Blog Post #6

The class provided basically had the same display formula with little pieces of customization in each. I observed the pages for Social Studies teachers at Raa Middle School. The 2 pages I focused on most were Mrs. Inglett, who teaches Culture and Geography, and Mr. King, who teaches U.S. History. Both public page include a creative page layouts displaying different color schemes. Both either had links on the side leading to classroom materials, papers, and assignments or simply listed the assignments and questions right on the page. Each page also had pictures and descriptions pertaining to there own life and other extra-curricular school activities they might be involved. What stood out to me was the each pages approach to when it comes to they way they were organized. Mrs. Inglett's page was a more direct page as it has the latest assignments and notes posted at the top. Mr. King's page has a creative spin to it as the home page describes some of the schools extra-curricular's, the latest video pertaining to the subject, and a student of the week section.

I envision using word processing, presentation software, and online tools in order to successfully accomplish my job as a high school history teacher. My use of word processing would be most beneficial to me when writing up classroom worksheet as it would benefit in my efforts of creating worksheets that appeal to my students but also inform them and their parents on any information. I would utilize presentation software in efforts to make my lessons in the classroom entertaining while also teaching the main curriculum. I believe that online tools would be the most effective for completing my responsibilities in effective and efficient time. I would utilize online tools in and out the classroom, providing online activities and assignments that stimulate the you students minds while also using the tools to interact with other teachers through Diigo and posting assignments, note, and worksheets on a class page accessible to both students and parents.

I think that the tech sandbox was an awesome experience. It showed me alot of useful classroom tools that I feel all classes will utilize at one point. The ones I feel would be the most useful in the classroom environment I intend to teach are smart boards, virtual reality headset and sphero. I feel that all can be effective in teaching high school history in different way. VR headset could put students in the middle of historical sights around the world and maybe even recreate some of the events that happened at those site. Smart boards can let students have a whole new experience when it come to class room participation and can maybe cause more kids to be excited about learning with its touch screen abilities. Sphero's use in a history classroom is underestimated in my eyes. I feel that with the use of giant floor maps, sphero can help display the movements of whole of colonies and actions taken by countries in history.