Web Based Learning Activities

URLs

URLs give tons of information to the students right off the bat. The domain designator can give a preview of the type of information that can be found on the website. Some of the main domain designators we see are .com, .edu, and .org. If a website ends in .com, it is designated as a commercial site, and this is the most commonly seen domain designator. While it is the most common, it is also the most easy to obtain so the information on the site is not always the best. The .edu and .org designators are more reliable since they are websites that are for education institutions and  non-commercial organizations.

Search Engines 

The use of search engines allows anyone who has access to the internet, the ability to search and find an abundance of information in an organized manner. Students should be knowledgeable on the proper ways to use a search engine. There are many ways to narrow a search to only show accredited information, information that is relevant to your topic, and to find items that are legally allowed to be reused (such as pictures).

Favorite Websites 
The websites name is a link to the actual website!

#1
ASL Pro is a great website for additional practice with sign language. I particularity love this website because it lists the mission of the website, and a brief bio on all of the interpreters and makers of the videos provided.

#2
KidsHealth is another great website, not only for kids, but for parents and teens. It provides a point of view on varying health topics and on the body in a way children can understand. I really enjoy this website because it is easy to navigate and is constantly being updated with new information.

Website Evaluation Video



This video is a great example to show students in class about what a bad website looks like and what a great website looks like and how to tell the differences.

Hypermedia Tools for the 21st Century Teacher

Speech with Milo: Interactive Storybook
Hypermedia has become a fast growing part of technology in the 21st century. One of the many different types of commercial hypermedia out there is interactive storybooks. These storybooks allow children to be fully engaged with the story rather than just listening. Children can interact with the characters, make choices about what will happen next in the story, and even explore the setting of the story. Most recently interactive storybooks have appeared in app stores. Speech with Milo: Interactive Storybook is a great app that allows children and teachers to become fully engaged in the story (if you click on the app name, it will take you to the app store to preview the app!). I would love to have this app for my classroom. It is a great resource to have for times students are in between work and activities, or event as a supplement for reading centers.


The Virtual Environment
Virtual environment hypermedia is slowly starting to gain popularity in educational settings. It was originally used primarily for gaming, but it is evolving into something that educators are introducing in their classrooms. Teachers have not fully unlocked the capabilities of  advantages that virtual environments will offer their students. Students could open up a world of learning that has not been accessed yet. I would use virtual environment in my classroom as an aid on homework and lessons in the classroom. I found a great video on youtube of a teacher who created virtual environment homework that was used with an iPad (or an iPhone/iPod) that allowed his students to have homework help and instructions from him.


This is a great example of the future technology that will be appearing in classrooms. All in all, virtual environment will lead to great things for students and teachers alike.

Classroom Technology: The New Basics

Another great video on Classroom Technology! 

Technology in the Classroom: Digital Media

This is a great video on classrooms and digital media! 

"Basic Three"

Word Processing Software

Word Processing (or WP) is used in a variety of ways in education. It seems to be one of the most common of the "basic three" software that teachers use. WP can be used to create welcome letters to students and parents, create a schedule for your classroom, and even handouts or assignments for class. While it can be a great help to minimize effort spent to create documents, it can be a hassle to learn all the tricks to help minimize your time. 

Spreadsheet Software

Spreadsheet software is a great resource to enhance your students mathematical lessons. You can also use it to categorize student data ranging from address to grades. Spreadsheets offer a variety of ways to enhance your classroom and give visual aids for your students to understand hard to grasp math concepts. One of the only cons with using spreadsheet software is understanding all the different tools to create a great spreadsheet. 

Presentation Software

Presentation software is a pretty common software used in classrooms. PowerPoint is the most commonly used version of presentation software. This type of software allows you to create visual aids and visual assignments to help with a lesson. Presentation software can hinder your classroom teaching though. A teacher can become so dependent on presentation software that it becomes the only thing they use to teach with. Students do complain that teachers will "teach to the PowerPoint" rather than limiting what is on the slides and lecturing to add the additional information needed to understand the concept. With the proper use of presentations, you can enhance your students learning and help many different types of learners with one software. 

Classroom Use

For me personally, I consistently use a WP software, specifically Microsoft Word. This software to me allows for many different creations. When I am in my practicum and begin lesson plans, I immediately think of ways that I can create meaningful assignments, handouts, and assessments with Word. I also use it to create visual aids, including the use of an ASL font, for my students. Being  a DHH teacher, I see how well visual aids and stimulation helps my students grasp the concepts better. Recently for a pumpkin thematic unit, I created a letter introducing the unit and the plans for the week to parents. Word helped me create a very colorful and productive letter that not only the parents enjoyed, but also the students. 

A Quick Look

Hey Everyone! 

I'm a 22 year old senior majoring in the Education of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing at the University of Montevallo. It is a crazy and fun world that certainly has its bumps (or pot holes depending on the day) in the road. I enjoy what I do and have a passion for helping the future generations. I am ready to get out into the real world and begin using what I have learned throughout my time at Montevallo. I am sure these posts will be rather entertaining and engaging, so get ready for it! 

-Peyton