tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-58095687972541674372024-03-19T03:19:26.181-07:00Sandra's Aha MomentsSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.comBlogger56125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-32961790891625858222012-12-08T18:47:00.001-08:002012-12-08T18:47:18.195-08:00Adventures in Global Learning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This fall in my Emerging Instructional Technologies course I have been introduced to global learning. I am in awe of some of the projects that I have found as we explored this concept in education. We as educators have to find ways to meet the Common Core standards of education which has components of global education. The <a href="http://www.globalschoolnet.org/index.cfm" target="_blank">Global Learning Network</a> is one place you can go to learn about ways to create and become part of global learning opportunities.<br />
The one that I have had the great fortune to be a part of is <a href="http://www.flatclassroomproject.net/" target="_blank">The Flat Classroom Project</a>. My classmates and I were offered the opportunity to judge the <a href="http://www.eracismproject.org/" target="_blank">eRacism project,</a> a global debate about world issues. The debate has been on the topic of global conservation of natural resources and how these types of policies affect relations between cultures. The debates have been very well done and I have learned a great deal from these students presentations. It is quite a responsibility to judge their work fairly, to put aside your own beliefs and concentrate on the rubric that was to be used for scoring.<br />
As I worked with a lead judge that was located in Africa it was difficult to communicate on a real time basis, so our connections were made through email. In the first round of debates our team was to judge two different debates but one of the groups did not complete their project. We were to have 4 judges on our team for this round. The lead judge and I were the only two that completed our judging by the due date. In round two we again were to judge two debated and once again one of the two groups did not complete their project. This round we were again to have 4 judges on our team and I was the only one of the four to complete my judging, I was then asked to record on the judging slide my decision on a winner of the debate.<br />
I can only imagine the frustration the coordinator of this entire project must have been going through. The task of organizing teams and judges from around the world had to be enormous. Teams that sign up to be part of the whole project that do not complete their responsibility and then judges that do not show up to judge and/or are not timely in their responses, has to be extremely frustrating. I commend Eva Brown for her patience and perseverance in getting everyone and everything organized, from the training of team leaders and judges in the beginning to the live debate at the end.<br />
My only regret in this whole process is that I will not be able to be a judge for the live event since it will take place during the school day.<br />
This has been an awesome experience and I will look for opportunities to be a part of more global learning projects in the future.<br />
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clip art provided by <a href="http://worldatlas.com/">worldatlas.com</a>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-37515880928901769442012-12-06T12:22:00.002-08:002012-12-06T12:22:31.804-08:00Great Learning Opportunities<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This fall I have had the chance to take part in some great professional development opportunities. In October I attended the Monday sessions at the ITEC conference in Des Moines. I would highly recommend this conference to anyone looking for technology professional development. As an art teacher I was very interested in how others have integrated technology into their art curriculum.<br />
iPads seem to be the tool of choice in art classrooms. I was very interested in the SloMo app for the iPad. with this application you can create stop motion videos. My students have expressed an interest in trying this, it should be quite an adventure.<br />
I also learned about Sketchbook Express. This is an application that is similar to Photoshop but more user friendly.<br />
So many great ideas for using iPads in the classroom, Little Bird Tales for storytelling, Auto Rap for creating rap videos, Rory's Story, Screen Chomp, Kabaam, Toontastic Doodle Buddy, bluster, Boogle, Work Flick, JibJab books, Word Monkey and so many others.<br />
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But one of the most amazing things I saw was an iPad orchestra. This is not the exact video we watched that day but it is just as amazing.<br />
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Last Friday, November 30th, I attended the 1:1 Conference hosted by Iowa AEA267.<br />
I attended sessions discussing personal learning networks for both students and teachers, listened to a panel of school leaders discuss their success and learning opportunities as they implemented 1:1 programs in their schools. Heard the Waverly-Shell Rock Technology team talk about managing iPads in a 1:1 environment, and listened to a fantastic speaker about Web 2.0 tools in the classroom.<br />
You can access the presentation slides for the Web 2.0 tools session at this link: <a href="http://bit.ly/shannonmmiller"><span style="color: #047ac6; font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;">Http://bit.ly/</span></span><span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, 'Droid Sans', sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;">shannonmmiller</span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;">You can also follow Shannon on Twitter @shannonmmiller</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;">I also was introduced to Candy Chang and her<a href="http://candychang.com/i-wish-this-was/" target="_blank"> I Wish This Was</a>... project. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;">How can you not be inspired by this story? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;">I have found these conferences to be so valuable to my growth as an educator. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to be the presenter as the Eastern Iowa Catholic Educators Tech Trainer conference. If you are interested you can view the Google Presentation that my co-teacher Pam Schmitt and I presented, introducing <a href="https://docs.google.com/a/cfcatholicschool.org/present/edit?id=0AXwYfSd9sj9tZGY5cXB2aF83NmQ2YjNxZGRt&pli=1" target="_blank">Scratch</a> in education. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;">If you are ever wondering if these types of conferences are worth the time and money, the answer is yes, I have never come away feeling that it was not a learning experience.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica, Arial, Droid Sans, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 19.983333587646484px;"><br /></span></span>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-29429405895176034782012-11-17T18:14:00.001-08:002012-11-17T18:14:49.663-08:00Magical Mystery Tour<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Well, I have been on quite the adventure for the past several hours. I have traveled all over the world of Second Life looking for art galleries and collection. I have been assigned the task of creating a tour so that others wanting to find beautiful art in Second Life can easily navigate their way around using the note card I have created. This has been quite the tour, I have found some awesome places for you all try out, so have fun and enjoy this magical tour of the Second Life world of art.<br />
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11 Gallery Stops:<br />
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Steinfadt Fall 2012 SL Art Gallery Tour<br />
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This tour takes you to a variety of art galleries and displays in second life. Some are Real Life works and some are Second LIfe created. Many of the items can be purchased to use in your own SL world. Have fun and see some awesome creations.<br /><br />
1. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isla%20de%20Paz/142/76/3511" target="_blank">The Spiral Art Gallery </a><br />
In this gallery there are many works of art. Some are sculptures and some are paintings. Many of the works are in motion creating beautiful images.<br /><br />2. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Idia/148/103/98" target="_blank">ARC: Art Revolution Culture</a><br />
The second stop on our gallery tour takes you to an island that has several buildings housing different types of digital art. Some are photographs and some are digitally created. As you walk around the island there is many sculptures on the grounds and the grounds themselves are a digital work of art.<br /><br />3. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Sunset%20Grove/36/96/22" target="_blank">Zunzun Art Cuba - Gallery</a><br />
Be careful when you land here, I have landed in the fountain every time I have visited. But the surrounding court yard is filled with Cuban cultural art in a tropical island setting. I could stay here and relax looking at all the beauty for quite awhile. <br /><br /><br />4. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/My%20Paradise/62/55/251" target="_blank">The RediVivus Art Gallery</a><br />
The gallery of fantasy art and decorations. Set on a colorful beach. When you enter the building you are met with bright colored paintings and a variety of other styles of art. Many of these can be purchased to use in your own SL world.<br /><br />5. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Panquehue/243/211/64" target="_blank">Sisse Singha Gallery</a><br />
