Blog Post 6

I observe at Raa Middle School so I looked up their school website. It looks like not every teacher is required to have a class page; however, if the teacher does have a class page they provide the link on the website. I was able to look at a few of the pages without a password or login. The websites offer educational videos that are on the topic they are discussing in class. Some class pages also offer contact information to the professor and a schedule of class events and assignments. Some pages also gave the textbook login information, a syllabus, a tab for tests and quizzes, and even a tab for assignments and extra credit opportunities. The class page in the screenshot below is Mr. King's Class from Raa middle school. He is an 8th grade social studies teacher.
https://www.sites.google.com/site/classwithyourmajesty/

The podcast breaks teacher technology into four different categories. They are all very useful for teachers; however, I see myself using some technology more than others. Grading software and tools such as spreadsheets will be a necessity for any teacher. It makes grading much more efficient and the  likelihood of human error much lower. I would also use a class website like the one above to keep my students and parents informed of what is going on, what is due, and what is coming up next in my class. I would link my email to the website and use the class page and email a sources of communication between me, students, and parents so that my class could run as smoothly as possible and I could be reached with ease if anyone had any questions about anything.

The Technology Sandbox had so many cool and useful tools for teachers and classrooms. I really enjoy using the Smart Board. I am not super experienced with lot of technology, but I think I could be easily trained to use the Smart Board. I like that it can be interactive for up to eight students at a time. I would use it to play games with the class to reinforce learned subjects and curriculum. I would also use the regular white board option. An example for this option would be a math lesson, I could ask a student to show their work on the board so that the other students can see how that students worked the problem out. In high school, a couple of my classes used the white board and it always made class participation higher. This is because students are excited to use the new and fun technology and it creates an incentive to participate in the classroom activity.