Tool #11

What are your favorite tools you now have in your personal technology toolbox? Briefly describe a particular activity that you will plan for your students using at least one of these new tools.I have to say that my 'favorite' tool is my CLEAR hub that enables me to use the Internet anyplace at all.  Another 'favorite' is the blog.  The blog will serve as my hub to connect all this new information from me to my students.  I won't use it ALL the time, but I'll use it MOST OF the time.  I know it will be a resource for me for review to help me when I'm trying to remember all of this new information.

How have you transformed your thinking about the learning that will take place in your classroom? How has your vision for your classroom changed? Are you going to need to make any changes to your classroom to accommodate the 21st Century learner?

With having more students in class, the idea of becoming more small grouup oriented is more apparent.  We'll be able to increase technology to have information at their fingertips in small group which will enhance the learning for all.

Were there any unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Always!  Every step got a little easier.  I think the unexpected surprise for me was that I can do this.  I was really nervous and scared about all the layers of learning.  I really feel accomplished! 

Tool #10

Discuss at least three things you would want to make sure your students understand about being good digital citizens.
1.  Digital Citizenship
2.  Online Behavior
3.  Copywright Use

Share at least one of the resources mentioned above or on the Ed Tech website that you plan to use instructionally.

I will use Brainpop over and over again. I think this is one of the concepts that can be retaught several times, and they'll receive the information as they need it.

 

Explain briefly how you would "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to your students. 

I think teaching citizenship is like teaching anything else.  They learn by trial and error.  I will help them to find sites,and I will guide them as to what to do with the information once they get it.  If they land on something inappropriate, I will give them some ideas of how to handle that information.  I'll use love and logic as often as possible.

 

Explain briefly how you plan to share the idea of digital citizenship with your parents.
I will assign it as homework, and have a parent/student paragraph as an assignment so I KNOW that parents are aware of what we expect.  At Back to School Night, I will talk about digital citizenship and what we are doing for children to teach as we explore.

Tool #9

Why do you think it is important to tie the technology to the objective?
The objective should always remain in the forefront.  Otherwise, you could get distracted and wind up spending a lot of time on something that isn't really what you want.  This is especially difficult when you are a little ADD!

Why should we hold students accountable for the stations/centers?

Discipline problems always arise in centers if the students aren't engaged and accountable.  Giving children a good strong assignment during independent time keeps them on task and engaged in the work they are doing. Anytime children are engaged in their work, the learning increases.  We need to also continue to encourage children to stay focused on what their objectives are so they don't get off track. 

Visit 2 of the applicable links to interactive websites for your content/grade level. Which sites did you like. How could you use them as stations? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations?

Tutup - I had trouble getting logged in to Tutup.  It wouldn't let me get past the sign in page.  I could not use this as a station because I can't figure out how to get on it.

LearningGamesForKids - This site reminds me of Scholastic's teacher pages.  There are a lot of printables which we won't use, however there were also some good games and flashcards.  The flashcards were good for intro, but they aren't timed.  The graphics were cute on this site, but kind of easy.  It was very primary - good for my lower and/or ESL students.

TESBoard - This was more challenging.  I like this site very much.  There was a good number line drop game which we liked a lot.

Study Ladder - This is a good one.  I liked how you can set up your class and give assignments (similar to Oddysey).  It will help to personalize the instruction for each child's needs.  There is a good part on classroom community I hope to use at the beginning of the year.

Thinkfinitiy - You have to know what you are looking for on this site, otherwise you'll get bogged down in the search.  This one is probably good, but it won't be one I'll turn to frequently.

List two to three apps you found for the iPod Touch/iPad that you can use in your classroom. What do you see that station looking like? How can you hold the students accountable for their time in these stations?

I looked at Language Arts - APS and it took me to all kinds of sites.

There is a good one on calendar celebrations (On This Day), dictionaries (Dictionary), and word games (Free Word Warp). 

I could use these with the children in small group, help with daily work, and/or word work.  They could use this in book club and look up words they don't know.  They can immediately find out the meaning of words which will enrich comprehension.

What about other ways to use the iPod Touch/iPad? Share another way you can see your students using the device as a station.

The possibilities are endless! I could use the iPad as a station to help them with all of the above ideas.  Spelling stations, famous people research, community and diversity lessons, and math drills are just a few ideas.

Tool #8

After watching the videos/tutorials, list two to three things you learned about the device(s) that will be in your classroom this fall.

- I was so excited to see that Ed Tech provides SBISD flipcharts designed specifically for our curriculum.  It's so much better than Promethean in regards to not having to spend time shopping for the perfect information.  I see that there is also a link for web tools which is just cool. I wonder if there will be an ap that provides the students an opportunity to see flipcharts as 'view only'.  Wouldn't that be a good invention

- I also love that we have 11 pages of Aps and I can download once on my computer.  From there the Aps can be pushed out to all the devices.  That is way cool.

