My IWB PowerPoint

I created this PP about interactive whiteboards and how they are discussed in 3 different articles. I'm working on getting it embedded onto my blog, but here's the link until I can! Enjoy!

http://www.slideshare.net/guest4d15719/shaw-educ-w200-power-point

Interactive Whiteboards!

In my small town high school, the most we had in our classrooms were a chalkboard and an overhead for the teachers to write on or display information. When I attended a very small college for a semester, I still wasn't exposed to much technology in the classroom. I am definitely a technology buff, and get bored easily in the classroom when all I have to keep my attention is a big black chalkboard with white, messy writing or an overhead screen with lame Powerpoint slides. When I switched to IUPUI, pretty much everything in the classroom was different. I felt like I was in an episode of The Jetson's with all of the new technology. There wasn't a chalboard in sight and I couldn't have been happier. This is when I first became exposed to interactive whiteboards...

An interactive whiteboard is defined as "a large interactive display that connects to a computer and projector. A projector projects the computer's desktop onto the board's surface, where users control the computer using a pen, finger, or other device" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interactive_whiteboard). The presence of IWB's has increased greatly in the educational setting. Wikipedia also states, "The software supplied with the interactive whiteboard will usually allow the teacher to keep notes and annotations as an electronic file for later distribution either on paper or through a number of electronic formats.
In addition, some interactive whiteboards allow teachers to record their instruction as digital video files and post the material for review by students at a later time. This can be a very effective instructional strategy for students who benefit from repetition, who need to see the material presented again, for students who are absent from school, for struggling learners, and for review for examinations". I am definitely one of those students who benefits from visual learning and repetition, so I understand how important the IWB's can be. They are transforming the classroom in a fantastic way. Not only is it great for secondary and postsecondary schools, but I've also seen elementary teachers use IWB's to mimic children's books... which is a great communication for small children (rather than just having the teacher hold the book up physically). There was also a study done, Wikpedia states, that shows that "the impact of Interactive Whiteboards over a two year period showing very significant learning gains, particularly with second cohorts of students, where they benefited from the teacher's experience with the device". So, the IWB's are a very beneficial addition to the classroom setting.

IWB's engage students and allow teachers to show and save information with the touch of a finger. The capabilities greatly exceed that of the regular chalkboard and even the overhead projector. This tool allows students to become more interested and attentive to the lesson being taught. I know that I am now paying more attention in the classroom when the teacher uses the IWB. It's so fascinating how much you can do with it... anything from drawing and displaying graphs and charts, to simply just showing students how to navigate a certain website or software program. Even 3rd graders were highly interested in what was happening while the IWB was in use. It's just as easy to use as a chalkboard... all you need is a finger! It's a great investment for schools of all types!

Here's a YouTube video demonstration of how a IWB works!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjdNPMZJbLs

Delicious

Here's a link to my Delicious site. I think there's some great sites bookmarked... for teachers and students alike! It's easy to create, too!
http://delicious.com/kaylshaw

Here is also my web resource library. Very helpful to me, and hopefully to you as well!
file:///C:/Users/Kaylee/Documents/Web%20Resource%20Library.htm

Pandora Radio!

Pandora for iPhone
Pandora wed layout

Pandora - The Music Genome Project

Over the past few weeks, I've become more and more aware of my friends talking about Pandora. When I first heard this, I was like, "Why are you guys talking about the Greek's idea of the first woman?" Of course, this was not even close to the Pandora they were discussing.

Pandora is actually an Internet radio service created by The Music Genome Project. Its users can enter a song or artist and Pandora comes up with selections that are similar. The user then provides feedback of approval or disapproval on the song, which Pandora remembers for future music selections. Not only is it free, but it's super easy to use! Some say that it will even take over radio completely in the future.

The coolest thing about Pandora is that it plays only music that you like. I absolutely hate when I have to switch radio stations when a song comes on that I don't like. With Pandora, there's no worrying about crummy songs or artists. You decide what you hear! I recently got Pandora on my iPhone and it's just as great as on the computer. I usually just pull up my Pandora application on my iPhone in the car and don't mess with the car radio at all anymore! It's totally customized!

On Pandora, you have a list of stations that you and Pandora create from previous likes and dislikes. For instance, on my station list, I have Jimmy Buffett Radio and Nirvana Radio. They're totally different types of music, but whatever mood I am in, I have a station for! I can even share stations with my friends that have Pandora. I thought Pandora sounded stupid when my friends told me about it. I thought, "Why not just listen to the radio instead of messing with all of that?" But honestly, I will never go back to regular radio... and it's definitely not as hard and I had assumed!

