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Monday, June 29, 2009
Monday, June 22, 2009
I am Back
Thank you to those readers who keep checking in to my blog. I lost my mom and with the end of school and helping my dad the blog just went to the bottom of my list.
I did learn something during this time about technology. My dad is 74 years old and has never been on a computer in his life. One of the challenges he faces is paying bills. My mom did the bills and everything is on the computer. He decided that he wanted to have access to his accounts in the same way as before. My mom gave him regular reports on their finances. This did require him to learn how to go on the computer and the Internet.
At this point you may be asking what does all this have to do with technology in the classroom. While I was trying to help my father acquire the computer skills he needed, I noticed that he was having controlling the mouse. He was unable to keep it still and double click an icon at the same time. Several of my younger students struggle with this same dilemma. My solution for my dad was to have him place the heal of his hand on the table to steady the mouse. The mice at school are too large for my students to place their heal of their hands on the table. I think I may need to invest in some smaller mice for the school computers.
I did learn something during this time about technology. My dad is 74 years old and has never been on a computer in his life. One of the challenges he faces is paying bills. My mom did the bills and everything is on the computer. He decided that he wanted to have access to his accounts in the same way as before. My mom gave him regular reports on their finances. This did require him to learn how to go on the computer and the Internet.
At this point you may be asking what does all this have to do with technology in the classroom. While I was trying to help my father acquire the computer skills he needed, I noticed that he was having controlling the mouse. He was unable to keep it still and double click an icon at the same time. Several of my younger students struggle with this same dilemma. My solution for my dad was to have him place the heal of his hand on the table to steady the mouse. The mice at school are too large for my students to place their heal of their hands on the table. I think I may need to invest in some smaller mice for the school computers.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Web 2.0 Can Make Writing More Fun
Writing is very important. Unfortunately students often dread writing in school. The writing process can be overwhelming and difficult even for the most able students. We spend a log of time teaching the types of writing and forms of writing. Sticking to essays and traditional stories. I do believe that it is important to teach the writing process, but in elementary school I hear too many groans from children.
Children have lots to say and write about. I know this is true because I spend my mornings at breakfast duty hearing tale after tale from all ages of yarn spinners. The breakdown in the writing is when they have to get their ideas on paper. Paper seems to suck away all creative thought for children. How can we change this?
The reason for writing must be stronger that just because the teacher assigned the work. I am no different. I write this blog because it is exciting to see how many people will read it during the week. Unfortunately I do not yet have my students blogging. There are restrictions for putting students’ work on the web. I will be working on this problem over the summer. In the mean time I want to share some ways I have found to keep motivation high through the writing process.
The most important way to get students motivated to write is by using a real purpose. If students are learning to write a persuasive essay, have students write to the principal to get something changed. Work with the principal to find a topic that students can address so change is made and they feel empowered. This has worked in my building.
Another motivator is to very the end product. I find if students are always asked to write a paragraph or a 5-paragraph essay they lose interest quickly. They write the draft and do very little revising. I believe the most important part of the writing process is the revising because that is were students can see their own growth. I have some web2.0 sites that offer ways to break the paragraph patterns a little to create a wonderful published piece of writing.
Children have lots to say and write about. I know this is true because I spend my mornings at breakfast duty hearing tale after tale from all ages of yarn spinners. The breakdown in the writing is when they have to get their ideas on paper. Paper seems to suck away all creative thought for children. How can we change this?
The reason for writing must be stronger that just because the teacher assigned the work. I am no different. I write this blog because it is exciting to see how many people will read it during the week. Unfortunately I do not yet have my students blogging. There are restrictions for putting students’ work on the web. I will be working on this problem over the summer. In the mean time I want to share some ways I have found to keep motivation high through the writing process.
The most important way to get students motivated to write is by using a real purpose. If students are learning to write a persuasive essay, have students write to the principal to get something changed. Work with the principal to find a topic that students can address so change is made and they feel empowered. This has worked in my building.
Another motivator is to very the end product. I find if students are always asked to write a paragraph or a 5-paragraph essay they lose interest quickly. They write the draft and do very little revising. I believe the most important part of the writing process is the revising because that is were students can see their own growth. I have some web2.0 sites that offer ways to break the paragraph patterns a little to create a wonderful published piece of writing.
Read*Write*Think had some of the best interactive publishing resources.
Graphic novels are also popular with children. Makebeliefscomix.com is an easy way for students to create their own original stories.
There are also a couple of websites I would love to try with my students.
Bookr is a site that allows you to upload pictures and add text. The pages turn like a real book.
