Sometimes the Digital Natives.....

Last year I became very tired that students could not locate information off our on-line grade book. I am going to change this. I want the students on the grade book daily. So I have been hiding secret words for extra credit, handouts and even typed notes for students to use. I also made one of the homework assignments a Scavenger Hunt. I tried to make sure that each of the tabs on the grade book had to be used. I was so excited.

Well I have received them back and found that they might be digital natives but do not have a digital vocabulary. I asked students which attachments you could find on a certain page and have received a list of the links on a totally different tab.

Alright so I need to help them with some of their challenges but what about the next question that I asked: "Where you can find my e-mail?" That should be easy, right. No, the students are giving me the schools web site. Oh well, I will make sure they know the terminology and where to find the information. It can only help as I continue to use the grade book all year long.

Technologies I use in My Classroom!

What kind of technologies am I using in my classroom right now?

During the start of the school year many of us are asked to analyze the DATA!

I think one way to trick some students into enjoying reading and writing is to find something they can get excited about. My students are excited this week because we are using Edmodo.com. I posted an assignment that we are working on for our September 11th poem. The requirements for the assignment are uploaded for the students to view. The students are checking the site and talking about it. I have a student who has posted a question and another student who posted the correct answer. They are being proactive and helping each other. The assignment, once completed by the student, it can be uploaded for the teacher to view right from the site. I no longer have to carry around a ton of papers to grade. I can view the assignments right there on the web site, without having to download it. Right now they are reading and writing. I am hoping to add more writing assignments as the school year continues.

What is Edmodo.com? It is a student safe, educational  “Facebook” page. The students can post messages to the classes “wall” and to the teacher but no messages student to student. The teacher is able to delete any comments that are inappropriate.

I look forward to using this site to encourage and excite my students to love learning.

The Hard-working Teacher (adapted from the Little Red Hen)

Once upon a time there was a hard working teacher who worked hard at her job. She knew there must be a better way to teach this generation’s students.
Who will help me find a new way to teach these digital natives?
“Not I” said the students
“Not I” said the Principal
“Not I” said the Parents
The teacher decided to teach herself how to reach these digital natives. She went and enrolled in Fundamentals of Technology for Educators.
The teacher was asked to create excel spreadsheets, blogs and on-line identity.  She was lost during many on these assignments.
Who will help me find a new way to teach these digital natives?
“Not I” said the students
“Not I” said the Principal
“Not I” said the Parents
The teacher decided to use Google, Microsoft help and the wonderful textbook to figure out the assignments.
The teacher needed to create and find a way to integrate technology into her curriculum.
Who will help me find a new way to teach these digital natives?
“Not I” said the students
“Not I” said the Principal
“Not I” said the Parents
The teacher decided to create a web-quest made to help her students understand the lives of those living colonial America.
Finally other teachers are realizing they need a way to reach their digital natives.
Who will help these students and teachers?
“I will” said the teacher who took Fundamentals of Technology for Educators.
I will teach YOU what I  know about ways to reach your digital natives that really work examples are: Prezi for notes, digital storytelling.

What did I do with my weekend?

Check out my improved web-quest, now with a lesson plan. Boy I hope I did this right :-) On to the next assignment I know I will start that now!

