Field Experiences Spring 2011

Field Experiences:

ITEC 7430/ITEC 7445 –Spring

SMART Student Responses (Senteo)

Description: Taught the science teachers the uses and significant implication of using the SMART Student Reponses in the classroom as an assessment tool. 

Standard: TF- IV A.  Apply technology in assessing student learning of subject matter using a variety of assessment techniques

Hours:  5hrs  January 4, 2011   

1 hr Downloading programs and updating.  4hrs. Teaching product from the basic to the implementation

Population :  6^th Grade Science  (all students)

Reflection:  The teachers were taught from the start the basic of downloading /updating software from the SMART Tech Website to implementing of their own assessments.  Explained to them how to setup their initial Teacher Page.  Once that was completed went over on how to import or just input students into separate classes.  Discussed with the teachers some of the uses of the tools and features offered on the Teacher page. Demonstrated to the teachers several options about the use of the clickers.  Showed them how to make a quiz in several ways and then how to start collecting data from the student.  Demonstrated the clickers from the point of view of a student.  How they need to log on and respond to a question on the board.  Once that was completed demonstrated the instant data gathered for each assessment such as graphs and charts.

There was several troubleshooting problems and did not help that some of the computers are very old that they cannot handle the software.  What is wonderful about this tool is the instant feedback you receive.  You can address the lack of understanding at that moment and not have the students forget or continue with the misconception.  It also allows for teachers to assess their teaching.  They can reflect and approach the subject matter that the students missed.  The teachers can read out loud the questions or make copies and have the students work independently.  Our school can connect the clickers to other programs offered in the school. 

ITEC 7430/ITEC 7445 –Spring

GoAnimate

Description: Students used the web tool GoAnimate to create a product that was assessed.  Modeled and showed examples of the use of GoAnimate. 

Standard: TF-III.A Facilitate technology-enhanced experiences that address content standards and student technology standard

Hours:  3 hrs  January 31,  February 4

Population :  6^th Grade Science  (Enhanced Science Class)

Reflection:  I decided to use GoAnimate as another form of presentation.  Most of the students were at   higher thinking and really enjoyed creating something new.  I chose the Web Tool GoAnimate as a way to expose the students to the use of a different method of presenting their information.   Had my students first go over the process.  Having the IB Technology Design Cycle helped guide the students through the design and creation of their animations.  The students pick up on the use of the tools quickly.  Only trouble was the loading time of the animations.  (Bandwidth was not that great at the time)

I then demonstrated it to a teacher in my department and then helped her to implement it in her classroom as well.  Went over what was the teacher role and tasks that needed to be done before the student part.  Showed her how to connect and create username and passwords.  Explained to her the limitations of using the free version of GoAnimate.  Provided an example from my students finished products.  Assisted her in the class on how her students would be able to add scenes and characters.  We used the IB Technology  Design Cycle to guide the students in their design. 

ITEC 7430/ITEC 7445 –Spring

Standard: TF-IV.B  Use technology resources to collect and analyze data, interpret results, and communicate findings to improve instructional practice and maximize student learning.

Performance Tracker

Description: Performance Tracker is the software used by our school to implement and track Assessments.  Also available now is the opportunity for students to take their assessment online (use a computer OAS) and get their grades right after they complete their exam.  Teachers are able to break down the information into a variety of ways to evaluate the students learning and understanding.

Hours:  2hrs (2 days)  February 21, February 28

Population :  6^th Grade Science  (English Language Learners)

Reflection:   The new ELL teacher and I first setup our ELL students into Focus groups.  I have done it before so I showed her how to do it for her own group that she wanted.  We went through all the different types of reports and graphs to gather the information on student progress.  We were able to analyze and interpret the results of the unit test.   We were able to break down what standards they were lacking in.  In class we went over the standards again using different modes of application with students and in some cases we were able retest using the student response system.      

ITEC 7430/ITEC 7445 –Spring

Standard: TF-V.C  Apply technology to increase productivity. 

Wiki for Science PLC Meetings

Hours:  2 hrs 

Population :  6^th Grade Science  Teachers

Description:  Setup a wiki using PBworks were the Science Department can access and share ideas.  The wiki  allows us to post agenda notes and files that are used within our classes to be able to share with others.

