Mr. G's Classroom Reflections

My Favorite Technology Tools Revisited

tgrant14 — Sat, 17 Jul 2010 16:27:09 +0000

As I’ve discovered tools and sites through searching the web, reading blogs, sitting in on a class (eci831), and following others on Twitter, I have been able to try out and experiment with a number of web tools and sites. Some have proven more useful to my situation than others. Lately, I’ve been thinking about which of these tools or sites are my favorites and asking myself why I’ve found them to be a favorite.

So, in no particular order:

Screencasting. The two services I have used are screenr and screencast-o-matic. A year ago I didn’t know screencasting was so easily possible. Currently, I’m using it to demonstrate math concepts, potentially making my teaching continually available for my students, and I suppose others. The next idea is for my students to create their own screencast demonstrations for each other to view.
Diigo. I love the ability to highlight and annotate portions of websites. My next idea is for students to have an account and join the class group. I can then guide research, point out interesting facts, ask for reactions, or give feedback.
Google Custom Search Engine. This tool provides more focused search results and when combined with diigo bookmarks (I figured out one way to get diigo bookmarks to my search engine) it is possible to quickly get a large number of sites to the CSE. Preferences allow for including a single page of a site rather than the whole site, information not relevant to your immediate needs is then not included in the search results. A google marker tool can be added to the browser toolbar, making it easy to add future sites to your search engine. I embedded the search engine on my wiki for students to be able to easily access it.
Wikispaces. This site is really the only wiki that I have tried in any depth. It is good for easily organizing information in one location, delivering information, and allowing a group to collaborate on a project. The wiki can easily be managed so that some pages are only able to be edited by the organizer of the wiki. I have a wiki approved for educational use, which means it is ad free and I can also control who is able to view the wiki. The next step is to have a class/groups collaborate on a page within the wiki.
Facebook and Twitter. These are two sites I had previously avoided, feeling that I had no use for them. With Facebook, I have enjoyed reconnecting with friends from high school and college. It has also made family living out of town seem closer. Twitter has been a professional development tool for me. By following other professionals I have found a lot of resources, received great teaching ideas, and read interesting, relevant articles.
Google docs. From a personal standpoint it has been convenient to have files available from any internet connected computer. I have uploaded numerous files that otherwise were stuck to a particular machine or had to be toted around on a flash drive. It has been nice to have some files readily available at school or home while working on lessons. I see enormous potential for sharing and collaborating among students.

These are the sites/tools that I use the most often and plan on being able to most quickly incorporate into my teaching. There certainly are many more useful and fun sites available that I have explored. Any thoughts or suggestions on potential tools/sites that I really should be using more would be appreciated.

First Year of More Intensive Tech Integration

tgrant14 — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 02:08:21 +0000

One year ago I began exploring new ways to communicate, learn, and teach using the internet. One revelation was that although students may be perceived to be tech savvy and they certainly are adept in particular tech areas, it is wrong to assume that they will “automatically pick up” applications that are used during class. I need to spend more time preparing the students for how the applications work and for allowing some “play” time with the application. I also need to spend more time with applications I want to use in the classroom, which has been one of my late night tasks this summer.

I continue to struggle with formulating a plan for more effectively and efficiently using a wiki with my classes. My ideas are pretty jumbled on the topic, but I’m going to keep moving forward. Google Docs were one of my favorite and more successful implementations. It was nice to be able to comment on a group’s work as it was happening. I like to teach by asking questions and I could insert questions into their work in real time. I was immediately able to provide feedback that had students clarifying, being more complete with a response, and interacting more effectively.

I would like to go into the school year with a more complete plan on using my wiki as a resource and a place to display student products. I’m going to continue with Google Docs as a way for me to more immediately provide feedback to students and a way to cut down on paper use through putting quizzes on a Google Docs form.

Implementing the First Create and Publish Lesson: Day 5

tgrant14 — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 17:24:07 +0000

Today we wrapped up creating our projects. It has been probably a more positive experience for me as far as learning and growing than it was for my students. I would say it was an engaging experience for my students they were able to show knowledge in a different format. Especially for my world history students I’m finding it difficult to break through the general google search and move to more targeted search techniques. To accomplish this goal I need to do a better job of modeling more specific searches and emphasize using the custom search engine I created for the class. Going forward I hope this experience will help me develop better lessons that continue the engagement and creation while adding more critical thinking skills.

My algebra class was also engaged, but the main benefit appeared to be in working on communication skills more than on improving math skills. Understanding my students needs though, makes me comfortable with spending time that improves communication skills within the context of an algebra class. Another benefit of the exercise was getting the students to work more cooperatively. It was rewarding to see students work with and help each other complete their screencasts. After initially assisting the first group of students complete their screencasts, I had the kids that had been shown how to use the application assist the next groups of students. I was then free to help students still preparing.

I enjoyed seeing the engagement of the students working with a medium new to them. I see my job now is to better plan turning the tool into a means to improve content specific skills.

