11.5: Thing 11.5

1. What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?

I love these summer on-line quests! It's exhilarating to be able to explore new programs, especially when they are linked to instruction. My favorite programs were Screencast-o-matic and Glogster.

Check out this video of a group of 4th graders using Glogster in the classroom:



I particularly liked how they linked their Glogster poster to Google Earth.

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?

Before taking 23 Things, I thought I was pretty current with technolgy. Boy, was I wrong! Through 23 Things and 11.5 Things, I was exposed to many programs I didn't even know exsisted! It is obvious that a lot of time and effort went into creating these programs. Thank you to all of you who made them possible!

3. Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

I was surprised to find that I did not enjoy the virtual worlds. When I first read the post, I thought it was going to be one of my favorite items because I am a big SIMS fan. However, I found the navigation through Second Life to be tedious. I went through the tutorials and read the posts on how to use virtual worlds in education, but I just don't see how this would be used at the Elementary level.

4. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

Nothing really! The only thing I would change would to be add more tools!! It's a great way to stay up-to-date on the latest technolgy. I hope that SBISD will continue to offer more Library2Play sessions...I must admit, I'm totally addicted!!

11:5: Thing #11

I liked the article Digital Literacy (another teacher's reflection on digital literacy). Rhondda makes a good point. As educators, we must show kids how to safely and effectively use online tools and digital strategies. It is also important to model how to validate sources.

The link to the I-Safe facts sheet and Texas School Safety Center were helpful because it not only lists suggested lesson ideas, it also has many useful resources for families.

11:5: Thing #10

Although I am a big SIMS fan, I really did not enjoy SecondLife. It wasn't very user friendly. While I enjoyed flying, it was frustrating trying to figure out what to do and where to go. When I have more time, I may give it another try. I thought it was interesting reading about how it is being used in universities and can see the appeal it would have for teenagers. Since I teach elementary students, I do not think I would use this in the classroom; however, it's nice to know such programs are out there.

11:5: Thing #9

I had a little trouble on this one because I couldn't find the two links to Stephen's Lighthouse that were listed (Ignoring Social Software--Not and Slideshare). Did anyone else have this problem? If so, did you ever locate them--and if you did, please share! I spent about 20 minutes browsing through various posts before finally giving up.

I was able to play around with SlideShare and Authorstream. Both programs give students an authentic reason to create presentations. After creating their presentations, students could share them with family members and others, which would hopefully motivate students to do their best work. I think it would be neat for students to use 280 Slides to make virtual Power Points, which would also them easy access from home.

11:5: Thing #8

My favorite Screencast-o-matic is Screen-cast-omatic. It is very easy to use. When I teach students how to use a program, I will be able to record the lesson and post it for students to review if needed. Students can also use this site to record their own demonstrations. What an easy way to make technology accessible for all!

Below is a screencast created to show students how to create their own Photostory:

11:5: Thing #7

Students love working in inquiry groups and these sites will give them additional resources, besides Untied Streaming, to use! The video on copyrighting and fair use was helpful. It is important to teach students how to document correctly.

I used Blinkx to find the following Texas History video, which was created by 4th graders. This video is a good model to show students so that they can then create and produce their own videos. It would also be good for students to critique the writing and presentation (as it would be good to jazz this up a bit!)

11:5: Thing #6

I've owned an iPod Touch for a couple of years now. I use it many to listen to music and access an audio Bible. It's also good for staying in touch through facebook and twitter as well as checking e-mail. And I love using my Kindle application! It's not as good as the real thing, but it works. Had I not already purchased the iPod, I would have bought the iPad. Although the iPad is bigger (and bigger is better, right?), it doesn't make sense to own both, though.

I orginally bought the iPod so that students could easily make, edit, and listen to podcasts of their book club discussions.

From reading all of the posts, it seems that some of the biggest advantages the iPod include giving students easy access to the internet, podcasts and word processing apps. such as, Google Docs. One of my favorite apps. is Dragon Dictation, which turns speech into text (it is similar to DragonSpeak). For more information, check out: http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2010-01-13-dragon-dictation-iphone_N.htm.
I am attending a staff development presentation on using the iPod in the classroom during TeacherU, so I am looking forward to gathering new ideas.

11:5: Thing #5

I've been a facebook junkie for quite awhile now. I use facebook to stay connected with my own kids, their friends, people at church, etc. I am also a big gamer and facebook certainly has some addicting sites. I also tweet from time to time but do not use it as much as facebook. I currently use Twitter to stay up to date on the latest Perry Stone videos and Lemonade Day events.

For the classroom, facebook is a good way to stay in touch. Twitter and back channeling could be used to keep up with other classmates' posts and ideas, without all of the distractions of games, apps., groups, etc. that are found on facebook. Cyberbullying would need to be monitored.

I would be interested to hear how other people are using these apps. in the classroom.

11:5: Thing #4

Uploading videos to YouTube was a cinch! I privately uploaded my son's guitar video. It would be neat to have students upload their own videos so that parents, other family members, and classmates could have easy access to their work. I think I would chose to have students upload to TeacherTube (with parent's permission, of course). Making videos and uploading them would motivate students to do their best since it provides authentic opportunities for publishing while allowing their work to be viewed bu others. Perhaps students could record skits of personal narratives or act out reader's theaters using a Flip Camera and then upload to TeacherTube for others to view.

11:5: Thing #3

The Language Arts department plans to use Skype as a way for SISes and teachers to keep in contact with an out-of-state consultant. This way, we will be able to communicate what is working in the classroom, ask questions, get new ideas, etc. It's a great way to stay connected! It is also a great way to access professional development opportunities.

I am not sure I am ready to have students conference with classes from around the world, but I think it will be a good way to help students with homework as well as set up peer conference opportunities when not in class.

I like the following ideas and just might give many of these a try:
* See Me, Hear Me: Skype in the Classroom. Read how these students had the opportunity to chat with an author of the book they studied via Skype.
* Field trips. If students aren’t able to participate in a field trip due to factors such as budgetary or distance constraints, use Skype to bring the field trip into the classroom.
* Present a performance. Whether your class puts on a play, demonstrates a science experiment, or presents the results of a class project, share the fruits of their works with other classes, parents, or other interested people.
* Bring busy parents into the classroom. A busy parent who has knowledge to share with the classroom may be more likely to be able to make the time for a presentation if she or he can do so with Skype rather than having to leave work and come to the school.
* Skype an Author Into Your Library or Classroom. This site will connect schools with authors through Skype. Short sessions are free, while longer sessions are subject to a fee set by each author.

11:5 Thing #2

For this image, I copied and pasted verses in the bible that pertained to Jesus. It was interesting to see the main ideas pop out. Students could use this to copy and paste text from non-fiction articles to determine main ideas.

I am going to have students use Videotracer to record discussions that take place in book clubs/ lit. circles.

Bookr would be good to use to have students document an event in time, such as a memoir, fieldtrip experience, or even a historical event. Students could also use Bookr to document the main events in a story, perhaps tracing the changes a character went through.

I created the following Animoto to use it as a prewriting activity (listing). Students view the video and write down connections or ideas for writing. I usually show the video several times and have students share ideas).

11.5: Thing 1

Using technology to create self-determined learners seems only natural. Of course, most of us are not techie-natives but the students we teach are, and we owe it to them to make sure they are prepared for the real world. Social networking not only provides models and ensures students are not learning in isolation, it also creates authentic opportunities for students to research, synthesize, publish and celebrate their learning.