Lesson Title:	Commercial For your Colony
Grade Level/Subject Area:	8th Grade U.S. American History
Performance Objectives:	After completion of the lesson, students will be able to: What were the reasons Europeans colonized in America? How was life in the colonies different from life in Europe? What are the best features to each of the colonies?
Sunshine State Standards	SS.8.A.1.6 – Compare interpretations of key events and issues throughout American History.  SS.8.A.1.7 – View historic events through the eyes of those who were there as shown in their art, writings, music, and artifacts. SS.8.A.2.4 – Identify the impact of key colonial figures on the economic, political, and social development of the colonies. SS.8.C.1.4 – Identify the evolving forms of civic and political participation from the colonial period through Reconstruction. SS.8.E.2.2 – Explain the economic impact of government policies. SS.8.G.6.2 – Illustrate places and events in the U.S. history through the use of narratives and graphic representations. Cross Curricular LA.8.6.2.2: The student will assess, organize, synthesize, and evaluate the validity and reliability of information in text, using a variety of techniques by examining several sources of information, including both primary and secondary sources.
ISTE NETS-S Standards	1. Creativity and Innovation- Students demonstrate creative thinking, construct knowledge, and develop innovative products and processes using technology. Students:      a. Apply existing knowledge to generate new ideas, products, or processes.      b. Create original works as a means of personal or group expression.   2. Communication and Collaboration- Students use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:      a. Interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.     b. Contribute to project teams to produce original works or solve problems.   3. Research and Information Fluency- Students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. Students: a. Plan strategies to guide inquiry. b. Locate, organize, analyze, evaluate, synthesize, and ethically use information from a variety of sources and media. c. Evaluate and select information sources and digital tools based on the appropriateness to specific tasks.   4. Critical Thinking, Problem Solving, and Decision Making - Students use critical thinking skills to plan and conduct research, manage projects, solve problems, and make informed decisions using appropriate digital tools and resources.  Students: a. Identify and define authentic problems and significant questions for investigation. b. Plan and manage activities to develop a solution or complete a project.   5. Digital Citizenship- Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.   Students: a. Advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology. b. Exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity. c. Demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning. d. Exhibit leadership for digital citizenship.   6. Technology Operations and Concepts- Students demonstrate a sound understanding of technology concepts, systems, and operations. Students: b. Select and use applications effectively and productively. d. Transfer current knowledge to learning of new technologies.
Time Needed:	1 week or 5 50-minute class periods.
Assessment:	Students will be assessed using a rubric provided from iRubric.
Technology Connections:	Students will conduct research about the thirteen colonies on the internet. Students will then turn their findings into a short video.
Materials:	Students will use the provided handouts and computers to research their colony. Students will use camcorders, and computers to create a short video.
Related URLs:	Teacher created wiki: http://petersonusamerican.wikispaces.com/ http://etc.usf.edu/clipart/
Step by Step Procedures:	Day 1 –in classroom: Students will randomly be placed into groups  Groups will come up with “team names” for their production company name The Production company will need a illustration to symbolize them as a whole group.  Then they will draw colony names out of the hat. Explain the project and show example to whole class.   Day 2- Computer Lab: Each student will complete research of colonies on the computers. Students will complete research handouts. Students will be given time to find pictures for use in their movie. The group will come together to create a storyboard or a written idea of the infomercial.   Day 3- “on-set”: Students will have to pitch their storyboard to teacher. Students will be able to go out on to school grounds to film short live action shots for infomercial.   Day 4- Computer Lab: Students will work together to use Movie Maker to import their pictures and footage that they captured. Students will be able edit film in the sequence that they wanted. They will also create a script for the voice over.   Day 5- Computer Lab: Students will work together to put in voice over and music to help entice people to join their colony. Render the film to be shown during another class. Save all film to one easy location to be graded. Once all handouts have been completed, turn in to teacher. (Research, storyboard, and script)
Classroom Management:	Whole Class Instruction, Monitor Student understanding through Informal Questioning.
Accommodations:	One-on-one assistance as needed. Use visuals and explain vocabulary ahead of time.
Resources:	Scott Firenza Digital Book Talk Teaching Copyright Authentic Learning Creative Commons on Ted Currant EmergingEdTech

 

 

How authentic is my assessment?

I like to use a variety of assessments to assure that my students are learning in my classes. As a continuation of my thirteen colonies infomercial project, I knew I had to have a way to evaluate the products that my students created. I needed to create a rubric for this assignment that I am going to give my students. "What is a rubric?" you ask? According to Kenesaw State University, “A rubric is an authentic  assessment tool used to measure students' work. It is a scoring guide that seeks to evaluate a student's performance based on the sum of a full range of criteria rather than a single numerical score.” I knew immediately that this is the way I wanted to grade my students.

