PLN+One

/PLN 1: Iosha, Simon, Kayla, Beth

=**EdTech Integration Mind Maps (6/23/11)**=


 * How can instruction be enhanced or improved through the use of technology?**




 * Choose one of the 10 ideas presented in the "[|Getting Started]" article and diagram an action plan/flow chart, detailing how to build upon the idea chosen by the group.**



=e-Room Explorations (6/23/11)=

Our FAVORITE e-room site is[| Mrs. McDavid's e-room]
 * clean and organized
 * easily revamped every school year
 * homework link is a great place to communicate with parents
 * kid friendly
 * icons support text
 * easy to navigate
 * students can navigate it

=Teaching Ditgital Natives (6/27/11)= These pdf's are Venn diagrams comapring and contrasting the pros and cons of teaching digitial natives (students who have grown up using technology).

=Differentiation amongst three students (7/7/2001)=

Description: Creating differentiation by fusing non-tech and tech-infused strategies
Objective 2: Students will be able to observe and describegeometry in the environment.

Sherry Jack: Philip: =﻿=
 * Content: Give her 3 specific 2-demensional or 3-demensinal shapes in the form of manipulatives.
 * Process and Environment: Have her locate 3 or more examples of each shape in the classroom by taking pictures of the shapes with a digital camera.
 * Product: Have student print pictures and outline the shapes.
 * Product: Or she can use Fotobabble to explain which shapes the pictures represent.
 * Content: Give him 3 specific 2-demensional or 3-demensinal shapes in the form of manipulatives.
 * Process and Environment: Have him reference the shapes to draw a fishing or hunting scene that utilize the shapes in a program like Microsoft Paint.
 * Product: Then, in the program, he can type one sentence (per shape) to describe how each shape corresponds to the fishing or hunting images.
 * Content: 2 and 3 dimensional shapes
 * Process and Environment: Have him access an online geometry program that enables him to use two and three dimensional shapes to build real life objects. Challenge him to build complex objects found inside and outside the classroom utilizing the shapes.
 * Product: Have him make a video podcast to identify the shapes and also compare and contrast the shapes (properties) used to build each figure.

=**Favorite PBL Site (7/13/2011)**=

Link: https://media.iearn.org/projects/math
 * CONNECTING MATH TO OUR LIVES**

We choose the "Connecting Math to Our Lives" website because we feel students really struggle to connect math to real life applications. Connecting students to community and family is an authentic way to make math personal and relevant.

The project utilizes the following level of Bloom's Taxonomy: critical analysis; produce a product; and evaluation.

Technology is integrated into the project in many ways:
 * Students will use media and the internet to interpret statistics found in the world.
 * Students will producing virtual galleries of photographs, drawings, and other artworks.
 * Students will write and publish their work.
 * Students will also make a database of their collection of information, including documenting multiple ethnicities in the text books used at their schools.

The project can be improved by asking students to compare ethnic data to other schools and communities. They can also ways to improve the promotion of equity. In this way, students can become active members of social justice.

Iosha Hodgson-Reed Differentiation for Jack(Process and Environment) Storyjumper: []

As an alternative for producing a hunting or fishing scene in Microsoft Paint, Jack could use the Web 2.0 application Storyjumper to combine his interests and strengths with geometry. Storyjumper is an interactive website in which people can create and even publish their own stories. Stories can be created using premade templates or from scratch by utilizing scenes and props. Words can be added directly to scenes or on separate pages. The digital books can be published online or even made into tangible books (for a fee). There are many books that have been published online that can be shared with students.

This site can be utilized in a variety of ways for Jack. Jack could create a book about activities he is interested in, such as hunting and fishing. He could create scenes and then write about the shapes of the objects. For instance, in the example picture, the mountains are triangular. Or as an alternative, Jack could make an authentic book about his favorite activity and incorporate geometry into it. For example, his book could be about fishing for interesting 2 or 3-demensional creatures (an octagon creature). Jack could also read other published books about geometry.



Nice ideas for differentiation via StoryJumper - your post just needed a bit more content and a more readable layout to meet criteria. ~Mrs. L.

Beth Brex Differentiation for Sherry, Process, Product and Environment Fotobabble: http://www.fotobabble.com

Fotobabble is a web 2.0 application in which the user can upload a photo and record 60 seconds of sound. This tool offers another way for students to show what they have learned through pictures and words instead of writing. Although the content may be more organized if the creator writes the script beforehand, this is not necessary. This application also allows the students to visually represent a concept without drawing. Given that Sherry loves to talk, this application will be perfect because it allows her to to express ideas using her own voice. Furthermore, Fotobabbles can be shared on a social network for students, like Edmodo, allowing the content to reach more students.

