MICCA

The MICCA Conference gave me a pretty good idea of what's probably meant by the expressions "in tomorrows classroom" and "21st century education." The amount of technology and resources available for educators is impressive (and somewhat superfluous). I spent my time browsing and talking to various representatives about different ideas that can be used in the classroom and asking about what intel might be useful to endorse for the future. In addition to that I talked with an educational game developer who mentioned that his company also develops gaming software for NFL teams to review for coaching purposes as well as creating software for the CIA (though he hinted that the CIA project was government classified/secrecy essential and that divulging certain details was frankly outside of employee jurisdiction).

STEP by STEP through Romeo M. and Juliet C.

Fourth quarter, of course, spells romance for the ninth graders: The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet. My classes will be doing their homework online on a wiki: http://romeomandjulietc.wikispaces.com. I've started with a couple of easy discussion questions; I'll STEP it up once a few more of them have gotten onto the site.

I also ordered a super cool video with professional actors doing scenes and college professors discussing the play. I can't seem to play video on this laptop, though. I think I can get it to work on the PS2 I brought from home. The kids tell me I should have brought a controller, though, to hit "Play." So many details, so few brain cells.

I can't seem to get to United Streaming/Discovery Education. I'll check out Safari Montage tonight, unless I need a password.

STEP 09' Digital Camera

My students were interested in the some of the pictures that I shot for my photo story with the digital camera. Hopefully, within the next few weeks I'll go over examples on creating picture slides with them in order to help them with some of their upcoming assignment/projects. I have some ideas on how to use the digital camera and photo story for Romeo and Juliet which starts in the 4th Quarter.

Step in time!

Remember Bert and the chimney sweeps dancing on the rooftops in "Mary Poppins?"



Well, that's going to be our STEP team going forward: well-choreographed, perfectly executed. (And I just practiced embedding video, so that's fun.)

I think the kids and I can have a lot of fun with the Wikis, the blogs, and the podcasts while we study Romeo and Juliet. My plan is to bring in my video camera, film the kids performing important scenes, and interview the actors and audience afterward. I'll post the useful stuff on a Wiki to which the kids can have access.

Renee, thanks for showing us all this cool stuff. This is going to be awesome.

Journals - Use of Document Camera

Date: 14 January 2009
Subject: STEP Training – Introduction to Document Camera

The equipment is AWESOME! I am looking forward to using this in my class. I have been wanting to have something which my students can use as well. I think my class will love this.

Date: 5 February 2009
Subject: Using the Document Camera in Class

I used the document camera both in my PreWorld History and ESOL 1 classes. In PreWorld History, I used it to enlarge the picture in the textbook. Students responded well when they were asked to describe what they see in the picture. They liked to see the picture magnified on screen. The beauty of it is that they were able to point out items in the picture which the other students did not see. In ESOL the lesson was demonstrated using the document camera. It was easier to explain the task they had to do since they saw how the activity should be done more clearly. Output of students was presented to class afterwards.


Date: 9 February 2009
Subject: Using the Document Camera in Class

At first, I was kind of hesitant to use the document camera. Since I am a floater and my class is in a portable, the thought of carrying the LCD projector, laptop, and document camera (without my cart) would cause so much inconvenience. But after using it in class, I now could not “live” without it. It has lessened the handouts and activity sheets I produced. It made learning more fun for my students since they can see and present their output to class.

A Journey of a Thousand Miles Begins with a Single STEP

After a bout of pneumonia and a protracted equipment scavenger hunt, it is time to put one foot in front of the other and take the first STEP.

The document camera is super cool. I enjoyed modeling note-taking on it; and the children enjoyed seeing themselves on it.

We start Romeo and Juliet next quarter, and I'm trying to think of some fun, interesting ways to teach it. My goal is for the ninth graders to leave my class loving Shakespeare. (Sure, studying Julius Caesar in the tenth grade might mess that up; but that's a worry for another day.*)

I think the Wiki that I have not started yet will be a cool place to post videos of the kids acting out scenes. It might even induce the truant absent kids to come to class and join in the fun.

I'll be spending the break looking for Shakespearean fun. I hope everyone has a pleasant, safe, and relaxing ten days.

Happy Easter/Passover/Spring!




* I'm kidding. Julius Caesar is not that bad.

My New Blog

Today we learned about podcasting by using voice thread. I know it will be an interesting addition to our instructional program and creative process at Central. I am excited about the possibilities for our Creative Arts department and media offerings. This will give our students a chance to publish their work and comment on pods. GREAT!!!


Here's a sample of a podcast!!

STEP Training

We're finally here! Have been awaiting this training day. I hope the team can get back together and make up for the training days we missed.

Finally, maybe?

Our STEP team has had a difficult time getting together. Timing issues, emergencies, testing, and communication problems. But, hopefully, things will get back on track after today. It's exciting to receive new equipment and to learn new methods for teaching. Now, it's a matter of a fast catch-up, and having dedicated time to review everything in order to learn how to be efficient and capable.

I've really enjoyed having the document camera in the classroom. My kids do a lot of highlighting, and the camera has made it so easy to blow up the work and have them follow along. The few students with vision problems find this to be of great help. It has made many of the students more independent with their work and allows the teaching assistants to focus on those students with specific questions.

Despite a rocky start, I'm really hoping to see this work for us. We need to look at new ways of doing, and fewer reasons for not changing.