I normally use a more holistic rubric, one where you list all the items which are in a category together; however, in this assignment I wanted to weight each category with a different percentage. In my research I found this would be more similar to an Analytic rubric (definition by Jon Mueller). I knew that I would have to be careful. After reading "Calculating Grades with Rubrics" by Tammy Andrew, I wanted to make sure that all students received a meaningful grade based on the importance of what I wanted them to learn from the assignment. I sat down to create a list of the most important items through which my students can demonstrate their knowledge of the subject.

In addition to having my list of important items, I wanted to find a website to help in developing a rubric. I chose iRubric, a website that not only will help me write my rubric but will also help in my grading of the students' projects. I went through the options that this wonderful website offered. I found this website very user-friendly and can see myself using this very often in the future. If you want to check out my great new rubric, I have added it below. Let me know if you see any changes that might be needed.

An Example or changed idea?

AR#6
I teach in a middle class school. My students have access to computers at school by using computer labs or in my classroom where I have 3 student computers. The computer lab is becoming increasingly difficult to get into because everyone wants time in there. Yippe! It seems like teachers are integrating technology into their curriculum, right? Actually, most teachers are going in to have their students take computerized tests. I teach U.S. American History to 8th grade students (most are 13 to 14 years old). Sadly, the students typically come into class with the idea that history is boring.

I also spent some time evaluating the web sites I obtained my information from. I now see the need of developing a special way to evaluate these student technology based projects effectively, as explained in my textbook Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter. The value of explaining to students the worth of a web site varies. They might need to do a few evaluations on web sites at the start of the year to understand everything they find on the internet is not accurate. I liked how the Office of information and technology described the internet as “The Web is not one large digital library. Libraries have trained professionals who carefully evaluate, select, organize, and index materials from credible sources.”

This week I was challenged to create an example of what I would like me students to do for a project using digital storytelling. The topic I want my students to focus on will be the thirteen original colonies. I really would like for them to learn what life was like for the people of the colonization time period. What might the person see, eat or do in a day?


I had a difficult time incorporating everything that I wanted my students to have in my “movie”. I am really going to have to dive deeper to what I want my students to learn. The objectives I listed in my assignment seem too complicated for the idea I have.

Objectives:
-What were the reasons Europeans colonized in America?
-What is the difference between New England, Middle and Southern Colonies?
-How was life in the colonies different from life in Europe?
-What are the regional differences?
-What are the best features to each of the colonies?

I was originally looking to have the students create their projects in photo story (a free program that our school already has). The project can still be done, but I always have grand dreams and high expectations. I want the expectation to be obtainable to my 8th grade students. Plus, I can only get the computer lab for about 1 week, sometimes less. I am going to continue to make adjust my expectations and make them a little more realistic.

Me, Create a Web Quest, Really?

AR#5

This week was one of the hardest for me. First, we are on spring break so all of my resources (including links I like to use) are on my work computer. Second, All the thunderstorms near my house has caused us to lose power. Once I have tackled those hurdles, I am feeling quite overwhelmed by the task I am to undertake this week. I was to create a Curriculum Page/Web Quest. In order to start this very daunting task, I needed to find out more about what a Curriculum Page/Web Quest was.

In completing research I found that a Web Quest is an inquiry-based lesson (webquest.org).  I found this to be a comfort since I use DBQ’s in my classroom (Document Based Questions). The students are provided a very open ended question that they have to look at multiple documents to form their opinion and argue the evidence to support the opinion. I also use History Alive to provide a real connection the past and how it relates to the student. I can do this I can come up with a Web Quest!

A curriculum page is a teacher-created document containing hyperlinks to teacher-selected Web Sites. (Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter) Now I just have to decide what to research to be able to provide links for my students. I looked back on my last blog in where I wanted to do a Story of Us scenario.  This was just to broad a topic and I really wanted to be able to use this to get the students excited in the beginning of the year. Then it came to me, I have the students read a book called Blood on the River, Jamestown 1607 by Elisa Carbon and a DBQ on Jamestown: Why did so many colonist die? I could then ask them why would anyone leave England to come to the New World.  There is a lesson in my History Alive book that the students need to create a colony booth and have a colonial fair (much like a job or college fair). They are required to visit the booths to find out about each colony. What if I morphed it into…an infomercial with “personal” story on why they decided to move to the colony?