This is a huge gallery and very professional looking. The artist preferred medium is water color. I personally am in awe of anyone who can work with watercolors. These are beautiful works. Enjoy your time wandering in this gallery, There is also a hall of works from other artists, very bright and colorful.<br /><br />6. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Blackwater/110/74/93" target="_blank">The Blackwater Sculpture Art Gallery</a><br />
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This is an awesome outdoor gallery with hundreds of static and moving sculpture pieces. Some very cool stuff here.<br /><br />7.<a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Indus/177/198/28" target="_blank"> The Silliest Kitty Gallery of Abstract Art</a><br />
This is a gallery of original digital artwork created by an SL artist called the Silliest Kitty. This gallery looks small until you find the spiral staircase and you realize that there are multiple floors. Beautiful digital creations.<br /><br />8. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Enduring%20dAlliez/215/69/22" target="_blank">Dreamscapes Art Gallery</a><br />
This is what I think of as the least interesting of the tour but it is interesting. Almost everything here is for sale for the creation of your SL world. You can buy almost everything here including the rugs on the floor. There is some beautiful stuff here and it is fun to walk around and see what has been created but it is not as uniques as the other galleries that house original works.<br /><br />9. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/San%20Diego%20Balboa/107/106/33" target="_blank">Spanish Village Art Center</a><br />
This is a village that houses several different buildings of art work. It ranges from paintings to sculpture and I believe I even saw some furniture and pottery. So much to see here, the buildings are all stucco with tile roofs and the streets are paved with multi-colored brick.<br /><br />10. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Schwanson%20Schlegel/115/163/24" target="_blank">Campus d'Art - Heart of the Canal District</a><br />
This location has many galleries and a museum. It takes awhile to find everything but well worth the time exploring.<br />
<br />11. <a href="http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Tobago%20Bay/114/219/74" target="_blank">Alpha Asteri Second Life's Largest art Gallery</a><br />
This location has a huge amount of art in the galleries and on the grounds. But be careful as landed in the ocean one time and on the side of a cliff the another time. I got stuck in the rocks and had to teleport out. If you can get there it is great. This is why I have included it as site #11.<br />
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I hope you find this tour as awe inspiring and inspirational as I did. I had a lot of fun touring around in the Second Life art world.<br />
<br />Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-32296129265493577282012-11-15T20:36:00.000-08:002012-11-15T20:36:19.028-08:00Quest #5 World TourI should have jet lag from all the places I have visited today. Started out in Germany at a cathedral, not as much to see as I thought there might be as a large portion was under construction but what was complete was pretty cool. I then transported to St. Louis, MO and wandered around the arch, never did find if there was a way to get inside and I missed the boat tour both times I landed there.<br />
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I forgot to take photos the first time I landed so I had to go back. I get so involved with the tours and looking around and remembering how to get into places and such I forget to take the photos.<br />
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This photo is from Vasser college. Many, many cool buildings but the castle was my favorite. I took the tour around the island but it took a long time so I stood up and fell face first on the ground from about 10 feet in the air, cracked me up, good thing you don't die in such situations. My mini-me is as graceful as the real me. I tried to visit the Great Wall of China but it would not let me go.<br />
It was fun to visit parts of the world that I will most likely never see in reality, I thing that is one big advantage of programs like Second Life.<br />
I am getting much better at finding my way around, I don't land in odd worlds and have no idea how I got there and I can always find my home to Dr. Z's.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-54364820063237928902012-11-12T21:48:00.002-08:002012-11-12T21:48:30.425-08:00Quest #4 If Only...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Here is my original me. Just basic, average looking. Pretty much true to life. I started to play with the options for looks, so many options it was hard to just choose where to start. I was also trying to do this at school to see how this would run on our system. Not something I would try again unless I had all day. This would not be something that could be done with the current set up we have for wireless and there is not really an option for direct connection for students. Back to my adventure in recreating my ME. I had fun and A LOT of laughs as I changed my shape, color and size. My next move was to change to a rocker girl look. She is pretty awesome, wish my hair would do something like that for real. Put on my T from Dr. Z's.<br />
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I didn't think this was really all that was intended for this quest so i started playing with my hair, clothing, body shape, color and what ever else I could change. It was quite a humorous adventure. I didn't end up changing my look all that much in the end but at one point I did have some pretty funky looks.<br />
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I don't currently work with students that are old enough to play in SecondLife although many of them would love this place. You can be who ever you want to be and have some fun creating that avatar. In the video that we watched before working to change our appearance they stated that some people spend hours and hours personalizing their avatar. I can see how that could happen. I spent about two hours playing with this and could have gone on but at some point you just have to stop.<br />
I am not the best navigator in this virtual world but I am getting better. Still not my favorite thing to do but I do see how it could be a fantastic learning tool for some students.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-72789923761240516122012-11-07T20:59:00.002-08:002012-11-07T20:59:46.452-08:00Cruisin' through my QuestI am doing a little better in second life as I just finished quest #3. Not sure where quest 2 went but this was next in line. I still have some issues with running into walls and getting stuck in doorways but I am getting better. I am not sure if it is a computer thing or if the problem lies between the keyboard and the chair but it is kind of fun to play in this world. I am a little more at ease when I know that no one else is watching, I can look stupid running into walls and no one but me knows. Although I have been know to walk into walls in the real world so I think maybe this is just a character trait. Sorry no pictures, I got so wrapped up in reading all the signs and doing the activities I forgot to try and get pictures to share here. I am a little bit slow in learning this kind of thing but I will get there, I just take the scenic route.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-31952285683298343662012-11-07T19:47:00.002-08:002012-11-07T19:47:33.653-08:00Backwards Learning in Second LifeI have been having some issues with Second Life and my computer not wanting to play nice together but last night I did manage to join my EIT group for most of our evening gathering. Now tonight I am beginning my journey through the GameLab tours to learn how to find may way around in this new world. The first Quest of my tour in virtual reality has been very helpful, I feel like I have a little better handle on the control panels and should be able to find my way much easier.<br />
For anyone out there who has not experience a virtual world Second Life is a fun experience although a little frustrating at times when you are first beginning. My advice would be to hang in there an keep trying because there is some awesome things to experience in the virtual world of Second Life.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-21390648642185688112012-10-28T19:32:00.001-07:002012-10-28T19:32:34.808-07:00Going with the flow....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have found that I am not really much of a gamer. The assignment was to play a video game for an hour and examine it for elements of flow. Flow being the feeling of time standing still, enjoyment and relaxation as you become involved with the activity you are doing. The desire to improve your score or level you are on, there is a direct outcome to what you are playing. Well.....I just didn't get there with any that I tried. Maybe I was just playing the wrong game, I have several students that would say I need to play <a href="https://minecraft.net/" target="_blank">Minecraft</a> because it is the greatest game ever and has educational value. I looked at it but didn't want to invest money to complete this assignment.<br />
