Last year I began the first stage in my project, which included creating a classroom website to maintain contact with students and parents at home. This year, I would like to work on expanding my website to include interactive components, such as audio-visual tutorials for different reading and writing strategies. This would allow for parents to help students at home and for students to have online support when doing work at home. Since the strategies are based on reading and writing skills, the students can apply the tutorials to not only their English work, but to other academic areas as well. My hope is to take sme of the stress off the students, and provide them with additional home support when it may not be available due to the variety of students I teach.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Subscribing to this blog
Daily checking for new information on a blog is not easy to remember to do. I would suggest letting your computer do the following for you! How does this work??
RSS is built into EVERY blog. You can have your computer notify you each time there is a new post. Click on the link below to view the RSS feed for the Technology Learning Network
feed://technologylearningnetwork.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default
If you are using Safari 2 or higher (requires OS X 10.4) you will see a simplified list of blog entries.
To save this feed you can do the following:
Safari 2 or higher
Now you can drag the icon of the website to your bookmarks toolbar (if you
use Safari 2 OSX 10.4 or higher) and it will place a number next to the
bookmark everytime something new is posted.
Firefox (works with OSX 10.3 and up as well as Windows XP)
If you use Firefox, when you visit a blog, you will see the icon for RSS at the end of the web address
When you click on the icon, you will be prompted to save the RSS feed as a bookmark. Click on Add
Firefox will add the RSS feed bookmark to the end of the list of
bookmarks on the Bookmarks Toolbar. If you have many bookmarks here
already, then you will need to click on the double arrow to view the
feed (way down at the bottom of the list)
To move this bookmark back where you can see it, go to the Bookmarks menu and click on Organize Bookmarks.
Click and drag the RSS bookmark up to a point where it will be viewable on your Bookmarks Toolbar.
Here it is on my toolbar. By clicking on it you will see all the latest entries on the blog!
There are numerous other ways to track an RSS feed, but these are just two that I would recommend.
Here are some more sites to help with tracking a blog or news site with different browsers:
Safari
Internet Explorer 7 (Windows only)
Firefox howto video:
Click here to see a list of RSS readers for Mac OS X
Click here to see a list of RSS readers for Windows XP
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Copyright information for podcasting or audio tape production
1. There is a pdf that outlines what you can and cannot do in Canada
(type in search words in google: podcasting legal guide canada pdf )
2. what you can do: (my interpretation so I'm not guaranteeing its accuracy)
a)- use your own material (however if you create it while you are under SD 34 employ they are technically the owner).
b) record works that are in the public domain. You need to record the public domain material yourself unless you have permission e.g. librivox ("LibriVox recordings are in the public domain, which means people can do anything they like with them. Mostly this just means people can listen to them for free. But it also means they can: sell them (for instance on ebay), broadcast them,..")
c) use creative commons - this is material you can use on podcasts (don't need to ask permission)
http://search.creativecommons.org/
Monday, October 29, 2007
building a school web site
My project is to build a web site for Harry Sayers Elementary. I attended Gary's workshop last Thursday and I now have a start on this project. Many thanks Gary for your patience and expertise. I was on overload at the end of the workshop, so I know I'll have questions.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Classroom website (English Language Arts)
What I hope to do is use my website to engage and educate my senior English students. So far, I have failed as few, if any, students visit my site.
If you have any tips, I'd gladly listen--my site is on the Robert Bateman Secondary Homepage under Staff and Staff websites (Bruce Fisher).
Using Technology to Show Learning & Improve Output
I work as a support teacher for students with challenging behaviours; several of them also have a learning disability and two of them do not yet have the self-control or motivation needed to attend school.
I'm teaching students to use various programs to produce their assignments (ex. Kenote, Inspiration), am looking for ways that students can complete paper and pencil assignments on the computer (ex. using a template to produce a title page) and am exploring ways to communicate with students off campus. Also, I am looking for websites that include activities that will support a student's progress towards an IEP objective or ILO.
I finally have a system to record and organize my research of websites; I'm using Google Notebook and del.icio.us --- neither with great proficiency. I feel like I've wasted so much time because I wasn't making notes about the web pages and then would forget what was so good about them or I would lose track of good sites going between different computers I was using and I have spent way too much time wandering off on interesting tangents.
I'm not sure about the best way to send assignments, receive completed assignments and communicate with students off campus. I'd like to be able to send an assignment, have the student and I looking at the same screen (showing the assignment) and talk with each other about the assignment and am not sure how to go about that. I'm checking out Google Docs, Skype and Elluminate Live.
