Concept Maps and Inspiration

I chose to incorporate the concept map as a grade five food chain review activity. Students should be familiar with terms such as consumer, producer, carnivore, omnivore, herbivore etc. The students will be given the concept map shown above and asked to rearrange the pictures and words while adding links to show how the food chain is connected. This is a great way for visual learners to see the food chain and be able to manipulate it. It also allows for flexibility within the food chain. There can be various ways the students will rearrange the objects to create an appropriate food chain. I picture this activity to be done individually however the teacher could also work through this with their class. The ICT outcomes that will be covered using Inspiration for this activity are:

C7 4.3 Students will use appropriate presentation software to demonstrate personal understandings.

C7 4.2 Students will analyze and synthesize information to determine patterns and links among ideas.

Utilizing concept maps through Inspiration is a great way for teachers to help assist visual learners. I found that there are numerous ways to use Inspiration for both the student and the teacher. I definitely see the advantages to using Inspiration in the classroom!

Integrating Technology throughout the Curriculum

Grade One: Mathematics

Activity and Rationale
I chose to have my grade one class start to integrate technology throughout the math curriculum using Fun Brain. Fun Brain is an interactive math site that allows students to work on their math skills using various interactive games. Before using Fun Brain the students should be able to add and subtract whole numbers at about a 75% success level.

By using Fun Brain the students in grade one are learning to type in URL websites, use proper keyboarding skills and demonstrate a basic understanding of computer procedures and processes.

Grade one students get very excited to use Fun Brain as part of addition and subtraction practice. Using an interactive math site allows the students to utilize their knowledge in different areas. Students can visualize and process their math knowledge in another way other than pencil and paper work.

Using an interactive site is a great motivation tool for students at this young age. Often times using an interactive math site such as Fun Brain can be used as a reward for other finished work. In the grade one class that I was in Fun Brain was used every second day for at least 15 minutes.

The main use for such a simple activity is introducing students to technology and how it can be used in the classroom setting. I urge anyone to take a look at this website as it can be useful for students from kindergarten to grade 9. Have fun!

Fun Brain=Fun Times!

General Outcome

Demonstrate awareness of addition and subtraction. Apply informal methods of addition and subtraction on whole numbers where the maximum sum is 18.

Specific Outcome

Use manipulative and diagrams to demonstrate and describe the processes of addition and subtraction of numbers to 18.
Note: memorization not intended. [C, PS, R, V]

ICT Outcomes

F6 Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the operating skills required in a variety of technologies.
use proper keyboarding techniques for the home row, enter, space bar, tab, backspace, delete and insertion-point arrow keys

F3 Students will demonstrate a moral and ethical approach to the use of technology.
demonstrates courtesy and follow classroom procedures when making appropriate use of computer technologies
work collaboratively to share limited resources
demonstrate appropriate care of technology equipment
recognize and acknowledge the ownership of electronic material

C1 Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies.
access and retrieve appropriate information from the Internet by using a specific search path or from given uniform resource locations (URLs)

I chose to research using blogs in an elementary setting. I didn’t choose a specific grade, however took a look at using blogs with literacy and language arts. Although I am rather new at blogging I have seen through previous study the beneficial effects it can have in students learning. I looked through these two links to help further my research:

Clarence Fishers Outlook on Blogs in the Classroom

Literacy and blogging in the classroom

There are numerous advantages to integrating blogs as part of the Language Arts curriculum at the elementary level. Firstly, blogging can contribute to creativity in students. Students are free to be creative and unique in their writing. Although blogs are open for students to view and comment, it gives students their own personal writing and thinking space. Blogs are an effective way of enhancing student’s literacy and writing skills as it can apply to any subject area. For example, students are able to reflect on any assignment given during the day in any subject area.

Another purpose to using blogs is students are able to publish their own work online and many are able to view it. Student’s can connect with authors, and other student’s who are interested in the same literature, author etc. The ideas are endless!

Using blogs, students are learning outside the classroom. They can access their blogs at home and continue their interaction with other students from their class or around the world. The ability to question, reflect, respond and showcase their talents brings a whole new aspect to education and learning!

A few steps to ensure safety use of blogs in the classroom include:

-block out commercial sites that allow children to blog and connect to others at school
-Set up your own blogging sites for use by students and their teachers, have a class password
-Talk to parents about internet safety. Show them how they can access their child’s blog and monitor what they are doing.
-Have a class list of their blogs so you can access them at any time
-Always provide and encourage supervision at home and school

Welcome to my blog!

My name is Alyssa Johnson. I am a first year student at the University of Lethbridge. I was originally born and raised in Calgary and I finished my first two years of schooling in the Education program at Mount Royal College. I am a Physical Education major with a passion to teach Special Needs. I have worked with numerous children with various disorders and am looking forward to broadening my knowledge in this area. In my spare time I enjoy being with my friends and family, playing fastball and volleyball and coaching. I am very excited to be in this program and to be working with such inspired individuals!

Blogging is one of the newer productivity tools I have been introduced to. I am somewhat familiar with it from a previous education technology course I took at Mount Royal College. Although I am in no means an expert at blogging, I definately see the positive aspects it can bring to the "education world." Through many of the articles posted I can see the many ways in which blogging can enhance learning. It is useful for personal reasons such as student reflections and diaries, daily homework assignments and postings and serves as an effective parent-teacher communication strategy. Besides personal use, blogging can be an interesting way for students to interact with one another. Through blogging students have the opportunity to post their own work and ideas for other students to reflect upon. It is also a way for students to share with their parents what they have accomplished or are working on at school. For example, in a grade five class I was in last year the students were working on their online art portfolios. They uploaded pictures of their artwork at school and reflected on both their own work and the work of their other classmates. Furthermore, they were to have their parents also review and reflect on their work. I found it to be a very beneficial activity.

There is so much that I would like to learn about blogging. I see blogging as a way for students to not only interact with eachother but also students worldwide. The technology we are being introduced to and providing for our students is creating lifelong and memorable learning experiences. Students of all ages can benefit from using online tools such as blogging and I look forward to intergating these tools into my classroom.