Although I had an idea that I feel very confident in and I have no clue where to start. Luckily for me I was provided a one page template to get me started. I started to try to fill in the blanks and get started. I also spent time looking at different web quest. I really enjoyed the one on Jamestown. I was off to find pages for my students to use. Since I have so much information on Jamestown, I decided not to allow groups to use Virginia as one of their colonies. I will instead use this as my example. Finding web sites was fairly complicated as most of my favorite links are bookmarked at school for this unit. I have since learned of Diigo and see the benefits of having web sites bookmarked on-line. I have to live and learn J

I am still playing with the different pages and adding links as I find them. There might need to be a few zipped files added at some point. I need to get a folder created so I can compress the entire folder I wish to upload and not each item at a time.

So did I make you curious, do you want to see what I have so far for my students to create an infomercial on their colony? Your wait is over! May I present you my web quest: Commercial for your Colony.

 

Just in case the Hyperlink does not work: http://petersonusamerican.wikispaces.com/

 

 

Curriculum + Technology= Integration

As I was reading about how to integrate technology into my U.S. American history curriculum (according to Shelly, Gunter, Gunter  in Integrating Technology and digital Media In the Classroom in the knowledge skills) I thought to myself, “This is something I can get!”  I am often trying to get my students connected; they often feel that history has no correlation to them. This gives them the connection they are looking for. At my school, we focus on reading in the content areas, so each nine weeks my students read historical fiction. The first year we tried this mandate the students seemed ineffable. Therefore they had no way to connect or to want to tell me how they connected to the history. The final product is a digital storytelling, first using Photo Story then moving to Movie Maker by the 4^th nine weeks. Therefore placing technology integration into my curriculum is a natural fit.

Regarding the question what would I wish my students do, I think for the 4^th nine weeks I would like to show them part of the Story Of Us by the History channel. I would like to give each student a topic for them to tell the story of U.S. History. I could do a decade, reforms or themes. This would have to be a final project as they would need the basic knowledge of what time period some of these events come from. The challenge will be sending students out to capture parts of this on film. They will have to become part of the time period.

The web resources I use include digital booktalk. I use this often in the classroom to help students make the best decision about books as possible. We also use parts of UB Director Curriculum this way students understand parts of a story and how to create a storyboard. I also use other web sites to help me find story boards and rubrics for students.

         Another source that I love to use is Story Of Movies this is a curriculum that has students use popular classic films to teaching history. I do this one lesson in February during Black History Month that the students read about Rosa Parks famous bus ride. We make story boards about this story, how might we show all the important parts. Then we watch a short movie made about the same ride. I ask the question did the moviemakers get the information right.

         Do you know what the is the best part about Digital Book Talk and the Story of Movies? They are both free to teachers! You have no excuse to teach your students using digital stories, now what is stopping you?

 

What is digital media and why do we need it in our classrooms?

AR#4
What is digital media and why do we need it in our classrooms?

According to Shelly, Gunter and Gunter in Integrating Technology and Media in the Classroom, digital media is “technology that allows users to create new forms of interaction, expression, communication, and entertainment in digital format.” I also took time to watch an on-line video about students being motivated by using Digital Stories. A digital story is a way students can research and present their information in a story format, while using a digital device. This is how I want my students to learn: they can leave my class with knowledge and excitement about learning. In contemplating all these things, I decided to challenge myself this week and create a Prezi (short for presentation, similar to power point) to encourage other teachers to see the benefits of using Digital Stories in their classrooms. I often use power points in my classroom and looked into creating a slideshare. However, I wanted to push the envelope and learn something totally new.



What a great way to keep students interested in what you are teaching about. I went around asking multiple people if they have ever heard of a Prezi. Not a single person that I surveyed said they had heard of this! I took time to educate everyone in my grade level about what an inventive way this is to teach students. This is important because our students are digital natives and want us to learn how to meet their needs and keep their attention.