Saturday, October 27, 2007
reading speed for audio
Wait for Me!
Reader Control of Narration Rate in Talking Books
http://www.readingonline.org/articles/bergman/wait.html Interesting article about speed of audio tapes. If you want to do what they say do the following:
--To convert MP3 to M4a go into I-tunes advanced and select convert to AAA. m4a needs to be changed to m4b (for older i-pods). The i-pod can now recognize it as an audiobook. To change I-pod speed go into Settings then down to Audiobooks then select slow, normal, or faster. There may be some distortion on some recordings at the slower speed. Or, you can adjust the speed in Audacity by recording, selecting all, then go into effects, click on change tempo (not speed as it will also change the pitch), and then play with the slide switch until you are happy. If you want to figure out the wpm exactly you'll have to calculate the wpm by dividing the length of time by the number of words (check word count of text in Word).
Another article relating to auditory processing talked about normal reading speed as 150 wpm. They recommended slowing down to 110 wpm (for middle school ESL or struggling readers) to assist their comprehension. Also recommended using pauses after ideas to give students processing time.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
ipods/confidence
My question is the following; " How does the oral presentation (using ipods) change/affect the children's attitudes towards writing?
Plan
My class will write stories and we will use a criteria. This will come from the school goal and we will focus on form. We use the plo's and performance standards as our guides. We will do individual written journals on how we feel about writing. We could do a survey using facial expressions as pictures cues to circle yes, no happy, sad etc. The children will record their stories and share with one another. As we share our oral presentations, I will observe their audience skills. I want to observe if their is a change in listening skills with the use of ipods and the children reading out loud. My class will teach the 3/4 class and they will share stories and teach one another on how to use the ipods. I want to see how both classes build a community within my class on its own and both classes together. I will take pictures of this journey. I will take the podcasts and the pictures to create an imovie that can be shared with the entire school at an assembly.
What do you think?
Does this sound a little simpler?
While shopping for a new iPod Nano, I was surfing the Apple website and found this link to Nanos in education. I thought it might interest some of you....there are some good ideas for how to use Nanos in the classroom: http://www.apple.com/education/products/ipod/
Enjoy!
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
ipods in the classroom
I have done some thinking and I have revised my question.
My action research question is the following; "How can the use
of ipods in the classroom be used to create an authentic voice?"
and " How can an authentic voice create or contribute a class
community?
What do you think about this question?
How can I alter or make my question simple?
social studies heritage moments
My name is Stephanie Dobui. I teach Grade 5 at John Maclure Community School.
My project is centered around the following social studies outcomes: assessing why immigrants came to Canada, and the contributions significant individuals made to the development of Canada's identity.
Groups of students will research characters, create scripts, and develop their own "heritage moment." They will be digitally recording their performances, and using the iLife suite, they will be editing and posting(?not sure yet) their assignments on the classroom webpage.
My research question centers around whether students can successfully implement media in an educational and purposeful way.
I am only on a temporary contract in this class until December, so will be fast-tracking this project, and hope to have a second test case with a new class after December, with data that can be somehow compared and analysed between the two classes.
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Welcome to the TLN
The STaRT Education team is very excited to have the opportunity to work with you to use technology with your students. We admire you commitment to learning and will support you on this journey. I will look forward to reading about your projects and hearing about how they assist students to improve their achievement. Good luck with your journey and remember to share your experiences on the blog along the way.
Using Nano's&italk to improve oral and reading fluency with Gr.2s
Using the italk accessory for the ipod nanos, I'd like to have student recordings of themselves reading books together and individually as a way to track, celebrate and motivate student reading. I'd also like to have the students interview each other and have candid discussions together as a way to track oral language progress. For production, I'd like to turn the sound files into a DVD for the end of the year that has digital photos and video that celebrate their year so that every student can take home a DVD at the end of the school year.
electronic read to me for struggling or ESL learners
Action research question: Is it possible to implement an electronic read-to-me program between two target groups: grade 6 middle school students and the service organization Kiwanas, which results in a significance increase in the Star reading assessment of each student as recorded between September and June.
Cindy's Classroom Website
I want to continue to develop our classroom website... letting parents and students read and listen to French at home... I would like to add pages that the children create this year. v
Punjabi Sat sri akal
I am looking for ways to use technology in the classroom to assist students who are not meeting expectations. I also hope to use it as an enrichment tool for students meeting and exceeding expectations.
My Big Idea
I'm Kirsten Janzen and I am in my first year of TLITE. I am looking forward to getting some experience with action research before I start my second year of the programme.
