Title of Software: Merit Software Evaluation
Producer: Merit Software, since 1987
Target students (e.g., age or grade-level of students): ESL elementary.
* The producer is not limited to middle school and adult software available for ESL students but includes a variety of other products for all elementary , middle, high school levels, adult literacy and GED, college preparation, and special education.
Proficiency level (e.g., beginning, intermediate, advanced): Intermediate
Description:
The program is designed to help students with grammar. Topics are broken down into 6 units. The software is designed with a pre-assessment, activities/exercises, post assessment and follow up exercises. Scores also kept for students so that teacher can monitor their progress and have easy access to them.
The program is very user friendly. The student is presented with a sentence that is grammatically incorrect. They are given 2 answer choices to pick from. Students are given a star for each correct answer. Since the program is designed on levels, the student must be able obtain 6 stars before going on to the next level.
Language skills targeted: Written language. Although students are also given an opportunity to listen to the sentence they must work on.
Evaluation:
The strengths of the program include its user-friendly features, its ability to track student progress, and the programming that creates follow-up question for students on concepts they are having trouble with. In addition students are able to listen to the sentences. A weakness for this program is that it may not be culturally sensitive to all students. The sentences are biased to American students who have studied in the U.S. by using their vocabulary and their frame of reference.
I think that the program will be useful in the classroom because it allows students extra practice on their grammar skills. Since the program asks follow up question for the goals not met, students know what they still need to work on because of such immediate feedback. As a result this would be a good resource to draw from for those students who may still need help with grammar concepts.
Since the questions seem to be set up in drill format, the approach the developer is using has to behaviorist. The goal of this software package is to provide as much practice as possible so that students form good grammar habits.
24 April 2007
Kidpix - Matching
In this worksheet, students will have to organize the animals into the correct category. This would allow teacher to see if students understand the concepts of amphibian, fish and reptiles.
21 April 2007
Science Fair and Scientific Method Videocast
I created this slide show through Photostory and then converted it to an MP4 file. While I am able to post to this blog here, I still need to figure out how to do it on the school blog.
Grand Opening of the Alameda Museum
The opening of the Alameda had many events that allowed children and adults to get a taste for some Mexican culture. It had a display of conjunto music that photographed many local artist, most of which I did not know, however, I thought it was a nice touch when I could here the conversations of older Mexican-Americans who grew up with the type of music. "Look isn't that ....." "Wow, I'm glad she made it!" "Did you see .... " For some of the museum goers this exhibit was very nostalgic and made me appreciate this type of music even more.
Another exhibit that hey had was on the acutal Alameda Theater. The theater is in walking distance from the Museum. I would have liked for the theater to have gotten a face lift as well, and seen it converted into a museum. The photographs and the posters of the movies that played during the theaters 1940s golden era reminded me of how my father idolized many of those Mexican actors and acresses.
Some of the other exhibits included artifacts on loan from other museums in the Smithonian network. It also included a media show that compared to Cirque du Soliel, left much to me desired. The two-story complex has a nice layout. I hope that as exhibits change, they continue to share the Mexican-American experience not only in San Antonio, but also from around Texas.
Another exhibit that hey had was on the acutal Alameda Theater. The theater is in walking distance from the Museum. I would have liked for the theater to have gotten a face lift as well, and seen it converted into a museum. The photographs and the posters of the movies that played during the theaters 1940s golden era reminded me of how my father idolized many of those Mexican actors and acresses.
Some of the other exhibits included artifacts on loan from other museums in the Smithonian network. It also included a media show that compared to Cirque du Soliel, left much to me desired. The two-story complex has a nice layout. I hope that as exhibits change, they continue to share the Mexican-American experience not only in San Antonio, but also from around Texas.
04 April 2007
Software Evaluation # 2 MindTwister Math
Evaluation Outline
Title of Software: Mindtwister Math
Producer: Edmark Corporation
Target students (e.g., age or grade-level of students): Grades 1-5
Proficiency level (e.g., beginning, intermediate, advanced): advanced
Description:
Provide a brief description of what the program is, what it does, how it looks, how the user interacts with it, etc.
This program is designed to help students review basic math skills such as rounding, addition, subtraction, measurement. Students are presented with a game where they are to answer whether a number is missing such as “4”. A numbers sentence is then flashed on screen and students are supposed to “chime” in if the sentence is missing a “4” in it. The number sentence stays on screen for approximately 3 seconds. In addition, while the narrator enunciates when she gives directions, she speaks rather rapidly; therefore, it would be difficult for beginner and intermediate students to understand.
The producer of this software also provides a link to its website where anyone can buy software for any given subject, (language, reading, science, and math). In the language section, Edmark, provides software that helps a student learn how to read, and learn about phonics. There are also other products that you can buy in purchase in the basic subjects of math, science, and reading.
