Tech Tools

 1.  Moodle  (Modular Object-Oriented Dynamic Learning Environment) is a free open-source learning management system or e-Learning platform, that serves educators and learners across the globe. It is the most widely used LMS in the world and currently has over 68 million users world-wide and growing! Moodle was developed in 2002 by Martin Dougiamas to help educators create online courses with a focus on interaction and collaborative construction of content. Since then, the main development of Moodle is led by Martin and the core team at Moodle Headquarters, as well as hundreds of other developers around the world who have helped fuel the growth of Moodle through contributing and testing code, and being active participants in community forums. Through out my college life, I have used moodle (the University go Guam Moodle) for online courses that I have taken and I believe it is a great tool for online education. I will give this Tech Tool a 5 out of 5 because it has helped me through my college career and is easy to navigate to. 

2. Google Chrome is freeware web browser developed by Google. Google Chrome combines a minimal design with sophisticated technology to make the Web faster, safer and easier. The Google Chrome browser offers features including access to favorite pages instantly with thumbnails, desktop shortcuts to launch web applications and independently run tabs within the browser to prevent browser crashing. Chrome is designed to keep you safer and more secure on the web with built-in malware and phishing protection, auto-updates to make sure that you have all the latest security fixes, and more.There are tons of ways to customise Chrome and make it yours. It's easy to tweak your settings and add apps, extensions and themes from the Chrome Web Store. I have always used Google Chrome way before I started my ED271 class and it has always been one of my favorite web browser. I still use it up to now. I just love how easy it is to get to and how I can customise  my own web browser. I will give Google chrome a 5 out of 5.

 3. Google apps Google Apps is a package of cloud-based services that can provide your company or school with a whole new way to work together online—not just using email and chat, but over video conferences, social media, real-time document collaborations, and more. It includes Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and other core Google Apps services, as well as additional services like Google+, Hangouts, Blogger and more.There are four different versions of Google Apps: Google Apps, Google Apps for Business, Google Apps for Government, and Google Apps for Education. I think google apps is very helpful to help students keep assignments or work organised and it is all in one Tech Tool google apps. I give this a 5 out of 5 as well. 

4. Live Binders is a virtual 3 ring binder that you can put pretty much anything in. Webpage, PDF, image, video, text: they all can go into a page organized for you. Each item can be on it's own tab or you can further organize by using sub-tabs. My first time using live binders is in my ED271 class. I really liked it because you are able to put your favorite links from the internet onto your live binders. You can also organise it and share it with future colleague in the future. I found this tech tool helpful in the future and see myself using when I become a teacher. I give this tool a 4 out of 5. 

5. Prezi is a new and fun way to present presentations. Prezi is a presentation tool that can be used as an alternative to traditional slide making programs such as PowerPoint. Instead of slides, Prezi makes use of one large canvas that allows you to pan and zoom to various parts of the canvas and emphasize the ideas presented there. Prezi may seem overwhelming to you due to the blank canvas but once you try it and play around with it you will get the hang of it. I give this a 3 out of 5.

6. Wix is the biggest player in the website builder landscape and hosts a whopping 80 million websites. The visually impressive layouts are designed for small businesses, restaurants, online stores and artists such as musicians and photographers. AlthoughI think Wix is a great website creator, I found it hard for me to navigate and put things together for my group project. I guess as you play with it and get used to it you get in the hang of it. I give this a 3 out of 5. 

7. Whatsapp WhatsApp Messenger is a cross-platform mobile messaging app which allows you to exchange messages without having to pay for SMS. WhatsApp Messenger is available for iPhone, BlackBerry, Android, Windows Phone and Nokia and yes, those phones can all message each other! Because WhatsApp Messenger uses the same internet data plan that you use for email and web browsing, there is no cost to message and stay in touch with your friends. In addition to basic messaging WhatsApp users can create groups, send each other unlimited images, video and audio media messages. This tool is my absolute favorite. It is a great way to get ahold of your group members or colleagues because you can create group chats and what not. Another cool thing about it is that you do not need a phone. There's whatsapp web which i just figured out not to long ago. I give this a 5 out of 5.

