Using technology to teach content

The first thing we worked on this week was learning how to embed files into our websites. We began by looking through our Pod-O-Matic account to see our podcasts, and then we learned how to stream them through our own websites. We also learned a similar technique for our digital stories. We will use a tool like Photobucket or YouTube to embed a video player on our websites as well.
Second, we spent some time looking at websites to help teach language arts with technology. Two of the sites we looked at are Read Write Think and Starfall, which both seem to have some educational value. There are many tools and games throughout these sites to help teach language arts.
Third, we looked through a few online activities to help teach math with technology. There were a lot of activities to use manipulatives on the website. These sites are similar to the language arts ones, in that they help plan activities and lessons relating to specific content knowledge.

One thing that I took from this lesson that will be helpful when I am teaching is using lessons in different ways and through different methods, like using online games. I think that these would be good tools to use with students occassionally to teach certain lessons or continue work on those lessons in a fun, interactive way.
These websites also give some good ideas for lessons themselves. Even if the website is not used, teachers can use the resources and lesson planning ideas from the sites to create their own activities for class.
Another useful thing we realized this week is that we need to be careful to examine the websites we may use with students carefully. As we saw with one of the sites, there is no way to save work in progress. This would be a problem if there is limited time in a computer lab or if a student is pulled out of class for another lesson. It is a good thing to keep in mind and be prepared for when using sites like these.

The only question that came to mind this week was regarding that site that seems to not have any save capabilities. I wonder if there is a reason for this, or if anyone has suggested adding the capability to the site. I think that it would be much more widely used if it were more 'classroom friendly'.