We have been learning about digital video editing in class right now and it is really cool! I would love to try this new tool out in my classroom. I've been trying to figure out a good way to integrate it into my curriculum. I could have the kids make video trailers for their favorite books or create a how to video based on their how-to essays. I was also thinking I could use the video editing in science in some way. The problem with all these ideas is this task is way too time consuming!! This sort of project may have to wait until after SOLs.
I tried to encourage some of my students to create their own video at home for a skit they created. They were really excited about the idea and actually all got together over the weekend. When they left school on Friday they were talking about imovie and their ipads. However, they couldn't figure out how to zoom out and were having trouble fitting everyone in their scenes. I was impressed that they tried and wished that I could have been there to help them.
Stay tuned for a later post when I am brave enough to try this new tool out in my classroom!
Thursday, March 22, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Microsoft One Note
The blog assignment this week is to research and discuss the possibilities of a Web 2.0 tool. I've been googling some possibilities, but nothing is really catching my eye. I've already discussed the benefits of blackboard along with blogs, wikis, and podcasts. Although this may technically be a Web 2.0 tool, I've decided to talk about Microsoft One Note.
I began using One Note this year as a way of sharing my gradebook with the other fifth grade teachers. Now that our report cards are online, there is no need to use this tool anymore. My fifth graders are about to begin their Global Awareness Technology Project. This is a group research project that is presented with a technology tool like Power Point or Share. The students have to do a lot of research, take notes, and site their sources. Our SBTS showed us how to use One Note as a way for the group to share their notes. The neat thing about One Note is that all group members can be on at the same time. It continuously syncs all the new information. This is a perfect way for a group to work collaboratively on a project!
I began using One Note this year as a way of sharing my gradebook with the other fifth grade teachers. Now that our report cards are online, there is no need to use this tool anymore. My fifth graders are about to begin their Global Awareness Technology Project. This is a group research project that is presented with a technology tool like Power Point or Share. The students have to do a lot of research, take notes, and site their sources. Our SBTS showed us how to use One Note as a way for the group to share their notes. The neat thing about One Note is that all group members can be on at the same time. It continuously syncs all the new information. This is a perfect way for a group to work collaboratively on a project!
Saturday, March 3, 2012
Aldrin Authors
This week our professor has asked us to revisit a lesson we planned during our summer semester. We learned about web-based learning last summer and for our final project we had to create a lesson involving the world wide web and an activity structure. (What's that? - check here Curriculum-Based Telecollaboration). Now in our final spring semester we are learning about all the capabilities and possibilities of Web 2.0. We have been tasked with revising our summer projects to include Web 2.0 components. Continue reading to learn about my origninal final project and then how Web 2.0 makes it even better!
Aldrin Authors:
Web 2.0 allows users to add and edit information directly to the website. If I were to actually implement this idea in my classroom I would create the Aldrin Author site as a blackboard account. Blackboard allows me to enroll all students in the school in the course. I would designate the fifth graders as instructors so they have editing priviledges. They can upload the students writing and edit the pages. Blackboard would also allow us to add a discussion board where students can chat about their published work. A blog can also be added for additional opportunities to publish their thoughts.
I still like the idea of creating a site that publishes student work. Our PTA does a quarterly newsletter which publishes student writing and drawings. I could work with the PTA to make a blackboard site and put the newsletter online. I still think this is an appropriate project for 5th graders since they spend much of the year focusing on writing in preparation for the writing SOL.
Aldrin Authors:
Buzz Aldrin Elementary students will now have the opportunity to be published authors! Mrs. Johnson’s fifth grade language arts class will be responsible for establishing the quarterly theme, reading the submitted work and selecting appropriate samples, contacting the authors if changes need to be made, and organizing the published pieces on the newsletter. All students K-6 are eligible to submit work connecting to the given theme. Submissions will be collected for a month and then displayed for a month. Each quarter the cycle will repeat.
Web 2.0 allows users to add and edit information directly to the website. If I were to actually implement this idea in my classroom I would create the Aldrin Author site as a blackboard account. Blackboard allows me to enroll all students in the school in the course. I would designate the fifth graders as instructors so they have editing priviledges. They can upload the students writing and edit the pages. Blackboard would also allow us to add a discussion board where students can chat about their published work. A blog can also be added for additional opportunities to publish their thoughts.
I still like the idea of creating a site that publishes student work. Our PTA does a quarterly newsletter which publishes student writing and drawings. I could work with the PTA to make a blackboard site and put the newsletter online. I still think this is an appropriate project for 5th graders since they spend much of the year focusing on writing in preparation for the writing SOL.
Sunday, February 26, 2012
Podcast Possibilities
According to the book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts "Podcasting is basically the creation and distribution of amateur radio, plain and simple." (Richardson, 110). Technology has made this form of communication very easy to create. Because of this ease and simplicity in creation, podcasts are ideal for classroom use. It affords students with a fun, creative way to express their ideas. There are endless possibilities for lesson ideas in all grade levels. I'm very excited to start using this tool in my 5th grade classroom.
