Lani+Smith

= Web 2.0 Connections = ==== Wallwisher- Wallwisher is one of my favorite web 2.0 tool that we discussed. I think it can be used for so many things. One way I'm going to utilize Wallwisher in my classroom is to use it as an exit card. I can put it up on one of my computers that I will have in my computer center and the students will have to answer the problem and go up and type their answer on a sticky note. It is an easy tool that I can use for assessment. My example is using it for math, but I feel it could also be used in any area. We could use it for predictions in reading, vocabulary assessment in science/social studies, or reviewing main ideas from any subject area. One thing I would have the kids do is if I was logged in on the computer and they were going to post something I would have them add their name or number with their post. That way I would know which kids said what answer. ====



Glogster-
==== Glogster is an online poster making tool. It is very user-friendly and has lots of options for teachers and students. Again I feel it would be more useful for every student to have their own log-in. I feel that this could be used with any content. My example is using it to make a story map after reading a novel. Some of my higher learning kids that aren't in a reading group would be able to work on this after they read their novel. I love that they can really express themselves through choosing their text bubbles, backgrounds, and images. Below is a link to an example of a story map that my kids could make after reading __Charlotte's Web__. ====

@http://lanissmith.glogster.com/edit/charlottes-web/
I could also see using this with my kids for science and social studies. Sometimes after reading a lesson I have them summarize the lesson through making a poster. This is something they could do in groups to help them review.

==== Photo Peach- My third example is how I would use Photo Peach in my classroom. Photo Peach is kind of like an online Powerpoint. It lets you make slide shows and add captions to your pictures. You can also add background music. I do a project every year where my kids research a habitat and then they make a project with their information. They research the habitat itself, two animals, and 1 plant. Before last year I had all of my kids do a Powerpoint with the information. Last year I changed it and they could do Powerpoint, Garageband, or they could make a book using Word. This year I'm thinking I could add Photo Peach to my list of options. Below is an example of what a Photo Peach project would look like: ====

==== Wordle - Wordle is something I would use with my kids to see what prior knowledge they have about something. We do this a lot with specific math terms or with other vocabulary terms. This would be a simple way for me to type in what they tell me and then they can visualize it when I put up the final project. I like how the more times you say a word the bigger it is going to show up on the Wordle. I think I could also use this to talk compare certain characters within a story. ====

= = ==== VoiceThread- My last example for web 2.0 tools is how I could use Voicethread in my classroom. Our example lesson for incorporating Iowa Core and web 2.0 tools was to use Voicethread for recording predictions before reading a story. You could also then have them record again halfway through the story to tell whether or not they want to change their prediction. ====

= Personal Learning Network ( PLN) =

==== Twitter/Tweetdeck- My first example is how I will utilize Twitter. When I first heard of Twitter I thought of it as simply a personal social site. I never thought about using it for professional use. Since taking this class I have found that Twitter can be very useful for my professional use. I have not only become a group with other Fairfield teachers, but I have found other third grade teachers that I can collaborate with. I love how I can tweet a question and almost instantly I can get a response from someone. I'm not sure yet as to whether or not I will use it with my kids. ====

I would use Tweetdeck the same way I use Twitter. It allows me to stay connected with other teachers.
==== Google Reader- My next example is how I will use Google Reader. Google Reader is a tool that allows you to subscribe to different news feeds and stay connected with the current news. I can use it to stay connected with local news like, The Fairfield Ledger and Des Moines Register, or with educational news like, National Geographic and certain websites I follow. I like that I can log into one page and follow all of these sites. Sometimes I don't have time to check them all in one day, so this allows me to go to one place and stay up to date. Even if I don't have time to read them all right then I can star the ones I am interested in and save them to read later. I feel that this is a useful tool for my classroom to help us stay up to date with the latest news. If I find current news on something we're studying I can put it up on the board and we can read through it together. ====

==== Skype- My next example is how I will use Skype in my classroom. With all of the changes going on in our school district we have one teacher at our grade level that will be all by herself at a school. Collaboration is a huge push in education right now. Therefore we rearranged our specials schedule so we( my teaching partner and myself) will have 50 minutes/week to collaborate with this other third grade teacher. However this teacher is at a school that is a good ten minute drive from ours so meeting face to face at one school or the other is not really an option. We're going to Skype with her. Without tools like Skype this collaboration would not be manageable. ====

[[image:skypelani.png]]
==== Blogs- My last PLN tool that I'm going to talk about is how I will use a blog in my classroom. I have not decided whether or not I'm going to use the Google blogger or whether I'm going to do one on my own and link it to Google blogger, but I really think it is a useful tool. I would like to use a blog to communicate with my parents. I would like to have on there our weekly spelling lists, weekly word of the week, and possibly other homework, like when we'll be having chapter tests. I would also like to use them to add pictures and keep the parents updated with certain things we're doing with in the classroom. I feel that a blog is a great way to communicate and keep in touch with parents. I also feel that it is a great way for them to feel they can contact me. ==== = Iowa Core Connection = Below is what we did for our example lesson of incorporating technology with the 21st Century Iowa Core: Our enduring understandings are R4: Higher level thinking is generated through student analysis of literature, and T2: Technology enriches academic collaboration. Our essential questions are, Content- How can making a prediction help you better understand the story, and why is it necessary to review your predictions while reading a story? Technology- What is your responsibility while working on a collaborative group and how can collaboration help you achieve a better product?

The learning experiences/interactions content is to first do a picture walk, then record a group prediction into VoiceThread, prediction would be based on type of story. Secondly, halfway through the story they need to record/type any changes/additions to original group prediction. Finally, they need to record again a final analysis of their prediction.

Assessments: Formative- Voicethread #2 & #3 Self- Final group grading (Working together, did well, could have done better) Summative- Whole Voicethread project

Our group worked well together, we all pitched in with our thoughts. Planning this lesson helped us see the connection between using technology to meet the content goals. The hardest part was writing the essential questions.

Our lesson was designed to be used with any fiction story. = Reflections = I responded to the following discussions: 21st Century Web 2.0 PLN Resources TPACK Iowa Core Brown Bear, Brown Bear