Close, But No Cigar...

So I almost completed my project and I was very happy before the lesson began. I had a lesson on giving instructions and using transition words. I had created all of my slides using ActivStudio 3 and was ready to use ActiVote - which is a system that allows the students to use little remotes, similar to the iClickers that we use here at BYU, except the remotes look more fun and are more colorful than our iClickers. Anyway, so I had two questions in the presentation that needed to be answered. I was going to have the students use the ActiVote remotes to decide which was correct. I was going to do this because it would give me an indication of who understood what we were doing and who did not. However, I did not realize that I have to have all of the remotes registered beforehand on my computer. I am using my own personal MacBook rather than using my teacher's. This works out well because it allows her to do her work on her computer and I am able to use the Promethean Board. So tomorrow morning I will go and talk to the tech guy and see if he will be willing to put all of the devices onto my laptop and then I'll be able to use the ActiVote for my project. I almost had it done today...but I just didn't know that ONE detail!

Idea for Technology-Enhanced Lesson

Tomorrow I am actually teaching a math lesson on measurement (for 3rd grade.) With the Promethean board at my disposal - I believe it will be good for me to use that in my lesson. Tonight, I will use ActivStudio 3 in order to create a "flipchart" to present to the class tomorrow. The class has already been measuring one of those alligators that grows when you put it in water - and we will be focusing on teaching the students how to use the 1/4 inch, 1/2 inch and 3/4 inch marks effectively. So I beleive that I will get a very large ruler and put it up on the board and then demonstrate things that we can measure on the board. It is nice because I can make notes on the Promethean board and then clear them off as needed. Students are then able to see where they should be mentally drawing the lines. Then the students will be making graphs of the growth they have recorded of their alligators. I will probably put up an example of that as well on the board to show them what the computer can show them in a graph made my the computer. So there will be a bit of technology involved in the lesson tomorrow!

Technology Inventory Findings

I must say to begin with that Spring Creek Elementary ROCKS when it comes to technology. In the classroom that I am in right now I have access to a plethora of different technologies. I even have a Promethean Board! That is my favorite things to use right now. I was observed today for one of my lessons and I used it and it worked flawlessly...actually I used it for two of the lessons that I did today. It is amazing what technology can do! This morning, it was an inside day and so my mentor teacher had me turn on an educational show for the students to watch before the day started. I just can't imagine not having a "wired" classroom! I have the TV/VCR/DVD Player, Promethean Board, CD Player, 7 computers and the teacher has her own laptop - of course I have my own laptop as well!

I have spoken with some of my other friends in other classrooms at different schools and one of my friends told me that she did not even have a computer in the classroom! Even though she was working with a grade younger than mine (I'm in 3rd) it is interesting to see the inequality even among Provo Schools when it comes to technology. But I must say, getting the longer end of the stick...I'm not complaining! =)

Virtual Tour Link

Here is the link to my filing cabinet which contains the Google Earth File that I created.

http://sites.google.com/site/mateookabe/my-files