Introducing Alice

This week Mr Stewart and I have introduced our plans for using digital narratives to his grade 6 language classes.
Both groups participated in a quick introduction to our Weebly website host and to blogging. The Brainpop Blogs video got a few chuckles. We looked at flickrcc and Google advanced image search for reusable, modifiable images to enhance their sites.
A letter of permission was added to the teacher site and forms have been sent home for signatures.
Instructions were given  for creating their web page.

Your new website is about reading. Create a Home page which reflects your understanding about reading and your interest in reading.
Include words and images.

We used Kist's Snowball activity to develop guidelines for blogging and commenting. Interestingly the guidelines for each class that does this acitivity are very similar.

607 Guidelines for Blogging

1. disagree respectfully (always comes out first)
2. comment with details
3. make sense and add details
4. use good English spelling, grammar and punctuation

Planning a Grade 6 Science Blog

The following assignment is a Web 2.0 adaptation of

Planet for Sale!

Part One: I am a Scientist web page

• My Science memories
• What I learned about air and flight
• My favourite Science invention
• My favourite online Science sites

Part Two: Planet for Sale Blog 

POST #1   Introduce yourself and your realty company

1. your first name
2. your company name
3. a logo for your company
4. graphics
5. date of last revision

POST # 2   Describe your planet

1. planet name
2. number planet from the sun
3. distance to earth
4. closest planet-how far?
5. interesting characteristics
6. atmosphere: temperature, weather, etc.
7. surface: crustal activity, quakes, volcanoes

POST # 3   Clearly describe the characteristics of your planet which are most appealing to buyers and explain why the features are important.


POST # 4   Clearly describe suggestions for buyer as to how they might use or enjoy the planet based on the characteristics.

POST # 5  BUY comments 
Try to buy a planet! These comments must communicate to at least 3 other sellers that you want to buy their planet. Your comments will help you find out if their planet is the one for you. Write clear comments and intelligent questions. Check back to see what their answers are.

POST # 6 SELL comments 
Sell your planet! Respond to questions and comments made by possible buyers of your planet. You want to convince them that your planet is the best choice for them to buy.Try to make a sale.


Students are encouraged to include:

• links to sites that assist in demonstrating understanding
• graphics of their own creation
• pictures from Flickrcc, Wylio.com or Google Advanced Image Search (Only images labeled for reuse)

Podcasting: The survey says...

Podcasting Survey 2011 using Chartle.net My use of this tool still needs some fine-tuning.
This week Ms Knight and I completed our first collaborative podcasting experience with her grade 8 Science classes. Although we faced a number of challenges the overall engagement of the students and results were spectacular.

When asked what they had learned students responded:

• science can be fun
• I can learn without visuals
• repetition by rerecording helped me learn
• how to use Audacity
• how to make a podcast
• about my water issue and why it is important
• I would make a great reporter

 Suggestions made by students for next time:

• more time to record
• practice more
• should podcast more often
• try video recording
• speak more clearly, more slowly and with more expression
• work faster
• pick a different partner

Although some students chose not to publish their podcasts online Ms Knight and I agree the assignment was worth the time and effort.

Tech in Perspective

http://www.flickr.com/photos/43217080@N00/1169807846

An informal meeting with a board Technology Resource Teacher (ITRT) today made me review the progress we have made implementing technology at my school. A little refresher to put things in perspective.
Library Tech:

• wireless hub 
• 13 netbooks + 4 desk top PCs
• 4 flip cameras
• 15 headset/microphones
• Evernote & Diigo added to netbook image

• Wiki use for social studies and science projects (gr. 6)
• wiki use for reading strategies demonstration (gr. 7)
• use of Flickr and FlickrCC resources
• Glogster presentations (prior to board blocking)
• Prezi creation with French classes (gr. 8)
• Diigo recommended for student collection of bookmarks (g.r 8)
• Bibme accounts for collection of citations (gr. 8)
• introduction of alternate search engines; Sweet Search, Mashpedia, Boolify and Yippy
• 16 Sqworl pathfinders for a variety of subject areas (gr. 6,7,8)
• podcasting with six science classes (gr.8)
• video creation with two media classes (gr.7)
• introduction to blogging for eight classes (gr.7, 8)
• purchase of Weebly Campus Account
• ten teachers set up Weebly class accounts
• purchase of PodOmatic podcasting account for school
• planned PD to introduce Diigo and Twitter as tools for PLN

Tech in the school:

• wireless hubs on three mobile netbook labs (20 netbooks/ one cart/grade level)
• use of Google docs at staff meeting and student focus groups
• VP's from our superintendency visit digitally savvy schools in B.C.
• teacher attendance at board-wide Tech conference
• School blogs with student content, photos, Voice thread

Our digital footprint is much better than we thought and growing.