I remember playing <a href="http://pacman.com/en/" target="_blank">PacMan</a> and <a href="http://www.play.vg/games/4-Asteroids.html" target="_blank">Asteroids</a> when I was a teen, could have played those for ever. Not so long ago I was a little addicted to <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FarmVille" target="_blank">Farmville</a>, well really just felt I had an obligation to harvest and care for the animals, didn't want to see it all die. I could also play Jewel Master for quite some time. My own kids played Math Blaster, Operation Neptune and Treasure Mountain for hours and then when in junior high got hooked on The Sims.<br />
I tried to play <a href="http://ninjakiwi.com/Games/Strategy/Zombie-Trailer-Park.html" target="_blank">Zombie Trailer Park</a> but it was just too bloody. <a href="http://www.funtotype.com/game/tommyq" target="_blank">Tommy Q Zombie Defender</a> was OK but I was bored after about 20 minutes. I also played <a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/typing/" target="_blank">Dance Mat Typing</a>, entertaining but the voices got a little annoying after about 15 minutes. I tried to play word games on <a href="http://dictionary.com/">dictionary.com</a> but I had flash player issues.<br />
I can understand how you can get in a zone while playing a game that catches your interest and provides a challenge, I can do the same thing when I am working on an art project and especially when reading a good book. It is a great feeling when you are doing something you enjoy and are good at. I can find something kind of resembling flow when I am Christmas shopping online, <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon.com</a> is my shopping addiction.<br />
But overall I just don't really like video games much, there are so many other things I would rather be doing.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-74368511204730748102012-10-15T10:14:00.004-07:002012-10-15T10:14:41.801-07:00<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9249358179513365" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">EIT Global Learning Project - Sandra Steinfadt and Joel Weeks</span></b><br />
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9249358179513365" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Dr. Zeitz - Fall 2012</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Global School News</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Project Summary:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Have you ever wondered how you can offer your students a view of the world? How to give them a voice about local, national and international news? The Global School News is an international project where students produce an online newspaper with a partner school from another part of the world. Each student will be partnered with a student from their cooperating school to collaborate on the news article creation process. The goal is to have two editions of the online newspaper published. Students reading, writing and cooperative learning skills will improve while they are getting the opportunity to view local, national and global issues through the eyes of others. Global School News is a great opportunity for you and your students, sign up soon and become part of a global learning network.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Model:</span><br /><a href="http://www.globalschoolnet.org/GSH/project/newsday/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.globalschoolnet.org/GSH/project/newsday/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/news-points/youth-connected-technology-and-journalism-shape-world-views"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/news-points/youth-connected-technology-and-journalism-shape-world-views</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Ages:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This project is designed for students 11 to 14 years of age. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Duration:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Global School News with cover a one year time frame, starting August 2013 and concluding in June of 2014. </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Curriculum Fit:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Language Arts</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Multicultural Studies</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Social Studies</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">These are the three main areas of curriculum that will be focused on with this project but there are multiple opportunities for cross over to other areas as well.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Collaboration Types to be Used:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Information Collection and Analysis</span></b><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9249358179513365" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Electronic Publishing</span></b></div>
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9249358179513365" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">information exchange</span></b></div>
<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9249358179513365" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Technology and Information Types to be Used:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Email</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>collaborative document sharing</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>email communication</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>LIve audio/video conferencing (depending on partners locations)</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Information Types:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Text: Stories, Essays and Letters</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Graphics: Photos, Drawings</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Creation Technologies:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Web Publishing</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Process:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Producing a school newspaper with a global perspective</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The newspaper will be published online in cooperation with a partner school from another region of the world.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Sections of the paper will include:</span></li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Local news</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">National news</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">School news</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Editorial</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Special interest topics/Student choice options</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Overview:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Each school will work to create the stories necessary to fill all the pages. The stories will tell what is happening in their part of the world and will give a picture of life as a middle level student.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stories will be published on a website so that each school has access to the paper as it is in progress. There will be a section on the site where readers can make comments and ask questions.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Project Steps:</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 1</span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Set up meeting with you partner school, if possible this will be done in a video conference.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discuss the focus of your shared newspaper, what topics would you like to cover, what do you want to learn from your partner school through the stories they submit for publication. Decide which school will be in charge of each of the two issues. Each school will take the lead for one of the publications.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 2</span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Teach lessons on developing a quality news story and journalism basics.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discuss the differences between an editorial, opinion, feature, and reporting information.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A review of copyright laws, and how to cite a source will be given for each respective country. If there are differences between each region those differences will be taught and adhered to as well since the paper will be published on the Internet.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 3</span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students are assigned the stories they are to write. Each page will have a Google Doc on which the stories will be posted for editing. The partners will read the stories and ask questions about points that are not clear or are not understood. Changes will be made and submitted to teachers and editors for final approval.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stories will be reviewed by teachers at each school before they are approved for publication.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 4</span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Lessons will be taught on how to create the paper and upload the stories to the paper. </span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Management of the website of the paper will be done by each school for one of the two issues.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 5</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The paper will be created and published on the web.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 6</span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Students meet again to reflect on the experiences, and discuss new perspectives they learned about through creating the project.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 7</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The process begins again for the second edition of the paper.