Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Podcasting Blog

A podcast is a software and hardware combination that permits automatic downloading of audio files for our convenience. It must be downloaded and a podcatcher retrieves files in the RSS feed and adds files to each users media player or device. This can be beneficial to teachers through augmentation, material for presentations, a communication device and for our own professional development. It is being used today by people of all ages. Fifth graders are using it to tell other what they learned in class. Others are using it to post articles and some schools are using the podcasting to tell about things that are going on in their districts.
I like to listen to CNN news so I found a podcast that CNN has that informs others about the latest updated news. The URL to check this out is www.cnn.com/services/podcasting/index.topic.html. CNN podcastings also include podcasting from some of my other favorites Larry King, Anderson Cooper and Nancy Grace. I find this a great way to catch up on the latest information.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Alabama's Virtual library Blog!

The AVL is a online library that is made accessible for students of all ages. AVL has many resources available to accommodate our needs to learn. Some of the resources available include several databases. Online database searches that can be searched by age groups or by topics. The AVL has magazine and journal articles to choose form for research. In addition, multiple databases such as EBSCO and single database searches such as kids search, newspaper sources, book collections and many more are obtainable for our use.
I definitely will use this website in my classroom and in the future. This website is child friendly and easy for young students to search information. I found that the articles I searched through and tried to find were easy to access also fun and easy to read.

Friday, October 3, 2008

Blog about Mr. Sullivan

Mr. Sullivan's presentation was interesting and the products were new to me. I learned about the new technology that is available for people with the disability of blindness. I thought that the computer he brought in was an amazing product. I find people like him and Mr. Ricky Trione (who has a my space page, you should check him out) so inspiring and intriguing to listen to. Both of them have taken their disability and turned it into something positive for others. I definitely know, since having the knowledge of these product now, I will be able to share them with my students in the future if needed.

Wednesday, September 17, 2008

Google thinking blog

I have to argue the fact that Internet based search engines like Google do corrupt our minds. I will agree that search engines such as Google, overtime has made us more lazy as a society. Especially people who have been around before the times of Google could make a great debate on that argument. Society doesn't take the time to dig deeper to find sources and even check if they are reliable sources perhaps. However, life is not the way it was 10 years ago. The Internet and search engines have been a great advancement for society. The Internet and search engines such as Google has made it possible for people like me a mother of two to pursue their dreams. It has allowed me to be able to take online courses as well as do research projects in the comfort of my own home and because of that I am all for Google.

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

ALEX Blog

For all the first year teachers and teachers unfamiliar to ALEX website, this is a great site to search. ALEX is what every first year teacher hopes to have the access to. ALEX allows teachers to not feel left alone when trying to make lesson plans. The website as so many links that can guide you through your classroom.

ALEX has a so many resources available. For example, it has a help link, lesson plans, a link to ACCESS, professional learning, professional development, and personal workspace. The lesson plans are available to you by creating it for your own personal lesson. It allows you to enter the grade level and subject even a keyword that can narrow your search to a lesson plan for a particular topic. You can look up lesson plans by authors, titles, or a school. There are web links for additional resources for students, teachers, and administrators.

This is absolutely a site needed for teachers. I will definitly use ALEX as a source for lesson plans to create my own also as a comparison to the lessons I create.