iBook Review

In my TPTE 486 class, we became part of an experimental group to try out a new iBook for the Interactive White Board unit. This unit was setup to teach us how to create a flip chart that will collaborate with the IWB. The iBook was a tutorial book to help with learning the essentials of activeinspire.

Though this book was a trial experiment for this lesson, I found it extremely useful. Being a new resource, it had some minor glitches, but overall a great setup thus far. I really liked how the iBook allowed for highlighting and making notes on any page. I rarely use an online book for the reason that I love to highlight and make keynotes in sections needed. I also loved the video tutorials. I am the kind of person who has to see how something is done in order to be able to do so on my own. The iBook offered so many helpful tips and was very easy to use. The nice thing I enjoyed by having the iBook setup was that it was not tying up my computer and I was able to follow along with the tutorials as I watched them.
The two issues that I had with the book was that there were no captions available for me to use due to my hearing loss and the other being from the beginning there is no notice that you must have the iPad in a landscape setup to use. I kept trying to using it horizontally. I was able to use the videos due to the ODS sending me the scripts, but that was the only major flaw I saw with this iBook. I cannot wait to see what how much more will be completed from this trial period.

Overall, the iBook was a nice change of pace for the class and offered some really good ideas on how to incorporate additional technology within the use of my future classroom.

Interactive White Board Research

I have really enjoyed reading the text, "Engaging Learners with Interactive Whiteboards." The setup for the literature through the use of an iPad definitely makes reading more fun and interactive. I especially liked how there is a highlighting option and creating notes in the text. The first chapter, About IWBs, talks about the different ways that IWBs are effective in the classroom for teachers and students. I like how it also points out the different struggles that are portrayed with the use of IWB and how important training is for it. This equipment can be used for instruction, highlighting, collaboration, multimedia, and feedback/response systems. It's an excellent way to have organized classroom management while encouraging classroom interaction during instruction. Research shows that there is a gain in literacy, mathematics, and science through the use of IWBs. I am amazed at the response system availability for this device. The response system allows teachers to get a quick assessment on lecture to see where the students are with comprehension of content.

I can see where IWBs would be very beneficial in the classroom if the teachers had appropriate training. However, according to the text, lack of proper training is why the device fails to provide the assistance to the teacher that is available. I was surprised to learn that most teachers do not receive training for IWBs prior to using it in their classroom. I have had two practicum placements at Tennessee School for the Deaf. Each classroom is equipped with an IWB, primarily Smart Boards, and I love the convenience of accessibility that it provides. Below is an example of me reading a book using the IWB (Smart Board) in the resource room at TSD. Having the book displayed on the screen makes it easier for me to sign the story. Having this kind of visual assistance is a great resource in a Deaf Education setting.

Education and Digital Storytelling

According to the University of Houston, Digital storytelling is like traditional storytelling but with the use of computer generated programs, pictures, audio, and video. It is a method to to combine all the resources available and compiling them together for an interactive storytelling video. A quote from John Seely Brown on the website makes a good point about the digital storytelling being a new way to use multimedia for kids who are growing up in the digital world today. This is yet another excellent opportunity to incorporate technology use in today's classroom. Both teachers and students can use this to create stories and lesson/projects. Lessons can be more engaging from the use of this technology. It is also an excellent idea for students collaborate and create projects to share online for immediate feedback. This website offers a good insight as to the seven elements that a digital story board should contain. I think this layout is good to make sure that the project is highlighted by these key questions.

• Point of View
• Dramatic Question
• Emotional Content
• Gift of Your Voice
• Power of Your Soundtrack
• Economy
• Pacing

This website provides many links to check out other areas in digital storytelling. The Web 2.0 Resources have links to blogs, podcasts, wikis, and others. I checked out several of the blogs and found one that was very intriguing to me. It is called the Story Center Blog. Due to my hearing loss, I struggled in finding one that I could understand without
the captions available, but I found one narrated in another language but captioned for English that I thought was beautiful. Not entirely educational for students but empowering for adults, the blog is titled; "16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence". Digital storytelling can be used for all subject areas.

I also think that digital storytelling is an excellent way for students to work on their literature skills, organization skills, and technology skills. I have attached a digital story from a seven year old girl who shares her experience parasailing. Please feel free to check this out and think about ways to implement a lesson like this for your future classroom.

Review of Teacher's Blog

The blog I chose to review is called Edutech for Teachers by Jamie Forshey who is a teacher and instructional technology specialist at a school Central PA. I have to say that the layout of this blog and its easy access to favorite links is why I choose to review it. The color and design of the background was very intriguing to my love for art.



This blogger does a great job in updating her blog monthly. She averages about 20 blogs a month since 2012. The blog offers a nice setup between posts of the month, pages, and categories. The categories are broken down by links to; BAMS tech club, classroom resources guides, classroom posters, graphics, projects, tools, videos, digital citizenship, fun-day friday, holiday, humor, info graphic of the week, misc, sensational sites, tech pd, tech tip, techno buzz, uncategorized, and worth checking out. I loved that she created shortcuts to specific topic areas in her blog for direct access. The blog is using a font and design that would appeal to teachers and students and is very informative. She has different reviews of apps and resources that are used in the classroom. She even has a club for students interested in technology and a link for them from this blog. It is called BAMS tech club. This club uses technology to bring awareness to different contents that needs to be addressed. There are several youtube videos from the BAMS tech club for each of their projects.

I have really enjoyed reading this blogger. It is one that I will definitely be following and modeling after in doing my teacher blog. Her layout is fun, her information is resourceful, and she has great ideas of incorporating technology in the classroom. I encourage everyone to check out this blog.

Website Evaluation

I learned how to do a website evaluation, and I did mine on Arcademic Skill Builders (http://www.arcademics.com). I found this assignment to be very interesting. I was not fully aware of how critical it is to make sure websites are classroom worthy before introducing them to your students.  I now understand why it is essential to know if the source is credible in developing websites that will be used for educational purposes. It is also very important to make sure the website is updated regularly for the purpose to provide the most updated information.


I enjoyed looking through the different educational resources that were listed and have made notes on possible resources to use within my future classroom. This website appeared to be more fun and educational at the same time. The only thing I was confused with was on the evaluation of publishing body section. I really wished that I had a better understanding in that area. Other than that, I enjoyed this assignment.

All About Me and Expectations from TPTE

All About me! My name is Mandy and I have a severe to profound hearing loss in both ears. I am a late returning student to UT to get a masters in Deaf Education. Throughout my journey, I have had to overcome many challenges with very little knowledge on how to advocate for myself. This is the reason that I have a strong desire to be a teacher in the deaf education field.  I am a now and advocate in the deaf/hard of hearing community. Currently, I am the president of the Knoxville chapter to the Hearing Loss Association for America. HLAA is a nationwide support group for individuals with hearing loss and their families.

And lastly, my expectations from this class, Integrating Technology in K-12 Curriculum, is to learn all the different ways to implement technology to assist in my classroom. I am a technology junkie and I have a lot of experience in graphic design programs so I am always playing on the computer manipulating images and documents. I am hoping to learn more about the different types of technology use in the classroom. I want to know how to better reach my students using all the resources available to capture all the different learning styles in my classroom. I also want to learn how to use technology to reach the parents and give them an easier access to me and my classroom curriculums.