PowerPointing...

Here's the link to a PowerPoint presentation on the History of Book Burning. I selected this topic, as a secondary English educator, because it will hopefully motivate students to think of literature/English classes not as a requirement- but as an opportunity for knowledge. I have constructed PowerPoints and used them before in classrooms-slide shows are amazing assets/outlines for teaching.

http://docs.google.com/Presentation?id=dfb9mt3s_14hs8h8tcs


Here's the correct link! *Added 3/13/09. Sorry!!

PODCASTIC!

Well....to make a long-story short...[after repeated computer services phone calls, downloading the wrong Audacity program, being unable to successfully access my FTP] Here's the finished product! A 4:30 minute, complete with music, 9th Grade introduction lesson on Edgar Allen Poe & "The Masque of the Red Death." The only file I was able to successfully save was the incorrect voice-over....but here's the end result. Enjoy. Although this has been the most frustrating project, I am glad I now have the ability to podcast-and apologize for the late submission.

It's Poe, Yo.

Link to Script:

Scriptastic

Web Album :o]

Personal Web Album!

I have pictures on various websites such as Facebook & Myspace, so finding photos for this Web Album assignment was not difficult; it was just a matter of gathering and finding an accessible host website [Google]. Web-based albums could help with classroom research, presentations, and illustration of group work. I highly respect Google, and previous this course I was unaware of its numerous capabilities. I will most likely continue to store photos via Google, however Photoshop Express has great editing tools.

Photoshopping Expressing!

This was my first time experimenting with Photoshop Express, and I found it to be quite the free editing software! It would be handy for personal/classroom use; students working on a presentation could upload/edit photos, while as an educator I could link/share albums relating to course material. I wish there were more graphics for decorating; however, I should not complain since it is free... I did enjoy playing around and 'popping' colors. Overall, the website was easy to navigate; I did have some initial difficultly saving edited pictures to my desktop.

amazing gallery!

'Not So' Crappy Graphics...

Turns out... "Crappy Graphics" is pretty darn good. As an English content major, it was a little difficult at first formulate an idea... but then numbers from my previous lesson plan entered my head! As Secondary Education, I would recommend this tool to students; I could have greatly used this for high school math/science presentations.... I could even use this website now to help display evidence for my Action Research Proposal. I could not figure out on the 'create' page how to 'undo' painting errors... I had to start a new graph each time. Although 'Crappy' is good, I still found Kid's Zone easier, since it's so straightforward. This exercise fulfills 3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning: to "design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity." It allowed for reflection & promoted my future recommendation of the website in the classroom.

kind of crappy?

Online Graphics - Kids Zone!

Lovely Chart One illustrates the 4th Grade National Math Score Average from 2000-2007 in comparison to West Virginia's 'progress.' While the Nation's scores are on the move upward, my home state's scores are not showing any definite positive trend.

Wonderful Graph Two compares the 4 lowest income states with the percentage of students with an IEP. Although all of the numbers are higher than wealthier regions, West Virginia's percentage is still significantly higher than the other low-income states.

The information was retrieved from IES: National Center for Educational Statistics, courtesy of the U.S. Dept. of Education. Here's link to the charts!!! Graphing with Kids Zone was actually quite simple; I found it to be a useful link!


http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfb9mt3s_9dmq49dgf

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfb9mt3s_11htq6q2d3

The AMAZING Prnt Scrn Button!!!!

After discovering the amazing "Prnt Scrn" Button, I used Paint and once again uploaded through PhotoBucket my desktop background image of the amazing Mr. Colin Firth [with my painted lips on his].... :o] Although this image is from the literary movie Pride & Prejudice, I don't believe it would serve much help in the classroom...haha. However, this capability would be great for teaching web-classes and illustrating how a particular page/image should successfully appear. I love new-found technology!