Tool # 11

I really enjoyed learning and using all the tools I have learned about and used during 11 tools.  I hope to try and use all of them throughout the year.  I discovered a lot a great learning tools.  One of my favorite tools I discovered was the Wallwisher.  I love the idea a great collaborative workspace. I love that we can organize thoughts, ideas, and the things everyone has learned. I would love to use Wallwisher for children to communicate their thoughts about any topic/unit/lesson covered in class.They can post comments about what they have learned. They can learn from reading other classmates comments. I could also use this as a form of assessment at the end of a unit.

My thinking has definitely changed throughout this process. I was dreading doing the 11Tools because I am not very strong in technology.  I am happy I have completed it and am proud of myself for doing so. I am always a little hesitant and nervous about exploring technology because I feel like I don't catch on as quickly as I do with other stuff, nor am I great at it. Now, I feel successful and determined to use as many of the things I learned about as I can in the upcoming school year. I look forward to introducing many new apps and sites to my students. I look forward to collaborating and blogging with other teachers to help me continue to grow.

The most unexpected outcome from this program was that I actually enjoyed doing it.  I'm proud that I have finally completed it and that I learned many great things from it.  I really look forward to using a lot of the great tools I found during this process in my classroom this year.

Tool # 10

The main things I want to make sure my students understand about being good digital citizens are:

1. Not to give out personal information
2. To keep their SBISD ID/password a secret
3. To check with a teacher or parent before going to a website, creating an account online, or downloading an app (even if it is a free app)

I plan to show the Brainpop and Brainpop Jr. video that is available for teaching internet safety and proper usage.  It has great lessons on how to use the computer correctly and safely. 

To "teach" the idea of digital citizenship to my students, I would use modeling. I could use the activeboard and show examples of what could happen while researching a topic or looking for a website.  I would model how to properly research, or what to do if something strange or inappropriate happens.

I would use curriculum night as a good time to share the idea of digital citizenship with parents. I will definitely have a discussion with parents on digital citizenship. I will stress the importance of teaching the children how to access safe sites and what to do at if they stumble onto something that doesn't seem appropriate. I can also include a link to the Brainpop, Jr. lesson on my blog for parents to access. I will also consult with other teachers on my team to find out what they do in order to educate parents on the importance of digital citizenship.

Tool # 9

It is extremely important to tie technology in with your objective.  If technology doesn't fit the lesson, it can confuse some children and they just end up 'playing around" with it. The children may not see its real value as part of their learning.

Holding students accountable for the time spent in stations is a very important part of the learning that takes place in the classroom. It helps them to see that what they are doing is important. It enables them to be both creative and productive. It also helps teachers in that their products can be used as forms of evaluation or assessments. It provides students with a variety of ways to show their learning- not just through paper/pencil tests.

I liked Thinkfinity and Learning Games for Kids.  Since there are so many games on these sites (which can be a little overwhelming), students could write a review of the games that are played for accountability.  The review could have the title of the game, the category or how to find the game on the site, and a few sentences about the game for peers.  These student reviews can be sorted by objective, so students can find an appropriate game during stations.  Several of the activities have things that can be printed, so students need to know the expectations of printer use.

Apps I liked and will use:

Number Find Lite- I can use this when learning about number patterns in math. I can be an option in my math workstations. The children will mark the date they complete this station as a way to hold them accountable.
iBird lite- I can use this app as a supplement for when we do our bird unit in the spring.

The children can also use the iTouches and iPads to video tape themselves reading stories they have written and then share them with other students. I also want the children to pair up with students in other classrooms to complete projects together. The children willl enjoy being with other children and learning from each other. 

Tool # 8

1. I learned that I am supposed to download all apps and content to my laptop and then sync the iPads in my classroom.
2. I learned how to name and sync the iPad.  I now have one named iPad with a few apps on it.
3. I learned how to access approved SBISD apps.

I plan to set a technology rotation schedule as part of literacy and math stations.  This will allow all students equal access to the devices in our classroom.  I think having "technology experts" is a great idea that will allow students to solve technology issues.

I will teach the children how to care for the devices and use them properly. I will also have a classroom helper learn how to be responsible for charging and storing the devices properly. 

Tool # 7

Objective: TLW analyze nonfiction text features by finding examples and determining the author's purpose for using the text feature.

Implementation: This project will be implemented in the fall semester.

