Tis the Season...for Online Advent Calendars and Web 2.0 Tools!

The iLearn Technology blog recently posted the cutest links to Advent calendars for suggested use in the classroom.  When I first saw the topic of the blog entry, I was a big hesitant because I have typically associated the word Advent with what we talk about at church during the Christmas season.  Since I teach in a public school, I have to be cautious!  However, upon further review, I found that the advent calendars were secular.  Today, I incorporated one into my classroom.  The calendar I chose contains the story of Santa and Mrs. Claus as they prepare for Christmas.  Each day presents a new piece of the story.  So, this technological resource should lend itself to reading strategies, such as making predictions.  We did December 1^st and 2^nd today, and I had kids begging me to go ahead and reveal December 3^rd.  Clearly, this was an engaging activity for the students!  J

The blog’s author also had a treat for the teachers…a Web 2.0 Advent calendar!  Each day reveals a classroom appropriate Web 2.0 tool!  I look forward to having some time to review these tools so that I can incorporate new technological tools into my instruction.  The iLearn Technology blog has been my favorite part of the IT Community this semester.  I look forward to the wonderful resources and ideas that I know will continue to come from iLearn Technology. 

Life is like a box of chocolates, and education is like...a McRib sandwich?!?!

                The iLearn Technology blog author stated that her blog was relatively quiet due to the Thanksgiving holiday.  However, over the course of the last week, she posted a very interesting article.  On her blog, she compared a McDonald’s McRib sandwich to our current system of education.  She said, “Education is looking more and more like a McRib these days, processed, standardized and made to look like something that is satisfying and doing its job. But really, this kind of education is only a cheapened imitation of the real thing.  The real thing is truly satisfying, always better than the imitation.”  While I had not had such a revelation regarding education to a processed sandwich, I believe she makes a valid point!  Most of our curricular programs (at least on the elementary school level) are very “packaged and processed”.  I heard someone comment the other day that teaching is becoming a lost art.  I think that is perhaps where the blog’s author was going with her article.  I have thoroughly enjoyed reading this blog this semester and will continue to do so in the future.  Not only have I gained access to relevant classroom resources, I have also gotten to read some enlightening articles.  I am happy to know that others feel that education needs to pull away from some of the standardization.  Education is not a “one size fits all” kind of thing!

                A member of the ITForum also posted an interesting link in reference to K-12 online teachers.  This is still somewhat of a new concept for me.  I know that many high school students have the opportunity to participate in some online courses.  However, it is hard for me to imagine this type of instruction in the elementary school setting.  The article stated that many online teachers are resorting to social networking sites as a form of professional development.  This appears to have eased some of the isolation online teachers previously expressed they felt from their peers.  Social networking appears to have made its mark on nearly everyone!   I will be interested in seeing what impact social networking has next.  I will also be interested in seeing how K-12 online instruction continues to develop!

Teaching and Learning with Skype in the Classroom

The iLearn Technology blog recently posted a feature on the usage of Skype in the classroom.  This is an idea I certainly had not thought of!  I learned that there is even a Skype classroom directory available on the Skype webpage.  Additionally, Skype maintains Facebook and Twitter pages devoted to the development of Skype as a classroom tool for teaching and learning.  The Facebook page tells of how a class in California was able to Skype with a class in Singapore.  This example makes it appear that Skype can serve as a great way to connect students to other cultures.  However, I know that my school district has heavily regulated web usage.  I cannot even log in to my Gmail account at school.  Therefore, I would imagine sites such as Skype are also blocked.  Although, I am sure contact with the Technology Department could assist in having this resource made accessible.  The Twitter page states that Skype in the Classroom can be utilized to teach and learn English.  Skype’s education directory was not launched until November, so this is still a very new curricular tool.  It will be interesting to see the many ways in which it is utilized and if it proves to be a successful teaching and learning resource.  I imagine the opportunities will be endless, not only for those in the elementary and secondary education setting, but also for those students and teachers in higher education!

So, what do eighteen wheelers and web-based e-mail accounts have in common?

