I need help!
I'm not saying this because I really do need help ( but I really do), but I'm saying this because I need to get my head wrapped around all the technology I have at my finger tips: SMART Boards, Podcasting tools, video editing, digital storytelling, Moodle, Blogging, Twitter, Skype, video conferencing, etc.
Let me be more precise. I need to figure out which one or two pieces of technology I want to integrate into my classroom instruction and plans and leave the others alone. I've been trying to figure out how to add them all in and I CAN'T DO IT! There is too much to do plan, teach, monitor, and assess for the integration of one or two technologies, let alone three or four of them.
I know there are many of you saying, "Of course you can integrate them all! Why can't you do it and do it yesterday?" Because I can't! I have been scatterbrained long enough that I need to focus on one or two pieces and learn them and use them effectively and not drive down the crazy road any farther.
I read this post by Neil Stephenson and it got me thinking about what am I focusing on in my classroom? Now the post isn't about pairing down and using fewer technologies. It is about the Student Voice. Read it here.
After reading it, I began thinking that I don't have a clear purpose or goal in mind in which to use what I have. The student voice is powerful because it doesn't matter what technology I have, I need to listen to my students learn and grow academically.
So, what I need to think about is "What do I have that will draw out the student and tell me what they have learned, what they are learning and what they want to learn?"
hmmmm.
I know that concept isn't groundbreaking to most of you, but it is for me. I think so logically that I need the steps laid out and told to me.
(Ouch! like my students who don't want to think for themselves!!)
Well, I'll be working more with what I have and seeing what works for me.
Keep in touch and I'll keep you up to date.
September 22, 2009
Geometric shapes
I've been toying with the idea for a while. I have a shape that I want students to color based upon certain criteria I give them.
This time I gave them the choice of only two colors. I then let them color as they choose. I had one student ask me how to start but I gave no additional instructions. Another student said, "I messed up. Can I have another one." I refused and said to work it out. The outcome was very good.
Here are a few links to the pictures. Please forgive the quality but it is what I have.
http://twitpic.com/ipwe9
http://twitpic.com/ipqjq
http://twitpic.com/ipq56
http://twitpic.com/ippxn
http://twitpic.com/ippeb
http://twitpic.com/ipop1
Please comment on them as you wish.
This time I gave them the choice of only two colors. I then let them color as they choose. I had one student ask me how to start but I gave no additional instructions. Another student said, "I messed up. Can I have another one." I refused and said to work it out. The outcome was very good.
Here are a few links to the pictures. Please forgive the quality but it is what I have.
http://twitpic.com/ipwe9
http://twitpic.com/ipqjq
http://twitpic.com/ipq56
http://twitpic.com/ippxn
http://twitpic.com/ippeb
http://twitpic.com/ipop1
Please comment on them as you wish.
September 13, 2009
Where are you?
I'd like to know where my fans are approximately located. If you could please put a mark on the map and ask others to join that would be great. You can use this link.
I would like to share this with my students so they see how interconnected we are and how we can collaborate with one another across the world.
Thanks for your help!
View techyturner's Twitter/Blog/Facebook PLN in a larger map
I would like to share this with my students so they see how interconnected we are and how we can collaborate with one another across the world.
Thanks for your help!
View techyturner's Twitter/Blog/Facebook PLN in a larger map
September 11, 2009
Video Conferencing (AZ to AB)
We had fun during our video conference with Mrs. Deyenberg and her class. We had so many things we wanted to do and say but not enough time to do them all. We introduced ourselves and learned that we did have some things in common with our friends in Alberta, Canada.
We were given homework. We were asked, "What is a chinook ?" We learned that a chinook is a warming wind that comes from the Rocky Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. It can last for a few hours up to a few days. The name is also from the Native American people who lived near the Columbia River.
We have been working hard on learning a lot of the detailed climate differences and reasons for them. We have a lot to share at our next video conference call.
Here is Mrs. Deyenberg's blog about our event.
Too much fun happening in our classrooms! Hope the same is true for you.
Have a great weekend.
We were given homework. We were asked, "What is a chinook ?" We learned that a chinook is a warming wind that comes from the Rocky Mountains in the Pacific Northwest. It can last for a few hours up to a few days. The name is also from the Native American people who lived near the Columbia River.
We have been working hard on learning a lot of the detailed climate differences and reasons for them. We have a lot to share at our next video conference call.
Here is Mrs. Deyenberg's blog about our event.
Too much fun happening in our classrooms! Hope the same is true for you.
Have a great weekend.
