Friday, July 29, 2011

Revisiting Setting the Stage

After re-reading my initial post on Setting the Stage, I realize that even though I have two digital natives (children)- they really don't know as much about Web2.0 as I thought they did!  While most digital natives aren't afraid to use technology, they really need us as educators to help show them how much Web2.0 can enhance their experiences...whether it be through the classroom and education or through their personal lives.  I found myself actually showing my college-age daughter (who is home for a few weeks) some tools that I think will help her in college! 

In my initial post I proclaimed that I didn't feel prepared to help students learn to use Web Tools, and found that for some tools I explored I was "technologically literate", but for some I was not.  Nonetheless, I find that I now have the confidence to effectively implement Web Tools so that students can be successful 21st Century learners, collaborators, communicators and creative problem solvers!

This is one of the most useful classes I have taken and I appreciate all the discussion and sharing that my colleagues in this class have offered, and have realized that this PLC I have begun to develop is going to be one of my bigggest resources and assets for my continued professional growth.  Thanks everyone!

Thursday, July 28, 2011

Week 7 Final Project!

Okay... I made a wiki!  (It's called sgmsscience...check it out here).  I really like what I have learned from creating it and I am hopeful that I will be able to convince my administration and IT people that our students should be able to have logins and passwords for the wiki.  My project is on Current Events using CNN Student News.  My wiki is designed to get students familiar with what wiki's are and then the wiki outlines what my expectations are for the weekly Current Events for science class.  I also created a teacher resource folder so I can collaborate with my colleagues and have a common, easily accessible place to get resources.  I may actually transfer that folder to Google docs and encourage all of my colleagues to get a gmail account (if they don't already have one), so I can share what I have learned from my Web2.0 class.  This class has been so valuable, I feel that it is only a first step for me... I am going to dive deeper into Google next week with a GPS class (and arcgis). 

Even if by chance my wiki doesn't work out for students, I will definately be using my Current Events in the class all year.  Most of my Web2.0 work will most likely be involved with Google Earth, Google docs, GoogleMaps and arcgis.com, so I am feeling so much more confident in what I can do so that I have an even more developed student-centered classroom!

I couldn't have learned nearly as much about Web2.0 tools on my own, and have really valued what I have gained through the design of this course and feel priveledged to have had the opportunity to collaborate with a very talented group of teachers.

Sunday, July 24, 2011

Week 6 Explorations

Since I finished the end of last year getting excited about doing Current Events in my science classes, I want to really get that going at the beginning of this year.  I decided to revisit wikis and blogs to better decide how I want students to respond and discuss these current events with each other each week.... I am most comfortable with blogs, but know that what I want to create for my final project will work best with wiki's!  It's going to be interesting!  wikispaces, pbworks, or using Google docs?  Hmmm...

Reflection: D2L Discussion

I REALLY enjoyed the discussion format of D2L. It is obvious that everyone has learned a great deal about Web 2.0 Tools and that all of us are excited to bring various new tools into our classrooms.  I must say that I appreciate the format of small group discussions that we were broken into and I personally think that many were expressing thoughts and getting feedback in a much richer way than in the blogging (maybe because we are all novice "bloggers" maybe?)  I just found it easier to be more involved with responding to many more comments and questions more quickly than trying to get to each blog!   

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Tool Exploration: Google Earth and Virtual Tours

TOOL EXPLORATION:  Google Earth and Virtual Tours
Well… I have to say, I spent most of the week dedicated to Google Earth because this is something that I have been interested in and already “dabble” with during  my classes.  There is so much to Google Earth that I am glad that this class is really forcing me to dig in and try to get straight in my mind what I want to expand on with this program!  Since I teach mainly earth science, this is a great and powerful tool and resource for our curriculum.  I have found that students who have used Google Earth are getting the opportunity to explore geography and social studies virtually, and have “traveled” to many places around the globe but have not spent much time exploring their own state!!! So I use the following Google Earth Exercise for Montana (called “MontanaView”) that I was introduced to during another science class I took... MontanaView  (once here, click on Google Earth). You could also explore the other links on this page...many great resources!
I spent a considerable amount of time working with ArcExplorer  which is a Java Edition for Education.  This link is www.esri.com/aejee  and you can also find a link for GIS in Education on this site.   All are very good for a variety of science, social studies, math and other curricular areas! 

