Always learning something new...

Being a part of the MAIT program always lead to new finds in applications of technology.  It can be overwhelming, but I remember someone once telling me to find one thing that is applicable to you and what you teach and give it a try.  If it works, great!  Then it become part of your toolbox, I think all teachers have a toolbox of ideas for lessons.  If it doesn't work then you move on to the next one.

Recently, I found a new Web 2.0 tool that my students have enjoyed using to prepare for quizzes and tests. It's called Bubbabrain.com . It allows teachers to create simple review games, kind of like the game Memory, to review key terms and ideas.  The teacher must give his/her students their passcode and the students can go to the site, punch in the code and play.  I have used it in the past week with my students and they seem to enjoy it.  Give it a try!

Kodu Game Lab

I am excited to possibly have a capstone idea! I hope to spend some of the current semester exploring Kodu Game Lab. It was recommended by a fellow MAIT student, which is using it in their own school. I see the connection between Social Studies and gaming. In the classroom, I often reference video games that are currently out that point to moments in history. I have also read other blogs about how playing online has taught student geography skills. Students have learned that playing online with players in other countries have time differences and increases their interest in learning about another country and culture to relate to the other player.

One ends and another one begins...

As the journey of my Master's in Instructional Technology continues, I feel as though I had hit a significant milestone, I can help others now!!! I actually have enough experience in the program to relate to newbies and provide some "expertise" based on my experience. It is nice to not be the rookie anymore.

It really is true, you rely on your Professional Learning Community to support not only your learning, but also your fears and frustrations. It is great to have a group of students in the program that feel your pain and can relate to your concerns. I am happy to pass the torch and provide the same assistance that I recieved from more senior members of the program in my beginning days.

It's also exciting to continue increasing the tools in my toolbox.

Really can see the growth!!!

It's amazing to see how far we have all come in the Theory class this semester, front-loaded semester. It was interesting to see how we took ideas from one another and improved upon the glitches along the way. Part of me was relieved to go early on in the semester, but the other side thinks of how I could have improved had my group presented at the end.

The outcome is still the same, I learned and the group learned in the process. I am eager to try and apply some of the theories, but it can be difficult knowing which theory is best to use at the time. I need a good theory cheat sheet I guess, maybe a summer project idea!!!!

Problem Based Learning

It's come to that time of year that us Talent21 schools have to complete our Problem Based Learning Unit. We chose to have students tackle the problem of reducing their ecological footprint. It's truly hard to let 11 and 12 year olds go off on their own and tackle this huge project. We decided to not create a sample project, thinking that they would copy it. We left the requirements loose so that their creativity would flow. How do you hold those students accountable who won't be excited about tackling the problem?

We are planning rewards and a kick off assembly, but it can be tough taking a step back and letting the students do the driving. I am very interested to see what they learn. We have to plan curriculum for next year and if anyone knows of any great PD for PBL please let me know.

I got the sick for too many days, have too much work to do Blues!

There is nothing like laying on the couch watching TV, guilty pleasures like reality shows, it can be a nice break from the real world. When you are forced to do so for days, however, you start to go a little crazy. I have been down with the flu since last Thursday and haven't really felt normal until today. I have spent the past 48 hours wondering how I was going to catch up on everything, so I guess here goes.

I am a little nervous about the official project roll out for my 6th grade students related to Talent21. Another teacher and myself have offered to present to the 6th grade class what the requirements are once again, even though teachers have been telling them for months, we want to set them up for success and eliminate any inconsitences among teachers. How do we motivate this youngsters to use technology and help the environment at the same time. I have one week to put together the presentation. Any suggestions would be marvelous!

Not sure why I am posting this, but here you go

MAIT Travel Quiz - Ericka » funny quizzes

There is a little Superman in every teacher!

Relieved after my groups big presentation, I actually was able to relax a little this weekend.  My profession, however, is never far from the top of my brain, so as soon as I saw "Waiting for Superman" was On Demand, I had to watch.  All the controversy surrounding this documentary had me intrigued. 

