Technology Inventory

I was really amazed at how much is available to us as teachers. My teacher mentor actually wrote a grant and was able to get a smartboard in her classroom. The school as made big efforts to incorporate technology into the children's learning. They recognize what a powerful tool it really can be. The one thing that could be holding some teachers back is not knowing how to use the technology available. Our school recently had a teacher development day. The focus was on technology. I found this very enlightening. We were shown how to use some specific tools with the smartboards. We even learned how to make a quiz and use clickers to answer questions. It was a great experience. I am beginning to see how important it is to imcorporate technology in teaching. It may take some time to learn, but once the concepts are understood, it can save a great deal of time and make your teaching more interesting and interactive.

Here is my virtual tour link! Enjoy!

TPACK questions on Google Earth Tour

1. What is the content you’ll be using in your lesson?
3rd Grade Social Studies
Standard 2
Students will understand cultural factors that shape a community.
Objective 1
Evaluate key factors that determine how a community develops
*Describe how stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture.

2. What is the pedagogy you’ll be using and why is it a good fit with the content?
Students have the opportunity to listen to music and compare and contrast that to the music of other counties.

3.What is the technology you’ll be using and why is it a good fit with the content and pedagogy?
We will be using google earth to help with this activity. Google Earth gives the kids the chance to actually go to these specific locations. It also allows me to link useful sites to that location, making discover easy and uncomplicated.

Virtual Tour Plan

Location	Activity	Google Earth Content
1. Indonesia	In the first activity students will listen to a Balinese Gamelon. By following the indicated link. Then the students will follow another link that illustrates the several different instruments played within the Gamelon.	Students will be brought to that location.
2. Japan	In the second activity students read a brief history on Japanese Gagaku music and then listen to a sample by following indicated link.	Students will be brought to that location.
3. India	Sudents will listen to a Sitar and look at the different elements of that instrument.	Students will be brought to that location.
4. Scottland	Students will watch a video of a person playing bagpipe and look at different elements of that instrument.	Students will be brought to that location.
Details of image overlay / path / polygon:	I will use image overlay for each location. I will also draw a polygon around the area.

Digital Story- The Loser

TPACK questions- Digital Story

What is the content you’ll be using in your lesson?

The goal is to developing language through viewing media and presenting. Students will share writing with others using illustrations to add meaning (K-6 Language Arts Core Curriculum Standard 1 Objective 2 and Standard 8 Objective 6).

What is the pedagogy you’ll be using and why is it a good fit with the content?

We will be doing poetry interpretations. Not only are the students required to create a script, but they will also have the opportunity to visually represent a specific poem. This will give them further insight into the meaning and will help develop their language. They will create storyboards to help them successfully plan their projects out step by step.

What is the technology you’ll be using and why is it a good fit with the content and pedagogy?

Students will be using a digital camera and PhotoStory software to create a film of their interpreted poem. They will combine pictures, music, and vocal reading to make this film. This is an amazingly fun project. Using these technologies makes the whole project unique. Their final product will be professional and impressive. The students will have the chance to see just how much they are capable of. This project could not have been done without the help of technology.