tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-359365752024-03-14T01:39:02.772-04:00Learning and Teaching in the 21st CenturyPLEASE JOIN ME AT http://teachinginadigitalworld.blogspot.com/ WHERE I AM NOW BLOGGING...
This blog is a series of technology tips for educators. These tips provide ideas for learning, teaching, and using digital skills. The content varies so that the tips can be designed for you ... new teacher or experienced, technophobe or “cutting edge”… or somewhere in the middle. I hope you enjoy reading these tips and, especially, that you find some new, useful ideas. I would love to hear your ideas!Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-70343548633657846072012-08-22T10:37:00.003-04:002012-08-22T10:37:58.831-04:00Getting Ready to Start Up AgainWe continue to find ways to weave technology into our lives... including
the teaching and learning process. I enjoy exploring and sharing some
of that technology. It is time to share again.<br />
<br />
I have missed blogging on
a regular basis and am looking forward to starting again! You can find me at <a href="http://teachinginadigitalworld.blogspot.com/">http://teachinginadigitalworld.blogspot.com</a> where I now blog.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2wSxCIDjeow/UDTuVg1H5uI/AAAAAAAAAU0/4bwJdgUiJGg/s1600/Blue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2wSxCIDjeow/UDTuVg1H5uI/AAAAAAAAAU0/4bwJdgUiJGg/s320/Blue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>a friendly helper when I'm working at my computer</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-15150246244081590812009-10-06T00:48:00.006-04:002009-10-06T01:13:56.055-04:00Tips for Teaching with Media<span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SsrQ8bla4RI/AAAAAAAAAPI/RXEN8-kzE9o/s1600-h/BlogWordle.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 309px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SsrQ8bla4RI/AAAAAAAAAPI/RXEN8-kzE9o/s400/BlogWordle.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389349640717656338" border="0" /></a></span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><i style="font-family: verdana;"><!-- <img style="float:right; padding-right: 10px;" src="/enews/global/right_quote_big.jpg" width="50" height="41" /> --></i></span><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.edutopia.org/">Edutopia</a> has published a very good resource, <a style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;" href="http://www.edutopia.org/ten-top-tips-last-chance">Ten Top Tips for Teaching with New Media</a>. The technology suggestions are good, but what makes the publication most helpful are the specific suggestions for using the technology with your students.</span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Use <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://voicethread.com/">VoiceThread</a> to establish the idea of collaborative, productive activities early in the school year. Teach students how to use a start page such as <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.google.com/ig">iGoogle</a> that they can access anywhere there is Internet accessibility and that will enable the</span><span style="font-size:100%;">m to have their productivity tools available. Show students how to use <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.wordle.net/">Wordle</a> to analyze their own writing. (The image posted in this blog is a Wordle of the blog's text.)<br /></span></p><p style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;">The suggestions continue. <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/ten-top-tips-last-chance">Download this PDF</a> and see which ideas will work well in your classroom.<br /></span></p>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-6987512662942545542009-10-06T00:39:00.004-04:002009-10-06T00:47:21.234-04:00Photography Resolution Amended<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SsrKT3P_QtI/AAAAAAAAAO4/CzAIjCRCNi8/s1600-h/Bunny.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SsrKT3P_QtI/AAAAAAAAAO4/CzAIjCRCNi8/s320/Bunny.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389342346699555538" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">St. Francis of Assisi is considered by some to be the patron saint of animals. His special day in the church calendar is October 4. In our church we have a special blessing of our pets on that day. This friendly bunny was one of the pets blessed in our service this past Sunday (October 4).</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-69277962503365690212009-09-30T02:17:00.003-04:002009-09-30T02:20:19.163-04:00Photography Resolution Amended<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SsL4KXkrBSI/AAAAAAAAAOw/ycI8v1Vm1oY/s1600-h/MuseumStore.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SsL4KXkrBSI/AAAAAAAAAOw/ycI8v1Vm1oY/s320/MuseumStore.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387140961298744610" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No... I'm not confused about what season it is. I was at a museum that displays many of their items to sell... regardless of the season!</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-35756595730777918952009-09-30T01:25:00.003-04:002009-09-30T02:15:59.416-04:00Be Creative with Your Photos<object height="312" width="420"><param name="movie" value="http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/viewer_v2_embed.swf?scrapblogId=2222963&showShareButton=true&showShareInitially=true&showOnlyShare=false&partnerId=1"><embed src="http://www.scrapblog.com/viewer/viewer_v2_embed.swf?scrapblogId=2222963&showShareButton=true&showShareInitially=true&showOnlyShare=false&partnerId=1" height="312" width="420"></embed></object><br />I found an interesting way of telling a story... or illustrating a story... or several other fun ways to share information with text and photos. It's called <span style="font-weight: bold;">scrapblog</span> (<a href="http://www.scrapblog.com/">http://www.scrapblog.com/</a>). Their blog describes the product well...<br /><blockquote><em>Scrapblog</em> is a free, web-based service for creating and sharing digital scrapbooks.</blockquote>There are templates to help you start with simple contextual sets of instructions as you go through the building process. You can watch videos, too.<br /><br />You get to play with photos, stickers, backgrounds, text and balloons, shapes, video, and frames. I used only the free ones, but some of the others were certainly tempting. After making choices of photos or stickers or shapes or whatever you can change your mind and revise your scrapbook. You are not locked into your choices.<br /><br />I found many articles about the company and the product on the web... and they all seem to be positive.