Beneficial Websites for Teachers

There are a variety of organizations and online websites that are beneficial for teachers. Some of these organizations include:
National Council of Teachers of English: www.ncte.org
National Council of Teachers of Mathematics: www.nctm.org
National Science Teachers Association: www.nsta.org
National Council for the Social Studies: www.ncss.org
Council for Exceptional Children: www.cec.sped.org
All of these websites offer a wide range of journals and publications that suggest methods of teaching and the effectiveness. Also, there are professional development opportunities such as regional conferences where teachers come together and attend workshops to improve their teaching. Membership to these organizations open even more doors that help teachers in their content areas. For example, they can view a greater variety of journals and resources as partake in template lesson plans and activities.

edHelper

www.edhelper.com is a great educational website for students of all ages. It features all academic curriculum such as reading and writing, mathematics, social studies, science, language, as well as foreign language and critical thinking. Activities and practice in each of these subjects foster students' skills and conceptual understanding. edHelper also caters to children as young as pre-kindergarten as well as special education. Students in higher education can take also advantage of this website's various test preparations such as the SATs. Teachers and parents can also help their students with this educational website by using the themed units and worksheets available.

SMART Boards

SMART boards, also known as interactive whiteboards, are large interactive displays. It is a combination of computer and projector with a touch-sensitive computer screen. They are useful in education, conferences, coaching, and studios. In the classroom, students can present multimedia projects, teachers can show streamed or downloaded video clips, and users can print and save written material. SMART boards encourage critical thinking and is beneficial for students with special needs. They encourage skills such as computer and keyboarding skills, editing skills, how to navigate the Internet, brainstorming, math skills, and vocabulary. SMART boards is a good tool for visual learning as well as hands-on (interactive) learning. Despite the benefits and advantages of SMART boards, the cost of them outweigh the necessity in several schools. The cost is between $1000 and $10,000 depending on the series and features. Nevertheless, technology is progressively more integrated in education.

Internet Safety

Students in this generation are born into the world of technology. Young students are exposed to Internet use, but children of all ages should be aware of the dangerous aspects of the Internet. Several websites seek out the mission to promote Internet safety. i-SAFE Inc. is the worldwide leader in Internet safety education. It reaches out to all ages, such as kids and teens, educators, parents, and law enforcers. More information about i-SAFE Inc. is available at their website http://www.isafe.org/. Other websites that are devoted to teaching children about Internet safety are http://www.kidsnewsroom.org/safety.htm and http://www.netsmartz.org/. These sites include reminders about copy rights and how to report a suspicious website. They also give advice to parents and teachers about teaching Internet safety to children

Google Docs

Google Docs is another collaborative tool. Teachers can make lesson plans on Google docs and share them with partners or professors for their input. Google docs includes spreadsheets as well, which teachers can input students' grades. Google docs is convenient because it can be viewed on any computer without flash drives. Students can also use Google docs for group projects. Students can work together on the project without actually meeting. It is easy to use and all created items can be organized and easily accessible.

Skype

Skype.com is an online collaboration tool. It is free to download but requires a small microphone and optional webcam. Skype allows people to communicate worldwide (28 countries). It is useful for travel, business, and even education. There are many features including a visual phone call and the ability to talk with multiple people. Students and teachers have used Skype in editing papers and projects, where one would need to explain the corrections. Skype acts similar to a phone call, in that it allows people to contact others whether they pick up or not. You can send messages or forward the call to their office or cell phone. It is easy to use and easily accessible.

Online Educational Games

There are several websites that are educational for kids. Children in this generation are brought up with technology, and they should take advantage of it. Websites such as www.funbrain.com and http://funschool.kaboose.com/ provide interactive games that enhance skills in the academic curriculum. They have a variety of links for students, parents, and teachers. These games include word puzzles, arcade games for mathematics and science, and activities to help reading skills. Some benefits of online educational games compared to educational video games, are availability, it's free, and help students learn how to navigate the internet and computer at the same time. These games are challenging but not impossible, which attracts students to keep playing.

Educational Video Games

Education is taking advantage of new technology in all aspects. Statistics show that elementary and middle school girls play for an average of about 5.5 hours/week and boys an average 13 hours/week. Even young children, as young as in preschool, are starting to play video games. Companies are now creating more educational video games. The effects can be very promising, considering the amount of time students play. However, educational video games can have a negative effect if children are passive. If students don't have cognitive activity, it is useless and a waste of time. Despite this, several articles show positive effects and benefits.

"A Global Community for Learning"

Think.com has a variety of features that assist teachers and students. Learning Projects can easily be integrated in the curriculum. These Learning Projects have folders for each subject with different activities to help students learn. For example, for geometry, there are games and puzzles and definitions of terms to sharpen students' skills. Think.com also serves as a blog, as students and teachers can have personal web pages with a global audience. Another advantage of Think.com is it is protected and free. "Think.com is password-protected, teacher-monitored, includes no advertising, and is free of spam and viruses. The Oracle Education Foundation has teamed with Symantec Corporation to offer K-12 schools a safe environment at no cost." By using networks such as Think.com, it teaches students how to use technology, communicated their ideas, and interact with other students.

Questions against blogs?

I wish blogs were available in elementary, or even middle, school when I was younger. Maybe it I would have a different perspective on writing if I had the experience with blogs. However, the introduction to technology in education pose new questions, such as, how early should teachers integrate the use of independent technology or should teachers secure their sites from the public? Students in early elementary are just learning to read, so blogs and wikis may not be the best way to integrate technology. Also, in middle school, I started using xanga.com as an online journal for personal use. Many of my friends also used xanga, and this led to constant checking of comments and views of my post. Blogs may also lead students to other online networks such as myspace and facebook, which may divert students from schoolwork. However, I still believe that the pros of blogs outweigh the cons (if any, not sure if there are any negative incidents with blogs).

"Kids are blogging their brains out"

Third graders at Glenwood Springs Elementary School were interviewed by the Vail Daily about their use of blogs. The teacher put up the simple question, "Should we have more homework or less?" Some students claimed they knew the material and had enough homework, however, there were more posts asking for more homework. Teachers say "Blogs increase communication and serve as great motivation for writing." By giving the students an audience, and making them an author, they give their best work. Blogs allow students to answer questions with posts, comment on each other's posts, allow relatives to comment, and use it as a journal with pictures. Crystal River Elementary School is implementing technology in a similar way with www.think.com. It’s a system closed to outside Internet visitors and allows students to publish their ideas and collaborate on projects. Students are having fun using blogs and they are writing all the time.

not just for the sake of using technology

It's mind-boggling just thinking about the drastic changes in civilization due to technology. Thinking back to my elementary school years, technology was rarely integrated into the curriculum. Teachers could not assume every child had access to a computer, let alone know how to use the internet. Now, families often have multiple computers and the internet is considered a necessity. I have overlooked educational technology, limiting it to powerpoint lectures and the occasional informational web searches. I never realized how many organizations and departments there are devoted to promoting the integration of technology in education. I, for one, need to look into these programs as a future elementary teacher, considering I do not have any past experiences to draw on. It's important to remember that "teachers should not use technology simply for the sake of using technology," that technology is there for the sole purpose of an additional resource for students to learn from.