Sara's Sighs

Can We Now Have Order?

2011-12-14T20:05:00.000-08:00

image from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:UC-Law-LibraryRoom1.JPG

I like order. Order and purpose and focus. In the world of education, however, order is hard to find. We try. This list of spelling words this week, that list of spelling words next week--in order. Math worksheets done in order. Rows of desks in order. "Get into line order." The order of the day is reading, special, recess, math, lunch . . . We need ORDER!

But, is there ever really order? Perfect order? Probably not. As I took classes in Library Science as an undergraduate in college, I dreamed of working in a library where the books were always in their right places, students came in and checked out books in an orderly fashion, and everything was neat and tidy. Well, in the real world, that dream bubble quickly burst. My library did not look like the one in the picture above. No, mine looked like 300 elementary students had come in and had a party. Not just one party on one day, but a continuous party day after day after day.

Was that so bad? To me, at first, it was. I would spend hours trying to clean up, read shelves to get the books in order, push the books to the front edge of the shelf so they looked appealing, and on and on. Needless to say, I was not in my comfort zone. I was aggravated, frustrated, and exhausted.

It wasn't until I finally let go of order that I was able to relax and embrace the warm ambience and charm that can be found in a busy little elementary library. It is fascinating to watch the buzz of small students all excited to check out a book. They do forget their shelf markers, they do drop their books and put them other places, they do bring their books back and "helpfully" put them on the shelf for us (before they are checked in). But, is it really that huge of a deal?

No . . .

Until the students grow a bit bigger and are looking for specific books by title, author, and call number. Not only is the process of looking up a book on the online library catalog a new skill, but the process of taking the information from the computer and transferring it to finding the actual book on the shelf is also novel. Then, when you think you have it figured out, you can't find the book on the shelf. Arrgh! Students holler that "it says the book is in" and "it has to be right here." Well, maybe the book is two shelves below, maybe someone borrowed it fast for a lesson without checking it out, maybe it is lost in the stacks who knows where.

This is when order in the library starts to become important again. When a student recognizes that there is a reason--a need--for order. That is why, in an elementary school library, we try for a balance of order. There just is never going to be perfect order. A bustling business anywhere will never have perfect order. It is always being used. But, there has to be enough order for students (and teachers) to find what they need.

And now, trying to get to the point of this whole thing . . . order in the library, order in the school, order in education. While we may never achieve perfect order, there are numerous tools to help us stay, let's say, organized.

As a current graduate student, working on my master's degree in Instructional Technology, this past semester I have had the privilege of studying, gettting to know, and playing with a variety of organizational tools.

The culminating project was to create an ultimate---21st century---learning experience. While not nearly flawless, you can see what I came up with by clicking on the Integrated Technology Learning Experience tab at the top of this blog. The unit I describe incorporates the Universal Design for Learning components, Gradual Release of Responsibility lesson structure, Technology Integration Matrix information--(a.k.a. UDL, GRR, and TIM)--and more. These elements help create an order for student learning. Not a perfect order, but a good order that will help students learn. An order that we can now have. (You can see how I tied the unit in with working on order in the library!)

Designing So the Universe Can Learn

2011-12-04T20:00:00.000-08:00

image from http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/images/hs-1994-02-c-full_jpg.jpg

This week I have delved into the world of leveling the playing field in order for everyone to learn. For work, I was able to go to a wonderful professional development workshop in Des Moines this past Tuesday where the topic was Designing a Differentiated Lesson Plan. And, I have been studying UDL (Universal Design for Learning) in a class for my master's degree. The topics of differentiated instruction and UDL have a similar goal; for everyone to learn--everyone to win--no matter the path followed to get there.

The theory of differentiated instruction believes that teachers should differentiate content, process, product, affect, and learning environment according to student readiness, interest, and learning profile. The theory of UDL believes that teachers should provide multiple means of representation, expression, and engagement. As the definitions of all these words unfold in their own context, it becomes apparent that they bleed together into the same stream.

Given my interest in technology, I decided to take a look at some iPad apps that support universal design for learning in these ways. If you take a look at my Google Doc, you will find that I took two fairly common teaching situations in the world of elementary education. I described several possibilities for representation, expression, and engagement, including the implementatin of some iPad apps. I "show and tell" some of the apps on this iTunes clip.

