PowerPoint

I really enjoyed making a PowerPoint presentation.  PowerPoint would be a great asset in the classroom to keep the class involved and entertained.  You can add different text styles, colors, and pictures of your choice.  You can change each slide int he presentation to include different lessons or to show how to do something step by step.  This would be useful in the classroom.  This would be different than just looking at a black and white page in a book.  Something different for a change.  I used Slideshare to upload my PowerPoint Presentation to my blog page.

Here is a link to my PowerPoint Presentation on Math.

Excel Spreadsheet Grades

We were to use Excel to create an online grade book.  I think this feature is very useful and will become more useful to a teacher.  I actually use Excel to balance out my family's home budget and keep items current with the trucking business.  These programs are very useful in the home, business, and school environment.  Excel can be a little confusing with the formulas and functions but it is getting better on the help part if you have questions.
Here is a link to my Grades Spreadsheet.

Google Calendar

I used Google Calendars to make a Calendar for the month of July.   I think this feature would be well used in a classroom.  I would personally use it a syllabus guide.  Put assignments, quizzes, and test dates on the calendar and give to the student and email the student a link to the calendar.  This way they would have two ways to access the calendar.  Also too you could make changes and announcements on the calendar online.   The calendar is a great way to keep everyone updated and informed online.

Google Forms 1

Google Forms are a neat idea to use in the classroom or workplace.  These forms can give anonymous information or public information.  You can use them to gather opinions or how to improve the class or a business.

Here is the link to my Survey through Google Docs and my Spreadsheet to see results.



You can use forms online by invitation or you can save and print them and then enter them by hand.  I would suggest you email and invite people to take your survey.  This way the data can be transferred into a spreadsheet to be evaluated all at once.  You will have to have an invite to take a survey in Google docs.  If you do not have an invite then you are probably taking a public survey.

Shortening URL's For Faster Access

I used Tiny to shorten the URL for a Gmail account.  I found after clicking through addresses to find a long one the gmail email access was a long one.  So I used Tiny a URL shortening program to shorten the web site address.

I think this site will be useful for a teacher if they have a syllabus online.  They can shorten the URL's in the syllabus to save time and know that everyone in the class has the same access through the URL.  Also too, a student can use Tiny to shorten web site address for favorite sites or bookmarking.

This activity mostly relates to NETS T Standard #3 Model Digital - Age Work and Learning.  This activity allows students to demonstrate computer skills in a computer based world to complete assignments. 

Graphing Tools

I used Kid's Zone to create two graphs to show West Virginia's Math, Reading, and Science scores compared to the National Scores for the 4th and 8th grades.  My data information for the graphs came from the National Assessment of Educational Progress where you can compare data from all 50 states.  I think this is a neat activity where you can compare data and show a chart to emphasize your studies.

I did the comparison on the scores for the 4th Grade Math assessments for West Virginia compared to the Nation.  You will see that West Virginia has lower test scores than the National average.      

Here is the comparison on the scores for the 8th Grade Math Assessments for West Virginia compared to the Nation.  You will see that West Virginia once again has lower test scores than the National average.

I feel that West Virginia is slowly falling behind in Math when compared to the Nation.  I feel if we allow more funding to students and teachers in the math field then we will be able to purchase items to use in the classroom that will enhance the learning for Math.  A student will be able to use advanced calculators, computers, and hands on activities to learn different Math techniques.  Math does not always have to be frustrating and irritating if only a student had a different learning method that allowed them to learn the Math.

Web Survey

I created a web survey using Zoomerang.com.  I like this idea if you need to get an idea from students.  You can do a survey or a poll online and it can be done anonymously.  No one has to know who put what.  I think this could be used in a lot of classes and be a useful tool. 
Here is the link to my Web Survey.