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.