Crossword Puzzle

1.Using Excel as a teaching tool can teach children different skills and content subjects. An example of this is we use Excel to create a puzzle, with this children can learn to create a crossword puzzle and also learn some vocabulary words that are from the topic they are learning. They can also use it to create word search puzzles and at the same time be able to know how to spell the words by searching for it. Another activity, is students can create charts and graphs and still learn different math skills like numbers, population, differences, etc. The software will be very useful in the classroom as long as it is used properly and in a meaningful way.

2. It is important that teachers and administration of the school inform parents of what is going on in the classroom and at school so that parents will know that there is some learning that is happening and maybe by looking at what their learning objective are in class, they as parents can be knowledgeable of how they can help their child with their homeworks, studying for tests, and helping them with projects. As dor school news it is important that they know whats going on so they can feel content that they're sending their child/children to a safe school and a good learning environment.

3. Yes, I think this Excel project would be an additional help for students to learn vocabulary words. Because it engages them and makes them think of which word fits to the definition thats given. It is also helpful for them to use Excel so that they can also make one for themselves with other vocabulary words from other content subjects.

4. The thing that I would do differently next time is also incorporate the use of online crossword puzzle makers, it is alot easier and less time consuming. All it needs is for you to add in the words and definitions and ta da! your crossword is created.

Online Grading

I was not able to try out Engrade, but I was able to use another site called Edit Grid. Edit Grid works just like Microsoft Excel. The difference between the two is that with Edit Grid you can share it with other people, you can publish so only your selected people would view it or you can publicize it. Other features that Edit Grid has is others can work on the same document that you are working on, which is good when you are collaborating with other teachers or when you're having students work on a specific tasks like creating graphs or charts, averaging scores, or using it for any other means of using a spreadsheet or when you are having students work in groups they can set up one user name and password and all work on it at the same time. This tool would be helpful for teachers to keep track of student activities and grades for each activity. It also has formulas that can total up grades, add numbers, create charts or graphs to show data, etc. As I was doing my project I encountered a problem, when I try to manipulate it, it gets a late response. I don't know if it was just my connection or it's how the tool is. One has to try it out to know if it best fits their own expection.

Ocean Life Webquest

Discover the Ocean Life

This project is intended for the students to learn more about the ocean and marine life. This is a way to help islanders become aware and educated about the ocean that surrounds them and how it all relates to our own survival.
Curriculum: English / Language Arts, Science, Technology
Grade Level(s): 6-8
Language: English
Author: Ocean Life
Other Author(s): Nora Fujihira, Jocelyn Itibus, Eluene Baza, Corin Rengiil

Webquest URL:http://instantprojects.org/webquest/webquest.php?AuthorID=12487

This webquest project was specially created by me, Corin, Jocelyn, and Eluene. In our sessions we talked about what should be a good topic that we can create that would meet the standards of the CNMI children. We decided to focus our web quest on having students discover what the ocean has to offer. We felt that as islanders it's very important that our students be aware of the ocean and the life that exist in it. It's also crucial that they learn about how we can protect and preserve our marine resources.

The most important lesson that i've learned is how you can use the web quest as a part of teaching a lesson that can meet student learning of a concept. It's my first time to see this kind of teaching tool, it was a great opportunity to try it out and experience how I can use this when i'm in the classroom.

I like this web-based tool, because it actually is user friendly, for each part that you work on there are directions and examples of how you can design and input information for each step of the the quest.

The next time I use this tool, I would try other features that it could do to make the quest grab the students attention and really interesting that they can't resist from going through it.

Mind Mapping Project

Link to my mind mapping project: http://www.gliffy.com/pubdoc/1279935/L.jpg

1. Introduction
My theme for this month is Colors of Life and my unit will focus on Families. I will be doing this at the beginning of the year so that students will understand that in the classroom and around school we are all part of a family. Families come in many different ways with many factors affecting them. In this unit, students will discover that all types of families love and care for each other. It will let them realize that each and every one of them is a unique and special part of their family. It will also let the kids see that there are a lot of similarities and differences between individuals and that they’ll learn about different family histories, backgrounds, traditions and values of themselves and their peers. These activities will help children be more respectful and accepting of others.

Objectives: Students will be able to:
-learn that there are different kinds of families and no one structure is better than another.
-build a strong and confident self-identity as well as an informed and proud group identity.
-become familiar with the family diversity of their peers and others in the world.

Focus Questions:
-Who is a part of a family?
-What makes a family important?
-What are the similarities and differences in families around the world?

Culminating Event:
- Students will celebrate “Family Day” at school. Student will brainstorm how are they going to do it and what will they be showcasing for this day. They will also bring a special family dish to share with other families. Students will be displaying al the work that they have done throughout the month long of activities.

Unit Hook:
- The unit hook is to do a family puppet show that would give them the idea of who is in a family and what families do together.

2. I've learned alot especially in using the program, it has so many different tools that you can use to create mind maps, like making it really colorful, they come in different shapes, and how you can publish your work on the blog, on the net, or collaborate it with people you want, etc. I've also learned how to transfer it to jpeg format, getting the html code for the doc. and the URL's for different sizes of publication that you want.

3. I like the Gliffy Online tool that I used. It has so many different tools that makes your finished work a great work of art. The only thing is that for the free trial you can only do five publishes. You have to pay a fee to get all the advantages of the program.

4. The only thing that I would do differently next time is to explore more of the other tools and features that it has to offer to create other mind maps for visuals in the classroom

About Meeh

Hi Everyone,

My name is Nora, I am an NMC student currently enrolled in ED 480: Educational Technology. I will be using this blog to post different projects that i'll be doing to fulfill this class. So be checking back for updates. Looking forward to a great semester.