Pinterest in the Classroom

Pinterest is a social networking site full of ideas, projects, DIY's and all kinds of other fun, useful tips.  Teachers can use Pinterest for almost anything in the classroom.  Pinterest can be used to come up with project ideas, create billboards in the classroom, and much more.  Teachers can also use Pinterest to share their lesson plans with other fellow teachers.  Pinterest is helpful in finding new books and stories for your students to read and teach lessons from.

I have chosen to create a project for my students using Pinterest.  I created an activity for my students to complete and I used Pinterest for ideas.  I completed this assignment by creating a guideline for my students to go by.  In the assignment page I explained what the project needs to consist of and I gave steps of how the project should be completed.  The project I chose was to create an animal or plant cell model.  I gave students the option to choose the one they liked most and to explain why they chose that model.  In the process, I photographed each step.  Below are the steps I took in completing my own animal cell model.

Step 1: Gather all the materials that you choose to use in the cell model.

Step 2: After you have chosen what to use for each component of the cell and have gathered everything you will need to complete the model, it is time to begin putting stuff where it needs to go.  I chose to use a half sphere styrofoam ball as the base of my model.  I used a smaller half as the nucleus and I used pipe cleaners as the endoplasmic reticulum.  Placement is important so you will need to look at picture of other models to find out where everything needs to go. 

Step 3: It is important to make sure everything needed in the model is there.  Below is a picture of the model after everything has been place where it needs to be.

Step 4: After everything is in its place, it is time to label each part.  You will need to type labels for each component needed in the model.  You will then need to find a way of putting the label with its part.  I chose to use tooth picks and I stuck them with their component.  Below is a picture of the completed project.

Here is a link to the assignment I made for my students.

https://drive.google.com/?tab=wo&authuser=0#folders/0B7b7es6A_MukdGdsYkM2cm1KYUk

Web 2.0 Tools

1. Creaza- http://www.creaza.com/

Creaza is a presentation tool that I can use to express the knowledge and teachings to students.  This Web 2.0 is capable of making videos, presentations, mind games and more.  It also has more than 500 curriculum centered games and activities for students to engage in.  I could use this tool in my classroom to help students learn how to make presentations.  I believe this tool has great potential of helping each and every student learn more about technology.

2. Class Tools- http://www.classtools.net/education-games-php/venn_intro/

I really think this tool can be a useful one.  It creates a venn diagram for  you.  All I would  have to do is select how many circles the venn diagram needs to be and insert the information.  I think this would be a helpful tool for any teacher in her classroom. I remember having to do venn diagrams quite often when I was in elementary school and this would be a very highly used tool to show students what a successful venn diagram looks like.

3. IfItWereMyHome- http://www.ifitweremyhome.com/index/NZ

IfItWereMyHome seems like a very effective tool I could use for students of all ages.  With this tool, I can show students what it is like to live in other countries. I feel it is important that we all do some investigating on how life is different for people in all countries.  This is definitely a tool I would use in my classroom.  It is important for students to know how other people have to live.

4. Storybird- http://storybird.com/ 

Storybird is a tool that you can use to create a story.  After you create a story, with help from the website, it also creates assignments you can use in class.  You can print off the story and hand them out to your students.  I would use this tool in my class for reading comprehension.  I think every teacher can find this tool useful.

5. Toodledo- http://www.toodledo.com/index.php?ref=td4a65c0782eb98

Toodledo is a tool for teachers to use to make to do lists.  This tool also allows you to make outlines.  You can use this tool to set alarms and reminders, to record your goals, and much more.  I would use this tool in my classroom because as a teacher you have to have to do lists.  Without to do lists as a teacher, it is almost impossible to make sure you get everything done.

6. Clipgenerator-http://www.clipgenerator.com/

Clipgenerator is a tool you can use to create videos.  You can also share videos from other places on the internet.  To make matters even easier, clipgenerator is easy to use.  I would use this in class to create videos as a way of teaching.  All students learn differently and if you can make an exciting, educational video, they are more likely to pay attention.

