Saturday, May 22, 2010
Session 2
Share your ideas/plans for embedding technology tools in your classroom instruction to help students communicate/collaborate globally. What would you like your students to gain from technology usage? How do you envision the use of these tools will enhance students' learning in your classes?
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I love using webquests because you can embed multiple Web 2.0 tools in it. For example, I have been co-teaching with our TIS this week, and we embedded several technology tools in our webquest for Tuck Everlasting. The kids have been having a blast figuring out how to work flip cams, divide up jobs to make a commercial or newspaper cover page, learning how to use other Web 2.0 tools to enhance their final products, etc. Students retain so much more information when they have to do research and find out things on their own. Thus, learning is being enhanced in my RLA classroom. The kids are using technology to learn and create.
ReplyDeleteI have quite a few kids in my small groups that need some work on fluency. We read songs, poems, and stories- utilizing the smartboard. Next year, I am planning on using audio recordings on the computer more. With the use of the voki, children aren't as nervous when reading because they are speaking with their voki and not in front of the class. We will be posting them to a wiki for other students and teacher to listen to and provide feedback. These things will be engaging for all of the students that I work with. It will give them a chance to try something new and also collaborate with other students.
ReplyDeleteOne important component in my position is collaborating with the teachers that I work with and providing them with the support that they need. I have already began sharing the new Web 2.0 tools that I have learned about. I have been able to spread these things to the other teachers and help them embed them in their instruction as well. It is always great to hear a new idea!
When I teach again, I would like for my students to have keypals from Spanish speaking countries to help them learn Spanish. I like the idea of creating a wiki where the keypals share information. I think it is wise to start with podcasts without pictures so that no preconceived notions prevent relationships from blooming, as one of the articles mentioned. I would have the students share their cultures for most of their assignments and work up to videos. My students would write in Spanish and their keypals could help them and my students' keypals could write in English and my students could help them.
ReplyDeleteI would love for my students to become more adept at using the internet for communicating and being aware that the written word can lack tone or carry a misleading tone. The bigger goal however, would be to show my students that we can reach out to others across the seas and for them to see how we truly have much in common. I would hope they would see how collaborating globally is wonderful opportunity.
I would hope that this assignment would make my students more adept at using computers and communicating through talking (podcasts), writing, listening, reading, and making and watching videos. I would also hope that they see how small the world can be and that their voice can be heard globally.
One of the technology tools i would love to start using is Skype on my new smart board. I have already been using the smart board, which I love. It has been fun to use my clickers with the board and other older technologies. Students would be extremely involved in say, a chat with Warren Buffet talking about current business trends(I known that conversation would probably never happen-but dream big right!)The students would get a kick out of using technology and they dont think of it as real work when some of these new technology tools are used, which is a great tool in itself. Hopefull by using different medians to introduce topics and assignments students will gain and remember more of the key points and develop a mindset for creative problem solving.
ReplyDeleteI would really like to have students start using a FlipCam to help create videos, stories and projects. (However, this would be my own personal flip cam just as any pictures we take would be using my own personal camera.) This is the one challenge I have been facing, we have a huge lack of technology. I read all these posts and am amazed at the available technology...
ReplyDeleteHowever, We were fortunate enough to get 50 new mini laptops with Windows 7 on them. These have been a great asset.
I would love to have students move away from PowerPoint and onto either MovieMaker or Photstory. However, getting a program like Photostory downloaded on the laptops is another challenge...
I noticed several people posting about spellingcity.com...I am going to check this one out for sure!
I showed my students www.dumpr.net the other day during a lockdown. They loved it! I was the most popular person for a whole 5 minutes...lol!
Questions/comments on What does "The world is Flat mean?" article: It does seem like the middle class is fading. Additionally is seems like some undesirable attitudes are making their way into the high school and I wonder if there is a connection there. I've noticed, especially with this freshman class, students are lazier; they've develop this I don't care mentality because they feel that someone will always have their backs. I'm shocked by a ninth grade student who is on her 3rd iphone. The first one went swimming with her, the second one was lost at a friend's party, and I wonder what will happen to the third one that she has. I also wonder about the growing number of IEP's and 504's and if we are contributing to the lack of personal accountability for learning because they feel like someone will always have their backs. My thinking is that we do need a merger of old and new teaching methods. One phrase caught my attention while reading these articles was about today's education system and helping student to learn how to learn. I was thinking about the gloabl schoolhouse and video conferencing and working with businesses and connecting/communicating with students in other countries over the internet to discuss global issues and how that might be a way to get students gain responsibility for their learning and change the mindset that it is really them that needs to take care of business and not rely on parents and others. One obstacle I see is the limited use of technology needed to collaborate on Skype or other tools. I can develop a PBL or a plan to create a flat classroom, but without access to technology when I need it, my plan could backfire.
