Translation tools

Technology is changing and there are lots of new tools that can be used in the classroom. In this new era we have computers, calculators, Smart Boards, cellphones, and other tools. These tools can help us in a number of ways. One of the ways involve the English Language Learners.
These students can fall behind and can have problems understanding the lesson, and we can have problems understanding there questions. While they are learning our language we can still communicate with them and they can communicate with us through two new methods that I have discovered through my experience. These two methods are:

• On-line program: This resource can be found at: http://babelfish.yahoo.com/.This programs allows us to translate text from one language to another. It also allows them to translate text back to us. This will help us translate tests for in class, create resources for lectures, and communicate with the students, while they are learning our language.
• Jibbigo: This tool is a hand held mechanism that can be used to translate especially if you don't have a computer available in your classroom. This allows you to walk around the classroom and allows you to speak instead of type. This tool is no bigger than a phone. To learn more about this tool you may watch these video's. ( #2 and #3)

This picture was taken by Ann Oro and came from pics4learning. Pics4learning gives me permission to use this picture, since I am using it as a educator.

Online Games for Students

At the conference in West Des Moines I also attended a session about gaming in the classroom. Where I listened to Diane Royer, a speaker, who talk about how she uses on line games in her classroom. When I first heard about this notion the first thing that I thought about was video machines, but to my surprise these games actually were online and educational. Being an educator I found it interesting how teachers could actually supervise the students without sitting behind them. These games allowed the teacher to view there progress online and there conversations between fellow students. It also allowed the students to work at home and to ask the teacher questions. These games required the students to use reading, math, and problem solving skills to move further along in the games. These games are all free and can be used by anyone. There are ways to set them up so students can use fake names and use false e-mail addresses. I felt these games were inspirational. I plan to use these games in my classroom.
For further information about these games you can view her slides at:  http://drop.io/ipodmath

Some of the game locations, that involved math, that were talked about can be found at:

1. http://calculationnation.nctm.org/
2. http://www.mangahigh.com/en_gb/
3. http://www.mrnussbaum.com/mathgames.htm
4. http://resources.oswego.org/games/

This picture was taken by Jennifer Jensen and was downloaded from pics4learning, which in turn gives me permission to use it.
Diane Royer gives permission for anyone to use her slides under the share button located at http://drop.io/ipodmath.

Ti-Nspire

On February 19, 2010, I attended the ICTM in Wes Des Moines, Iowa. At the conference I attended a session called "Take the Glass Half Full Approach to CAS." This session taught me how to implement the TI-Nspire into a lesson. I learned how a teacher could program the students calculator, so that they would have equations and lessons within and how the calculators could be connected to the smart board so students could follow a lesson. I was inspired from this session and felt that I would use this calculator in my class.

For more information about these calculators and there benefits visit this website:  http://education.ti.com/educationportal/sites/US/homePage/nspire-family.html

Here is a video about what other educators have said about this calculator.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3569328173645200717#


This picture comes from Tech4Learning, Inc. and was found on Pics4Learning. I have been granted permission to use this picture on the basis that Pics4Learning grants teachers and students to use all of the images donated to them.

Hello World!

This is my first time blogging. I am new to this and I am very excited. I hope that I will be able to learn more about the Internet and ways to integrate technology into the classroom.
My experience in technology started after High School. Computers are now being used everywhere and this generation are farther advanced in this technological area. I even can say my children can find things on the computer that I never new exist. Being an educator in the school. I now that I must integrate technology in to my classroom and allow students to grow with the time.


I have permission to use this picture, since I am following there guidelines. This picture was taken by Carolyn Keeney and comes from Pics4learning.