Artifact 2: Using Padlet to Collaborate

The most favorite and most challenging collaborative activity was Classroom Connection assignment.  In this assignment, I chose to work with a teacher friend of mine from awhile ago.  We paired up our fourth and first grade classes to learn about Keystone Species.  My fourth graders worked on researching and writing about different animals that were keystone species and the first graders asked questions about them.  The last step was to have my fourth graders reply back to the first graders with a video response.  The kids really loved sharing their learning and becoming the experts on the animals and ecosystems.  Knowing that first graders would be looking at their art, asking questions, and then listening to their video responses provided an authentic audience for my students.  It encouraged them to do their best work and really take pride in it.  Here's the link to the Padlet we used: https://padlet.com/ringstrup/n2ca3vfxrj6n

In reflecting on this activity, I think I might use Flipgrid next time because of the ease of the video feature, but I like how the first graders were able to post their questions in response to the fourth graders' artwork of their animal.  This was my first try at connecting with another class outside of my own school.  It was a little intimidating at first, but now that I've tried it, I can see so many other ways to use this kind of connection to bring learning to life for my students.  This first grade class was similar to the students that I teach other than their age.  I would love to connect with a class in another country or socioeconomic status to help my students also gain empathy as well as knowledge about other cultures.

Artifact 1: Collaboration using Google Slides

One of the collaborative activities I plan to do with my students is based on the nonfiction reading we did during our guided reading groups.  Students read about the transcontinental railroad and other engineering accomplishments such as the Erie Canal and the Hoover Dam.  Our essential question being: What are the effects of technology on people and the environment?  This activity would require students to work together to evaluate American engineering marvels and choose one to create a slideshow presentation on.  Students would then have a chance to vote on the engineering marvels for a special display in the Museum of Science and Industry.    
                                         https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1zwsSawtKkLzRTm-  
                                         u992VaQVuG48xXJTiNBWD3wnwJ7Y/edit?usp=sharing

I can't wait to do this with my students because it requires them to think deeply about the reading that they have already done and then go back to research more.  Then as a group they must evaluate and decide together to support one engineering marvel as the best.  This requires them to find support for their opinion and be persuasive.  The discussions will be rich and meaningful and the collaborative nature of this activity will be highly engaging for students.  

Collaborative Web Tools in Education Class Reflection

            My journey continues and this time leading me even further outside my classroom's physical walls.  Learning about collaborative technology tools has allowed me to see how it's now possible for my students to easily collaborate with each other.  I have always been a teacher who worked to design projects and learning where students could work together because collaborating brings so many advantages to the classroom: discussing, deeper thinking, sharing, cooperating, decision making, and evaluating.  In the past, this always had to be done face-to-face.  Now students can use tools like Google Suites to collaborate with each other and even with students in other classrooms.  Real-time internet based applications let students see each others' work, chat ideas, and work together at any time and anywhere.  This is mind blowing and opens the doors to so many possibilities!  Taking this class allowed me to learn about new tools to do this effectively and gave me the chance to apply them in my classroom.  I have learned some of the great applications of these tools and also some of their limits.  As I've tried them in my classroom, I've also learned better ways to manage the use of these tools and leverage them for the best and most efficient learning opportunities.