Elvis in Westward Ho

Elvis in Westward Ho
Originally uploaded by clairehires.

A real Elvis Impersonator...fun stuff

Getting ready for Danny Gans

Getting ready for Danny Gans
Originally uploaded by clairehires.

One of the shows we went to...most of the fun was getting all dressed up!!

The Winning Hand

The Winning Hand
Originally uploaded by clairehires.

The hand that won Bill and I some $$$$$$$$

The mall at Ceasar's Palace

The mall at Ceasar's Palace
Originally uploaded by clairehires.

the most beautiful mall in the US

Rubric with requirements

Must recieve at least a 2 to pass on everything...rubric

Presentation

Learning plans: Click on this and follow along.

Sample of requirements

My software and website

I found the Storyweaver Deluxe Software and did my analysis on it. I think that it is a simple creative way to allow students to express and discover ideas. It helps them further develop their schema and use different writting techniques. The program is an elementary word processor with clip art and other features that turns a writting assignment into a short book.

The webcite was a Nasa website. It was informative and interactive. I really think that they did a good job of making it easy for any level to use and navigate themselves around the site while being educational.

How My blogspot helped me....

"I think that it allowed me to explore a technique of technology that is
increadably fun and easy. I took notes this semester on my blogger and it was
organized and quicker than me writing them. I could get them on any computer and
didn't have to worry about a notebook for this class really at all. I also like
the fact that at the end of the semester we have a documentation of everything
we have done. It is nice to look back and see that your time is worth while. I
like the fact that I can incorporate both my family and friends with my school
work as well. I hope that in the future I can have a least one of these for my
classroom and maybe one for every student."

Two cute dogs

images
Originally uploaded by clairehires.

This is an example of how we post pictures.

Software and Internet review

I did the Storybook Weaver Deluxe software. This is where student's can go and create their own storites with a simple word processor and illistrations. For my webcite I used the Nasa Education webcite where lessons, worksheets, and great visuals are displayed.

Digital Divide

I read the article about race, writing, and technology across the classroom by Barbara Monroe. She gave her thoughts on technology and its use in the classrom. She thinks because of NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND, the resently passes act that deams testing top priority, that technology integration has come to a hault. Teachers are more conserned drilling their students for the tests at the end of the year that they do not extend their lessons to incorporate technology. Other reasons Monroe states are:

"This has really cut into educational time, which these kids particularly need. In addition, the computer labs in many impoverished schools are inadequate for full integration into the curriculum, so what programs they do have are being used for programs like accelerated literacy and drilling for tests."

I think that she is right on. We need to starts at the root of the problem; Educated the teachewrs and administraters on the upcoming technology and skills they need to enhance their students'
education

Vegas strip

STRIP-18
Originally uploaded by clairehires.

Las VEGAS

vegas
Originally uploaded by clairehires.

This is where I will be at the end of July. I am so excited.

Assess Documentation

Claire Hires
IT 3210
Microsoft Assess Project
Summer Reading List for Seventh Graders
I chose a different reading list then I have been focusing on the entire semester. One reason for this is because I wanted to have ten or more books. My original project only has four. I also needed a different list for a variety of genres of books so I could have an additional field for the project.

Description of Learning Goals and Standards
Students should easily see when the books are due to read. It will also help organize and structure the reading schedule for summer. For general feedback for the student and myself I provided a drop box in order to rate the likeness of the books that they read.

4 Topic: Basic Skills
Standard: Operates basic technology tools and applications
5 Topic: Basic Skills
Standard: Diagnoses and corrects a variety of common technology problems.
17 Topic: Problem Solving/Decision Making
Standard: Uses a variety of technology tools to solve problems.
31 Standard: Reads a variety of materials for information and pleasure.
37 Standard: Adjusts reading speed according to purpose and rereads for comprehension.

Rationale for Technology
This organization of an ASSESS chart is more of a tool than a lesson in my opinion. It will help to put form and structure to the lesson. I think it is an application for teachers to use but is far too complicated for elementary or middle school children to use and apply in their lessons. I hope that the more I attempt (key word) to use this program the better I become at using it and even possibly letting others learn the knowledge as well.

Description of Lesson Implementation
Like I wrote previously. This would not be an efficient lesson nor would I attempt to let the students attempt to use this program. If I set the basic criteria up and their interaction was at a minimal than it would be useful. Say if a template was already put in place and all the students would have to do is put information in and use the drop boxes then I do not think that would be impossible. As far as the mechanics of setting up the program I think we should leave it to the pros.

Assessment
The completion of the graph, table, or query would be all the assessment that you could really do with this project. At most, if used frequently, you could have the students log or chart their progress of something throughout the school year. This would act as a supplement to the curriculum and not the actual substance.

Other Places to Use this Solution
I would use this maybe as some hanging up, professional chart that shows off the student’s accomplishments. I think that this could definitely be used in the privacy of the teachers room as far as grading is concerned. I could help keep teachers organized and in order for a faster and more resourceful education

What I Learned and What I would Improve it Next Time
I have learned how to use the program!! I think that is enough of an accomplishment for this project. If there is a next time, I will make sure I have a more detailed sense of direction to go in or I will just call Anne Davis.