Week 5: Blogs & Wikis Reflection

Week 5: Blogs and Wikis Reflection
I watched the presentation “Shiny Objects, Classroom Practice and Professional Growth”  by Eric twice!  It was so interesting and informative that I watched more than the pgs.5-17 that he mentioned specifically.  I especially like the idea of Mandatory participation since it does ensure that ALL classmates participate in the dialogue…not just part of the class.  Posting twice seems to be a manageable requirement while also making sure that students read, think and respond to others posts and thoughts.    I liked everything that Dale Basler is doing… BaslerCast and Lab Out Loud, and Eric was right….so much time spent looking at what great things are getting done using Blogs and Wiki’s.  I was interested in looking at Delores Bende’s e-portfolios because I have been toying with the idea of e-portfolios for about 5 years now… what I had had in mind was completely different than what she is doing… and I have a LONG way to go to incorporate an e-portfolio that profiles all of my student’s work  (Online…blogs, comments, student reflections online, etc.)… but I like it!!!  I also thought that the D2L reading on “Create a Classroom” by Brunsell and Horejsi will be a good resource for me to bring discussion forward about the policies we have for blogging.
I really like the flexibility of wiki’s and spent a considerable amount of time exploring!  In Brunsell and Horejsi’s “wiki-wiki”, the “history” function of the wiki platform is very appealing to me to keep track of postings (dates and times, and contributions by each group member, etc.) The wiki “codeblue” is a great resource for 6th grade, and I am linking this to my teacher web page as a resource!   I played in the “sandbox” and investigated  Wetpaint.  I am finding that I am wanting it all and am trying to be very careful about recording in my “journal” what I am signing up for!  Whew… so, so much J.

Saturday, July 9, 2011

ArcGIS - Sleeping Giant Middle School Stream Study Site Map

Below is a link to a map of our school districts' stream study site. I created the map in ArcGIS by signing up for Esri Global Account. We also use GPS devices for students to gather data and download data points to analyze. Students can also access our remote sensing site that streams to our district website.
SGMS students at Site 3 of Fleshman Creek Stream Study Site

Other great online simulation sites I investigated are listed below:

Enhancing Math and Science Rigor Through Evidence Based Curriculum Projects
Stem Collaborative.org Website (interactive online learning adventures for middle school
http://www.stemcollaborative.org/

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Digital Storytelling & Copyright (Wk 3)

Weel 3 Reflections

“Wow” is all I can say about reviewing Creative Commons information on copyright rules and guidelines!  I think I will “bookmark” it so I can refer to it often, and also encourage colleagues in my building to take a look at it!  Lots to absorb…and the fact that there are no set Digital copyright rules presents a challenge for teachers.  This also is something I wonder if our technology teacher goes over with our students.  Thinking maybe she should provide the teachers in the building with some PD on this topic!
I liked the six summarizing statements from researchers Hoban and van Ormer, especially “The use of effective and appropriate films results in more learning in less time and better retention of what is learned.”  I use a video series “How the Earth Was Made” to go along with our geology unit on plate tectonics, earth’s layers and landforms.  It supports their reading and our discussions as students can refer to both when stating examples. 

As luck would have it, we were studying this unit when Japan’s earthquake and tsunami occurred.  We followed current events online (projected news video clips from CNN and/or You-Tube) along with the video on Tsunami’s (How the Earth Was Made).  I also have students do a Natural Disasters assignment where they work in groups of 3-4 to research a disaster and then create a “newscast” of the event.  They must incorporate specific research into the news and create their own short newscast (3-5 min. long).  I have used my flip-video to record their work and then we play them back so students can watch their newscasts! 

Since reading this chapter and exploring ideas about various ways to do digital storytelling, I am thinking that I could tweek this somehow.  Maybe giving them a chance to video it themselves and edit (using Windows MovieMaker) to present to the class!  Only problem with this is it would extend the length of the unit, so the question is “will it enhance their learning” by having them do this? Or just make it a fun activity? 


I have attempted a short digital collage of a day in the Crazy Mountains, 40 minutes from where I live and where my husbands’ mother grew up.  This was done with Picasa then uploaded to my blog.

Posted by Picasa

A look @ Trespass Basin & Idiot Peak (Crazy Mtns) and front side of Ibex Mtn




Saturday, June 25, 2011

Embedding....

Ok... am trying to get this posted, but am now using the downloaded video (that I saved) and am embedding using VCL.

Yellowstone National Park 2009


Seems like some of the quality has been lost, but this is the free version and probably is more grainy! What do you think?  I think that you can add text to the video, but I didn't do that.  I can see a use for this in my class since we use flip videos and digital cameras.  During our outdoor stream study days, I would have student-groups document what they are doing over a course of time, and then have them create video movie using Animoto (or even uploading their flip video) followed by typing in a summary or overview of what their video is documenting. 

