Power to the Point...YEAH!

Okay so this week was really fun and relaxing, on Tuesday we spit into groups and picked two power points to create and present to the class. Our group chose to create a comic strip and a new years resolutions power points. I thought this activity was really fun, i liked getting to know my classmates and working together as a group. I think the power point book called 50 Quick and Easy PowerPoint Activities is a very beneficial book that i will be able to use someday when i become a teacher. I liked how all of the activities were original and creative, i think students will really enjoy and learn from these power points because even I had fun with it!

Fun using Digital Cameras!

Five ways I will use Digital Cameras in my classroom:
1. Have each student take home the classroom camera over the weekend to take pictures of what we are learning in class and share it with his or her classmates.
2. Play games such as a guessing game where we take pictures and the students try to guess the location the picture was taken around the school.
3. Teach the students teamwork and sharing skills. Split the kids in groups and have them go around the school taking pictures of plants and animals.
4. Each student takes a turn to spotlight another student so he or she takes a picture and tells about the student to the class.
5. Show the students how to be creative. Ask them to take a unique picture around the school, it teaches them to be original and observant.

This week we learned all about digital cameras and how we could incorporate them in our classrooms. I want to teach second grade so i wasn't sure i would be able to teach my students that young how to use a camera. Although, doc. waters had us split into groups of students who wanted to teach second grade as well. We created pictures of "exercise" in the eyes of a second grader, this made me realize that even that young they can learn alot from using a digital camera. Also, we learned how to use picassa and manipulate our original pictures into creations of our own! I really liked this program because it made our project different, and stand our among others. After taking pictures and manipulated them, we created a powerpoint describing "exercise" like a second grader. i really enjoyed this assignment, it was different and fun. Also, it really encouraged me to do this when i become a teacher.

Digital Cameras are AWESOME!!

Ever since i recieved my first digital camera when i was 15 i have grown to love taking pictures. Photography to me, is like capturing moments and sort of a journal through life! In our computer tech class we have been learning all about digital cameras and dr. waters has shown us how to crop and personalize them. The main point of learning about cameras is to be able to incorporate them in our classroom someday. After reading the three articles it really opened my eyes.. the article on the ten tips was basically stuff i already knew, the 100 ways to use a digital camera had some helpful ideas, but the article that really hit me the most was digital snapshot. It made me realize that I, as an elementary school teacher, could use digital cameras in my classroom to help my students be more creative and visual learners. I thought it was awesome how even kindergarteners were using cameras to learn new things and be able to understand shapes and colors for example. This article just really stood out to me seeing that children could hilight their strengths intrests and talents using a camera in their classroom. I will definately consider using digital cameras to teach my students someday and show them how to "preserve and reproduce special moments for reflection-a potent stimulus to writing"

Learning new things about power point!!

So I am already pretty familiar with power point from doing previous class assignments with the program, but i have begun to see it in a whole new perspective....
In my technology class we have been learning about power point and the different tools you can use to personalize it. From learning this, i have come to realize that these tools will help me a lot as a teacher. At first i didnt think that teaching 2nd grade would really bennifit from this but it actually can. Although i wont be teaching the kids to create their own power point, it will allow me to create lessons on power points showing pictures, graphs, video clips, sounds and a lot more. For example, if i am teaching my class about different animals and the sounds they make and the environment they live in, then i am able to create a power point showing pictures, sound clips and bits of information to visually teach them. I am really excited to be able to show my students fun ways to learn and prepare them for the future!