Augmented Reality or Virtual Reality?

Alright so here's the scoop...who really even knows what AR and VR mean?

Instead of me explaining this to you and maybe getting you confused...enjoy this YouTube video that will do a whole lot better than I will in the explanation category.




So, now that we understand what is what and which is which, let me share my thoughts!

In my opinion, this is just the beginning of all of this. I would say in the last 5-10 years, it was a start of all of the technology for this. Now, it's the beginning. Now is when all of this actually gets a name, is sold to the general public, and used on a daily basis.

I feel as though, through reading all of my other blog posts, you all know how I actually feel about all of this "gaming stuff". In my world, the simple pen and paper will never be fully replaced. However, I also understand that times are changing...and so do I. I think these AR and VR types of ideas can be used in a fierce way in education. For example, "placing students" in another culture through Augmented Reality could have very serious learning experiences linked in. But, like I said, paper and pencil, and self generated thoughts will not be...hopefully.

Gamification: Yay or Nay?!

Hey ya'll! What's goin' on!

Today, were going to be talking about Gamification. So, first off, what is Gamification?

Gamification is defined as: the application of typical elements of game playing (e.g., point scoring, competition with others, rules of play) to other areas of activity, typically as an online marketing technique to encourage engagement with a product or service.

The best Gamification website I have seen is Digital Passport! Digital Passport is an amazing resource for teaching kids on how to be safe while exploring the Internet. Digital Passport is a game through Common Sense Media in which student's are able to play a series of games and levels on the website! Teacher's are able to print out lesson plans,worksheets, and enhancement materials for each game. 

My personal belief is that Gamification is "just a fad". However, I can see a good list of pros and cons for each. In my classroom, I may use some games, especially those like Digital Passport. But, I could also see myself not using games too much just so my student's do not have too many distractions.

But, I would love to know, what do ya'll think about this?!

How Student Learn: Visual or Conceptual?

Hey everybody! What's poppin!

I hope you are all lovin' this fall weather...except it has been a little to warm for me as of late!

So anyway, in my mind, one big thing that teachers are always exploring, and debating about is not only how students learn, but is it to be more visual or conceptual.

For me, when I was a grade school student, ad even here in college, I see myself as being a visual learner with a very big spotlight on hands-on-activities. I need to be able to either literally see or mentally see what is going on. And, it does not matter what subject it is. Then, for me to really grasp the concept, I MUST have a hands-on-activity(s). I cannot sit in a lecture for an hour and a half and be able to walk away fully remembering what we went over and the professor talked about. Lecturing, student or teacher view, can get very boring and overbearing which becomes hard and stressful on students.

As a teacher my goal will be to provide a place where student's are learning in a variety of ways. Because I most likely will be teaching student's under the age of ten, I do not think that student's should know how they want to be taught and how they learn best. At this point in their academic career, I believe that they need to be exposed to every single different learning aspect. But, we also need to remember that 6-10 year olds, do not have the longest attention span, so therefore a ton of lecturing (although, sometimes it is necessary) will not be useful.

I believe that rewards can be very useful, but at the same time, I think they can be just as hurtful and abused. Rewards should not just appear, and at some point "rewards" cannot be physical things. A student cannot and will not learn how to be a decent human being if they depend on rewards. At some point, the things that are being rewarded must become a natural thing to do, rather than just doing it to get a reward. My strategies when I have my own classroom is to have a reward system. For example, Miss Hayes Bucks! Every time a student exemplifies exceptional academic or personal responsibilities they can earn a buck. Then maybe at the end of the week or month, each student can "cash in their bucks" to receive a small prize. But, all in all, I do think rewards are necessary for motivation. They just cannot become abused and over used, either.



via GIPHY

Interview Time: Let's Talk About Twitter, Pinterest, and Blogging?

Hey guys! Today's blog post is going to be a bit more serious than some of my other posts. However, I can promise that it will be just as engaging and exciting! So, here goes!! Imagine you have graduated from college in the year of 2020 with a BA in Elementary Ed/Special Ed. You are going to interview for your first full time position as a fourth grade teacher. The interviewer then says: So, we are living in a world of technology, how do you stay current and up to date on new findings and classroom ideas? For me, personally, I stay up to date through twitter. I do not have a personal twitter account, however, I do have a professional twitter account. I use my twitter to follow people and places like Kahoot!, other teacher's, other districts, and profesional education websites. Twitter is a great way to be notified when certain things come out. When the latest tech gear is announced and even how to use it. As for classroom ideas, I typically turn to Pinterest. Pinterest has thousands upon thousands of ideas for classrooms for every age, every learning ability, from math all the way to bulletin board ideas. When I get an idea in my head, I will turn to Pinterest to figure out the logistics of it. And, so you can stay up to date with me, I blog! I use blogger.com to express my ideas, itnterests, and communication with parents,student's, and other teachers! I post a lot of information regarding my classroom and what my future classroom would look like with technology. So, all of that being said, I would love if you would check out my twitter, Pinterest, and blog!!



 Twitter: My Twitter!

Pinterest: My Pinterest!

Blogger: My Blogger!

Interview Time: Let's Talk About Twitter, Pinterest, and Blogging?

