Video From TeacherTube
Video From YouTube
Click on comments and jump start the conversation! Read contributions made by others and comment on them. If you look at the Blog Archive you can see the comments made by others who attended the March 2009 class. Sometimes it is fun to see what others have said. The Twins will also be right in the middle of this conversation. The more we contribute, the more we will all gain!
Click on comments and jump start the conversation! Read contributions made by others and comment on them. If you look at the Blog Archive you can see the comments made by others who attended the March 2009 class. Sometimes it is fun to see what others have said. The Twins will also be right in the middle of this conversation. The more we contribute, the more we will all gain!
26 comments:
Each contributor stated important elements to be considered for the learning process to continue for the "independent" child. Technology in some way(they named various)is an everyday part of their world. We, as educators must become part of their lives by allowing and providing the means to expand the world of technology for the child to stay committed to the educational process.
Right on mabo! Teachers are now more than ever are going to have to allow much more independance in our rooms and let our students explore. They need to have the ability to analyize and communicate what they are learning. Technology is only going to become even more advanced as the years go on.
Hi Mabo & Lisa, thanks for jumping right into the conversation! We have so little time face to face to talk about so many important ideas that are raised in this class. As a very easy to use web 2.0 tool, our blog provides a great place for sustaining our discourse.
What strategies have you used to become more connected to the everyday technology our kids embrace? For me, most recently, I've entered the world of Facebook and Twitter because I realize our kids are increasingly more socially connected via electronic networks.
One of Lisa's comments is reminiscent of something Neil Postman said once, "our kids enter school as question marks and leave as periods". In what ways do you think we can use technology, specifically web 2.0, to maximize on that sense of wonder, perhaps through more exploration, analysis, and communication, all while providing rigorous and relevant learning experiences?
You know teaching really isn't rocket science...it is MUCH more challenging than that!
Keep the conversation going! We all have so much to share, and learn, from each other!
BJ & Susan
Being involved in lower grade technologically, I feel challenged. But, open to the ideas and sites available for them. I consider this level a more directed level such as noggin and disney, pbs, and educational sites not yet considered. I feel this means of sharing will open avenues not yet considered--but would be benefical for advacing the learning for this age group .
Hey BJ,
I am learning more and more daily on the use of technology and as I do I see the deficits we have in it's use in our teaching. But we can only use the things provided. I can't wait to get my smart board and then I will sail away with much more activities. With only three computers in the room there is not enough time for kids to get much practice. Another thing most of our students don't have them at home so if they get any computer time it is at school.I try to use technology as much as possible and love to use the avery key I have right now. I can go to virtual sites and let the students experience these sites as a group.I have not joined facebook but have been invited, my whole family uses this site to communicate with each other. (I learned to like Kids Pix with you when I interned in 01)
I cannot view the video! Anyone else having problems?
In the meantime, I wanted to share that I have just entered the wiki and blog worlds, and I'm excited about both!
My brother has had a blog for several years (He requests anonymity because he writes a lot about our family!), and I've always wanted to get started. I'm checking out getting a domain with my name--one of my 3 sons already has the .com--but .org and .net are still available.
The blog "feels" more adult to me.
The wiki has my 2nd graders EXCITED and EAGER to WRITE. I have never been able to say that about any other approach that I have taken. I know that everyone has to figure out what works best for them, but my first problem was that students would post and could not finish what they wanted to say before logging out. The solution? I gave them each a page, so they can go back and edit--which is usually going back to finish.
I even had one ask if he could write a comment about his classmates' writing.
I write all the time--usually to my patient Sunday School classmates. It's good to have several new venues.
See you Monday! (Although I'll probably post real answers posted to the assignments a little later.)
Hey Mabo, we are planning a class for next year that you might interest you. Be on the look out for "Primarily Web 2.0". Hopefully you will take away some good stuff from Rigor & Relevance & Web 2.0 too! Thanks for all the feedback! See ya Monday. BJ & Susan
Hey Lisa, I am with you on the daily learning! I am increasingly aware of one thing---the more I learn, the more I know how very much I don't know! How about that? The technology is truly a rapidly evolving and moving target. I remind myself all the time of the human aspect of it all--that it's really all about the people and the learning. That keeps me focused. Student teaching in 2001--wow, it really seems like only yesterday! I look forward to seeing you! BJ
Hey Patricia, So sorry to learn you are having issues with the video clip. It really is quite inspiring and true. So cool that your second graders are so engaged with the wiki--what a cool "problem" to have, particularly with writing. Woo-hoo! We will use the digitaltwins wiki as part of our class too. We hope you will continue to share about your experiences with your kids and the wiki. We want to read it! Would you mind posting the URL to it? Please...While you're at it, go ahead and share the link to your blog as well. Cool stuff! So glad you've ventured right into the big wide world of Web 2.0!! Hang on--it's really an exciting ride, especially while clinging to our pedagogy as we go! BJ & Susan
Hey Everybody!!
Change is difficult..it makes us uncomfortable, we are uncertain and we don't like it...I am reminded of Doug Johnson's Rules in his little book Machines are the easy Part; People are the hard Part. "Change anything and someone is not going to like it." (he also said that to affect change you have to have a thick skin and a be on a mission from God. Hey,it worked for the Blues Brothers)
We all live in the same world, our classrooms sometimes exist in a bubble, where the real world is "out there" and our teaching and learning has no connection. Oh but what to do??