8. Emaze is an online presentation platform built on html5 technology. Users can create, manage, and share presentations through a cloud-based SaaS system. Emaze offers a variety of presentation templates including formats using 3D animations and video backgrounds to make online presentations stand out.When I first used this online presentation tool, it took me a while to get used too. However, with this tool I delivered a creative, colourful presentation for one of my classes and I really liked how it turned out. I give this tech tool a 4 out of 5. 

Assistive Technology in Education

            In the video, Assistive Technology: Enabling Dreams, a young college student from the University of Washington named Susanna Sweeney-Martini states, “ Assistive Technology is the major foundation of my life, without it I could not exist as I am today…” (The George Lucas Educational Foundation, 2005) Being able to utilize the AT, she no longer has a difficult time with her learning ability. Susanna is able to continue with her daily school and social life.

            Everyone learns differently. Being a teacher you would have to consider in a lesson plan how the lesson could be modified if a student is having a difficult time with the lesson. Classroom lessons should be effective to improve students’ performance.  No child should be left behind which is why I believe that it is important for a teacher to create an equal opportunity for student learning.

            For my ASL class, I got to go to the Guam System for Assistive Technology located at the University of Guam Dean Circle.  According to Guam System for Assistive Technology, “GSAT provides assistive technology–related services to the Guam community to help children and adults with disabilities live productive, independent, and quality lives.” (GSAT, n.d) When I first heard this program, I did not know what it was and when I got to the place and learned the many things that it offered I was amazed. I got to experience the different assistive technology provided. I also got to hear stories about how the people that works there have changed many people’s lives on Guam. It was such a great experience.

            In conclusion, educators must be aware of the different kinds of learners present within the classroom to ensure that every person has their needs provided for. With assistive technology at our fingertips, Teachers should make use of it because it is what’s going to help a child with disabilities succeed with education.

Guam System For Assistive Technology. (n.d.). Retrieved May 16, 2016, from http://gsatcedders.org/about-us/what-is-gsat/

How Assistive Technology Enables Dreams. (2005). Retrieved May 16, 2016, from http://www.edutopia.org/assistive-technology-enabling-dreams-video

ASSURE Lesson Plan

In my multimedia lesson plan assignment, we were assigned to create a lesson plan utilizing the ASSURE Model Instructional Lesson Plan. The lesson plan that I have created for this assignment is titled “Making Connections with Bar Graphs.” This lesson is targeted for a third grade Math and Health class. It was my first time creating a lesson plan using the ASSURE model. At first, it was difficult to put the right requirements for each acronym but as I started planning out the lesson it became less difficult to put together.

According to TEAL (2012), “In education, the planning tool is the lesson plan, which is a detailed description of an instructor’s course of instruction for an individual lesson intended to help learners achieve a particular learning objective.” I have learned that lesson planning in a teaching career is important and beneficial. When the lecture is planned, it helps the teacher focus more on moving the students towards learner goals instead of what comes next. It will also help the teacher see if students have achieved the learning objectives provided in the lesson so that they are able to move on to the next lesson.

D.Hala Ibrahim Hassan Ahmed (2014) states “The ASSURE model is a guide for planning and conducting instruction that uses media.” With the ASSURE model, I can use this information to help me guide my next lesson.This will help me organize my thoughts onto paper which will make teaching it to my class easy and effective. The thing I like about the ASSURE lesson plan is the acronym provided.  I am able to analyze the learners. State the objectives. Select the methods, media and materials for the class. Require learner participation. Lastly, evaluate and revise.

Based on my lesson plan, I felt it was a good activity for my students to learn the concept of making bar graphs. However, I feel that it could be more challenging for students. If I were to make it challenging, I would make students work independently. That way there is more data to be collected for the bar graphs. I believe it would make it challenging to put together from healthy to unhealthy with students working independently.

In conclusion, I suggest future educators to use this ASSURE model lesson plan. Today, technology is everywhere in education. Teachers are slowly adapting to using technology in classrooms for students to thrive in their education.  With that being said, using this lesson plan will help teachers guide what they want to teach their students and be able to identify if students have met the objectives.

