Butch Class Blog

Microsoft Word (Stop Changing Your Layout!)
I remember when our High School got its first computer lab. That was in 1988. The internet for practical purposes did not exist outside of colleges, the military, and they were still talking about Telenet and CompuServe. I started to learn to type on a type writer and worked with some of the first IBM computers used in our classrooms. Our Computer Lab teacher had a terrible time keeping us kids from smuggling in games and playing them on the servers when she wasn't looking. In the 1987 we had a small lab where we learned to write programs using DOS. It took hours just to make a picture on the screen using command lines like "go to" and "run". Now I can't keep up with the changes on MS Word because the format changes every 3 years it seems like.

I laughed when Mrs. Keesee wrote "think of one instance of a time when you wanted to do something in Microsoft Office and could not figure out how to accomplish it?" Just when I can figure out how to do anything without MS word they changing the format and where all the buttons are placed! I really enjoy the new things like charts, pictures, equations, and spell/grammar check (Greatest Invention Since Sliced Bread!). Without MS word and word processing my teachers would still be telling me, "Butch what is this.... It looks like Chicken Scratch!" My handwriting is terrible an archeologist put it in a museum next to a mummy. I still print everything because my cursive has been known to cause temporary blindness. Luckily MS word came up with this wonderful Invention and even created a help button that has always looked like a question mark or said Help.

Impressive Attributes

The following article was in today's Child Care Exchange newsletter. I thought it was worth posting and asking you to think about how this course could help you build these attributes and answer some of these questions. Click here to subscribe to the newsletter.

Barbara Moses, writing in Work & Family Life (April 2011) notes that employers are looking for these attributes when interviewing job candidates:

Innovation.  Say what you’ve done in the past to help generate or bring about change or growth.  Offer fresh ideas for the future.

Teamwork.  Tell about when you helped a coworker or how you responded (in a mature, positive way) when you did not get the cooperation you sought.

Decision-making.  Describe your thinking process prior to making a tough decision.

Leadership.  Tell about a time when it was difficult to get help on a project and what you did in response to make something happen.  Talk about the “big picture.”

Tenacity.  Talk about a difficult situation when your persistence paid off.

Attention to details.  Describe the process you use to control errors.

Emotional IQ.  Tell how you dealt with a frustrating situation.

Flexibility.  Talk about how you got around an obstacle that was preventing you from finishing a task or project.

Toni Ryan "What I Amazingly Learned"

What I knew: 1. How to e-mail messages 2. How to save a document 3. How to construct a paper on the computer 4. How to basically submit assignments 5. How to print off of a computer 6. How to Google for information My Goals: 1. To copy and paste with ease 2. To learn what "i-pods, i-pads, twitter and other terms mean 3. To learn all I can about technology to better teach children What did I learn? 1. I created a blog! 2. I made a wiki 3. How to do a hyperlink 4. How to evaluate a webquest 5. How to do a powerpoint presentation 6. How to make a spreadsheet 7. How to use clipart 8. What Bloom's Taxonomy is 9. How to bookmark in Delicious Most of my learning was in the cognitive domain, but the group projects taught me some things in the social/emotional domain. Socially, how do you give opinions in such a way to not offend anyone? You can not use inflexions in your voice to assure someone that you are not insulting their opinion. It all has to be in your words. This is not always easy. What I learned to take with me in my life and teaching, is a lot about the technology for the special needs out there. I want to be either a teacher assistant for a special needs classroom or work as a one on one for a special needs student. Dr. Keesee was determined that we all learn everything possible about technology in this class and by her patience and a little push forward, I think we've all done that!

Danielle Clark's Updated Goal List

I formed five main goals for this course at the beginning of the semester. Looking back on them, there’s really only one that I haven’t spent time learning more about. Unfortunately, that one was probably the one I considered most important! My five goals were to learn more about….

1. And become more comfortable with the technology I admittedly dislike.

As I said in my opening blog post way back in January, I can usually figure out what I need to do in order to get technology to bend to my will and do my bidding. At the very least, I knew the power of Google, eHow, and the expert knowledge stored within.