I am looking to enhance the listening and speaking skills of my French students. I teach French 9,10 and 11 at Abby Collegiate and it seems that all of my students have either an iPod, or other MP3 device!! I'd like to explore ways kids can use these for French learning as well as listening to music! (There are some great French recording artists out there too!!). I'd also like to use a program like Garage Band (our school only has PC's, so this will be a challenge!!).
Using Nano recordings to improve French oral skills.
My name is Nisha Ganchar. I teach Kindergarten and Grade One French Immersion at Clearbrook Elementary. My question for the project is: Will using Nano recordings of my students' voices, help them to develop their French oral skills? I am also hoping to put the student's recorded voices on the class audio website. You can check out the website so far at division17.notlong.com.
I am hoping that the parents will be more inclined to use the website when they can hear their child's voice. I hope this project improves student oral development and parent participation in our classroom.
Has anyone out there used Nano's in their classroom for the same purpose as me and how did it turn out? How did you assess the changes that followed from your project?
My project is FI Audio (better website)
Hi,
My name is Huguette Proulx. I am a grade one/two French Immersion teacher at Margaret Stenersen and I would like to redo my website and to make it more user friendly and more interesting to parents and students as well. Any suggestions?
Punjabi Stories
I am looking forward to recording stories in Punjabi to enhance and support oral language fluency.
My Project
Hi, my name is Sarah Kirkland and I teach Grade 3 French Immersion at Clearbrook Elementary. I'm part of the French Audio Group this year, and I will be using my website to provide extra opportunities for my students to practice their French at home. I will be posting word lists and short texts for students and parents to practice. I'm also hoping that parents will use the audio to practice their own French pronunciation so that they can use proper word sounds when practicing phonetic word lists with their children. I'm excited for my kids to use this as another learning tool!
Sarah
LET'S GO STREAKING!
Gary says that journaling in public is very liberating... almost like streaking! Okay, maybe he didn't say that exactly, but...I'll try this, then the streaking, and I'll let you know - stay tuned for the next BC Lions game!!!!
Blending Ideas
I teach grade four and five, and I'm interested in how I can use technology to help kids express their ideas, and create meaning. I hope to introduce them to lots of programs that they can morph together to showcase their ideas into one project. I'm also interested in giving them opportunities to teach each other how to use the various intricacies of the programs.
Global Blogging with IB Students
Greeting colleagues! My name is Kelly Grant and I teach Gr. 6 at the new Abbotsford Middle School. I teach Language Arts, Social Studies, French, and Personal Planning. This is the first year of implementation for Gr.6 for MYPIB (Middle Years Program International Baccalaureate).
Integrating technology with the curriculum is a major component of the IB program.
My project will be to introduce the students to blogging so they can communicate with other students at international IB schools. My goal is for the students to be able to increase global awareness and understanding through an authentic writing experience using technology. I also hope this writing experience will help improve the sutdents written output.
I teach grade three at South Poplar Traditional School. The project I am interested in doing involves using an iPod in my classroom to play educational music to augment my instruction. I was at a math workshop in Victoria this summer, and the presenter had an iPod with speakers attached to her belt. When she wanted to access a math song to use as part of her lesson, she simply found it in her menu system and pressed play. This would be SO much simpler than running across the classroom to flip through a selection of CDs, finding the right one, putting it in the player, finding the right song, and finally pressing play. Not only that, but when I acquired new songs this summer, they were in MP3 format, which could not be "read" by my ancient CD player. The iPod will solve all of those problems. I might even be able to take it further and be able to synchronize music to visual images that will even further enhance lessons. This could be displayed on a projector (if one is available), or simply on my laptop's screen. So that's my idea! Stay tuned to see how it works!
Description
Sandy Lane , Abbotsford Traditional Secondary , I teach Tech 9 to 12, Socials 9 and Foods.
At a one to one laptop school, the challenge is to use the computers each student has in an efficient and effective manner. I have the advantage that all students entering Grade 9 will take a technology 9 class where I can implement with my collegues new programs. The goal of my project is to identify software to assist students in being more efficient in their work. The steps will be as follows:
a) doing an informal class survey, I will identify what Grade 10 students are already using on their laptops
b) Identify programs for assessment ( ie Onenote, Microsoft Essentials, etc.) ( any ideas for software choice would be greatly appreciated)
c) identify three potential programs and have them loaded onto grade 10 student computers
d) measure through informal or formal class survey how the programs were used and their relative effectiveness
d) introduce the most effective programs into the Grade 9 technology classes in late Spring
My French Immersion Project
Hello,
My name is Madeleine Gravel. I teach Grade 4 at Sandy Hill Elementary. I have done my T-LITE a few years ago and learned a lot about computers. I now have a website for my class. The last two years, I have been a member of the French Immersion Audio group. I have learned how to add an audio part to my website where the students can listen to me reading the "dictée" words. The parents really like that since it get harder and harder in Grade 4. I am looking for ways to improve my website, specially the audio component. I am also working with a Grade 4/5 teacher. I am teaching her computer periods and I would like to introduce her students to some audio programs so we could add a French element to my computer lesson.
