My knowledge of Web 2.0 Tools has increased at an exponential pace these past few months. Before learning about Web 2.0, the students in my classroom were communicating and creating, but only with each other. Within the past few months, I have been able to view 1st hand, the effects of Web 2.0, and I am only in the beginning stages of introducing these tools into my classroom. I can only imagine the effects that Web 2.0 will have on students and classrooms in the near future.
As a teacher, I feel that it is important to implement these tools gradually in your classroom. If implemented all at once, I think the teacher, students, and parents will all be a bit overwhelmed and confused about what tool does what job and where it is found. If I had to do it all again, I would start with a class wiki. A class wiki is a common space that can be shared by both you and your students. You could use your class wiki to create an online textbook or a list of helpful websites or links that relate to what you are learning.
Next, I would create a class blog to post assignments and articles. Students can then respond to your posts and articles and to each others comments as well. Now, not only are students finding and posting links, but they are also beginning a conversation that has an infinite amount of viewers. Students will now be writing for an audience outside of class. The students in my classes did not initially think about writing for a larger audience until I added a "Cluster Map" to our blog (which I would recommend). Every time a new dot was added from a new location, students would be sure to tell me that "someone new was looking at our blog." As you get more comfortable with these tools, implementing podcasts, vodcasts, and screencasts only seems natural.
While I was an undergraduate student at Washington & Jefferson College, the education department had a motto, "Docendo Discimus" which means "we learn by teaching." In my classroom, Web 2.0 is allowing my students to do just this, learn by teaching. Students are now creating wikis, podcasts, and vodcasts on the topics that we have learned in class in order to teach or reteach the concept to students who do not understand. I can only imagine their responses when people from "the outside world" begin leaving comments on their creations!
Again this is only the beginning and Web 2.0 has already had a lasting impact on how my students are learning and how they now expect to be taught. Web 2.0 is changing the methods that we use to learn, teach, share, and communicate. From wikis to screencasts, classrooms and schools are beginning to take on a new look. Time can only tell the full effect that Web 2.0 will have on teaching and learning.
Sunday, December 7, 2008
Monday, December 1, 2008
Wiki How-To!
Did you start a Wiki in your classroom, but the students are having trouble adding links to it? This screencast is your solution! I created a screencast using Jing on how to edit and add sites to a wikispaces page. Jing was incredibly easy to use and I will be using it more in the future with my interactive whiteboard! Also, if you are having trouble using Jing there is a blog page with frequent question and answers that I found very helpful.
Check out Jing!
Check out my Wiki to see how the students are using it so far!
Check out Jing!
Check out my Wiki to see how the students are using it so far!
Sunday, November 23, 2008
Podcast: Top 5 Smartboard Misuses
SMARTBoard Lessons Podcast
This week I subscribed to the "SMARTBoard Lessons Podcast." This podcast show shares information, stories, how-to, links, etc. about using SMARTBoards in the classroom. One of my favorite podcasts was the "Top 5 Smartboard Misuses" which gave the misuse and what you can do instead to be a better SMARTBoard educator.
The top 5 misuses of SMARTBoards are:
5. Using the SMARTBoard as a whiteboard (actually writing on it with markers!).
4. Using the SMARTBoard as a screen (just like a permanent pull down screen).
3. Using it as a PowerPoint display device (clicking through the pages, no interaction).
2. Using it as a teacher only tool (no student interaction).
1. Using the SMARTBoard as a worksheet display device (no higher level thinking skills involved).
I truly enjoyed this podcast because I have an interactive whiteboard and I am always looking for new ways to use it in the classroom. I would encourage anyone who has an interactive board to subscribe to this podcast!
In addition to this misuses of SMARTBoards, this podcast also included two great sites to use in the classroom. The first one is called "Big Universe." This site provides online children's books that you can project to your interactive board. Educators can use this site to share picture books instead of using big books. Teachers can also create a "bookshelf" of all of their favorite books. Use it or lose it, at least check it out!