The IT blogging community is showing signs of slowing down a bit, which I propose is due to the upcoming holiday season!  However, my favorite blog, iLearn Technology is still going strong with many new resources.  Usually the resources are ones that I can utilize with my students.  However, last week, the blog’s author posted a link to a Google book entitled 20 Things I Learned About Browsers and the Web.  This would not be a resource I would utilizedwith my students (Although the blog has suggestions for integrating this resource into the curriculum, it appears too advanced for my 2^nd graders.); however, it was enlightening nevertheless!  This eBook provides an insight into the history and basic workings of the Internet.  Perhaps the best part of the book is the touch of humor that helps illustrate principles of the workings of the Internet.  For example, the author stated that even if an eighteen wheeler ran over one’s laptop, the web-based e-mail program would still be safe and accessible from any other computer with Internet access.  I would probably be heartbroken if an eighteen wheeler ran over my laptop; however, it is nice to know that our e-mail accounts are “safely” tucked away on the Internet no matter the catastrophes that take place to or within our computers!  The eBook can be viewed at http://www.20thingsilearned.com/.  I should also note that I was previously unaware that Google had jumped on the eBook bandwagon, although I am certainly not surprised!  I am waiting on Google to take over the world!

In my last blog post, I mentioned Study Jams, a resource posted on iLearn Technology.  The blog’s author asked for readers to comment on how they thought this resource could be utilized in classroom instruction.  I posted the following comment on the blog:

“This looks like a great resource that will be a wonderful reinforcement for the Math instruction already occurring in my classroom. We do “Math Workshops” each week to reinforce concepts. I plan to set up a computer workshop with some of the Addition/Subtraction topics in the very near future. This should be a good independent activity for the student.

Also, due to our schools increased focus on Math, our Science instructional time appears to be reduced this year (since we integrate it with reading). So, I think the States of Matter activities (especially the Karaoke component!) will be very helpful in ensuring I cover all of the key concepts associated with this topic of study! I can use it with my SmartBoard as a whole group activity. My students love music, and we should never forget what a powerful teaching and learning tool music can be! Karaoke can be reading, science, and music all in one!”

The blog’s author responded and agreed that it was a great resource for teaching multiple areas of the curriculum at one time.  We have had many “extras” at school the past two weeks.  However, I am still looking forward to implementing this website as a tool for teaching and learning upon returning from our Thanksgiving Break.  There appear to be so many quality, readily available resources out there.  I find it to be a shame that so many educators are unaware of these resources!  I think a member of a school district’s technology department could have a full time job simply locating, evaluating, and sharing these resources with the teachers.  Since this is not happening in my school district, being a part of the IT Blogging Community has been a great way to get exposure to effective, new resources!

Instructional Design Defined & Fabulous, Relevant Resources!

                There was recently an interesting article posted on the IT Forum entitled Educating for an Instructional Design and Instructional Technology Future.  A portion of the paper defined the term “instructional designer”.  Some key components of the definition included that the instructional designer is one who creates education products, is responsible for the instructional components of education products, and is reflective about his/her work.  I think reflectivity is an important part of any job, but it is an absolutely essential part of an educator’s job.  How else will educators know what is or is not working?  Also, reflection is a way to be proactive in making needed changes.  The article discussed problem solving as a major component of instructional design and instructional technology.  While this may not necessarily be a well-developed skill for all educators, it shouldn’t be a new concept for any educator.  Much of this information reminded me of the Problem Solving Team/Response to Instruction movement that began this year in my school district.  Our focus is identifying instructional problems facing students who are struggling and developing instructional approaches (in the form of interventions) to overcome these issues.  Perhaps I have been unknowingly getting a dose of experience in instructional design!  As the Problem Solving Team/Response to Instruction continues to evolve during the school year, I will be interested to see how closely to process follows the process contained in the article.  I do believe that increased problem-solving skills will certainly serve to make my colleagues and I more effective educators.

                I continue to love the iLearn Technology blog because it provides so many resources that I can incorporate into my classroom.  Recently the author posted a link to Scholastic’s Study Jams.  This website has brief math and science video clips and songs about various topics.  There are also “test yourself” opportunities.  I can see these activities as being a great reinforcement in Math and a great way to incorporate Science.  Some of the topics even have a Karaoke component!  I know this website will be very engaging for my students!  The author of the blog suggested that this website would also make a good computer lab activity, and I agree.  However, I may have to make a “No Karaoke!” rule in the computer lab because that would probably be very distracting if everyone was singing at different times!  In a comment, the blog’s author referenced the blog where she learned about Study Jams.  The blog is called Bits and Pieces (2sparkley.edublogs.org).  I visited and scanned through the website and had to add it to my list of favorite places!  I am afraid I am going to need more hours in the day to explore all the resources contained within these blogs, but being a part of the IT online community has certainly proven to be an easy way to learn about useful resources that are just a click away. 