ReplyDeleteMy plans for embedding technology tools includes attempting a video conference with a few buisnesses next year. I'm thinking about changing the face of the research paper by giving them scenarios like buying a house, buying a car, investing in stock, job hunting, creating commercials, etc. where they have to reserach, conference with sources, in order to make a calculated decision and then develop an overall hands on project to present. I would like for them to gain knowledge of technology use by experimenting with blogging, researching, communicating/collaborating with other students nationally and globally. I see where these tools will enhance learning through forcing them to take charge of their learning because their team is counting on them as well as a pretend family, pretend business partners, pretend patients, pretend country, etc.
I have used Flip Cameras to document and have students create products for learning. They are so "kid friendly!" What's great about the newer Flips is that they have a simple "movie maker" software already installed on the camera, so students just can just put the USB in the computer, load their video clips, and arrange them to make a presentation - complete with a title page and ending with "credits." I've had my students use these to document their knowledge at Star Base, for classroom projects like "commercial" book reports, and to just capture activities in the classroom so that we can watch them and review what has been learned.
ReplyDeleteI would like to use Skype in my classroom so that my students can collaborate with global bussiness. This way students could see the skills they need for different jobs. I was would like to use my Flip camera to show projects and presentations my students have completed.
ReplyDeleteI would like to create a project based learning experience for my students similar to the one about water purity in our assigned readings. First, I would have my students use the internet to determine how water is tested for purity, and what potential contaminants may be lurking in it. Second, students would then decide where to collect samples of water to be tested. Samples may be collected from areas other than the school. Third, students would design and conduct experiments to test their samples. Fourth, students would be required to organize their data into computer generated tables and graphs, and then analyze it to form conclusions. Finally, I would like them to be able to present their findings to local people in the field using PowerPoint or some other type of electronic media.
ReplyDeleteThe core content that my students would gain would include scientific method design, basic lab techniques, and the chemistry of water, including testing for acidity. In addition to this, students would learn a couple of lifelong skills. First, students would become more independent. They have become so needy now, and rely on “spoon feeding.” By providing a problem to students without any background information up front, they would have to figure out where and how to find the answers on their own. Second, students would become better organizers and analyzers of information. They would have to determine what information collected is critical to solving their problem and organize it in such a way that is easily interpreted by others, even those out of field. Finally, students would become better presenters of information. They would have to verbally present their findings to unfamiliar faces. This is similar to what happens during work interview. All three of these skills are invaluable in today’s workplace.
I would like to use Moodle in my classroom. Although many of my students do not have access to the internet at home, we could still use this during computer lab time. This could be used to blog, a way for students to always get in touch with me, a safe site for myself to contact the students (unlike facebook and others), a place to post assignments, and I could even use it for assesssments.
ReplyDeleteMany of you have mentioned this already, but using Skype is a very awesome way to break down the "four walls" of the classroom and talk to people literally from around the world. It is also much more cost effective for your class to "chat" with an expert or other community member rather than bringing him/her in for as a guest speaker. I did Skype a couple of times and even with really bad bandwidth issues at the school it was only a little laggy.
ReplyDeleteI also loved reading about the collaborative wiki with different students from around the world. The world is indeed flat and has been for quite some time now (however it has indeed accelerated dramatically in the past 15ish years). Educationally this mean not are our students going to be competing against people in their locale for jobs, they will be competing with talent from all over the world. So this means we must prepare them for the 21st century which will require technically suaveness and creative thinking.
With rolling out Moodle next year, wikis, Skyping, Google docs, etc., the prevalence of webinars now, online collaboration will be a key that our students must get comfortable with. Using web 2.0 tools with drive up student engagement and thus enhance the learning process.
I would like to use kerpoof with my students. I was also kicking around the idea of starting a blog. I'd like to use the blog to post ideas for "snow day" work and a way of keeping parents up to date.
ReplyDeleteShare your ideas/plans for embedding technology tools in your classroom instruction to help students communicate/collaborate globally. What would you like your students to gain from technology usage? How do you envision the use of these tools will enhance students' learning in your classes?
ReplyDeleteI LOVE the idea of Skype. I plan to use Global SchoolNet to partner with someone to complete a project with my Algebra I classes next year. We could collaborate on a graphing project or even link with a business class and we could handle the math end of the deal. We could build something with a wood shop class. My ideas are endless! I will definitely link with another class. This will also help keep student interest and make them think they're really not working. :)
I want students to get a better understanding of how we can use technology for learning and not only for communication with our friends and downloading music. We can communicate with other students around the world.
As I stated before, I hope that students get engrosed with the techonology use and they don't realize they're learning. This way we can discuss how we use Math everyday and we don't realize it. When we allow students to do things they enjoy they are learning how to do new things but it's not an issue because they "want" to.
I really enjoy wordle "cloud clustering" www.wordle.net and twiddla for online meetings. I envision these tools could be utilized in multiple ways for classroom communication and exploration (wordle) and perhaps twiddla for PLC meetings with staff members.
ReplyDeleteI would like for my students going away not with just more fact knowledge, but with skills to help them with the rest of their life. I want to teach them technology in a way that not only gives them a vault of useable programs, but also trouble shooting/critical thinking skills to so that they can figure out how to use them on their own.
