Tuesday, December 20, 2011

Challenge Conclusion

Okay, so now the technology challenge activities are complete but the real challenge begins.  What do you do from here?  How do you take this knowledge and transform the way you teach?  I have found myself making changes throughout this process.  My students and I both love it.  I wish teachers realized how much easier this can be.  Students will work diligently for hours on their technology based projects.  They want to share, collaborate, research, and express themselves this way.  Thank you to Jerry and the whole technology team!

Challenge Five- Web 2.0 Wiki Edit

I had find this type of collaboration super helpful.  I would like to see more collaborative wikis going on in the district.  I see it as a great tool to support the Common Core State Standards.  I think we could work so much smarter rather than harder.  Teachers have to see that it is more benefical to our students and our profession as we share what we are doing, what we see successful and the challenges we are having.  We could make such greater gains.... but I guess who would get the money and/or credit???!!
http://dpsweb2pointoh.pbworks.com/w/page/27461145/3-5%20Mathematics

Monday, December 19, 2011

Challenge Four- Sharing Creative Commons

http://animoto.com/play/1vnQ3tW08FCbXwPBZ6H14A

Creative Commons will work with many of our projects in class.  Students need a good resource for pictures that  have a copyright.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Challenge Three- Web 2.0 Creation

I had a grand time playing on Xtranormal.  I made a movie to introduce the next bbok that we will be reading in my fifth grade literacy group.  I could so see the students getting involved in making their own movies on a variety of options.  I choose to use "the Suitz", a more business and professional looking set but the option are there to intice kids with a more youthful, urban look. 
I lost the video though because of trouble with my account.  I ended up creating an account again.  I made a slightly different video.  I wish it did not cost to use the site.  The account that you start with is granted 300 points.  It is enough to make 2 videos if you do not use the "more expensive" backgrounds and actors.  An education site costs $10 per a month.  Don't these sites realize that schools have no money for this kind of thing.
http://www.xtranormal.com/watch/12661985/colorz-movie
I don't know if it is included on your list but I went to a workshop on digital storytelling yesterday, a great compliment to the technology challenge.  I made an animoto video.  It does not cost and it is super fun.

Enrichment

My Animoto video:  Enrichment

Tuesday, October 4, 2011

Challenge 1: Why Am I doing this?

I strive for a very interactive, challenging AIG classroom.  I know my students are not only ready for the technological advances, they want to use and master them.  While I love a good research poster, I know there is so much more available to them.  These resources can take us to a whole new level of learning, sharing, and interacting. 
I know many students will thrive in an environment where they can use these tools.  It has the potenial to motivate students who are just "hanging out" in my class and make them leaders and engaged learners.  A student can have all the potenial in the world but unless we find the way to tap into that potenialI fear it could so simply waste away.
I have participated in simliar online classes.  I found aspects of the resources I had not considered.  While I feel I know a good bit about Web 2.0 tools, I am hoping to find some resources I may not be familiar with just yet.  I also would like a platform for colaborating on how to use the resources.