Standards - Final

      The concept map goes with standard 3d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning. I chose this strand because the concept map uses current and emerging digital tools to support the students learning. I would like to use programs like this in my classroom because it has great techniques when making concept maps and the students could even use it to make their own concept map. I enjoyed this program and thought it was a great idea; it takes something simple and makes it more interesting.
      The introduction goes with the standard 2a. Design or adapt relevant learning experiences that
incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. I chose this standard that because in the introduction video we used digital tools like the flip camera and allowed us to learn more and be creative. I would use something like this in my classroom because it gives the students a chance to use new digital tool and be creative with it. I really enjoyed the movie, while I am not the best public speaker, it was fun.
      The movie goes with standard 1d. Model collaborative knowledge construction by engaging in learning with students, colleagues, and others in face-to-face and virtual environments. I chose this standard because the movie making engages learning in a virtual environment. I would use this in my classroom because it will help me communicate information in other ways and help the students communicate information and show what they have learned. I really enjoyed making my movie and thought that it is an interesting tool to use in the classroom.
      The vokie goes with 3d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning. I chose this standard because the vokie is an emerging digital tool and can help other people evaluate and analyze information with all the different options including languages. I could use this in my classroom to help students who may speak English as a second language. I did not enjoy making the vokie, I just thought that it could have been simpler and I think that the final production is a little distracting the eye.
      Web 2.0 also goes with 3d. Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning. I chose this standard because in the web 2.0 my websites were word clouds and a texting response website and I thought these both were great examples of emerging digital tools that help analyze and evaluate information to support learning. I would definitely use these types of things in my classroom, both the word cloud and the text message response system; I think it would get children really interested in the subject matter. I also enjoyed researching my Web 2.0 websites and was glad that I chose to learn more about the ones I did.

Wordle

Wordle.net is a create your own word clouds website. You can create it by using a url or typing in text. It lets you change all the different aspects in the word cloud, such as color, font, direction, style, and shape and then print or save it to the website to let everyone see your work! I really like this website and think it would great for a little decorations or to get children's interest in vocabulary lessons or other topics you are teaching.

Socrative

Socrative.com is a smart student response system that empowers teachers to engage their classrooms through a series of educational exercises and games via smartphones, laptops, and tablets. Teachers and students can use Socrative on any device with a web browser (tablets, smartphones, laptops, iPod Touches, etc.). Teachers login at t.socrative.com by entering their email and password. Students login at m.socrative.com by entering the "virtual room number" provided by the teacher. Students will then see "Waiting for teacher to start an activity...". Teachers initiate an activity by selecting it on their main screen (e.g. Multiple Choice, T/F, Quick Quiz). Students respond on their devices. Students' results are visible on the Teacher's screen or sent in an email. I really like this website, because it allows the teacher to get students attention by using tools that the students already have and use everyday and put a purpose behind it.

Gaming to Reengage Boys

This video is basically about boys being at a disadvantage in every aspect at school. Ali Carr says that everything we have in schools today works against boys and that is why they are falling behind in everything. She thinks we take the "manliness" out of school such as ruff housing and playing with toy knives and guns. She says that we need to have more gaming in our schools to help keep the boys interested in what they are learning and readjust our attitudes about these things. I do not really agree with her at all and I think that her reasons do not really explain the boys behaviour.

"Love"

World Peace Game

I think that John Hunter has a good idea with his would peace game. It is a good way to expose children to a real world problem and give them the opportunity to fix it themselves. It gives the children a chance to get up and moving and talking to each other about real life situations. I think it is a good idea to do in the classroom and it should probably be incorporated in schools everywhere.

Educator's Guide to Cyberbullying and Cyberthreats

This article describes cyberbullying and cyberthreats. It defines them and gives the different types of cyberbullying, and it also reminds school officials that what they think might be a threat they need to remember that children do joke, have rumors, or set up. It tells you that cyberbullying or cyberthreats material could be text or images and they could be posted anywhere or on anything. The impact of cyber bullying is also mentioned in the article. It gives a great definition of bullies, targets, and the bystander, which are very important to know about so that you can distinguish which one is which. I really like this article, it is a little too long and to detailed, it is very important information that all educators should be well informed of so that they have help students who may be at a disadvantage and are being bullied. This is definitely something every educator should have to read before being put in a school environment.