If you could show off one of the ways you've used technology in your classroom, which one would it be? - Classroom 2.02024-03-28T12:27:19Zhttps://www.classroom20.com/forum/topics/if-you-could-show-off-one-of?commentId=649749%3AComment%3A284915&feed=yes&xn_auth=noI teach a 6th Grade Computer…tag:www.classroom20.com,2011-01-01:649749:Comment:5789632011-01-01T04:12:55.697ZDavid Deanhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/DavidDean
<p>I teach a 6th Grade Computer & Technology Integration class. I have 150 6th Graders every semester. The last 4 weeks, we have a huge class project I call the "Rap It Up Project" This is a cumulative project covering many of the topics and tasks we learned in class. I have developed this project to both cross the curriculum AND cover some things we have done in class. </p>
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<p>Students get into fake "Rap Groups" of 3 to 4 students. Over the next 4 weeks, as a group, they…</p>
<p>I teach a 6th Grade Computer & Technology Integration class. I have 150 6th Graders every semester. The last 4 weeks, we have a huge class project I call the "Rap It Up Project" This is a cumulative project covering many of the topics and tasks we learned in class. I have developed this project to both cross the curriculum AND cover some things we have done in class. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Students get into fake "Rap Groups" of 3 to 4 students. Over the next 4 weeks, as a group, they must:</p>
<ul>
<li>Come up with their own "stage names" and rap group name</li>
<li>Hand write an original school related rap song from a list of topics I created</li>
<li>Type the final version of their song in WORD following strict formatting rules</li>
<li>Choose 7 cities to visit on their Concert Tour and map out their Tour Route on a Blank US Map</li>
<li>Map out and print directions of the Concert Tour using <a href="http://www.mapquest.com" target="_blank">www.mapquest.com</a></li>
<li>Create a logo to represent their group on <a href="http://www.logomaker.com" target="_blank">www.logomaker.com</a></li>
<li>Create a group budget with formulas to track expenditures on the Rap Tour in EXCEL</li>
<li>"Book" hotels in each Tour City or actually research hotel costs on <a href="http://www.priceline.com" target="_blank">www.priceline.com</a>, then take screenshots they paste in WORD as proof of the hotel prices. These prices are then entered into the EXCEL Budget.</li>
<li>Type a fictional journal entry in WORD detailing their adventures in 2 of their Tour Cities.</li>
<li>Hand Draw Concert T Shirt Designs based on the Logo they created on <a href="http://www.logomaker.com" target="_blank">www.logomaker.com</a></li>
<li>Finally, groups record their Original Rap Songs using AUDACITY. They record their songs to instrumental beats I purchased. </li>
<li>Each group must then present their work to the class the last few days of the semester. </li>
</ul>
<p> </p>
<p>There are many steps I have left out, but this group project does a great job (IMO) crossing the curriculum and mixing some old and new online resources. I have students who are now Juniors in High School come back to me still asking if I do this project and they can still rap their songs. Pretty awesome.</p>
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<p> </p> Shakespeak definitely :) Make…tag:www.classroom20.com,2010-12-30:649749:Comment:5788192010-12-30T14:43:39.039ZRoberthttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/Robert751
Shakespeak definitely :) Make your PowerPoint interactive: check <a href="http://www.shakespeak.com" target="_blank">www.shakespeak.com</a><br />
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It takes a free [<20 people] download and you can add open or closed questions. During the actual presentation you ask your students to react by mobile phone using TXT, [mobile] Internet or Twitter. Reactions come in real time [but can be filtered] and are immediately shown on the screen.
