Voice Thread, Animoto, & Wordle

Here is a link to my Voice Thread I created:
http://voicethread.com/?#u4068723


Here is a link to my Animoto video I created:
http://animoto.com/play/vmXk3E0LFoEjoHzCxa29VQ

Animoto is an extremely easy program to use that could help create videos in the classroom. This could be used in a number of different ways in the classroom. Students could put together an informational video about a topic that they have pictures and descriptions for. Another way that I would use it would be for like an open house and put together a video of student's work or pictures of them doing different activities in the classroom. It could be a fun little video that the students can show their parents.


Here is a link to the Wordle I created:
http://www.wordle.net/show/wrdl/7198512/Red_Ribbon_Week 

 The only problem I had with Wordle is that my Java Script would not run unless I turned off my firewall. So it is a pretty cool designing program but I'm not sure how often I will use it on my computer.

Microsoft Access

I have never heard of this application before. When I began this assignment the application reminded me of Microsoft Excel. Although I have never used Access before the overall concept is one I am familiar with. I have created some databases similar to the one for this assignment for previous classes I have taken. Once I went through the tutorials and started to play around with the program I thought it was relatively easy to use. I think the thing that helped the most was that this program is set up a lot like the other Microsoft programs I am familiar with, so it was easy to find and use the necessary tools. I had fun completing all he different queries and manipulating the data to answer the questions. I think this could be an application the the students could use when performing data analysis. I am not entirely sure all of the applications or tasks that can be done using Access because I am still exploring it, but from what I have done this could be a fun way for students to use a program to find patterns in their data they may have otherwise missed. I will definitely be using this program in the future!

Web Based Tools for the Classroom

I enjoyed how this website was organized allowing for the varied tools to be compiled in an organized format under specific topics that you may want your students to do. I also liked having the brief description about what each tool does and then the rating that has been left by others. 

In a way it surprised me as to how many different ways that Google applications can be used in the classroom to promote the students learning. I have used a number of Google applications myself but the way that this website describes the implementation of these applications. I am a fan of Google Maps but never thought about incorporating them into the classroom, I only think  about them as being good for finding directions if you become lost. I have also never heard of or used Google Voice. It sounds as though it could be useful, although I am unsure on how exactly it works. 

Two of my favorite tools I played around with from this website was Audacity and Mindomo. Mindomo is a relatively easy way for anyone to create concept maps and graphic organizers. This could become a very useful tool in the classroom, particularly for visual learners. I think I like the program inspiration better but Mindomo is a nice online generator for organizers and concept maps. While Mindomo is useful to help the visual learning, Audacity is a fun way to alter and create audio. I was able to play around with some aspects of the program and once you became familiar with the controls and settings it was relatively easy to alter. This could be used as a way to record student dialogues and add it to the back of a slide show or just to create a audio recording for a project.

Overall there were quite a few different tools that I could see myself incorporating into the classroom setting. In addition to the tools that would help promote student learning, there were also tools that I could use to help myself create fun games for the students study while also allowing an easy tool to create the simple quizzes and tests I could use throughout my instruction. Finally I liked how there were a number of different tools that could be used to create rubrics because I am a fan of using rubrics for students to know exactly what is expected of the every step of the way.