Froguts

“Essential Criteria Checklist for Evaluating Instructional Courseware”

Assessment of Commercial/Published Products

Pick 2 Y/N

The following checklist includes four sets of essential qualities used to discriminate between acceptable and unacceptable software material as well as criteria for specific software functions. If software does not meet all these criteria, it probably should not be considered for purchase. For each item, circle Y for yes if it meets the criterion, or N for no if it does not.

Title ________Froguts__________________      Publisher ____________________________________________

Content Area _Biology and Environmental Sciences_____    Grade Level(s) ___Upper Elementary, Middle and High School____

Cost Information and Pricing Options Available _$300 Per School/$30 Per Year at Home___________________                                                                                                    ________

Courseware Functions:        ______________Drill and practice             ____________Instructional Game

                                         _____X_________Tutorial                         ______X______Problem Solving

                                         _____X_________Simulation                    ______X_______Other

Objectives: ___To create lifelong learners who are excited about Biology and Environmental Sciences______________________________________________________________________________________

___________________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________         

http://dissect.froguts.com/

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=promeathen+board+student+clickers&rlz=1R2ADRA_enUS365&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1345&bih=482&wrapid=tlif130814260172710&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

The past 3 years teaching in Iowa I was able to have a Promethean Board in my classroom.  This was a great form of technology that I used every day.  One new form of technology that I would love to use and incorporate into my classroom would be the promethean board student clickers.  I have always struggled with knowing which student knows the material and which ones do not during a lesson.  Using this technology would allow for the students to answer the questions without other students seeing them walk up to the teacher or raise their hand.  This is something that I am looking into and I hope that I have access to in Wisconsin. 

Adaptive Technology

Adaptive Technology

1. Describe how you might use any of these resources to assist special needs of students in your class now and/or in the future.

This website http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/Strategies/Academic/Adaptive/  provided many different options for many different kinds of disabilities and how to incorporate adaptive technology to allow for these students to have access to computers just like every student.  Knowing that these options are out there having given me the insight on the possibilities for technology in my classroom if necessary in the future.  I believe that the technology connected to computer access is something that I definitely will use in the future.      

2. Present at least 2 new ideas/applications/opportunities that you learned about assistive technologies through your research.

I learned about students who have low vision can now have a keyboard with home row indicators lights and a large print keys to help them with everyday word documents and typing. 

I also learned how students with mobility problems can now use mouth sticks, head sticks, or other pointing devices and there are modified keyboards which are expanded, mini, or one-handed.

3. List at least 2 new locations for attaining Adaptive Technologies for your students. These are places (on the web or in the physical world) where you can actually borrow/checkout/purchase/download technological tools that will benefit your students.

http://www.iltsource.com/Adaptive_Devices_s/28.htm

http://www.enablemart.com/

Audio Writing Programs

If three dimensional reading and writing books with technology (sound, hyperlinks, videos, etc) are our present, what do you think is the future of the written word?

I think that the future of the written word will include students being able to talk right into their computer and have the computer record what the students have said.  I know that there are programs out there today that are capable of this, but I think that verbal writing programs will be used in schools in the near future.  I think that these programs will be great for students who struggle with getting their ideas down on paper, but I am concerned on how the editing process will work.  How will a student be able to edit their writing?  Will it be just like a word document?

Wikipedia Use...Wrong or Right?

Margaret Santori, (in the Literacy 2.0 book) demonstrates Wikipedia to her students. Most school do not allow Wikipedia to be used. Would you use Wikipedia like Margaret Santori with your students?  Why?

I think that Margaret Santori has a great idea in mind in the way that she is using Wikipedia.  I think that there is a fine line between the correct use of Wikipedia and the wrong way.  I have heard some of my students say I added something to Wikipedia the other day on my favorite novel.  I think that students can use it in a positive way, but then I can see students adding information to Wikipedia which is false just because they can.  I think that if a teacher teaches the correct way to use of Wikipedia then it is a great teaching source.  I do think that I would use what Margaret did in her class in my own classroom as what the possibilities there are for Wikipedia.    

A Noisy Classroom

In Chapter 2 of the Teaching the New Writing book, Marva Solomon writes, “ Online writing is not quiet…All the children had strong physical reactions to the multimodal elements they added to their pages” How do you feel about a noisy classroom?

I believe that a classroom where students are learning will be noisy.  The amount of noise that is in a classroom will depend on the classroom management.  I believe that with this online learning and students exploring and having new experiences with their learning, it will be great to hear them excited and sharing their ideas.  I also think we when students hear other students sharing their ideas others will be able to communicate and try those ideas as well.    

Internet Gaming

This online game is called Grand Prix Multiplication.  Every Friday during seminar is called Math Fun Fridays.  This time is set aside for the entire school to do different math games to help with facts and problems.  This is one of the games that I found that I can use on my Promethean Board.  The students can set up accounts and play or race against each other.  It is a great game because it has the students using their multiplication facts in a gaming situation.