Voice Thread

This is an innovative technology that expands the capacity of education around the world. With this technology teachers can talk and teach students without even being present in the same country. It allows for an expansion of the classroom environment that was never thought possible. This innovation is a great tool for teachers to reach their students no matter where they may be. This is a gift to education because it makes it possible for those who aren't able to get to a school to have access to a quality education. Now there is a never ending possibility for the reach of the education system.
I'm not sure if this tool is something I will use but, I know it is available if I do need it. I could use it to teach students who are sick or if I have to go out of town for any reason I could set it up in the classroom so my students don't lose any of the learning experience I promised them. This tool is a great way to reach those who thought that education was out of reach. Because of voice thread we can bring the classroom where ever they are.

Matt Plummer

Microsoft Publisher: Resume and Brochure

- Please tell me how thing went and how you felt about the activities. Please feel free to give suggestions.

I enjoyed the activity and the process of producing the documents. It is good to have the knowledge of how to do these things because the more professional that you present yourself the better the likelihood of you getting the job.

- How did you feel about creating a brochure this week?

I thought that it is a useful thing to have. I plan to use such a thing when I begin teaching to make students and parents aware of what I plan to do and what my qualifications are. This will hopefully make both feel more comfortable.

- Is there any muddy point that you need to review?

At this point everything seemed clear to me. I should work a bit more on placing more credentials on the brochure and the resume to make myself look more worthy of a position.

- How do you feel about Desktop Publishing? We have created a brochure and a resume. What else do you think we can do with Desktop Publishing? If you have to create one thing for your classroom, what would you create by using Publishing and why?

I think that it is a great program. The templates are really helpful and give you a guideline to use along with allowing you to stray away from it and make it your own. I think a teacher could do many things with this program. Creating overviews of assignments to come. Progress reports to go home to parents with information about what is coming up next in the classroom. I could use it as a theatre teacher by creating programs and posters to advertise any performances we may have. It is a great tool that I plan to use more of in the future.

Matt Plummer

Inspiration in the Classroom

Inspiration is a very useful classroom tool. Personally, visual stimulation in the classroom is very important to the learning process. I like to be able to see pictures because it allows me to remember and store information. I would use this technology to create visual aides that will show my students specifically what I'm speaking about. Lecturing can become very boring to me and I can only learn so much that way. I feel that hands on activities, such as writing, along with visuals will enhance the learning environment immensely.
Writing is an essential tool to the learning process. The types of writing activities I could utilize would be research over a specific period of theater. I could divide the students into groups and give each group a specific period to cover. They could collaborate together and create a presentation with a paper that describes that topic. The students can divide the topics of that period between themselves and then come together and put their research in one group paper. I believe that this would be a writing activity that I could use in my classroom.

Matt Plummer

Excel Spreadsheet

I believe that using a spreadsheet to create different forms for the class is a great tool to utilize. It allows for ease of use as well as giving freedom to create exactly what you need. I will definately use this technology in the classroom simply because it is something else I can use to help keep me organized.

It allows a teacher to formulate grades, create visual aides, and many other things. It also cuts the time of calculating grade for the class with its mathematic functions. The primary functions of this software is to store, calculate, and display your work. It also allows you to create stimulating visuals that will assist in the learning process

Mattie Plummer

What do you think about using blogs? What and how do you think blogs would be useful for education? Some people think using blogs in classrooms is a waste of students’ time. How would you respond?

I think blogs are a good stress reliever for everyone who uses them. Also, it can help keep you more organized in the classroom. I believe that a blog could be useful in the classroom and beneficial to the students. It can eliminate a lot of paper work for the teacher and it could be a way to get students more involved with the classroom activities. I don't believe that students using blogs for assignments is a waste of time. It gives them an availability to learn with technology and often times it creates more interest with the students in this technology era.

What are some ways that you could use he technology ideas in Chapter 6 to support your curriculum and student learners?

The use of technology often times assists with the educational experience in many ways. In the day and age kids are very well versed in the uses of the Internet and in many other technological areas. Using a classroom blog would help eliminate the mounds of paperwork, it would give more flexibility by allowing students to turn in homework just about anywhere, and it also offers the availability of peer review. This could overall save the teacher a lot of work as well as creating a more prosperous learning environment for today's youth.

mattie plummer

Mattie Plummer

Hello, I'm Mattie Plummer and apparently this is my blog. I'm a Junior Theatre education major here at Texas A&M-Commerce. I'm from Wills Point, Tx where I attended Wills Point High School. I graduated in 2006 with a class of about 180. It is a tiny little town about an hour away from Commerce.
In college I have become involved with Cricket City Improv and Alpha Psi Omega. I'm currently the director of the Improv Troupe and the VP of the theatre honor fraternity. I'm usually at the Performing Arts Center because, as a Theatre major, I have nothing better to do. I do as much as possible to be involved with the theatre productions and sometimes I do too much. In my spare time I play guitar and I really enjoy photography when I get the time to do so. I'm really into music and movies and could go on for hours about the subjects.
I have Spinal Muscular Atrophy, a form of Muscular Dystrophy. I'm very open with it so don't be afraid to ask any questions
My mom, dad, and sister are all still in Wills Point. I try to find as much time as possible to go see them.
That's just about all there is too me. If you want to know anything else, just ask.

Mattie P.