<br /><br />An online scrapbook would be an interesting way to summarize and then publicize a field trip or a school year. A digital scrapbook would be a great way to invite parents to an open house or a school play. Whether you and your students are into scrapbooking or digital storytelling or just having fun with photos and video and audio, this application is worth investigating.Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-84478151509802190922009-09-21T01:15:00.004-04:002009-09-21T01:28:51.962-04:00Photography Resolution Amended<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SrcN08tzvCI/AAAAAAAAAOg/yLllCaNQiiI/s1600-h/Pantry.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 186px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SrcN08tzvCI/AAAAAAAAAOg/yLllCaNQiiI/s320/Pantry.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383787082847337506" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My daily photo resolution has turned into a weekly photo resolution. Maybe I'll do the daily photo next year. :) This photo shows a restaurant which has played an important role in the history of its town.</span><br /></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-46815949853345234492009-09-21T01:03:00.007-04:002009-09-21T01:36:06.895-04:00Access Music and Sound Clips for Multimedia Projects<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SrcQfu-drTI/AAAAAAAAAOo/8v-cfVgW0fY/s1600-h/musicbear.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 211px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SrcQfu-drTI/AAAAAAAAAOo/8v-cfVgW0fY/s320/musicbear.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5383790016916729138" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">I have checked several options for finding sound files to legally use with multimedia projects... without much success. </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >SoundSnap</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> (</span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.soundsnap.com/">http://www.soundsnap.com/</a><span style="font-family:arial;">) looks like it might be the answer. It has 100,000 sound effects and music loops... and was visited by more than 3,000,000 people last year.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I like the fact that </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >SoundSnap</span><span style="font-family:arial;"> is an online platform, so I don't have to download an application. If you consider using </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >SoundSnap</span><span style="font-family:arial;">, be sure to check the terms of use with respect to age. This is an application for teachers and students 18 or older.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">You must create an account to use </span><span style="font-weight: bold;font-family:arial;" >SoundSnap</span><span style="font-family:arial;">. With the free account you can download up to five clips each month. There is a charge to download more; however, special rates are available for educators.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">The sound files are organized in categories: animals, comic and film, exteriors, house, human, industry and machines, interiors, multimedia, music loops, music samples, nature, science fiction, sound art, sports, transport, and unreal ambiances. You can also find sounds you want to use through a search feature.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As I've tried other sources of sounds and music, I've found it challenging to find sounds and music that I like. Maybe it's my taste! But, it's been frustrating. I like what I'm finding at SoundSnap.<br /><br />Check this music: <a href="http://www.box.net/shared/yrj0mfz0ka">click here</a>!<br /></span></span><br /><div style="font-family: arial;" cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" about="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shankarmenon/2368346202/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a rel="cc:attributionURL" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/shankarmenon/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/shankarmenon/</a> / <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY 2.0</a></span></div>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-63821980201645013172009-09-14T02:39:00.003-04:002009-09-14T02:49:12.078-04:00Finding New Web 2.0 Websites<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: verdana;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/Sq3nGyqxIvI/AAAAAAAAAOY/qiBEjWVMUG8/s1600-h/PaperClips.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 295px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/Sq3nGyqxIvI/AAAAAAAAAOY/qiBEjWVMUG8/s320/PaperClips.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381211233643995890" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">I love shopping in office supplies stores. It's fun to find colorful, useful tools to use when working. Nowadays we often do our shopping online... and some of my new "tools" are web 2.0 websites. I have favorites (and I may list them in a future post), but I always enjoy checking out new sites.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family: verdana;">If you, too, enjoy looking for new tools, you may find </span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.go2web20.net/">Web 2.0 Tools and Applications</a><span style="font-family: verdana;"> a fun... and useful... place to explore.</span><br /><br /><br /></span><div style="font-family: verdana;" cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" about="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toofarnorth/9984261/"><span style="font-size:85%;"><a rel="cc:attributionURL" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/toofarnorth/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/toofarnorth/</a> / <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY 2.0</a></span></div>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-58910680658476987622009-09-14T02:34:00.005-04:002009-09-14T02:38:53.437-04:00Photography Resolution Amended<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/Sq3kYfeQHcI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/ro6n5SYBIhs/s1600-h/Horses.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 227px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/Sq3kYfeQHcI/AAAAAAAAAOQ/ro6n5SYBIhs/s320/Horses.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5381208239193988546" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />I couldn't resist taking a photo of these two horses who were enjoying a Sunday afternoon as we were on a Sunday drive. They stood as still as statues except when you saw a tail swing at some insects!