Quizzes, Tests and Surveys

Mardi, Jennifer and I decided to attempt creating a test on Google Forms. We started on Google Drive, like we were going to create a Wiki. We then clicked onto Create and then Google Forms. We titled our test and just went for it. I decided to create a test on the skeletal system. I created T/F(list) questions, multiple choice questions and paragraph questions.My partners took the test and all went well, EXCEPT I didn't know who answered what!! So we decided to add, "What is your name" to the top of the test, and THAT worked like a charm. The "what is your name" question needs to be required. That is very important. The responses of the test can be viewed as a summary or a spreadsheet. I will definitely utilize this tool to create unit tests and quizzes for my class!

Avatar

"> This is my younger most fabulous looking Avatar. It was fun to be able to create the animated "me". :) I think that students would have fun doing this as well. I know that most of the students have experience creating Wii characters, so they would perhaps be more creative and adept at this than I was. My only glitch was to link the avatar to my blog. But I had wonderful help from my classmates, Diane and James. Thanks! I think that I can use my avatar to re-teach classroom rules and routines in a fun and engaging way.

Oregon Standards Response #3

Oregon Technology Standards #3 deals with "Research and Information Fluency", where "students apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, validate and use information."
This standards addresses the question, "What sites are appropriate for my second graders to access for their Ocean Animal research project?"
My students and their parents who participate in helping them may now access my "Delicious.com" bookmark for safe and age appropriate research sites. As of now, I only have Enchanted Learning listed, but I plan to work with Mardi and our other 2nd grade teaching partner to locate more research sites. This tool will encourage independence (rather than students having me procure and print their information) in researching and summarizing information. I am looking forward to it!

Audio!

I selected the tool "Audio" to explore and implement in my classroom this year. I have a mac computer, so Garage Band is an application that I currently have.
My daughters have enjoyed Garage Band for years. But I never have experimented with it.
It's totally cool!
I will utilize the audio component of Garage Band to enhance fluency with second grade readers.
I can record my voice reading a story or passage, and assign a student or students to choral read with my voice. Another option would be to record the student reading, and have him/her listen back. They will practice the story or passage until they wish to re-record and monitor their progress toward "smooth reading." There are other fun components to Garage Band, but I will most likely not use them as a learning center or activity choice this year.

OR Educational Technology Standards Response #2

Oregon Educational Technology Standard #2 deals with Communication and Collaboration, where students use digital media and environments to work collaboratively with peers, using a variety of digital environments and media. It also states that students will communicate and publish for multiple audiences and contribute to project teams.
Second graders in my class now have the opportunity to utilize the document camera to problem solve, explain strategies, share work, practice public speaking, and plan, proofread and edit for correct punctuation. They have use of a mobile computer lab (occasionally) as well as a permanent computer lab in our common pod area. Here they can write, practice skills, play games together, publish work, and possibly wiki and skype! I hope that my students will begin to e-mail their "partner class" to practice letter writing and communication via the web. Last, I am hoping that my class will have access to a new I-Pod lab that has just been donated to our school. My students should at least have a good start and foundation in technology starting this September.

Group Project Tool Post

Our group (Mardi, Jennifer and I) selected Wikis as our group project. We initially thought that we would use wikispaces.com, but then we selected Google Docs, as we had set up our gmail accounts on Monday.
Ideas for using google docs for second grade would be for writing; planning, organizing, revising, editing. adding adjectives to writing, looking at main ideas, topic sentences, concluding sentences, etc.
Ideally, for our age group, it would be best to work in groups of two. If there would be a group of three, perhaps a student who needs extra support could be a part of that group.
Day one of google docs would include; setting up e-mail addresses and passwords. (Or I would have those available for them, with the information on an index card). There is a demo page which students could utilize. Student pairs (or trios) will begin writing. They will name their document and save the document. After that, they will e-mail their partner(s). The link will readily be available via the e-mail.
The student will click onto the link and begin to work together. There can be one or two documents worked on at each time. I envision demonstrating the process several times (all class) before attempting to begin the cooperative writing using the computer lab. This could be a fun activity for students to enhance their writing, computer skills and ultimately boost their confidence!

Response to Intro/Chapters 1 and 2

As I examine my current technology practices, I realize that I understand the basics; email, Facebook, Youtube, Streaming Video, Power Point Presentations, Web Conferencing, using a Smart Phone, offering Computer Lab to students twice per week, and NOW blogging and Social Bookmarking!

