Module 7: Technology

1. Module 7: Technology Alicia McMahon, Allison Lane, and Julio Tejada EEX3241

2. iLearn Technology This website can be very helpful for students that find the web as a challenge. This website allows students to create their own “textbooks”. Students are able to find and create a virtual w-book of sorts as they search the web for resources based on subjects or inquiry questions. Teachers can use this website to create a customized “textbook” for their students. It can be complete with articles, maps, videos, images, and interactive content for the students use. Students and teachers are able to quickly share a collection of sites with other students.

3. iLearn Activity As teachers, we can assign many activities using technology. One activity to be used with iLearn is appropriate for middle school, grades 6 or 7. Divide the class into groups of 3, and let each group choose a country. Let the students pretend like they are writing a textbook about this country. Have them specify customs, religion, food, culture, etc. When they are done have each group create and share their “textbook” to iLearn.

4. Bookshare Bookshare provides a variety of reading options for each of the communities it serves. People with visual impairments, physical disabilities, or learning disabilities can all benefit from this website. Bookshare is an online library of digital books. People with print disabilities are able to have access to the digital books. People are able to download the books and access the material using adaptive technology, such as software that reads the book aloud. Bookshare believes that “all people, of all abilities, should have the same access to reading materials as everyone else.”

5. Bookshare Activity Have eleventh-grade students explore Bookshare and ask them to brainstorm the pro’s and cons of using a website to read books. Have them do more research on electronic books and how they can help people with disabilities. Ask them to express whether they are a fan of reading books in person or electronically.

6. Blogspot.com Blogspot is a platform that you can use to blog or type entries. It is much like an online journal because many people voice their opinions and views on many current events. Anybody can start a blog and write about anything they want. Blogspot.com can be used in the classroom as a way of communicating with students. Many teachers use blogspot to further enhance a lesson and also to view the opinions and understanding of his/her students. It is also a great tool to use to get to know your students better by learning his/her hobbies, likes and dislikes.

7. Blogspot Activity It is easy to incorporate blogging with language arts. After fourth-grade students have finished reading a book (either independently or in a group) have students choose one character in the book and have them “blog” acting like they are that character. Tell students to continue the story by writing in a diary or journal style on blogspot.com.

8. Poll Everywhere www.polleverywhere.com is an easy-to-use website that allows anyone to ask a question in a flash. It’s a great way to quickly gather information in a conference, meeting, or classroom setting. A question is presented and the participants in the audience (students) are allowed to text in an answer. It is easy and quick. Taking attendance is very simple with this website! A teacher can set up a question on the screen, have student text in their answer, and quickly view the results either on a large screen for everyone to see, or for his/her personal use on a laptop.

9. Poll Everywhere Activity • After reading block, ask fifth-grade students to predict what will happen next in “The Giver.” Then ask them to text in their answer. • “When Jonas meets The Giver, he is confused. Do you think that Jonas will:” • A. Befriend The Giver • Dislike The Giver • Other • Have students text in and start a class discussion.