Google Docs

We used a part of Google Docs in the classroom that is comparable to Microsoft excel (spreadsheet). With this application, information was easy to organize and follow, and we were able to follow along on the same sheet from different computers. My group mates and I could work on the project simultaneously, and Google Docs would save automatically.
I really liked working with this application. I have yet to use the other features on Google Docs, which include “document” (like Microsoft Word), “presentation” (like Microsoft Power Point), Drawing, and Collection. These applications share the same features as the spreadsheet. Students may view and work on documents together on any computer with internet capabilities, both in the classroom and at home. This can save time during student group work, and cut down on confusion. Google Docs is also completely free! This will save the teacher/school system an amazing amount of money. I am glad that I got to learn about these free Microsoft alternatives and look forward to using them in my classroom.
https://docs.google.com/

Book

I felt like the I learned a lot about the book activity. I never knew that word would print pages out like a book. I also never knew how to puts words around photos. I always did it the long and hard way. It is very frustrating doing it that way. This was a simple and easy way to make a book. I do not know exaclty how it could be used in a high school biology class, but it is great for elementary and middle school. I like to learn new things about word since I use it so much. Therefore, it was nice to now know how to write a book.

Publishing

In this section of the course I enjoyed making a book out of an already published one. It was great to work with new settings and show how to produce a book on word. It really wasn't as hard as you would think and it was easy to print; even though we weren't supposed to. I chose a kids fairy tale and inserted pictures into the story to help narrate the story.

Glogster

Glogster was a great tool to use instead of a poster board for a show and tell session or a presentation. It is a website that lets you easily access pictures and videos to import them to your page. I chose to import music and videos into mine to show the importance of the work ethic in the gym and the work out facility that your school provides.
I chose to also import and attach links to help the students see how to properly do certain things in the gym and help most benefit their experience and utilize their time. I would love to use this in my classroom but it is hard to get a projector and access to computers for a physical education course. But I love the idea.

Website blog

For the website creation we did we used the google sites application which very easily navigated you through the site and how to create your own website. It can be used in a classroom and probably higher end grade levels to show their own opinions and express themselves while creating a full functioning website. The thing which I like is how after you create your site it becomes functional and open to the public if you so choose.

Biography blog

For our biography project we used the powerpoint application. It was easy to use and helped out by adding slides and pictures to better explain myself. This software can be used in any grade level to further explain lessons or to show examples. I really like this software because it is easy to use and easy to transition it from place to place.

Blogging on Classroom Sites

By adding blogs to our websites, we give parents the opportunity to be part a community that surrounds the classroom. At first, I didn’t understand why I should create a blog. I had made an announcement area on the home page. I figured that the homepage would be a good place for parents to quickly see what was going on. I had felt that a blog area was a little redundant. But, after I wrote the blogs I realized that having a blog page would encourage parents to comment and participate in the building and modifications of both the classroom and the website.