Response to Reading - Day 1 (Chapters 1-7 and 11)
I like how the book breaks down the technology tools and gave us a decision-making matrix so we can take into consideration everything that might effect the outcome of an assignment.
My guess is that over 90% of my students' families have access to the internet and would be able to use most of the tools listed. This past year I had a student film his book presentation and post to youtube! Another girl posted hers to Vimeo. While I know the parents had a huge part in making this happen, the students had the idea and took the initiative to look into what they'd need. I was reminded of this as I read chapter 2. Figure 2.2 drove me crazy and was pretty confusing! It made me wonder if some of the things I put in front of my students drive them crazy too!
When I got to chapter 7, about blogs, I was wishing I'd read it before creating my blog for class. Coming at it from the novice angle, it was really helpful to read about how I might be able to use blogs in my classroom. I'm not sure if I'll go there this year, but I'm definitely going to check out the TweenTribune blog referenced in the chapter.
There are so many tools out there and I realize I just need to find the courage and time to work them into my practices!
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Response to Oregon Standards (3 A-D)
As I looked through the standards the first time I was really thinking about the diploma essential skills and wondered who is responsible for tracking these nine things. Of course I got a little cynical and thought 'what in the world have we created?!' Then I went back and reread them thinking about my fourth graders and that I'd better get on the ball preparing them for the things they need technology-wise!
In the fourth grade social studies curriculum the students study Oregon geography, Pacific NW Indians, Lewis and Clark, and The Oregon Trail. We spend so much time on the first two items and I feel like we cheat the last two. I was thinking it would be really fun to have the students research what it would be like to travel from St. Louis to the Oregon country BEFORE we study what is was like. They could read a novel relating to the topic, research it online, create a timeline of a journey, write an online journal and then create a digital presentation for the class!
There are a few things I'll need to do differently this year, as I haven't made technology a focus in my class. I think I'll plan to work in weekly keyboarding as a class in the fall to increase the students' comfort level and accuracy with computers. Second, I will plant the seeds about researching online and what to look for when doing so. Third, I'll take time to guide them through a research project using the computer lab, in addition to the library! I'm excited for this new approach.
As I looked through the standards the first time I was really thinking about the diploma essential skills and wondered who is responsible for tracking these nine things. Of course I got a little cynical and thought 'what in the world have we created?!' Then I went back and reread them thinking about my fourth graders and that I'd better get on the ball preparing them for the things they need technology-wise!
In the fourth grade social studies curriculum the students study Oregon geography, Pacific NW Indians, Lewis and Clark, and The Oregon Trail. We spend so much time on the first two items and I feel like we cheat the last two. I was thinking it would be really fun to have the students research what it would be like to travel from St. Louis to the Oregon country BEFORE we study what is was like. They could read a novel relating to the topic, research it online, create a timeline of a journey, write an online journal and then create a digital presentation for the class!
There are a few things I'll need to do differently this year, as I haven't made technology a focus in my class. I think I'll plan to work in weekly keyboarding as a class in the fall to increase the students' comfort level and accuracy with computers. Second, I will plant the seeds about researching online and what to look for when doing so. Third, I'll take time to guide them through a research project using the computer lab, in addition to the library! I'm excited for this new approach.
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