September 8, 2009
A High Day
I'm getting high. NO, I don't do any type of drugs or stuff like that. I even hate taking over the counter medicine for headaches or a runny nose. Sometimes, my students and colleagues wonder if I do drink caffeinated drinks because I can be so hyperactive at times. (BTW, I can't, because they give me BAD headaches)
Let me explain. I and my students had a great day. (Not as great as @zbpipe's class, but great to us.) We first discussed some questions that led into the President's speech to students on 9-8-09. We didn't have a whole lot of ideas because they hadn't heard of it. Many don't watch the news, listen to the radio, or surf the Internet, like I do. So, many were lost as to what to expect what the President had to say. (I had a running script of the speech in my head because I read it the day before.) It was very hard not to give away any content to them.
The speech went as expected. (You can find it here.) The streaming was hit and miss. The video was not great. It was very jumpy and distracting. The audio was perfect after a minute into the introduction. Students were engaged for the most part. I watched several write notes as he was speaking! (Be still my fluttering heart) Others were making faces that told me they had no idea of what he was talking about. But that was okay, we would debrief after he was done.
After the speech, the fireworks began. We had a question: "What is he asking you to do?" Those of you familiar with SMART Notebook, we FILLED a whole page with notes of what THEY thought he was asking them to do. IT WAS AWE INSPIRING! I was in hog heaven, on cloud nine, and whatever other cliques there are that simply say, "I was really enjoying the discussion."
Afterwards, we wrapped up by writing a personal individual goal. These goals will be displayed outside our room and looked at periodically to help us keep our focus on this year.
I have really enjoyed connecting with other classrooms and giving my students a look into other worlds that they have never seen before. I will be planning to collaborate with all 6 classrooms that have requested us to share with them. I just need to figure out how and what we will be doing to work with them. Since I haven't done this before, I know I can rely on my PLN to help me through it.
One more time!
If you'd like to collaborate, present, and/or share with us, drop me a comment and I'll be glad to set up times and dates to network with you this school year.
What are you waiting for?
Let me explain. I and my students had a great day. (Not as great as @zbpipe's class, but great to us.) We first discussed some questions that led into the President's speech to students on 9-8-09. We didn't have a whole lot of ideas because they hadn't heard of it. Many don't watch the news, listen to the radio, or surf the Internet, like I do. So, many were lost as to what to expect what the President had to say. (I had a running script of the speech in my head because I read it the day before.) It was very hard not to give away any content to them.
The speech went as expected. (You can find it here.) The streaming was hit and miss. The video was not great. It was very jumpy and distracting. The audio was perfect after a minute into the introduction. Students were engaged for the most part. I watched several write notes as he was speaking! (Be still my fluttering heart) Others were making faces that told me they had no idea of what he was talking about. But that was okay, we would debrief after he was done.
After the speech, the fireworks began. We had a question: "What is he asking you to do?" Those of you familiar with SMART Notebook, we FILLED a whole page with notes of what THEY thought he was asking them to do. IT WAS AWE INSPIRING! I was in hog heaven, on cloud nine, and whatever other cliques there are that simply say, "I was really enjoying the discussion."
Afterwards, we wrapped up by writing a personal individual goal. These goals will be displayed outside our room and looked at periodically to help us keep our focus on this year.
I have really enjoyed connecting with other classrooms and giving my students a look into other worlds that they have never seen before. I will be planning to collaborate with all 6 classrooms that have requested us to share with them. I just need to figure out how and what we will be doing to work with them. Since I haven't done this before, I know I can rely on my PLN to help me through it.
One more time!
If you'd like to collaborate, present, and/or share with us, drop me a comment and I'll be glad to set up times and dates to network with you this school year.
What are you waiting for?
President's Speech in the eyes of 9 Year Olds
This is from my homeroom's notes
This one is from my second class's notes.
This one is from my second class's notes.
September 6, 2009
Collaboration. On Track.
For those of you who are keeping up, I wanted to let you know that on Sept 8th and 9th, I will be introducing my students to the Canadians! Let me be more precise. I'm introducing them to Albertans and Ontarions.
Tuesday, we have a session with @zbpipe and her grade 6 students in Hamilton, ON, CA. Simple introductions for about 20 minutes to keep it fresh. We might even talk about "The Speech". queue dramatic music.
On Wednesday, we will be talking to @jdeyenberg's grade 5 students in Lethbridge, AB, CA. Again short introductions alternating back and forth across the northern border. Once again, no more than 20 minutes long. We want them to keep wanting more and not getting tired of the experience.
We will have so much fun this week, but it will only be the beginning of great things to come.
Keep checking back and I will keep you up to date on the happenings.
BTW, if you would like a simple format to use to help get things going between yours and another class, you can use this.
Please give @zbpipe kudos for creating this and sharing it.
I talked to both Zoe and Jen on Skype tonight. I think Skype is the best thing created since the Internet. So much can be done with it in education. I hope to have 2 sessions going at the same time to facilitate small group work. If anyone know how this works or has done it themselves, drop me a line.
