Awesome!
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
Open House
Students were invited to test out the iPad2 at our open house. I used Poll Everywhere complete with our classroom poll page. Explained below...
Students were wide-eyed about using them and parents were impressed. Even a baby was engaged with an iPad2.
Open House Technology Introduction
I created a welcome for the students and their parents. I used Endless Video to play the video over and over. If you make your video full screen NO other videos will be visible to the viewer.
Classroom Setup Finalized
A final whiteboard was installed today so that each learning area (environment) has its own whiteboard/paper/chalkboard writing area.
Important Keyboard Tips & Tricks
As presented by MakeUseof.com, I will be sharing the great iPad2 keyboard tips and tricks with the students. My favorite is the enormous amount of characters available if a person places their finger on a character key and hold.
Again, you can find all of the tips and tricks HERE!
Monday, August 29, 2011
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Additional Web Resource
I just set up one additional web tool for use in my classroom. Poll Everywhere will be one tool that I will use for quick, informal assessments for students. I also like that students will be able to use their cell phones or they can grab an iPad2 to respond.
I have also decided to use one other web tool, Posterous, as our e-portfolio/website for students'. It truly has the best iPad2 app for uploading pictures!
While I am trying to stay within apps on the iPad2 or Google Apps for Education for educational purposes, I will use these two resources in my classroom.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Hashtagging!
As students create written or video productions, labeling with hashtags will be emphasized. I will also be emphasizing these tags as KEYWORDS for seeking out information on the WWW.
Digital Monitor For Sharing Student Work
I will be having four total stations for students to plug their iPad2 into a monitor. One monitor will be 17", two will be 23" monitors, and one will be connected to the SMARTboard. Excited for this option!
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Welcome To A Great District!
Infusing Technology is like Christmas morning every day! However, "Do What You Can, With What You Have, Where You Are At!"
Our Fox11 Graphing Problem
What's Wrong With This Graph?
Our Fox11 Graphing Problem
What's Wrong With This Graph?
Students Place Ideas on their e-Portfolios
St.Louis: Gateway Arch - The Nation's Largest Parabola!
Technology and Education is an Addiction!
Digital Setup Classroom 2011-2012
Today's project was to set up my digital area for projection to my direct instruction group. I truly am blessed to have all of the tools. It will allow for seamless integration with student's work and items that I need them to see. (Video was taken with my iPad2)
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Learning Environments - Extremely Excited!
With the help of my team teacher, our in-classroom learning environments have initially been created.
Two Different Small Group Areas - (Chalkboard to Whiteboard)
Paper on Bulletin Board - Idea Centers!
Both areas accommodate students and an instructor (student or adult) and can
be combined to teach a group of 8-10 - (Versatility)
Getting There
The boxes are unpacked. Now it is time to focus on learning environments within my room!
Monday, August 22, 2011
Tech Take - Questions For The Students
One thing that could potentially derail many of my ideas is the limit of technology that students have outside of the classroom. Ideally every student will have access to the internet all the time via a cellphone, laptop, iPod, or tablet.
I have been meaning to do this for two years and finally will start out the year correctly by having students complete a technology form. Through Google Docs, it was easy to set up.
Can't wait for the results-praying all students have access to a digital device outside of my classroom!
Am I missing something? Please leave a comment if there is something that you feel should be added.
Picture used by permission from http://www.flickr.com/photos/smemon/
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Classroom Creation
As of 9:30 A.M. this morning, KI (a company that creates classroom furniture in the Green Bay area) delivered five sample items that can be used by our students for the coming school year. I have preliminary set up a number of different learning environments that can be utilized by the students. By no means is this a final set up.
I do have to thank the great people at KI for giving us the opportunity to have some much needed modern equipment.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Day Before The Transformation
These are pictures from my room today. A very large thank you to our custodial staff for moving all of my classroom supplies. Tomorrow the transformation begins with a great announcement.
