Tech 4 Content Objects

The four apps I chose to investigate were not hard to understand based on technology for me.  It has taught me that what I am doing as an early childhood instructor to introduce science instruction is necessary and correct.  This is especially true when there is a need for hands on materials and the lack of funds to teach the the students.  I looked at Earth Viewer, Google Earth, Science 360 and Brain Pop.  What I liked about  all the these apps fall under the TPACK qualifications they even cross the core curriculum lines. What I didn't like about some of the apps were they are too hard for the average 2nd grade students to use alone. They lessons would need to be guided for the first lessons or until the students gets use to the manipulation of the app.  

My favorite is the Brain pop app. It is my favorite because it is an app but it is also web based for those schools/students that do not have access to an apple type product. The other 3 could be used to enhance your lessons.  

Brain pop goes as follow concerning the TPACK:

Content  knowledge: Science main lesson with Reading and Social Studies as sub lessons

Pedagogical Knowledge: curriculum based lessons that teach the students at their educational level

Technology Knowledge:Computer animation is highly effective in demonstration of processes that 

cannot be viewed naturally or that are difficult to demonstrate in the classroom or even in 

the laboratory.  

The main issue is the teacher needs to be the catalyst to the transfer of knowledge from the lessons.  Students still need to be guided.  

The lessons can be used at home for futher homework study, there are  tests to check for understanding and games to practice the lessons given instruction. 

Tech play 3

The tools that I explored are the following that I could download for free on the school ipad.

screen chomp liked technology idiot friendly used to assist students.  Takes the place of  after school telephone help.
Next three apps. Just for visual use no games like going to the Science Place to the astrology  room in the dark but on the computer and students can touch to direct where they want to look.
science 360
globe
Goskywatch
Next two apps students are able to write director give voice to their own stories.
show me
puppet pals

Didn't quite know what to think of this app.  Different radio recording I guess used for history lessons.

audio boo

Puppet pals I wouldn't mind using to teach and enhance my reading lessons with students in elementary.


I would say on the TPACK if possible the adaption stage  for the teacher and student would be where this program would fit  Teacher would become the coach than stand back and watch the students create. The content of course is reading, writing, collaborative working with other students sometimes.


This would definitely be used for those slow learners, dyslexic students tier 3 students that struggle and need some sense of success in reading.  If can be and intervention tool for afterschool or summer school.

It is a tool that support the students creativity and shows the teacher what the student says and does not based on the basal and worksheets.

eportfolio assignment Tech play 2

http://www.portfoliogen.com/leisabooker/

and http://www. leisabooker.weebly.com


I found both beneficial for eportfolio for a novice.

 The Weebly site has a navigation to upload the pictures and links.  It walks you step by step to create and upload with  embedded video links.

The portfoliogen is specific for teachers.  It houses all information that that can be updated and can be used as a electronic resume for different states.  If asks to whom you would be interested in sharing your information with. The site can also be adapted for classroom use for assignments for students, It has that link as an option as well.


Both give the bare minimum for design because all in all the job is to get you to pay for an upgrade to to keep your information.

I would choose the Weebly site since I am a novice.  But for students I would choose the portfoliogen for lessons.

• Identify affordances. In your blog post, write about the affordances of the tools you explored. Consider how and why that tool might be the best choice for you.

I used the site to upload pictures of my lessons for teaching timelines to 2nd grade students.  This is important to me because I support vertically the science  and social studies for 5th grade.  My lessons are based on 3rd grade TEKS  and they are hard to recreate for 2nd grade.  This is a visual lesson plan for me as well as an example to show my technique.

• Consider context. Would you make a different choice of tool if you were asking your students to create an ePortfolio? Why or why not? Discuss the affordances of these tools for others in different contexts.

Because they are second grade students it would only benefit me to use as a record, but i could use it to show them how to use it as a tool that can be used to record their science explorations as a modeling tools.

The 5th grade students would benefit more with this. It can be used to gather all of the lessons and materials to be used to enroll in the districts magnet schools. They could video vocal performances for the ARTS school, take pictures of the paintings and sculptures, video tape work on science experiments for the STEM fair etc. and turn in with test scores and class work for application.