</span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Timeline:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">August 2013</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 1 - Classes will learn of the project and will set up a meeting with their partner school.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">September 2013</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 2 - Students will work on lessons that teach journalism concepts.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">October 2013</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 3 – Stories will be assigned and students will begin the writing process.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">November 2013</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 4 – Students will learn about how the web site works and will begin to assemble the online newspaper.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">December 2013</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 5 – Students will finish the online paper.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 6 – Students will read and comment on the paper.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">January 2014</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 7 – Students will meet again to discuss the process of creating the paper and what they learned through the process of creating it.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">February 2014</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 1 – Students will discuss what will happen with the second edition. What did they learn in the first paper that will help them improve the second edition.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 2 – Students will review the lessons learned about writing a good news story.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">March 2014</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 3 – Students will begin the writing process. They will also go through the peer review process with their cooperating school partners.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">April 2014</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 4 – Review how the web site works, what lessons were learned from the first edition that can be applied to improve the second edition.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 5 – Begin construction of the online paper.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">May 2014</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 6 – Students read the articles and make comments on the online paper. They then respond to the comments made about the stories they have written.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">June 2014</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Step 6 continued – Meet for the final time to discuss what was learned in the process of creating and reading the stories for the on line paper.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Outcomes:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When the project is completed the students will have created two online editions of their jointly created newspaper. They will have learned how to write, edit news stories and how to put them together into an online newspaper.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Iowa Core Standards:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">21st Century Skills:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Employability:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. Communicate and work productively with others, considering different perspectives, and cultural views to increase the quality of work.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Demonstrate productivity and accountability while aspiring to meet high expectations.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Technology Literacy:</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1.Collaborate with peers, experts and others using interactive technology.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2. Understand the legal and ethical issues of technology as related to individuals, cultures and societies.</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-style: italic; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Writing Standards</span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Production and distribution of writing</span><br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">W.7.4. Produce clear and coherent writing in which the development, organization, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience. (Grade-specific expectations for writing types are defined in standards 1–3 above.)</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">W.7.5. With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach, focusing on how well purpose and audience have been addressed.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">W.7.6. Use technology, including the Internet, to produce and publish writing and link to and cite sources as well as to interact and collaborate with others, including linking to and citing sources.</span></li>
</ul>
<h3 dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Text Types and Purposes</span></h3>
<br /><ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">W.7.1.Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence.</span></li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introduce claim(s), acknowledge alternate or opposing claims, and organize the reasons and evidence logically.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Support claim(s) with logical reasoning and relevant evidence, using accurate, credible sources and demonstrating an understanding of the topic or text.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use words, phrases, and clauses to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among claim(s), reasons, and evidence.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Establish and maintain a formal style.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the argument presented.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">W.7.2.Write informative/explanatory texts to examine a topic and convey ideas, concepts, and information through the selection, organization, and analysis of relevant content.</span></li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Introduce a topic clearly, previewing what is to follow; organize ideas, concepts, and information, using strategies such as definition, classification, comparison/contrast, and cause/effect; include formatting (e.g., headings), graphics (e.g., charts, tables), and multimedia when useful to aiding comprehension.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Develop the topic with relevant facts, definitions, concrete details, quotations, or other information and examples.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use appropriate transitions to create cohesion and clarify the relationships among ideas and concepts.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use precise language and domain-specific vocabulary to inform about or explain the topic.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Establish and maintain a formal style.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Provide a concluding statement or section that follows from and supports the information or explanation presented.</span></li>
</ul>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: disc; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">W.7.3.Write narratives to develop real or imagined experiences or events using effective technique, relevant descriptive details, and well-structured event sequences.</span></li>
<ul style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Engage and orient the reader by establishing a context and point of view and introducing a narrator and/or characters; organize an event sequence that unfolds naturally and logically.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use narrative techniques, such as dialogue, pacing, and description, to develop experiences, events, and/or characters.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use a variety of transition words, phrases, and clauses to convey sequence and signal shifts from one time frame or setting to another.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Use precise words and phrases, relevant descriptive details, and sensory language to capture the action and convey experiences and events.</span></li>
<li style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; list-style-type: circle; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Provide a conclusion that follows from and reflects on the narrated experiences or events.</span></li>
