I-Touch, Final Thought

I really enjoyed having the privilege to use I-Touch this quarter.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get access to WiFi at my school so I had my difficulties.  However, I did use Voice memo and dictionary app efficiently.  My second grade students were so fascinated to see with my I-Touch.  They would ask what games I play or would tell me with excitement that they have an I-Touch at home too.  I really wished that I could’ve used other great APPS that I downloaded like math games, phonic games, etc.  They all required access to the Internet which I didn’t have.  I did use my Voice memo frequently with students.  They really had fun hearing their voice recorded for the student interviews I did for my Science homework.  I also think that it would’ve been better if I had more devices for the kids.  Since I only had one device, allowing a particular student to look at my I-Touch made other students think that I was favoring them (hope they understand that I wasn’t). 

I can see how I-Touches can be so useful in classrooms.  Not all kids have access to technology at home.  The more tools that are available in classrooms, the better for kids.  Students can be engaged a lot longer with new technologies than paper and pencil activities.  I hope to incorporate technology into my classroom and make learning fun and efficient.

iTouch - part 2

Honestly, I haven’t had much opportunity to use my I-touch in my 2^nd grade classroom. I went out and explored on my iTouch on some great educational apps that can be helpful in my classroom, but just couldn’t find the time to try it out with students in our tight schedule yet.  I also couldn’t get access to wi-fi at my school, so it was difficult for me to use most of my apps that I downloaded.  However, I found some great apps that I think will be helpful to some of my students who are struggling with math.  They can play short math games to build on their math skills.  For my ELL students, I think they can have fun playing with a phonic game that I downloaded.

Uses of I-Touch in differentiated instruction, part 1

Like many other technologies, I feel that Ipod-touch can be very useful in classrooms.  In my 2nd grade main placement, I can think of three students who can benefit from using Ipod Touch. 

The first child, is an ELL student.  She has hard time understanding instructions in classroom.  I think voice memo will help her understand better.  She can record the teacher's instruction if she feels she can't quite understand well.  Once recorded, she'll be able to go back anytime to listen to it again.  Also, translating apps will help her and her parents to communicate with the teacher when necessary.  The second child is a boy who always forgets his homework, take-home folder, and sometimes even his backpack.  I-Touch memo can help him be reminded to bring his homework, take-home folder, etc.  I think he'll love the idea of using an I-touch to keep himself organized.  The third child is a boy who has trouble writing.  He has great ideas, but doesn't like writing it down.  Using an I-touch to keep a journal will benefit him to practice writing.  I'm guessing that he's a little shy about his writing.  Writing a journal on an I-touch can be fun and private, which I think he'll enjoy. 

There are so many ways that I-Touch can be be helpful to many students.  I am so excited to explore our device and many great apps to help us teach and learn.

Technology Reflection

I learned a lot about technology this quarter.  I've never blogged before, and now I've got my own blogspot set up and even created this web portfolio.  I'm excited to explore the new technologies we have and to incorporate them into our classrooms. 

To be honest, I was really overwhelmed with the amount of techie works we would have to do for this course.  Blogs, weebly, wiki, photostory 3 were all new to me.  I'm glad that I was able to push myself to learn new things. Creating my digitalstory was fun and exciting, something that I've never done before.  I can imagine how digitialstory can be so enriching and fun for the students.   I hope to use them someday in my own classroom.  For this quarter, I used a lot of google doc. and google sites for our assignments.  They were just fabulous, making life easier.  Our groups collaborated online onto google doc., without physically meeting each other.  I have learned so much from this quarter that I'll benefit from in my own teaching career.    I am looking forward into our next course to learn more about technology. 

To Blog or Not To Blog

I've never really blogged before, but now I am starting to enjoy it.  I am enjoying to follow some great passionate bloggers that are inspiring and challenging.  I felt frustrated at the beginning of the quarter when I was notified that I needed to create my own blog space but I'm glad I started one.  I feel like I'm taking my next step in becoming a better teacher and being aware of all the techologies out there for me to learn.
Thumbs up for blogging!

Journey of Technology



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