My first exposure to Google Documents was today when my sister called me in a panic asking me to update her resume so she could apply for an open job. This job would be an awesome opportunity for her. She did not know how to edit her outdated resume, which a friend had set up for her. I told her I would try my best to help her. She emailed me a copy of her electronic resume, which was in dropbox when it arrived. I opened it out of dropbox in Google Documents and worked to edit it, making updates to her information. I am very familiar with Microsoft Word, but not Google Documents. Surprisingly, it didn't take too long for me to make the needed changes. Then, I emailed her resume back to her as an attachment. I also emailed a copy to myself, and easily pulled it up in my iPhone to view it.
One feature I really liked was that Google Documents automatically saves so there is no need to hit the save button every few minutes. I also liked the fact that I could easily pull up the document on my iPhone without having to open any other programs to view it. Also, The edit functionality is fairly easy to figure out for a beginning user.
The use of Google Documents in the classroom would be a great way to meet Common Core Writing Standards as discussed in Chapter 4 of the Graham text. The text lists these standards in Table 4 on page 45. Three Common Core Anchor Standards for Grades 3, 4, and 5 can be achieved by having students use Google Documents in the classroom.
Needless to say, my sister was very thankful I was able to help her update her resume. Now, I'm praying she gets the job!
Saturday, May 16, 2015
iPad Basics for Education
Numbers:
I chose to evaluate the Numbers application on the iPad. I currently use Microsoft Office Excel for creating my personal budgets and cash flow plans, so I thought it would be interesting to compare Excel to Numbers. Numbers and Excel both contain a spreadsheet format which looks similar. Formulas are available for use in both applications. However, it seems easier to me to edit cells in Numbers because less keystrokes are required. Simply double tapping on a cell in Numbers edits a cell. I do think the copy and paste functions are easier and faster in Excel, but that may be due to the fact that I am more proficient using Excel. I like the Templates available in Numbers, particularly the attendance spreadsheet. The iPad seems to be geared more toward educators. I think the Numbers application might be useful in keeping track of student grades.
Box.net:
Next, as a part of this week's assignment, I signed up for a Box.net account. I received a free 5GB personal account which I can use to access my files from any device, anytime. It was very easy to use. I uploaded a file into the box from my computer.
iThought:
I investigated iThought on the iPad to see how I thought it might be used in the classroom. It is an app designed for brain-storming. There are various styles and layouts to choose from. The color can be easily changed. You can also choose different background styles. It also allows you to do hand drawings, which I really like. I think it's a great that your iThought file can be sent by email to another person or shared for collaboration with other students or colleagues. Students could use iThought as a brainstorming tool to help develop/plan for a research paper or project. It's a good way to organize thoughts, and it's quick and efficient once you understand how to use it. I really like the fact that the iThought file can be turned into an outline to be used for writing. I like iThought as a good and useful tool for teachers and students.
Compare Safari and Rover applications:
The similarities I noticed between the Safari and Rover is they both are internet search engines. I had some prior exposure to Safari, but had never used Rover. I wasn't sure how to find Rover on the iPad, but eventually found it. Safari seems easier to use than Rover. Safari is more intuitive to use. Rover limited me to what websites I could access, but Safari did not limit my access. I prefer Safari over Rover.
I chose to evaluate the Numbers application on the iPad. I currently use Microsoft Office Excel for creating my personal budgets and cash flow plans, so I thought it would be interesting to compare Excel to Numbers. Numbers and Excel both contain a spreadsheet format which looks similar. Formulas are available for use in both applications. However, it seems easier to me to edit cells in Numbers because less keystrokes are required. Simply double tapping on a cell in Numbers edits a cell. I do think the copy and paste functions are easier and faster in Excel, but that may be due to the fact that I am more proficient using Excel. I like the Templates available in Numbers, particularly the attendance spreadsheet. The iPad seems to be geared more toward educators. I think the Numbers application might be useful in keeping track of student grades.
Box.net:
Next, as a part of this week's assignment, I signed up for a Box.net account. I received a free 5GB personal account which I can use to access my files from any device, anytime. It was very easy to use. I uploaded a file into the box from my computer.
iThought:
I investigated iThought on the iPad to see how I thought it might be used in the classroom. It is an app designed for brain-storming. There are various styles and layouts to choose from. The color can be easily changed. You can also choose different background styles. It also allows you to do hand drawings, which I really like. I think it's a great that your iThought file can be sent by email to another person or shared for collaboration with other students or colleagues. Students could use iThought as a brainstorming tool to help develop/plan for a research paper or project. It's a good way to organize thoughts, and it's quick and efficient once you understand how to use it. I really like the fact that the iThought file can be turned into an outline to be used for writing. I like iThought as a good and useful tool for teachers and students.
Compare Safari and Rover applications:
The similarities I noticed between the Safari and Rover is they both are internet search engines. I had some prior exposure to Safari, but had never used Rover. I wasn't sure how to find Rover on the iPad, but eventually found it. Safari seems easier to use than Rover. Safari is more intuitive to use. Rover limited me to what websites I could access, but Safari did not limit my access. I prefer Safari over Rover.
