Technology is an incredible educational tool. Technology provides an excellent medium for diversified instruction and engages learners who are submerged in a technologically based society. During my internship in Regina, Saskatchewan I provided many opportunities for my students to engage in technology based instruction. The links provided below show a few examples. Classroom Blogging  Blogging in the classroom provided my students with the opportunity to share their writing with a worldwide audience. The excitement when students discovered that hundreds of people where reading and responding to their writing is indescribable. The classroom blog also provides a wonderful communication tool between the school and home. Parents are able to see what their children are learning and are provided with samples of their child's writing. Take a look at our classroom blog and see for yourself. http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blogger_id=190434 Virtual Field Trips During my internship I created two virtual field trips for my students to participate in. The virtual field trips allowed students to see and experience what they were learning about. Students were able to travel around the world to different rock quarries during a unit on rocks. Students were also able to see visit a rural community during a unit on community comparisons. Rocks and Minerals Field Trip Voice Thread Voice thread is a program that allows students to take pictures and record comments. During my internship I used voice thread as a tool for students to practice reading their own writing. Not only did this activity help students develop their skills in communication, but students were also able to listen to their classmates read and discover the importance of expression and fluency in reading. Take a look at my students' work on Voice Thread. http://voicethread.com/#u177519.b253440.i1324236 I have also used this tool as part of an adaptation strategy. Some of the students in my class were struggling readers. Reading struggles became inhibiting for these students when it came to subjects such as social studies or science. In these cases I provided students with the opportunity to listen to the reading on Voice Thread while they read along. Take a look at a Voice Thread created for a unit on Early Canada. http://voicethread.com/#u177519.b268574.i1408055 Webquest Webquests provide students with the opportunity for online research. In a webquest the teacher designs a task for students to complete either individually or in a group. The teacher also provides a variety of websites for students to conduct research on. During my internship I created one webquest for my students complete during a unit on plants. Take a look at the "Amazing Discovery" webquest. http://questgarden.com/69/42/4/080818093816/ |