Blogging With an IB School
Hello, most esteemed colleagues! My name is Brandi Kamiya from Abby Middle School. I teacher grade 6 Language Arts, Social Studies, French, and Personal Planning. This year we are implementing the Middle Year's International Baccelaureate Program (MYP-IB). Part of this program involve integrating technology with learning.
I am interested in using blogging to increase written output and encourage discovery of other cultures. I am hoping to contact other IBO schools throughout the year and have students communicate through blogs. If time permits, I would like to create oral biographies on iPods to send on-line.
Audio on Classroom Website for FSL
My project for this year is: Will adding audio clips of French vocabulary to my classroom website help improve the level of oral French to students learning French as a Second Language? I teach Gr. 8 FSL and am faced with the same obstacle as most second language teachers: while students are learning new vocabulary in class, they have a model for correct pronunciation, but when they are not in class, they often struggle with remembering the correct sounds. My hope is that by creating easily accessible audio on my class website, overall student pronunciation will improve (to be measured orally).
Use Of Technology To Improve Student Achievement
I would like to investigate the use of technology to improve achievement of ESL students especially their Speaking and Writing.
I will look at both websites which offer online learning and at software to improve student achievement. I also want to look at the hardware that both I and the students will need. This will mean that students will have access to technology at home.
I want to get familiar with digital audio production, use of ipods and podcasting.
Data collection will be:
anecdotal
written output
oral output
written assessment
oral assessment
My Project
I'm part of the French Immersion Audio Group. So, I'm looking at using digital audio to help students learning and comprehension as well as to help their parents! I'm looking at creating a website that parents and students can use to find audio recordings of spelling words, pronounciations of certain sounds/words, etc. I have colleagues that have created similar sites and they seem to have gone off great. I'm really excited in creating one myself and seeing how it positively impacts my students learning.
Megan
First project
I am interested in creating a project that allows students to improve their French listening skills. I am currently involved in TLITE and am creating audio files through Garage Band-just had to wait for the new computer to make its way down to my classroom. I am creating vocabulary lists on-line for students and parents to access at home.( I have a website-the access would be throught it) I also want to create a master list to then create a CD for students in the future years.
I am also interested in finding various audio evaluation tools on-line.
For this project, would like to expand the audio files on Garage Band and create larger projects-dialogues, skits etc.
My project
Hi my name is Anna Morris. I teach Kindergarten French Immersion at Centennial Park & Clearbrook. For my project I am looking at how audio on my website will help improve French oral skills of my students. I will be posting the Alphabet rap book, numbers, letters, sight words, songs etc... in French for my students to listen to at home. I am also hoping to create some interactive games to make learning more fun!
Bonjour mes amis! Bonjour!
My name is Louise Jenkins and I am a Late French Immersion teacher at Chief Dan George Middle.I am a member of the FI audio group. I currently use my website as a communication tool with students and parents. I would love to learn more about imovies, iphotos, how to post grades online (if that is possible), maybe including a blogging feature, podcast, etc... Generally, I want my website to become an awesome and fun learning tool that connects home and school.
Aurevoir!
Louise
_______________
Louise Jenkins, B.G.S, M.Ed (SFU)
6/7 Late French Immersion
Chief Dan George Middle School
32877 Old Riverside Road
Abbotsford, BC V2S 8K2
604-852-9616
604-850-7653 (fax)
louise_jenkins@sd34.bc.ca
http://abbynet.sd34.bc.ca/~louise_jenkins/
"Be the change you want to see in the world.” Mahatma Gandhi
Using 'Scratch' to Improve Problem Solving
I teach grade 6, music, and technology at ASIA-Sumas Mountain. I have started TLITE this year. I am hoping to get some experience in action research before I have to delve into a second year AR project for TLITE.
Last year, Gary Toews emailed me a program called 'Scratch.' It is a program developed by students at MIT that allows students as young as 8 to create animations, interactive programs, and games. These projects can then be uploaded onto the Scratch website for the world to see. Students can download each other's projects and take them apart to see how they work. It is a very easy to learn, easy to use, powerful medium...and it's free. Click to go to the website.