Implementing the First Create and Publish Lessons: Day Four

tgrant14 — Sat, 19 Dec 2009 05:34:49 +0000

My world history class is not producing work that I had envisioned, and its my fault. I needed to provide more guidance and give more and better examples of what I expected. I need to make this project more collaborative. I’m thinking of having the group collaborate on a wiki page that summarizes and extends the content we cover in a unit. Its been a good learning experience for me, and it hasn’t been a negative experience for the class. Overall I think they have been more engaged being able to demonstrate what they know in a different format. Because my students have deficits in reading and writing skills I was hoping this experience would help them demonstrate learning in a different format. I should have been more explicit in what I wanted them to get out of the project, because they are trying to show what they know in a written format, which is not their strength. I want them to work toward their strengths. This initial try will help me develop and plan more effective lessons in the future.

The algebra class began recording screencasts today. Everybody was extremely nervous and reluctant to “talk to the computer.” This reaction from a normally boisterous group. Again technical problems beyond our control, a slow internet, made the class proceed a little less smoothly than I had hoped. Learning the how the application worked took some time and one on one attention, leaving the rest of the group to work on their own, not the best situation. A teacher I work with spontaneously (on her prep hour) assisted students with recording, which was a big help and greatly appreciated. The reluctance to want to talk and uneasiness with being recorded is affecting the quality of the final product, but for a first try I have been pleased. Beyond learning math it has helped these students with their communication skills. I’m hoping to expose this class to different formats of demonstrating what they know so that in the future they can work together on creating unit reviews on a wiki page using formats and media of their choice.

As we wrap up these new experiences next week I hope to take a more in depth look at what I need to change in order for lessons to be better paced and have products that are at an even higher level of quality.

Implementing the First Creat and Publish Lessons: Day Three

tgrant14 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 01:44:54 +0000

We have fallen into a bit of a routine. The world history class spent the hour putting their presentations together. An extremely slow internet at our school slowed progress down a bit, but the kids were good at adjusting and working on other portions of their projects. I have one student creating bullet point slides and am having trouble convincing him of a more effective and creative way of getting his point across. I’m looking for more higher level thinking in representing ideas. I see many ways that I’ve dropped the ball with this class and could have made the experience much more collaborative.
My algebra class has fallen right in line with my plan. We are on schedule and will begin recording screencasts tomorrow. The students are nervous about having to speak to the computer. I’ve related to them that I too felt a bit uncomfortable the first time making a screencast. You do kind of feel funny, like you are talking to yourself. I’m pleased with this class. As a group they seem okay with taking a risk and putting themselves out there. A student commented to me today “you seem really psyched about doing this.” I told him that I am. I’m also playing up the fact that no other class in the school has done anything like what we are doing. I need to have a better assessment plan for how their learning was improved. I know their engagement has improved.

Implementing the First Create and Publish Lessons: Day Two

tgrant14 — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 03:24:26 +0000

Day Two:

The world history class is settling in to planning their presentations. Although it is a PowerPoint and not my first choice for the medium, the class seems to be enjoying expressing what they know in a different format. I have been taking the opportunity to teach some principles of putting together a good presentation. I want them to be able to do more than use the “bullet point” and use images, colors, hopefully audio, etc. to “tell their story.”I’ve been leading the class with questions like “What was one purpose of European exploration to the America’s?” Following their response I’ll ask a question such as “And what image would show that idea?” That got them headed in the right directions.

The algebra class is learning that putting together a screencast requires planning and that they actually have to think through the steps of getting to the solution of their math problem. They used the class period today to storyboard their screencast. I see opportunities to make this easier for me to give feedback using digital tools (I just need to pick the right tool for this job). The class is small so it has worked for me to move around the room and give feedback on their paper storyboards. The concept has clicked for a couple of kids, which has been fun to watch, and they’re getting ready to see how the actual screencast turns out. One student was putting together items on the screen to move around for the screencast, he asked if he was doing it right and explained why he was including elements. I told him he was right on and his answer was “good, because I’m just winging it.” I had been watching him use the storyboard that he planned out, and told him “no, you’re not winging it. You’re following your plan.” I enjoyed watching the engagement of the whole group. Right now, most questions are about the technology, but there has been many opportunities to reteach and review the math concepts.

Not a bad second day. I’m a little concerned that we are doing things that could be accomplished using the old paper method, but right now part of me is just happy getting started with a more complete integration of technology.

