TRIG Course- Alma College Winter 2015

I would use Kidblog in my classroom to give my students a purpose for writing. I think that this would be a motivational tool to use for kids to remember to always create their best, original work.

This would be a great way for students to stay organized and would be extremely helpful for research papers in my classroom. This is a site that allow students to put all their sources in one convenient location and what is nice is these sources will never be lost because they are online. This is a great tool that they can even use outside of the classroom that may be helpful in college or future jobs.

Quizlet is a web-based service that allows you to create flashcards with answers that can help develop students' knowledge and understanding on certain concepts.  Quizlet also test students on the flashcards they have made.    

This a great tool for you to use as a teacher to communicate with your students from wherever but also provides the option for students to work on group projects from home as they can video chat with multiple people at the same time. Students can also conduct interviews in class using Skype.

There are three distinct ways to use Skype in the classroom. 1. Collaborate with other classes, no matter where they are. 2. You can find guest speakers and invite them into your classroom. 3. You can also take your class on a virtual field trip anywhere in the world. I would love to be able to collaborate with another orchestra and/or band program in another state, or even better, in another country! It would be a great experience for the kids, and they would be able to play repertoire for one another and talk about their own experiences within their own groups. 

Google isn't just a internet search, it provides multiple tools the can benefit the entire curriculum and everyday experiences. Create an account and use it anywhere you go, on any device you have. 

1. Google Drive
2. Google Docs
3. Google Slides
4. Google Forms
5. Google Sheets
6. Google Calendar 
7. Gmail
8. Google Earth
9. Google Apps for Education
10. Tip Calculator
11. Weather
12. Dictionary 
13. Translation 

iAnnotate would be a great tool to use for my ideas of establishing a blended learning environment in my classroom. iAnnotate allows students to journal, annotate, respond, and collaborate through the application. This application will also allow me to read what my students are putting into their work as well as leave constructive comments. 

Poll Everywhere is a great tool because it allows not only the educator, but the students as well to conduct polls through text messages and the internet. One way this can be implemented is by having students use Poll Everywhere to find out when a good time to meet for a study session, organization meetings, and for educators to conduct polls. As a history teacher, I would use poll everywhere to conduct polls about upcoming elections and what the students would most like to learn about. However, as an educator in charge of National Honor Society or Student Government, Poll Everywhere--again--can be used to find the best available time of everyone to meet as a group.

I think that Skype is a great tool for the classroom. It allows students to talk to people outside of the classroom. Skype is a great tool for interviewing others, going on virtual field trips, and learning about other parts of the world or people from other places.    

I like quizlet because it allows you to add manipulatives to your assignments. you only have to type in a few pieces of information and choose a format to use.

I really like how Google docs has the ability to be shared with others.  This will allow students to work on projects outside of the classroom without all having to be in the same place.  Other students will also be able to comment on each others work and help other students.  I will also be able to view and comment on my students work, without having them hand it in.  

There are many ways that you can use skype in the classroom. The best way that it could benefit my students is by bringing in different experts and groups to perform for my class. There are so many ways to model using skype. Bring in different experiences outside of the classroom into it is exactly how I plan to utilize this tool.

Like I have said before I am bittersweet towards blended learning, but if I was to implement this strtegy within my classroom I record my lessons and use it as a way for students to catch up if they missed classed or were unable to find a time to meet with me and wanted to see the lecture that we did in class again.