</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-71725478078042515572009-09-07T00:40:00.004-04:002009-09-07T01:03:42.013-04:00Prepare for Constitution Day<a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_Day_%28United_States%29">Constitution Day</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">is celebrated in the USA on September 17. If you're looking for useful materials about the Constitution, you will be pleased to know that </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/">TeachersFirst</a><span style="font-family: arial;"> has reviewed a very good site which provides Constitution resources for educators. You'll find lesson plans and activities in the links for teachers and students of all grade levels.</span><br /><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:100%;" class="italics" >This site was created by the National Constitution Center, so it should be accurate and filled with good ideas! You'll find realtime and virtual activities, free materials and others that you can buy, games, lesson plans, and podcasts.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span class="italics"><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Check out this site at </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=10246">http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=10246</a></span><br /><br /></span><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SqSTA9SMG6I/AAAAAAAAAOI/h6QqFMygeFw/s1600-h/ConstitutionCenter.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SqSTA9SMG6I/AAAAAAAAAOI/h6QqFMygeFw/s320/ConstitutionCenter.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378585499647351714" border="0" /></a><br /><span class="italics"><br /></span><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><div cc="http://creativecommons.org/ns#" about="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fl/7258352/"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;">Constitution Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;font-size:85%;" ><a rel="cc:attributionURL" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/fl/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/fl/</a> / <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">CC BY 2.0</a></span></div>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-72347671138460634532009-09-06T23:12:00.003-04:002009-09-06T23:20:38.293-04:00Fields Still Amaze Me<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SqR6veKFtPI/AAAAAAAAAN4/_L4mG577OCM/s1600-h/Fields.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SqR6veKFtPI/AAAAAAAAAN4/_L4mG577OCM/s320/Fields.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5378558810955035890" border="0" /></a>I grew up in the city. So, large fields that seem to stretch on and on still amaze me. I haven't figured out yet what this particular crop is. It seems to have lots of little white blossoms. I didn't do anything to adjust the photo. It was just a bright sunny day and great for taking pictures.<br /><br />One thing I've noticed as I've started taking photos again... I'm not going to be taking photos everyday for the remainder of the year as I started back in January. That was fun, but I have too many other projects going on to do that at the moment. So, for now, it's once a week.Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-48028105528122914152009-08-31T22:26:00.005-04:002009-08-31T22:54:01.329-04:00Returning...<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="font-family: arial;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SpyJmVyBlZI/AAAAAAAAANw/oRCoXQ94p34/s1600-h/SunlitTree.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 210px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SpyJmVyBlZI/AAAAAAAAANw/oRCoXQ94p34/s320/SunlitTree.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5376323346948527506" border="0" /></a><span style="font-family:arial;">Hello! I've been looking forward to returning to writing, sharing, and taking pictures. The time away has been busy with teaching workshops and working on a variety of projects.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Fall semester started today and I met with my first class. We're beginning the semester by learning how to use </span><a style="font-family: arial;" href="http://www.inspiration.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inspiration</span></a><span style="font-family:arial;"> in the classroom. It's a great product... and one that's useful for just about any grade level and any subject.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">After class Phil and I drove around the area looking for interesting subjects to capture with a camera. We both took turns with the camera. He took some great shots of red barns. My favorite of the photos I took was this tree. I think you can see how the sunlight made it sparkle!</span> </span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-71912960775633643562009-06-07T22:02:00.015-04:002009-07-23T21:59:30.073-04:00Where in the World is...<span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:arial;">Just a short note to my friends...</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I'm in the midst of a six-month hiatus and will return before the end of August. I will be back with more ideas for using technology to help our students learn!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">Jo</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-81180807637189073712009-02-23T01:17:00.006-05:002009-02-23T01:44:08.239-05:00Classroom Management and Project-Based Learning<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SaJFXTpvqMI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Zcw4X0Zi-Rc/s1600-h/kids.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 215px; height: 161px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SaJFXTpvqMI/AAAAAAAAAMk/Zcw4X0Zi-Rc/s320/kids.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5305879577710536898" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">A very useful article about classroom project management at <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/">Edutopia.org</a> led me to an exciting fourth-grade web site. Terry Smith is the teacher of a class at Eugene Field Elementary in Hannibal, Missouri USA.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/project-learning-classroom-management">classroom management article</a> is well worth reading. The focus is on how you manage all the activity of both the students and you, the teacher, using techniques from industry, so that you can accomplish your goals. The techniques discussed do work. I can testify to that based on our use of them in the school district where I used to work. We used these ideas for everything from the classroom to the cafeteria, teachers to technology.