Journal # 10

Yoder, Maureen.(2009). S'Cool Tools: 5 Great Tools to Perk Up Your Classroom and Engage Your Students. Received from http://www.iste.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=November_No_3_5&Template=/MembersOnly.cfm&NavMenuID=4436&ContentID=24614&DirectListComboInd=D

Maureen Yoder explains five great tools that help engage your students within your classroom. She explains by using these "learning tools" in your classroom you will create a more fun and exciting learning environment.
The five tools are:

1. Lego Education's WeDo Robotics Construction Set
Lego Education is a great "learning tool" that includes over 160 Lego elements for students to use as manipulatives.

2. Smart Table
Smart table is like a whiteboard but better! It is an interactive learning center with customizable applications with a multi-touch screen. This "learning tool" allows up to eight children to work collaboratively. The Smart Table also includes already created lessons that allow teachers to substitute their own visuals and content material.


3. AVer Pen
The AVer Pen is a pen that can be projected on anything, and can write on almost any surface. This "learning tool" is like an interactive whiteboard without the whiteboard. The AVer Pen includes the software (interactive tools, image capture, video recording capabilities and many activities).


4. New Multiuser Virtual Environments (MUVEs)
MUVEs is a virtual world "learning tool." Classroom assignments using MUVEs help teachers reach NETS and standards-based curriculum goals.


5. Google Apps Education Community
This site offers video tutorials to help users understand and use Google applications. It also has links to thousands of lesson plans posted by a various sort of teachers. You can search the website for specific lesson plans.


1. Which "learning tool" would you want to you in your classroom and why?"
I think the Aver Pen would be a great "learning Tool" to use within my classroom. It seems like it is easy and fun to use. Being able to project it off anything (like a wall) would be so easy!

2. How would you incorporate Virtual Environments within your classroom?
You could incorporate Virtual Environments within your classroom in MANY different ways. For example, in my fourth grade lass, students are learning about plants. You could create a Virtual environment involving plant growth where students can grow their own plants and create some sort of plant growth life. They could compete and try to grow the most and best plants!