Parts of a Book Student Artifact

This is a Powerpoint presentation, but I was having trouble uploading it. So, I turned it into a Photostory. I would prefer, however, that the students create a Powerpoint presentation. It is simpler and will work better for the K-2 students.

Would Socrates approve of WebQuests?

Yes, I believe that Socrates would approve of WebQuests. Socrates was not one for learning in the same environment all of the time, and I believe that he would find WebQuests a great way for students to learn in the classroom, at home, anywhere they could access the internet. I also feel that, even though he wouldn't want us to completely focus on just the internet and its resources for learning, he would love it and use it as much as he could. It would help to answer his questions, and lead him to more questions from those answers. He would also be able to grasp what others may be learning, and share that with those he was teaching. The internet is an amazing tool, and as long as it is not the primary learning tool, it can lead to great learning and assistance in that learning, and I believe that is what Socrates would say.

The task that I feel my WebQuest falls under is the Retelling Task. Although it is not just retelling to the students the parts of the book, it is just teaching and allowing the students to teach me, as well as other classmates and family, about what they knew, what they learned, and what they would like to know, along with some other creative tasks.

Until next time...

WebQuest Rough Draft

Here's the link to my WebQuest! Feel free to leave me comments here with questions, concerns, etc. :)

The WebQuest I Plan to Edit

Click here to view the link to the WebQuest I would like to edit. I plan to make changes to the introduction, task, and process. The WebQuest is good and has a great lesson, but is not as kid friendly as I think I could be. I want to make it a little more fun for the kids, instead of just words on the page.

(Sorry this posting is late. I was at home and was unable to access the internet.)

Digital Essays Vs. Written Essays

After reading Orchestrating the Media Collage by Jason Ohler and watching The Power of One, as well as creating my own photo essay, I have a new respect and understanding of the topic of whether or not digital essays should be allowed in lieu of written essays, at least once. In my own opinion, I believe that it would be a great experience for students to create at least one digital or photo essay. The Power of One proved that it can be successfully done, and that the students can learn the information just as well, or even better than they would by doing a written essay. The NETS for Teachers also shows that through the following standards:

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

-and-

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:

a.	advocate, model, and teach safe, legal, and ethical use of digital information and technology, including respect for copyright, intellectual property, and the appropriate documentation of sources.

With digital essays, teachers not only get to tap into a student's creative potential, but also teach about copyright laws, proper use of multimedia, etc.
I believe that, in my classroom with the proper age level, I would like to incorporate at least one digital essay because our children need to learn about technology with the changing times, and this is one great way to teach them.

Until next time...

WebQuest In-Class Activity

The best WebQuest was Poetry of War because of it's creative idea, along with it's well organized web-site with great multimedia use to set an atmosphere for the site. The second best was Creative Encounters for it's child-friendly site, creative theme and ideas, etc. Our worst were John Wilkes Booth, because of it's chaos and having too much information for the children to really take in and remember. The other was the landfill because there was not much information for the students, such as websites, and it was very plain.

My Best Teacher

You can also view my video here.

Resume

Please click here to view my resume.

A Look Into Using Blogs In The Classroom

As this class began, I found myself wondering just how a blog could really be used well in a classroom. When I was in elementary school, some technology was used, but it was not very advanced and was used very little. So, of course, the idea of blogging in the classroom seemed very odd and wild to me.
However, as I read The Joy of Blogging by Anne P. Davis and Ewa McGrail, I began to see just how a blog could be used. The students in Georgia were so excited to hear from teachers around the world, and share what they were learning with their families, friends, and other children across the continents. I was also glad to see some of the blogs that are being used in classrooms today.
One in particular, however, caught my attention. Indiana Mysteries was from elementary school students in Connersville, IN who were preparing for the visit of an author/scientist name Ron Hirshi. They decided to create mysteries about their native area in Indiana to share with Ron and the rest of the world as they visited their blog. It was so neat to see the pictures of objects they would post, as well as the clues they would give for people to guess at the objects. They were very creative with it, but learning in an interactive way as well. As I looked at the NETS for Teachers, I began to see several that fit with this lesson idea, but two stuck out to me.
The first is 1a) Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers: a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness. The teachers that were involved in that project gave the students an outlet to reach their creativity, not only through thinking of the mysteries, but also through developing the blog, choosing the pictures, etc.
The second NETS standard, 2a, also went along the same lines: Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers: a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity. The teachers could have just told the kids to bring an object in and see if anyone knew what it was. However, they decided to have the students branch out more. They were able to discover what an object was, learn about and do research on that object, then share it with those around the world and hear their ideas. It was almost a little lesson plan each time they chose an object because they would have to learn about it and share it with others.
I commend the teachers in Connersville, Indiana for reaching out and helping their students learn as much as they can about the new technologies available. I bet their 1-6 graders know more about technology than I as a 19-year old college sophomore do. This was a great learning idea, as well as use of technology and creativity. Hats off to you!

Until next time...

Links to the sites mentioned above:

The Joy of Blogging - http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/mar09/vol66/num06/The_Joy_of_Blogging.aspx
Indiana Mysteries - http://authorvisitsindiana.blogspot.com/
NETS for Teachers - http://www.iste.org/Content/NavigationMenu/NETS/ForTeachers/2008Standards/NETS_for_Teachers_2008.htm