Shakespeak definitely :) Make your PowerPoint interactive: check <a href="http://www.shakespeak.com" target="_blank">www.shakespeak.com</a><br />
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It takes a free [<20 people] download and you can add open or closed questions. During the actual presentation you ask your students to react by mobile phone using TXT, [mobile] Internet or Twitter. Reactions come in real time [but can be filtered] and are immediately shown on the screen. Last year, with 4th Grade we…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-09-08:649749:Comment:3802272009-09-08T04:26:29.924ZJonathan Wyliehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/JonathanWylie
Last year, with 4th Grade we read about the great Yellowstone National Park fire. In small groups I got the students to script a news report with two studio anchors, a roving reporter and two witnesses for the reporter to talk to. We filmed the news report in scenes, and compiled it in iMovie - complete with a PowerPoint designed intro credits, on screen names as subtitles for the anchors and reporter, and used a stock garage band tune for a news jingle intro and outro credits. Hard work, but…
Last year, with 4th Grade we read about the great Yellowstone National Park fire. In small groups I got the students to script a news report with two studio anchors, a roving reporter and two witnesses for the reporter to talk to. We filmed the news report in scenes, and compiled it in iMovie - complete with a PowerPoint designed intro credits, on screen names as subtitles for the anchors and reporter, and used a stock garage band tune for a news jingle intro and outro credits. Hard work, but worthwhile. They came out really well.<br />
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This year, I have not had the chance to do much yet. I started a class website this year, <a href="http://www.mrwylie.com" target="_blank">www.mrwylie.com</a>, so hopefully that will lead to new things. I also began compiling useful tech tools to use in education on my new blog at <a href="http://www.educationtechnologyblog.com" target="_blank">www.educationtechnologyblog.com</a><br />
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Not sure what I would teach the faculty, given the chance, so I will think on that. If you have a staff at varying degrees of technical comfort, you would have to choose something that all could use or benefit from. Maybe digital camera techniques/uses. I think ours are underused, but I could be wrong, and everyone, regardless of grade level could do something with them. There's a fine line between k…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-09-08:649749:Comment:3802132009-09-08T03:12:48.739ZRob Theriaulthttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/RobTheriault
There's a fine line between keener and weiner and I tend to walk that line frequently. I've experimented with a lot of technologies and have learned a great deal from other teachers. Thankfully the folks at the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Georgian College keep me grounded in pedagogy....in any case, you can see some of the things I do on my blog, <a href="http://paramedictutor.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Paramedic Tutor</a> under the eLearner and eEducator tabs. e.g. Webacasting,…
There's a fine line between keener and weiner and I tend to walk that line frequently. I've experimented with a lot of technologies and have learned a great deal from other teachers. Thankfully the folks at the Centre for Teaching and Learning at Georgian College keep me grounded in pedagogy....in any case, you can see some of the things I do on my blog, <a href="http://paramedictutor.wordpress.com" target="_blank">Paramedic Tutor</a> under the eLearner and eEducator tabs. e.g. Webacasting, screencasting, podcasting, wikis, etc. I would unconditionally intro…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-08-10:649749:Comment:3717622009-08-10T20:40:46.265ZAnthony VonBankhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/AnthonyVonBank
I would unconditionally introduce them to Google Apps, particualrly the Google Docs. I can't tell you how much this has changed the way I think about theaching, and how amazed co-workers are with what it can do, and the relative ease of use.<br />
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I have been documenting my use of Google Apps on my <a href="teachingwithgoogledocs.blogspot.com" target="_blank">blog</a>:
I would unconditionally introduce them to Google Apps, particualrly the Google Docs. I can't tell you how much this has changed the way I think about theaching, and how amazed co-workers are with what it can do, and the relative ease of use.<br />
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I have been documenting my use of Google Apps on my <a href="teachingwithgoogledocs.blogspot.com" target="_blank">blog</a>: Wow. I am impressed!
I am jus…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-08-10:649749:Comment:3716022009-08-10T04:26:46.010ZNicole Dennyhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/NicoleDenny
Wow. I am impressed!<br />
I am just starting out at a teacher credential program and our EDU422 class (Tech for Teaching) has used quite a few online tools, it is amazing what we can do now to enhance teaching and not have students falling a sleep because they are bored to death with the subject material.<br />
Thanks for sharing your tech applications.