Implementing the First Create and Publish Lessons: Day One

tgrant14 — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 03:27:37 +0000

I’ve learned a lot of new tools and why I should be using them in the classroom. Like any new car, there comes a time when you have to take it out on the road and see what it can do. Its time to put these tools into the class and see what happens. The two classes I’ve chosen are very easy to work with. The kids will work with me and take it in stride, laughing with (and a bit at) me if things happen to crash and burn. The next few blogs will be my reflections on implementing my first create and publish lessons in my World History and Algebra classes. One rationale for trying it at this time of year was to show the kids something new to maintain their attention and interest during the week and a half before Christmas break.
Day One:
The plan was to use my wiki and a google presentation for my students to create a presentation that uses words, narration, and images to summarize what they learned through our explorers unit. The presentation would be linked to the wiki and shared with me, allowing me to make comments as they put it together. It sounded good to me.
The first glitch in the plan was the safari web browser on the mobile mac lab laptops does not support google presentations. Move to Plan B – create a PowerPoint and we will publish it on the wiki. Not my favorite plan, but that is what we have to work with. I should’ve double checked that the google presentation would work. I know better than to assume anything, or at least I thought I did. I’m going to check if empressr is supported on the laptops and maybe go that route in the future.
My algebra class is going to create a screencast of recently learned math concepts. Introducing them to screencasting I found the class felt they were just going to be making videos. I explained it is not a video of them, but a “video” of what they do. They have never done anything like this before. They’re having a hard time grasping the fact that they have to break down each concept and demonstrate step by step. I showed sample screencasts and introduced them to how the screencast site works. I’m using screencast-o-matic. We’re in the process of planning out each student’s examples.

Hopefully, we’ll continue to iron out the rough spots each day. I know I’m going to look back and see how I should’ve structured these lessons. I felt I put in a lot of planning. I’m feeling like I should’ve put in more planning.

ECI 831 Reflection: From the perspective of a first time non credit student and a newcomer to social media.

tgrant14 — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 15:43:07 +0000

I have been trying to remember how I even came across this class. I do know that it started with taking a class based on Will Richardson’s book Blog’s, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms. Where I linked from there, to get to Alec Couros and ECI 831, I just do not remember. I do remember thinking, “is this for real, I can sit in on a graduate level social media class; have access to all materials and speakers for free?” A new concept for me and quite intriguing too.

Sitting in on the first live class and being introduced for the first time to “the backchannel” was a bit unsettling. I couldn’t follow the chat and the presentation (a thought I saw others echoing). Honestly, my first, kneejerk reaction was “this is kind of rude.” I quickly learned and came to appreciate it as a valuable part of the conversation. I am still marveling at the ability to continue presenting and monitor the backchannel.

As a relative newcomer to social media, there has been a lot of information to assimilate. However, this class has been as valuable to my learning and professional practice as any “for credit” class or professional development activity I have attended. More than just answering the question of what tools to use, I took away from the experience the why and how to use the tools of the read/write web. I didn’t understand all the concepts presented in the sessions and I would like to go back throughout the winter and review, if the links remain alive.

In the future my goals are to add more of my voice to the conversation, which I was/am very reluctant to do and actually never did during any of the sessions; and continue the habit of using twitter as professional learning tool and blogging as a way to self-reflect, putting “out there” some of the knowledge I’ve picked up along the way. My students will also be seeing some new ideas implemented in the classroom.

Coming into ECI 831 having no expectations, I now see the class as a beginning for me. A beginning in my change/improvement as a teacher (this idea from someone in education for 14 years), and a beginning as a true life-long learner (although I always thought of myself as one, I see what I had been doing was inefficient and ineffective).

Looking forward to being a part of it again, and next time as more than just an observer (I may actually use the backchannel). Thanks for the opportunity and the experience.

Learning a New Language

tgrant14 — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:21:23 +0000

I’ve been letting Stephen Downes’s talk “Speaking in Lolcats” in eci831 percolate in my mind for some time now. Realizing that I still do not fully comprehend a lot of the information he was presenting, I’ve decided to attempt putting together what I did understand. What struck me was the shift from 21st century skills to 21st century languages. Learning and teaching the language of 21st century literary requires practice and modeling of the practice for our students. Teachers and learners, I think, are working together to learn this language. As I read Will Richardson’s book Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, I found I section I feel fits with the idea of learning a new language. He writes that teachers need to be content creators, learning how to use the tools effectively in order to teach them effectively. He goes on to say that “just like anyone else trying to learn a new language, educators must practice the words, or in this case, the tools.”

Learning a new language is not an easy task. It can be frustrating. It can create anxiety when it needs to be used. Messages may not come out as intended. It takes practice and patience on the part of the learner and the teacher. It also can give a sense of accomplishment and a new way to approach the world and communication. I’ve found all these to be true as I try to learn the 21st century languages. I’ve found trying to create connections to be at times frustrating and anxiety creating, especially when doubting if what I have to say adds to the conversation in a meaningful way. I’ve also had the sense of accomplishment when I get a tool to work in a way that will be helpful in my work or personal learning.

The idea I have learned is that languages are not learned quickly and there are no shortcuts to fluency. So as I practice by using these languages, I’ll model my work for my students and we can grow together.

Project Idea

tgrant14 — Sun, 29 Nov 2009 15:57:47 +0000

I’ve been thinking of ways for my history students to create digital media. My idea is to have them do a VoiceThread project as a wrap up for a World War I unit. I’m making a conscious effort to steer away from assignments and projects that are simply digitized worksheets, which isn’t completely unavoidable.

I’m looking for feedback on my project idea. What am I missing? Is there something I should not be including?

Here is the link to my project.

My voicethread project idea

Any feedback would be appreciated.