Virtual Fieldtrip to Hawaii

http://www.vthawaii.com/

The virtual tour of Hawaii was very interesting. The website provided pictures as well as 360 degree tours of the islands. While on the tour, I could tell where I was at all times and could easily get back to the home screen. There were several locations on the different islands that were pictured on the page and when clicked on, they opened up 360 degree tours of that location. There was a map provided on the website that helped me choose where to go. However, no guide was present. The website also gave links to other sites that would be useful in gathering more information. An email address was provided to ask questions and sign up for the newsletter. The tour allowed me to visit a place that I have never been in real life, and may not ever have the chance to visit.

All in all, I think this was a great tour. However, there is no way it could actually match an actual field trip. With that being said, students will still gain a lot from this tour, because it is very unlikely that they will actually be able to take a field trip to Hawaii.

Software Title: Sycamore Education
Vendor:   Sycamore Leaf                                                         Cost: $12 per student initial, $00.75 per student monthly
Description: Complete online School management system & Student information system
Notes on Use:
SOFTWARE FEATURE	1 POOR	2 BELOW AVERAGE	3 AVERAGE	4 ABOVE AVERAGE	5 EXCELLENT
Documentation 4	Documentation is excessively technical and/or difficult to follow	Documentation is generally understandable but not very user-friendly	Documentation is user-friendly and reasonably easy to follow	Clear documentation that is logical and easy to follow	Very clear, user-friendly documentation that leaves no questions
Technical Support 5	No local or toll-free telephone support available	No local support; phone support available for an hourly fee	Local tech support and phone support available for modest fees	Local tech help available for modest fee; no-charge phone support	Local help and toll-free support readily available at no charge
Multiple Users 5	Cannot be used by more than one user	Usable by multiple users if per-user licensing is purchased	Payment of a relatively small fee allows multiple users	No additional fee but allows addition of up to 10 users	Comes with permission for multiple users
Help Features 3	Few or no help features available	Help limited to a Help or Read-Me file on Installation CD or website	Clicking a help button provides on-screen assistance with common problems	Help button is context sensitive and provides clear help	Highlighting and clicking area of difficulty brings up a related Help feature
Tutorials 4	No tutorials provided	Tutorials may be ordered with a fee	Limited tutorial provided on a CD or may be requested without charge	Tutorials offered as an online option or on a CD	Extensive online and CD based tutorials provided
Administrative Features 5	Lacks some of the commonly included basic features	Only basic features are included	Basic features and additional features are included	Includes most of the features desired	Comprehensive features included
Multiple Platforms 5	Works on only one operating system	Although purchased for one platform, versions for other platforms may be purchased	Program will run on multiple operating systems; features may vary with platform	May be used on multiple platforms; features similar although not identical	May be used on multiple platforms with consistent features across platforms
Conversion/Import/Export Features 5	No provision for conversion between software	Cannot be imported or exported into other programs but can be converted into a few of the more popular formats	Can be converted, imported, or exported into programs by major vendors	Easily converted into common formats; maintains most of format features	Fully compatible via conversion, import, and export with all vendors
All Needed Applications (If a suite or Integrated Software) 5	Missing many applications that are needed	Some needed applications missing from package	Most of the expected applications are included and compatible with each other	All basic applications included and fully integrated	Includes applications beyond those needed; full integrating within suite and compatible with other vendor software
Hardware Compatibility 4	Requires upgrades for some hardware to work on all machines	Requires limited upgrades to some machines	Will work on most machines without upgrades	Works acceptably on all machines without upgrades	Maximum performance with no hardware upgrades required on any machines
Cost 4	Expensive when compared to other vendors	Cost is relatively high when compared to other vendors	Average cost	Reasonably priced, includes some discounts	Special pricing for educational users.

Google Docs Tools :)

The google docs tool that interest me most is the drawing tool. When using this tool, a document is opened that presents several different shapes. They are connected with lines, forming a graph. You can add as many extensions as you would like, typing different sentences, formulas, and words into the graph, depending on your subject for creating it. The graphs are colorful and attention grabbing.