Wow. I am impressed!<br />
I am just starting out at a teacher credential program and our EDU422 class (Tech for Teaching) has used quite a few online tools, it is amazing what we can do now to enhance teaching and not have students falling a sleep because they are bored to death with the subject material.<br />
Thanks for sharing your tech applications. You can try parentella.com as…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-07-08:649749:Comment:3614332009-07-08T15:24:52.370ZAparna Vashishthttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/AparnaVashisht
You can try parentella.com as well.<br />
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<a href="http://www.parentella.com">www.parentella.com</a><br />
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un: Mr. Pencil<br />
pw: demo<br />
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The above is a teacher account. If you'd like to see how a teacher's posts look like for parents, you can log in as a parent.<br />
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Parent demo account:<br />
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un: Judy Jetson<br />
pw: demo<br />
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Only parents who are in the group will see the information. You can post documents, homework, pictures, etc.
You can try parentella.com as well.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.parentella.com">www.parentella.com</a><br />
<br />
un: Mr. Pencil<br />
pw: demo<br />
<br />
The above is a teacher account. If you'd like to see how a teacher's posts look like for parents, you can log in as a parent.<br />
<br />
Parent demo account:<br />
<br />
un: Judy Jetson<br />
pw: demo<br />
<br />
Only parents who are in the group will see the information. You can post documents, homework, pictures, etc. For Mark: You can also use th…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-07-05:649749:Comment:3599752009-07-05T13:06:10.958ZAmy Capellehttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/2of3rs
For Mark: You can also use the web browser Opera to save responses in the Notes features. It allows you to double-click comments into any field you can type in on the web. Wouldn't help for word docs, but it would work with Google Docs or wikis and blogs.<br />
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To respond to Chris' link... Personally, I'm a big fan of combining project-based learning with Web 2.0 tools. I use tools more for cooperative group activities rather than individual student posting sites. I started by having a class blog…
For Mark: You can also use the web browser Opera to save responses in the Notes features. It allows you to double-click comments into any field you can type in on the web. Wouldn't help for word docs, but it would work with Google Docs or wikis and blogs.<br />
<br />
To respond to Chris' link... Personally, I'm a big fan of combining project-based learning with Web 2.0 tools. I use tools more for cooperative group activities rather than individual student posting sites. I started by having a class blog and individual student blogs, but the collaborative part didn't work as well when they all had individual sites. Collaboration can happen in the classroom as well as within the tech tool. The tools can be used to change how we're teaching as well as a handy place to post work. Mark, I will never be grading…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-06-29:649749:Comment:3585042009-06-29T23:18:46.426ZNancy Boschhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/nbosch
Mark, I will never be grading essays like you do but this seems like a brilliant idea!!
Mark, I will never be grading essays like you do but this seems like a brilliant idea!! Very cool stuff, Chris, and w…tag:www.classroom20.com,2009-06-29:649749:Comment:3584872009-06-29T22:19:03.794ZMark Penningtonhttps://www.classroom20.com/profile/MarkPennington
Very cool stuff, Chris, and wonderful ideas by others, as well. I have one strategy. It's not very sexy, but students benefit and it is a real time-saver. I used the Microsoft Word "Replace" function to program in eighty or so canned responses with a quick teaching tool to place in bubble comments on students' word processing docs. They really read these comments, as they have to respond/revise accordingly. Of course, I also add on personalized comments. But this is a time-saver and effective.…
Very cool stuff, Chris, and wonderful ideas by others, as well. I have one strategy. It's not very sexy, but students benefit and it is a real time-saver. I used the Microsoft Word "Replace" function to program in eighty or so canned responses with a quick teaching tool to place in bubble comments on students' word processing docs. They really read these comments, as they have to respond/revise accordingly. Of course, I also add on personalized comments. But this is a time-saver and effective. See if it works for you. <a href="http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/grammar_mechanics/how-to-save-time-grading-essays/">http://penningtonpublishing.com/blog/grammar_mechanics/how-to-save-time-grading-essays/</a>