Writing Fun makes the planning part of the writing easier.
Enjoy bringing some fun to writing.
Saturday, April 25, 2009
Technolgy in the Classroom Does Help Chlidren Learn Better
The Preliminary report of the research study by Marzano that I referred to in my last post is now available.
The following excerpt was taken from the Executive Summary:
“The average effect size for all 85 independent treatment/control studies was statistically significant (p < .0001). When corrected for attenuation, the percentile gain associated with the use of Promethean ActivClassroom is 17 percent (
). A reasonable inference is that the overall effect of a 17 percentile point gain is probably not a function of random factors that are specific to the independent treatment/control studies; rather, the 17 percentile point increase represents a real change in student learning.” An average “real change in student learning” of a 17 percentile point gain caused by the Promethean Activclassroom is remarkable and vastly exceeded my expectations. Additionally, the conclusion states, “The meta-analytic findings suggest relatively large percentile gains in student achievement under the following conditions: · a teacher has 10 years or more of teaching experience · a teacher has used the technology for two years or more · a teacher uses the technology between 75 and 80 percent of the time in his or her classroom · a teacher has high confidence in his or her ability to use the technology” The “relatively large percentile gains in student achievement under the following conditions” caused by the Promethean Activclassroom is a “29 percentile gain.”
To get the details from this report and other helpful information from Promethean, go to www.prometheanresearch.com .
The following excerpt was taken from the Executive Summary:
“The average effect size for all 85 independent treatment/control studies was statistically significant (p < .0001). When corrected for attenuation, the percentile gain associated with the use of Promethean ActivClassroom is 17 percent (
). A reasonable inference is that the overall effect of a 17 percentile point gain is probably not a function of random factors that are specific to the independent treatment/control studies; rather, the 17 percentile point increase represents a real change in student learning.” An average “real change in student learning” of a 17 percentile point gain caused by the Promethean Activclassroom is remarkable and vastly exceeded my expectations. Additionally, the conclusion states, “The meta-analytic findings suggest relatively large percentile gains in student achievement under the following conditions: · a teacher has 10 years or more of teaching experience · a teacher has used the technology for two years or more · a teacher uses the technology between 75 and 80 percent of the time in his or her classroom · a teacher has high confidence in his or her ability to use the technology” The “relatively large percentile gains in student achievement under the following conditions” caused by the Promethean Activclassroom is a “29 percentile gain.”To get the details from this report and other helpful information from Promethean, go to www.prometheanresearch.com .
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Using Technology For Higher-Level Thinking: Am I?
I have been reading a lot of blogs lately. I am overwhelmed with the number of ways teachers have used technology in the classroom. I have barely tapped the surface of what can be done. Every time I read something new I want to try it. Is it too much? I guess I have come to a point of reflection. Am I integrating technology because it is fun and I enjoy trying new things, or because it is good for students and their academic growth?
Robert Marzano's research shows that students whose teachers use technology 75% of the day will have greater academic growth than those students whose teachers do not use technology. The study focuses on the use of the Promethean Activboard, but I bet if I looked for more research I could find something about 1:1 computing as well. Marzano’s research also talked about that the true academic growth for students came from the training of teachers and their ability to use the technology effectively.
I have many tools available to use; plenty of computers, Moodle, an Activboard and all the web 2.0 resources. I find myself using them a lot and the students are enjoying the activities and are very engaged. Many of my students lack a strong base of knowledge. I do spend a lot of time building background knowledge. The technology keeps the students engaged as we review material, build vocabulary and other basic information. I do worry that I am not using the technology to help students move beyond the basics. Teaching in gifted education should be about critical thinking and working beyond the basics.
I believe I am getting the training I need integrate technology in my classroom. I know when and how to use it. I have been so focused on using the technology that I may have forgotten my purpose in teaching. I plan to spend my weekend reflecting on whether or not my use of technology is engaging my students in higher-level thinking or just recall and basic comprehension. My guess is I am, but I need to spend more time when I plan my use of technology to ensure that it focuses on higher-level thinking.
I would love to hear from other teachers and how they are using technology to go beyond the basics in their classroom.
Robert Marzano's research shows that students whose teachers use technology 75% of the day will have greater academic growth than those students whose teachers do not use technology. The study focuses on the use of the Promethean Activboard, but I bet if I looked for more research I could find something about 1:1 computing as well. Marzano’s research also talked about that the true academic growth for students came from the training of teachers and their ability to use the technology effectively.
