Class #11- The last class with Tony

It is amazing to me that this class is coming to an end. I have had such a good time working with everyone in class and with Tony. I think that all of us have learned so much from Tony and I know that I can't wait to pass on the information that I learned in this class to others. One of the best things that I think that I have learned from Tony is that if you have enthusiasm about a subject, then more than likely you will be a great teacher of that subject. I think we all want to have that excitement within our classrooms. I am really happy to have got to sit through everyone's presentations to see how each of us has thought about how to incorporate the handhelds within the class. I was really excited that I found TealPaint to share with everyone. I thought that it was a great program and a great way that you could use the handheld with upper class students. But the program was not just for high school students. I heard many of you talking about how you could use this program for your students in elementary schools also. I think that is a sign of a great program. If it can cover many different grade levels. I know that I am going to try and use my handheld within the coaching world this upcoming fall season. I am looking forward to seeing how well it helps keep me and the rest of the coaching staff organized and on the same page. I think that there are some great things that it could produce. I think that is all for now. I am looking forward to one last class. It should be interesting to talk to students about how they use the handhelds in their classrooms. Tony... I hope your trip went well. Thanks for all that you did this past semester.

Class # 10 - Class is coming to an end

This past week I was shocked to hear that our final lessons are due this coming Thursday. I knew when they were due but the time sure did fly by. It seems like just a few weeks ago I was trying to figure out who would want to buy a handheld. Boy, have my opinions changed.

I am trying to get all of my information narrowed down so that I can piece together my lesson ideas and projects. There is so much information out there and so much information that I have learned that it becomes hard to narrow my ideas down. From some of the other blogs that I have read it sounds like I am not the only one that is feeling like this. That makes me relieved just a bit.

This past week in class we got to learn a lot about interactive activities that you can do with your entire class. I found that some of these programs could be great and some of them I would have to work on a bit to make sure that I had the whole idea and concepts down. All of the programs that we learned could be used in many types of classrooms.

I really enjoyed getting to be able to make an ebook this week. I think that it is a valuable learning tool for students, and teachers have control of what thier students are reading. It was so easy and fast. I am glad that we were able to share Tony's wonderful management ideas with the entire class. Having that in your handheld will always give you a quick reference when things are not going they way that you thought they might.

Well... I am off to work on my lessons. I can't wait to see what you all have come up with.

Class #9 - My thoughts on handhelds....

I have found myself thinking more and more about how I can use my handheld in my everyday life. Because I am not in education right now my mind tends to wonder in the direction of what my job is…COACHING! I just can’t see the reason why these little devices have not popped up more within the circuit of the coaching world. I know of a few programs that are using this technology but I have rarely seen handhelds used on the soccer field. I know that there has to be some people that are using the handhelds because they have created programs that would suit these types of needs. I would love to create a huge curriculum base that would help college coach’s organize and be more successful in the recruiting process. I think that coaches could successfully keep databases, notes, and statistics with the use of a handheld computer. All they would have to do is input the data and keep records updated. This would be so much easier than the process of how we do it now. It would also save on out budget that is already minimal. This is defiantly something that I am looking forward to implementing soon. I would love to be able to go around and teach other coaches about these recruiting organizers that they could be using on the sidelines. As far as our class goes….I am still learning, which is amazing! I don’t understand how some people can just open up the box and think that they can learn everything about handhelds. It is a whole new world and I am slowly getting sucked into it. There is so much to explore and learn and discover. Each time that I step into Tony’s class he blows my mind by what there is to learn from these tiny machines.

Class #8 - Posting is finally up

Class #8 This past week in class we learn about graphic organizers and how they could be used within the classroom. We took a look at three different ones and were able to see what each one did and how some were better than others. I was a fan of Inspiration, but I think that this might have been because I have used that program on the regular computer before. I also think that it gave the students more options to use and was easier to navigate through. Actually, I think that if I were going to do any sort of outlining process I would still have the students do it on paper because I think that it is easier for them too see the entire work right in front of them.We also learned about how to make E-Books. I found this to be a great way for students to get the information that the teacher wants without having to buy texts or carrying around a ton of books with them each day to school. I was fascinated at how simple and easy it was to create a navigation system through the information that was within each of the books. What a great device to use in classes. This could become very cost effective if all teachers would create their texts on a handheld. No more heavy books and no more useless information to carry around.I really have started to enjoy learning about the programs that you can download. I am still having trouble getting my personal computer to download programs but I think that I am going to have to take off the Palm software and reinstall all of the software again. I think that this sounds like something Tony can help me out with.My final project is still coming along. It will be interesting to see what others come up with.