I utilize some of these practices in my teaching, but not as much as I think that I should. 

Approximately 65% of our students at Molalla Elemantary School come from poverty backgrounds.

They do not have significant exposure to extras in life. Some have computers at home, but it has been my experience that approximately 30% of students do not.

I need to assume that the direct instruction regarding technology will come from school and not home for my students. They require exposure and practice in grade school because eventually their future school lives and their careers will most certainly hinge on understanding how to utilize technology.

Also, where is teaching headed? Will future students have only a computer at their desks? Or will there be another tool at their desks, that has not been invented yet?

I feel more confident after only one class, learning about technology tools and possibilities. I will integrate technology in my classroom that will enhance my students' learning, and also make my life more organized. 

Response to Oregon Technology Standard

Oregon Education Technology Standard #5 deals with Digital Citizenship.
Second grade students using the computer are working on a pretty basic level. This is not to say that they have issues with playing games or practicing skills. On the contrary, many students are fairly savvy with knowing how to navigate the computer and mouse.
This can be a good and a bad thing, as they are not afraid to punch keys, or try new avenues/strategies on the computer.
By basic level, I am referring to the fact that this is the age when students really begin to comprehend what they are reading. And at age 7 and 8, they sometimes can not differentiate what is appropriate or safe without having direct, purposeful instruction regarding these matters.
Standard #5 States that "Students will understand human, cultural and societal issues related to digital technology and practice legal, ethical and responsible behavior. They will advocate safe legal and responsible use of information and digital technology, model and practice  a positive attitude toward using digital technology", and that students will "support collaboration, learning and productivity. They will demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning."
Mini-lessons regarding web site navigation, as well as encouraging students to use my resources on Delicious.com, will be necessary and appropriate to model and teach to the second grade students.
They will require constant reinforcement and supervision while accessing computers.
It will be important to allow students to work together collaboratively, playing games and practicing skills on their computers to support one another in a positive manner.
It's been beneficial to review these standards, particularly as I become more proficient with implementing technology and computer use with my class.

Social Bookmarking; Who Knew???

Yesterday, I began the day with a little bit of anxiety. What if I am so inept that I just can't pull off some of this teaching with technology? After all, I have been using paper and pencil since I've been a student, and it all turned out just fine.

What a pleasant surprise to be able to work slowly with direction from our instructor. I felt successful and encouraged, not only by Martha, but by my classmates!

The assignment was to "set something up, using a web based tool."

Mardi and I are team-mates who have been teaching second grade together for 10 years. It was fantastic to be able to discuss the most helpful tool for the two of us to share to enhance and support our classroom teaching.

We selected Social Bookmarking.

Social Bookmarking, we felt would first help us gather and remember favorite websites that we like to visit for professional resources. Also, we realized that we could allow our students and parents to access this site to gain practice in reading, writing, math, etc. And THEN, we thought that we could list favorite and appropriate research sites for our students' "Ocean Animal Research Project". 

First we visited Delicious.com. It looked like a good place to start. 

Next, was the problem of setting up our page, but Delicious "talked us through it" so to speak. The glitch for me was to drag an icon up onto the toolbar!!!! And eventually Mardi and I found an instruction on how to do that.

We set up usernames. Next we selected "Stacks" or categories for our websites that we would recommend to students/parents/colleagues. 

Our stacks include Professional Resources, Reading, Writing, Handwriting (yes handwriting....this is a resource for parents w/ our new handwriting program starting this school year), Math, Careers, and Research. Our Professional Resources stack has locked sites from the parents and students. These are for our use only.

We then began to look up our favorite websites, and saving them under the stacks. The "Save on Delicious" Icon that is saved on our toolbars are super fantastic!

Now if we find a site that we like, we just click onto that icon and viola, it is added to Delicious. com. A page pops us and allows us to save it under a stack. If we don't have a stack that describes the site, one can be created easily on the spot.

We can also tag our sites so that other educators like ourselves, who are looking for appropriate web resources, can access them.

When selecting websites, we can make them public or private, and as I mentioned before, our Professional Resources are private.

This was so easy to do, especially working with Mardi. I am excited to share Social Bookmarking with our third team-mate and any other teacher at our school who would like to implement this tool in his/her classroom.

Social Bookmarking. Who knew? Lots of people, BUT, now I know too!!!!!

Wow, can you believe that I have a blog? Crazy!!!!! :)