Add-Ons and Other Support Tools

Add-Ons and Other Support Tools

Materials Generators

• Materials Generators “Help teachers and students produce instructional materials on paper and online”(Roblyer, 2016, p. 141).  LucidChart is a materials generator for good docs that allows users to easily create flowcharts and diagrams.  This add-on is a great asset for students and teachers alike to help visually portray the relationship between ideas or concepts.  https://www.lucidchart.com/
• Another great example for a materials generator is Lesson Plan Maker, http://www.teach-nology.com/web_tools/lesson_plan/ , this allows teachers to use a template to help oranize their thought and ideas in a orderly fashion and take some time away from preparing to make your plan and actually get right to it.  

Data Collection and Analysis Tools

• Data collection and analysis tools “help teachers collect and organize information to provide feedback and support decision making”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141).  Flubaroo, www.flubaroo.com , is an analytics tool add-on for google sheets that allows teachers to grade and analyze assignments and tests and even email scores to students.  This type of add-on would significantly reduce the time spent grading and open up more time for planning and preparation for class.
• Save As Doc https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/save-as-doc/iekpcmcpnbgoldpmhfbioecljjjjnpap?utm_source=permalink  is another useful add-on for google sheets that allows the user to convert any sheets document into a google doc to make the legibility of lengthy cell text entries easier.  

Testing and Grading Tools

• Testing and grading tools “help teachers collect and track assessment information to measure student progress”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141).  Add-ons such as Super Quiz https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/super-quiz/pjbiflobnndcecpflbbldjhiplcobiim?utm_source=permalink allows for teachers not only to grade and measure student progress but create quizzes and assessments all in one place.  
• Another tool for grading and assessment is Online Rubric https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/online-rubric/fiiglmgmcodoglllnbfebbhkfidikfbo?utm_source=permalink which allows teachers to create and email customizable rubrics and scores to students for any assignment.  I believe this combined with add-ons such as mail merge could greatly improve the productivity of teachers in regards to issuing and grading assignments.  

Graphics Tools

• Graphics tools “allow manipulation of images to illustrate documents  and web pages”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141).  PixLr Editor, https://pixlr.com , is such a tool, allowing users to edit and manipulate images.  This tool is useful primarily because it’s free and allows for some of the same functions as photoshop
• Personally for a graphics tool I will always prefer Adobe Photoshop, www.photoshop.com .  For a graphics editor, I believe this to be the most powerful and comprehensive.  Though costly and very extensive, I have yet to come across another program that I prefer more.  

Planning and Organizing Tools

• Planning and organizing tools “help teachers and students conceptualize, organize, and communicate their ideas”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141).  Add-ons such as Doctopus https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/doctopus/ffhegaddkjpkfiemhhnphmnadfbkdhbf?utm_source=permalink help teachers to organize, manage, scaffold and assess student projects and work.  
• Event-O-Matic https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/event-o-matic/dhghafhnlbfjlifbdhggnijgpfnjfmlo?utm_source=permalink is another add-on that can help teachers to organize and track events and projects by merging schedules they have created in google sheets with a calendar to help them to better see whats coming up and also provide students with an accurate time table for assignments and projects.  

Research and Reference Tools

• Research and reference tools “let students look up information in electronic versions of encyclopedias, atlases and dictionaries”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141).  Paperpile, https://paperpile.com , allows users to add citations and bibliographies to research papers.  Like most google apps this add on is also fully collaborative so that users can contribute or correct each other.  
• Sorc’d for Docs, https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/sorcd-for-docs/johghabpnkofnnignckidciklbodffac?utm_source=permalink , is also another useful add-on for google docs as it allows user to collect and recall pieces of relevant content for use on their research papers.  
• A noteworthy mention is TextHelp Highlighting Tools for google docs.  This allows users to highlight important information and then compile everything they highlighted into one place.  

Content-Area Tools

• Content-area tools “support teaching and learning activities in various subject matter areas”(Roblyer, 2016, p.141).  The Google add-on Translate https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/translate/nejfnokhglmkjgpkjooijcddfecjggan?utm_source=permalink allows users to convert text to any language of their choosing.  This is not only helpful in foreign language studies but helps when communicating to others around the world.  
• On the more science and math side of things, Calculator.net http://www.calculator.net/conversion-calculator.html offers a conversion calculator for just about every form of measurement from distance to weight to temperature, ect.  

Roblyer, M.D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching

(7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Digital Citizenship and Online Needs

Digital Citizenship and Online Needs

Search Engines

With the ever expanding amount of information on the internet, search engines have become an indispensable tool when accessing the web.  It is almost impossible to use the internet without the help of a search engine and most of us, including myself, have one such as google as our homepage.  Search Engines are described as, “special searching programs that he us to locate items and information on the web” (Roblyer, 2016, p.182).  Learning to adequately and safely navigate the web and the use of search engines is necessary in general but vital in the classroom.  Teaching students and educators alike to be able to use the web via search engines will not only improve productivity but help them both to find quality, accurate and safe information on the internet through creating efficient search criteria and effectively distinguishing legitimate websites through proper website evaluation.

