Week 7: Top Ten Tools I Can't Live Without.

1. Search Engines- Very useful.
2. Text Messaging- Sometimes,  I just do not want to talk.
3. Email- Super convenient for communicating with anyone.
4. Multimedia- Love to listen to music, watch videos, and create animations.
5. Word Processing Software- Helps display professionalism.
6. Tutorials- Great for when you want or need to learn something new.
7. Simulations-Fantasy and real life combo.
8. Blogging- No topic is off limits.
9. Mobile apps- convenient and necessary.
10. Web Page Design Software- Makes you a part of this virtual world with your own space for creativity, blogging, or whatever!

Mobile Apps

I couldn't find any mobile apps in my personal subject area, I'm in the counseling and psychology field of study. I did find other apps in different subject areas I thought would be interesting to use on my mobile device. The four apps I found that could be used on a mobile vices such a smartphones , the IPod or Ipad were:

1. Drawing Pad- mainly for children to express their artistic ability through drawing and coloring with actual sized crayons and markers.
2. World Book- multimedia calendar that display historical events for the current day or selected day. Allows you to hear past speeches from presidents or view photos and illustrations from the present and past time.
3. Sports Tracker- Allows you to track your exercise performance and monitor your progress. The app also keep track of calories burned. It also find new routes and trails to take.
4. I triage- Symptom tracker type app that search symptoms, save healthcare info, give information on different illnesses. It also provides a directory to healthcare facilities and pharmacies.

The Importance of being a Good Digital Citizen.

It is important to be a good digital citizen because it reveals a person's character beyond the internet. I think if you are honest and respectful offline, you can display those same characteristics online. Having positive behavior traits allow others to have a positive experience communicating with you or doing business with you over the internet. Why bully and display rude behavior? If you wouldn't do it physically, why do it behind a computer screen? A good digital reputation has great value, because that person can be trusted, which allows more people to communicate and do business with you. A good reputation can be trusted always, because the proof is in the reputation for being trustworthy, respectful, and providing satisfaction guaranteed.

Material Generators -WK 4

Material Generators that I have used or would like to use:

1. Desktop Publishing Software- I have used this software to complete documents such as research papers, resumes, and flyers. I would use this in my classroom to teach students how to create all types of word processing documents to enhance their computer skills. I think its becoming a requirement now to be able to use a desktop publishing software.
2. Web Page Design Software- I have created web pages personally but I see many benefits of using it in a classroom setting to help students. I would develop pages to cover topics and lessons for students to view for extra help and understanding of the topic presented in class.
3. Worksheet and Puzzle Generators- I have not used this type of material generator, but can also see the benefits of its use. I would use worksheet generators to allow my students to practice lessons for extra credit, homework, and test preparation.

Instructional Software

Instructional software are computer programs designed to instruct  or assist with the delivery of instruction on a topic (Roblyer, 2012).

5 Types of Instructional Software:

1.Drill and Practice- Presents items to students to work on with feedback on corrections. Ex: Flashcard activity      http://quizlet.com

2. Tutorial- offers a sequence of instructions on a given topic.
Ex: Pedagogy http://www.internet4classrooms.com/on-line2.htm

3. Simulations- allows computer users to work with a computer model of a real or imagined system in order to learn how the system works.
Ex: Physical simulations www.chemcollective.org/applets/viab.php

4. Instructional Games- Program with game like rules or competition to learning activities
http://playinghistory.org

5. Problem Solving- Teaches specific steps for solving certain problems. Ex: Math Word Problems
www.criticalthinking.com

Roblyer, M.D. (2012). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching 6th edition. Columbus, Ohio: Merrill Prentice Hall

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Wikipedia or Not? WK 2

Should Wikipedia be forbidden in students Social Studies research?

While I'm not against Wikipedia, I don't think it should be used as a credible source for research. I think Wikipedia provides information that is very easy to come by and students should go further in  their research efforts. I do think Wikipedia is good to learn the basics of a particular topic, place, or person, but again should not be used as a reference. Wikipedia is a popular cheat site used to get quick information about a particular topic which might not always be accurate.