Make it An Adventure!

  

During our PLC meeting on Friday, we were able to meet with Jason Schrage.  He had a trail mix of all sorts of ideas, tools, and successful strategies to share with us that he's implemented into his 8th grade social studies classroom at Horseheads Middle School.   His tech point-of-view involves... Hands-on experiences -> reflect and share - mix in tech components + so much more! In other words, get outside and do something.  Then come back to the classroom to reflect and share.  The sharing aspect would be where the technology comes into the equation. 

Since he knew we were focusing on Skype connections this year, he recommended using Read Across America as he and his wife had done to celebrate the day!  How can you connect your readers on March 2nd?  Next year, be sure to check out Read Across the Planet.  His class also participated in Reading for the Record on Twitter last year to see how many could participate in reading the same book.

Face to face conversations are essential, but to take it further through hands-on projects.  Often says to his students - Here's your goal, here's a flip cam, do it.  Excited and nervous students get to approach a fun project with a major creative component.  Mr. Schrage wants to make his student's learning "sticky"! 

Lego Project - part of Industrial Industry Unit - assembly line/race - hands-on element to take concept further

WWII - Teach-In Day /Wiki - community involvement - teams of students interview w/ snowball mic and cameras

VoiceThread - Study Task - PLN added tips and tricks to the students, rest was to guide in test prep

Skype/Remote Response/IWB - old multiple-choice state test ?s/competition format w/ another class

Perfect Quiz - Toolbox Pro - take a quiz unlimited # of times - perfect practice

Compass Course - flag markers w/ numbers and content-based questions/clues

Gaggle - Filtered email

StudyBoost - using IM and text messaging to study

So, get up and get moving, keep your objective in sight, guide your students through content with alternative gear, grab your backpack of tech tools, get creative, and embark on the hike!

A Close-Knit Classroom

Last month, our PLC team was able to learn from Andrew Kauffman, a third grade teacher and technology in education explorer from Indiana.  He shared with us some of the projects and initiatives that have proved to be successful.  Mr. Kauffman's classroom is a caring environment mixed with innovative strategies where kids love to learn. 

First, he explained how his students have used Marzano's approah with VoiceThread to have a conversation about what a word really means.  They use the tech tool to create a definition.  Andrew also explained how it could be done in reverse with student-created pictures and play guess the word and have a reason to back up your guess. 

Brain Pop has become the basis for classroom discussions, as the videos can be paused and turned into conversation starters.  The supplemental activites are wonderful and as he put it, "cement the learning" more. 

Andrew's one reading group is designing a comic strip and writing the script to correspond with a book they've read.  They've been able to contact the author and will be sending it to him.  What a neat way to get kids excited about reading! 

This year he's been able to create a caring classroom environment through knitting.  His class started a kidblog and have been learning from a local store owner.  According to Mr. Kauffman, "They have done amazing things in terms of relationships and students helping students, it's built a classroom community that is quite a bit stronger."

Another resource he recommended was utilizing PBS's free teacher resources.  The video clips and lessons have alligned with the standards that his district follows.

Thank you Mr. Kauffman for inspiring us to go beyond the tech and create connections withing the classroom through numerous ways!
 

How do you create a close-knit classroom where students are excited to learn?   

Behind our Digital Hallways

Our school does not lack in the tech department.  In fact, most classrooms have 5 computers, at least half of the classrooms have SMARTboards, we have wonderful access to an open Internet, BOCES resources abound, iPads are floating around, plus we have the BEST team of people!  People make the technology! 

Mike Frame, our Chief Information Officer, is better known as the man who knows everything tech-related at our school.  I still laugh when I call him and the first advice he always offers is, "Have you tried re-starting your computer?"  But, it's SO much more than that.  He's organized, knowledgeable, and does his best to see that the ideas we have about incorporating technology into our classroom can become a reality. 

At our last PLC meeting, we requested to meet with Mike.  We took our first PLC "field trip" across the parking lot and up flights of endless stairs to his office over in the High School.  We had an informal discussion about upcoming plans and goals of his department, as well as shared some aspects that we've found beneficial about our network with the two members of our PLC that are new to our faculty this year.  For example, our oceans folder is a wonderful way to pass things back and forth between you and your students.  Next, we shared with him all the random questions that were on our mind.  The image above depicts what I envisioned our network to look like.  While there were some similarities, when we entered Mike's arctic tundra where all the magic happens, he was so proud to show us something the size of a dresser drawer that housed all of the district's files. 

Thank you Mike for taking the time to meet with us.  The success we experience here at RCS isn't soley due to our wonderful computer network, but to people like you that afford us opportunities and are always available to help us along the way!

When Voice Is More Than Enough

We've all been integrating more tech into the curriculum in our classrooms.  Doors have been opened virutally through Skype and the connections with other classrooms have been meaningful.  So, for our December PLC meeting the focus altered on utilizing our new Snowball microphones more through Podcasting.   

If you haven't checked out our conversation we had during the meeting in the last blog post, be sure to.  We used Vocaroo, the simplist way to record out there, and implemented the tool in a way that we plan to with our students.  The discussion we had went over numerous tools, ideas, as well as answered questions that came up. 