While watching the movie I could see why the controversy had began, they are attacking the unions, and unions don't take this lightly.  As the movie went on, in my opinion, they were really attacking the system.  I have said for a long time that I don't think supporting our schools with property taxes is the way to go.  If we want drastic change, I think we need to stop attacking small pieces and really look at a fundamental paradigm shift.  No longer should the federal DOE and state DOE's have different agendas, we need to all be on the same page.  The government and bureaucracy is the true Superman's (teachers) kryptonite.

If you haven't seen the movie check it out, I would love to hear other opinions.

Also check out this website, a couple of these KIPP charter schools were featured in the film.  Ten hour school days???

Motivating the Unmotivated

I have been thinking about the topic on which I would write my Personal Learning Theory paper.  There are all these theories out there about how to engage, and drive learning, ut how do you motivate students to want to learn?  A few students came to mind as I began to think, those students who aren't motivated by grades, they have D's or F's, they aren't motivated by rewards, pencils, pens, candy, etc.  What do I do for those students that just don't care about rewards??  I also have many students who have such horrific home lives that I think it often distracts them from being a motivated student.

The good thing about technology is that it engages many more students.  It also levels the playing field a little, everyone of my 6th graders has one.  I do have one student that sometimes would rather do the pen and paper route because she gets frustrated with our Internet being a little slow.  I think that motivation would be a great topic to look a little deeper into as a teacher and MAIT student.

Interactive Whiteboard Software

This week my school offered training on EasiTeach, a software program that goes with our new interactive whiteboards.  With substitutes for the two hour session, each 6th and 7th grade teacher was provided with release time to learn about the software program. 

Our former technology teacher taught the session and it seemed well recieved.  She provided us with examples of how the program could work for our different subject areas, after she taught us the basics.  The reaction after the program at lunch was that the software was PowerPoint on steriods.  It got me thinking is that all it really is?

It takes so much time to convert your lessons to the programs, precious time that most teachers don't have. I have made a few lessons and the reward with the students was great, they love coming up to the board and dragging thing around like someone they've seen on the movie.  What's the best way to approach this?  I tried to make lessons on EasiTeach, that lended itself to the program.  Is there an easy way, or do you have to pick and choose overtime and slowly build your folder?

Educating New Tech Users

This week I am really excited about an idea I had for my Multimedia/Hypermedia educational software project.  My 6th grade students this year are part of the Talent21 grant and each student recieved a netbook to travel with the entire day and use for educational purposes.  At the beginning of the school year we were overwhelmed with managing logistics, installing hardware and software, and overall implementing the grant in less than 3 months.  Now that we have a moment to breathe and really think about how our students our using the technology and all the safety challenges that come with it, I think the programs we used last year to educate our students on Web Literacy, CyberSafety, and overall care of a netbook were rushed and could be improved.

My idea is to use the project to educate the students on all three topics, but I am brainstorming to come up with a list of goals and objectives.  What does a 6th grader need to know when we put a netbook in front of them that can connect to a global interface such as the internet?  I would love feedback or suggestions!!!

New Semester

I was nervous to start the Spring semester of 2011.  Last semester taking the intro class was challenging.  It was definitely a big learning experience.   I was worried about the expectations of two classes.  After attending the first classes for both, I feel much better about the amount of work and the professors expectations. 

I am actually excited to complete the projects for both classes.  I think that Multimedia will allow me to complete a projet that will enhance our Talent21 grant and teach me skills that I could both pass on to my students and use in my lessons. 

Theory will be interesting because I considered going into educational psychology and I am interested in learning about how people learn.  I hoping that by understanding how people learn better, I will be able to improve my classroom techniques and engage my students in new and exciting ways.

It's funny because I catch myself now looking for ways to incorporate technology.  I am attending an East Asian Studies Seminar at Princeton, and while attending today I was thinking about how if we were in a lab we could actually view more samples of the art we were looking at today, and possibly find more resources than copies of textbook chapters. 

Here's to a good semester!!!!!!!