WOW... Portfolio

As I am working on the last page of my portfolio, struggling to stay focused, I am thinking about all of the new concepts and strategies that I have learned over the last two and a half years.  It has been a wonderful learning experience.  Not only have I learned so much more about teaching, but I have met some wonderful people who I hope to keep in touch with.  This has been a great adventure and I look forward to incorporating more great designing into my lessons.

PhotoPeach.com

This seems like a pretty cool, FREE site to use.  It seems like it would be a quick and easy way for anyone especially students to make a video/slideshow.  It affords the uploading of videos and music.  A title can be added along with captions on pictures.  One of the limitations it looks like is only one type of music can be used and the length can not be edited.  The slideshow can be set as public, unlisted, or viewer's have to be invited.  Viewers can make comments which the author can manage.  Videos/slideshows can be downloaded, emailed, sent to Facebook, and sent to twitter or Myspace.  It seems interesting and I am going to experiment more with it. Check it out and let me know what you think.  If you have already heard of it and used it, please let me know your thoughts and opinions, and any ideas you may have.

Digital Video

Digital Video is a great tool, but needs a lot of modeling and scaffolding.  In grad school, I had the opportunity to participate in making a video using a flip camera and Windows Media Maker.  This was the second time I had ever use the flip camera.  This was a neat experience.  I also never imported a video into WMM and had the chance to edit it.  I thought it was pretty cool how we were able to edit the links of the video and music.  I think my students would have fun making a video.  I think third grade would be a little too young to teach the editing part, but they could definitely be taught how to use the clip camera.  I might just have to try this.  The next SOL I am teaching in science is Soil and I just might be able to come up with something. 

I just had another idea that I could use it for.  In math geometry is taught.  Third graders learn about lines, line segments, rays, points, and angles.  They are able to make these using their fists and arms.  They could demonstrate these geometric lines and angles in a video.  I would have to model how to write  the treatment and the story map.  This is a lesson I might considered doing at the end of the year to review for SOL's.  It could be posted on the school website for anyone to use.

Web-Based Learning Design

My design project using Web 1.0 tools has students researching information about six simple machines.  Students use books, Internet, and any information they learned throughout the simple machine unit to gather information and images.  Information and images are used to design (using DEAPR) a flyer on paper then encoded and assembled into a Microsoft Word document.  Flyers are published and revised.

Now that I have learned about some Web 2.0 tools, another way to incorporate this lesson into the simple machine unit comes to mind.  After student learn about each simple machine a Wiki page can be made for that particular simple machine.  Images and information can be added.  Students can gather and add more information about each simple machine throughout the whole unit as well, and can add additional sources of information.  The information will be there for students to review for SOLs at the end of the year.

As I am thinking through the idea of the Wiki and Web 2.0 tools, another great idea comes to mind.  Students could also create a blog on simple machines as well.  They could have great discussions about information they gathered on the simple machines, how they are used, examples of them, and photos.  People from all over the country can join in on the conversations as well. 

Both of these activities allows for students to learn how to add, modify, and delete information on the Web.  Students also learn how to share information using the Web, upload multimedia, and hyperlink.  Students also benefit by improving communication skills.  Sharing information with other students will allow for collaborative construction of knowledge.     

 

Podcasts

I have never really used Podcasts until last week's class and I had a lot of fun with that.  It is something that I could definitely use in my classroom.  I could have students talk about science or math concepts.  They could use it as a way to explain information learned or how to solve math problems.  Using it as a series or episodes would work with science concepts.  Recently students learned about the Water Cycle, Earth Patterns and Cycles, and are now learning about the food chain.  They could make a connection between all of them using the Podcasts.  Students could make a Podcasts about each type of cycle and how it relates to the episode before it.  I definitely need to become more familiar with this program before I could implement it into my class.

Wikis

Prior to this class I have not had much experience with Wikis and definitely have never used them in the classroom.  As we are experiencing with Wikis in our class, my wheels have been spinning about how I could incorporate them into my instruction.  One way I could use it is to set it up as a dictionary like we have done.  It can be incorporated into science lessons as I am introducing and we are discussing a new unit.  Students could read about the concept and break the information down into important parts.  They could read through it and work as a group to fill in the section they are responsible for.  This would be  great way for the students to develop their own study guide and they will have access to it anytime.  Information can be saved and edited anytime throughout the unit.  I am looking forward to it and excited about implementing this strategy with my third graders:)

Blogs

Prior to taking this course I had not thought about using blogs in the classroom.  As my students were participating in a museum with the other third grade class at my school for my unit one FACT model plan an idea came to me.  The science teacher that I work with were talking and felt like it was crazy in my small room with all of those children discussing their exhibits.  I thought maybe for our next project (habitats) we could have the exhibits set up in both rooms and students walk through on their own.  So now this leaves us with... what would be a cool way for the students to make comments or ask questions about the projects?  And I thought a blog would be a great idea.  We could have a blog for each group and allow the students to take turns to comment about the projects and ask questions.  This of course would involve the students checking their blogs and responding to questions.  This would be a great way to incorporate writing across the curriculum.  I am excited about doing this!

Where to start....

Welcome to my blog!  My blog is set set up for me to reflect on my experiences with concepts learned from the ITS program and how they can be, have been, or will be applied to my teaching.  Throughout my experience as an ITSer I have learned many things and am continuing to learn about myself as a professional, student learning, planning/designing lessons, thinking, and much more.  My experience has been an overwhelming, yet satisfying one.  

Currently I am finishing up a unit that involves many principles, processes, ideas, and tools that have been learned thus far.  It has been a great learning experience for the students and me.  Changes will be made for next year, and I am looking forward to implementing the next one as well.   

Stayed tuned for more about the ITS program and my learning experiences.