What I wanted to know, or what I felt that I really needed someone to hang a grade over my head and force me to discover, were things like wikis and podcasts. I wound up learning about those along with Delicious, WebQuests and the proper use of images from online. I still don’t like them all (I’m looking at you Delicious), but I know how to use each and every one of them to the point that I can explain it to someone else, which was part of my goal. Wikis, for example, drive me nuts while I’m midway through the work. I’d rather clean the toilet than work on a wiki, but looking back on the class wiki, I can see the fantastic potential of it as a teaching tool and assignment. I’m very excited to use it in my classroom one day. Ideally, I’d like to use it in the way I mentioned in the tech integration contest- as a long term project that students can add and edit as they learn more and more on a subject over the span of a few grades. It’s a big project, but I think it’d be completely worth it.

2. The available technologies to help Autistic and other special needs children get as much as they can from their lessons.

I really only conquered this particular goal this past week with the work that I have yet to really submit. Fail. Anyway. Through my work with a handful of special needs students in both field observation and my work as a Nanny, I already knew of a good number of tools used to help these students excel. At least, I thought it was a good number of items, but this weeks Iris Module helped me see just how broad the term assistive technology is and how many tools can fall under that particular category.

Cognitively, I definitely compiled a list of AT devices to remember in the future, but I think more than anything I was reminded of just how altering these tools can be for students. Another big thing was the suggestion of classes to teach parents how to use the devices. It seems like such a no-brainer to clue the parents in, but I hadn’t thought of it at all.

3. Hands-on technology methods to help students learn how to problem solve for real-life situations.

This goal was my main reason for choosing Educational Games for the class wiki project. Truth is, I’ve always been interested in the simulation side of educational games, but that easily phased into the serious games we covered in our wiki. I knew going into this project that these games are a great way to tackle the material that is a little too abstract for students to understand. In my original blog post, I gave the example of seasons on Earth. There are so many variables for students to take into consideration when they learn about this subject that it’s easy to get lost in all the different information. So that was really my main reason I wanted to learn more about this form of technology. I knew some great games existed, but I didn’t really know what they were, how I could implement them successfully, or what content areas I would be able to cover.

Because this was my wiki project with Buck, this is probably the area I learned the most. And although I could type out everything I learned, that’s what the wiki is for! I think implementing the games will be a challenge based on where I wind up teaching and the resources available to my students. If we are only allowed an hour in the school computer lab and we only have one computer in the classroom, it’s going to be difficult to implement this goal. Having learned about its vast benefits though, it’s something I’m very willing to introduce to my students somehow, someway. I’d most like to use serious games, which span several subjects, so I can’t narrow it down too specifically. I think they’re a great way to get hands-on, in-depth knowledge in a way that fosters individual critical thinking while still opening opportunities for whole-class discussion.

4. Resources to help school upgrade and include new forms of technology in the classroom.

This is the goal I didn’t really work on! Shame. Just reading the goal itself, I feel like I have worked on it throughout every step of the class, but reading the more in-depth description on my blog involves finding grants and monetary sources to bring in devices like SmartBoards, updated computers in the classroom, subscriptions to online resources and so on.

Of course, I did learn about a good number of free online resources that would be fantastic aids in the classroom, but this goal was really more about finding a way to fund the things I can’t find a free alternative for. Like the SmartBoard. There’s still time I guess.

5. Establish a bookmark tab full of useful Education links that I can use myself later in other classes and my career, as well as a resource for parents.

I worked on this goal as a separate blog post, which ended up coming in quite handy a number of times throughout the course! Going into this goal I knew that there’s an endless amount of resources available online, I just didn’t really know what any of them were. I found a great stock of resources over length of the course though and they will be great for helping me to stay organized and introducing material safely in the classroom, among other things. Mainly though, I tried to find resources that would be useful for parent, students and group projects.

Reviewing My Goals - Erica Morton

At the beginning of this course I created the goal for myself to learn more about:

·         PowerPoint

·         Creating Graphics & Web Pages

·         Photo Shop Programs

·         Music & Video Programs

What I now know about….

I understand the use of a computer or all around technology in the classroom now. It’s better to understand the importance of how to use technology in your classroom for the benefit of your students. I believe I have learned many great things that can help me in teaching any future students I may have, no matter age group I end up with. I may not have learned everything that I set out to all the way so far, but I better understand how to find resources to help me learn more.

What I want to know…..

I still want to learn as much as I can to help my future students with technology. I believe that technology is an ever changing subject, so we as teacher will always be learning and teaching new things about it. I understand PowerPoint and Photo Shop way better now, but I know there are still many things I can learn about web pages and music/video programs. I’d like to learn how to create and edited videos, to do different projects with my future students, something I could share with them and their families.

