Creating a Story Activity

I can see how using Storyboard or Littlebirdtales to create stories would be very fun and exciting for young children.  I tried to create a story which would teach the "doubles rap" for Saxon Math, but was not able to upload my drawings.  But it was easy to download saved images and add them to my story.  This would be a great tool to use on our Promethean Boards so that the kids can create and then share their own stories!

Twitter and Twibe Activity

This is yet another fun way to collaborate ideas, resources, and opinions from many sources at a time.  I really liked that you can see everyone's comments automatically and then comment on them immediately.  I think this would be great for students to share their thoughts with each other in a non-threatening way.  This is so much fun!

Wiki Colors Activity

What a great way to share ideas!  I think Wiki would be a great tool to utilize in any classroom.  Students/Teacher could use it as a tool to communicate ideas, resources, assignments, and use cooperative learning as a strategy of learning.

Wiki could be used as a learning tool very easily.  The teacher could post a topic and then the students could use Wiki to add information or ideas which support the given topic(s).  It could also be used as a voting/rating system, like we did with our colors activity today.  I truly think the possibilities are endless.  The best thing about using Wiki would be the involvement of all students.  I can see students feeling more comfortable commenting on various topics through Wiki that may otherwise seem threatening to them in a classroom setting where they are expected to answer aloud in front of their peers.

Wiki could be used as an assessment tool by giving students basic questions where they work together to add all of the pieces of information needed to come up with the correct answers.  They could also give input on answers and help one another find the proper solutions.  Afterall, more brains are better than one!

Copying YouTube Videos

Wow, what a neat experience! Although I am somewhat confused at doing this activity, I am very excited to have the information on how to download and copy a YouTube video!  I would like to have the opportunity to try this process again so I feel more comfortable doing it.

Google Docs Experience

I really enjoyed this activity.  It was fun to research Boston Corbett and use Google Docs to do so.  I can see students using this type of activity to do research papers and allow others to comment and add to them as needed. 

Shannon's Technology Experiences

     Well, here it goes...when I went to high school and graduated in the class of 1990 from small town USA, I had no computer experiences at all.  There were some old Apple II computers, but I never had the opportunity to learn on one of them.  So when I started college, I was required to have a computer class.  My first computer class was with an instructor from the Middle East and we were taught on the old Apple II computers.  It was painful.  My instructor was very unforgiving and even took .25, .5, and .75 points off of each question.  I decided that if I got a C or D (which was unheard of in my educational history) and passed the course, that was OK with me.  I just went into survival mode.  Well, I did manage to pass the course - with much blood sweat and tears - but I did it!
     As I progressed through college, I became more comfortable with computers as technology advanced.  I did not own my first computer until about 1998, I think.  It was a hand-me-down from my brother and his wife.  They were upgrading and I was delighted to have my own Compaq computer - ready, set, go!!
     Throughout the years I have become increasingly more comfortable and knowledgeable about computers and really enjoy using and learning from them.  I am not afraid of this quickly advancing machine that helps me do my job everyday. 
     This year I was asked to be a part of a Tech Team Trainer Committee at my school.  This assignment has been a wonderful opportunity.  Every week we meet and learn about new technology and skills and they we are required to teach it to other teachers in our school who were assigned to us by the district.  This experience has not only been rewarding to myself, but to others as well.  I am really looking forward to next year!