Language skills targeted:
The language that it targets is the content vocabulary in math. In addition, questions are worded as they would be on a “high stakes” math test.
Evaluation:
The strengths of this program is that it covers the basic math skills that are covered on a standards-based test. I don’t feel it would be effective tool for helping ELLs to learn in English. If anything, the program would help reinforce vocabulary that has already been taught. The purpose of this program is not learning language, but to reinforce math skills. Another feature I like about the program is that like many video games, it keeps the scores of the players. It fosters competition among students. This program follows the behaviorist approach. The student is drilled on different math skills. The student is conditioned to understand the concept and to follow a method for to solve the problem.
Since my classroom is mixed, I would like to use this program my classroom. It would help prepare my students for the upcoming test!
03 April 2007
El Chavo del 8
This is like a pop icon in Mexico. The show was a huge hit when it first aired. I remember watching as a child in the late 70s and early 80s.
I remember playing outside all day and when 7:00 pm came around I raced my brother to the living room and pick my spot on the floor to watch the program.
My dad was a great moderator because he would ask us questions about the story. He always tried to make us critical thinkers.
As I grew up I learned that the show had gained international fame. A couple of my Navy friends from Colombia, Bogota and Cartegena, also told me about how their show was also one of their favorites growing up.
Its good to know that even though production of the show has stopped, many channels still air reruns of it.
I remember playing outside all day and when 7:00 pm came around I raced my brother to the living room and pick my spot on the floor to watch the program.
My dad was a great moderator because he would ask us questions about the story. He always tried to make us critical thinkers.
As I grew up I learned that the show had gained international fame. A couple of my Navy friends from Colombia, Bogota and Cartegena, also told me about how their show was also one of their favorites growing up.
Its good to know that even though production of the show has stopped, many channels still air reruns of it.
01 April 2007
EGBERT Ch. 10. Teacher Development
EGBERT Ch. 10. Teacher Development
RICHARDSON Ch. 7. Fun with Flickr: Creating, Publishing, and Using Images Online
We've talked a lot in class about how technology can be used to help ELLs learn English. The internet is also an excellent resource for teacher professional development. Describe ways you have used internet resources for your own professional development as a language teacher. If you haven't already done this, describe some of the resources in the Egbert chapter you would be interested in trying.
Next, briefly describe how images such as those from Flickr and other free photo sharing sites can be used in ESL classrooms.
One of the resources I use all the time to help me with extra material for class is Edhelper.com. Some of the resources of free, but it is better to get a subscription for a year. In this site you'll find activities for all subject areas.
As far as professional development goes, I have not done much of that online. However, I do often get emails from PBS teacherline. They always offer courses for different subjects, technology, behavior management, classroom management, and other topics relevant to teaching. I almost did sign up last year for a course, but had too much going on.
I am sure there are also other sites that help with training, and I am sure that are groups where teachers can create support groups for various grade levels.
I remember that one of the professors from the TTF program created a yahoo group so that we could communicate with each other on various topics. We also shared some resources to help us with the teaching.
Sites such as flicker provide images for the classroom. While I did not get a chance to look at it, it would be great site to get all the images needed for powerpoint, or to enhance any other type of presentation.
Lately it seems that it is difficult to find time to do everything!
RICHARDSON Ch. 7. Fun with Flickr: Creating, Publishing, and Using Images Online
We've talked a lot in class about how technology can be used to help ELLs learn English. The internet is also an excellent resource for teacher professional development. Describe ways you have used internet resources for your own professional development as a language teacher. If you haven't already done this, describe some of the resources in the Egbert chapter you would be interested in trying.
Next, briefly describe how images such as those from Flickr and other free photo sharing sites can be used in ESL classrooms.
One of the resources I use all the time to help me with extra material for class is Edhelper.com. Some of the resources of free, but it is better to get a subscription for a year. In this site you'll find activities for all subject areas.
As far as professional development goes, I have not done much of that online. However, I do often get emails from PBS teacherline. They always offer courses for different subjects, technology, behavior management, classroom management, and other topics relevant to teaching. I almost did sign up last year for a course, but had too much going on.
I am sure there are also other sites that help with training, and I am sure that are groups where teachers can create support groups for various grade levels.
I remember that one of the professors from the TTF program created a yahoo group so that we could communicate with each other on various topics. We also shared some resources to help us with the teaching.
Sites such as flicker provide images for the classroom. While I did not get a chance to look at it, it would be great site to get all the images needed for powerpoint, or to enhance any other type of presentation.
Lately it seems that it is difficult to find time to do everything!
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