Scratch forces you to problem solve through the nature of the program. You write a script, start the program, and see what it does. Inevitably, something will go wrong. Then you go back and view the problem, decide on a solution, implement a change, and view the result. Because the Scratch program forces the user into the problem solving cycle when creating projects, I would like to see if it will improve student's problem solving skills in other subject areas.
Good luck everyone.
-Clayton
If you would like to see a few of the projects that I worked on this summer click the links below.
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/CousinAvi/33114
http://scratch.mit.edu/projects/CousinAvi/31360
Looking for an International connection
Does anyone know of a teacher teaching a class over seas that might be interested in communicating with a class over here?
http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/Charlie%2520tree%2520blog.jpg&imgrefurl=http://weblogs.newsday.com/entertainment/tv/blog/christmas_tube/&h=2274&w=3000&sz=229&hl=en&start=7&tbnid=ogxCXTtNeCugNM:&tbnh=114&tbnw=150&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dcharlie%2Bbrown%26gbv%3D2%26svnum%3D10%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Dactive%26sa%3DG
Greetings
I am on Safari, so there are few tools to use, but I will post a "Hello" to all; look forward to getting to know you, even if only on-line.
Cheers,
Bruce
my first try
This is my first time blogging, so I am just testing how it works. Very boring entry, I know :)
Just looking around
Hi all. Just looking around here and trying to figure what I'll be doing with the blog.
I'm considering using a blog to let students and parents know what happened in class (like Kristi is doing in her class - Way to go, Kristi!)
Mike
using laptops to promote creative writing
The technology focus will be to learn how to use the laptops to improve creative writing with grade fours. Writing is one of our school goals. Writing is also a skill that is difficult or unappealing for many of us.
Phases of inquiry:
• Identification of problem area: student writing is lacking creativity (main ideas, supporting details, conventions)
• Collection and organization of data: journal writing, using writing prompts, reflective writing, writing about their choice, school wide write
October 23
Hi Everyone. I'm excited to be on board!
Time flies from classroom this am to ITC this pm. My project was to be leadership based. I want to try to encourage more of our staff to use technology and in turn share their experiences and expertise with me so I can improve my educational practice. I plan to focus on building an internet resource list via Delicious, a type of virtual PLC via our wiki, and to do short tech demo's and workshops (should anyone want one) in school.
For myself, I would also like to experiment with Scratch and other online learning opportunities for myself and the students to share their learning and ideas. Our problem is, as usual, access to technology. I know the answer is out there and I hope this year to find out some more interesting options, variations and experiences.
ipods in the classroom
I am currently teaching a 1/2 split. This year our school goal is writing. I would like to learn how to use ipods to record and publish my students' written work. I am teaching them various ways to publish their writing. This was my ESL children and at risk children can be evaluated on their oral stories, instead of their written stories. It builds self esteem and confidence within the students. I will use the ipod to record their stories.
I would like to collaborate with my colleague. I will be teaching her class how to publish their stories and use ipods with their written stories. She will teach my class numeracy skills once a week and I will teach her class computers once a week. The goal would be to use ipods in the classroom. I would like to show the students how to use the ipods and have them record their best stories using and ipod.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Punjabi Alphabet Rap Recorded in Garageband
I intend to teach a grade 5 Punjabi language class how to record their own voices pronouncing various letters and words in Pujabi using GarageBand. These audio tracks will then be put together with coresponding letter and word slidewhows that the students create based on what they are learning in Punjabi class to extend and present their learning a meaningful way.
Learning Together Through Collaborative Inquiry
Welcome to the Technology Learning Network for 2007-08. The TLN is made up of 40+ teachers in the Abbotsford School District that want to improve student achievement through the use of technology. Each member is involved in an action research project at their school. The projects seek to answer a burning question related to the use of technology in education. Through the course of this year, you will see personal reflections, insights gained and further questions that have arisen.
This blog will also serve to foster a community of shared learning where its members feel safe to ask other members for input on particular issues and to share what they have learned. Because the discussion is out-in-the-open, everyone will benefit by being involved.
Background: The Kiwanas service organization has a well established read-to-me program in many elementary schools which involves a one-on-one relationship between the reader and the student. This middle school model plans on using MP3 transcripts so that the reader would have a reading/listening connection with many students. The service organization members would tape "scripts" which have been e-mailed to them by the teacher directly into a podcast for subsequent downloading by the students. The students in the pilot classroom have brought their own I-pods or MP3 players to school and have been introduced to the technological requirements of using the devices. Seven-eights of the students use a language other than English in their homes. Two students have identified learning difficulties.