D.Hala Ibrahim Hassan Ahmed (2014). The ASSURE model lesson plan. University of Khartoum - Faculty of Education Department of Instructional Technology, 1. Retrieved from http://edu.uofk.edu/multisites/UofK_edu/images/News/ASSURE.pdf

Fact Sheet: Effective Lesson Planning | Teaching Excellence in Adult Literacy (TEAL). (n.d.). Retrieved from https://teal.ed.gov/tealguide/lessonplanning

Making Connections with Bar Graphs

ASSURE Model Instructional Lesson Plan

Lesson Title: Making Connections with Bar Graphs

Grade Level: 3rd Grade

Lesson Length: 60 minutes

Analyze Learners

Learners General Characteristics: This lesson is designed for a group of 15 3rd graders ranging from ages of 8-9 years old. There are 5 boys and 10 girls that include ethnicities of Filipino, Chamorro, Chuukese, American and Palawan. There is one student who has a difficult time interacting and communicating with others. According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, this is a developmental disability called Autism. This can have a negative effect on a child’s education. With group work assigned in this activity, this can enhance the child’s ability to speak to peers comfortably and also make new relationships with others. Entry Characteristics: Students are familiar with the parts of the Nutrition Label. Students are familiar with solving and explaining addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division problems. Students have experience working cooperatively and productively with peers in small groups. Students are familiar with Google spreadsheets. Learning Styles: Visual: 45% Kinesthetic: 45% Auditory: 10%

State Objectives

Objective 1: Students will be able to collect and analyze data of fats, sugar, and sodium for three different cereals. Objective 2: Students will be able to read and construct a bar graph using Google Sheets. Objective 3: Students will be able to differentiate between which cereal has more nutritional value.

Select Methods, Media, , and Materials

Methods: Students will be placed in 3 groups of 5. Students will learn through active listening skills and demonstration. Materials: Nutrition Label Breakfast Cereals (Group 1: Fruit Loops, Lucky Charms, Honey Nut Cheerios. Group 2: Special K, Cookie Crisp, Captain Crunch. Group 3: Wheaties, Apple Jacks, Frosted Flakes) Computer, Scratch Paper, Pen, White Board Media: Internet, Computer, Google spreadsheets

Utilize Media, Materials, and Methods

Prepare the materials: There will be desktop computers available in classroom which will have access to the internet. Google spreadsheets will be opened and ready for students when they are done collecting data. Prepare the environment: The lesson will take place in the classroom. Desks will be arranged in groups of 5 so that it is easier for students to communicate with each other. Desktop computers will be on other side of classroom where students will be creating their bar graphs. Prepare the learners: The teacher will start off the lesson by asking everyone what their favorite cereal is.

Require Learner Participation

Introduction of Activity and Objectives Count off students from 1-5. When students have their number, have them get into their groups and chose group names. To start off the lesson, Teacher will ask each student what students favorite cereal is. Each team should obtain 3 different cereal nutrition labels. On a scratch sheet of paper, students will record the Sodium, Fat, and Sugar of each cereal nutrition label. Once they have gathered data, students will be able to use the desktop computers that are already set up for them to create a bar graph using Google spreadsheets. After they have made their graph, Students will examine their bar graphs and will be asked to share their results with the class as a group. (At the end of the presentation, students should be able to know which cereal is healthier among the 3) After students have presented data, one representative from each group will write all their cereals down on board. With all the cereals that were provided in each group, all students will need to be able to put cereals in chronological order from healthy to unhealthy. (This will show which group was listening during the presentations.)

Evaluate & Revise

1. Student performance Students were able to identify the salt, sugar, and fat of the three different cereals. Students were able to construct and read the bar graph. Students were able to put in chronological order the cereals from healthy to unhealthy. 2. Media Effectiveness Was the media used entertaining and engaging for students? Was the media used appropriate for the lesson? 3. Instructor Performance Was the lesson well organized and done smoothly? Were the objectives met? Were students engaged throughout lesson? Any improvements? CRITERIA 3 EXCELLENT 2 SATISFACTORY 1 POOR Title Title is accurate with information being graphed. Horizontal and Vertical Axis are labeled with appropriate title Title is somewhat related to information.Horizontal and Vertical Axis are not labeled. No Title Data Data is correctly displayed. Easy to comprehend.   Data is not clear and difficult to comprehend. Data is incorrectly displayed Graph There is 3 different graphs shown There is 2 different graphs shown There is 1 graph shown Bar Bars are evenly distributed and uses color. Some bars are evenly distributed but does not use any color. The bars are missing and does not relate to the data clearly.