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.

Artifact 3: Making a Tech Tools Poster

            Lastly, I love being creative and enjoyed our assignment to make a poster for device/digital management in our classroom.  I used Canva and Keynote to design my poster.  My inspiration came from a book that our Teacher Librarian read to my class called the Digital Tail by Julia Cook.  I thought it was such a great way to introduce the kids to the idea of their digital footprint.  As we do more and more collaborating and using of social media, it is ever so important to teach the kids how to be good digital citizens.  I think this poster is a good reminder for everyone who may be posting or commenting online.

Artifact 2: Lino to Give Book Reviews and Find Text Features

              A big piece of this class for me was understanding how to use technology in formative assessments and in student collaboration.  My students were reading fictional books in their guided reading groups and I wanted them to be able to share about the book with others, but we didn't have a lot of time to do a final project, because of course I have more standards to teach.  One quick and easy way I found for them to be able to share with each other, but also give me feedback as to how they liked the book was using Lino.  Each group was asked to give their book a star rating and tell why.  Students loved using the star graphics and getting to see their rating on the board.  When we showed each board, the other students were able to hear about the other books that were read in our class.  Here's a board from the group that read the Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo.

               Another Lino board my class worked on was identifying nonfiction text features.  This was a great formative assessment.  It gave me a quick visual of whether or not my students could find text features and correctly name them.  Plus it gave students an easy way to share their work with the class.  Check it out!

Artifact 1: Peardeck Vocabulary

            One of the new tools that I used with my students is Pear Deck: Flashcard Factory.
Our school goal this year is to increase our overall vocabulary scores.  We use Worldly Wise for our word lists, but this workbook format is rather dull for students.  I'm always looking for games and ideas to make learning these words fun as well as help my students to retain them.  Pear Deck has a great tool called the Flashcard Factory that lets use use any list of words.  I simply had to type the words in and it creates a game where the students work in teams to illustrate, describe, and collaborate on the meanings of words.  Take a look at my link to see my students' work.  There are so many great things about this activity.  First of all it gets my students engaged.  There wasn't a single student who was not actively involved during this activity.  There were busy drawing on their iPads and talking with their partners.  I already mentioned how easy it was for me the teacher.  The other thing that I loved is that this activity was quick.  It really didn't take longer than 10 minutes for the students to make the cards and for us to discuss them at the end.  Plus, it walks you right through the steps.  Finally, I loved how this activity was anonymous but also required everyone's participation in order to be successful.  Students knew they were accountable to the class's success.  So it worked as a team builder as well as a vocabulary builder!  Here are a few examples below.  I really am looking forward to using this again with my students.

Foundation of Educational Technology Class Reflection

           At the beginning of this first class, Foundation of Educational Technology, I knew I really wanted to improve my technology skills and how to incorporate them in the classroom to help my students be engaged learners, but I felt very intimidated.  I had never used social media and when I was told that I'd have to create a Twitter account and handle, my gut reaction was, "Oh no!"  However, I can now happily say that I feel relativity comfortable tweeting to the world and I have grown so much as an educator using it to connect with others.  Being an educator can often be somewhat isolating.  You're in your classroom all day with your students trying to squeeze in a moment to discuss a student or plan a lesson whenever and wherever you can.  Schools should call the copy room the "collaboration think tank" because often this is where I catch my colleagues and quickly hash out an idea.  Technology is a game changer for many of us who choose to overcome our fear and embrace it.  By using Twitter to create an online professional presence I have been able to leave the four walls of my classroom and my school to see and learn about what is happening in other classrooms.  This is amazing!  This is one of the biggest take-aways from this class for me.
          I also loved learning about new apps and technology that I could use right away.  This class gave me information and the encouragement to try it.  I used quite a few new tools with my students then next day.  There are others that are still on my list to try out.  One of the frustrations for me with technology is when you try it and it doesn't work and you feel like so much valuable teaching time gets wasted.  I've learned through this class and the many fails that I have had that it's okay.  That usually the value of using a new tech tool far outweighs the difficulties or problems I may encounter when trying it for the first time.  Now I just go in assuming it's not going to go perfectly the first time, but that I'll get it or a student will help me and that's great!  This used to make me feel so inadequate, but now I see it as a great teachable moment and one that let's my techie students shine.