So, anyone up for the challenge. I know @zbpipe and @jdeyenberg are! What about you?
If you like to collaborate, present, and/or share with us, drop me a comment and I'll be glad to set up times and dates to network with you this school year.
What are you waiting for?
Tuesday, we have a session with @zbpipe and her grade 6 students in Hamilton, ON, CA. Simple introductions for about 20 minutes to keep it fresh. We might even talk about "The Speech". queue dramatic music.
On Wednesday, we will be talking to @jdeyenberg's grade 5 students in Lethbridge, AB, CA. Again short introductions alternating back and forth across the northern border. Once again, no more than 20 minutes long. We want them to keep wanting more and not getting tired of the experience.
We will have so much fun this week, but it will only be the beginning of great things to come.
Keep checking back and I will keep you up to date on the happenings.
BTW, if you would like a simple format to use to help get things going between yours and another class, you can use this.
Please give @zbpipe kudos for creating this and sharing it.
I talked to both Zoe and Jen on Skype tonight. I think Skype is the best thing created since the Internet. So much can be done with it in education. I hope to have 2 sessions going at the same time to facilitate small group work. If anyone know how this works or has done it themselves, drop me a line.
So, anyone up for the challenge. I know @zbpipe and @jdeyenberg are! What about you?
If you like to collaborate, present, and/or share with us, drop me a comment and I'll be glad to set up times and dates to network with you this school year.
What are you waiting for?
August 26, 2009
Calling for Collaborators!
Today I had my second Skype with a great person from my PLN! I and my 4th grade class had the pleasure of speaking with @kathycassidy and her year ones in SK. We told them a few things of what we learned in 1st grade. The time flew by (10 minutes) and soon we were looking forward to another Skype call from someone else.
Kathy blogged about her first day of school because that is what she does and she wanted to share the THREE experiences she had. I enjoyed the time spent networking with other classes and nations. I also liked the video of @zbpipe reading the poem and telling her story.
I learned a lot about my students. Certain mores need to taught and others have to be experienced. Being a good audience during a presentation that you have never seen before is very hard for my students, but it is our goal to be a better audience with each call. I will absolutely make sure that they get the exposure to other cultures and experiences of collaborating with students outside the classroom, the school, the state and even the nation.
So, anyone up for the challenge. I know @zbpipe and @jdeyenberg are! What about you?
If you like to collaborate, present, and/or share with us, drop me a comment and I'll be glad to set up times and dates to network with you this school year.
What are you waiting for?
Kathy blogged about her first day of school because that is what she does and she wanted to share the THREE experiences she had. I enjoyed the time spent networking with other classes and nations. I also liked the video of @zbpipe reading the poem and telling her story.
I learned a lot about my students. Certain mores need to taught and others have to be experienced. Being a good audience during a presentation that you have never seen before is very hard for my students, but it is our goal to be a better audience with each call. I will absolutely make sure that they get the exposure to other cultures and experiences of collaborating with students outside the classroom, the school, the state and even the nation.
So, anyone up for the challenge. I know @zbpipe and @jdeyenberg are! What about you?
If you like to collaborate, present, and/or share with us, drop me a comment and I'll be glad to set up times and dates to network with you this school year.
What are you waiting for?
August 14, 2009
Funky Pictures
Just in case you haven't seen my tweets on this awesome website here they are again.
And this one:
okay, so I can't find the other tweet but I did tweet it!
I love this online photo-editor. I am using it to edit students pictures for their "newspapers" that will be displayed outside our classroom. I showed them a little of what it can do and they went wild! They were "oooing" and "ahhing" over the effects and what the pictures looked like.
I'm almost done importing and editing their pictures. I'm going to paste the final products as a layout and then cut out the pictures to put in the newspaper. Yes, the "newspaper is a hard copy! We haven't been to the computer lab yet, but when we get there oh what fun it will be. for them
If you haven't checked out www.befunky.com yet, I suggest you do so. But I warn you that it can be addictive to see all the ways your photos can be changed.
And this one:okay, so I can't find the other tweet but I did tweet it!
I love this online photo-editor. I am using it to edit students pictures for their "newspapers" that will be displayed outside our classroom. I showed them a little of what it can do and they went wild! They were "oooing" and "ahhing" over the effects and what the pictures looked like.
I'm almost done importing and editing their pictures. I'm going to paste the final products as a layout and then cut out the pictures to put in the newspaper. Yes, the "newspaper is a hard copy! We haven't been to the computer lab yet, but when we get there oh what fun it will be. for them
If you haven't checked out www.befunky.com yet, I suggest you do so. But I warn you that it can be addictive to see all the ways your photos can be changed.
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