Hey guys! Today's blog post is going to be a bit more serious than some of my other posts. However, I can promise that it will be just as engaging and exciting! So, here goes!! Imagine you have graduated from college in the year of 2020 with a BA in Elementary Ed/Special Ed. You are going to interview for your first full time position as a fourth grade teacher. The interviewer then says: So, we are living in a world of technology, how do you stay current and up to date on new findings and classroom ideas? For me, personally, I stay up to date through twitter. I do not have a personal twitter account, however, I do have a professional twitter account. I use my twitter to follow people and places like Kahoot!, other teacher's, other districts, and profesional education websites. Twitter is a great way to be notified when certain things come out. When the latest tech gear is announced and even how to use it. As for classroom ideas, I typically turn to Pinterest. Pinterest has thousands upon thousands of ideas for classrooms for every age, every learning ability, from math all the way to bulletin board ideas. When I get an idea in my head, I will turn to Pinterest to figure out the logistics of it. And, so you can stay up to date with me, I blog! I use blogger.com to express my ideas, itnterests, and communication with parents,student's, and other teachers! I post a lot of information regarding my classroom and what my future classroom would look like with technology. So, all of that being said, I would love if you would check out my twitter, Pinterest, and blog!! Twitter:

Pinterest:

Blogger: http://aah001.blogspot.com/

Where We've Been In The Technology World

Technology is an ever changing world within planet earth. And, in the classroom it will always be revolving and evolving. It seems like very time I visit another classroom, their is some new cool and latest technology fad that a teacher has found. And, this happens at every age level, Pre-K-college. It is crazy to think about where we've started as young kids, to where we are now, to what our children will have, and then even our grandkids. To me, some of it can be scary. I want to be in total control of my car, I do not think I trust a computer to steer, navigate, and control the speed of my vehicle. Although, I do understand that as the world does I do too.

Specifically, teachers face many challenges as educators in today's world. At this point in 2016, student's are at very different places with technology. I have noticed in my placement that some first graders know more than I do about my own laptop. Then again, there are kindergarten's who come to school and have never seen a laptop or projector, simply because they were raised in a home that couldn't afford these things, or just chose not to use them.

And then, as we all know it gets put on the educator to teach the Internet, safety, uses, and for it to be utilized, just because, well that's how we live. That is how the world functions these days. So, what can teachers do to combat this wide spread of knowledge? Well, in my mind...KISS. And no, I don't mean it like that!! KISS means to Keep It Super Simple. I think that's the answer, simplicity.

In my own classroom one day, I will KISS. My goal will be to meet students where there at, regardless of where they've come from. I will use something universal, meaning something that every student can access. For instance, Google Classroom. Google Classroom is great because it is one place where student's can all access, for free, anytime, anywhere...now, that's a teacher's DREAM!

Please check out my timeline! My timeline, starts when I started school till when I graduated and then some future technologies, as well!

Microsoft Word v. Google Drive...Pros and Cons

Both of these two examples of Pros and Cons for Microsoft Word is ALSO applied to Microsoff Powerpoint. 

Hey guys! Welcome back!

So in this post I want to discuss a little bit of some pros and cons of Microsoft document products and Google Drive products. Let me tell you what I did, first off. On Microsoft Word and on Google Drive Docs, I created the exact same document. Then, on Microsoft's version of powerpoint, I created a simple, small, powerpoint that hits a couple of main things, and then the exact same "powerpoint" on Google which is called Google Slides.

Let's discuss!






Microsoft Word Pros:  

-Easy Help: On Microsoft Word there is this really neat tool that you can use if you become lost. On the top of the document to the furthest left heading, you can click on the word "Help." When you click on "help" a search bar will pop-up and you can type anything there your heart desires and it will show you how to access it. So..here's a quick tour!!

Click Help

Type in the Search Bar

Type in what you want!!

And WALLAAA! The magical gene helps ya out!!

Microsoft Word Cons:

So, for the cons there is one MAJOR one that sticks out to me. When a word document is saved it, it is saved as .docx. The problem with that is, that sometimes if a student would want to open there saved .docx document on a different computer it may or may not be compatible. So, there's a possibility that it will open and be the way they want it, the open doesn't open at all, or it opens but changes formatting and what not and it is all screwed up.

Onto Google!!

Google Docs Pros: The BEST thing about Google docs is how it can be worked on/saved. Google Docs saves AUTOMATTICALLY. And let me tell you, when working with K-4th graders, when you tell them to do something that is very IMPORTANT (like save their work) it totally gets lost in their brain and then their work is gone forever. And well...no one wants to deal with that!

Google Docs Cons: 

Google Docs doesn't have as many fonts and hypes as Microsoft Word does. So, if you are not too worried about the fancy-ness of your kids work, then maybe choose google. 

Both of these two examples of Pros and Cons for Google Docs is ALSO applied to Google Slides (Google's version of Powerpoint.)

So, for me in my classroom, I think I will stick with Google. It is accessible on pretty much ny device that has internet, it saves automattically (this is huge in  my mind!!), and everything is saved all in one place...Google Docs, Slides, Drawing, etc.