</ul>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">R</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">esources:</span><br /><a href="http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/news-points/youth-connected-technology-and-journalism-shape-world-views"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://pulitzercenter.org/blog/news-points/youth-connected-technology-and-journalism-shape-world-views</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.jhuapl.edu/education/elementary/newspapercourse/forteachers/lesson.htm"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.jhuapl.edu/education/elementary/newspapercourse/forteachers/lesson.htm</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2485&Itemid=4602"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.educateiowa.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2485&Itemid=4602</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.nytimes.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.nytimes.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.washingtonpost.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/?CMP=INTstp2"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/?CMP=INTstp2</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://winchurchill.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://winchurchill.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.cmschippewa411.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.cmschippewa411.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.ljhsnews.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.ljhsnews.com/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.schoolnewspapersonline.com/clients/client-list/middle-schools/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.schoolnewspapersonline.com/clients/client-list/middle-schools/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Examples of archived Newsday papers from Texas, Montana, New Zealand and Africa</span><br /><a href="https://docs.google.com/document/d/1prYLEtXn2ekIYD9hkAlWh_Ze6Hl1vfeiooVYX5MBBgc/edit"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">https://docs.google.com/document/d/1prYLEtXn2ekIYD9hkAlWh_Ze6Hl1vfeiooVYX5MBBgc/edit</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/project/newsday/examples/newsletter_tca_harrison2.pdf"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/project/newsday/examples/newsletter_tca_harrison2.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/project/newsday/examples/cobhamintermediate/nz%20scoop%201.pdf"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/project/newsday/examples/cobhamintermediate/nz%20scoop%201.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/project/newsday/examples/newsday_2009-montana.pdf"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/project/newsday/examples/newsday_2009-montana.pdf</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><br /><a href="http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/project/newsday/examples/pink_link.pdf"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.globalschoolnet.org/gsh/project/newsday/examples/pink_link.pdf</span></a></b>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-1695193818725610152012-10-03T22:11:00.003-07:002012-10-03T22:15:56.212-07:00<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="color: orange; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: x-large;">In or Out with Technology</span></em></h2>
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<span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Should technology education in lower elementary be integrated into the curriculum or be taught in a pull out program? Today I had the opportunity to sit in on a meeting of lower elementary teachers discussing technology. It seemed that they all agreed that students at this level need some direct instruction on how to use the computer but then parted about half and half as to the solution, integration or segragation. I agree with </span><a href="http://penobscotriver.edublogs.org/2012/05/22/pull-out-or-pull-in-technology-pd-in-the-classrooms/"><span style="background-color: white; color: #741b47; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Brad Edwards</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> that technology should be a “pull-in” instead of a “pull-out” program. Technology should not be something you go do once a week but instead something that happens every day. There are so many possibilities for integrating technology such as digital story telling using </span><a href="http://voicethread.com/"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Voice Thread</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> or an iPad App called </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSWQkUS4kXk"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">StoryKit</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">. These programs allow students create audio recordings of their stories and then add pictures and text that when completed can then be emailed to family members. Students can work with interactive </span><a href="http://www.google.com/earth/index.html"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">maps</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> in social studies and explore the </span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/nasa-app-hd/id387310098?mt=8"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">solar system</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> or </span><a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/hd-insects-and-spiders/id387835556?mt=8"><span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">insects</span></a><span style="color: #20124d; font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> through educational Apps or web sites. The possibilities are endless until you pull them out of the classroom and box technology into a half hour program in an isolated room. And the icing on this wonderful antiquated cake is …. The time for this pull out program can be accommodated by eliminating the students school library time. I don’t know about you, but on this rare occasion, I was speechless.</span><br />
<span style="color: #20124d;"><br /></span>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-32269949101347357542012-09-17T22:07:00.001-07:002012-09-17T22:07:40.952-07:00The true beginnings....<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been hearing about <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Personal_learning_network">PLN's</a> for a lot of years and kind of blew off the idea, thinking it was just another thing I had to do in an already busy day. No one really explained exactly what a PLN could do for me and why it would be to my benefit. I really thought it was another craze and it would pass like all the others. As I have worked my way through the Masters in Instructional Technology program at <a href="http://www.uni.edu/coe/departments/curriculum-instruction/instructional-technology">UNI</a> I have learned the purpose for and advantages of creating a PLN.<br />
Today as I was reading my text for Emerging Instructional Technology I found several links for resources for library, technolgoy and art teachers. One that stood out to me was TeacherLibrarianNing. On the front page of this site right now is a PLN starter kit. I am excited to begin exploring this resource along with an <a href="http://arted20.ning.com/">art</a> educators site. Working in a small private school I don't really have people within my building to brainstorm with, or bounce ideas around with. I am on my own when it comes to planning and figuring out what I can do to keep library interesting and to find new projects to complete in art. I don't want my students to be doing the same art projects their older brothers and sisters have done for years. Having quality resources to go to has been such a blessing.<br />
If you are new to building a PLN check out <a href="http://theinnovativeeducator.blogspot.com/2008/04/5-things-you-can-do-to-begin-developing.html">The Innovative Educator Blog</a> for 5 steps to begin building your own personal learning network.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-78421842203331004382012-09-16T19:52:00.002-07:002012-09-16T21:34:53.856-07:00Thoughts on thinking I read a new blog this evening about thinking written by <a href="http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2012/09/03/thinking-about-a-lack-of-thinking/">Grant Wiggins</a>. The article was entitled "Thinking about a lack of thinking" Now before you think that all this thinking is making your brain hurt take a few minutes and read the article. I started to think about how many times I just give information with out any real explanation as to why my students need to know what I am telling them? Is this why I can go over the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dewey_Decimal_Classification">Dewey Decimal System</a> with each grade level every year and by the time they are in 8th grade they still do not recall or remember how to apply this knowledge. I need to make them think or to be more thoughtful and look for meaning and personal value in what I am teaching them. It is difficult to teach students how to look up and locate books on the library shelves when they have resources at their finger tips most hours of the day. Many of my students have an iPad, Kindle, Nook or a smart phone to read their books on, they see no value in the library. My goal for this year is to get my students to be more thoughtful about print resources. To expose them to the wonders of a library and to show them all the places they can go with their mind and a book. I am open to suggestions.....anyone?<br />
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I had students that begged me not to show the video! So of course I had to look up what video they were talking about. Hmmmm...maybe it is just obnoxious enough for them to remember. </div>
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What do you think, will this get them to be more thoughtful about using the library?</div>