Example Blogging Site
I reviewed a professional blogging site set up by Judy O'Connell. Her blog's title is, "Hey Jude-learning in an online world". Her blog is very professional in appearance with a very nice template and professional, high quality pictures. I read her post titled, "Enhancing the Student Digital Experience". She discusses the challenges of learning and teaching in online environments. She includes a link to a strategic report titled, "Enhancing the Student Digital Experience". I found this blog to be very interesting and insightful. I see the value in blogs being used as discussion forums among education colleagues.
Friday, May 15, 2015
Tablet Options & Uses in Education
Upon researching the different types of tablets available for use in education, there seems to be three main devices. I will review each type of tablet device, and discuss pros and cons of each. The three devices I am focusing on are the Nook, Kindle, and iPad.
The Nook, sold by Barnes and Noble, is a tablet that has been used in schools. It's a more budget friendly option, and Barnes and Noble provides very good customer support. According to librarian, Jennifer LaGarde, as documented in our Graham textbook, customer support was one main reason she purchased Nooks for her library. She was concerned with the learning curve involved and wanted the reassurance of having good customer support. The downside to the Nook is that it is marketed by Barnes & Noble so this rules out the option to purchase books from Amazon.
The next option for a tablet is the Kindle. The Kindle is marketed by Amazon. The great thing about a Kindle is they are less expensive than iPad tablets. The Kindle-Fire is android based and the price is around $199, which according to Christopher Dawson, as cited in his article, is far cheaper for schools than anything else on the market. He also states that it has the capability to deliver web-based tablet applications.
The last option for a tablet is the Apple iPad. According to my research, the iPad seems to be the best product to use for educational purposes. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive product out of all three type tablets I researched. The Apple iPad does offer many educational applications for use in the classroom, so the quality and uses of the iPad might outweigh the initial cost. I think it would be an awesome tool for educators in the classroom. According to John Titlow, who wrote "How the iPad is Changing Education", many people have seen the potential the iPad has to change education. There are some school districts who have implemented iPads into their classrooms. The potential cost of saving money on textbooks is a good motivation for instituting the use of iPads. According to students at Riverside Unified School District, using the iPad makes doing homework more fun! The teachers also saw an increased interest in learning among the students.
According to my research, the iPad seems to be the best tablet technology available for use in the classroom. Michael Graham, author of Google Apps Meets Common Core, states, "teachers must implement technology into the classroom if we want our students to succeed in the future." It is our duty to incorporate technology into our lesson plans to meet Common Core Standards and prepare our students for the future.
Sources:
Jennifer LaGarde, "Our Nook Adventure" Parts I, II, III, and IV.
Christopher Dawson, "The Kindle Fire Will Enable the Next Generation of 1:1 Education Apps".
"Schools See Rising Scores with iPads".
John Titlow, "How the iPad is Changing Education".
The Nook, sold by Barnes and Noble, is a tablet that has been used in schools. It's a more budget friendly option, and Barnes and Noble provides very good customer support. According to librarian, Jennifer LaGarde, as documented in our Graham textbook, customer support was one main reason she purchased Nooks for her library. She was concerned with the learning curve involved and wanted the reassurance of having good customer support. The downside to the Nook is that it is marketed by Barnes & Noble so this rules out the option to purchase books from Amazon.
The next option for a tablet is the Kindle. The Kindle is marketed by Amazon. The great thing about a Kindle is they are less expensive than iPad tablets. The Kindle-Fire is android based and the price is around $199, which according to Christopher Dawson, as cited in his article, is far cheaper for schools than anything else on the market. He also states that it has the capability to deliver web-based tablet applications.
The last option for a tablet is the Apple iPad. According to my research, the iPad seems to be the best product to use for educational purposes. Unfortunately, it is also the most expensive product out of all three type tablets I researched. The Apple iPad does offer many educational applications for use in the classroom, so the quality and uses of the iPad might outweigh the initial cost. I think it would be an awesome tool for educators in the classroom. According to John Titlow, who wrote "How the iPad is Changing Education", many people have seen the potential the iPad has to change education. There are some school districts who have implemented iPads into their classrooms. The potential cost of saving money on textbooks is a good motivation for instituting the use of iPads. According to students at Riverside Unified School District, using the iPad makes doing homework more fun! The teachers also saw an increased interest in learning among the students.
According to my research, the iPad seems to be the best tablet technology available for use in the classroom. Michael Graham, author of Google Apps Meets Common Core, states, "teachers must implement technology into the classroom if we want our students to succeed in the future." It is our duty to incorporate technology into our lesson plans to meet Common Core Standards and prepare our students for the future.
Sources:
Jennifer LaGarde, "Our Nook Adventure" Parts I, II, III, and IV.
Christopher Dawson, "The Kindle Fire Will Enable the Next Generation of 1:1 Education Apps".
"Schools See Rising Scores with iPads".
John Titlow, "How the iPad is Changing Education".
Monday, May 4, 2015
This blog is my very first blog ever! I have already learned a lot in my first class session. I definitely will have a learning hurdle to overcome when it comes to using the Mac computers. I look forward to learning as much as possible in this class! I currently teach three year old preschoolers, and am a single mom to two children, an eleven year old and a seven year old. My days are very busy, and I hope I can do well in the Masters program here at Johnson University!
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