How I might find out about….

Through this class I have learned how to use my resources a lot better than better not only where to find certain subjects but how to write about them and how to use them. I can find videos to help me with certain subjects then I can also help others with that same subject. (I hope that makes sense…)

What I have learned….

This class has taught me a lot about technology, I have to admit that at times I felt lost and frustrated that I would understand certain concepts or how to finish a product, but with patience’s I understood and finished most of the assignments given to me. This class also helped me other online classes I am currently taking. Taking a lot of classes at once I learned to organize a spreadsheet to help me keep up with the many assignments that I have to complete each week. This has also helped me with other assignments that I need to create PowerPoint’s for. Even this course got hard at times and I felt like I had to quit I am glad that I stuck with it and got this far.

Amy McRoberts: What a challenge

What I already knew
• How to send and receive e-mails
• How to Google the internet for information
• How to make a Power Point presentation
• How to make a spreadsheet- I do one for my bills
• How to use clipart
• I can scan items and add them to files on my computer
• Upload pictures from my camera and add them to files on my computer
• I know how to save a document


What I wanted to learn
• How to do a hyperlink successfully
• How to use technology in my classroom that will allow me to teach all my students; avg, gifted, special
• How to communicate with busy working parents


What I have learned so far
• How to do a hyperlink
• That wiki is not a bad thing, it can be very useful in finding information
• Blooms Technology and how it should be used when teaching
• How to evaluate a WebQuest
• That a WebQuest is an online learning activity that has resources from the internet that has a context that is an inquiry based lesson
• How to link technology to the regular classroom
• How to bookmark important sites in a delicious account
• How to set up a blog
• How to make a wiki account for lesson plans

My goal for this class was to learn technology that would help me to be successful in teaching all children in my classroom in a way that would be fun and exciting. I was not jumping for joy in taking this class because for me technology was not my strong area and honestly it just plain frustrated me. I knew as soon as I signed up for this class it was going to be a challenge for me and it has, but I have learned a lot from everyone in this class and I am finding technology to be fun and not so frustrating. I am confident that I can successfully teach all my students in a new and exciting way. I have learned that technology provides so many options for teachers and everyone and is needed for teaching students in the 21st century; we cannot continue to teach students the way we were taught. In the future for my classrooms I plan on having a blog for all my parents and students. My blog will be for communicating with parents and also provide classroom assignments for students who may have been absent or did not write down the assignment during class time. I plan on using a SMART board in my classroom and having e-books in my literacy area.

Nelly Bonilla learning progress

What I already knew What I wanted to Know What I learned Communication Online: How to send e-mail to friends, instructors, and family to keep updated. Group’s wikis were a group does not have to meet up face to face. Uploading or attaching any kind of work to a website. Surf the Internet: There are so many things that we can use the intent and with technology on the side we could use so many programs like Skype (able to keep in touch) Online classes (blackboard) libraries (find old documents). The uses of spreadsheet: I knew how it looks like but I learn the importance and the organizations it have. I learn that it helps to collate data of different types and it can keep updating. Evaluating Web Resources: There are so many evaluations like currency, authority, accuracy, intended audience and purpose. It shows me how to check for the domain and fact checkers. I have developed skills and knowledge into different areas by practicing. Going to different websites and look up the subject than look foe examples and I try it my self. Some stuff can be confusion if you are not familiar but we can always ask someone who might have a better knowledge. Two was that I will intent to use information/skills in my life or teaching practise are try it in different ways because everyone learns differently and always keep updating. By trying different way I mean for example surfing the web I would keep all the information in mind from what I learn in this class but also look the opposite and see how much difference is there for example author authentication and accuracy I would do a compare contrast. Keep updating for the futures is a great tool to keep in mind because of technology is growing so much faster that teachers can just stick to the way they learn it when they were students. Teachers always have to look for professional and easy and common ways to teach for a better career.

Carrie Blanchard Wow I can't believe I made it this far!

My Blog Post:   My goals for this class are to at least become computer literate. I think that technology is important in order to be a successful teacher. In the school I work at every classroom has a smart board and it is amazing. It is also sad that many teachers do not use them or know how. I do not know how to blog, make a power point, utilize a spreadsheet. I basically know how to use e-mail and how to search the Internet. Power points will be helpful to know how to make for the classroom. Also spreadsheets even for personal use would be nice. I guess it is about time I catch up with the rest of the world. I am looking forward to learning new things and I hope that I do not get lost on the way.

