Technology Summary
Adopting the Web 2.0 mantra Never Stop Exploring as my technological and pedagogical theme, interactive teaching is in a perpetual state of flux. And that's how I like it. I enjoy trying new educational strategies as they evolve alongside new technology tools. Much like a process of scientific inquiry, the cyclical nature of questioning, happily, leads to more questioning. Teachers who pursue professional development, repeat a never-ending cycle of observing, testing, interpreting, and risk-taking as they try new ideas, learn from past experience, and add momentum to effective practice.
Keeping our students connected with other students around the world will lead to enormous growth in their world view as their ideas expand with an appreciate of culture. The perpetual problem of budget cuts and limited computer space is only limited by our concept of what a “work station” needs to be. With teacher initiative, community action, and grant writing, a computer in the palm of each student’s hand can become a foreseeable reality for most classrooms. Together, we are all connected!
Technology Safety Plan
Digital citizenship, in today’s virtual world, is a social training ground for responsible, respectful and safe behavior. Parents and educators can support learning by teaching students to respect others' virtual property, privacy, and identity as much as in the real world. Digital citizenship begins with supervision and modeling safe practice as students learn to navigate virtual social spaces. Moreover, email is a privilege and not a right. Due to the ever-changing nature of technology, students may experience a different set of virtual rules with each interactive environment they encounter. According to the ideas proposed in the LWSD Power Standards “Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.” Through open discussion and active participation, life-long responsible student behavior should be an essential component of today’s K-8 curriculum.
iTouch Blog Posts
Today, I am teaching myself to do more with iTouch applications by exploring curriculum tools in the palm of my hand. For instance, imagine accessing the complete works of (insert your favorite author here). With information, literally at our fingertips every day, the mobility of these devices keeps us joined with knowledge. Is there really any excuse for ignorance? I imagine the iTouch will evolve as an integrated educational tool, strategically shared with all students.
Toolbox – Wiki
A wiki can function as a web portal for any unit we teach. Professional educators can collaborate to add pages that evolve unit content and assessment over time. Committed to professional growth, a Wiki offers the opportunity for teachers to build a better product, sharing critical resources, and instructing students with greater efficiency. Students can also build a Wiki. They may converse, share unique website resources, and discover new tools for educate each other around a specific topic (state reports for instance). Far more than a virtual textbook, with a Wiki, students can collaborate to author and maintain original content in a tasty, virtual stew.
"Rocks and Minerals" Tech Toolbox.
The example I created introduces an Earth Science Unit: Mineral Properties, Crystals, and the Rock Cycle. It offers embedded video for unit engagement, interactive games that support EALR learning objectives, lesson plans, graphic organizers, FOSS kit curriculum, MacMillan/McGrawHill online interactive tools, and additional websites for differentiating instruction.
VoiceThread
Voice Thread enables student-centered, project-based learning by giving kids the tools to communicate and interact with each other in a digital environment. Presenting the “voice” of anyone who chooses to comment on a class project, students can share and reflect to give feedback on each their projects. In contrast to pushing a pencil around on a page of paper, these tools enable and empower students to add depth and dimension to their understanding through auditory and visual recording of their thoughts and ideas. Photos of in-class work clearly offer evidence of student learning.
The LIfeCycle of a Wisconsin fast plant.
This VoiceThread for a 2nd and 3rd grade split classroom shows the process of scientific inquiry teaching the lifecycle of a plant. Covering the 6 strands of Science, students were lead on a 6 week process to engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate their experiments. Class documents, photos, charts and graphs, worksheets, assessment data and lesson plans are layered with rich, auditory feedback. Two additional mini-lessons include: Pollination and Capillary action.
Social Bookmarking
Diigo is a bookmarking web site for immediate access to your favorite web sites, no matter which virtual computer station you happen to be working at. A few of my favorite Technology Bookmarks are found here. Technology Bookmarks.
Keeping our students connected with other students around the world will lead to enormous growth in their world view as their ideas expand with an appreciate of culture. The perpetual problem of budget cuts and limited computer space is only limited by our concept of what a “work station” needs to be. With teacher initiative, community action, and grant writing, a computer in the palm of each student’s hand can become a foreseeable reality for most classrooms. Together, we are all connected!
Technology Safety Plan
Digital citizenship, in today’s virtual world, is a social training ground for responsible, respectful and safe behavior. Parents and educators can support learning by teaching students to respect others' virtual property, privacy, and identity as much as in the real world. Digital citizenship begins with supervision and modeling safe practice as students learn to navigate virtual social spaces. Moreover, email is a privilege and not a right. Due to the ever-changing nature of technology, students may experience a different set of virtual rules with each interactive environment they encounter. According to the ideas proposed in the LWSD Power Standards “Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behavior.” Through open discussion and active participation, life-long responsible student behavior should be an essential component of today’s K-8 curriculum.
iTouch Blog Posts
Today, I am teaching myself to do more with iTouch applications by exploring curriculum tools in the palm of my hand. For instance, imagine accessing the complete works of (insert your favorite author here). With information, literally at our fingertips every day, the mobility of these devices keeps us joined with knowledge. Is there really any excuse for ignorance? I imagine the iTouch will evolve as an integrated educational tool, strategically shared with all students.
Toolbox – Wiki
A wiki can function as a web portal for any unit we teach. Professional educators can collaborate to add pages that evolve unit content and assessment over time. Committed to professional growth, a Wiki offers the opportunity for teachers to build a better product, sharing critical resources, and instructing students with greater efficiency. Students can also build a Wiki. They may converse, share unique website resources, and discover new tools for educate each other around a specific topic (state reports for instance). Far more than a virtual textbook, with a Wiki, students can collaborate to author and maintain original content in a tasty, virtual stew.
"Rocks and Minerals" Tech Toolbox.
The example I created introduces an Earth Science Unit: Mineral Properties, Crystals, and the Rock Cycle. It offers embedded video for unit engagement, interactive games that support EALR learning objectives, lesson plans, graphic organizers, FOSS kit curriculum, MacMillan/McGrawHill online interactive tools, and additional websites for differentiating instruction.
VoiceThread
Voice Thread enables student-centered, project-based learning by giving kids the tools to communicate and interact with each other in a digital environment. Presenting the “voice” of anyone who chooses to comment on a class project, students can share and reflect to give feedback on each their projects. In contrast to pushing a pencil around on a page of paper, these tools enable and empower students to add depth and dimension to their understanding through auditory and visual recording of their thoughts and ideas. Photos of in-class work clearly offer evidence of student learning.
The LIfeCycle of a Wisconsin fast plant.
This VoiceThread for a 2nd and 3rd grade split classroom shows the process of scientific inquiry teaching the lifecycle of a plant. Covering the 6 strands of Science, students were lead on a 6 week process to engage, explore, explain, elaborate, and evaluate their experiments. Class documents, photos, charts and graphs, worksheets, assessment data and lesson plans are layered with rich, auditory feedback. Two additional mini-lessons include: Pollination and Capillary action.
Social Bookmarking
Diigo is a bookmarking web site for immediate access to your favorite web sites, no matter which virtual computer station you happen to be working at. A few of my favorite Technology Bookmarks are found here. Technology Bookmarks.