I did experience some problems as I am still learning how to use this technology. I put in a light bulb, but I did the path and made it upside down. I also practiced on a few presentations to make sure the one I am posting would be worthy for your eyes to view.

When I taught 7th grade, I would assign a power point project about different countries. The students would get up and present their information on the countries to the class. The students at that time thought it was the greatest thing to do a presentation using the technology in class. I cannot wait to have my students attempt to create their own Prezi projects.

I also like the idea of these options (Prezi and slideshare) being on-line. In my classroom, I often print and hand the notes to students who were absent. With this, I can direct them to my website to obtain the same notes. Parents would also be able to help students study for the test as well since they access to the notes. By using technology and innovative teaching techniques you can capture the attention of your students. As your student’s interest in your class increases, you will see a corresponding rise in their grades.

*On a side note on Friday, I ran into a former student who could still tell me all about Jamestown, Digital Stories Work!

A Daydream!

Here is every teacher’s dream, the principal asks you what would you like the school to purchase for you to use in your classroom? The wrinkle in the dream is I have only one Internet capable teacher computer and it has to be software (no upgrades).

Obviously I have a quotidian computer, because I am but an average teacher. I have a wonderful Mac that I use on a regular basis.

Operating System: Mac OSX 10.5.8

Processor Speed: 2.4 GH2 Intel Core 2 Duo

Memory (RAM): 2GB 667 MHZ DDR2 SDRAM

Screen Resolution: 1440 X 900

Video Card: GeForce 8600mGT

Removable options: USB, Firewire, DVD (RW)

I had to obtain an understanding of how the computer works to ensure I choose software that is compatible with my computer.  I really had no clue where to start. While I attended college for my undergrad, I did assist someone in building a couple of computers. This was years ago and I was more of the “helper” then the builder.  Therefore, I thought I might understand a little more about the inner workings of the computer. I was mistaken. I had never really understood the binary system. The Binary System is the numbering system that uses just two unique digits. (Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom, Shelly, Gunter and Gunter) How cool is it that I can type on the computer because there is this code to tell the computer what I am typing.

So here I am trying to pick software for my classroom that will benefit my students, while using only one computer. Additionally, it is so hard to obtain money for technology.  I wanted to make a wise choice. I went off to read reviews and see what other teachers were using and working. I read a blog posting by Patrick Ledesm (The Ideal Technology Device for Students and Teacher) discussing the ideal technology to reach students. This description of wanted technology tool  to actually  interact and engage students lead me to eInstruction. Here I can get a system called CPS IR, (student response system) this is an Infrared remote that each student can interact during class.  The best thing is it will work on my computer I have now and my textbook ExamView (test making program) will flow right into the program as well. (They also have a more expensive response system called the CPS Pulse that can do so much more).  

Wonderful, I will be able to quiz students after I taught a lesson and get instant feedback.  It shows the students the percent of the class that earned a correct answer and it sends the teacher an individual grade that students earned.  This model allows multiple choice, yes and no and true and false question types. I can print reports to show student test scores. Our school runs on Data and I have to run multiple reports often to demonstrate my students are learning the benchmarks. This can be complicated at times because the school and state do not provide a test for me to assess my students, it is all teacher made.

I will have a problem trying to install this software to accompany the technology tool on my computer because I am not given administrative rights. I will have to gain access to be allowed to upload new software to my computer. Once the software is in my classroom, I might have a problem with using the Infrared system. The students will have to make sure nothing blocks the remote to computer link. 

 

Brave Enough for a Secret Identity

AR#3

          Granted I am not a Digital Native, but I do have some experience in creating websites. About ten years ago when I was planning my wedding, I created a website using HTML. It was just a basic website that guests could use to get directions, check our registry, and other necessary information. Similarly, I see the value in getting information out to my students in much the same way. A few years ago, I started using Schoolnotes. This is just a place to type in messages and information to pass on to parents and students. If you knew some HTML, you could make it look a little fancier, for example: type in the code and place a scrolling message at the top of the page.