Sherry can locate different geometric shapes that live in the classroom (or other parts of the school grounds, if appropriate), like a clock, sheet of paper, desk, paper kites on the bulletin board, a structure on the playground, etc. This is an example of differentiating Process and Environment. Then she can recreate the shapes using manipulatives. Then she can trace them and label them on a sheet of graph paper. This is another example of differentiating Process. Afterwards, she can label the shapes and take a digital picture. The acts of drawing the shapes and taking a photo are examples of differentiating Process and Product. Sherry will use the picture to create a Fotobabble and record a voice over explaining the different shapes; another example of differentiation of Process and Product. This activity gets Sherry away from the textbook, which does not captivate her for extended periods of time. It allows her interact with her environment to learn geometry and express her ideas verbally. .

Great use of Fotobabble! Perhaps ALL students would enjoy the activities you described... ~Mrs. L.

Simon Chung
Differentiation for Philip(Process, Product and Environment) Prezi: []

Prezi is basically Powerpoint on steroids. It is a Web 2.0 application used for presentations and sharing ideas. Like Powerpoint, a student is able to add pictures, diagrams, words, sentences, etc. However, Prezi offers many more features. For example, a student can draw directly on the screen. It provides drawing tools for shapes and lines. Also, it is super easy to zoom in and out of the individual pictures and words on the screen. Furthermore, the entire screen or individual items including words can be rotated at varying degrees. Another cool feature is the path. The student selects the various items on the screen in a particular order of his or her choice and Prezi plays the screen in the exact order. These are some of the major features of Prezi.

Philip is a boy who is hyperactive so I would like to get him out of his seat. He can use a camera to walk around the classroom (and the school grounds during recess and other break times) to take pictures of various objects and structures with geometric shapes. Then he can download and label the pictures to Prezi and produce a presentation for the class on shapes. Also, he can find more complex shapes, 2 and 3 dimensional, on the Internet and add those to Prezi as well. He can then play around with it using the Prezi tools. Lastly, I might give him an object such as a statue or painting or something abstract and ask him to identify shapes within the objects. Then I will ask him to create those shapes using the Prezi drawing program. Therefore, Prezi provides a new way of processing the learning of geometric shapes while changing the environment where Philip can be more active. And the product will be something he constructed rather than something he memorized.



Excellent idea to create activities that encourage Philip to move! ~Mrs. L.

=Wordle (7/19/2011)=

Iosha Hodgson-Reed
Kayla Gottfried



Simon Chung
=EdTech Realities: EdTech Implementation Factors (7/25/2011)=

Impacts of organization school structure:


 * 1) A strong school structure that encourages change is positive – schools don’t stay stagnant.
 * 2) Highly visible technology projects influence further implementation by other teachers.
 * 3) Teachers work with the principal to work towards a shared vision for change.
 * 4) Leadership that doesn’t support change negatively impacts advancements in technology.

Real Life Example: (#3) There is a school that records and broadcasts morning announcementsdaily. The students are involved in theprocess from developing the material to editing the broadcasts. Every classroom teacher connects to theannouncements and projects them in their room. Seeing this technology daily has increased the teachers’ and students’desire to utilize and explore technology in their classrooms.

Solutions:(#4) Create a school climate that ensures teachers have the support they need to create a technology savvy staff and student population.

=Educational Technology Resources (7/29/2011)=


 * Online Teacher Tools:**


 * Kids Vid** []
 * Kids'Vid is an online instructional website to help teachers and studnets use video production in class to support project-based learning.

Gives many ideas on how technology and media improve instruction and student learning. The collection of recent research and best practices can help you plan the best approach for your students. It is broken down into a number of categories, with 100’s of linked websites. Check it out!!
 * PBS Teachers - Technology Integration, Research and Best Practices:** []

This site is called EdTech magazine. This site has many articles along with other recourses that are helpful in many areas. This site has a specific area dedicated to K-12 and it also has a higher Ed area too. []
 * Magazine and Publications**

DiscoverySchool.com:[]. > Hundreds of lesson plans on a wide range of subject areas, provided by the Discovery (TV) Channel
 * Lesson Plan Repository**