I've been toying with several possibilities for using podcast in my classroom. We will be studying the historical fiction genre next month. I thought it would be fun for the kids to create interviews of the characters in the books they read. They could think of questions to ask and also come up with answers that they think the characters would give. Since we will be using historical fiction novels the students would have to some background knowledge about the time period or setting of their book. I think this would be a great way to really talk about the importance of historical fiction. It would also be a fun way to do a book project in place of a boring book report.
Now if this is going to be a true ITS lesson it needs to have an authentic problem. I am terrible at coming up with these creative real-life scenarios. I've used a few of them in my classroom this year and I feel like I have lost all credibility with my kids. Any ideas for a really great and convincing authentic problem?
I've been toying with several possibilities for using podcast in my classroom. We will be studying the historical fiction genre next month. I thought it would be fun for the kids to create interviews of the characters in the books they read. They could think of questions to ask and also come up with answers that they think the characters would give. Since we will be using historical fiction novels the students would have to some background knowledge about the time period or setting of their book. I think this would be a great way to really talk about the importance of historical fiction. It would also be a fun way to do a book project in place of a boring book report.
Now if this is going to be a true ITS lesson it needs to have an authentic problem. I am terrible at coming up with these creative real-life scenarios. I've used a few of them in my classroom this year and I feel like I have lost all credibility with my kids. Any ideas for a really great and convincing authentic problem?
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Wiki Wondering
We recently discussed Wiki's in Grad School and it got me thinking about how I could incorporate Wiki's in my classroom. Blackboard has a wiki tool that can be easily used in my classroom. After hearing about how other teachers are using Wiki's, I thought I could use it as a fun, interactive way to review. Usually my social studies and language arts classes are my Guinea pigs for trying out new technology tools. This time I would like to involve my math and science classes. I think I'm going to create a Wiki for reviewing our latest science unit before the test. Students will have to enter information and correct inaccurate entries during class time. That at home they can use the site as a study guide. I also thought I could create a problem solving wiki for math class. We work on problem solving all year round and I'm constantly giving the kids little hints or strategies for finding a solution. How great would it be if we could keep track of all the strategies we have learned about. The Wiki could list steps and give examples. It could also include links to practice sites that have games and sample problems. My professor also told me about another teacher that created a wiki for book recommendations. I teach advanced reading and I have a hard time getting my kids to do anything but reading. They are constantly asking for book recommendations since they read so much. It would be nice to be able to refer them to a wiki site where they could find summaries and personal recommendations from other students about books.
Now that I have all these great ideas, I have to find the time to implement them. Stay tuned to see how it goes!
Now that I have all these great ideas, I have to find the time to implement them. Stay tuned to see how it goes!
Saturday, February 11, 2012
Blogging blues
I started using the blog tool available on our blackboard site last year with my second graders. I would post prompts like "What is your favorite winter activity." or "what are your plans for the weekend." The second graders loved it, but often only replied in short phrases or one sentnce. When I moved to fifth grade I created similar prompts and the fifth graders responded with more detailed answers. They also started treating it like I chat room. I would hear comments like "I'll be on the blog at 6, meet me there". Then I would see posts like "hello..where is everyone." After a class discussion the fifth graders understood the purpose for the blog. As this year as gone on the students have been asking for their own blogs where they have more freedom to post their ideas. I made an account with Edublogs and was all set to introduce it in the computer lab. Then I had a conversation with my SBTS and said technically those sites are not permitted in my school district. Apparently anything that requires a username and password are not allowed. Since I'm already breaking that rule with spelling city, I thought that it would be best not to add another. So that left me with the blog tool on blackboard. I played around with the tool and discovered that you can create individual blogs that serve as private journals. Only the student and the instructor can view what is written. While this is not ideal for a blog, I thought this would be perfect for reading response journals. So next week instead of writing in their composition books, the students will be posting to their blog. This not only saves paper but it saves me from lugging 24 composition books home each night.
I still would love for the kids to have a blog where other students can comment on. Apparently our blackboard is being updated over the summer with new features and becoming mobile friendly. Maybe they will improve the blog tool.
I still would love for the kids to have a blog where other students can comment on. Apparently our blackboard is being updated over the summer with new features and becoming mobile friendly. Maybe they will improve the blog tool.
Computer Counter OCD
Okay now that I just vented about my technical frustrations I will tell you about my frustrations with the computer counter set up. Each morning I arrange the laptops on my counter so they are evenly spaced and has a chair pushed underneath. Each afternoon I find the computers all scattered on the counter, not plugged in and chairs missing! I ofcourse have vented my frustrations to the students, but that doesn't seem to have helped. My latest idea was to put stickers on the counter and telling the students to make sure a laptop is on top of each sticker. This has somewhat worked, but I don't think it is a permanent solution. Any other anal teachers out there have any ideas??
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