”Show your work.” That’s what Mr. Clevenger, my sixth grade teacher used to always tell me after I solved a math problem.

Well here’s an example of using technology to enable students to show their work and share their ideas with others.  These 6th grade Bostonians use activstudio to show their work and Jing Project to capture themselves explaining it.  They used the built in microphone in the laptop rather than an attacheable mic. 

What I love about this, is that although all three students explain .83 using the same method. They each had their own unique way of explaining. After her explanation, Minni asks, “Why?” Are there any students out there that would like to explain? Use the “comments” hyperlink below to get started. 

 NETS: 2. Communication and CollaborationStudents use digital media and environments to communicate and work collaboratively, including at a distance, to support individual learning and contribute to the learning of others. Students:a. interact, collaborate, and publish with peers, experts, or others employing a variety of digital environments and media.

For a low low price, you can have set of tools for your students that will help them communicate asynchronously, frequently and with authentic purpose. It will also encourage students to attend to the details and quality of their published work. But wait there’s more! Research shows that these tools increase student achievement! How much would you pay for these tools?

Fortunately for you the monetary price is FREE! It will only cost you time. You’ll need time to explore these tools. Time to share these tools and time to teach these tools. These tools are the Web 2.0 tools. While time is always at a premium in the teaching profession. It is not an insurmountable obstacle.

Here are some links to web 2.0 tools that you can start using now, email (epals), blogs (WordPress), & wikis (pbWiki). You can find helpful resources at Atomic Learning through One Place. Do you want more support? Contact your local technology coach/trainer for assistance.

Take a look at the research. Becta recently publish research based on 11 - 16 year old students in and out of the classroom.

The reports found that young learners are prolific users of Web 2.0 technologies in their leisure time but that the use of Web 2.0 in the classroom was limited. However, schools and teachers who are innovating in this area have found benefits, such as:

• Web 2.0 helps to encourage student engagement and increase participation – particularly among quieter pupils, who can use it to work collaboratively online, without the anxiety of having to raise questions in front of peers in class – or by enabling expression through less traditional media such as video.
• Teachers have reported that the use of social networking technology can encourage online discussion amongst students outside school.
• Web 2.0 can be available anytime, anywhere, which encourages some individuals to extend their learning through further investigation into topics that interest them.
• Pupils feel a sense of ownership and engagement when they publish their work online and this can encourage attention to detail and an overall improved quality of work. Some teachers reported using publication of work to encourage peer assessment.

Read the details of the research. Thanks to Ewan McIntosh for pointing this out.

 Below are notes prepared for a today’s WordPress session.

———————————————————————–

What is a blog?

In my opinion, a blog is the hub of all 21st century learning tools.

Wikipedia currently defines web design as, “Web page design is a process of conceptualization, planning, modeling, and execution of electronic media content delivery via Internet…” You’ve seen this cycle before. It mirrors the Teaching/Learning Cycle. Plan, Teach, Assess, Evaluate. Using WordPress as a web site building tool, you can plan out a clear design full of the content you want your audience to access, understand, and synthesis into their own daily behaviors. It’s much like casting an idea out there and waiting to hook someone on it’s juiciness. By paying attention to your audience you can assess how relevant the information you want to share is. Is it accessible? Is it organized? Is it what your audience needs or wants? A web site, like a lesson, should always be in the process of creation and refinement. And like teaching, the critical element to a great lesson is planning. Be sure to plan out a site that meets the needs of your audience and purpose.

How do I subscribe?, Where can I find examples of classroom blogs?, Example

Why would I want to use a blog with students?

• ask questions receive feedback
• your audience can subscribe to your blog
• provide students a place to publish their work
• provide a tool for easily accessing your peer’s writing
• organize resources for learners
• receive feedback from peers and colleagues
• share news/ideas
• archive resources for future retrieval
• facilitates asynchronous learning/sharing
• online portfolio that is easily searchable

Once you have an idea for blogging, get started.

STEP 1: Plan out your site. Keep in mind your audience and purpose.

STEP 2: Find a place to host your site. If you work for Aurora Public Schools. You can register for a WordPress blog. There are many places to host your blog for free.

STEP 3: Use available tutorials to assist you in launching and designing a blog that best meets your audience’s needs.

1. Creating Your Site (.doc)
   
2. Configuring Your WordPress Account (.doc)
3. Managing your Blog(.doc)
4. One Place> Atomic Learning > WordPress

STEP 4: As you receive feedback, refine your site. Continually update it with blog entries, documents, images, audio, video and links.

STEP 5: Considering purchasing your own domain name that is easy to remember. For example, rather than telling people to go to http://apscms.net/staffpages/cjearthtree… I can just say go to earthtree.org. That is much easier to say and much easier to remember. There are many places to get domain names. One such place is www.godaddy.com. You can purchase a domain name there. Then setup an automatic forward. This way when people go to your site, they are automatically forwarded to your blog.

New Vocabulary?: blog, blogroll, widget

Here is a list of spectacular classes coming soon by the Technology Trainers!

 REGISTER HERE!!!

 ET-IL Course:

My ActivClassroom (Basics): September 16, 18, 23, 25, 30 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM
My ActivClassroom (Advanced): October 6, 8, 13, 15, 20 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM Note:
(Prerequisite - Must have taken My ActivClassroom Basics course or completed the Online basics and faxed certificate before registering.)
My ActivClassroom (Basics): January 12, 14, 21, 26, 28 4:30 PM-7:30 PM.
My ActivClassroom (Advanced): February 10, 12, 17, 19, 24 - 4:30 PM-7:30 PM Note: (Prerequisite - Must have taken My ActivClassroom Basics course or completed the Online basics and faxed certificate before registering.)

Workshops:

Word 2007: The basics - October 2, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
PowerPoint 2007: The basics January 15, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
OnePlace- Using United/Discovery Streaming - January 29, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Excel 2007: The basics - October 7, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
GroupWise: Saving Time with GroupWise - September 25, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM
WordPress (Staff Pages & Teacher Web Site Basics) - October 9, 4:30 PM - 7:00 PM