Google Sites

Link to my site:
Mrs. Barnhart's Class Site

Google Sites is a great tool to use as a teacher.  I can communicate with not only my parents, but my students as well.  The elementary school I will pursue a job at after graduation has a website.  On that website, each grade level teacher has their own website for their class where they give information specifically for their class like schedule, homework, etc.  If I do get hired there, I would definitely use Google Sites to make my classroom site.

I first started with choosing my layout and design. I began by making a home page.  I used the home page as an opening to welcome the students and parents to my site.  I then wanted to create tabs on the side for my different pages.  I had a little bit of trouble with this.  I was able to create a classroom resources, but I wanted to also create other columns for other pages.  Under my classroom resources, I made a class schedule.  I originally made the schedule and tabbed over to make the "special schedule." I then revised my page and created a two column layout so that my special schedule was over to the right separated. 

I then created a calendar.  Originally I inserted a classic Google calendar.  I then decided to revise the calendar and add the American holidays to it, because we would not have school those days.  If it was my real classroom, I would use the calendar to insert any field trips or special activies and tests into it.  The calendar feature is extremely handy to use so that the parents can look ahead and know what will be coming up.  I then added a page for parent resources.  I would edit this page throughout the school year.  I began with the resources for beginning school.  Kindergarten is a big step in both the children and parent's life, so it is good for the parents to have resources on how to prepare their student.

I enjoyed learning about Google Sites.  While it is still completely new to me and I have never ever made a webpage before, I learned quite a bit.  I would definitely want to play around with this more and learn many other features to make my webpage more appealing (mines seems a little dull.)  Overall I like Google Sites and plan on using it in the future.

FORMS

Click on following links to view my work:
TN Quiz
Quiz Responses
Gradebook
(Responses is on Sheet1 and Gradebook is on Sheet2)

Forms is a great tool for teachers.  I was able to create a self-grading quiz by following the handout Dr. Krug gave in class, as well as use the links under Forms for some extra help.  I first created the Quiz.  After creating the quiz, I entered the correct responses.  The, I took the quiz as a student for an example by getting some correct and incorrect.  The answers were then transferred to Spreadsheets and I made additional students and "tested" them.  After I reviewed and made my self-grading quiz, I made a second sheet on Spreadsheets and used it as gradebook.  The hardest part I found was getting the formula to work from moving my grades from one sheet to another.  It took me quite a few hours to get it right, as well as watching numerous YouTube tutorials, but I was finally able to figure it out.  Every time I put "Form Responses 1" it would not transfer it to the other sheet.  I believe once I become more familiar with Spreadsheets and Forms and the different, more complicated formulas (those different than Excel) it would not take me as long to do. 

However, I did feel very accomplished once I completed the quiz and gradebook.  I could definitely see myself using this in the classroom.  Last night at a family cookout, I discussed Forms and Sheets with my Aunt.  She is a 3rd grade teacher at Sevierville Intermediate School and just took a class on Google Apps.  She stated her class is getting Chromebooks this coming year or next.  We discussed using Sheets for a gradebook.  She said she could definitely see using it in her classroom and I showed her what we were working on (Quiz and gradebook.) She stated this help her, because she still had some questions after her class (it was a short class she stated.) She also looked through the Graham book and took notes she could use later in the classroom.  It was neat to get my Aunt's perspective, since she is an active teacher who has taught over 20 years.

Chapter 7 in our Graham book discusses Forms.  Forms can be used in relation to CCCSS in different ways.  The book gives examples that Forms can be used by students to present information in an organized way.  It is also giving students the "use of digital median and visual displays of data to express information and enhance understanding of presentations" (Graham, pg. 117.)  If students were given a project in Science they had to collect data overtime like say a weather project, they could do this using Forms.  Forms is a great tool for both students and teachers.

Augmented Reality

My two favorite non-targeted apps were LiveButterflies and ARHouse.  In LiveButterflies, it was fun to move the iPad around the room to find the butterflies flying around.  The best part was that if you put your finger on the screen, the butterfly would virtually land on you finger.  There were different types of butterflies in the app, which was neat.  If you kept the iPad still, you might not be able to see the butterflies.  This why you have to move the iPad around to find the butterflies throughout the room.  I could see using this app for 5-6 year olds in Kindergarten.  If giving a science lesson about catepillars turning into butterflies, the teacher could discuss this process.  The teacher could then implement this app towards the end of the lesson to show butterflies and them flying around the room.  This would interest children and get them up and moving, as well as giving them a hands on learning experience.