I still have a classroom website to help keep my parents informed (along with our district using Progress Book for grades). However, I now use WebBlender 2 to create my website and update information. I have kept it simple: no scrolling messages, just the basics.

This week I was challenged to add a profile to my blog so everyone could connect to me as a person. Admittedly, I struggled with my on-line identity. I have tried very hard to remain hidden from students on the internet. I know of an incident where a student accessed a co-worker’s address and other personal information and death threats were made (not to mention other unhappy experiences). I even still go by my maiden name at school, so I guess you could say I already have a identity problem; One for my professional life and another identity for my personal life. I completed a few google searches and nothing came up about me, so I guess I have been successful.  In reading Future of Reputation by Daniel J. Solove, I read multiple stories where information was placed on the Internet unknown to the affected person.  Because of these incidents, I need to control my own reputation. For now, I am happy with “Rachel’s Grad School” being part of my on-line identity.

In the situation of creating my on-line profile, I simply started by answering the questions that Google’s Blogger asked. I then went back in to add a little more information and to be more professional. I had an easy time adding in bold and italics, but the HTML code only seemed to work in the about me extended information box.  I was unsuccessful in entering HTML code in any of the remaining profile boxes.  It seems it only wanted to link me to other Blogs with similar interests in movies, music, and books.  Finally, I have found I’m a little frustrated with myself this week.  I used to be able to understand HTML and I have come to the realization that I have lost that understanding.

 

A dynamic Ending to Excel or to me!

AR#2        

I increased my knowledge about operating systems and how they are needed to start running the different software that we often use on the computers. I use both Microsoft windows and Mac OS in daily life. (Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter)  The students in my class and I often use Microsoft Word to write our papers. This assists my Florida 8^th graders who will take a writing test from the state in March. I am often trying to get them to use this software because it is hard to read their handwriting. It is important for the students to become aware of how to use computer programs because they will always be expected to use one. Most the students being digital natives, often surprises me that they do not understand how to organize files, This is what happens when we cut computer electives right. I was hoping to use Google Docs or even dropbox (as a school often complains I take up to much space) to help the students work in collaborative teams with group members who might not be in their class. In order to be a better teacher to this type of student I need to grow and learn about different software.

One example this week is being able to test my skills at Microsoft Excel. I use this software often to help me with list when planning a field trip or ordering t-shirts for students. Yet, I was really put to the test when I had to create a grade book because, I had to use Color, formulas and dynamically link form one sheet to another.

            Of course, I had used the color function before; since it helps the names pop out of a list if students have not paid for something. This is a very helpful feature and I tend to use certain colors like yellow and red. I was able to experiment and use some colors that I do not normally use.

Additionally, the formulas were very helpful in compiling an average for the students’ grade. I often use a formula to add up the total amount paid for a field trip but I had to look up the formula for average. I had forgotten how many functions that excel had. Thank you Microsoft for creating a help page to assist me in finding the formulas that were needed. While I was looking for features I found the auto filter option, undoubtedly this will save me time, using this function I was able to sort by any column I wanted to. In the near future I will be able to create my own excel spreadsheet for a field trip and have it tally how much was paid and filter (this is my favorite feature) each column.

            Pursuing this grade book assignment further, I tried to Dynamically place the students name on each sheet; this way whatever changes were made to one sheet would be made on the next one. My school’s transit rate went up to 38% so this function would be a great use to me. I used paste special, to allow me to change each cells and it appears on the other sheets. What if I had a new student enter? It did not allow me to add a row to add a new student, and that new student would not show up on the other sheets.

            Therefore, I thought this assignment would be easy, I was mistaken. I really learned a lot about excel help and how to use formulas. The goals of this assignment were accomplished. I was very frustrated in my inability to initially understand the term Dynamically link. In the end I figured it out.  I spent to many hours on trying to solve this one riddle.

Realizing that I needed help I went off in search for an excel expert. I found that many teachers did not know much more then I did. I also tried to look Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter. I found a similar assignment but still no explanation to how to Dynamically link the names. I have found that Microsoft has a great help program but there are limitations to everything. My hope is to grow and learn….could you help me in this endeavor?

