Module 2

Commercial Hypermedia Product

http://www.turtlediary.com/kids-stories.html  

This hypermedia product is an interactive storybook site.  The websites name is turtle diary.  The site has multiple short stories on it.  It has multiple choices such as biographies, sports, and multiple reading level options.  In each story there are a few things a student can do.  The first thing is that the student can click on the music note to have the book read to him/her.  The student can also scroll over the word and click on it to have it read to him/her.  Each page has a button at the bottom that the student can click to advance pages and another button to go back pages.  It might be useful because during computer time the students can get on and it will help them build on their reading foundations.  Another possible use is that you could introduce it during language arts/ reading stations. 

Chosen Multimedia Authoring Tool

http://www.clubpenguin.com/?home=return

My chosen multimedia authoring tool is a web based VR called club penguin, which is run by Disney.  It is free to create an account and to play the games and customize your penguin.  In this VR you create a penguin and go around playing games, which earns you coins.  The student can then use these coins to buy clothing or pets called puffles, you may also go to parties.  There is a paid for membership that is optional and it gives the student access to more games, and to more clothing options.  In this VR you can own an igloo which the students would be able to customize and each month the setting changes to a new theme, such as a prehistoric theme or something else.   This could be used in the classroom as a reward for being a good student, and it can teach students fiscal literacy.  It can also teach students about ownership through the use of owning a puffle. 

Module 1

Word Processing Software

As a teacher you should use word processing for multiple reasons.  One such reason being that it can save time by allowing you to reuse previous years letters or lesson plans and update them to the current years classroom needs.  It can also allow for collaboration on documents.  One word processing software that could be used is Google docs, because you can save it to the cloud, so the teacher could access the student’s assignment through the cloud.  One downfall of word processing is that it can lead to worsened handwriting.  Using word processing software at young ages is also an issue that some teachers come across, because it may lead to some students not wanting to write, because typing is easier.  

Spreadsheet Software

            As a teacher using spreadsheets saves time on calculations, both the students and the teachers.  Using Spreadsheets also can lead to students wanting to do mathematics more.  This is caused by showing how mathematics works.  The biggest issue with using Spreadsheet in the classroom is encouraging students who are more in fear of math to try it.  

Presentation Software

            As a teacher using a presentation software such as PowerPoint can help organize thinking on a topic.  It also allows the teacher to make a larger impact by making the information easier to understand and allow it to be presented faster. One issue with presentation software is that it tends to be boring.   Another issue is that it can lead to being a substitute for a presentation, completely taking over it and turning the presentation into only a PowerPoint or similar software.  

Classroom Use

            Presentation software can be used in many scenarios in the classroom.  Social studies is one topic I would likely teach with it.  I would incorporate it by using it to summarize important information or events on a given topic.  I would also include pictures of different time periods or of different states to assess what students might know or not know.