8 Technology Tools for Education

MOODLE

Moodle is an acronym for ‘Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment’ this is an online source that allows educators to use technology in the classroom. Moodle is an interactive tool that allows students to check their grades, take quizzes, view files, and submit their homework. Teachers are able to modify their Moodle account in regard to time, and language to accommodate their students. Another feature that is very convenient for students who are not so confident with speaking in class, is that it allows students to chat and answer questions given by the teacher that way they don’t have to speak in front of the class.

Chrome

Chrome is a search engine that can be downloaded for free in every device. Chrome works well with google sites such as Youtube and Gmail. When I created my Technology Proficiency assignment, Safari did not allow me to record my voice and suggested I should use Chrome. It is very convenient that the download and installation lasted for five minutes. Chrome also feature a private browsing option called Incognito Mode. This mode allows you to have control over the browsing footprint and session identity.

Google apps 

Google Apps refers to the suite of Google services such as Gmail, Docs, Sheet, Form, Keep, Slide, and Drive. These applications are free to use when you create a Google account. I have been using Google Drive for over 4 years now, and it is very helpful that I don’t have to carry around a thumb drive. I can access my documents in any device as long as I have internet connection and my account information. It also allows students to collaborate on projects, they can chat while completing a homework.

LiveBinders

Livebinder is a free tool that acts as a 3-ring binder for the web. Teachers can use this to collect, organize, and present research neatly. This tool is useful for teachers who have many resources and wish to look at them again for future references. It is very easy and simple to use, all you have to do is create a tab and insert the website. Students can share their binder by simply giving the URL of their binder for everyone to share.

Wix

Wix is a free website builder and it makes Flash websites with an easy drag and drop online platform. Wix is a little complicated to use especially if you are seeing this for the first time. You are given a free template to choose on Wix and you can begin with your website after choosing. There is also an option where you can answer questions and input the purpose you want your website to have then it creates a website for you. If you try and create a website from scratch, it’s more work and there is no tutorial of how buttons function. As you go further into using Wix, it gets easier and I think that this can be a useful tool for students to present their ideas with their classmates or the whole school.

Prezi

Prezi is fun way to make presentations. You can add your thoughts, videos, and pictures on a large-scale canvas. When you log into Prezi you are given a set of templates to choose from. At first it may be overwhelming, but you will get the hang of it. It’s the same as working on a PowerPoint, the only difference is that Prezi is an online application. The good thing about Prezi is that it gives you some instructions on how to create your presentation.

Powtoon

Powtoon is accessible by everyone, it gives you a 14-day trial to experience the PRO features of this app. After the trial, all the PRO props and background are removed before exporting. Powtoon allows you to add images, video, voice recording, and music for background. I always used iMovie, or Windows movie maker, but after using Powtoon I realized that this is much easier to use. Once done with the movie, you can export your movie online. Teachers can utilize this as a way of presenting a lesson or a short explanation of an assignment to the students.

Canva

Canva is a free and collaborative tool. Canva is a tool that makes it possible to design anything and publish it anywhere. This tool is available in over 100 languages and can be accessed in desktop browsers and mobile apps. Canva is a collaborative tool that allows user to share his or her work with a team that can also edit the file. Unlike google apps, Canva only allows one user to edit at a time. Teachers can use this as a way of creating a presentation and publish their designs anywhere to reach their audience.

REFERENCES: 

YouTube. (2018). What is Moodle? (2013). [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wop3FMhoLGs [Accessed 11 May 2018].

YouTube. (2018). What is Google Chrome & some of its features. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=19TTwGrJJcI [Accessed 11 May 2018].

YouTube. (2018). Little Known yet Useful Google Apps. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJwLPVnvgDU [Accessed 11 May 2018].

YouTube. (2018). Introduction to LiveBinders. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dM-FgpyVoJU [Accessed 11 May 2018].

YouTube. (2018). What is Prezi?. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0fAY_h__kc8 [Accessed 11 May 2018].

YouTube. (2018). What is Canva?. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KtBF0npW9VE [Accessed 11 May 2018].

YouTube. (2018). What is Powtoon - Find out what Powtoon is and what it can be used for. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oR__WIK_yqk [Accessed 11 May 2018].

YouTube. (2018). What is Wix Website Builder?. [online] Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjTAZit_9X8 [Accessed 11 May 2018].

Digital Safety for Teachers and Students

Image: A Teacher utilizing computer or internet for class. 

The image reflects our class at the University of Guam and that is ED271 Technology Applications for Education. In this class, we were required to create a presentation in regard to Digital Safety. The class was divided into 4 groups, then was assigned the topics. The topics were Copyright and fair use, digital safety and privacy, pharming and phishing, cyberbullying, and textual harassment and sexting. It is important that Educators and students becomes aware of the danger online surfing is. When it comes to copying materials it is important that teachers understand the law of Copyright and Fair Use. According to Rocket Lawyer "Copyright and Fair Use"  Teachers are not allowed to photocopy and entire chapter from the book to distribute to students without permission because then it is considered infringement of the law (Copyright law, n.d.).