Here's a YouTube video review of Pandora Radio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPeHe9O0nEw

Here's a YouTube video that talks about the Pandora app for iPhone: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtPvEzhLzCU

Podcasting!

iTunes

iPod

So, what exactly is this emerging technology all about? According to Wikipedia, a podcast is defined as "a series of digital computer files, usually either digital audio or video, that is released periodically and made available for download by means of web syndication" (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcast). Some have developed podcast to mean "personal on demand broadcast". Podcasts are different than any regular downloads however. They use podcatchers to get new files by accessing a web feed and therefore can be downloaded automatically and stored. A podcaster is a person that creates the content to be downloaded. Some people are under the impression that in order to access podcasts, you need a portable media player. This isn't true. You can access it with any computer that is able to utilize media files.


Podcasting is becomming more and more popular. iPods are a worldwide phenominon and probably the most well known device used for podcasting. I own both an iPod and an iPhone, so podcasting occurs on a daily basis for me... and I love it! I think some people think the term podcasting is more complicated than it really is. Really, it's self explanitory once you get started and quite fun and addicting! The main application I use is iTunes. Millions of others also use it because it's so simple. You can search and download songs and just drag and drop them into your iPod folder... all on one screen! Every song, video, movie, etc. you can imagine... iTunes has it! I just downloaded an entire Jimmy Buffett CD from iTunes onto my iPhone and it sounds great!


Here's a website that might be useful for more information on how Apple uses podcasts: http://www.apple.com/itunes/whatson/podcasts/. Also, I found this YouTube video quite informative and helpful when I first started getting curious about podcasting: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h4IBSseAJlk.

ME!

Here's a little bit more about me!

I've lived in small towns my whole life. Although I like the small town aspect, I'm ready to move out of my current one and start a new phase of my life! I have a mom and a dad (obviously), a little sister (whom everyone says looks just like me, check out the family pic!), and a weiner dog named Bianca! I like college most of the time, but sometimes it gets old and I'm ready to just get out into the working world! I am so excited to become a teacher. I love to get in sweatpants and watch movies. I love watching and playing sports. I love puppies and babies. I love to have fun and try new things! I can't wait to have my own house and family! I've had lots of drama in my life and I've learned a lot about myself in the past couple of years. I've come to realize that you have to follow your heart and not worry about what others say. Mistakes happen and you have to grow from them. Never regret anything that once made you smile :)

Blogging

I never thought I would have a blog! I thought Facebook would be as far as I went. I love technology and computer stuff but didn't think I was a blogger type of person... but it was really easy and fun! If you watch the tutorials and even videos on YouTube, you'll get the hang of it in a jiffy! I can't wait to post more!

Mini Bio/Technology in Education

Here's a picture of my family and me in Florida.
Here's a picture of my boyfriend and myself.

I chose a personal slogan for myself. I decided on, “There is always light at the end of the tunnel”. I’ve had many bad things happen in my life, as I’m sure we all have. I always think it’s the end of the world and there’s nowhere to go. I’ve found however, that if you keep going through that dark tunnel, there’s always good things that result in the end.

I’ve already used several forms of technology so far today, and it’s only noon! The first thing I check in the morning is my cell phone. I’ve also used the computer, my iPod, taken a shower, watched television, driven my car, and done laundry. Technology is all around us! It can be defined as electronic, digital, and mechanical products and systems. We use these products each and every day, probably more than we realize. It’s strange to think how many different forms of technology there are today when just a few years ago, computers didn’t even exist. Now, computers and other devices help run and improve our lives. I actually think that our country, maybe our entire world, would fall apart without technology and the communication and ease it brings us.

I think it’s the same for everyone that the most used form of technology in their education is a computer. I get on the computer at least 3 times daily. I check my email, get on Facebook, look at Oncourse, and read news articles. In education, I create Powerpoints and write essays, and researched information via the web. In college, technology like large overhead screens with Powerpoint slides or visuals are used much more than in high school. I also couldn’t live without my cell phone. It’s the biggest form of communication that I use, whether with texts, calls, or accessing Facebook and email. Both computers and cell phones serve so many purposes in education and everyday life.

I mentioned the overhead as a technological source in education. There are a few instances when I could have done without this technology. I highly dislike when professors handwrite notes for a lecture and put them on the overhead and project them onto a screen. Even if the screen is very large or the handwriting is neat, it doesn’t keep my interested and it’s hard to follow. I find it much more useful when a professor uses Powerpoint slides and visual aides like videos, charts, and pictures on the projection. It makes learning much easier. The touch projection screen is something I really enjoy in education also. It keeps me interested. Many technological educational tools are used, and I think it has greatly improved the classroom setting.

Here's a link to my wiki page where I wrote about Accountability in Education!

http://kayleeshaw.pbworks.com/Accountability-in-Education