What I already knew	What I wanted to know	What I learned
Use e-mails		e-mails are a little bit outdated when sharing information….use a wiki instead
Search the internet		Anyone can post information on the internet so you must be selective where you get your information from
Upload pictures from my camera
	How to create and use a spreadsheet	I learned how to use a spreadsheet and even input a formula in order to get a total amount
	Make a Power Piont	I learned how to put in pictures, how to use a You Tube video, how to make the words active on the slides. I also learned that there were basics on the colors and sizes for the fonts on Power Points.
		I learned about a Wiki and why it is better to use than e-mail especially when planning with others.
		I learned how to create a Blog.
		I learned about Delicious which is excellent to use, especially for teachers because you can share what sites are helpful to you and look at others sites and determine if you want to use them as well.
		I learned about bookmarking, a great way to find and keep sites that you love.
		I learned about Google Docs and how you can use it to create a spreadsheet or even create a PowerPoint for free. You can share it and allow others to edit it. You can find it anywhere because it is on the Web.

                               

I have now gotten my feet wet in the world of technology. After playing with the spreadsheet assignment I was able to feel more comfortable in a spreadsheet. That is when I actually calculated using formulas for another class. I was very excited because I have always thought it would be a good way to keep up with my financial costs. Now that I have created a Power Point I am willing and wanting to create another one. It took me a very long time to create my Power Point but now that I have has some experience the next time it will not be quite as challenging and I will be exploring more possibilities. I really think that I can be a more organized person with utilizing a Wiki, bookmarking and even Delicious. I also discovered Google Docs, which is wonderful because you do not have to worry about using a flash drive or taking your laptop. Where ever there is a computer and the internet you can pull up your documents. You can share them and even allow others to edit them. I would like to use a Blog in my classroom as a kind of newsletter for my students and parents. I will post weekly information of events in the classroom and keep it updated on what the skills are that we are learning. This will be a great place for parents to communicate with me if they have any questions or concerns. I would also post sites that may be fun and helpful to the students to use at home. I will also use spreadsheets to keep organized on my grades and checklists that I need to keep up with. Power Points are a really fun way to introduce a new skill or to review and old one. I really did not know much about YouTube before this class. I am amazed at all the things you can learn from it. I will be using it in the classroom too. I will be sure to view it before I show it.

Integrating Technology in the Classroom

Do Teachers Use Free Word Processors?

Some teachers do use free word processors. If they don't, maybe it's because they don't know about them, or how to use them. Open Office meets the needs of both teachers and students. It has a flexible word processor, powerful spreed sheet, dynamic graphics, database access and more. It meets all the requirements of an office software package. Schools pay quite a bit of money monthly for MS Office, but they could save some money with OpenOffice.org. It is becoming more and more mature with every release.
Google Docs is an easy to use online word processor, spreadsheet and presentation editor that enables you and your students to create, store, and share instantly. Through the revisions history, teachers can see which and when students contributed to projects.
Zoho Office Suite is a web-based online office suite containing word processing spreadsheets, presentations, data bases, note taking, Wikis, CRM, Project Management, invoicing, and other applications developed by ZOHO Corporation. These are free at the entry level but require a fee for more extensive or professional use.
The first time I used Microsoft Office, I was attempting to write a paper. I knew how to use a regular typewriter, but this was of course different. I got very frustrated, so rather than throw the computer out of the window, I opted to take my paper to my daughters' house and asked if I could do it there with her assistance. Whenever I couldn't get it to do what I wanted it to. She showed me how to use it correctly. Who said you can't teach an old dog new tricks? My daughter did!

Word Processors....Clark,D.

I like to think that because I’m a “digital native” I’ve had enough classes reviewing how to use word processors that I can eventually remember how to do almost everything in Word. There’s definitely always a few minutes of frustration, though, when I can’t remember how to make the TextBox do what I want it to do or the border isn’t how I imagined it. For example, the text boxes I used for the Venn diagram assignment drove me nuts! I couldn’t get the size right for the images and text I wanted to enter into them and then the diagram disappeared every time I tried to move the text box onto it. My method of coping is usually to first fiddle with the document, clicking through all of the tabs and drop down menus, hoping something in my memory clicks into place and I suddenly remember what I need to do. If I’m smart, I remember that Google is King of All Answers Land, and just search for my answers through that.