 

Protecting the Innocent or Free to Explore

RR#3-I come into school early excited about a lesson that I am about to teach. I log onto the computer and enter the website that I was going to use to enhance the lesson. I receive the notice that the web site has been blocked. I am sure this has happened to everyone at some point. This is just part of our job. I feel that it is more unethical to allow students access to objectable content, security threats or my classroom “hogging” the network.

Consequently, they are minors; most of them have an innocence still surrounding them. I do not wish to explain why my students were viewing inappropriate material on my watch. I do try hard to keep up with every student while in the computer lab. I do understand that they are in a hurry to grow up, but there are still some things I do not want to spend my precious class time explaining to them. If there is a web site that I would like to use then I just send an e-mail with my justification as to why I would like to use it. I have had a few web sites unblocked for me. I am lucky to not have to ask multiple times like the schools I read about in Balance Filtering. Then in about a week the web site is up for me to use, again I have to plan ahead.

Obviously, the security threats to our network is also a serious threat. All over our school have signs about not being able to bring in flash drives or CD’s to protect our network.

Admittedly, I am one of the teachers “hogging” the bandwidth. I am always trying to incorporate video into my lectures. I have stayed away from Youtube.com since it is blocked. I like the idea from eschool news written by Dennis Pierce as I am not just interested in showing videos during my lectures but having the students use it for appropriate lessons. I have tried to have my students compete in the C-Span Student Cam contest, which a lot of students look up C-Span footage. A few times we were unable to use it because it was a high volume day. I have to plan ahead to make sure it is not one of our busy days (I have to be sure it does not interfere with a grade due date as everyone is on at the same time). I also check with the technology coordinator to make sure the video is not to long for that day.

Therefore, if I am teaching my students to plan better then I suppose I need to as well. I need to check to make sure I can have access to a web site, if not I can request it to be unblocked. I need to plan according to make sure the students are not using my class time to hack into the computers or spread viruses. Finally, I need to ensure that a day I take them to the computer lab is not a day where all teachers in the whole county are attempting to input grades on our on-line grade book.

 

 

Are you plugged in?

RR2-

The first computers were meant to be stand alone and have a task to fulfill. No doubt, that today’s computers have moved away from this. (Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter) Computers communicate with each other by connecting to networks. There are multiple types of networks, Local area, Wide Area, home and even Classroom networks. The connectivity of the computers really comes back to a persons ability to gain access to the network.

People using computers can now communicate thanks to networks. I can look up my students’ grades in other classes as well as their home phone numbers. This connectivity has been very helpful when I am trying to help a student write a paper, I can see what scores they have gotten in their Language Arts class. I can see their scores. This has been very helpful since our school has moved away from teams in middle school and I do not always know who their other teachers are.

I can also connect to parents using a on-line grade book. We are connected through the internet and the families do not have to just wait until progress reports to know what their scores are.

I use to work at an inner city school, my first year there I had to go to the media center to update my grade book and check e-mail. The next year my teacher computer was hooked up to the school’s network and internet. I was then able to show pictures and expose my students to the world outside our city. Since I was now connected we were able to take virtual field trips. Geography was starting to make sense to them because the connections could be made using the computer.

Imagine what I could do if I use twitter or a Personal Learning Network like Joe Dale suggested. The options again seem to open me and my students to a whole new world. I also liked the 19 ways to use twitter in the classroom what a great idea to set up an account and have parents and students “follow” me. They could have a communication tool with me. The students are comfortable texting and typing why not connect to them in a way that makes them comfortable.

I am not plugged in, yet. I plan to move farther away from Digital Immigrant (someone who did not grow up or comfortable using digital media) and closer to my students who are Digital Natives (use and grown up with digital media). I hope to create a twitter account just to connect to my students, now!

 

E-pals is Awesome!

