1. Tools

2.  Easy to use
 Make your own avatar
 I created several to embed into my google site. One for
introduction to the site/class one to list sight words, one for
parent instructions, and one to give homework instructions.
 I also embedded one into my Voice Threads to introduce the
topic and give instructions before the Voice Thread starts.
 This was my favorite tool.

3.  This one was completely foreign to me and took the most
time to explore and adjust to.
 After playing with and exploring the avatar creation and
joining several groups and destinations, I learned that joining
the “right” group is key.
 I think this tool would be best for older grades or district
level meetings. I found it hard to use and confusing.
 I think getting together at the district level and creating a
group for PD would be easier that joining a group.
 The chat feature was helpful. I entered one class area and got
a better understanding of how this can be used in
communication with large groups to deliver tutorial type
information.

4.  I liked this tool.
 It actual provides both synchronous and asynchronous tools
on the site.
 The share feature was similar to adobe connect.
 I like the interactive whiteboard feature and how I can quickly
interact and point things out on the screen with a pen or
hand symbol tools.
 This is a great web conferencing tool and is a way to reach a
larger audience at a time.
 I like that both the moderator and participant can both be
engaged at the same time.

5.  I explored using google chat to talk with other teachers, but
preferred the idea of using the computer voice and video chat
options.
 Even if both sides do not have a webcam you can still
participate in one way video chat or a simple voice chat. I like
this better than type chatting because I am a visual person.
 This would be another great tool to interact with others in the
district, rather than only other teachers at your school.
 I could’ve used this tool to present my PD to other schools in
the district instead of just my campus. I plan to have another
session in February and may use this tool to present.

6.  I have used Skype in my classroom in Louisiana.
 I have skyped with classrooms in china through a friend that
teaches there and participated in story time with colonels
through skype.
 I have never presented with skype but am a member of Skype
in the classroom and have joined lessons on topics presented
by other teachers in the classroom.
 I like this tool because I feel it is the only one that is engaging
for both students and teachers at a higher level.
 I also like the skype tool because you can join sessions in
advance and schedule them in your lesson plans.
 PD sessions can also be scheduled in advance. I recently
participated in a session on iPad use-I like the idea of video
conferencing and being able to see the items used in a
classroom. To me that is effective PD.

7.  I have only used adobe connect for use with my Master’s
classes and capstone project.
 I can see the benefits of using this tool though. I can create
the session on my time and share it at the time I choose.
 When sharing, I love the share screen feature and the fact that
I can chat with others during the presentation.
 It would have been great for me to have used this tool for my
October PD. This was I could have had the presentation
completed, presented it on my campus and then scheduled it
again on adobe connect to present at a later time to reach
more that may have been interested in attending.

8.  I have started working with my team and team collaborators
to create a moodle PD page for each grade level.
 The purpose of the pages are for teachers to input tech, tech
tools, and sites that they use and find effective in their
classrooms.
 The tech tools they find are et up as modules where they can
give a description of the tech tools, have an example activity,
and create a place for them to experiment with it and upload
what they create as well.
 This info is always available on the moodle site and can be
accessed on their own time. It is easy PD and very
collaborative.