As frustrating as these moments are, they are good for remembering how it feels to be completely unsure, and honestly kind of scared, of how to make technology do what we need it to do. I think part of that fear of the unknown is what keeps some teachers from utilizing newer tools like Zoho Suite or Google Docs. Or maybe they just prefer what they know. Either way, for those who want to employ these processors, they can make the every day paperwork side of teaching easier and more accessible.

Software for Teachers

The advanced features of office would be including software able to perform the tasks of Word Processor, Spreadsheet, Database, and Power-point …etc. With these entire components incorporated into one task it will be organized and able to be up-held as a teacher. Google Docs would also be useful because it allows the documents to be made online. These documents are not only limited to Word Processor, but those used when working off-line as well. This app is directed toward consumer users. Zoho suite works similarly to the Google Docs, but like other apps, Zoho has some things that Google Docs does not and vice-a-versa.  Zoho suite is directed more towards the business users. These advanced features are a great tool to know, but it is not necessary for the teacher to know how. The advanced features are only the older features updated and put compiled into one.

One instance I had in Microsoft Office was trying to create a Word Art title at the top of my business page. I could not figure out how to move and make the clip smaller. To help me figure this out I asked my children how to fix the problem. After it was done it seemed to be so easy, but it was hard at that moment. I had then shrunk my Word Art, placed it in the correct spot, and styled the words.

Documents for Teachers

I think that teachers may use Zoho Suite for calendars, grade books and any other important information for their classroom.  I think that it would be beneficial for them to know how to use this type of software.  Google Docs are an easy way to share documents between emails, but I don't really see the importance for teachers to learn about this.  Open Office is a great way for teachers to create teaching materials and this would be something that the kids would be able to have access to as well.  I think that teachers would benefit from learning about Open Office.  I have had problems with Word Processors, but I usually google it and find out how to do it.  Google is a great way to figure out how something works or what steps you would need to follow to get the results that you are looking for. 

Microsoft Office H.E.L.P

With any other proccesor, Open Office, Google Docs or Zoho Suite offers help links for anyone to use. I'm sure many have to learn before using it in their classrooms or lessons. Teachers can learn much more now about technology then from 20 years ago. Our world is changing vastly and teachers improve their lessons and projects for classes with findings like these. If they are able to use them, it's easier to past it on to the students. I have had many issues with not knowing how to use a processor of some sort. One that I can think of was in Microsoft Office, I was taking a computer course at FTCC a few semesters ago and we had to make flyers. It looked so simple and easy to do and I did it, but what I didn't understand was how to create borders. I was puzzled. I wanted to just finish the project so I just did what I had to do and skipped obviously a few important steps to what the teacher was looking for. So I went back and read step by step how to create the borders. So in other words I was basically looking at a picture and recreating it without listening to her directions. So I did delete it and spent the half hour that it said it would take and repeated but did it step by step this time. I never had to help a colleague fix a problem with a problem but more along the lines of a student in my class. She was to create the same thing, a flyer. But she was doing it for something that she was attending and wanted to make it look creative, fun, and represented her. So we found pictures of herself and inserted it into the flyer but she wasn't quite sure how. I told her to save the picture she wanted in a file and then go through BROWSE to look up her picture. After that she understood that you have to have a file for it in order to insert the picture itself. If anyone is ever puzzled like I was, the HELP link can offer many questions already been asked previously. Sometimes I use youtube and it shows you step by step for those who are visual learners.

Word Processor

Do teachers use free wordprcessors? I guess it depends on the age of the teacher, or if they take workshops and or continue their own education. Teachers who earned their teaching degree years ago were not exposed to much technology. Teachers coming into the teaching field now have had an education where technology was require of them, plus younger teachers have grown up in a generation using computers and being exposed to these types of software. Yes, teachers should know how to use these tools because once they have learned how to use them it will help them by cutting down on thier time spent on activities and it will help them to share and introduce these tools to there students who are in a digital world.
There are often times when I would like to know more about the computer and programs that are available. Like in taking this class, if I already knew how to do he technological stuff this class wouldn't be so frustrating, and it wouldn't take soooooo much time! Specifically there was a time when I wanted to know how to us Excel to create a page with formulas. I wanted to use it in relation to my bills. I know how to just type in the rows and columns but that is about it. I gave up, just didn't do it. Now were has that gotten me, no where. I still don't know how and I still would like to know. I believe through the information this week and with a lot of frustration and time I will have a better understanding of how to create and utilize a spreadsheet.
When it comes to using Microsoft Word, I'm pretty good at making things look pretty. My husband was selling his motorcycle and wanted to create a flyer. I helped him to add a picture and change the font style and size to look nice. To me it was very easy, to him it was not so easy because he had never done it before.

