Sunday, October 13, 2013

Literacy Project

This literacy project was one of the most exciting projects I have participated in.  My students are so enthusiastic about sharing their work on the internet with students from another school.   Even my reluctant writers showed an interest using this medium to share their work.  I think this is a testament to the changing world in which we live.  Receiving digital information is common place for students just like reading a newspaper was common was I was a 5th grade student.   I remember being so excited when my classroom created a news"paper" and yes, it was paper.. cut and pasted together. It was so cool because that was real life.  Now, creating information in a digital way for others to read is real life for my students.  I am so please to be able to offer this opportunity to them.  We plan to keep this project going throughout the year.  Who knows where this could lead... more Wiki's....blogging partnerships??

Of course, this literacy project wouldn't have been possible if it wasn't for Deb and Jen!!  It made me very comfortable knowing the teachers at the other end of the technology.  For me, it kept the human component in a computerized project.  Thanks Deb and Jen!!

5thgradefunreads

Course Reflection - Voki



Sunday, October 6, 2013

Empowering Students with Technology

The introduction chapter of this text explained the difference between automating and informating.  I agree that sometimes technology can make a task less efficient.  General Motors spent tons of money for technology and the text said the quality of work declined.  Using technology for informating "requires thinking about opportunities that could not be achieved without the technology."  Therefore, in my case, using a digital calendar instead of a paper and pencil calendar would fall under automating.  However, if I use google docs to communicate with my teaching team and/or my students, and we can all comment on each others' work, then that would be an example of informating.  Another example of informating referenced in the text is creating an authentic audience for students.  That is a really cool idea!

Reading Response for Week 2


Chapter two of, In Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms covered a new type of writing called connective writing.  I never thought about how connective writing using a blog could motivate and push my students’ thinking about various topics.  I introduced a type of connective writing last year using a paper and pencil.  Students in the same book club and would write a response on paper and then it would get passed around to group members.  By the end of the week, students would receive their original paper back with comments from other group members.  I can see how much better using a blog could be.  Students would not have to wait until the end of the week to receive feedback and they could all respond to each other on the same blog.  That is something to consider for my classroom!

Weebly

The attached link will bring you to my Weebly project.  I was able to change the template to include my class picture.  This picture was taken when they earned extra recess for filling the marble jar.  In order to keep my website current, I attach links to the district website.  This provides consistency in information.

My Weebly