Reflection: The Science Department in my school meets every Tuesday afternoon.  There are times were not everyone can meet at the same time.  There are many times those are the only time we get to see each other.  The wiki would help to better communicate and share between meetings. This would be a good way that the teachers can keep in contact even if we can’t meet and monitor what each of us are doing.  We can share files of things we give and use with our students in the classroom.  It is great because email sometimes gets crowd, forget to reply to all, or you accidently delete it.  The wiki allows for everything to in one place where everyone has the same access and can come back and see it anytime they want.  A wiki is a good way to share files and have a running account of meeting and files. 

ITEC 7430/ITEC 7445 –Spring

SMART Products located in School

Standard: TF-II.C.  Identify and locate technology resources and evaluate them for accuracy and suitability.

Hours: 3  hrs.   March 30th

Population : 6^th Grade Students

Description:  Assisted a fellow student with a video to explain the availability and use of SMART products in our school.   

Reflection:  The teacher needed to learn what SMART products were available in our school.  She also needed to learn how to use other products.  We went first over the SMART board and some of the new tools available with the update.  We then went over the other products.  One of the tools was the SMART Document camera.  I showed her how to connect it to the computer and then how to scan a document that shows up on the SMART board.  The next tool we went over was the SMART Student Response System.  We went over the basic of the tools and how to connect it to the computer.  We went over the software that was required to connect to the computer.  The last thing that was talked about was that you can get access to these tools in the school media center.

ITEC 7430/ITEC 7445 –Spring

Internet Tools

Standards TF-II.E Plan strategies to manage student learning in a technology-enhanced environment.

Hours:   2 ½ hrs   30mins Wordle, 30mins Quizlet, 30mins Zamzar, 1hr SchoolFusion

(throughout February and April)

Population 6^th Grade Students (ELL and others)

Description: Taught several teachers some of the tools that I learned in the Internet Tools class and how to use it for their classes.

Reflection:  The ELL teacher used the Wordle and Quizlet to help her students in the understanding of concepts in their English and Science classes.  The English teacher used Zamzar to convert some English lesson videos from YouTube to use in her class.  I taught the teachers on my team how to download files from the students Z drive to their SchoolFusion site.  This was going to be used later for the Global Project that the whole school was responsible for completing. 

ITEC 7430/ITEC 7445 –Spring

Technology Research for Math

Standards  TF-II.B   Apply current research on teaching and learning with technology when planning learning environments and experiences.

Hours  2hrs

Population:  6^th Grade Math

Description: Assisted a Math teacher in locating research for the Implication of using technology in teaching Math. 

Reflection: I helped a fellow Math teacher to research for information on how technology has impacted in the students learning.  I found articles using the ISTE websites and other websites.  I also found for her articles in education magazines about Math and Technology.  We discussed about the good and bad of using technology.  I help her with picking a topic to focus on.

Final Thoughts ITEC7445

The ITEC7445 journey has had its ups and downs.  I have met a lot of great knowledgeable people in this class.  They also have been very helpful in my ITEC7445 journey.  I have learned from them that designing does take time.  It is not as easy as it looks.  Even if you use already made programs there is always something that won’t work like you want it to.  Having knowledge of code helped me to tweak the unworking to work.  Code is like that sneaking around to get what you want.  I really enjoyed learning and working with code.  Unfortunately there is that time factor and it is hard to be able to spend the time to really get working with code to make designing look good. 

ITEC7445 journey made me really think about others things that are important also to design.  Copyright and Universal Design really affect the way to think about things when you design them.  In the past they were things I did not think about which now I really take the time to put them into consideration when I designing.  I consider that my Multimedia Project will be something that will be always growing as I find ways to make it more efficient.  I won’t stop tweaking until the issues of design have been solved.  There is always something that comes up and I want to change to make it better.    

Thing 21: Slideshare

Thing 21

View more presentations from ramezaga26

The good thing about Slideshare is the being able to download presentations to share.  It does seem to lose some of the animation capablities.  It is also a great place to store your presentations and be able to access on other computers.  Many times we have to do presentations in meeting so you can post them when completed to share with the others.  It also gives you the transcript of the presentation so you check and see if it is something you can use. It is good if find a presentation on a topic you need to discuss.  It is easy to embedd it into your blog, wiki or website. 