Class Blog Microsoft Office

Have you ever wanted to do anything with word processors and couldn’t figure it out? Have you wanted to type something really special and could not figure out how to get the computer to format it so it would look the way that you wanted? Describe one instance of a time when you wanted to do something in Microsoft Office and could not figure out how to accomplish it? What did you do? If this has never happened to you–then tell of a time when you helped a colleague with this same kind of problem.

I think with computers there is always something that I want to do, but cannot figure it out and my vision is not always the same as my finished project on word, or with anything technology which can be very frustrating for me e.g., doing my Venn diagram was very frustrating I could not get it exactly the way I had vision it, and my poor husband came home for lunch to a mad, frustrated women. Thinking of a time when I could not figure out something on Microsoft Office, oh so many to choose from. One instance was years ago while I was an FCC provider for the Army I wanted to make a newsletter for my parents and I did not know how to make one, so I talked with my director about wanting to make newsletters for my parents, she provided me books on how to make newsletters using Microsoft Office and a few months later her husband offered a computer class to all of the providers.

Advantages and disadvantages

Incorporating mobile computing devices in the classroom has been some what a challenge but over the years has really shown improvement. Using technology in classrooms opens a whole new door for the kids today. They are able to access the abundance to learning tools available to them using the internet. From doing research on line to typing research papers to even attending classes without being in the class rooms. It does have its downsize because student tend to depend on technology too much and not using their own intellect. They tend not to think for themselves and us the technology to to think for them. Enhancing a student learning can be easy when you incorporate something that they are use to like the computers, mobile devices etc.... and so forth. If we choose the right resources and the right learning materials mobile computing ion classrooms can be wonderful.

Delicious account

I tried and I hope this is right, I had no problem opening this account http://www.delicious.com/network/teresamllins

Content Standards

In reading the IRIS tutorial I come to find out a lot of things about educating our children, content standards and benchmarks are vital part of this. In using content standards which describes the knowledge and skills that students should attain, often called the "what " of "what students should know and be able to do. While benchmarking is considered a standard against which others can be measured. Together benchmarks and content standards comprise a multitude of skills and identify the things that students should be able to do.

Content Standards

Content standards are defined knowledge, skills,and processes that are taught in an specific area of content, which includes reading & writing, mathematics, science, history, and so on.

Benchmarks are the instructional goals tat up holds content standards. They also help identify the understanding and skills used in content standards with each grade level and over time.

These are the foundation of teaching knowledge to our students and they should provide fundemental konwledge for the future of children.

There are benchmarks for both the teacher's and student's. The benchmarks for teacher's start by deciding the curriculum for the children and recognize the students strenghth's and weaknesses. For the students the benchmark start at the knowledge the y know and it build as the students recieve more knowledge.

Group Collaboration and Problem Solving

I have really not gotten to know my group members yet because I spend so much time trying to set it up.  Before I know it I have spent two or three hours on one thing.  The assignments come so fast that by the time I master one thing I have missed three.  But I guess if I keep trying then I will eventually get it.  I often visit the help forum and sometimes I get lucky and someone is having the same problem I am having.

group collaboration and problem solving

I did not a get to know my group members very well because of my technology awareness. I did enjoy the group members trying to get in touch with me the best that they could, and they seem to be very helpful and informative although I was not a big help. A problem-solving technique I learned related to working with my group members is based on the technology bases. I learned to continue trying until I am able to get it right. I learned this because I continued to work on things for the page for hours but was not able to put them up; then realizing all other process that I needed to go through.

Students working together

Five-Year-Olds Pilot Their Own Project-Based Learning | Edutopia

Five-Year-Olds Pilot Their Own Project-Based Learning Edutopia

Preparing for a Collaborative Classroom

Critical to teaching and learning in the collaborative/cooperative environment is being able to define the responsibilities of the teacher and students and to understand what best practices for your classroom are.  Ultimately, the goals of collaborative classrooms and cooperative classrooms are non-competition. For effective collaboration and cooperative teamwork, teachers and students must take on responsibilities to support the process.  The table below reflects the parallel responsibilities of teachers and students.