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Posterous vs. Tumblr
One of the items on the to-do list was to determine how I may have students post to either their blog or to a classroom blog. Because I am using iPad2 mobile devices, I am focusing on two services. The two mentioned in the title. The reason I need to use something other than Google's Blogger for students rests solely on the fact that a third party Blogger app costs $2.99 for the iPad and the web based version of Blogger in Safari does not allow for digital uploads such as video and photos from the gallery on the iPad. Since iPad2s are the only way students will be publishing creations from the iPad a decision must be made.
Through Wesley Fryer's gracious response and guidance on Twitter more specifically a video mark at the mark of 5:40, I have decided to go with Posterous. Tumblr may offer the same services, however, my familiarity with Posterous from the 10-11 school year and the fact that ideas can be posted via email (the video explains the moderation process) or through the FREE app has led me to finalize my decision.
Now, I must simply debate whether to have students complete individual blogs or a community classroom blog for responses. If I do have students complete individual blogs, I will be placing the RSS feed into folders in my Google Reader. This will help organize the updated posts from students for easier evaluation.
At this point, I will be having a classroom website using Blogger as my hub for providing ALL information and resources for students. From there, the students will use my classroom website or their professional Posterous blogs for response and turning in of information.
Thursday, August 4, 2011
Internet Safety Standards
In addition to safety and care of devices, we focused in on safety of our users (students) while on the internet. We also concentrated on proper use of cameras and cell phones in our classroom. We hope that students understand how blessed our classrooms are to implement one digital device for every student that enters our classrooms. The Internet Safety Standards will be taught in conjunction with our Tech Device Care discussion.
Check out our Internet Safety Standards.
Cart & Case Ready
Saw the ready product today! I must admit that it looks cooler than I could have imagined. More details later.
Groups Discussion on Tech Device Care
Items our seven model classroom teachers agreed upon. These items will be discussed in some digital format with our students in the first few days.
Management tips:
Expectations for care of devices (to discuss with students):
- assign each student a device for use every day
Expectations for care of devices (to discuss with students):
- we are fortunate to have these devices!!!! Treat them properly or we won’t have them
- model good use with broken devices
- keyboards: cost $100 to replace a keyboard on a computer; demonstrate a keyboard with spilled soda in it (sticky) and crumbs between keys; easy to pop off keys
- iPads cost $500
- putting them away and the importance of ensuring they are charging-- frustrating when you get one and it is not charged
- no eating or drinking around computers: crumbs and liquids get in between keys
- hard shut down is bad for computers (just holding down the power button instead of going through Start- shut down)
- Explain sleep mode and how to wake up devices
- carrying computers- 2 hands; release word (elem), always closed
Care of Device: Great Video
Wednesday, August 3, 2011
Some Appreciated Tech Tools
Headphones, HDMI cables, and wired keyboards, a cool switch box to have ny laptop and iPads connected to my Smartboard!
21st Century Classroom Training
We are walking through the process of purchasing an app from Apple's VPP.
It is not a user friendly process!
Moodle Training
Moodle is a free service that our district uses. We are learning about this classroom management system. I believe that it offers SO many features. I don't believe that I will be using it due to the fact that Blogger works for me. It integrates so well with YouTube, Google Docs, and Google Sites.
Monday, August 1, 2011
Video (Clips) In The Classroom
Tuesday brings a day in which I can share at our Professional Learning Academy how I use video (clips) in the classroom to engage students, enhance a lesson, support concepts, and teach/reteach 24/7/365! A small teaser is at the left. The full presentation is below.
Problem-Based Learning: Characteristics of PBL
Something that I learned:
Problem-Based Learning is inquiring driven.
Project-Based Learning is a summary of what has been learned.
Passion-Based Learning is following a desire to learn whatever interests people.
New Teacher Panel
As part of my "iPad2" year, I have just been asked to be on a technology question/answer panel for how/what/when technology is integrated into my teaching day with the 43 new teachers in our district.
Are you kidding, how cool is that going to be! Getting "new" teachers thinking differently on how technology can be integrated will be outstanding!
Technology Integration Matrix
A detailed "levels of Technology Integration into the Curriculum" explanation!
Attending Professional Learning Academy
As part of the iPad aquiring opportunity, our district is combining with another district to provide additional tech training. Looking forward to posting concepts learned throughout the week.
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