The google docs drawing tool is an example of productivity software, which means it assists in completing tasks. The tool could be used to show students how things are related, or they could use this tool themselves to create a presentation for a project. I could accomplish administrative tasks by creating plans for students to further themselves in my classroom. The different levels of the graph could represent the different levels of learning the students possesses.

Dream Computer!!

When given the money for a dream computer for my classroom, there were several things I had to consider. Price, PC vs. laptop, how much memory, what size monitor, what processor, and what type of software stood out as being the most important. In an elementary classroom, I believe a PC would be of much more use. The children do not know how to handle computers very well at a young age, and laptops can be difficult to use because of their smaller keyboards and touchpad mouse. At a high school level, however, I believe that a laptop would be more sufficient. Older students like to be able to work from their desk, and a laptop can provide this luxury. While doing my search, I found a PC that seemed to meet all the criteria I had for my dream computer. The Dell Inspiron 570 was the most relevant to my wants.
The Dell Inspiron 570 is just $529 on Dell’s website. This price includes an 18.5” HD monitor. The PC comes loaded with Windows 7 Home premium, and a one year subscription to McAfee security is also included. The hard drive has 500 GB of memory, which is fantastic for students and teachers because they will be saving a lot of information on the computer. The monitor is the perfect size for a classroom because it is not too small that a child can’t see it, but it isn’t too big that it takes up way too much room. Windows 7 Home Premium is a top of the line operating system, that is user friendly and very easy to learn. The desktop also comes with a 16x DVD+/-RW drive, which is necessary in a classroom because students use CD’s for learning games, projects, and countless other things. This computer is overall, a fantastic one to have in the classroom, it is the perfect size and comes with the right options to keep students engaged and help them use technology to their advantage.

Myer's Briggs Personality Inventory

You Are an ESFJ (Extravert, Sensor, Feeler, Judger)

ESFJs represent between 9 and 13% of the U.S. population

ESFJs are friendly and talkative "people" people. Sympathetic, gracious and conscientious, ESFJs are very concerned with the needs of others and eager to help in real and practical ways. Responsible, literal, and organized, ESFJs are bound by their sense of duty and commitment, and enjoy being active and cooperative members of committees and organizations. Highly sensitive to indifference, criticism or conflict, ESFJs are generally quite decisive and like to have things settled.

They need harmonious relationships with others and work hard to achieve and maintain them. In fact, they often idealize whatever or whomever they admire. ESFJs often go out of their way to do something helpful and nice for others and especially enjoy being responsive in times of trouble or great celebration.

http://www.personalitytype.com/partners/view_profile?code_id=esfj&user_id=316911

Technology in Education Paper

As a Junior in high school, I was enrolled in a “Teach Alabama” class. In the class, Juniors and Seniors with an interest in teaching were assigned teachers from the local elementary school. Our job was to assist the teacher in any way necessary. I was assigned to a second grade classroom. I was there for about an hour every morning, and while I was there, the students were going through learning stations which included anything from reading to mathematics. I helped walk around and assist students with any problem they had.

            One of the stations the students would use was computer math. At this station they would play several math games online. The games were on different levels, getting herder as they went on. The students enjoyed the games and were even disappointed when they had to change stations. In my opinion, this is an example of educational technology.

            Educational technology is any technology that is used to teach students. Educational technology now plays an extremely important role in teaching and learning. It helps teachers by giving them innovative ways to give lessons, keep grades, make lesson plans, communicate with parents, co-workers, and administrators, and most importantly provide students with interesting ways to learn new things. Technology helps students by getting them organized, giving them fun games as a way to learn, and keeping them interested with their school work.

            While all of these things encourage technology, there are many downfalls to it as well. If something happens with the power, most technology does not work. This can be hurtful to education because it can offset many things in the classroom. Another downside is the disconnect that can happen between teachers and students. Students will become dependent on technology, making it more difficult for them to listen to teachers. Technology has its ups and downs, but one thing’s for certain; education will never exist without the use of it!