References/Resources Used
Microsoft Assess
Seventh Grade Reading List

Excell Documentation

Claire Hires
IT 3210
Microsoft Excel Project
Literacy in over 40 Countries
I used an Atlas of World Politics and for this particular subject they named over 200 countries. I picked some of the most talked about countries and one’s that interacted with the reading list that has been the theme of all my projects. An Example would be Lebanon, because on of the books write about immigrants from Lebanon.

Description of Learning Goals and Standards

Students should be learning different literacy rates in different countries. Students should be aware of the differences in literacy between male and females. Hopefully through this observation they will discovery correlations between they the government puts into education versus the output of their population that is literate. This goal is important for them so they can see how much they could make a difference and be ahead in the world.

Grade 7:
Topic: Cultural Geography

Standard: Identifies various ethnic groups in the Middle East, Asia, and Africa, and describes their impact on the development of the regions (e.g., linguistic patterns and cultural contributions).

Topic: Cultural Geography
Standard: Assesses cultural expressions of art, music, and literature.

Topic: Cultural Geography
Standard: Explains how social institutions (religion, government, and economics) influence the attitudes and behaviors of people.

Topic: Productivity
Standard: Creates, modifies, and edits documents using word processing and desktop publishing tools.

Topic: Productivity
Standard: Creates, manages, and utilizes information using spreadsheet tools and applications.

Rationale for Technology

I skewed the data for chart 2 to see if the children would notice. This would also be a retroactive lesson to show that data can be manipulated to let the reader think something than what the truth really portrays. When using graphs it demonstrates the extremes and shows the countries that stand out. If you were judging or making decisions it organizes the information to make it more useful to the reader.

Description of Lesson Implementation

I would, for any collection of data, sort through the most important or shocking data to do the chart. A suggestion would be starting out on a broad note and with technology implementation have the students focus in and do their own graphs and charts. Analysis is obvious to this curriculum, but also to understand how to read charts and graphs is imperative.

Assessment

I would have a series of questions awaiting the students that hopefully with the right guidance would not be hard. I would definitely give them the graphs and then require, as part of the assignment, have them choose their own data to do their graphs. It is imperative that they know how to produce simple charts and graphs for future assignments in all subjects.

Other Places to Use this Solution

There are many other places to use this technique of presentation of information. In the work place, when presenting a topic, or convincing higher management of your ideas this would be appropriate to convey your judgments. Another suggestion would be in advertisement of a particular product. Any one could easily dismannerly skewed the data also the results are in the product producer’s favor

What I Learned and What I would improve it Next Time

Hopefully next time the data will be less and more precise. I felt that unless you saw the GNP’s for each country that the reader will be comparing it to America

References/Resources Used Student Atlas of World Politics. 5th Edition. By John L. Allen

Powerpoint Documentation

Claire Hires

Power Point Presentation: On the Book, Fever 1793.

This is one of the books that I used towards my initial learning project. It is also one of the books that is included in the student’s reading booklist on my inspiration project.

Description of Learning Goals and Standards

Students will get additional knowledge of the book throughout the different websites on the power point and classroom discussion. This is important so the student will understand what they are learning; it makes it more personable.
Students will also do their own project do find self discovery to relate to the text that will include different aspects of technology.

Grade 8: Technology
6 Standard: Creates, modifies and edits documents using word processing and
desktop publishing tools.
7 Standard: Creates, manages, and utilizes information using database tools and applications.

Grade 8: Reading
40 Standard: Analyzes explicit and implicit main ideas, details, sequence of events, and cause-effect relationships.
43 Standard: Analyzes fact and opinion, persuasion techniques, bias, and stereotyping.
Grade 8: Literature
29 Standard: Experiences traditional and contemporary literature through a variety of media.
Rationale for Technology
By using this PowerPoint a discussion can be held that will be directed by the presenter. I could easily have a substitute do this lesson and it would be easy to follow. The direct links make it possible for all that information is there in an instance. It also indirectly gives the children an example of something I would expect out of them. I could maybe as an additional lesson go over a few pointers to navigate around PowerPoint.

Description of Lesson Implementation

I would present this PowerPoint after reading the Novel, Fever1793. This could also be an assessment to see who read by the deadline. Call on the students as well as let them volunteer to answer the posed question. Because there is another project that makes this project continue it will not just be a verbal lesson. Someone could take it further and put it on line and give specific questions to the URL’s that are used to make sure there is a comprehension of the additional material.

Assessment

The original assessment of the PowerPoint could participation of the discussion and knowledge of the book. The final paper/project will directly assess the student’s knowledge of the discussion, additional information, and the book.

Other Places to Use this Solution

Like said before, this could be used online. Therefore, this could be a project that could be given for homework or an extended project for extra credit.

What I Learned and What I would improve it next Time

To go back and modify this project I would be more specific of the requirements that the student needs to do for their project; possibly set up a rubric or a list of requirements. I have learned once many of these PowerPoint lessons are completed it will make future years of teaching smooth sailing.

References/Resources Used All connected to the PowerPoint.