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Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-18840579147064212282012-09-15T18:47:00.002-07:002012-09-15T18:47:48.370-07:00Variety is the spice of life<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I have been exploring many blogs this past week as I work to create my reading list. The majority of the blogs I have on my list are education and technology related such as Dangerously Irrelevant, eSchool News, Free Technology for Teachers, The 21st Century Principal, and Cool Cat Teacher Blog. These are all excellent blogs on education with posts that deal with many different topics covered, from classroom management to technology integration. All of them provide me with relevant information about my profession and good ideas and tools that I can explore. I have gained a great deal of knowledge from all of these sources. I don't always agree with everything I read but it gets me thinking about what I do believe and how I can make change for the better in my educational setting. With this said the one blog that I go to first is <a href="http://lifehacker.com/">lifehacker.com</a>. I like this blog because it has a wide variety of subjects that it covers that range from DIY projects to simple tips on ways to make your life easier and more organized. When reading the same subject the majority of the time it is nice to take a mental break and read posts that go beyond ed/tech. There are a lot of posts each day to this blog but I scroll through I can pick and choose what I want to read about, I can then begin an adventure of leaning about many new topics. Curiosity didn't kill the at it just opened a whole new world of knowledge.</div>
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Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-25560275501462392832012-09-13T20:48:00.001-07:002012-09-13T20:48:19.389-07:00New Beginnings and a GiggleAs I work my way through the beginning of the school year both as a teacher and a student I find the best way to survive is to find a way to laugh. The following video cracks me up, it is just way to funny. But if you start to think about the two roles being played out here it makes you think, is this how some of our students feel? Does it all come to fast even though you have people telling you that it is so simple and basic? Do I have this much impatience with my students when they just are not getting something? <br />
I am making an effort this year to look at things in a positive way. Not to get sucked into the negative grumblings of co-workers and above all to find joy and humor in each day and to thank God for all that I have. <br />
So watch the video maybe it will make you giggle and smile. Have a great year!<br />
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Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-37924950422913529702011-06-12T07:14:00.000-07:002011-06-12T07:14:02.082-07:00Technology new to me that has classroom applicationsI have just begun using Twitter in the past month. It is an interesting bit of technology. At first I really didn't see what was so great about it; I just wasn't getting much from the tweets I had selected to follow. When I talked with my daughter about this she suggested so other tweets for me and I can now see that the problem wasn't that Twitter was useless, I had just not found out how to use it to my advantage. <br />
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In saying this I can see how twitter could be a fun and effective tool to use in a high school classroom. You can get immediate responses from your students, students do not have to have a cell phone to use it since you can tweet from your phone or a computer so it can be done right there in the classroom. If you wanted a response to a video or reading in the class you could have students tweet their response. If you then had a tweet deck set up you could display the tweets as they come in, also students can respond to others tweets as well. I know that this can also be done in a discussion thread, which are also somewhat new to me, and blogs but the tweets are quick and something that students are using right now.<br />
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Also, tweeting could be used for students asking questions about assignments. When they are working and don't understand something or just need a little clarification they could tweet their teacher to ask their question or they can tweet each other when they are working collaboratively but not in the same locations. I see many possibilities for this in upper level classrooms; it could be a lot of fun for both the students and the teachers.<br />
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Now in saying all of that we must keep in mind that we as teachers would have to teach proper tweeting etiquette to be sure that students were not misusing the technology. Lessons would have to be taught and boundaries and expectations would have to be made very clear from the very beginning and be restated throughout the class. Consequences for miss use would have to be made very clear right from the beginning.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-43467857832540315062011-06-09T19:29:00.000-07:002011-06-16T04:27:59.470-07:00Software reviewI have spent some time today with Professor Garfield. He is an interesting little dude that has some possibilities for classroom use. Professor Garfield is a free web site that has educational content for classroom and home use. There is a teacher’s lounge where they have lesson plans, printables and other information for parents and teachers. <br />
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This site has drill and practice games that students can play to reinforce concepts in social studies, math, science and reading. There are also areas to learn about creating music and art. The one are where student’s get the chance to create content is in the comic labs. They can choose from many different pictures and element to put in their strips and then they write the stories in the comics. This could be done individually or in small groups. The strips can then be saved as a jpg file or printed out.<br />
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Not the most engaging program, mostly just point and click but there are questions in the games that will make kids use skills they have learned in the classroom.<br />
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</div>This program has reviews and content standards available on the teacher page.<br />
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Here is a sample of the types of strips that can be made, this one took me about 5 minutes. It was fun to work with and easy to move through the steps to create the comic. There is a tutorial at the beginning but I skipped that and went right into creating.<br />
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I think the only part that could be used in a lesson plan would be the comic strip creator, but the other areas are fun for drill and practice options. <br />
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The URL for this site is: <a href="http://www.professorgarfield.org/">http://www.professorgarfield.org/</a> The image above is the Professor Garfield comic creator page.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-49181666048982509922011-06-08T12:07:00.000-07:002011-06-08T12:07:31.874-07:00Assistive TechnologyI was intrigued by the writing programs that are available for students. I have had a few students over the years that have had problems with writing skills, not the ideas but the actual physical activity of writing. One student had fine motor skill development problems and the other two I am not sure why but their writing was not readable. The word predictions software would have been very helpful for all of these students. I know that these students have problems just completing the simple daily oral language activities because they would have to concentrate so hard on the actual writing that they would make mistakes in the sentences or they would concentrate on the sentence and the teacher would not be able to read what they had wrote. The one student would write so large that he would run out of room on most of his worksheets so he would just go back to the beginning of the line and write over the top of the first part of his answer. Our special education consultants have been working with him and he now has raised line paper to write out his answers from the worksheets and any other writing that he has to do. His handwriting lessons are also completed on the raised line paper. It has helped him quite a bit to use this resource. I can see where the word prediction software would help him when he was writing stories and longer pieces, he wouldn’t have to worry about spelling and handwriting he would be free to just think about the context of his work. As he gains confidence his reliance on the program should subside.<br />
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I read quite a bit more about the speech to text and word prediction software. These could be used for note taking when the students get into the upper grades because it would be much faster. The students wouldn’t have to think so much about what they were typing because the software would help them with the words they may not know right away. Typing in text speak would also help these kids take notes quickly so just having the computer available to them in class would be a great asset to them. They would then translate their text speak to standard English when they were using the information to complete assignments.<br />
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One web site that I looked at to review different types of tools for writing was <a href="http://www.techmatrix.org/Home">http://www.techmatrix.org/Home</a><br />
