Tools For The Classroom

Katelynn Poteet

EDU 3043: Instructional Technology

 April 1, 2014

1)      Ahead
      Ahead is a web based tool used for presentations. This is a good tool if you need high resolution quality. It is easy to work with, so students should be able to use this tool with little to no problems. I would use this in the classroom instead of powerpoint, for projects that need to be presented to the class. This would be better then students writing a research paper, instead they can present it thought Ahead.

2)      SimpleVLE 
      SimpleVLE is collaborative tool by teachers and students. Teachers can post quizzes and assignments for their students to work on. Teachers create the class online and all students have access to the work. I would use this in the classroom after reading a book. This would be a great way to test students to see if they learned anything from the book.

3)     Search Crystal
           Search Crystal is a research tool designed for students to compare multiple website. This is to help students find websites and images that would be best for the research needed. You can also use this in blogs and other websites that are for student use. I would use this in the classroom for students when they are doing research for an essay. I would think that this would make researching easier for students.

4)       Authorstream
      Authorstream is used to share powerpoints. Students can stream these videos live and share for others to use. Once students finish the assignment they can email it to the teacher as well as other students. I would use this in the classroom for group projects. Students would be able to collaborate ideas and then post the video to show to other students.

5)    iNetEditor
           iNetEditor seems to be a lot like Microsoft Word except, you can add more effects to it. Students have the ability to write while making the writing assignment look nice. Once completed, students can share the assignment with fellow students and the teacher. I would use this in the classroom to make the students make their papers unique with different designs. I think that this would allow students to have more fun writing.

6)       Student Publishing
      Student Publishing is a writing tool. This tool allows students to write short stories to turn into books. This would be a good tool for older students to read their stories to younger students. I would use this in the classroom as a group project. A couple student will get together to write stories about something that younger students can learn from and then they can read them to the younger students as their overall assignment.

7)      Zooburst
      Zooburst is a writing tool that allows students to make pop-up books. You can manipulate the books to where they can be seen from different angles. This allows students to go deeper into the character’s life. I would use this in the classroom to help students have a visual on the character that they are having problems understanding. This would be a great tool for any age student.

8)     Webspiration
          Webspiration is a web tool used to help with organization. This tool will help organize ideas, information and documents. This would be ideal to keep students organized. I would use this in the classroom to help my students stay organized. This will keep them on task for all assignments. I would probably use this myself as a teacher to keep myself organized.

9)      Quibblo
      Quibblo is a quizzing tool. This would be a great way for students to study for tests. The can put in the information needed for the test and quiz themselves. They could also find other quizzes that others have made to help them study. Students can also share these with other students. I wouldn’t make my students use this tool for testing purpose, instead I would suggest it to the students who aren’t doing too good on tests. I think that practicing for the test will prepare them to know and understand the information needed.

10)   PhotoStory
      Photo story is a slideshow tool. This allows students to download, crop and organize pictures to make a story. Students can also add in their own voices to the presentation as a narrator. I would use this in the classroom for presentations that have to be shown to the class. I think that this would allow the student to be more receptive to the presenter’s project.

Social Networking

Social Networking according to other bloggers Amanda Webb and Jen Havice can be very effective.
According to Amanda in her blog "3 Facebook Advertising Tools That Will Save You Significant Time and Money" you can advertise on Facebook. She states that Facebook has options to make campaigns easier. She also states that the ads on Facebook can, "help you plan your campaign, help you monitor your campaign, and simply the ad creation process." The ads that can be put on Facebook are typically free. You can target specific types of ads, depending on what you chose, it could cost to add information on it. However, you will be reaching a large amount of people that could help in your campaign or whatever it is that you choose to put in your ad.
Jen Havice wrote her blog on LinkedIn, which is a social media site that you can put into detail your work experience. She states the pros and cons about having a LinkedIn. LinkedIn, like Facebook, has ads that you can pay for to advertise and/or campaign. Jen states that, "If LinkedIn is one of the places to best market your skulls and your business, incorporating its publishing platform may be a very good call.
I agree with both of these blog posts. I think that social media such as Facebook and LinkedIn would be good if you were trying to sale something or campaign for something specific. They all have their pros and cons, but over all I think that they would benefit anyone who is doing ads to help them. One of the cons is that they aren't always free, that could become very expansive depending on how many ads that you have.

