EDU 220-T03 Spring 2023

Collaboration in the classroom not only helps build a positive learning community between teachers, students, and families but also helps students build strong academic and social skills. In the age of 21st-century technology, there are many collaboration apps that can be used to encourage collaboration in the classroom. Four collaboration apps that I chose to explore include Flock, Padlet, Notion, and Lucidspark. Flock Logo Flock  is a communication app available on Apple products that have several features that encourage collaboration including group chats, video calling, file sharing, and polls. Teachers could use this app to communicate with the entire class, but can also create private breakout groups for more individualized, small-group work. The teacher can also create tasks/assignments with due dates. Unfortunately, the free trial does not give access to many of the features listed here and it cost $6 a month per user to upgrade to the pro plan. I could not find any busines...

 When it comes to digital technology, I feel out of the loop. Having access to resources that not only explain what new technology is available but also how to use the technology in the classroom is a game changer. Kathy Schrock created a page of resources that can be a lifesaver for educators, especially new teachers that may feel overwhelmed in their first year or so of teaching. All the resources are organized by category so you can easily find multiple resources for any topic you need. Unfortunately, I ran into several links that were expired, but there were still plenty of other resources and information that is helpful. The following is a sample of the resources available in  Kathy Schrock's Guide to Everything . Screenshot from Rubistar  There are many areas of teaching that I still feel uncertain about because I have very little experience in the classroom thus far. One of the main areas I seek to understand better is assessment. Schrock has several assessment res...

 Digital games and simulations can be a great resource for teachers to use in the classroom to engage students in lessons so they can build their critical thinking and problem-solving skills. However, it is important to research to find games and simulations that are developmentally appropriate and educational. The four apps I chose to research this week include Phet, Zoombinis, iCivics, and GeoGuesser. Screenshot: Phet's Elementary Simulations Phet  is a math and science simulation app developed at the University of Colorado. Although the web version says it is free, the version on my iPad charged 0.99 cents, but it is well worth it. Teachers can filter the results to find simulations relevant to the subject area- biology, chemistry, earth science, math, or physics- and grade level. All the simulations have an introduction and a lab option. They are all visually engaging. The only downfall I do notice is that the introductions are not clear, so it may be difficult to understa...

The constant developments in digital technology have provided new opportunities for learning in the classroom. There are hundreds of apps available that can spark students' imaginations and help them hone in on skills such as problem-solving and critical thinking. The four creativity apps that I chose to explore for this post are  Book Creator, MindSpace, MakerStudio: Kids, and Tinkercard. Book Creator Screenshot Book Creator  is an app that allows students to create books. The free version has plenty of options for students to express their creativity. It was easy to use and navigate. There are different fonts, backgrounds, and page borders to add individuality to each story. Students can record their voice reading their stories or there is an option for the computer to read them. There is an option to pay a one-time fee of $4.99 and have full access to the features, which include additional design features and comic strip templates. There are not any preset images to choose ...

           Digital technology has taken over how we operate in our daily lives. We are all aware that the technology we use is constantly changing at a lightening fast pace. While we may not be able to fathom the digital resources that will be available in the future, it is important to understand and know how to use digital technology so we can continue to be active participants in our society. This is why educators need to explore different technology options that can be used in the classroom to help prepare students for their future in a digital world.      I grew up when schools were beginning to invest in computers. We only had one or two computers in our classroom, if we had any at all. When I went to college in the early 2000s, I had a laptop, but the only programs I used were Microsoft Word and PowerPoint, and I occasionally used the internet to research. Today there are many applications available for any type of business you need to...