ReplyDeleteI want to use skype. I have never used it, but I think that it sounds really interesting. I know that students would love it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I would love to have students use email for submission of assigments. I understand that not all students have computers at home, but assignments could be completed during lab time and then submitted.
I also would like to see more teachers using their whiteboard/elmos, etc to teach skills during small group instruction or literacy stations. My students this year loved using the whiteboard and could navigate without much assistance from me.
For this week's blog posting: share your ideas/ plans for embedding technology tools in your classroom instruction to help students communicate/ collaborate globally. What would you like your students to gain from technology usage? How do you envision the use of these tools will enhance students' learning in your classes?
ReplyDeleteAs some have mentioned in their blog, students have lost the art of written communication. Since birth, they have been inundated with images and sounds. In the classroom, many teachers want their students to learn from black and white print. They are not lazy just uninterested in learning in this passive mode.
With the help of the TISs in my county, I plan to have the students in my school to participate in projects where they are responsible for their learning while using technology.
Podcasts are a great way for students to present their information. It will move students from sitting and getting to becoming thoroughly engaged in their learning.
The frustrating part is the technological equipment in our school needs updated. Teachers become frustrated and stop trying to use technology because everything stops working.
Seeing a need for more professional development, TIS and Instructional Coaches have plans for several training this summer. I have encouraged several teachers to sign-up for these classes.
Since I do not have a classroom, I will work with my school to assist teachers in learning how to create a podcast. Learning in this style will create learners who can communicate their ideas to other learners instead of memorizing and reciting.
I don't have a "classroom" as the librarian, but I serve as a resource to the teachers for technology. I'd love to plan a skype career day. Rather than bringing in parents with careers they already know about, think of the possibilities!
ReplyDeleteWhat I'd really like the students to gain from using technology is excitement about learning. As our 8th graders get ready to graduate, attendance always drops off. Our English teacher had the kids create commercials and used a flip cam to record them. Then they watched them. My 8th grade daughter said,"Mom, I HAVE to be there Thurday because we are recording our commercials!" There was no way she was missing recording her commercial.
I believe that Web 2.0 tools will be the prefered teaching technique/tools of the future. I recently created a Ning (Collaborative Networking) Site to focus on a distance learning project at one of the elementary schools that I serve. Through this site, the students/teachers/parents could access a plethora of information to create an amazing virtual field trip to the Patagonia Region of South America. This site held our class links to Voicethreads, Class Chatter, Google apps., and much more. It was also a working network for video and pics of the region. We created lessons plans and links for each day to explore the geography, currency, culture, weather, and other aspects of the region. Through Web 2.0 tools, we were able to bring South America to the classroom. I am a firm believer in these types of teaching facilitators and think that in this ever changing world, we must keep our students current with technology to allow for not only advancement, but survival!
ReplyDeleteI just recently found out that my school has a class set of iPod and I am really interested in working to incorporate those into the classroom next year. We also have a class set of Flip Cams and I would like to try and work with classes on doing some project that incorporate those as well.
ReplyDeleteI loved in the reading when it mentioned have the Kindergarten students do a ABC scavenger hunt using digital cameras. I mentioned this to my principal today and she thought it was an awesome idea so I'm going to check on doing that next year as well.
So many things so little time. My struggle is finding time to work it in and getting the teachers to understand how important and educational it is to find time to work it in.
I am very fortunate to be working as a Title I TIS on our county, because we have equipped each of these schools with a PolyCom system for videoconferencing. We have used them many times to connect with schools across the country as well as organizations such as zoos, museums, and NASA. There is a great portal for collaborative video conference projects using H323 equipment. It is called CAPSpace (http://projects.twice.cc/). Even if you don't use this type of equipment, you can view the project postings for ideas that can be adapted for SKYPE within your schools.
ReplyDeleteAnd while I feel as though we are on the cutting edge of meaningful collaboration between schools in the U.S., we are not doing well globally. It is my goal next year to overcome time zone issues (our major problem in the few projects we tossed around this year)and become more involved with EPals to foster global connections. And, I LOVE the GlobalSchoolNet site! It represents the direction I would like to take video conferences next year. I also found this article with several sites listed. I haven't had a chance to view them all, but it is going on my Delicious for "light" summer reading! LOL
http://www.edtechmag.com/k12/events/updates/global-collaboration-and-learning.html
Nan
One of the interesting aspects of integrating technology into the music classroom is that unlike written language, written music (notation) is already a universal standard. A piece of music composed by a student in one country could easily be read, interpreted, and performed by a student in a different part of the world regardless of native languages.
ReplyDeleteSibelius Scorch is an application that allows the user to publish their composition to the web where it can be viewed and printed by anyone.
Uploading a basic harmonic structure and asking students from around the world to compose a unique melody on top of that structure would provide a great learning experience. Not only would students experience different interpretations of melody, but would also see first hand how musical ideas can vary from region to region regardless of the universal notation.