Tool #11 - Reflection

I'm so glad I'm finished with this...it's been weighing heavy on my mind because I had to write some LA and SS units this summer, too.

Here are my thoughts:
1. It's kind of hard to pick a favorite tool - there's so much to pick from and some are better for one kind of activity/product than another. I'd like to have my students maintain a blog and see where that goes. I also like Glogster - for multi-media presentations like a poster for novels the kids read or for making mind map on some event in history.

2. Now that I have some Mac Books, I know I can have them available throughout the day for things that come up. I don't want my kids to think of computers or lap tops as something "extra" or something we use only once in a while. I want them in my classroom and expect them to be thought of as a dictionary or any other resource that we have in our room. It also gives me the opportunity to have students do really cool presentations.

3. I feel a little bit more at ease after spending time with some sites I was not familiar with. I think I can see better the benefit of some sites that I thought of as just some social networking place...now I see I can use these sites (that the kids already are using) for more academic activities, tool. I'll feel better about having the kids use them.

One big surprise was the article on "What is Digital Literacy?" It had a whole lot of syntax and spelling errors while trying to explain how important literacy is!!!

Tool #11

Thing I would want to make sure my students understand about digital citizenship is that computer literacy IS their future. Students should be able to evaluate sites and understand the safety issues and privacy issues involved. It's also important to understand computer etiquette and to know that once it's "out there" it's there for everyone to see and read.

Also, I think that being a good digital citizen should permeate all subject areas and not be just stressed in certain classes. Students should look towards their teachers as guides - and understand that sometimes they have to figure things out for themselves.

I would want to teach the idea of digital citizenship by having a conversation about the digital divide, accurate sources, how to skim material, plagiarism (honesty), and relevance of material.

Tool #10

This is a wealth of information! The Apps for the I-Touch look well worth my while. I like that I can just go to these free sites and get great ideas to use with my class or can show students (CCP) - the consume part of CCP - and show them examples of a book review created in photo story or get some ideas for me in "Writing Exercises"....

Apple also has some good ones - "Today's Newspapers Front Pages" is a great one for comparing what different cities and states think their main story is for the day...great discussion points.

For my history class, the Image Generators are most helpful. I also love the Political Cartoons where students have to identify the bias they see. Students can also create their own political cartoons...great way to check for understanding.

I'm actually glad that I've spent this time looking at these sites...I generally don't have that much extra time to investigate what's out there. Spring Branch has done a great job in putting this information in a place that's easy for me to go back to.

Tooll #9

Skype is such a great tool. I've used it with my family, who are scattered all over - from Vermont, to Massachusetts, to Virginia - especially on the holidays. My husband also uses it for business to talk to people overseas.

I've been wanting to use this in school...to set it up so my kids could talk to kids from another state - or country. I have a sister who teaches in Vermont and my daught teaches in Boston...I need to check with them to see if maybe we could arrange to have a chat.

Especially interesting, would be to have the same grade level show different projects they're working on. It could be like having a pen-pal on your computer. I'm pretty sure other schools would be interested in doing this.

I've not used Jing, but would like to introduce it to my kids if they don't know about it. I think students have such a greater capacity for using this type of technology than I do...I always learn so much from them.

Tool #8

This is a video about the Industrial Revolution
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=B0E70FC4-542F-47C3-80DA-8084560C76E3&blnFromSearch=1&productcode=US



This next video is: American History: The Civil War: A Nation Divided
http://player.discoveryeducation.com/index.cfm?guidAssetId=FCEF1B38-0ACC-47E9-8BF0-CB7758369ED8

I find video streaming a great addition to my U.S. History classes. I've use these videos for years to enhance my students visual knowledge of history. It really help with my ESL students or my more visual learners who need more than just what the text book says. These clips really give students a better idea of what went on in history. Clips also give me a starting point for some really good discussions...sometimes I use them as a focus for an upcoming lesson...or as a hook to pique their interest.

Tool #7

Here is my i-movie called "An American Tragedy"(Native American Indians).

Tags
1492-1870
t3-8th gr. am.history-

This is a about The Trail of Tears during the Jackson Era. It can be found in SBISD Teacher Tales.

It took me a long time to make this i-movie. After picking my topic, I had to decide what I wanted to say about it...I knew I wanted to tell about the Trail of Tears...but I had to pick pictures and music that would convey emotion, but still told about a historical event. I had no idea that it would take me about six hours to make a movie that's only one minute forty seconds! When I had my students do this at the end of the year, it took them about a week and a half to complete. Only a few students knew anything about i-movie, so they needed to have time to practice and see what it could do.

I was SO pleased with the results! The students were totally into the project and very excited about showing others. I've had students and even some parents tell me that this was the best thing they've done all year.

Tool #6

Wiki's looks like a great way for students to read what other students are thinking about on an issue, a story, book or...really, just about anything. I liked one of the students idea about "Cool Cats" - about a study hall use for this.

I'm thinking that in U.S. History, students could arguedebate issues using this format. Since I teach both LA and SS, this would allow students to show their writing skills as well as their knowledge about history.

If anyone has ideas about how to grade something like this, I'd be happy to hear from you. I'm thinking of having a rubric that would require students to make a certain number of posts...but I'd like to hear what other teachers would do.

Tool #5

http://delicious.com/pattyart/Revolution

Here is where you'll find some great website.

http://delicious.com/pattyart/Revolution

I think this type of book mark is a great idea...will really help me get organized. This will work great with my students; I can set up different sites and have students just go to my one site, and have them choose from there.

Tool #4

https://docs.google.com/document/edit?id=1hBdMeJg3gcynZF5Oa7cp5h5FYuZLFGsoyW6L2icTOQ8&hl=en&authkey=CKrH-aYL

This is the link to The Outsiders - chapters 1-3. Please answer the questions and add any other questions or comments.

I've subscribed to 5 google reader acccounts. I think the Scholastic Sticky Situation will be fun for my students to read and solve...and it will be a reminder to me to have these included in my day.

I think breaking new (NY Times Breaking News) is excellent - great for current event situations - and to keep up on what's happening in our ever changing world.

Tool #3

I've never used these tools before; I've posted one on the top of my blog (from Image Chef) and the other on the bottom (from Spell With Flicker).
I'm trying to decide how to use this type of technology in my classes. I think they might be able to use the words to make a vocabulary game or a mind mosaic to show connections.
I'd be interested in hearing how other teachers use this.

Tool #2

1. I think I like the idea about building an on-line classroom with my students (at least that's how I think of it).

2. I'm also worried about bullying or some kids taking a comment the wrong way.

3.There IS something to be said about face to face commenting rather than reading the written word. I think I need to have this discussion with my students.

I commented in the following blogs:
Shelly's Tool Kit
msjsjibberjabber
Dawson Daily
Mo-Science
Ms. Lee's Thoughts

Tool 1-Getting Started

1. I'm having so much fun doing this! I've created my voki - easy to find red hair!! I should have picked a NY accent, but I picked a neutral accent so people could understand me...and not laugh!! I'm off and running! I think kids would get into this a bit more than adults, but it's kind of fun for us older folks!

2. I am still feeling a little confused about a lot of this, but I had lots of help from Cheryl and Shawn W. My problem is that I don't have time to practice these things during the school year...and am not such a social person on the computer. I'm really more of a face to face person...I like to read body language and see the expression on people's faces. That said, I know I'm a novice for most of this, and just feel blessed that so many people are willing to help and offer suggestions.

3. I think I would use this in my class by having students write me their thoughts as they are reading a book. I'd also have them write to each other and comment on each other's work.