The Tech Savvy Teacher

The Tech Savvy Teacher

January 29, 2009
Volume 1, Issue 1

Temperature Time

Three teachers of Fantastic Elementary, Tausha, Mindy, and Emilie wanted to know what the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius was. To find the answer to this question we began by filling a water bottle with cold water from the water fountain. Then we used a new kind of technology called a temperature probe to measure the temperature of the water. The interesting thing about the temperature probe is that it plugs directly into a computer and sends temperature measurements to the computer every few seconds. This type of technology being used in the classroom allows the students to gather data extremely quickly and have much more time to spend analyzing the data instead of just gathering it. This is such a cool technology that I am very excited to use in my classroom. Now back to the experiement, we measured the temperature of the water by placing the temperature probe in the water for 60 seconds.




The temperature probe was connected to the computer, so all the information that it gathered was transferred automatically to the computer. The computer program then told us the temperature of the water in Fahrenheit and Celsius. The temperature of the water was 14 degrees Celsius and 57.2 degrees Fahrenheit.




Next we filled the water bottle with hot water and measured the temperature of the water for 60 seconds.



This time the water temperature was 46 degrees Celsius and 102 degrees Fahrenheit. Once we collected the data it was time to calculate the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius.



To do this, we subtracted the Celsius degrees from the Fahrenheit degrees for each example.

Cold Water: 57.2 - 14 = 43.2
Hot Water: 102 - 46 = 66

After completing our calculations we came to the conclusion that the difference between Fahrenheit and Celsius is dependent on how high or low the temperature is. Come back next week to find out the conversion formula!

Week Three

This week I learned the rules of copyrights. I had no idea there were specific amounts of media: video, text, music, illustrations, etc that could be used without any permission whatsoever. I also didn't know that even though a teacher purchases a movie at the store a teacher cannot show that video in her classroom as reward. The teacher must purchase copyrights to the video on top of just buying the video. I also didn't know that if I purchase a song from Itunes, even though I paid for it I still cannot use the entire song for educational purposes I can only use 20 seconds. The only thing that I would really like to know and didn't learn from the tutorial and video is HOW to site the direct website that a picture or thing is on. For example, I've just found an image from google, how do I find the exact link to the picture instead of just to the google search?

Week Two

Last week I was unable to attend class because I was out of town, but I completed all of the assignments before I left. Before I explain what I learned I want to tell you why I was unable to attend class. My little sister is Miss Utah, so I went to Las Vegas for the entire week to watch her compete in the Miss America Pageant. It was so neat to be able to have that experience and to be able to watch her and cheer her on every night. However, before I left I completed the assignments given. I learned how to upload videos to my blog, I learned how to create a goodreads account and Delicious account. I also learned how to set up a Reader which I am very excited about. I think it is so cool that I could have my reader tell me when certain cites have been uploaded so I don't have to go seraching. Instead the information comes to me! I also learned how to use RRS Feed. I am sorry that I failed to post this blog until now. I was gone and I tried to keep up on the homework, but I forgot to post what I learned about all the assignments that I did.

Here is my ice skating video!!!!!

Here is an embedded video of the speed of light chocolate.

This is the only video I had on my computer, sorry.

This is a picture of me about a year ago when I cut my hair. But now my hair is getting long!!!! YEA!!!

1st day of class Background in technology

Originally I thought that I was not technologically savvy at all, but now I realize that I really do know quite a bit about technology. I have a gmail acount and attach documents in emails often. I just figured out how to google chat today! :-) I have a facebook account and know how to upload videos and pictures. My husband and I have a blog and update it every week or so. I love the internet, but I must admit I often get very frustrated because I don't know how to do certain things. For example, I would really love to learn how to search for specific things. I know how to search, but it seems that I never get what I want the first couple times, where my husband knows exactly how to search for specific things. I know how to use shortcut keys such as control T for a new tab or control C for copy and I even know how to do use Control tab for switching back and forth between pages. Mostly I just know the basics of several things, but I am very excited to know how to do a lot more on the internet!