<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">The article links to a <a href="http://www.smithclass.org/proj/projects.htm"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Learning With Projects</span> web page</a> for Terry Smith’s class. This page links to projects pasts and present. Projects include class blogs, wiki pages, Taiwan, video conferences, Internet chess, world problems, using the XO – OLPC, Landmark project, monsters on the net, Monarch butterflies, coral reef project, an international writing project, and many more. Global friends that the students have made while working on these projects live in Taiwan, UK, Japan, Pakistan, Canada, South Africa, and the State of Washington. The home page for the class this year can be found at <a href="http://www.smithclass.org/index.html">http://www.smithclass.org/index.html</a>. You must explore this page to truly see these students’ projects.</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote>“Kids use their thinking skills and communicate, plan, problem solve, create, and evaluate.”</blockquote></span><span style="font-family:verdana;">If you want your students to learn and to think on a higher level, look at these ideas. If you want to integrate technology in the curriculum that you teach, start here. But, don’t think that these ideas are limited to the fourth-grade. Similar ideas can be used at any grade level.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/gaelic-arts/234996346/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">http://flickr.com/photos/gaelic-arts/234996346/</span></a><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/chiaki/230579065/"></a><br />License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en</a></span> </span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-29410437336991496942009-02-15T17:24:00.002-05:002009-02-17T12:20:54.539-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 46<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZiW6J-9ChI/AAAAAAAAAMM/IQeO0Fj3o_k/s1600-h/Goodyear_Metro_Park_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZiW6J-9ChI/AAAAAAAAAMM/IQeO0Fj3o_k/s320/Goodyear_Metro_Park_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5303154487085304338" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Pathway into the woods.</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-31417934369282854952009-02-14T23:37:00.006-05:002009-02-15T00:09:55.980-05:00Journaling + Reflections + Technology = Thinking about Teaching<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZefUb10d6I/AAAAAAAAAME/LO3DmENU1V8/s1600-h/journal.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 243px; height: 320px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZefUb10d6I/AAAAAAAAAME/LO3DmENU1V8/s320/journal.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302882259671742370" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">An <a href="http://www.sdcoe.k12.ca.us/score/actbank/tjournal.htm">online resource for language arts</a> describes several different ways to use <span style="font-style: italic;">journaling</span> in the classroom.</span> </span><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Metacognitive Journal</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Double Entry Journal</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Reflective Journal</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Dialectical Journal</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Journal Activities</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Response Journal</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Learning Log</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Synthesis Journal</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Speculation About Effects Journal</span></span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">The site provides ideas from which we can choose appropriate strategies for our own classrooms. As I examined the various descriptions, I saw ideas close to what I do in my classroom.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">I ask my students to write <span style="font-style: italic;">reflections</span> about various topics that we discuss. Our reflections have three parts: (1) description of the topic, (2) how the student will use it in his/her classroom as a teacher, and (3) the pros and cons the student sees in using the described topic.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">In past semesters, these reflections were standalone assignments. Now, however, I ask the students to write these assignments in their <span style="font-style: italic;">blogs</span>. If I were teaching high school students, I might ask them to post their reflections in comments to a blog that I maintained.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Julie Reed and Christopher Koliba in <a href="http://www.uvm.edu/%7Edewey/reflection_manual/additional.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Facilitating Reflection: A Manual for Leaders and Educators</span></a> state that <blockquote>Journals are a written form of reflection in which students consider their service experience in light of specific issues, such as those contained in course content. Students can examine their thoughts and experiences through journals, and further the learning they have done in relation to the service.</blockquote> I’m asking my students to reflect before they use these ideas in the classroom. And, of course, I hope they also reflect afterwards!</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><blockquote>Before instructing students to complete journals, one must consider the learning objective that the journal is intended to meet.</blockquote> I hope that my students discuss the ideas they learn in class with others in addition to thinking about the ideas themselves. By posting their initial reflections in their blogs, they are opening a door for communication and discussion with other educators (and pre-educators) throughout the world. They are also learning to be transparent. And, hopefully, this experience will set the stage for their involvement in collaboration with other educators.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Melissa Kelly, in an <a href="http://712educators.about.com/cs/writingresources/a/journals.htm">article about journaling</a> for <a href="http://www.about.com/">About.com</a>, lists benefits of journaling, including</span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><blockquote><ul><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Sort out experiences, solve problems and consider varying perspectives.