How do you plan to manage the device(s) in your classroom? Do you have ideas/suggestions that others may find useful?

I am hoping to use the devices daily through assignments.  I am not usually a 'station' kind of teacher, but I can make a station that is significant to technology.  I plan to use the I also am excited that we will have one charger for all this new equipment.  I often had trouble keeping itouches charged and available for the children. 

Tool #7

After visiting the resources above, design a collaborative project with another classroom.

After looking at Class2Class Math Projects, I looked at Poetry Patterns which I didn't love.  I thought it was too formulatic for my liking.  I prefer to give kids less boundary when it comes to poetry.  Then I looked at Spinning Around which is not a working site.  Finally, I looked at Marvelous M&M Survey.  This one worked for me:

What is a brief description of the plan, and what is the content objective? We will work with probability on several levels.  First, as a team, we will survey each child's data (how many of each color) in his or her bag of M&Ms, then move to table surveys, then classroom.  Finally, we will compare and contrast our findings among our third grade classrooms.  Our objective will be probability vocabulary such as:  More likely, less likely, certainly, mean, median, mode, range, and data.

When do  I plan to  implement?  We hit probability in the springtime, so that is when I'll do this.

What tools do I need?  M & M's and graph paper, and markers

I think this will be something fun. 

Tool #6

Choose at least two of the tools from the above list. Create an account for each (if required) .
I reviewed several of the choices and found some ways they could be used in the classroom.  I created accounts for a few of the choices, but not all.  I want to wait until I am really using it before I open accounts in everything.

Use each of the tools you choose to create a sample of how you would use it in your classroom.
Edmodo - I could use it for book club.  I could create specific questions for each book club such as "Give an example of a character trait for the main character.  Then give two examples from the book that support that character trait."

Skype - I want to get with my friend who teaches at Kinkaid and discuss public vs. private school.  I also have a friend in Germany who is interested in Skype.  We were thinking we could discuss cultural differences, weather differences, etc.

Poll Everywhere - I could send home questions such as "How is your child getting home from school everyday?", "What is one thing you'd like to improve on this school year?", and "Tell me one word about your child.  Why is this the word you choose to describe him or her?"

Wall Wisher - I would use this as brainstorming.  We talked about sending home our list of curriculum topics and asking parents if they are an 'expert' in any of the topics.  We could use it to invite speakers, skype sessions, and field trip ideas.

Embed the sample (preferred) or link to the URL.
I did not include a link to the URL.  I am waiting until it is real.

Share your thoughts on how you see the tools being integrated into your classroom. How do you see them encouraging participation?
I could use this a lot.  I don't know if I will choose to brainstorm via computer vs. on a piece of chart paper only because the immediate use of the classroom brainstorming is necessary sometimes.  I do think I will use it to push children (and parents) to be more comfortable with a variety of programs that are out there.  

It encourages participation becuase it creates accountability.  I can use the answers as a springboard for conferencing, editing, etc.

 

Tool #5

I wrote a story using Storybird which I embeded, and I made a comic strip, but I can't figure out how to embed it as a picture.

http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/Comix/?comix_id=1819545C495066

I could use these tools to provide enrichment to lessons, retelling of famous people and their accomplishments, and as a focus on almost any writing topic.

I didn't like that I couldn't use just any pictures on the Storybird.  I thought it was hard to write a story with pictures already established. 

The comic was fun.

Tool #4

I shared two different documents for my team to use.  One was a form and the other was not.  I can see us using this to share with each other instead of going to Sweden.  I also can see it used to share information with parents.  

I had trouble at first with this one only because I had issues with keeping Internet access to my computer form a different location. 

Tool #3

This was a good lesson for me.  I like being able to embed video into my blog.  I like the idea of using Picasa to show images to my students.  The copywright information was not new to me, but it is always a good idea to refresh the rules.  I like #3.  Now if I can get to #4.....successfully!

Tool 3

Tool #2

The reader is probably a good thing, but I won't use it unless I don't get enough information from my co-workers.  I am lucky to work with people who can help me immediately when brainstorming or gathering knowledge on particular subjects.  I think the reader would be great if I didn't have a good team base OR if I was working alone someplace. 

I don't mind posting my thoughts publicly, but I can't imagine using it.  I don't have a problem with it, but I would rather be face-to-face when discussing my work.  I guess I'm more of a people person.

I would not use this for any problem that was truly a problem.  I worry about confidentially. 

The third grade teachers have chosen the same social network. 
The site we selected is:  http://third-grade-teachers.ning.com/
Will I use it?  maybe
Will I frequently use it?  probably not

Tool #1

I would have been as lost as a goose, but I did it with friends who were experienced.  I think the vocabulary being new made it more difficult. 

The voki was cool.

The tip to put my blog on gmail was smart (thank you, Karen).

Thank goodness for my friends - they helped this not to take me all day long!