The second site that was shared in this podcast was www.jogtheweb.com. This site allows educators to set up a web quest and add comments to the websites that students are visiting. I absolutely love this site for two reasons. First, students are easily directed to the next site in the quest so teachers do not have to worry about students searching aimlessly through the net. Second, you can comment on the site that they are viewing. Here are some ideas that I think the comments could be used for:
1. If it is an informative website, give your students questions to answer while reading.
2. If it is an interactive site, give your students specific or extra directions to help them complete the activity.
3. If you only want them to read a specific part of the site, you can use the comments to tell your students which section(s) to read.
Check out the podcast and sites provided and let me know what you think!
This week I subscribed to the "SMARTBoard Lessons Podcast." This podcast show shares information, stories, how-to, links, etc. about using SMARTBoards in the classroom. One of my favorite podcasts was the "Top 5 Smartboard Misuses" which gave the misuse and what you can do instead to be a better SMARTBoard educator.
The top 5 misuses of SMARTBoards are:
5. Using the SMARTBoard as a whiteboard (actually writing on it with markers!).
4. Using the SMARTBoard as a screen (just like a permanent pull down screen).
3. Using it as a PowerPoint display device (clicking through the pages, no interaction).
2. Using it as a teacher only tool (no student interaction).
1. Using the SMARTBoard as a worksheet display device (no higher level thinking skills involved).
I truly enjoyed this podcast because I have an interactive whiteboard and I am always looking for new ways to use it in the classroom. I would encourage anyone who has an interactive board to subscribe to this podcast!
In addition to this misuses of SMARTBoards, this podcast also included two great sites to use in the classroom. The first one is called "Big Universe." This site provides online children's books that you can project to your interactive board. Educators can use this site to share picture books instead of using big books. Teachers can also create a "bookshelf" of all of their favorite books. Use it or lose it, at least check it out!
The second site that was shared in this podcast was www.jogtheweb.com. This site allows educators to set up a web quest and add comments to the websites that students are visiting. I absolutely love this site for two reasons. First, students are easily directed to the next site in the quest so teachers do not have to worry about students searching aimlessly through the net. Second, you can comment on the site that they are viewing. Here are some ideas that I think the comments could be used for:
1. If it is an informative website, give your students questions to answer while reading.
2. If it is an interactive site, give your students specific or extra directions to help them complete the activity.
3. If you only want them to read a specific part of the site, you can use the comments to tell your students which section(s) to read.
Check out the podcast and sites provided and let me know what you think!
Saturday, November 15, 2008
Delicious! and Picasa!
I have now added links to my blog for my Delicious websites and my Picasa pictures! Take a look!
I have been using Delicious for about a month now and truly enjoy having all of my sites bookmarked on one site. Especially since I go between 3 computers in the course of a day. I have also directed my students and coworkers to my Delicious site. I have everything from math sites and teaching resources to the weather! This is by far one of the best resources I have been introduced to on the web.
As far as Picasa goes, I have added a few pictures of me and my classroom. As a teacher, I am constantly reiterating the importance of making sure your photos are appropriate on the web. In addition, I want to make sure that my students are safe and I don't necessarily like when there are names with photos. There are too many creepers out there who use photo sharing to find out more information about young children. As of right now I don't think I will be using Picasa for my classroom.
Are there any teachers who are using a photo share in their classroom right now? How are you using it? How do you handle internet safety issues?
I have been using Delicious for about a month now and truly enjoy having all of my sites bookmarked on one site. Especially since I go between 3 computers in the course of a day. I have also directed my students and coworkers to my Delicious site. I have everything from math sites and teaching resources to the weather! This is by far one of the best resources I have been introduced to on the web.
As far as Picasa goes, I have added a few pictures of me and my classroom. As a teacher, I am constantly reiterating the importance of making sure your photos are appropriate on the web. In addition, I want to make sure that my students are safe and I don't necessarily like when there are names with photos. There are too many creepers out there who use photo sharing to find out more information about young children. As of right now I don't think I will be using Picasa for my classroom.