The Cutting Edge...and Handwriting Trains the Brain!

        It appears the iLearn Technology blog really stays on the cutting edge of instructional technology.  The creator recently began a virtual classroom, which can be viewed at the following link: http://www.wix.com/ktenkely/virtualclassroom .  The classroom is for students in 3^rd – 8^th grade, and the course content entails using online tools to create digital stories.  This sounds like a really interesting concept, and I am sure this will soon grow into a commonplace method of instruction for younger students.  I only wish I could actually enroll in the course to see how it all works!  Through this blog, I also recently learned about a program called Flixtime.  This program allows for the creation of 60 second slideshows.  The blog’s author states that this program is useful for students to illustrate science projects, create vocabulary presentations, make timelines, etc.  This is definitely something I could see myself utilizing in my classroom!

         A posting on ITForum led me to read an article entitled How Handwriting Trains the Brain.  Apparently handwriting is a good cognitive exercise not only for children but also adults.  The article’s author noted that handwriting no longer holds the prestige it once did due to an increased use of electronic communication that does not require handwriting.  I was not surprised to read that statement!  I know that I would much rather type anything than write it with a pen or pencil.  A study done at Indiana University showed that students who actually wrote letters instead of merely looking at them had enhanced brain activity.  The author went on to discuss the positives associated with handwriting, with an emphasis on neat, legible handwriting.  The iPhone now even has apps that utilize handwriting.   In my own classroom, I frequently share with my students my expectation for neat handwriting.  This article certainly reaffirmed the importance of my continuing to do so!

My journey through the IT Community continues...

Apparently some people are not enjoying the ITForum.  I received numerous messages with the word “Unsubscribe”.  Fortunately, someone sent a reminder about how to correctly unsubscribe before things got too out of hand!  However, some subscribers must not read thoroughly because there continued to be multiple requests for unsubscription after the directions were sent out to everyone!

There was an interesting thread on the ITForum regarding Mobile Learning in response to a paper that was posted for the forum.  This terminology was new for me, although some of the concepts were not.  The discussion included the topic of chat rooms that are available for cell phones.  This is an interesting concept, although it is not something particularly useful for my 2^nd grade classroom.  Although, perhaps it would be handy for higher education! Interactive software programs, online videos, and MP3s are also considered forms of mobile learning.  One thing that was a bit disturbing to me was the concept of text messaging as a form of mobile learning.  While I find text messaging to be a welcome convenience in my personal and social life, I am not sure that it has a legitimate place in the world of academia!  Many students already struggle with deciphering between “text speak” and the more appropriate, formal language in the academic world.  To include text messaging as part of the learning process might only continue to feed this growing problem!  I found it very interesting that one participant shared of a graduate course at her university that offered a course on mobile learning, and the course was facilitated entirely through the use of smart phones.  Wow, this really is the “way of the future” (or should that be present?)!

The iLearn Technology blog continues to contain information and resources most relevant to my current practice as a 2^nd grade teacher.  This blog contains not only curricular resources in such areas as Reading, Math, Science, etc., but it also frequently offers resources to help nurture technologically literate and technologically aware students.  Recently there was a post on the blog about a website called Progressive Phonics.  I believe this website will be a fantastic resource through which I will be able to pull additional texts for students who are struggling with phonics (and this year I have several!).  Through the blog, I also discovered a Math website called Sum Dog (http://www.sumdog.com/).  I am quite sure this website will be a very engaging and fun way for students to practice basic computation skills! The author of the blog also shared a link to an article entitled Ten Steps to Better Lesson Plans.  While I was already familiar with the concepts contained within the article, it was certainly a great refresher on what a “good” lesson plan contains!

The other blog I joined, Kim’s Ventures in Technology, has very infrequent postings.  There was a post for members to share their best blogging tips.  I thought this post might hold some interesting and relevant information that I could use.  Alas, there was only one response!