Bridgett Ellis

EDCU 1400

Tech Toolkit

In this week of the tech toolkit, I choose a website that adds a new dynamic to projects. Creaza is an online website that brings student projects to the 21st century. Creaza is a learning and playful tool that will engage students. It will also promote collaborative work within the class. With many different possibilities, the website offer tools for brainstorming, create cartoons and editing video and audio. With hundred of activities, students will be able to be creative and playfully learn. This look would be a helpful benefit for students and teachers.

The four unique feature in this online tool is packed with curriculum-based content and activities. Mindomo is one of the features, the mind mapping tool can be helpful for visual learners. With the brainstorming, students will be able to create mind maps, that can be easily be turned into presentations. With Mindomo, students will organize and get an overview of their thoughts and ideas. The cartoonist feature will allow students to create a comic strip consisting of different characters, backgrounds, texts, and images. The cartoonist has a wide variety of themes with each content.

The movie editing is complete with professional titles, transitions, music, animation, narration, and effects. This will give a professional look to any project. With the movie editor, students can connect their cartoonist to create slide shows.

In the audio editing, students will have access to hundreds of integrated audio clips. They'll  be able to choose from both music from different genres and a large collection of sounds. The audio editor will record and mix sounds. Students can produce their own audio clips and soundscapes.

I think that this tech tool will add a new element to presentations. It also encourages collaboration within the classroom.  This website gives the students a chance to put their own creative spin on a project.

Bridgett Ellis

EDUC 1400

Tech Toolkit: Gradebook

The tech toolkit that I found this week is the Engrade grading system by McGraw-Hill Education. This tool is a great grading system for any teacher, who's looking to create their own grading system. Although most schools provide their own grading website, it may not work for everyone.  Every teacher teaches different, which means they may grade differently.  This is a free online grade book that offers many different characteristics.

On the site, you will start by creating an online profile, with your username and password. You’ll be able to sign up as a teacher of students. For teachers the first you’ll create a class using any subject. When creating the class, you’ll add the class name, grade level, school year and grade period. Then it asks what type of grade system will be used. You’ll be able to choose the traditional grade scale 100-90% is an A, 89-80 is a B, and etc... or you can create your own grading scale. When that finish you’ll add the name of students, then the class set up will be complete. The other characteristic this site is the attendance, performance review, and seating chart. With the performance review, teachers will be able to make commons on how each student is doing every day. This can be a helpful reminder that teachers can look back on to track the students development. Also, the seating can be very useful if a teacher is absent. The teacher can also add quizzes to the class site.

I think that this can be a helpful tech tool for many schools. It gives teachers a chance to have more academic freedom with the grading system. Also, is can beneficial if schools are have cut back since it’s a free online grade site.  

 

                           

Bridgett Ellis

3/18/16

 EDUC 1500

Blog 5: School Funding

School funding was the topic in this week of class. In the class discussion, I learn new interesting things about school funding.One of that thing were where does the funding come from. The school's general funding source is the Federal Government (4.2%), Local (12.7%) and State (83.1%). The thing that I found interesting about the federal government percentage because it seems they have a substantial influence on school districts. With the requirement of the standardized test another test from the federal government, I would think they would contribute more of a financial support.

It was also interesting to see how the funds are being used.  The fund is being distributed to student transportation (5.8%),  District Level (4.5%), Facilities, Operation and Maintenance (13.1%) and Instructor, Supplies (76.6%). To see the way the funds are distributed to schools and to hear about schools are cutting are some programs, was a hard thing to understand.

When I hear news about schools cutting programs such as music or other extracurricular activities but also being able to finance things for sports activities.  It makes me wonder how are the funds are really being distributed. While there's a growing need for funds, schools are often finding why to get financial support.  

Bridgett Ellis

Blog #4

Option #3 (Religion in Schools)

In this week of class, our group selected to talk about religion in school. In today's world, religion is one aspect that defines us. Religion in school had always been on the back burner. Schools often push religious away and sweep it under the rug. Schools don't often contribute religion because of they believe in will cause conflict. With 70% of Americans identifying as Christian, that does have an effect on our public school. Christianity any has greater attention than other religions in public school today. Although Christianity is at the forefront of public school, does that make America a “Christian Nation"? The first amendment to the United States prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion and impeding the free exercise of religion. With this first amendment, students are allowed to pray in school, as long as it doesn’t disrupt school activities. Students can also be dismissed from class for ritual prayer. In the education system, there are many different ways to incorporate religion into educational assignments and also following school district guidelines. Although religion can be a difficult subject to discuss, I believe that all religion should be equally endorsed or not at all. Students should feel that they are equals.

Bridgett Ellis

Tech Toolkit

The tech tool I explored this week is Glogster. Glogster offers free accounts for teachers and students. This website is a platform for presentations and interactive learning. It provides different media outlets such as photos, videos, audio, graphics, and texts. Glogster combines these tool on the one page and creates multimedia  posters, with limitless possibilities. It's also can connect with Youtube and Google, so there an unlimited amount of video and image to choose from. Glogster can be a helpful tool for arranging lesson plans and presentation. Teachers can add a new technology way to teaching with the video and audio. Students will be able to create their own posters and share with others in the class. Glogster encourages collaborative educational work because students and teacher could make comments on each other poster and send messages.