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Examine relationships with others and the world.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Reflect on personal values, goals, and ideals.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Summarize ideas, experience and opinions before and after instruction.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Witness his academic and personal growth by reading past entries.</span></span></li></ul></blockquote><span style="font-family:verdana;">I think that by writing the types of reflections that my students do in their blogs, they are learning about the topics, thinking about them before use, and doing so in an open manner that invites others to discuss the topics with them.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">This method of journaling is not confidential. However, it is a good start for students to learn how to think through ideas before trying them in the classroom. And being able to comment on their blogs allows others and myself to discuss these ideas with them. I like the extra benefits that technology adds to the journaling/reflections assignments.<br /></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Photo: </span></span></span><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/chrstphre/3141019947/"></a><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/chrstphre/3141019947/">http://flickr.com/photos/chrstphre/3141019947/</a><br />License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en</a></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-458464437178019972009-02-14T22:51:00.004-05:002009-02-17T15:27:27.480-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 45<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZeR9-C_noI/AAAAAAAAAL8/XFQ8SJNVJh4/s1600-h/Corn_Crib_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZeR9-C_noI/AAAAAAAAAL8/XFQ8SJNVJh4/s320/Corn_Crib_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302867580065652354" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Corn crib.</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-40289407975265729132009-02-13T19:24:00.002-05:002009-02-13T19:29:37.512-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 44<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZYQEbEkA8I/AAAAAAAAAL0/V-95lttcXHA/s1600-h/Tree_Drive_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 211px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZYQEbEkA8I/AAAAAAAAAL0/V-95lttcXHA/s320/Tree_Drive_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302443279447753666" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Tree-lined drive. As a photo this should be lighter. As a study in colors and patterns I like the darkness.</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-8257234364776636182009-02-12T23:40:00.002-05:002009-02-12T23:43:15.320-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 43<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZT6JmYzdGI/AAAAAAAAALs/_ED2-4HGqRw/s1600-h/Starbucks_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZT6JmYzdGI/AAAAAAAAALs/_ED2-4HGqRw/s320/Starbucks_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5302137704152265826" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Late night stop at Starbuck's</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-58518330406032015522009-02-11T20:59:00.002-05:002009-02-11T21:02:53.476-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 42<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZOC8kW3IwI/AAAAAAAAALk/jMMdX-Evl20/s1600-h/Malone_Drive_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZOC8kW3IwI/AAAAAAAAALk/jMMdX-Evl20/s320/Malone_Drive_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301725163408532226" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">An evening ride on the new drive on campus</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-43553002498347295792009-02-10T23:37:00.001-05:002009-02-10T23:40:58.209-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 41<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZJWpi62s6I/AAAAAAAAALc/lzy2y0hopQ8/s1600-h/TY_Plant_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 229px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZJWpi62s6I/AAAAAAAAALc/lzy2y0hopQ8/s320/TY_Plant_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301394983116780450" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">A pleasant surprise!</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-72652049886722007502009-02-09T22:18:00.002-05:002009-02-09T22:22:46.514-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 40<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZDyindoHgI/AAAAAAAAALU/oFfE9NZaPlc/s1600-h/Virtual_Dracena_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 182px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SZDyindoHgI/AAAAAAAAALU/oFfE9NZaPlc/s320/Virtual_Dracena_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5301003437937794562" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Hmm... can an <span style="font-style: italic;">artificial</span> dracena be called a <span style="font-style: italic;">virtual</span> dracena?</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-70663789081098024052009-02-08T21:33:00.001-05:002009-02-08T21:36:08.447-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 39<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SY-WXdC6lPI/AAAAAAAAALM/5oRxy7dTpWQ/s1600-h/Sign_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 134px; height: 320px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SY-WXdC6lPI/AAAAAAAAALM/5oRxy7dTpWQ/s320/Sign_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300620616116376818" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Can you buy <span style="font-style: italic;">buffalo burgers</span> in your town?</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-22985136439968773032009-02-08T16:17:00.005-05:002009-02-08T21:33:42.944-05:00EduHound... Lots of Resources for K12<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SY9PxN91Z9I/AAAAAAAAALE/WThI0W6o9zo/s1600-h/hound.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SY9PxN91Z9I/AAAAAAAAALE/WThI0W6o9zo/s320/hound.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300542993419560914" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a style="font-weight: bold; font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.eduhound.com/">EduHound</a><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (</span><a style="font-family: verdana;" href="http://www.eduhound.com/">http://www.eduhound.com/</a><span style="font-family:verdana;">) is a site that has many collections of useful information for educators. I found lesson plans, games, toolkits, research, rubrics, templates, and more. I also found a few deadends, but not many.