Presentation Day

So, here it is! We've collaborated on how to approach the presentation, met extra times after school to finalize our thoughts, finished up our own Glogs, have the group Glog printed for the Learning Fair, and have a plan for sharing what we've learned with others during the Session.  We can't wait.  We're going to even try a live stream of our 30 min presentation using USTREAM.  Check out our Glog below and what we're each going to focus on, but be sure to check out the live stream in our next post! 

Initiating Change

For our final PLC meeting we were able to have one last virtual meeting with Rob Griffith, social studies teacher at Hinsdale Central School, and be inspired by his approach in the classroom.  He focuses on student needs and building relationships, not technology.  While utilizing Project Based Learning, his students have been immersed in a cooperative and connected classroom.  Many of the projects are highlighted on the classroom blog, transPARENTSsee.  He shared with us the project his students were currently working on together and how certain tasks were assigned to ensure participation from all involved: manager, facilitator, reporter, and challenger.  Mr. Griffith inspires students to think, create, and present in today's digital world.

Rob is initiating change not only in his classroom, but in various areas.  His morning message at HCS has been a challenge to those in the district.  Educational sites and tools are being viewed for their educational potential and are now open for all to learn with.  His professional blog MyEduNotions shares his educational musings.  Rob has been presenting at educational technology conferences to share his students successes.  Inspiring others around him to do the same, we appreciated his encouraging words that will assist in our team's efforts in Teaching4Tomorrow.    

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