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This is a site that lets you look at reviews of the products and links you to articles and other resources to help find the right tool for your student. Also the AEA has many tools that can be used. I have serve on our school Student Assistance Team along with our AEA special education representative and we have talked a great deal about tools that be used to help students be successful in the classroom and what is available through our local office.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-51794138171125175452011-06-03T12:57:00.000-07:002011-06-03T12:57:07.934-07:00AEA Resource ReviewI had never looked at the AEA's online resources before today. I found Culture Grams today and really liked what I found out about them. They have information about 22 different countries around the world and include videos and links that can be explored. I have taught a social studies lesson called A Trip Around the World to lower elementary students in the past. They love to learn about different cultures and compared them to the world around them. It would take me hours to search and find videos, recipes, local games, information about schools, traditions and what ever else I could come up with to make it interesting and fun for the students. Much of what I found in the Culture Grams combines much of this information all in one place. I would still look for other resources to be sure that I had a good variety of information but this would be sure a good starting point. I am excited about all the resourses that will soon be available through our AEA and plan to use these resources next year. We are extremely lucky to have our AEA's in this state, when I have gone to the National Lutheran Educators Conference I have talked with teachers that have nothing that would compare to this available in their states and the are amazed when I explain to them all that we have at our finger tips through our state Educatioin Agencies. Iowa is truly a great state in which to teach.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-67788495737760622522011-06-01T21:42:00.000-07:002011-06-01T21:42:45.992-07:00Wikipedia in the Classroom<em>Margaret Santori, (in the Literacy 2.0 book) demonstrates Wikipedia to her students. Most school do not allow Wikipedia to be used. Would you use Wikipedia like Margaret Santori with your students? Why?</em><br />
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I would use wikipedia like Margaret Santori did with her students. This is a site that students are very familiar with and will go to almost right away when they are doing research. I would model using it like she did in the text because this shows studetns how to check the content of entries for accuracy or to see if the content has been challenged. I agree with what she said about it being a good starting point but to no rely on it as the only search that they would use. If they are going to use this as a resource they should learn how to use it in an effective manner.<br />
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<em>If three dimensional reading and writing books with technology (sound, hyperlinks, videos, etc) are our present, what do you think is the future of the written word?</em><br />
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At some point printed books may no longer be available but I personally will think that it will be a sad day. I love to walk through a book store and flip through the pages of the books, and children really need that interaction with the page to connect with the story, it just isn't the same when it is on a screen. There are some great things about the electronic books and I can see where they have their place, text books will be awesome with the videos built right in and the links that will take you to more information. I believe that something special happens when you read smell the new book smell and look at the cover art and hear the crack of the binding when you open a brand new book, it is like your invitation to a new adventure.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-54913171647115967742011-05-24T18:45:00.000-07:002011-06-16T04:26:13.404-07:00blog post #2Both books talk about Collaborative learning. What are some of the challenges you see in implementing this in your classrooms?<br />
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The biggest challenge I see in implementing collaborative learning in the classroom is the initial time that it takes to prepare. It takes time to reinvent your curriculum to meet the requirements of collaboration. It is just easier to do it like it has always been done. I think that the key is to create collaborative lessons in a slow progression, one or two a year and build on them each year.<br />
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Collaborative learning also takes time to train the students how to work in a group setting, modeling your expectations so that they know what a well functioning group looks like. This is something that I have witnessed in many classrooms, students are grouped to work on an assignment but they are not really told what the expectations are for the group. In this situation you will usually have one person that takes control, one that argues with everything the leader says, one or two that look totally frustrated by the bickering and one that just sits back and takes a free ride. <br />
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I found an excellent article on the ISTE web site about reinventing your classroom. It has stories from teachers that have made the move to project based learning. <a href="http://www.iste.org/images/excerpts/REINVT-excerpt.pdf">http://www.iste.org/images/excerpts/REINVT-excerpt.pdf</a><br />
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I also found a web site that has tutorial videos about implementing project based learning into your curriculum. There is a ton of information on this site that I found useful. <a href="http://www.bie.org/">http://www.bie.org/</a><br />
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Here is one of the videos from the site that I found interesting.<br />
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video from The Buck Institute for Education, problem based learning page http://www.bie.org/Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-85429947865181394112011-05-18T09:06:00.000-07:002011-06-16T04:19:48.597-07:00Video Games in the ClassroomVideo games in the classroom<br />
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I have had a hard time trying to choose a video game that could be used in the classroom. Not because I don’t see any value in them but because there are so many and so many possibilities that it is hard to choose just one.<br />
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If you were to use Farmville you could teach geometry concepts. You have to be able to use spatial concepts to figure out how to arrange everything on your farm for the maximum use of land. You have to plan where you are placing items to be able to access them as well. If you have corner plots that are blocked from view they are difficult to plant and harvest which may cost you revenue. Also with the trees you have to think about where they will be placed as to not block access to the land around them. <br />
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The game Angry Birds you have to think about angles and trajectories. This is a game that kids will keep working with until they get it figured out. If you gave them a worksheet with the same idea they would give up quickly, but in the video game format they will keep trying until they succeed. You can then take some of these concepts and have them build some of the structures out of blocks and test how stable they are and what they need to change to improve their structural integrity. There are many geometry and physics concepts in most video games. Even in a simple pool game you have to problem solve and use angles and force and motion ideas to be successful.<br />
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I have found through Rice University a Crime Scene Investigation simulation game that has some really awesome components. You can compare DNA samples, look at bullet fragments and match them, you can observe a animated autopsy and have each step explained. They give you facts and evidence from a crime and you have to walk through each step of the investigation to solve the crime. <a href="http://forensics.rice.edu/">http://forensics.rice.edu/</a> Check it out !! It has the characters from CSI: Nevada. I had a whole summer science program built around this web site. We were going to start with the web adventure and then have speakers from local law enforcement talk to them about crime scene investigation. Then I was going to set up a mock crime scene and have them use all the concepts that they learned from the web adventure and the speakers and short mini lessons to solve the crime. I was going to have them do finger printing, hair sample analysis, foot print casting, fiber analysis and interview suspects. Unfortunately this did not happen because I was denied my grant and the school couldn’t afford to fund the program. I still have all the plans so maybe sometime in the future it still may come to be.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_ffST9qInl8lrkfnCfBobY1Cv-JcKZbTc4GZiwl5VJf1AzlwztxKrOi58kgOqNNZ-iyCekNiNtUULpx9P0i39c1hsIu_6D7sgr39Y_9QC5hJYDq3qbJCAAfmK3OJLiSuTLFfTFvLtV1x/s1600/case_one.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju_ffST9qInl8lrkfnCfBobY1Cv-JcKZbTc4GZiwl5VJf1AzlwztxKrOi58kgOqNNZ-iyCekNiNtUULpx9P0i39c1hsIu_6D7sgr39Y_9QC5hJYDq3qbJCAAfmK3OJLiSuTLFfTFvLtV1x/s320/case_one.png" width="291" /></a></div><br />
There are so many choices where you can take your students on web adventures or have them learn specific concepts through video games. Even just the problem solving and critical thinking skills that it takes to be successful in these games can be built upon in the classroom. This is something that is being talked about more all the time. We discussed this concept in my Visual Literacy class last semester, Dr. Z was telling me about someone doing their research on this idea and I found several articles on the topic as well. I think it will be a fun addition to the classroom and for some kids will really get them excited about learning. I believe if you really tried you could find many games that would teach a concept that kids can relate to and then take it away with them and apply that concept to a real world situation. It will take thought and planning, not just random games with the claim of educational value, but could be a great addition to your curriculum.<br />