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A section on </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >differentiated instruction</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> includes planning suggestions, practical tips for the classroom, lesson plans, resources, sample units, learning styles, and explanations on the theory behind it all.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >inventions</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> area has a variety of options including games for students. I did beat the computer at Brain Drain, but I had to work at it!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">A communications toolkit is available for those working with </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Adequate Yearly Progress</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><br /><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Data-Driven Instruction</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> includes information from CoSN, NCREL, and others.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Information and Communication Technology</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> (ICT) Literacy section has maps to help you integrate ICT into the core subjects in addition to rubrics and research that indicates what works.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lesson plans, an interactive tour, and related materials are available in the </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >immigration</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> area.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lesson plans and resources from Maine can be found for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Henry Wadsworth Longfellow</span><span style="font-family:verdana;">.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">Free templates for </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >PowerPoint</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> are provided.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">The section on </span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;" >Project-based Learning</span><span style="font-family:verdana;"> includes links, lesson plans, professional development, checklists, and student projects.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">EduHound is a source for resources in these categories…</span> </span><ul style="font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Administration</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Adult Cont. Ed.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Arts</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Back-to-School</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Business</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Culture & Religion</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Early Childhood Ed</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Educational & General</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Employment</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">ESL & Foreign Language</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Family</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Grants & Funding</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Guidance & Psychology</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Health & P.E.</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Holidays</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Home Schooling</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Kid Sites</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Language Arts</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Lesson Plans</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Mathematics</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Multimedia</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Museums</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Organizations</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Publications</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Reference</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Safety & Security</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">School Supplies</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">School/Playground</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Science</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Seasonal Resources</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Social Studies</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Software</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Special Education</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Standards & Testing</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Student Resources</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Substitute Teaching</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Teacher Resources</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Technology</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">US Depts. of Education</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Virtual Explorations</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Vocational & Technical</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">WebQuests</span></li><li><span style="font-size:100%;">Worksheets</span></li></ul><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I do lots of searching on the web for information. Sometimes I like to see what someone else thinks is the best of the many web sites available today. EduHound is a good tool for that.</span><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Photo: <a href="http://flickr.com/photos/and1/2615231317/">http://flickr.com/photos/and1/2615231317/</a></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />License: <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en</a></span></span> </span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35936575.post-68988196740230735002009-02-07T18:01:00.002-05:002009-02-07T18:07:33.354-05:00Photo Resolution... Day 38<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SY4T3JW3_0I/AAAAAAAAAK8/_oC3oVoO0e8/s1600-h/Trees_2009.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_geuICQwgWV8/SY4T3JW3_0I/AAAAAAAAAK8/_oC3oVoO0e8/s320/Trees_2009.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5300195649587248962" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">Trees. I can't wait to see leaves on these trees!</span></span>Jo Schiffbauerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17651680035741073591noreply@blogger.com0