Blog Journal #7

 

Teacher Pages on School Websites 💻

• After browsing through the Italian IS program page (from International Studies Charter High School), I immediately noticed how vibrant it looks. There are images on display of students interacting with one another, as well as completing tasks. The basis and the objective of the "Italian Curriculum" is also addressed. Their main goal is to help students read, write, and speak the language fluently. That way, they will be proficient enough to not only pass the AP exam but also travel to Italy and communicate with people. 
• A "Memorandum of Understanding" is also shown. It details when the Italian IS program was established (14 years ago) and how (a collaboration effort alongside Miami Dade County and the Italian consulate). 
  
• Link to the site: https://ischs.net/academics/italian-is-program/

How I Envision Myself Utilizing Technology in my Professional Career 

• As a future educator, I totally see myself using a variety of technological tools. I assume I will a desktop computer and smart board in my classroom, hence why I want to ensure that I am tech savvy. My objective is to make technology a part of the learning experience for my students. That way, they will feel comfortable enough to work with various devices when completing class assignments. 
• Some teacher productivity tools I am heavily interested include Wix.com and Grammarly. Since English Language Arts (ELA) would be my subject area, I want to explore tools that will assist my students with writing. 
• Wix.com is a website that is self-explanatory and easy to use - my students can create and work on their personal blogs, all while refining their writing skills. 
• Grammarly helps mostly with grammar and punctuation. Assuming my students will be submitting essays frequently, I would want to teach them how to use Grammarly. It can serve as an excellent resource, as it is free and accessible. Not to mention, the site/app provides suggestions that will make users' writing sound more eloquent, clean and concise. 

My Experience Working with PB Works 

• I initially felt intimidated by PB Works. The site looked completely foreign to me - I had never used something like it before (throughout my academic career).
• I liked how organized PB Works is. Visually, all tools are easy to spot. I also enjoyed having the ability to create folders and put my group's assignments (Home Page, Evaluation Form Template, Individual Evaluation Forms) all in one. It made the entire process less confusing and more organized. 
• I disliked the fact that the fonts would sometimes change without me authorizing it. In addition, I did not like that only one user could edit a page at a time - in other words, two users cannot work on the same page. I feel as though this slowed down the process of making and curating the PB Works. 
• I would use PB Works with my K-12 students by having them complete a similar group project. I would probably have them evaluate a literary text though. Each group would be in charge of compiling a list of questions (related to themes, motifs, and character analysis, for example) and then evaluate different texts (short stories, novels, plays, etc.) that we discuss in class.

"Atmospheric Technology" by Savannah River Site is licensed under CC BY 2.0