Are there any teachers who are using a photo share in their classroom right now? How are you using it? How do you handle internet safety issues?
Sunday, November 9, 2008
Wiki Contribution
This week I had my first experience contributing to a wiki. I contributed to a wiki that contained techniques for cooperative learning groups. I was a little weary of adding to a wiki but once I found more wikis about educational topics, I felt more at home.
This wiki lists and describes grouping techniques in the classroom including strategies such as think-pair-share, roundtable, numbered heads together, and send a problem. Then in the discussion, other teachers add discussion about the strategies, what works, and variations of the strategies. I added a round table alternative to the site.
My contribution was as follows:
"I use the round table method in my math classroom. However, I change is so that within each group, each desk has a math problem taped to the desk. Students then rotate through the seats in the group until they have solved each problem. Also, I have each student solve the problem at the BOTTOM of the page. Then when they are ready to rotate, they fold the page so that their solution is covered. At the end, each group is assigned a problem and will analyze all of the solutions from one of the math problems. Lastly I have students present the problem and solutions along with common misconceptions or mistakes that were made in solving the problem. After using this method a 2-3 times through different lessons, students were more and more accurate (less computation errors) because they knew their peers would be evaluating it."
I hope that more educators visit and add to this wiki so that teachers can have more and more grouping strategies to pull from!
This wiki lists and describes grouping techniques in the classroom including strategies such as think-pair-share, roundtable, numbered heads together, and send a problem. Then in the discussion, other teachers add discussion about the strategies, what works, and variations of the strategies. I added a round table alternative to the site.
My contribution was as follows:
"I use the round table method in my math classroom. However, I change is so that within each group, each desk has a math problem taped to the desk. Students then rotate through the seats in the group until they have solved each problem. Also, I have each student solve the problem at the BOTTOM of the page. Then when they are ready to rotate, they fold the page so that their solution is covered. At the end, each group is assigned a problem and will analyze all of the solutions from one of the math problems. Lastly I have students present the problem and solutions along with common misconceptions or mistakes that were made in solving the problem. After using this method a 2-3 times through different lessons, students were more and more accurate (less computation errors) because they knew their peers would be evaluating it."
I hope that more educators visit and add to this wiki so that teachers can have more and more grouping strategies to pull from!
RSS Feed
The past week I have been following RSS feeds from sources that contain information mostly about education, technology, and math. Using RSS has been a very time consuming activity for me. I don't check very many websites or blogs on a regular basis (besides my email) so I spent most of my time conducting searches and trying to find either searches or blogs that were worth subscribing to. Fortunately, I was able to find a few quality sites and I am looking forward to receiving their updates as they come. Although I did not hit it off with RSS right away, I think that Will Richardson's ideas on using RSS is the classroom have given me a starting point to start introducing RSS in my classroom. I especially like the idea that when students are conducting research, the research can come right to the student instead of the student searching a million sites!
The best feeds that I received were from Escobedo Tech Talk. On this site, the author has lots of ideas on enhancing your classroom blog. He also adds tech tips such as creating a traveling desktop and cell phone hacking. From his blog, I was able to add a playlist and cluster map to my blog. This is a current blog that was recently started on Sept. 15, 2008, so I am hoping that he will have recent, worthwhile information to share on technology in the classroom.
Another feed that I really enjoyed was Teaching Tips. This sites provides lists such as "50 Useful Blogging Tools for Teachers" and "100+ Resources for Teaching Without Textbooks." I especially like that the ideas on lists like these can be implemented in the classroom right away.
Overall, I think that RSS is a great internet tool for the classroom and hope to find more great sites like these through using RSS.
The best feeds that I received were from Escobedo Tech Talk. On this site, the author has lots of ideas on enhancing your classroom blog. He also adds tech tips such as creating a traveling desktop and cell phone hacking. From his blog, I was able to add a playlist and cluster map to my blog. This is a current blog that was recently started on Sept. 15, 2008, so I am hoping that he will have recent, worthwhile information to share on technology in the classroom.