7. My Studiyo- http://www.quizrevolution.com/

My Studiyo is a tool for teachers to create quizzes.  You can create quizzes of all formats.  You can also have five custom quiz endings. I would definitely use this in my classroom to make quizzes. A teacher has enough to do, they do not always have time to come up with quizzes without the help of a Web 2.0 Tool.

8. Obsurvey- http://temp.obsurvey.com/

Obsurvey allows you to make your own surveys. You can make a survey and publish it and then observe the results. I would use this tool for students and parents.  It would be helpful as a teacher to see where your students and their parents think you have potential to do something better.  This would also be good for parents to say whether or not you are communicating with them enough.

9. WordItOut- http://worditout.com/word-cloud/make-a-new-one

WordItOut is a tool that has similarities to wordle.  You can create an image with different words.  With this tool, you can use a document, a table, and many other things to get the image from.  I would use this tool in my class for an interesting way of learning spelling words.  By adding color and fun to the image, you can get any student's attention.

10. Invention at Play- http://www.inventionatplay.org/

Invention at Play allows you to make games and puzzles.  It is also a tool to learn about the history and stories of inventors.  It has word games, problem solving puzzles, and much more.  This would be a good tool for any classroom.  I would use this in my classroom to have a fun way to teach students.

Is Social Networking Really That Necessary?

Facebook. Twitter. Instagram. We've all heard of them.  Most of us use them on a daily basis.  Some of us even on an hourly basis.  I am just as convicted of it as more than half the population of the United States.  I believe it is safe to say Social Networking has taken over our every day lives and effected it in many ways.

I have different opinions about Social Networking; some are good and some are bad.  Social Networking is a good way to keep up with long distance family.  A lot of my family lives in different states and so my family uses Social Networking as a way of "keeping up" with them.  With that being said, it is sad that the world has come to that.  What is wrong with picking up the phone and calling a family member to catch up with them on what has happened in their lives and in yours rather than waiting for the next Facebook post.  I cannot even tell you the last time my aunts, uncles or cousins called me to wish me happy birthday.  And me with them.  Whenever my birthday rolls around they just "write on my wall" and vice versa.

A recent article stated that social networking may enrich the lives of people who struggle with a social life.  There is one cause for this judgement, social networking itself.  If social networking had never been invented and we as Americans had never made it as big of a part of our lives as it is, then people would be forced to be more social and it would eventually be comfortable for them.

In another article, a study was done to see why people used Facebook based on their gender.  The study found that men use Facebook more to get relationship information, whereas; women use Facebook more for relationship maintenance.  If face to face contact were more common, Facebook would not be a necessary tool to maintain a relationship or to get relationship information.

All in all, Social Networking has some good effects and some bad effects.  However, I think we can all agree that the good outweigh the bad.





http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0747563211001713
http://pss.sagepub.com/content/early/2012/02/07/0956797611429709.abstract

A Little About Me

Hey guys!  My name is Erika Stackhouse and I am from the small town of Redfield just 20 minutes south of Little Rock. I am a junior at Henderson State University.  I transferred here this fall from Pulaski Technical College.  I am a middle level education major and I could not be more excited about my future as a teacher! 

When I first started college, my plan was to go to nursing school and follow in my mom's footsteps.  It wasn't until this past summer I discovered my great interest in teaching.  Ever since I was a little girl I wanted to be a teacher.  What made me decide to do nursing instead, I don't know.  I can honestly say I have been a happier person since I made the switch to education.

Family has always been the most important aspect of my life.  I can always count on my family being there when the rest of the world walks out.  I love spending time with family.  Something my family loves to do together is watch the Green Bay Packers.  My dad can sit for hours on end talking about random facts from the past fifty years about the Packers.  It may seem silly to others, but Green Bay Packer football is always something that brings my family together. 

I guess my first blog has come to an end.  Stay tuned for more!  I look forward to sharing some of my thoughts with you all.  Thank you!