As a future Educator, I would like to enhance my student's knowledge about these information especially when it comes to cyberbullying, and textual harassment. I would definitely use the same technique that my teacher did, separate the class into smaller groups therefore there is no one working by themselves and the information will be understood easily. I really want to put my focus on cyberbullying and harassment since it is something that younger students are more prone to. Not only will I educate my students, but also their parents. I believe that having a parent involvement in these cases are very important. If some of them still could not grasp the message that I am trying to send, I would create or show a video that talks about real crime and dangers that these activities promote. An example of a video that I think is really effective was from Carrollton Police. 
The video shows what consequences we have when posting online and it encourages students to think before posting anything online (Carrollton Police, 2008). 

The tools that my group and I used were google hangouts, whatsapp, skype for business, google docs, prezi, and socrative in order to communicate with one another. We chose tools that allows us to communicate and edit at the same time. These tools are convenient, especially when one of our group mate recently became a new daddy. When he was out from class, we used skype for business and google hangouts to do a video call so we can transmit the information easier and faster. Prezi is the tool that we used to present our topic, Copyright and Fair use. We decided to use Prezi only because we have not used this app before and all of us have an existing account in this website. We used Socrative as an interacting activity for our classmates. Socrative is an app that allows teachers to create quizzes and assignment and this app is accessible via mobile. 

In conclusion, technology is slowly taking over our education practices. We can access information online without any difficulties. As educators, we must know what our limits and what we can provide for our students. It is important that students understand what consequences are waiting for them if they fail to obey the law and become too comfortable with the use of the internet. 

References: 

Copyright and Fair Use Guidelines for Teachers and Schools. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.rocketlawyer.com/article/copyright-and-fair-use-guidelines-for-teachers-and-schools-ps.rl

C. (2008, February 11). Internet Danger- Everyone Knows Sarah. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ThxmgXMBpoM

Equal Opportunities for Everyone

 All around the world Education is available for everyone, from K to 12 a public school system is provided. A total of 13 percent from the public school population are students with disabilities (NCES, 2018). Many kids with disabilities have fought all their life to fulfill a dream or to be treated as one. As we progress and develop our technology, students live a more interesting and easier life than usual. In the "Enabling Dreams" video, by engaging to these kind of program students were given the opportunity to become an advocate for themselves (The DOIT Center, 2015). 

Growing up in the Philippines, we were not exposed or given any opportunities to learn about assistive technology. The school that I came from barely had any students with disabilities. It was only when I moved here on Island that I was able to interact with other students with disabilities. John F. Kennedy High School offers such assistance, for example the school provides hearing aid for those who applies and prove that they need and/or can utilize such a device. 

In the Video: STEM and People with Disabilities, shows that students who are exposed to science and math are more engaged and are more likely to become successful. This program allows students with disabilities to become independent and to experience working with other students. One of the students that got my attention was Alex Mckenzie, knowing that she is partially blind and was still able to create DNA libraries. It was an eye opening video, it showcase that most of the time students with disabilities are more capable of doing some activities or task that others could not with enough resources and help from teachers.

As future Educators, we can format our lesson plan based on ASSURE to be more creative for students with disabilities to participate in our class. We must be knowledgeable of what equipments are available and how we can utilize them to create a better life for our students. At the University of Guam, there are several assistive technology available that is found in the Science Building. I had the opportunity to be inside the facility, the amount of equipments available for elementary, high school, and college students with disabilities was overwhelming. 
 When inside the classroom a Test-to-Speech, a technology designed for students who are having difficulty reading standard print. "The technology works by scanning the words and then reading it out loud in a synthesized voice. TTS technology is more accurate and lifelike than ever (Neese, 2015)."

As a future educator, I am engaged to create a better educational system and experience for these children and young adults. After watching this video it gave me an opportunity to become a better person, this video does not only apply to those college students and high schoolers. I believe that introducing STEM to younger population will encourage them to learn more and to become active in school. STEM helps students to become a more successful citizen, to experience life, to get hands on experience that most schools are unable to provide.

 References:

Neese, B. (2015). Figure 2f from: Irimia R, Gottschling M (2016) Taxonomic revision of Rochefortia Sw. (Ehretiaceae, Boraginales). Biodiversity Data Journal 4: E7720. https://doi.org/10.3897/BDJ.4.e7720. 5 Assistive Technology That Are Making a Difference. 

T. (2015, April 20). STEM and People with Disabilities. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIogBga8zgc