Tuesday, September 4, 2012

11 "Techcessful"

1.  I certainly like and will use google docs, translateit!, maxjournal, and online dictionaries.  Regardless of how big the leap to digital, a leap starts somewhere.  I am transitioning from dictionaries to locate vocabulary to using ipads and online dictionaries.  Will also practice journal conversations on the ipad.

2.  I already have enjoyed using more technology in my classroom but I know I need to expand and learning needs to become more interactive and more student tech. centered.  There is that saying, lead, follow or get out of the way.  I hope I can be part of the lead group or at least follow where others have gone before to make my classroom more "techcessful".

3.  I truly enjoyed 11 Tools.  I did not know what to expect.  I was presently surprised with the information and tools presented.  More importantly, I plan to use the tools and continue to use the 11 Tools Site as a source for information.

Thanks SBISD.


Tool 10 Digital Drivers License

1.  Students need to understand that digital content is hard to erase.  Be careful what you post.  What is cyber bullying?  Online laws or rules.  Beware of plagiarism.

2. Cybersmart Teens and another site I found called the Nine Elements.

3.  Open discussion about appropriate vs. inappropriate behavior online.  Real life situations, share examples.  Several youtube videos about online safety and being a good digital citizen.

4.  Creating a digital citizenship contract that the parents and students will sign.  Something concrete to reflect upon.

Friday, August 31, 2012

Tool 9 C=Congruent and Accountable

Their has to be a goal in mind.  Teaching using technology has to have planning or or or you might just be wasting time in a cool way.

I like the idea of accountability and the use of questions after workstations or practice.  Once again,  what is the objective/plan?

Maybe Learning Games for Kids or Thinkfinity.  Some of the lessons were too low level so would have to do some research on apps. etc. to see what will benefit my students.

I really like the idea of using the ipads for Partner Journals or for that matter Group Journals.  Use the ipads to pose a question or prompt or just a conversation and then have students add to the "activity".   For ESL students this is again a great way to (learn see touch) a new language.

Tool 8 Get The Tech. Out

We have to put the technology in our students hands.  I know it is scary to just say explore but I believe we have to.  

After exploring some of the resources, once again I see some great apps. and usages for ESL students.  The first one that comes to mind is translateit!  Like google translate except it's an app.  This is great for core teachers who have ESL students needing assistance.  A colleague recently used a translate sight to input English Questions and to get Spanish Questions.  It worked perfectly and will help students find success.

Fluency21.com has a lot of great apps.  It's just finding the time or letting students explore and see what will work for them.

Maxjournal another great app. for journaling.

My goal is to get the ipads and netbooks out.  Explore.


Thursday, August 30, 2012

Tool 7 Meet the World

This section of 11 Tools resonated with me.  I immediately thought about my students from Korea, Germany, Greece, Iran, Iraq, China, Costa Rica, Mexico, Thailand, and Guatemala.

Using the flat classroom idea to make connections with my students countries.  I know many of my students miss their countries and what a great way for them to share and reconnect via the web.

Objective would be introduce and share cultures.  A great way to start would be to have students submit questions to be answered.  Perhaps students could be asked to share various ideas about food, sports, people, religion, entertainment, and education.

Depending on the country or countries chosen to visit virtually, a great time of year might be before the holiday season of November and December.

I think I would enjoy using Oneworld Classrooms and Edmodo.  I have never skyped but I am sure my students could teach me.




Tool 6 So Socratic

I honestly like how embedded in the 11 Tools Presentation is the reminder, some might say constant, to use open ended questions to create higher order thinking.   It truly is a great reminder and will also create more communication opportunities for my students.

POLL EVERYWHERE IS GREAT AND USEFUL AND WILL KEEP MY STUDENTS ATTENTION.

http://www.polleverywhere.com

VOXOPOP IS GREAT FOR MY ELL STUDENTS.  ANYTHING TO GET THEM TAAAALKING.

http://www.voxopop.com/

Tool 5 2.0 IT

Wow wow wow.  I like the premise and ideas that these web-based tools 24/7.   Great idea for my students that have computers.  When I polled my students yesterday, it was about half with computers and half without so that poses some difficulties for me wanting to place work on-line such as in google docs.

That being said, we will do our best.

I really enjoyed http://www.makebeliefscomix.com/.    A super way for my students to create story maps and summaries and a number of things.  Great use for poetry as well.  I can see them recreating Romeo and Juliet in their own words.

Number two and three choices are animoto and google docs.  Animoto and anything visual will be a great help to my students.