Smilebox and Storybird

Both of these web tools were easy to use and seemed as if they would be fun tools to use in the classroom. I liked how Storybird gave the options to choose a custom artist to use as inspiration, and I think that this would give children assistance with writing stories if they may be a little apprehensive about it. I think that Smilebox was a fun tool to use, but I do not know how I would use it in the classroom. It seemed as if it were more of a recreational tool rather than an educational one.

Picnik and Glogster

Both of these tools were very fun to learn about. The possibilities seemed endless with both websites. I liked using Picnik a little more than Glogster because I liked how there were a lot of options to edit the photos and add things to them. I also think that this would be a tool that would be fun for students to use!

ABC Scavenger Hunt

Photo Slideshow

WebQuest Reflection

WebQuest was also a new concept to me, and I found it very interesting. I think that it was neat how the websites incorporated a lot of different ways to use the internet to complete a task. I also thought that the activity that we participated in with groups was interesting because it gave each of us a first hand experience with the tool and have a chance to practice with it. I don't know about using this tool with younger elementary school children, but I think that it would be a fun and very interactive way for older elementary school students to learn new material while exploring different aspects of the internet.

Wiki Reflection

Using wikis is new thing for me, but it was actually something that I found very interesting! I liked how multiple people could go on and edit the same page. That aspect of it makes it seems like it would be a wonderful tool for older children in elementary school. I think that children would have fun being able to contribute to a website and be able to see their final product. Overall, I really enjoyed this tool, and I think that it is one that I will continue in the future!

Reflection on Evaluating Websites

First of all, I never knew that there were so many aspects to think about when evaluating a website! I will admit that I was one of those "website novice" people who may have thought that some websites were reliable sources before I learned about how to evaluate them. I now know that it is necessary to take a closer look at the website and consider things such as the author, publisher, date revised, grammar, spelling, and even the layout of the website before deeming it a reliable source. The activity of finding a website and evaluating it in class helped to learn about the evaluation process and to have a hands-on experience with the process. I would not consider myself a "website novice" any longer!

Website Recommendation

While searching for a website for Elementary Education, I came across a website from Scholastic.


This website appears to be a wonderful tool for students and adults alike! The information provided for adults and the links that are shown are wonderful academic resources to help build a developmentally appropriate learning environment for students. Students will appreciate the way that the site it set up and the ease at which they will find themselves navigating through it. The games are visually appealing and also have the ability to teach children the fundamentals of reading while allowing them to enjoy the reading process. It also gives the children the autonomy to choose which aspects of the site they are interested in while they learn at the same time. The site is easy to access and its reliability is evident by the dense amount of information it provides. 

Evaluating Websites

I found this website from The University of Maryland Libraries and it appears to be a very useful tool for evaluating websites. It shows four major aspects of a website and explains how each one can be evaluated. This could be a great classroom tool to use in the future!

My Learning Goals for TPTE 486

I do not have a lot of skills when it comes to technology, and I pretty much just stick to the basics when it comes to using a computer. Word, PowerPoint, and the Internet are really the only programs that I utilize on the computer, and I am hoping that taking TPTE 486 will allow me to reach outside of my comfort zone and learn more about the world of technology. Also, since it is my goal to teach elementary school, I would like to learn how to use technology in the classroom as a learning tool. Most children today are accustomed to many forms of technology, and I think that it would be a powerful tool to use to motivate and inspire children.

Introduction to the class

Informal introduction to class
I am one of those people who have moved around a lot in my lifetime, so I don’t really have a place where I am “from”, rather multiple places. I have lived in California, Massachusetts, Colorado, Tennessee, and even Alaska for a few summers. My parents now reside in England, and for now Knoxville is where i claim to be “from”. I love to work with children any chance I get and often find myself babysitting on my free time. I also love to play volleyball, camp, hike, and hang out with friends. I attended Baylor School in Chattanooga during high school. I aspire to be a teacher because of my passion for learning and children. I hope to one day instill a passion for learning in the children that I come in contact with. I would love to teach Kindergarten, but I am open to any grade in elementary school!