Teacher Responsibilities	Student Responsibilities
Monitor student behavior	Develop the skills to work cooperatively
Provide assistance when needed	Learn to talk and discuss problems with each other in order to accomplish the group goal
Answer questions only when they are team questions	Ask for help only after each person in the group has considered the questions and the group has a question for the teacher
Interrupt the process to reinforce cooperative skill or to provide direct instructions to all students	Believe they are part of a team and that all members of the team work together toward a common goal Understand that the success or failure of the group is to be shared by all members. Understand the group dynamic and learn mathematics by working groups
Provide closure for the lesson	Reflect back on the work of the group
Evaluate the group process by discussing the actions of the team member	Appreciate that working together is a process that capitalizes on the presence of student peers, encourages the interaction among students, and establishes relationships among team members
Help students to learn to be individually accountable for learning and to reinforce this regularly	Realize that each member must contribute as much as he or she can to the group goal Understand that the success of the group is dependent on, and a direct effect of, the individual work of each member of the group Understand that group members are individually accountable for their own learning

Check out Anne E. Brown's "Ten Guidelines for Students Doing Group Work in Mathematics." She developed the list after viewing the video and audio tapes of more than a dozen group sessions of her students. The list reflects the actions that appeared to be critical to the success or failure of the group.

This week, I'd like for us to work together to develop a list of tips and suggestions both from the teacher's perspective and from the student's perspective on how to make sure that collaborative groups "work" in our classrooms.  Possible questions include:

• What should the teacher do to prepare the students? 
• How should he/she design the group project?  
• How should groups be formed--does it matter? 
• What kind of roles should group members take on? 
• How will you monitor group interactions and check for understanding? 
• What are ways to successfully close or wrap-up a collaborative process? 
• What are ways to assess group projects?
• What are some tips that would help students accept responsibility and work together to accomplish the task?
• What are tips/suggestions for working with others in a group?
• What are tips/suggestions for getting a group started on the task?

NEW 21ST CENTURY PEDAGOGY

We cannot teach today's children the way we were taught even when we were in school. Technology has been an important catalyst for that change. Today's children are surrounded with technology. They use it every day. I remember when my family first got a color TV, a clunky desktop computer, and a modem to access the Internet through AOL. I am a digital immigrant. I did not grow up with technology. My kids who are in their 20s did grow up with computers and technology. They are digital natives. They are comfortable texting instead of sending e-mails. They access the Internet on their iPhones. They "speak the language". I came to know it second-hand. How many of you are like me? How many of today's teachers are like me? (Digital Natives, Digital Immigrants, Prensky, 2001)

It's not about catching up. It IS about being willing to take risks, to try something new. It is also about changing from being teacher-centered to being student-centered--to coaching and facilitating rather than lecturing. It is about recognizing that learning is a social endeavor. We learn best when we share the experience. New technologies such as blogs, wikis, YouTube, Facebook, etc. are about creating and sharing knowledge. How can we tap into that phenomenon? I look forward to reading your reflections.

Please post your comments regarding what kind of pedagogy do we need in order to meet the needs of today's children. How does being a digital native/digital immigrant affect this pedagogy? Make sure you refer to the videos in your response. I am not wanting a discussion of the merits of technology. I am wanting a discussion of learning theories and instructional strategies.  Please make sure you click the comment button to respond. Do not create a new post.

A Child-Driven Education

Blogs and Wikis and Podcasts, Oh My!

The Horizon Report 2007 listed User Created Content (e.g. blogs, wikis, YouTube, Flickr) and Social Networking (e.g. Facebook) as the technology trends that would be impacting education within one year or less. Mobile phones and virtual worlds were two-three years out and massively multi-player educational gaming was four-five years out. That report was released five years ago.

What has been your experience with these technology tools? How have they impacted your personal life? What about your educational career? What do you see as barriers to their adoption in education?

Welcome

Welcome to our Educational Technology 271 class blog. I have created this blog as a way for us to use technology and forge new connections with our readings and projects.

Each week, I will post a prompt as a new blog entry and ask that you write an answer in the comments section.  Doing this will allow us to better share ideas and opinions about what we are learning. It is also a way for you to think critically about what you are learning and to make connections with what  you already know and how you might use this information in your classroom.

Just remember, I still expect you to follow all the typical rules of composition and writing. This is no place for text-message abbreviations or sloppy writing. You need to remember that what we say and do here is available for any of us to read - teachers, classmates, members of the community, even others in the world.