I also have been using Google Docs with my daughter, as she is drafting a document  for some fundraising she wants to do for flood victims of Minot, ND (which is where she is living this summer).  I could have students accessing Google Docs for their summaries in the stream study work so that I can edit and assess it before it gets "posted"!  This idea came to me as I was checking out TEDx Classroom Project by Chris Long (where he described how he managed the project).  I really liked the TED talks because I know it would also make my students think.  I don't know that I would make a full blown project of it, but I will definately add TED talk to my Bellwork at the beginning of classes occassionally because they are all under 6 minutes long.


Friday, June 24, 2011

Week 2: Animoto

Ok, I've been messing with some Web2.0 video tools and decided to try Animoto.  Hopefully I have figured out how to embed this correctly!

(OOPS!!! IT DIDN'T WORK HERE!!!...)

I watched some video links from Eric about getting your videos into blog post.  The Vimeo video tutorial by Dale Basler on how to embed things from You-Tube, Google, Vimeo, etc. was very helpful and informative.  I also looked at vixy.net, and VLC (which is a media player that uses a cross platform media player and streaming server that is a highly portable media plaer for various audio & video formats).

I think that using Animoto in the classroom would be pretty easy for the teacher and the students...it's pretty user friendly.  I plan to use this when we go outside and work in groups to collect data for our stream studies each year.

Monday, June 20, 2011

PLN's and Twittter

Ok, I've spent a huge amount of time today "lurking"!!!  Also reading all the direction and advise that Dr. Brunsell has offered.  My mind is numb with so many new things to think about...  An interesting site is Classroom 2.0. Spent a lot of time there... very user friendly and has soooo many resources! 

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Guiding Principles For Using Technology

The teacher must be able to:
·         Use technology in various forms that promotes communication with students, parents and community. 
·         Use technology to efficiently and effectively differentiate instruction and evaluate concepts. 
·         Be proactive in understanding how to effectively implement the use of technology to promote 21st Century skills. 
·         Promote a sense of how to safely navigate online, both in research and in collaborative or social settings.

Technology must allow students to be able to:
·         Efficiently collect, organize and interpret data – in the classroom, in the lab, and in the field (graphing calculators, probeware, spreadsheets, podcasting, databases, etc.)
·         Conduct research from authentic sites so students can develop/formulate/collaborate/share ideas
·         Empower and Engage in critical thinking
·         Provide real-world simulations to promote deeper understanding of concepts  (online simulations, NXT robotics, etc.)

These principles are sure to evolve as I become more empowered by becoming a more proficient Web2.0 Teacher!


Friday, June 17, 2011

A-Z Web tools

My Tech & Learning eNews had some interesting Web tools I have not heard of yet... thought some of you might want to check this out! A–Z Web tools

Setting the Stage

As I reflect on this week’s articles, I come away with three main thoughts. One; I realize I have raised two digital natives! And while I guess I already knew that, since my two children have had access to (digital) technology, it was more punctuated after the readings.  Two; whether or not you are a fan or follower of Twitter, Facebook, blogging, podcasting, Flicker, and many others, Web2.0 and social networking are here to stay!  And finally; as much as I want to think that I am technologically literate…these articles make me feel unprepared to help students learn to use these tools. 
With that said, there were some specific notable points to Hardagon’s article (Web 2.0 is the Future of Education) that made me really stop and think.  Digest this thought:  The answer to information overload is to produce more information.” I know that is how my two digital natives work… I’ve seen it!  I, however, was feeling INFORMATION OVERLOAD while I was reading over the articles, and just really wanted to click the OFF button and relax my brain.  Now, most of you can probably relate to me (we aren’t digital natives)… our frustrations when students or our own children, are happy to be busy with many tasks going on at once (watching T.V. while doing homework at the same time listening to I-pod and texting on cell phone!)  My daughter was able to do this and still get things done well.  My son, who has ADD was not so good at that combination, but was very involved with online “gaming”.  (They both drove me crazy!)  I read an article on brain research that says these digital natives have brains that are wired MUCH differently than ours… and this is where I begin to consider this challenge we have as educators!  Hardagon encourages us to “Help Build the New Playbook:  …these digital natives knowledge is surface level, they desperately need training in real thinking skills.  I know I need to help provide my students the resources and tools that are necessary for them to be successful in the 21st Century.  I look forward to the challenge and the task!

Thursday, June 16, 2011

Introduction

I have been teaching 13 years in the beautiful, small rural town of Livingston, Montana.  Our middle school population is about 320 and I teach 100 students math and science.  I will be finishing the MSSE program in the spring of 2011/12.  Our family of four is now two (at least in the house)… with a son in the Air Force and a daughter pursuing her Occupational Therapy degree!  My husband Joe and I enjoy the many outdoor activities our area offers!

Monday, June 13, 2011

First time post!!

Wow... I have never "blogged" before, so this is my first experience.  I must say I am a little nervous but eager to learn how to use this in my classroom and with colleagues!