Web Based Tools

I have only used a select few of these tools before. So I had a lot to choose from to comment on. Overall I think many if not all of these tools could be incorporated in the classroom for various purposes that could help benefit the classroom as a whole. Some of the ones I focused on were:

 ~Poll Everywhere- This is an app that allows you to create a survey or poll and have your audience answer in real time. You can create your own poll about anything. Therefore, this could be used in the classroom as a way to survey everyone quickly to analyze the data. Often there is a unit on graphing or analyzing data and rather then going through the long and slow process of surveying everyone in person this could be a new interactive way to poll the class and use the data throughout the lesson. It is fun and a great way to incorporate technology in a different way than has been used before. Unfortunately, only people with an electronic device that has access to this app can participate in this activity, so access may prove difficult in some instances.

~Triptico- This app allows teachers to create interactive lessons. This would be a great tool to be used on a Smartboard that allows the students to come up and become part of the lesson instead of just sitting by and watching. This app appears to be relatively easy to use with many different options and resources for teachers to use throughout their lessons. A draw back could be accessibility depending on your districts policy for downloading different apps.

~Class Dojo- A behavior management tool the allows teachers to record each students behavior and to keep record of it. This allows for teachers to look at the behaviors they recorded and to analyze them in hopes of finding alternatives to help alleviate any problem behaviors. It also appears as though students, parents, and other teachers can have access to these records (of course limited depending on who they are) in order to gain a better understanding of what is happening in the classroom. Once again one of the negatives would be accessibility and the access to the technology in order to use this app. Also to keep in mind would be to make sure student privacy is kept in check.

~Typing Adventure- This is a somewhat fun game that can be used to help kids learn where all the letters on the keyboard are located. This would be ideal for younger children although lacks the challenges for more advanced users. There are some other games that can be found online for more advanced typing as a quick and fun challenge. 

~Teaching Channel- This website is full of resources for teachers. They range from videos to full lesson plans. I even found some things that focused on the stuff found in the common core. There is a lot available on this site and it could take awhile to sift through until you find what you need, but overall I could see myself using some of the different materials available, although I would likely add my own twist on anything I use.

Excel

I have used Excel very little throughout the years. Last year was the first time in which I really used Excel, and even then I feel like I didn't use it to the full potential. I was placed in charge of a athletic program that was begun in the before and after school program where I work. The program is called "Let's Get Movin'" and involved a number of different exercises and activities that worked to get the students up and moving. However, because this was a program that accompanied a grant there was a need to keep track of all the different student's activities and the amount of time spent being active within the program. This task was tedious and at first I started with a table created in Word. Eventually the Word document became too cumbersome and as a result I decided to begin to use Excel. The Excel document became much easier to manage and input data into. However, I still feel as though I just skimmed the surface for all the ways in which Excel can be used and the easiest and most effective ways to use it. 

I never thought that Excel could be used to make either a timeline or a crossword puzzle. At first I was at a complete loss as to what to do but as started to read more about the tools in Excel and play around with them it became clear. But as I worked to create the crossword puzzle the tools made sense and made the process much easier and faster as I figured out what I was doing. Excel can be a useful tool when used correctly, otherwise it may just seem frustrating and annoying.

Microsoft Word

I am pretty proficient in Word in general. I am more familiar with the older versions, like the 2003, since that is what I have been using for years; however, I have begun to use the 2013 version this semester and it is great! It is user friendly and there are so many more options available! 

I am taking an intro to tech class and we were given choices as to what we wanted to produce depending on how familiar we are in Word. I choose to create a "scrapbook page" and I enjoyed getting to play with all the different features in Word. I particularly like all the different options that altered the design and visual aspects of the text and images. I am a very visual person and care how the final product looks and I am impressed by the shear number of different options offered in the updated versions compared to the slim options I have been using for years. 

Looking through the tutorial and just from simply playing around with all the different options, there are some new features that I believe will make using Word both easier and faster, especially depending on what product you are creating. 

I have used the editing options and tracking changes feature in Word, and I loved it. I used to while working on a group paper, something I don't like doing in general, but the Word feature allowed for use to each write and comment on the paper without having to necessarily be together. This feature could also be very beneficial to use in the classroom for editing student work. Using this feature allows for the teacher to leave comments and help with the editing process but the students do not have to keep printing out different copies of their work for the editing, thus saving paper and ink!