can do papers together online, have discussions, look up information-all in a safe controlled environment that is free and available to everyone.

Jigsaw Method

I think this is a great program for learning and I think some of my teachers used this learning method (I was the dominant child problem..opps). If I only had 5 computers in a classroom, I could split up the learning groups into 5 groups and have them each have a turn reading books from the library as well as their computer. When the groups disperse into their expert groupings, each of those groups could use a computer as well-in case of disagreement or further questions. This method of learning has a lot of advantages and I think the main one is a new way of learning material. Kids get board just listening to a teach blab on about a topic. If the students were to research it and teach it to the rest of their group, the not only learn the information, but they are learning listening skills, learning to be respectful of other people who are different than he/she is and becoming a team player. The few disadvantages of becoming board, one dominant student, or maybe lack of ability to find correct information can, I think, all be fixed with time and practice. Like the 10 Tips said, the dominant student can be put in charge of helping organize the group and getting all the students to participate. The board students can find new ways and new people to work with to challenge them in new ways. I really like this method and I plan to use it in my future teaching career.

Assistive Technology

I have found many of the assisted technologies very interesting and I had no idea I could use so many things to help me out in the classroom! I decided to talk about the Virtual Sign Language Interpreter. IBM came out with a program that can identify a person's voice or take written words and translate it into American Sign Language (ASL) on a digital screen. The Program is called SiSi (Say it Sign it) and can be a really useful tool in the classroom. I plan on teaching Music in school and I know there are going to be many different situations where I might be involved with a deaf student or deaf parents. I am actually fluent in ASL, but in a classroom setting (especially in younger classrooms) I know that signing while I talked could be very distracting. So while in class and in a lecture type section, I could use this wonderful Signing Avatar to interpret for me. We as teachers could get kids involved in music even if they are hard of hearing. The program is readily available to people and can be ordered online.