Prezi

Source: www.prezi.com

Description: “Prezi is a virtual whiteboard that transforms presentations from monologues into conversations: enabling people to see, understand, and remember ideas” (Quoted from prezi.com) Have you ever heard of or used powerpoint? Well if so, Prezi is just a bit more fancy than powerpoint! Prezi lets you create visual stories where you can use images and words to present a lesson or topic of discussion.

Educational Uses: I could use Prezi to create presentation when I am introducing a new topic to the class. By using Prezi, I can create more interactive and engaging presentations for my students.

Content Standards: Prezi could be used for any content standard. You as the teacher create presentations and can base them off of any content standard you are covering.

Assessment: I personally would not use Prezi as an assessment for my students. If I were to use Prezi in the classroom, I would not have the students use it only because it is a bit difficult. (Middle childhood ages could use this) Because I am an. early childhood major, I would be the one to use it to introduce new topics or to create a review if they had a test coming up.

Value of Prezi: Prezi is great for creating presentations. Personally, I like powerpoint better only because it is more easier to navigate around. Prezi can be a bit more complicated but it all depends on your personal preference. Definitely check it out in case it is something you would like to use in your future classroom

Picture retrieved from:

http://chronicle.com/blogs/profhacker/challenging-the-presentation-paradigm-prezi/22646

Story Board That

Source: www.storyboardthat.com

Description: Storyboard That is an online storyboarding tool that teachers and students can use to create simple stories. This site provides several templates you could choose from to create your short story. This site also provides a range of characters, scenes, and images that can be used. 🙂

Educational Uses: You can use this is your classroom by having students create a story based on a book you’ve read to them and have them retell the main events. You could also use it for sequencing of a story. For example, what happened first, second, third, etc. You could use Storyboard That as a whole class or have students create their own at some point.

Content Standards: This source relates to a few standards. For example there is a standard that requires students to place events in order (sequencing). This source would be great for that and the kids would love creating the story which will keep them engaged!

Assessment: If I were to use this site and I was teaching about the main events in a story, I would first read a book aloud to the students and have a discussion on what the main events were in the story. Then, together as a class we could use Storyboard That to retell the main events and put them in order that the events happened. I could assess the students as a whole by listening to their responses. Another way I would assess my students is by assessing them individually. The following day I could read another story aloud to the students and then have students create their own story board and assess their stories!

Value of Storyboard That: Storyboard That provides several lesson plans using story boards for a variety of grade levels and subjects from kindergarten to 12th grade. This source is definitely a way to get students engaged with the content you are teaching!

Here is an example of a story board that has been created:

Pictures retrieved from:

www.storyboardthat.com

http://www.storyboardthat.com/userboards/examples/students-love-storyboard-that

Smart Exchange

Source: http://exchange.smarttech.com/

Description: Smart Exchange provides teachers with access to all of Smart’s learning resources and the opportunity to preview all SMART notebook files before choosing to download it. SMART Exchange is a great tool that easily connects to your smartboard. Whether you are looking for lesson activities or templates, this is the source for you!

Educational Uses: If I have a smart board in my classroom this will definitely come in handy. I plan to be a member (which is free) and use the sources they have available. I would find templates that I would use or review files of a certain topic that we are covering in class. You can preview the material and then decide if it best fits your students needs. If it does, you can download it and you then have smartboard activity to use with your students!

Content Standards: This source can be used for any content standard. For example, if the standard you are teaching is about comparing and contrasting, you simply just type “compare and contrast template” into the search box and several appear. You then can choose one that best fits you and download it for your educational purposes. 🙂

Assessment: The way you assess your students using this source is up to you. Because they are activities for the smartboard, I would simply assess my students through student responses or the way they participate at the smartboard if an activity requires students to participate at the smartboard.

Value of Smart Exchange: I love this resource! Many teachers I have worked with use this and say it’s really easy to use and is extremely helpful. A lot of resources on SMART Exchange are free however, there are some that cost. As a teacher, you’ll have to determine if the sources that cost are worth paying for. SMART Exchange has a lot of free resources if you would like to save your money!

Here is a preview of the site! I highly recommend checking it out, especially if you love using the smartboard!

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Pictures Retrieved from:

http://www.gboe.org/school%206/

http://exchange.smarttech.com/

Class Dojo

Source: www.classdojo.com

Description: Class Dojo is an online behavioral management for the classroom. It allows parents and students to access their behavior points from home. This site allows teachers to create categories that the students are rewarded for such as returning their homework, raising their hand, etc. They can also create categories for when they need to be buzzed. Examples include: talking out, being off task, etc. This source can be used throughout the day to help students stay on task.

Educational Uses: The way I would use it in the classroom is by having Class Dojo on my smart board (if available) and throughout the day, I would add points or remove points from students. By doing this, students can see where they are throughout the day.  It’s a great way to keep students on task. If they see their name get buzzed, they will know they need to get back on task.