I also enjoyed the ARHouse app.  You could choose different parts of the building to see the different views.  If I chose the top of the building, I could see down below.  If I chose the outside of the building, I could see the landscape and everything outside the building.  It was like you were really there at the building looking at everything in and around that building.  This would be good for a 3rd or 4th grade classroom studying science or even math.  The teacher could use this app to show how math and science is used in construction.  The builders have to know how to put things together as well as have formulas and use numbers to make sure everything is the right length and comes together exactly how it is suppose to.  The teacher could use this app as an example for either of these types of lessons.

My two favorite targeted apps were GWR 2015 and Quiver.  In GWR 2015, you were required to have the book as well as the app.  Once the app was downloaded, you would point the iPad to the specific places it had on the book for the app.  For example, the cover had one and if you pointed the iPad towards it, it was like the book came alive and a huge hand came out of the cover trying to grab you.  Throughout the book different pages had the symbol for the iPad, which made things on that page seem to "come alive."  This app would be a great tool for 2nd grade on up.  The students could be looking and reading this book maybe in a reading time or some designated free time.  The student could feel like he/she was inside and connected to the book with this app.  World records have always interested me, and I believe students would love this app.

I also thought Quiver was a very interesting app.  Quiver has many different coloring sheets a teacher could print off and then the students choose which sheet interests them most and colors it.  Once the sheet is colored, point the iPad towards the sheet and the objects on the sheet come alive.  I chose the Bunny with the robots in the background.  My bunny came alive and was being attacked at the robots.  She was then able to throw carrots at them to defeat them.  I believe this app would be good for students in grades K-2nd.  Coloring practices fine motor skills, and this is an important skill children this age are developing.  The students would also have a result for coloring their page.  They would get to use the app to interact with their coloring page.

I enjoyed using all of these apps related to Augmented Reality.  It was interesting to "place" ourselves inside these apps.

Social Studies Apps- Lincoln Telegrams

I thought this was an interesting app.  It includes over 300 digitized telegram memos written by President Abraham Lincoln himself.  The app allows you to see a copy of the telegram, as well as types the words out incase it is hard to read.  I thought this app could be used in the classroom during Social Studies lessons, especially any lessons about Lincoln.  It shows what his writing looked like, as well as some of the topics they discussed back then.  You could compare some of their problems to those we have today.  A teacher could also discuss how we don't even use telegrams anymore and show the transition into technology we have today like cell phones and email.  I thought this app offered many features to learn about Lincoln, some that could even be incorporated in today's classroom.

Science Apps- The Weather Channel

I already have this app on both my iPhone and iPad.  I never thought about using this app with children or in the classroom.  The app features things like current temperature, future forecast, and a live weather radar.  I am constantly checking this app daily, especially if it looks like it is raining.  I check the radar or see the temperature outside to plan activities.  I could use this app in teaching elementary science in the classroom.  If we were discussing weather and how it changes, I could pull up the weekly forecast.  I could also discuss the live radar and how to read what it is saying.  These are important tools children need to learn to use throughout life.  I love The Weather Channel app and never thought of using it with students, but can see the ways it would be beneficial.

Music Apps- Piano Free

This is another app I will keep on my iPad for my son to use.  I believe Music is very important in a child's life.  I used music to memorize important things as well as an outlet to express myself.  I learned to play the piano when I was 8 years old and took lessons for almost 10 years.  While sometimes I didn't always want to practice, I look back now and am glad I did.  This app features songs that are popular and that children hear on the radio daily.  This could interest the child to want to play this app.  They use their fingers to tap on the circle to play the note for the song.  This lets the child practice their fine motor skills, as well as learn rhythm as to when to tap on the circle.  Music should be fun for children.  Playing piano help me with hand-eye coordination that expanded to my love of sports as well.  My mother says I was able to pick up playing tennis so easily because I had good hand-eye coordination due to playing the piano.  I believe this app is one children would love to use in music class or at home that should help interest them in music.

Mathematics Apps- MathBoard

This is a fun app for students to practice different problems and equations they are learning in Math.  The app is in quiz form, which allows students to see what they know and what they might need to study more.  There is a small section at the bottom students can use to work out any math problems they might need space to write on.  Like in the YouTube tutorial of the app, I agree that the space is too small.  Most students work on math problems going down vertical.  The app does not allow for that.  Forcing the student to work out their problem horizontal could confuse the student.  Overall this would be a great app for students to practice Math problems with in school or even riding in the car.