• Short Term - acquisition and integration of knowledge
Treasure Hunts
Subject Samplers
• Long Term - extending and refining knowledge
WebQuests
Click here to read an article about WebQuests.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Curriculum Exemplar
For my curriculum exemplar I chose Flat Stanley, a subject sampler created by one of McDougle's first grade teachers. A subject sampler is a modified WebQuest and a WebQuest is an inquiry-oriented activity, in which some or all of the information that learners interact with comes from resources on the Internet. Bernie Dodge (creator of WebQuests) discusses two kinds of WebQuests:
• Short Term - acquisition and integration of knowledge
• Short Term - acquisition and integration of knowledge
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Teaching with Blogs
The articles highlighted authentic writing projects using blogs. The Education World article about blogging in the elementary school was informative and had some great suggestions. David Warlick's Blogmeister always has good ideas that have been tried by teachers.
It was enlightening to read that half the teenagers who are online are already blogging - and that article was published in 2005!
It was enlightening to read that half the teenagers who are online are already blogging - and that article was published in 2005!
Monday, September 17, 2007
Technology Interviews
I interviewed a diverse group of 5th graders. I have never encountered students who did not love technology and this certainly came out in their answers and discussions. However, their answers reinforced what I have believed for a long time that the way we educate our students is far removed from their reality. They are growing up in a digital world that most adults do not understand. I have noticed that even our young, first year teachers, use technology on a personal level but don't really know how to use it to support the curriculum and think of technology as only computers. So, where do we go from here? The students know and, we need to listen.
1. What does technology mean to you?
All of the students mentioned that technology means computers and other "electrical things." One student said that "technology means being creative."
2. What role does technology play in your life?
Answers ranged from, "helping me with my homework," 'helping me learn," to "it entertains me." Many of the children mentioned that the role of technology (computers) was to help them type because their handwriting was so bad!
3. Tell me about the technology you have at home.
All of the children talked about having computers, TVs, VCRs, DVD/DVR players. Many of them spoke about having iPods, Game Boys, cell phones, and a few mentioned that they had email accounts.
4. What do you do at home related to technology?
Students spoke about listening to music on their iPods, playing video games, watching TV and DVDs, "playing" on the Internet, help them do their homework and talking "a lot" on their cell phones. One student commented that he used the computer to research before he buys anything.
5. How do your parents use technology?
Most students told me that their parents used technology to pay bills, email each other, talk on the phone and to "do their work."
6. Tell me about the technology you use at school.
These answers were so interesting! Our third grade just got new flat screen iMacs and this was the focus of the 5th graders. They were clearly more than a little envious. Many students mentioned that all the computers in the school had Internet access and that every grade level had the same number of computers in each room and that the 4th and 5th grade also had mini labs of Thin Clients.
7. How do you use technology to help you learn at home?
Most students talked about using the computer to help them complete homework. Many of them stated that they watched educational TV. One student commented that "technology helps me figure out things to help me learn."
8. How do you use technology to help you play/have fun?
Most students talked about video games, going to Websites such as cartoonnetwork.com, funbrain.com, and webkinz.com. Students talked about listening to music on their iPods or mp3 players and watching music videos on youtube - yes, youtube.
9. How have you learned to use technology?
Many students stated that their parents, teachers, and their peers taught them how to use technology. One student said that he learned technology by "playing aound with it." Another student told me that he learned from his father who used to work for Oracle.
10. What do you wish you had at home related to technology?
Some of the students wished they had an iPhone! One student wished she had speakers for her iPod because, "I can let my friends listen and not just me." One student wanted his own "Motorola Razr so that I could call my mom when I am at baseball practice."
11. What do you wish you had at school related to technology?
Students wanted more of the new iMacs because as one student said, "they have better graphics." One student had an interesting and telling observation, he said, " I don't think you need anything else because you (teachers) would not use anything I would list."
12. If you were in charge of teaching technology, what would you teach?
Many students said that they would teach computer games. A few students said that they would teach all about Powerpoint.
13. What is your favorite thing to do online?
Well, on-line games seemed to be the focus. Game sites such as, cartoonnetwork.com, webkinz.com, funbrain.com, youtube.com,
14. What would you like to learn about using technology?
Some students wanted to learn more about researching online. Some wanted tips and shortcuts. One student wanted to know about setting up virtual games, another wanted to know "everything," and another student wanted to know more about iTunes.
1. What does technology mean to you?
All of the students mentioned that technology means computers and other "electrical things." One student said that "technology means being creative."
2. What role does technology play in your life?
Answers ranged from, "helping me with my homework," 'helping me learn," to "it entertains me." Many of the children mentioned that the role of technology (computers) was to help them type because their handwriting was so bad!
3. Tell me about the technology you have at home.
All of the children talked about having computers, TVs, VCRs, DVD/DVR players. Many of them spoke about having iPods, Game Boys, cell phones, and a few mentioned that they had email accounts.
4. What do you do at home related to technology?
Students spoke about listening to music on their iPods, playing video games, watching TV and DVDs, "playing" on the Internet, help them do their homework and talking "a lot" on their cell phones. One student commented that he used the computer to research before he buys anything.
5. How do your parents use technology?
Most students told me that their parents used technology to pay bills, email each other, talk on the phone and to "do their work."
6. Tell me about the technology you use at school.
These answers were so interesting! Our third grade just got new flat screen iMacs and this was the focus of the 5th graders. They were clearly more than a little envious. Many students mentioned that all the computers in the school had Internet access and that every grade level had the same number of computers in each room and that the 4th and 5th grade also had mini labs of Thin Clients.
7. How do you use technology to help you learn at home?
Most students talked about using the computer to help them complete homework. Many of them stated that they watched educational TV. One student commented that "technology helps me figure out things to help me learn."
8. How do you use technology to help you play/have fun?
Most students talked about video games, going to Websites such as cartoonnetwork.com, funbrain.com, and webkinz.com. Students talked about listening to music on their iPods or mp3 players and watching music videos on youtube - yes, youtube.
9. How have you learned to use technology?
Many students stated that their parents, teachers, and their peers taught them how to use technology. One student said that he learned technology by "playing aound with it." Another student told me that he learned from his father who used to work for Oracle.
10. What do you wish you had at home related to technology?
Some of the students wished they had an iPhone! One student wished she had speakers for her iPod because, "I can let my friends listen and not just me." One student wanted his own "Motorola Razr so that I could call my mom when I am at baseball practice."
11. What do you wish you had at school related to technology?
Students wanted more of the new iMacs because as one student said, "they have better graphics." One student had an interesting and telling observation, he said, " I don't think you need anything else because you (teachers) would not use anything I would list."
12. If you were in charge of teaching technology, what would you teach?
Many students said that they would teach computer games. A few students said that they would teach all about Powerpoint.
13. What is your favorite thing to do online?
Well, on-line games seemed to be the focus. Game sites such as, cartoonnetwork.com, webkinz.com, funbrain.com, youtube.com,
14. What would you like to learn about using technology?
Some students wanted to learn more about researching online. Some wanted tips and shortcuts. One student wanted to know about setting up virtual games, another wanted to know "everything," and another student wanted to know more about iTunes.
Blogging in the Classroom
If anyone is interested - I have an extra copy of David's Warlick's book, Classroom Blogging. This is an easy read and has lots of ideas on how to use blogs to support the curriculum. If you would like to borrow my copy just let me know.
I also like to check out his blog - http://davidwarlick.com/2cents/Below is a link to an informal study on student motivation and blogging - http://classblogmeister.com/blog.php?blog_id=262301&mode=comment&blogger_id=9
My technology interviews to follow.....
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