The word "educate"comes from the Latin educare, which means, "to draw out" the student into a wider world of knowledge. (Note the use of "wider-world")
If we are able to change our ideas about which tools to utilize to educate,then our students will have the best of both worlds. Why use a shovel when you have a backhoe to dig a foundation?
My blog can be found at:
http://patrioticpatricia.blogspot.com/
I'm outlining my "Lightening the Load" presentation this weekend, so please post some responses to that! Also, I hope to buy my new laptop within the next couple of weeks--there's a place to give me your recommendations there as well!
I need to go in and give others access to the wiki. My students and I (and just a couple of others) have access to it. Since my students are writing, I am trying to be as protective as I can. I'm watching TV and posting--so I'll get right on it!
Quick question:
I know how to create a link my own blog, but do I have that ability in YOURS?
Patricia,
I was attempting to do the same thing when commenting from my personal gmail...wasn't intuitive about how...so I am doing a help search..if I figure it out, I will let you know.
I agree that we need to stop fighting the technology students are using daily outside of school. We need to be able to embrace it and use it as educators. I like what the one person said that if they were building a school today it wouldn't be made of bricks and mortar. There is so much more to learning then sitting inside a four walled classroom. There is a whole other world out there. Using the technology available to us will allow us to show students and students to show us that world.
Hello Everyone!
I'm very excited about this class and becoming familiar with the tools discussed in the video. I am a media specialist in an elementary school and I am eager to see how I can weave some of these into library lessons next year...maybe as a book club, etc.
Hi Deb,
You will have a great time with Web 2.0 tools in the media center! You might enjoy taking a look at the examples of Library Blogs at this site http://eduscapes.com/sms/overview/web.html#5. (Scroll down a bit). How fun it could be to facilitate a book club via web 2.0 (a blog or wiki perhaps) and get kids from other places involved too. An author might even stumble upon your book club and join it as well! It has happened! Will Richardson has written extensively (on his blog and in his book) about his (and his students') experiences when Sue Monk Kidd joined their discussion of her book, "Secret Life of Bees"! So go with your idea...it has so much potential for engaging and enriching the reading experiences of the cherubs at your school!
A book club! Second graders could do that! Wow!
(I need to get another word for WOW--but it's just too perfect!)
With 11 days left, I am having to control myself. I could happy spend 10 or 12 hours a day on all this new stuff!
Thanks!
Oops--HAPPILY
I am enjoying the feedback from everyone. I become "inspired" when I hear of new avenues to take children or are they taking us!?! Little people(primary) are so ready and adaptable to change. I take daily lessons from them. I will keep my eyes open Susan, for the oppotunity coming for web 2.0. This class has been so great!!
Another "plus" for class publishing!
My students had the assignment of writing a "dynamic paragraph" about 2nd grade. It was the only assignment that was supposed to be returned this week. I was a little perturbed that 5 students did not return anything and one person wrote a paragraph about his baseball team. (I know, I know--HE'S writing, and he does not seem to be the kind of kid who picks up a piece of paper and pencil and writes for fun on the weekends!)
As I was placing reminders in the agendas of those missing the assignment, I said, "Come on, guys--we're going to put these in our class wiki and the parents are going to read them next week when we have our end-of-year celebration." I saw a little "What???" expression on the face of two of my students. I will be VERY surprised if they don't have great paragraphs by Monday.
We'll see--but I think I just "discovered" another plus--motivation to be read by their peers. ("Discovered?" You know--"There's nothing new under the sun, but it just hit me!)
I really enjoyed the class and couldn't wait to share the information with the teachers I work with. Some of the kids loved taking their spelling words and creating their own "poster" from wordle. There is so many valuable technology tools out there it amazes me that as schools we still do so much paper and pencil tasks. We have to reprogram our brains to use these worthwhile tools.
Jennifer Bray -
Right when I left the class last week, I called my sister (a Math teacher) and told her about collecting data using cell phones - she loved it! Also, I let my students use their iPods while they worked on making their fish book - you could hear a pin drop! It was amazing! Thank you for all of the ideas for increasing the use of technology in my classroom! I just wish that I had the technology to use with all of my students!
I really thought the things taught in this class were very interesting, and I can see how they could be used in the classroom to teach children technology skills. It seems that with each day, technology is taking over written material, and since children seem to be so excited about technology, incorporating it into the classroom seems to be a good way to help children enjoy learning.
Change, inevitable change. The key is absolutely to jump in feet first unafraid. It's really mind boggling but I plan to take one thing at a time. Add one new thing at a time. I created a Facebook account but haven't had time to develop my page yet. The last statement in the video really stuck with me, "It's the death of education, but it's the dawn of learning." I'm so excited by the prospect of participating in this revolution! BJ and Susan, thank-you so much for offering us this opportunity!
Obviously I am still in the "learning to change" place! I will test this before I type my comment for the 3rd time...
Now I feel like I have really learned something tonight! To comment on "Learning to Change.. and Changing to Learn", the interesting part for me was the idea of standardized testing as a waste of time. Isn't it strange that these tests just prevented many students in the county from graduating? Yet, this video points out that we should be assisting our students in the ability to not just memorize but to be able to know how to locate, process & communicate new information. Changing to learn will take not only teachers but entire systems!
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