Tools: Diigo, Google Docs, Skype, Wallwisher 

Project Plan: Students will access websites through Diigo and will use the Diigolet tools to highlight nonfiction text features and add a sticky note to explain the reason the author used the highlighted text feature.  Diigo will also be used for students to visit other groups' projects.  Students will plan and collaborate with group members using Google Docs and Skype. Wallwisher will be used at the end of the project as a refection to discuss information learned, the effectiveness of the technology used, and the effectiveness of the collaboration. 

Collaboration: Almost every grade teaches or reviews nonfiction text features, so this project could be done with a classroom within the grade or across grade levels.  This is a project that could also be done with book buddies.

Tool # 6

SKYPE

In my classroom, I would use Skype as a free way to open up my classroom. The class could meet new people, talk to experts, share ideas and create amazing learning experiences with teachers and students from around the world.

WALLWISHER
Wallwisher is a great way for announcements, questions, ideas, etc. Its a great collaborative workspace. It's a great way to organize thoughts, ideas, and things everyone has learned. Wallwisher could be a great way for children to communicate their thoughts about any topic/unit covered in class.They can post comments about what they have learned. They can learn from reading other classmates comments. I could also use this as a form of assessment at the end of a unit.

I think children will love to communicate through these cool tools. Anytime they can use technology to show their learning, they get excited. They will enjoy talking back and forth with friends.

Tool # 5

I thought this tool would be great for our unit about birds. I really enjoyed making one and think the children would as well.  I love how you can attach a picture with tons of great information to go with it. We could also use this when we learn about animals and their habitats. The children can create their own trading cards and share the information they are learning about what they are currently studying.  Everybody wins! 

I thought this was a fun productivity tool. I think I could use this particular Wordle for many different things. It could be a great language arts and science tool. I think it would also be great for introducing units, as well as a tool you could use at the end of a unit for the children to show what they have learned. I think the students would really love creating their own wordles. I know I did!

Tool # 4

This was a fun assignment. I am still new and learning, but I think this app will grow on me the more I learn and the better I become. I like the sharing aspect of it. I look forward to collaborating with my team and using Google Docs/forms to make quizzes, notes, tests, and documents for my students, possibly as a workstation. I also think the students would love to make up their own quizzes and documents, to show their understanding of a concept, and send it to classmates to complete. I think this will be a great tool! 

Tool # 3

I visited You Tube and Discovery Education (although Discovery Education would not let me post videos, but I do find a lot of great things for the children on this site).  I frequently use both of these video streaming sites to enhance a lesson.  The children are always engaged in the fun learning these videos can provide. 


I thought this video could be useful for our bird unit we study in 2nd grade.  The students would be able to hear the sounds/songs the bird they might be studying would make.




I thought this video could be useful for our ocean unit we study in 2nd grade.  It is a very cool way for the children to take a field trip underwater.

I learned that only the copyright owner has the right to their work. All other people must pay for  copyright permission. The copyright only lasts for fixed amount of time. Then it goes to public domain. This means that it will be free for anyone. I was surprised that if children want to use someone's work, they just have to do some transformation from the original work.

I will have my students go to my Dropbox to access files that I put in there to supplement lessons. They can use videos in there, share documents, and it can be used as workstations.

Tool # 2

I visited several 2nd grade blogs from my school and really enjoyed going through them. I am new to 2nd grade this year and I really found it beneficial to visit their blogs and see what they have learned. I commented on 3 of the blogs and was really impressed with all the great work they have done and learned. 

I think blogging for educational purposes is really great! Its a great way to share and learn new ideas, especially for someone like me who is new to a grade level, but I do find it overwhelming at times. I find comfort in knowing I am on a great team who seems to be very "tech savvy."  I look forward to all the things we can teach and learn from each other blogging.

I feel fine about sharing my thoughts publicly, but more in a blogging/learning setting like this. It can be very useful and helpful. I am all about sharing successes and challenges with teammates.

I would definitely like to revisit the blog; http://projectsbyjen.com/Projects/OreoXI/instructions09.htm  There are some great ideas I plan to go back and possibly share/do with my students.  I also plan on using all of my 2nd grade teammates blogs in the future because they are all fabulous and have great information!

Tool # 1

I am very new to the blogging.  I am not sure how much I will use it but am open to trying it and would like to see how it works out. I think the kids would love creating their own avatar and I do believe blogging will be something the kids will love.