Thing 19: Google Docs

The ability that Google docs uses and is very similar to Office makes the use of it very beneficial. I remember using Google Docs awhile back.  There were issues at first when I started using it.  The biggest thing was the cursor would not match up with what and where I was typing.  So I stopped using it.  I was upset because it was a great way of storing information and being able to open it elsewhere.   I tried it again now because of this class.  It seems that they have fixed the problem.  Now I can use it for it is intended.  In my science department we are always sending things through email to edit and change.  One is example is our unit tests.  If changes are made then it becomes difficult to know who has the updated version of the test.  Now with Google Docs we can upload old files (which it does a great job of maintaining the actually form of the document) change them together or separate but we don’t have a problem knowing which one is the updated version.  This also allows for us to have a place where we can find it instead of searching the endless pit of old emails.   During Faculty meetings we have presentations.  This would be great for teachers to add examples to the presentation afterwards.  This way we can see what each other is doing.  Many time we don’t have time to see what others are doing.  We can revisit the presentation on a later meeting and share.  For the spreadsheet I am going to be using it for tracking our Field Trips.  I am always having to send the updated version to my other teacher in charge of making the appointments.  This way she can see them at the same time and see any changes I make without having to ask me.  Also I would good keep track of our students performance.  Many of our tracking systems export files in .cvs formats.  We can put all the information in one location.     

Thing 20: Screencasting with Jing

Jing is another of the tools that I am really thinking of using a lot.  It is very easy to use and setup.  Jing also requires minimum equipment (most computer are now equipment with mics).  It would be great to make short clips of specific instructions of certain things that teachers have asked me to help them with.  You know that teachers really don’t have much time to get together.   I have already seen the potential of using Jing in the classroom.  I made a tutorial to add to the Multimedia Project for directions to my students on how to use the wiki and blog.  It would be great if I were to be allowed to have some of the class computers install Jing and have my students do short clips of instructions or of what they are learning.   I also have ideas of using it to record short lessons for students that miss class they can access them and catch up.  Also great to make short instruction clips for parents to be able to navigate the school website.  It is great  also to capture pictures of site of current events that disappear as time goes on.

Tutorial done for my students on how to use a wiki

J_Tutorial_Wiki

thing 18: Social Networking

Classroom 2.0 was fantastic!  I really enjoy how the site is very professionally done.  Sometimes I feel with other social networking sites that it is just a waste of time.  I really don’t need to know that someone is sitting on a beach or bar somewhere.  I don’t need to know the dealings of everyone at every second.  Nice but how is that going to help me.  Unfortunately most of my life revolves around teaching  (at least from August to May).   My students change from year to year.  I see less and less engagement in my students.  I need something that can help to get the enthusiasm back into the classroom.  Having a network where teachers can come together and share ideas is always great.  It also establishes relationships outside of your comfort zone.  It helps to bridge the gap between teachers.   Sometimes we are stuck in our classroom and forget that there is a great big world out there and that it is becoming smaller and smaller as we are more and more able to reach out.  Classroom 2.0  is a great tool to reach out.  Already I find myself wanting to comment on a topic in the forum.  It helps giving me ideas and the ability to weigh the pros and cons before actually trying something out without having to reinvent the wheel.  I think all teacher should look at and really consider joining the Classroom 2.0.  Teachers Unite!

Many of my students love to use My Space and Facebook. Like everything there are problems from time to time of someone using it improperly.  I would love to harness that energy with setting up a network with my classes.  Ning would be great.  Ning would allow me to setup and be able to monitor who is and what someone is doing. It is also great because as they continue in their education they can still come back and help the lower grades.   This would be great as a homework help tool.  Also a way to get kids to collaborate with other kids.  Can setup extra study session times.  Students that are out of school for one reason or another can still participate in a class discussion.  I guess I just have to work on setting up a proposal to my administration.

Thing 17: YouTube / Teacher Tube

Whenever I need a short brief video on a topic I look in YouTube and TeacherTube.  The videos I find are great.  They are just brief were they don’t take a lot of time out of teaching.  The only problem is of course the dreaded “Firewall”.  Sometimes I feel that it is a very bad thing.  Feeling that it blocks my created juices.  Well enough about that.   Now there are programs available that will convert and allow you to use YouTube videos but of course it requires you to access it somewhere else other than school.   A teachers work is never done.  I use the videos as training tools for teachers and as writing prompts in class or to supplement an idea.  I would like to have students produce some of their own videos in the future.  I would like them to make some that pertains to the rules in school such as uniforms.  That way I don’t have to repeat myself.  Have them make videos to show and discuss demonstration done in science labs.  Eventually have a library of these labs/demonstration for students that out for one reason or another and to able to have them as reviews.    

Georgia Floods Here is a video of the floods in Georgia that I still use in my classroom.  (My brother help edit and post)