Content Standards: No content standards fit this source because it’s strictly a behavioral management tool

Assessment: This source simply assesses your students strictly on their behavior. As a future teacher, I would use this site and keep my students behavior logged that way I can see growth with my students with their behavior.

Value of Class Dojo: Class Dojo is very easy to navigate through. In my opinion I think it’s great for teachers to use to help keep their students on task. It’s also great that parents can access their behavioral online. Parents get to see what their students are struggling with and what they’re excelling with. I definitely recommend this source!

Here’s an example of students with their points they have!

Pictures retrieved from:

http://fourthgradeflipper.blogspot.com/2013/04/tried-it-tuesday-class-dojo.html

http://learninginhand.com/blog/build-positive-behavior-with-classdojo-website-or-app.html

Fun Brain

Source: www.funbrain.com

Description: Funbrain is an educational site for students that consists of free educational games, online books, and comics. Funbrain was created for ages pre-school through grade 8. This site offers more than 100 fun, interactive games that develop skills in math, reading, and literacy! Teachers encourage students to use Funbrain during their free time in class to help build on what they have learned in class and gain new skills.

Educational Uses: This site will definitely be used in my future classroom. How it can be used in a classroom setting is during centers especially when you’re working with guided reading groups. During center time, students can access this site and continue building on their skills.

Content Standards: On Funbrain there are games for pre-school to 8th grade. Like stated before, there are games that help develop skills in math, reading and literacy. Depending on the content standard you are teaching, you can find a game that best fits the standard or find games that hit the standards you’ve already covered for review.

Assessment: Within my classroom, this would not be a way I would assess my students because there is not a way to see students scores on the site. This site would simply be used for reviewing content area that has been covered.

Value of Funbrain: It is very educational. During my student teaching, my students used this site during centers and loved playing the games. On the site, you can choose games based on the appropriate grade level and what subject area you want. It’s very easy to navigate!

Here’s a peek at the fun interactive site!

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Pictures retrieved from:

http://ces.pasco.k12.fl.us/?page_id=268

www.funbrain.com

Animoto

Source: http://animoto.com

Description: Animoto is a video creation service that makes it easy to share videos using pictures, video clips, words and music. Animoto can be used for just about anything. Animoto can be used for just about anything. For instance, special occasions, greetings, everyday moments or even events in your classroom to show parents and students.

Educational Uses: A way Animoto could be used within the classroom is by creating a welcoming video introducing yourself for when parents and their child comes to open house to meet you. Another way it could be used is to have students create introduction videos at the beginning of the year. (This depends if students have computers at home) Animoto could also be used to put videos together of the class during different times of the school year and it could be put on the class website. There are several creative ways to use this amazing source within your classroom.

Content Standards: The way I would use in my classroom wouldn’t cover any of the content standards because I would mainly just create introduction videos of myself for the beginning of the year and create videos of my students at different points in the year.

Assessment: To assess your students using Animoto, it all depends on how it’s used within your classroom. If you are the one creating the videos, no assessment can be made. However, if students create videos, there can be an assessment.

Value of Animoto: I think Animoto is a great source to use in the classroom. It’s simple to use and allows you to have the chance to be creative within your classroom along with creating an introduction video of yourself for open house along with videos of the class throughout the year for parents to see.

Pictures retrieved from:

http://www.kaylamoylan.info/tag/reflection/

http://www.web2teachingtools.com/animoto.html

 

 

Pinterest

Source: www.pinterest.com
Description: Pinterest is a pinboard style photo sharing website that allows users to create and manage theme based image collections such as hobbies, interests, etc. Pinterest is a tool for collecting and organizing things you love. You can simply use pinterest for your own personal interests or for certain jobs because pinterest has so many resources available. For example, if your profession is a teacher, you can find several ideas to decorate your classroom, ideas for lessons, worksheets, etc. Pinterest is definitely beneficial!
Educational Uses: The way I would use this source within my classroom is to find creative ways to decorate my classroom, worksheets to assess my students learning on the topic we are currently learning, creative ways to teach certain topics, etc. Pinterest has so many ideas to offer to help benefit your students and help them become successful.
Content Standards: You can use this source for all content standards if you wish to. For example, if you are teaching second grade and teaching them their math facts, you can easily find on pinterest worksheets, flashcards, or anything you can think of to help enhance their learning that would relate to the content standard you are currently teaching.
Assessment: The way you could assess your students is by using worksheets, packets, or any kind of assignments that relates to what you’ve been covering. By doing this, it would give you an idea of what your students are secure with and where they continue to struggle. This can then help you determine where you need to go with your instruction.
Value of Pinterest: Pinterest is a good source because like stated before, it is very beneficial, has several great ideas and resources that allows you to collect and organize the the things you like. This gives you the chance to stay organized and have ideas saved incase you’d ever like to use the resources you found again.
Pictures retrieved from:
https://www.iconfinder.com/icons/88487/pinterest_icon
http://thecaseandpoint.com/2011/05/pinterest/