Mod E Integration

The Smithsonian History Explorer (http://historyexplorer.americanhistory.si.edu/) is a wonderful tool for teachers. They provide online tours of historical events. This is a perfect activity for when the teacher is out. The substitute or students can easily get it started, and it’s online so there is no worries about dealing with television sets, DVD, or video cassette players.

One of tours I found was on the Brown vs. Board. It included a twenty minute instructional portion and a 30 minute question portion. This is wonderful for teachers because they do not have to worry about writing up questions to make sure the students are paying attention and retaining the information.

The Smithsonian History Explorer also links teachers to other websites with historical information on any topic. For a history class researching the White House, the Smithsonian History Explorer links you to a single website with pages and pages of information including history, art work, and the pets who’ve stayed in the white house.

This website is wonderful for teachers and students. Teachers have access to historical tools to use in the classroom, and students have a go-to resource for all things history. Because this website is funded and provided by the Smithsonian, we can assume it to be scholarly so our students will be learning accurate historical information.



The President's House
George Munger

Why We Cry

I just finished watching Armageddon on television. For some reason the whole movie made me want to cry and then I suddenly wondered why. Just like anyone else with a question, I went to google for the answer. I came along an interesting articles I decided to share.
http://www.gibbsmagazine.com/CryinLaughing.htm
http://www.buzzle.com/articles/why-do-we-cry.html
Check them out! It's pretty interesting.

Mod D Integration: Learning Digitally

Digital Learning

The opportunities for technology and tools for teachers in the classroom are endless. Interestingly enough, something as common to our lives and uncommon for the use of academics, the digital camera is a fun, exciting way to incorporate technology into the classroom. Digital camera’s can be used academically for all ages; they are simple enough for elementary students and yet complex enough for high school students. So how can digital cameras be used academically?

Students can use digital camera in numerous subjects and activities. When learning about numbers, students could photograph groupings of 1, 2, 3, 4…etc. Students learning about colors could be assigned to take photos of objects of a particular color or an array of colors. The possibilities are endless.

When thinking about educational technology, the digital camera is rare to make the list at all. Why not incorporate something so common in our lives today to school. Making assignments fun will get students involved. Digital camera cam be used more in classrooms in our schools today, not only in photography class.

I personally have a cousin who is obsessed with taking pictures; one after the other. Why not use her passion for photography to help her learn her colors and numbers. The assignments are fun and academic. Here’s a website for more ideas if you’re interested: http://www.hardin.k12.ky.us/res_techn/TEC/digitalcamera/primary.htm

Digital cameras can be used as high as the college level as well. For example college sociology classes can be required to take photographs of trends in today’s culture and society. When the lesson is over, the photographs can be deleted to make room for more on the next topic or saved on memory cards in order to make a comparison for a final exam or project.

Mary Cecil's Module C Integration: Safety Land

AT&T hosts a game wonderful for teaching Internet safety to students. Although the game is under the Middle School Corner, I feel this game would be more effective with late elementary students. Students are learning how to operate computers much earlier than when I was a kid. It is important to get safety skills to students early on. Also, the nature of the game would easily bore middle school students. The game, based around a Super Hero, is childish.  Elementary aged children would feel comfortable learning how to stay safe on the internet while helping ‘Captain Broadband’ keep Safety Land Safe.

The game is focused on beings safe when it comes to surfing the web and chatting online. It promotes for the students to contact teachers and/or parents when a disturbing photo appears or if someone requests information over the internet. These skills will be very important to young kids more so than middle school students because the middle school students are in a ‘rebelling’ phase that might provoke them to take risks. If elementary students are equipped with these safety skills, they will be better prepared for their future on the internet, including their ‘rebelling’ phase. The students will know that the internet is a dangerous place when it comes to information and strangers and it will promote communication with teachers and parents regarding the internet.

Go here to play: http://www.att.com/Common/images/safety/game.html