PE6_My use of Flash

I am working on a bulletin board for my students. The bulletin board will display the students that achieved honor roll in Living Environment. I used the color green because I belong to the Health Careers Academy in Herbert H. Lehman HS. Our color is green. For my last post for my practical experience I wanted to create something I can actually use in my classroom at the moment.

PE5_Using the stuff I learned on Flash so far...

This video demonstrates what I have learned so far. Sorry there is no audio but I have Laryngitis and I can't speak. Hope it is not too boring. Adobe Flash seems really cool but a little complicated. Many of the Chapter 3 tutorial I had to redo. I was so proud of myself when I made my own inside out avocado. Not a perfect shape but my version of an avocado.

PE4_Adobe Flash CS5

Adobe Flash CS5-Part 1
I have just began the tutorial for Adobe Flash on lynda.com. I have to say the tutorial are great because they bring with them exercise files. So as the presenter is demonstrating the different tools on Flash. I am able to perform the same task he is dictating by performing them myself. Flash seems very overwhelming. I am not sure exactly how much I will be able to learn before month6 when we utilize it in the EMDT problem. Adobe Flash seems like an amazing program. I have learned how to differentiated between the fla files (flash working files) and the swf files (output file). The file portion is simple. I became a little scared when Mr. Perkins (the trainer) began to explain the different panels. He mentioned so many panels and their accessibility through the windows tab on top. As he went over the chapter 1 and 2 in the training I was very engaged by the exercise files. I had fun zooming into the stage and using the hand tool. I took notes on all the different shortcuts mention. I think it is cool that most of the shortcuts are only a letter. It amazing how much clear and smooth an image created as a "vector" looks especially compared to a "bitmap" image.
I am still a little confused about merge and object drawing. I think I will watch that video again to get a better understanding. Well, this is my first entry for Flash. Next I will dwell into Chapter 3 and 4.

PE3_Making lessons and Flashcards on Engrade

This week I will be teaching my students about cell transport. As a reinforcement I decided to use the lesson portion for Engrade to provide my students with a study guide for the passive transport potion of cell transport. I also made flash cards covering all the cell organelles we discussed in class. They will have a quiz on thursday on all the terms used on the flash cards. So far Engrade will help me get my students more involved in their learning.

BP12_OMM Engrade

PE2_Engrade

Engrade is a magnificent online platform I found recently. It allows teachers to share lessons with other educators. I began setting up my classes on this platform. Once I set up my grading policy and my classes, I provided my students with their personal unique registration code. The students like the ability to view their grades online. I feel that it makes them more responsible for their own learning. This is actually one of the tools I will be using for my action research.

Students are capable of sending me messages as well as sending one another messages. Parents and students are able to view students grades online and send me a message if they have any concern. I just realized the website allows you to make up online quizzes and flashcards. I am finding a lot of interactive abilities through this website. I am working on a flashcard activity for my students.

PE1_Skedula

My school uses skedula as an online platform for the staff, students, and parents. On skedula we are able to write anecdotals about the students. Behavioral referral must be done online now through skedula because we are trying to save paper. Skedula provides teachers with an online gradebook with the class rosters already unloaded to the website. The website provides teachers with all the information they need about their students. Teachers are provided with a students IEP online, contact information, attendance records, report card grades, students schedule, standardized exam history, and it allows teachers to collaborate with one another about students. Parents and students have the ability to send messages to the teacher through this platform. 

This web 2.0 tool is great but I am having some problems with the gradebook feature. I am in search of another online gradebook with collaborative features.

BP11_Comments to Craig Swearingen

Follow this link to the beginning of Craigs' Swearingen research on concept maps.

BP10_Comment to David Hotler

If your interested in learning how to spice up your work, follow this link to my comment on David Hotler blog on Aviary.