This week I reading the book Integrating Technology and Digital Media in the Classroom by Shelly, Gunter and Gunter; it discussed the use of teachers using e-pals (e-mail program for students/teachers to use) in their classroom. I use to do this! I use to teach 7^th grade (5 years ago) the curriculum was European Culture. My students had wonderful conversations with students from Germany and Spain. I never would have thought to mention that I was using technology in my class 5 years ago but I was and it is amazing. The students were able to discuss what the difference and similarity in student’s lives. They came into my class excited to see what their peers in Germany would think about a topic (example: movies, video games) we were talking about. I just looked at it as bringing the history and curriculum alive. 

 

Kevin thanks for the top 10 article!

Really enjoyed reading the article sent out by Kevin. It is on the NYT web site. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/technology/personaltech/30basics.html?_r=2

I had a really good friend who had someone break in and stole her computer and ipod. All her children’s baby pictures were on there! People should really back up their files, somewhere. It might not just be that cup of coffee spilt on the lap top. I am going to look into Dropbox.com as well what a great idea!

My Scavenger hunt for George!

Intrigued by the list of educational web sites found in my Integrating Technology textbook, I thought I would look for some lessons on early presidents of the U.S.A. The search was important because I need to practice using educational web sites to help with my teaching the Digital Native students, (still trying to speak their language) and this is the topic I will be dicussing next week.

 

The first web site I visited was bensguide.gpo.gov. This web site caught my attention because it is dedicated to teaching about how that US government works. The information was very current and had plenty of lessons but felt that some of the graphics would turn off my 8^th grade students. They want to feel like they are ready for the “real” world and I am not sure this web site had the artistic appeal for the students.

 

I traveled on and searched www.google.com/educators. I was excited by all the lessons that were on the site for teachers. These lessons seem to be set up for the Digital Natives to complete projects in their language. Then in opening some of them they also seemed very elementary based, but I can always add little piazzas and make it my own.

 

I was slightly upset when I went to awesomelibrary.org and it had nothing for the topic that I was looking for. I moved on to www.education-world.com. This web site then had a link to the Smithsonian quiz. I was able to take U.S. American history quizzes and if you did not know the answer it gave you a link to look up the answer in the Smithsonian records. Wow what a find, this will truly help teach my students how to research and continue reading non fiction works.

 

I hope everyone had as much fun searching on some of these educational web sites as I did.

Missing Puzzle Piece

The key word to me this week is integration. We are always trying to have students understand the benchmarks by using different techniques such as problem solving and role-playing. What if the problems just became simulation games, I loved Oregon Trail! What if students were able to use publisher to make brochures for a project in class.  What if I could find new ways to integrate my students, digital knowledge into the content they are learning? The world is a flat puzzle, what piece do I fit in, or my students? 

 

Creating Tomorrow’s Outliers

In a book I read over the summer, called Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcom Gladwell stated that a person needs 10,000 hours to be an expert in an area.  Most teachers do not have 10,000 hours in digital media. Teachers need more training to become proficient in this new language. The students are practicing their digital media everyday. Most teachers are comfortable with the typical teaching practices and are nervous of putting themselves out there. (We all have some bad memories of our first days teaching, do we really want to go back to that lost feeling.) The reason most of us became a teacher it to reach the students, so lets start learning their language.

 

Test

First try did not work...How about 2nd

Wow My first Blog and First Grad Class!

Hello,
1) Thank you for taking the time to read about me. A few years ago I went to a workshop and explained how a school was using Digital Book talk in gifted classes. I thought WOW this is cool. I don't know how but I want my students to do this.
I now try to have my students read 1 historical fiction a nine weeks and turn it into a movie or photo story. I have been doing a lot of trial by error but I am always willing to learn a better way. I also have a website for students to obtain notes they missed in class and started a blog.
2) I just got the I-phone and I am still learning how to use it. I really enjoy being able to look up menu's because of my husband's wheat problem. I also enjoy creating photo books on shutterfly. 
3) You may call me Rachel. If you want to be more formal Rachel Peterson.
4) Something a little unusual about me is that I have visited all 50 states and 11 countries. My family is from North Dakota and I spent every summer growing up with my grandparents there.