Our virtual meeting was with Chris Hyde, a Technology Integrator from Pennsylvania.  During the Skype call, we discussed various elements of Podcasting including:

1. Way to Publish Student Work - new way to "hang" stuff in the hall

2. Station/Center - tools and equipment ready for students to create

3. Review/Practice -downloadable option to student iPods and use at home to study

4. RSS - subscriptions

5. Student Showcase - way to explain another project that students have done

6. Tools - Audacity, Aviary, and GarageBand

7. Ideas - How can't you use a podcast?...so many ideas were thrown out, my mind is now drawing a blank!

He shared with us a wiki full of resources about Podcasting and a LiveBinder packed full of samples, help, and options.  Be sure to click on the tabs to find valuable information to get you started and inspired to try more!  He also referred to his Tech Tips Podcasts that offers a mixed bag of all sorts.  Chris works directly with classroom teachers and many of us are looking forward to connecting with them via Skype during the second half of the year. 

It was neat to see how since our last meeting, a mere week and a half ago, how the teachers on our PLC have already implemented the use of Vocaroo.  For example, Melissa's students used in along with the reading stories that correspond with our series and Nikki's students used it to make communication smoother with their ePals compared to lengthy typed messages.  It's nice and simple, plus gives you an embed code for your site or blog, a direct link to share, or allows you to email it to the receipients that you'd like.   

How do you use podcasts with your students? 

Please share your ideas with us. 

Podcast Conversation...

Here's the recording of our conversation regarding podcasting.
We've tried to focus on the following outline -
1. Tools for Podcasting
2. Ideas for Student Podcasts
3. Questions for Getting Started

Quick...Catch the Pile!

Story writing + the creative component of tech =
student author success! 
There are SO many ways to create, write, share, design, produce, and illustrate a STORY, add the DIGITAL component and your piles of resources can just topple over!  With all the choices and options, I have to consider what's the best to use for the objective that I'm trying to have my students reach.  Since we are focusing on tech integration, connecting classrooms within our school and with others virtually, this PLC's session focused on digital storytelling.   

PLC Meeting Reflection:
We got off to a great start.  Immediately, we discussed some things on our mind and by doing so created our agenda for the afternoon.  We shared ideas, concerns, asked each others' opinions, and enjoyed another virtual chat thanks to our webcam.

Karen Ditzler, Elementary Technology Integrator, from Dillsburg, PA was able to connect with us for our virtual meeting this session.  We've worked together numerous times, as well as shared tech integration ideas.  She is a truly inspirational educator and I couldn't wait for her to share one of her specialities with our PLC - digital storytelling! She shared her Progressive Story Project, VoiceThread, Picture Book Maker, and Mixbook with us.  Not only did she walk through each tool using Skype's screen share, but she also shared with us examples of each.  Along the way she offered tips and tricks for implementation. 

Personally, I really liked her take on Picture Book Maker.  I've utilized the other tools presented and had seen Picture Book Maker tweeted on Twitter, but hadn't tried it out yet.  With it's simplistic options, one can create a book in a sitting to print and share personally.  Publishing online is impressive, but having a little book to hold is... vintage in a way...yet because of that aspect almost more appealing in certain cases.  Last school year, I was award Teacher of the Year by the CASLS.  When I attended the banquet, one of the library media specialists was retiring from another district.  During her farwell speech, she'd mentioned how special it is for children to hold books....real books....and to never forget that.  She was referencing the new digital books and the ever-changing technology.  Although I'm an advocate of technology, I couldn't help but to realize the importance of what she was saying.  So, admist publishing online and reading online, this was a nice little reminder that printable books are very valuable to kids.  Thank you Karen for reminding us of this!  

Goals:
Try out some new tools for:
1. Class video of pics - random or themed
2. Small group - collaborative storytelling
3. Whole class modeling of Theme 2 Writing Project - description

Participate in our 3rd Progressive Story Project:
1. Start a web - invite others to collaborate
2. Decide on illustrations in a new way
3. Encourage use of pens and video comments when narrating
4. Skype with other classes involved

Let's get writing! 

Wikis and More...

I have just entered the world of WIKIS and I have no idea what I am doing. :) I really want to create a place where my students can share their thoughts and ideas and display their work. Is this the best place to do this?

My personal goals: I feel that I have met most of my personal goals for our PLC over the past month. I am still struggling with center ideas. I am open to ANY ideas. Mrs. Shawley and myself have really taken a liking to SKYPING with our classes. Our students are developing relationships virtually. I am hoping over the next month to come we will be able to take this to the next level and really make these experiences educational and meaningful to our students. :) I am becoming more familiar with the webcam and snowglobe, but I would really like to explore more avenues of using these in my classroom.

I have become a huge fan of the website Around the World with 80 Schools. I have met teachers from all over the world! It is so exciting. My only concern is that I am having trouble finding a focus or getting started with them. We never know exactly what to do with SKYPE or how to go about introducing our classes... etc. I want this process to be more natural and comfortable- rather than awkward. I would be open to any suggestions on how to put curriculum first and add technology later and make it all flow. I feel like I am thinking of really neat technology ideas, but they are not really fitting into the material I need to be teaching.

Still moving forward and ready to learn new things today at our PLC meeting. :)