Downloaded Application

My downloaded program is called GSPro2. It is actually a program that I can use during every soccer game that I coach. I was amazed by this program because we (Creighton Women’s Soccer) bought an entire editing system that did what this one program could do for us. Actually, it could do it better. The program allows me to program in our entire team and the opposing teams players. It lets me choose formations and statistics that I want to keep track of. This is great because we usually do this by hand while sitting on the sidelines of the games. Another great feature about this program is that it keeps a running clock so all the stats match up to the corresponding time of the game. The program shows what the field will look like and you are able to include substitutions into the game. I am assuming that after the game you are able to hotsync your handheld to the computer and print out all the statistics that were kept during the game. I am not able to see if this is true due to the fact that program that I have downloaded is one that you have to pay for. I think the program is pretty cheap and I am looking forward to purchasing it.

Class #7 - Lots of programs

Class this week helped fill me with hope that I could create a great lesson plan to give as my final project. I could not believe how many different programs there were to choose from. I think that I was in handheld denial about what my handheld could do. I was just coming to the conclusion that all I could do was to type and play games. Boy, was I wrong. I can’t wait to show off my program that I found to the class. I don’t know if anyone will be as excited about it as I was but I think that it is a great tool for soccer coaches. I figured that since I am not in the classroom that I should see what kinds of programs there were to use for me as a coach. I was pleasantly surprised to find out that there were a ton of different programs that I could use as a recruiter, a coach, and a keeper of stats. This past weekend I had to go recruit in Dallas and got stuck in the rain and in a hotel all weekend. Needless to say I have become very good at the color matching game that was given to us at the end of class on Thursday. I am so addicted to that game. Hopefully, this week Tony will give me a new game to get addicted to because the colors are getting to my head! I am very excited to get to see everyone’s programs that they found. I think that it is amazing to see how such a little device can run so many different types of programs. Until next time…

Class #6 - Half Way Done!

Once again we had another great class. It is hard to believe that we are half way through our time this semester. I guess that means we really need to start focusing on getting our final projects together. I have some ideas but I think that I am really going to have to dig through certain programs on the internet to help focus my ideas. I think that I am defiantly going to include sketchy into my curriculum because…if you couldn’t tell by my practice sketchy… I really enjoyed using it and can see many ways that my art students could use it. I enjoyed getting the chance to share our sketchy project on Thursday. It is interesting all the different ideas that people came up with on how to use Sketchy. I think that most of us took away an idea from another classmate that we could use in within our own classroom. Learning about the Willowdale “Willowcast” has really captured my attention. I really want to sit down and learn how to combine all the parts into one pod cast. I think that these could be so interesting and could become a great learning tool for all students and facility. I think that biggest thing that I have learned from Tony is that you have to really sit down and organize what you want to put together. Without being organized these projects could be a mess and kids could go crazy with the equipment that you put in front of them. I can’t wait to learn more. Until next time…

Class #5 - Lots to Learn!

This past class was by far my most favorite yet. (Except for the fact that it was my night to bring dinner -- What a stress!) The set up of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire was great idea that I think that I will use that in my classes. I may not use it just for handheld topics but for other subjects too. I think that the students would love the interaction of the game with the use of subject learned. I think that this could work with all students at any age.

My most favorite thing of the class was when I got my sketchy program into my handheld. I just took off with it and have had a blast discovering my way around the program. I have actually had quit a busy week but sat down last night and created a sketchy animation that I feel is pretty good. Who knows…I am sure there are people’s animations that are just amazing! I can’t wait until the next class to see what others have discovered and created. I think my art background has lead me to think of many ways to use this program within my classroom. I think that it could be very valuable in ways to save lots of paper. I just think of all the sketches that I have done in my life and how this could have helped me and allowed me to store my many ideas. I defiantly think that this program will play a big part in my final curriculum project.

Each class I am amazed at how much more I can learn about such a small machine. It is amazing!

Until next time….