BP9_Notely.net

This Web 2.0 tool is an organizational tool for students. This tool allows students to set up a color coordinated calendar(like the picture above), schedule, notes, homework planner. Students are provided with tools like a converter, scientific calculator, whiteboard, quiz maker, and contact section. This tools seemed amazing from the demo. I actually registered myself because I'm having a hard time managing my time. The tool is aimed to help students manage their time efficiently and never miss a deadline.

The note taking portion of notely.net works very similar to MS Word processor providing ease to students that are familiar with MS Word. Students are able to add links, images, and highlights to their notes. The schedule enables students to plan when they will be studying, completing assignments, or working on projects. After using this tool students should always be prepared. The whiteboard seems to work like a discussion board. Students are able to share their information with their friends. This aspect of notely.net can be used in many different ways. I can see students collaborating on projects together or forming a study group online. I can't wait to get my activation email so I can start exploring notely.net more. I suggest everyone tries it. It the perfect way to stay organized on the go.

W2_Reading

BP8_OMM Voki

BP7_Comment to Elizabeth Ashley

If you are a parent in search of a safe tool for your young child to use and monitor, follow my link to Elizabeths explanation to Zoodles.

BP6_Comment to Tremeris Sanders

Cool converting Web 2.0 tool. Check it out by following this link.

BP5_Voki

My action research is still a little shaky for me. When I say shaky, I mean it’s hard to finalize and make the topic concise when I am having a hard time finding literature for the topic. As of now my action research is about differentiating instruction to be able to reach my diverse population of students. I would like to differentiate instruction using the theory of multiple intelligences and technology. I feel that the multiple intelligence theory and technology will allow me to motivate and engage my students therefore increasing student involvement in their own learning.

While researching Web 2.0 applications I found the Voki. Voki is a very interesting application. It’s humorous and definitely engaging. Voki allows the user to create an avatar using their menu of categories. The user can customize the body, clothes, props, and background of the window. The most amusing portion is adding a voice to your avatar. The user has different languages and accents to select from. This application allows the user to add a voice to the avatar through four different methods. Voki is definitely user friendly. The created avatar can be embedded to several different social networks. Anyone can add a comment on the Voki window by clicking on the comment button. Once an account is created with Voki several avatars can be created.

I can use Voki in many different assignments in my classroom. As an introduction assignment, it can be used for students to invent themselves and interact with one another by commenting on each other’s Voki. I can have students create a short speech on a topic and have them present it using their avatars. I can use it to present a topic or project. This is an application I anticipate to use to engage my student.

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript" src="http://vhss-d.oddcast.com/voki_embed_functions.php"></script><script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">AC_Voki_Embed(300, 400, 'e783c5b97fe47fc96a543b026424b400', 2846936, 1,'', 0);</script>

BP4_Sweet Search

It’s amazing how oblivious I am to so many of the web 2.0 tools out there. From the website provided (www.go2web20.net), there were many e-learning applications I liked but I decided to pick Sweet Search for this assignment. I picked Sweet Search because I do periodically assign different research topics for my students. Sweet Search is an amazing search engine for students. Once a students begins a search they are provided with a list of selected website. Sweet Search provides students with several small sections from each webpage with the words they are researching. The students are allowed to select the portion that applies to their research. After selecting all the portions that will enable the students to complete their assignment. The students are then allowed to record or share the gathered information in different ways. One way to store the information is by bookmarking all the selections into a created folder by the student. The student is then prompted to the page the bookmark page by yolink. Another way to store and share the information is through google docs. Goggle docs would automatically creates a document for the student outlining all the sections and websites chosen by the student. This is my preferred method. When I use this with my students I will be asking them to post it to google docs and share the document with me as well as their group members. They also have the option of sharing the sections through social networks like: blogger, facebook, twitter or research applications like diigo, evernote or email. This tool is good because it’s a selective search engine, which is vital for high school students learning to do research. However the sharing capabilities are the amazing part of this web 2.0 application. 

BP3_Diigo Group

BP2_iGoogleScreenShots

iGoogle Home Tab

iGoogle FSO Tab

iGoogle Action Research Tab

iGoogle ETC tab