Website Evaluation Video

The information provided in this video, though somewhat simple or geared to a younger audience, includes information beneficial to everyone in regards to validating a website.  The video takes the idea that everything you read on the internet isn’t always true and shows how to authenticate a web page.  As for use in my own classroom, out of the other videos I’ve seen, I feel as though this one creates a simple yet effective means to perform adequate research on topics and or projects I may assign which would require the presentation of accurate and up to date information about photography/software methods or even historical information on photographers and their methods of working. In addition to what the video teaches, students should also remember to be aware of the domain designator on each web address they find.  “The last three letters in the address line constitute what is call a domain designator, a suffix that typically indicates the type of content one would find at a website” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 180).  Specifically domain designators such as .edu, .gov and .org are going to be the best for quality information.  “The Internet’s vast information storehouse, unfortunately, contains some information that is incomplete, misleading, inaccurate, and/or out of date” (Roblyer, 2016, p.199)  Lastly students should also pay close attention to authorship, “A site must provide enough background information about its authors for users to determine if the site is reliable and useful” (Roblyer, 2016, p. 199).

Favorite Websites

Merlot Pedagogy: http://pedagogy.merlot.org/TeachingStrategies.html

This website list numerous links and texts on a variety of teaching strategies to help educators better engage with their students and organize their criteria for each lesson and class.  Resources such as this can prove invaluable either when just starting out or when a teacher needs to find a new method to reach a specific student or to revamp an entire approach.

Phlearn: https://phlearn.com/

I chose Phlearn as more of a personal reference but also as a website I could pass on to my students for reference purposes.  As an educator focused on photography and a digital medium such as photoshop, more times than not there are 100 different ways to do something in these types of programs and countless more things that these programs are capable of.  More things than one person can remember, therefore this is one website that I’ve used for years and which was passed on to me by one of my professors as an reference tool for photoshop and for teaching photoshop.    

Online Safety and Security

In regards to online safety and security, I believe one of the most important aspects to be aware of is phishing scams.  “Teachers and students must be vigilant to avoid offers and alerts that are phishing attempts, or emails that claim to be from a legitimate organization or business and ask for personal information but is actually used for identity theft” (Roblyer, 2016, p.176).  There are countless outlets on the internet aimed to deceive the public and they get better each day.  They steal and use logos from reputable organizations and often will even have the same web address with only one minor difference that you probably won’t even notice.  Therefore as the text states, it pays to be vigilant and always vet a website first, especially if you are unsure.   

1. Roblyer, M. D. (2016). Integrating educational technology into teaching (7th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

The Big Three: Software for Educators

The Big Three

Software for Educators

This post is discuss the three primary types of software used by educators to support and better enrich their lessons.  In addition I will include the specific benefits of each piece of software and in conclusion discuss the one that would best the style of teaching I would plan to do.

Word Processing Software

To begin with we’ll discuss what is probably the most widely used piece of software by educators as well as the general public, word processing software.  Throught the use of word processing software educators are able to create lesson plans, handouts, syllabi, name tags, permission slips, project overviews, etcetera.  Essentially anything an educator would like for their students to have a hard copy of can be accomplished here.  Recent additions to basic word processing softwares include web enabled features, auto word wrapping, new templates and even voice recognition. 1. Page113  The drawbacks of using word processors primarily include a deterioration of handwriting skills and a dependency on spellcheck and other tools.

Spreadsheet Software

Next up spreadsheet software.  The use of spreadsheets allows the students teacher to save time by being able to complete calculations quickly through the use of formulas.  Users also have the ability to organize information through the use of columns and rows.  In addition these types of software also help show students how certain types of math actually work. Spreadsheets cover a wide variety of time saving features useful to both student and educator alike, such as complex calculations, auto recalculations and data sorting. 1. Pages 122-123  Spreadsheet software though has its drawbacks, most specifically being their vulnerability to fraud, their susceptibility to trivial human error and they’re notoriously difficult to troubleshoot.   

Presentation Software

Finally is presentation software.  This type of software is used to display information such as text, images, and audio/video through the use of a slideshow format.  This type of software accomplishes many things through its implementation.  Of which include, organization of a topic, enhancing spoken word and opens up the option for collaboration on a topic/project.  The possibilities of how and what you can present with this software are endless. 1. Pages 127-128  On the downside, with presentation software you run the risk of your viewer becoming bored and losing their attention.  Also unless paired with one of the other softwares we have discussed, most of your information is left merely to remember without any reference for the viewer to refer to at a later date.

Classroom Use: Presentation Software

In conclusion I’d like to cover the type of software I feel would be most beneficial to my area of teaching and that would be presentation software.  Through the use of this software I would be able to create a more visual learning experience for such a visual subject, photography.  This software would allow for the presentation of not only concepts and how-to’s but also a visual history of the subject.  Although most often when presentation software is mentioned many automatically think of Microsoft PowerPoint, I personally prefer using a piece of software called Prezi.  This software is available online and free to use.  It allows for a more dynamic and engaging presentation in contrast to just moving from slide to slide and can allow the creator the really show the big picture of a topic and how each part relates.   

1. Roblyer, M. D. (n.d.). Integrating Educational Technology into Teaching (7th ed.). NJ: Pearson.

Into Blog Post

My goal for becoming an educator is to not only encourage the pursuit of the arts, primarily photography but to challenge my students to break out of their shells and also learn to challenge.  Challenge life, question processes, and generally ask why.  I want to instill a sense of wonder and yearning for knowledge both about the subject I’m teaching but life itself.  Our education system has become so focused on breeding test taking and line walkers that many students have lost the wonder and imagination that is so important to living a fulfilling life.