New and Old; General and Specific

I have really enjoyed learning about new technologies! Ok, new to me, anyway :) I'm excited to see what the students will do with Digital stories, power points, scratch, and glogster, to name a few. There are, of course, the basic things that we always use, but seem to still catch the students' attention and are a nice little change-up, such as YouTube, interactive websites, and such. Those are aways a nice change and keep things mixed up. And then, of course, we have "old" ways which include videos and DVDs, and pictures we can project on the Elmo.

Content-specific technologies are more like games and apps that are specific to content. Some apps are drill and kill, and some are really good. They can help drive a concept deeper. 

Funny story about technology and apps: My principal, Mr. Westover, decided he was going to do my final observation for the year the day AFTER I came back from my shoulder surgery. There I was, huge pillow sling and all, doing everything left-handed, beginning a new unit on the sun. I found some great interactive app I thought would totally impress him. I had everything ready to go. Taylor had even come in and helped me since I am NOT ambidextrous at all. Lunch ended and the kids came in all prepped and ready to be super good for Mr. Westover. We reviewed the unit we had just finished learning (seasons) which made a great hook for the Sun. I start this fantastic lesson, and turn on my iPad to start the interactive stuff, and what do you know:

The STUPID Apple TV kept shutting off! What??? I send someone to get Mr. Frampton, pronto, because I can only do so much one handed, besides the fact that I have NO idea what the heck is going on. Mr. Westover just smiles and says, "This is why I don't mess with that stuff." Conclusion: I could have done a total direct instruction lesson, complete with worksheets, and he would have loved it.