Guided Response

Please craft a minimum of two replies to classmates. In your replies, supplement their ideas of using a technology tool in education by offering an additional idea for how to use the tool to enhance teaching and learning.

By:Ashley
Think about how each of the tools you explored can enhance teaching and/or learning. Give a specific example for an educational use of a storytelling, video creation, and presentation tool, and also a screen capture or screen casting tool.

These tools are getting students familiarized with technology. Its more challenging but still fun!

Each of these tools allows students to utilize their creativity and imagination. Beyond learning the technical part of it all, students personalities and ideas become a creation for them.

Explain how one technology tool can be used in a specified grade and content area to meet a learning objective. For example, Tool X would be great in fourth grade reading as it would help these readers accomplish this X learning goal.

I would say as far as video creation goes, utilizing cell phones to create them are more often used in grades 7-8th. I believe this grade level would be great with being creative and fun.

Finally, choose one additional tool and give a specific example of how this tool can to enhance the learning of an additional group of learners. These groups include special needs learners, cultural/racial/ethnic groups, and English language learners.

I feel like storybird is an excellent tool for diversity in general. It gives you endless choices to work with while making it fun. Its a tool that opens the door for many different learning types as well as making it fun.

By:Mitzi
Storytelling – I would use Storybird. This is a very unique and interesting tool to incorporate into your classroom. I am interested in teaching elementary school and I can totally see this in grade 3 and after reading a story either on fiction or non-fiction and use this tool to write a sequel to the story and add pictures as they go. During this age imagination should be awesome; I think this would be a great way for 3rd grade students to understand grammar, comprehension, and spelling.

Video Creation – this was a little more difficult on choosing one that is the best. You Tube is so widely used for so many different things. Cell phones are commonly used for play or mini filming, and so many children are familiar with how to operate them. Also under the free technology for teachers I enjoy the pixorial; this is something I am familiar with by using the feature on my cell phone. Due to the use of you tube, and the way it can be used. This can be used several ways not just a video, but as an informative piece.

Presentation – I viewed the Knovio and one thing I liked is that one can record and share on any device they all will link together for the final recording. This makes it user friendly and that is half the battle when it comes to working with students.

Screen Capture – Screencast-o-matic is amazing, this tool can be used along with other tools for enhancing what one chooses to share. It can be crossed along with you tube, and other recording tools. I can see this tool being used in a science class of say Life Science ecosystem, when students are given work to take home or projects, this could be used to show important aspects of the life of a plant or animal ecosystem.

After viewing many of the tools that can be used any of them would be helpful in the classroom and outside of the classroom. The tools can be utilized from grades K-12 on many levels. Most of the tools are easy to use and seem easy to follow tutorials. If I was to use a tool to help with bilingual students I would use voice thread; with this I would add both vocabulary words to help tell a story to the students. Or even allow one of the students to add an authentic vernacular to the story. This group would have little understanding of the English language so they would be able to follow just need additional help when it comes to comprehension in reading.