My Testimony.

I was born at 4:23am on September 28th. Seven days after I was born, I was diagnosed with Spinal Meningitis. Thankfully my parents got me to the doctor early enough to have it treated without any side effects. Throughout my life, I was in church every Sunday morning, every Sunday night, and Wednesday night. It seemed like every time the doors were open, I was there. I loved going to church!
When I was about eight years old, I went to church camp for the first time. I was so scared that my parents were going to leave me there! During the week I got close to God and could feel that something wasn't right in my life. My Mom came to join us for night service one night at camp. That night I remember walking down the isle during invitation to talk to one of the leaders about knowing Jesus better. I asked Jesus to come into my heart that night and to forgive me of my sins.
As life goes on, I try to live my life for Christ. This is pretty easy to do during Elementary School. On February 15, 2006, I took a Vow of Purity. This is pretty much saying that I am going to remain pure sexually until my wedding night. Well, this is easy to do when you're twelve years old and boys have cooties.
As I get older, I realize that it isn't going to be easy.
I had my first "real boyfriend" when I was about sixteen years old. We dated for about three months and he broke my heart. I was crushed. It was the typical "I loved him but he didn't love me anymore" situation. As time goes on I realized that I liked having a "boyfriend". I was that girl who needed a guy by her side all the time! I had one serious relationship. I dated this guy for about five months. And again, I got my heart broken. I was so angry that I dated another guy right after him just to make him mad. I know I know. I am a horrible person, but I was hurt. Now keep in mine I never had sex with any of these guys. Come to find out, that's why guys didn't want to date me anymore.
Finally, I gave dating to God. I told him, "I am done dating. I'm done getting hurt. I am giving dating to you. It's in your hands. Lord, whenever you're ready for me to date, you'll send me a guy who fits my standard list. Not just some of the standards on it, but ALL of them." (This list has over 25 standard on it)
I went a whole summer without a boyfriend. It was great! I got to work, go to church camp, staff at Kidz Kamp. I got really close to God during this time. While I was at church camp, I saw a friend who I haven't seen in a year or so. We had a short conversation, nothing too exciting. We ended up being staffers at Kidz Kamp. I didn't think too much of it at first, but as the week progressed, I started having a little crush on him. Now keep in mind that I am staffing kids, I can't show my feelings towards this guy because that's not what I'm there for.
After camp, we start texting and we got to know each other. I asked him about himself and his walk with Christ. He did the same to me. We texted for about two or three weeks. Then I moved to college. Little did I know that he lives about 15 minutes from where I go to college. We decide to go have an early dinner at Wendy's one Wednesday night and then I was going to follow him to church that night. We sat and talked for a couple hours. I was so nervous! As we talked I felt that there was something special about him. As weeks progressed I looked at my standard list. He fit every item on that list!!! On September 2nd, he asked me out. Since then, we have had a wonderful relationship. We don't have the normal "teenage relationship". We don't have sex. We try to have Bible Study together once a week. We go to church together. It's exactly what I have been looking for. God sent me one of the greatest blessings of my life whenever He sent me Calvin.

Galatians 6:9
And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.

All About Me

Short, Sweet, and to the Point fully describes me.
I am 5' 1" tall. I try to be a sweet person. I speak my mind.
I have lived in Hot Springs, Arkansas my whole life. Living in the country, I have learned to hunt, fish, and enjoy God's beautiful creation of nature.
My parents are the best! They have been married for 23 years! Their relationship has been a great model for how I would like my future marriage to be like.
I have an older brother who goes to college at Central Baptist College in Conway. I love my family!

When I have free time, I like to bowl. I was a Gold Medalist Bowler my sophomore year in high school. I also enjoy photography. I like to take pictures of nature and to treasure God's wonderful handiwork. I also like to spend time with my family, boyfriend, and friends. They have all had such an impact on my life and I am so thankful for them! I like to spend every chance that I can with all of these people.
I am a student at Henderson State University. I am going to get a degree in Middle School Language Arts and Social Studies. I want to be an example to all of my future student. I want to teach my students the importance of reading, writing, and history. I want to make a difference in all of my student's lives.

I am starting this blog for a class at school. As you read this blog, I will tell stories about what has happened in my life. I have a very unique life and I would like to share it with anyone who is interested in it. I am going to try to blog at least once a week.