Another feed that I really enjoyed was Teaching Tips. This sites provides lists such as "50 Useful Blogging Tools for Teachers" and "100+ Resources for Teaching Without Textbooks." I especially like that the ideas on lists like these can be implemented in the classroom right away.
Overall, I think that RSS is a great internet tool for the classroom and hope to find more great sites like these through using RSS.
Sunday, November 2, 2008
Filter Fun Reflections
I have recently read a post entitled "Filter Fun" on http://weblogg-ed.com/. This article written by Will Richardson discusses the pros and cons (mostly the cons) of filtering on school district networks. The points that I would like to discuss are student safety and professional responsibility.
I realize that schools are trying to protect students from viewing any inappropriate or questionable sites, however, I agree with the author in that filtering inhibits the students from being able to filter for themselves in the future. At home, college, and at work, these sites might not be filtered for them and students need to act appropriately when questionable content pops up on the screen. As a teacher, I would not intentionally bring inappropriate content to the screen, however, if it would happen, why not use it as a teachable moment? Who can better address appropriateness than an educator? Students need to be taught how to make good decisions on what is appropriate and what is not. By filtering, we are avoiding the issue and students are left to figure it out when they may not be supervised.
Secondly, I agree that filters insult and inhibit us as educators and as professionals. Why can't I have access to an educational video just because it's on YouTube? Often times when I find a video that is educational and relevant to class, I spend my time trying to find the same video or a similar video on a non-filtered site such as TeacherTube. This is time wasted. I have a few specific examples from this year already. On the first day of school I wanted to show a clip from Finding Nemo about going to school that was on YouTube. I don't own the video and I could not find the same clip elsewhere so I canned the activity. In another instance, I found this interactive site http://www.mrnussbaum.com/fractions.htm, that has interactive practice and games that I can use with the interactive whiteboard in my classroom. Much to my surprise, when I tried to use the site at school, it was blocked! Now in this instance I was able to eventually have the site released, however, why as educators do we constantly need to jump over hurdles?
In conclusion, I agree with the author's suggestion to "have a policy in place to deal with incidents where teachers make poor choices..." and let students and teachers use the Internet to enhance education!
I realize that schools are trying to protect students from viewing any inappropriate or questionable sites, however, I agree with the author in that filtering inhibits the students from being able to filter for themselves in the future. At home, college, and at work, these sites might not be filtered for them and students need to act appropriately when questionable content pops up on the screen. As a teacher, I would not intentionally bring inappropriate content to the screen, however, if it would happen, why not use it as a teachable moment? Who can better address appropriateness than an educator? Students need to be taught how to make good decisions on what is appropriate and what is not. By filtering, we are avoiding the issue and students are left to figure it out when they may not be supervised.
Secondly, I agree that filters insult and inhibit us as educators and as professionals. Why can't I have access to an educational video just because it's on YouTube? Often times when I find a video that is educational and relevant to class, I spend my time trying to find the same video or a similar video on a non-filtered site such as TeacherTube. This is time wasted. I have a few specific examples from this year already. On the first day of school I wanted to show a clip from Finding Nemo about going to school that was on YouTube. I don't own the video and I could not find the same clip elsewhere so I canned the activity. In another instance, I found this interactive site http://www.mrnussbaum.com/fractions.htm, that has interactive practice and games that I can use with the interactive whiteboard in my classroom. Much to my surprise, when I tried to use the site at school, it was blocked! Now in this instance I was able to eventually have the site released, however, why as educators do we constantly need to jump over hurdles?
In conclusion, I agree with the author's suggestion to "have a policy in place to deal with incidents where teachers make poor choices..." and let students and teachers use the Internet to enhance education!
Intro
Hi! My name is Lindsey Mitko and I am starting this blog to reflect on current articles and practices in incorporating technology into the classroom. I currently teach 7th grade math and am hoping to use much of what I learn to enhance learning my classroom.
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