INTEL Day 8, the final day

The showcase was greatly aided by the example offered online. It gave me a model to follow in preparing my own electronic portfolio. One thing that makes the portfolio informative is to have a clear unit plan and support materials that correspond to each stage of the plan development. The preparation of an introduction and of a explanatory item for parents gave real focus to the unit development, at least to me personally.

The feedback form provided was useful for giving constructive criticism on the different portfolios. It is always hard to critique another's work because everyone has tried hard to do their best. By having a rubric of some kind, it makes it more objective. Also, look for the positive points first and then add the 'by the way' comments.

The really valuable aspect of this course was for me being introduced to the tools available online. I would never have tried a blog if not for this course. I had heard of wikipedia, but never knew that there were personal wikis. I had never heard of diigo and how useful it can be nor of google.docs or surveymonkey. These are all valuable resources that I now have at my disposal. Another valuable aspect was the presentation on formative and summative assessments. While we do test the students regularly, that is not quite the same as assessing. We were shown different ways to gauge student learning.

This training will allow me to interact better with my students and provide more interesting ways for them to learn. I can now have them incorporate a wiki or a blog besides the standard word, powerpoint, or publisher programs.

I guess knowing about all the available resources on the web will have the biggest impact on my students' learning. Now I can direct them to websites they normally would not think of to find information, music, and pictures. I can help them set up a blog or a wiki. I can use other forms of assessment besides testing to gauge their learning.

All in all, I am glad I took this course and appreciate the knowledge gained.

Module 6 Activity 5

I can help my students become self-directed learners by continuing to question their goals. Get them to think about what it is that they want to achieve, know.
Keeping my lessons varied when it comes to the different learning styles should support the diverse needs of learners.
At the kindergarten grade level, most types of learning styles are met through the the many activities taught. The focus, of course, being many, many kinesthetic activities. The old Chinese Proverb-I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

Activity 5 Reflecting on my learning

Activity 5 Reflecting on my learning
After reviewing the different styles of assessment, I understand the importance of using a variety of assessments. I have never used the specific check list that was provided in this module. I was able to use it, after modifying it, for my child created project assessment .
Thumbs up, Thumbs down, happy-sad face signs, pair and evaluate .(verbally)
In utilizing the check list and more group assessments, I can see more clearly where my students needs lie.

As I create the unit plan, I see that the use of the computer can help embed important concepts about any lesson of study. Using the computer to create a slide show page about health and nutrition not only builds basic computer skills, but also gives the children that variety needed to keep things fun and interesting. I am also able to assess students' learning with something child-created.

As I create a student sample, putting myself in the students' shoes, I more understand their needs. It also helps me clarify what exactly I am doing and even gives me more ideas to add.

Many additional activities will be implemented to ensure students will achieve the learning objectivies when creating their student projects.

Again, doing the Tux program as a slide show will give my students a variety added to the various other activities.

Module3 Activity 7

The first way to use the internet in the kindergarten classroom is to utilize the web sites that show real-life photos to support a particular unit of study.

I would like to explore more of the sounds and videos -as I found today the ocean sounds to support my ocean unit.

In my cultural and diversity unit, utilizing e-pal should prove exciting!

The I-SAFE program sounds like it would be a good start on this subject. I am particullary interested in this because it has a specific kindergarten unit.

Module 2

Curriculum-Framing Questions have helped support my students by giving my students and myself, a sequence of ideas in this particular unit-health and nutrition. By adding health and nutrition projects into their center-time (ie. cut and paste healthy and unhealthy foods on poster, create games and exercises etc.)

Accomplishments:
Understanding the Unit Plan Template with all it's components
Creating a publication to help parent's understanding of project based learning
First time creating a power point-will continue this at home-fun!

module one