I have many tools available to use; plenty of computers, Moodle, an Activboard and all the web 2.0 resources. I find myself using them a lot and the students are enjoying the activities and are very engaged. Many of my students lack a strong base of knowledge. I do spend a lot of time building background knowledge. The technology keeps the students engaged as we review material, build vocabulary and other basic information. I do worry that I am not using the technology to help students move beyond the basics. Teaching in gifted education should be about critical thinking and working beyond the basics.
I believe I am getting the training I need integrate technology in my classroom. I know when and how to use it. I have been so focused on using the technology that I may have forgotten my purpose in teaching. I plan to spend my weekend reflecting on whether or not my use of technology is engaging my students in higher-level thinking or just recall and basic comprehension. My guess is I am, but I need to spend more time when I plan my use of technology to ensure that it focuses on higher-level thinking.
I would love to hear from other teachers and how they are using technology to go beyond the basics in their classroom.
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Super Science Sites
Children learn best through play. The following interactive science sites make learning fun. Reinforcing skills with games keeps my students asking for more. Most of these sites work well on interactive whiteboards like the Activboard.
FossWeb has a variety of engaging activities for grades k-8. The simulations help students apply skills that they may have learned. They can also be fabulous tools to introduce a topic and get students excited about a new concept. The Rube Goldberg simple machines simulation is my favorite.
Edheads has simulations on the topics of human body, simple machines, weather and more. These interactive actives require students to follow a story and complete an activity. The weather activity had student learn about weather prediction and then predict the weather as if they are doing a weather report on the news.
FossWeb has a variety of engaging activities for grades k-8. The simulations help students apply skills that they may have learned. They can also be fabulous tools to introduce a topic and get students excited about a new concept. The Rube Goldberg simple machines simulation is my favorite.Edheads has simulations on the topics of human body, simple machines, weather and more. These interactive actives require students to follow a story and complete an activity. The weather activity had student learn about weather prediction and then predict the weather as if they are doing a weather report on the news.
Bitesize offers short activities on living things, materials, physical processes. I love the fact that you can inbed the activities on a website or blog. I will defiantly be adding a few to my class’s Moodle.
Scholastic’s Magic School Bus has much more that simulations. There are games and a large number of resources for students, teachers, and parents. This site is a wonderful compliment to the informative book series.
Argosy’s Visible Body is the most intriguing site I am sharing. It is billed as “the most comprehensive human anatomy visualizing tool available today.” Students will be amazed with the 3D images of the body. You can look at any part of the body from any angle. Activboard using health teachers will be in anatomy heaven.
It is time to put on your lab coat and enjoy!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Magic Eraser Makes ActivInspire Magical
A lot of hits on this blog come from people looking for ways to use the magic eraser in ActivInspire. The Magic eraser is called Magic Ink in ActivInspire and is the eraser in ActivStudio. Regardless of the name, it is one of my favorite tools for wowing and engaging students. The magic pen reveals images or text hidden underneath other graphics. I have used magic erasers to reveal names of states on a map, definitions of words for vocabulary review, labels on a diagram, and more.
Prometheanplanet makes using magic eraser a breeze. Download the magic eraser resource. The resource offers ready-made images that have the magic eraser build into them. The resource pack offers many images such as a magnifying glass, glasses, binoculars, and many more fun graphics.
Layering is the key to using the magic eraser. The image with magic eraser needs to be on the top. The image that covers what you want to reveal goes on the top layer just below the magic eraser. Revealing an item requires placement of that image on the middle layer. I would also recommend that you lock the magic eraser if you plan on moving items into the magic eraser like the example below.
Creating magic eraser tools from scratch is a snap with Activinspire. The Object Browser makes it easy to see the layers that objects are located. You can quickly move objects from one layer to the next. No more guess work like in Activstudio.
Prometheanplanet makes using magic eraser a breeze. Download the magic eraser resource. The resource offers ready-made images that have the magic eraser build into them. The resource pack offers many images such as a magnifying glass, glasses, binoculars, and many more fun graphics.
Layering is the key to using the magic eraser. The image with magic eraser needs to be on the top. The image that covers what you want to reveal goes on the top layer just below the magic eraser. Revealing an item requires placement of that image on the middle layer. I would also recommend that you lock the magic eraser if you plan on moving items into the magic eraser like the example below.
Creating magic eraser tools from scratch is a snap with Activinspire. The Object Browser makes it easy to see the layers that objects are located. You can quickly move objects from one layer to the next. No more guess work like in Activstudio.
The best way to improve your skills with magic eraser is to dissect flipcharts containing magic erasers. There are many on Prometheanplanet. Have fun with the magic erasers.
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