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Image from Rice University CSI web site, <a href="http://forensics.rice.edu/">http://forensics.rice.edu/</a>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-87673564505447081172011-05-02T08:38:00.000-07:002011-05-02T08:38:30.103-07:00Visual Symbols in My LifeThere are so many symbols that we see every day that it is hard to isolate a few to add here. But right now is such a busy time for me. All my classwork for the semester is due today, I have many end of the year things going on at school and am trying to get summer school set up and scheduled for the elementary and high school kids at Janesville, I start my new courses next week, I am in my usual spring mode of applying for jobs, planning a trip to Florida in June, helping to plan my daughters wedding in July, and just the everyday things that a person has to do. I am sure my husband is wishing I was doing more of the everyday things this week, we may be getting kind of hungry soon if one of us does not find time to go to the grocery store. I don't mean to sound like I am complaining it is just the time of year, so many things to do and they always all come at once. That is why my first two symbols are a calendar and a clock.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYuObDxE4pg5WKSiHNAjyNKRY0HFBMoy6n0-fVQD13ckM8v2TZSaEk52DTApLPGn0oox6rhkGS2CEJVTQX2WgmX31xh6hyphenhyphenM7TeqWk-ysM7OtYgxH92hTJBSw69-8t-Ql3cvoDiwLBNYaK/s1600/823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAYuObDxE4pg5WKSiHNAjyNKRY0HFBMoy6n0-fVQD13ckM8v2TZSaEk52DTApLPGn0oox6rhkGS2CEJVTQX2WgmX31xh6hyphenhyphenM7TeqWk-ysM7OtYgxH92hTJBSw69-8t-Ql3cvoDiwLBNYaK/s320/823.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF5eGhzrS5S_19hl6HKYBLEUH3M_j_QtV5Uus4Bpo98_C53O78IwbRBvC0eTJbc1Gm23t_kP7fr3jeaF5jKZVcPO_3yeZeop7V6Cp5yotTu7Ew01F2-Y5bj9PjmKTPc4-7evQbo4fRXUj/s1600/822.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnF5eGhzrS5S_19hl6HKYBLEUH3M_j_QtV5Uus4Bpo98_C53O78IwbRBvC0eTJbc1Gm23t_kP7fr3jeaF5jKZVcPO_3yeZeop7V6Cp5yotTu7Ew01F2-Y5bj9PjmKTPc4-7evQbo4fRXUj/s320/822.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Over the past couple of weeks about the only thing that I have really identified with as a visual symbol is:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZh9h6jySvgzvUXx7LKTrbzUuulzyEm45r_WhOC3Lmbz15k5GyL-Xw5LfoHZmMgkZEBv3btJ0grW2Pq9BDp2XLSsc_vqdEClE2dnpcbe1poptbxfyxbXw6e-cTo7_k8sKccgOUqOD-9K0/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOZh9h6jySvgzvUXx7LKTrbzUuulzyEm45r_WhOC3Lmbz15k5GyL-Xw5LfoHZmMgkZEBv3btJ0grW2Pq9BDp2XLSsc_vqdEClE2dnpcbe1poptbxfyxbXw6e-cTo7_k8sKccgOUqOD-9K0/s320/001.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I have been fueled with Diet Coke and chocolate, I have my computer on and my phone closeby almost all the time, I visit the IAREAP web site on a daily basis and when not teaching, I am surrounded by text books and articles and have been working on building two web sites. One for my library course and one for the new preschool in Waverly.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUALO_I9Rq6qNK6yIDb45pdJD1Fu4J80pS8ZinCKZxu6t8mzXxXqvL52fHo0Q3dxPu-bSEiCtMdFPJxd4K7h8KJviAAhFE10KYx-Ix35Iis0A_v0WjJagrP7sPBIpk-w6OfE5bXK5rItxD/s1600/FinalLOGO.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="107" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUALO_I9Rq6qNK6yIDb45pdJD1Fu4J80pS8ZinCKZxu6t8mzXxXqvL52fHo0Q3dxPu-bSEiCtMdFPJxd4K7h8KJviAAhFE10KYx-Ix35Iis0A_v0WjJagrP7sPBIpk-w6OfE5bXK5rItxD/s320/FinalLOGO.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>I am winding down this semester and getting ready for the next, only a one week break.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySDTLKRC4vUI3_pvg6FOBNUmh7dCSNrhq5Dt9DkNowuDSUIigUNuOa1GobLeeyrPwruCqQMZK_U9sLZxEkupIMn1cEjCLgBY1o9c9_Tzp3vkjg_OOwNrs2LJVqAYujaGXVMfQ5EsCrIBJ/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhySDTLKRC4vUI3_pvg6FOBNUmh7dCSNrhq5Dt9DkNowuDSUIigUNuOa1GobLeeyrPwruCqQMZK_U9sLZxEkupIMn1cEjCLgBY1o9c9_Tzp3vkjg_OOwNrs2LJVqAYujaGXVMfQ5EsCrIBJ/s320/004.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I am hoping that my yearly quest for employment will come to an end this year by finding a position that I can stay with for the long haul, one that doesn't end up on the chopping block, one that is an awesome fit for my background and experience.<br />
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This course has taught me a great deal about visual literacy and I have enjoyed coming to class and participating in the discussion. Always an enlightening experience. The video clips from our favorite movies last week were a lot of fun and I now have a list of must see movies if I find some free time this summer. I have watched more YouTube videos this semester than I have at any other time in my life and I have had some good laughs from many of them. <br />
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I love being in the classroom both as a student as a teacher and this has been a great start on my journy to a masters degree. I look forward to what comes next.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-80431471895501064202011-04-27T08:31:00.000-07:002011-04-27T08:31:16.289-07:00A moving sight!I debated for a few days if I should add this to my blog. The video below was taken by someone in the funeral procession for Spc. Don Nichols. The support from the community was an awesome sight. It is an emotional experience to watch the video even though it is very poor quality. I did not personally know this young solider and most of the people lining the streets did not either, but their pride in the people who serve our country and the support that was offered to this family was amazing. I can not even imagine what they were feeling as they rode through these communities and saw all the people lining the streets with flags. This is a visual image that will not soon be forgotten but hopefully not soon repeated.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/KMbkaQTm6bY" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-63771658822878784122011-04-19T07:44:00.000-07:002011-04-19T07:44:39.366-07:00PSA from my childhood Aha moment<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/U3jgo5ea_zc" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
Watching the PSA's in class last night made me think of the ones I saw when I was a kid. This is the one I remember most. They were very corny but the tunes stuck in your head.<br />
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This one is a little disturbing. The pot of boiling water should scare any kid out of the kitchen.<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/rN4eRQLvu6c" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe>There are several from the 70's about the constitution. They talk about different aspects of the document but all end with the tag line, "The Constitution is for everyone, even kids."<br />
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There were a lotof PSA's in the seventies that were geared toward kids. There was even the hour long After School Specials that were basically PSA's that told a story. Usually about topics like stranger danger, bullying, peer pressure, drugs and teenage drinking. They must have been somewhat effective since I remember most of them and I watched them over 30 years ago. OK now I feel old. <br />
The youth oriented PSA's of my time were not as in your face as the ones that we watched last night, like the ones for crack and texting while driving. Maybe that is what is needed now to make people listen but I think I like the ones above better. I know I drove home last night singing, "grab yourself a hunk-a, a slab or slice or chunk-a, grab yourself a hunk of cheese!!"Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5809568797254167437.post-28482433504949833112011-04-14T14:00:00.000-07:002011-04-14T14:00:46.561-07:00<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/e-rLANzLP7c" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe>you want to watch something silly you have to watch Shaun the Sheep. He is awesome<br />
I love cartoons and this one is one of my current favorites. It is completely clean and child safe, I first saw it on the Disney channel and my four year old loves it, even if she doesn't get all the humor.<br />
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I also love old Bugs Bunny cartoons, they are so politically incorrect that they are funny. This one is one of my all time favorites.<br />
I looked forward to watching cartoons on Saturday mornings when I was a kid. Now they say all the ones I watched are too violent. But when I watch cartoons with my daughter now they are awful. They are not funny, they aren't fun in any way and they have way too adult themes to them. Why do they insist on making cartoons that are for teenagers instead of for little kids.<br />
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This one is very teenaged themed and is is on during the time that is slotted for little kids. The creators of kids shows need to do a better job of making kid approriate programming. That is why I really try to keep Amelia on PBS. This one is surprisingly from Disney.Catoons are a great stress reliever, that is what got me watching them today and I thought I would share them with all of you.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11246099950751737835noreply@blogger.com0