I strongly believe that almost any app could be considered "UDL," depending upon how it is used. I mentioned some basic recording apps, which could be used for students who are not able to type very well, students needing to record a lecture because they do not take notes well, auditory learners, shy students needing to vocalize, and on and on. I also mentioned some drawing apps, which could be used for students not working well with pencils, tactile learners, students needing something to "fidget" with, and on and on. Check out my Google Doc to see how I envisioned other apps being used, as well. Although all are not "traditional" assistive technologies, their purpose throws them into the realm of UDL. Helping the Universe to learn!

Another Safety Issue

2011-11-15T18:54:00.000-08:00

In the world of education, we find ourselves teaching students about bus safety, traffic safety, being healthy, eating nutritiously, stranger danger, and so on. Now, we also have to worry about Internet Safety. The weird thing about this safety training, though, is it is not necessarily about the physical well-being of children, but more about their mental well-being. So, while educators are used to teaching safety innitiatives, Internet Safety poses a bit of confusion. There is no "Internet Safety Pyramid" or specific "Rules for Evacuating the Computer." Finding Internet Safety curriculum to fit education is, right now, kind of a wild goose chase. A bit here, a bit there, to teach this or not to teach this, what do you focus on and at what age, what should the parents be discussing with their children . . . The information below leads to some of my thinking on how Internet Safety should be handled, though I do not claim to be an expert. Just another part of the goose chase, but maybe it will make sense to some people.

Internet safety and ethics staff training

View more presentations from msrich74

This is one idea/framework for implementing staff, student, and parent training at the district level. It is JUST A DRAFT :)

The Teacher-Librarians in our district have been working on the specific student modules for trainings. I used some of the content we had been working with and put it into a Wiki to enable better organization and access for teachers, students, and their parents. It is for grades 3-4, and you can view it here.

While the Slideshare and Wiki do a nice job showcasing the content for trainings, please see this GoogleDoc for the structured, "lessonized" version.

And, if you have other ideas/resources, I would love to hear about them!

The 21st Century Classroom--Apple to Apples

2011-11-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

What do you think of when you think of a 21st Century Classroom? What does it look like, sound like, feel like? My mental image of a 21st Century Classroom is a place where there are tons of resources, tons of technology, there is always a chaotic-yet-somewhat-organized buzz of activity, students working by themselves or in groups, you can see the engagement in students' eyes, and you can feel the excitement encircling the learning space.

There are changes in the air! A symbol of teachers, teaching, and schools was once a shiny red apple. Now, I would argue, this symbol is exploding. We are looking at the "core" of the curriculum, what students need to know to be able to function in a 21st Century Society. We are including characteristics of effective instruction such as student-centered classrooms (students hold and eat the apple), teaching for understanding (apple trees and orchards), assessment for learning (formative assessment would be like checking the ingredients before making an apple pie), rigor and relevance (making an apple pie for the Salvation Army's Thanksgiving dinner), teaching for learner differences (recognizing the apple varieties and colors), and infusing technology (apple integeration from around the world at our fingertips). Will all of this be our Golden Apple? I don't think any of these characteristics will hurt anything, will help many students, but in all liklihood will still not reach each individual . . . because humans (and apples) are just not like that.

I have been reflecting on my classroom (library and computer classes for kindergarten through fourth grade students) and how I would rate the current state of my activities and curricula. I feel that I have a strong understanding of the characteristics of effective teaching and what a 21st Century Classroom should be like, but I'm not quite there. Using Principal Shawn
Holloway's (Manson Northwest Webster in NW, Iowa) Walkthrough form, I went through each area and item an commented on where I am at right now. Please look here to see my reflection: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1NH2405HF_CaVX-ftksyWj5sGh2R2lwfC08c3bIgQ8mc/edit?hl=en_US&pli=1 My pages are halfway down the document.

Technology Integration Matrix At Work

2011-10-15T19:21:00.000-07:00

What does the word matrix mean to you? A matrix has different definitions, depending on the topic at hand. The topic at hand here is a Technology Integration Matrix. Specifically, the one created by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology. TIM for short. This TIM is interactive and crosses characteristics of the learning environment with levels of technology integration into the curriculum. When wondering how best to integrate technology, this is one great resource to study.

In Fort Dodge, we are working hard on implementing the Iowa Core Curriculum. The FDCSD Teacher-Librarians have been developing lesson plan ideas that take current curriculum and adds projects that are engaging, authentic, and integrate technology. We hope to share the lessons with teachers and gain their enthusiasm so that we can implement the ideas through collaboration.

It was worthwhile to take the lessons we have started developing and see where they fit on the TIM. Most are at the adoption stage within various characteristics of learning environments. Adaptation takes a teacher willing to relinquish some responsibility. It is not difficult to reach this level if a teacher is comfortable letting students make some choices. I think we can get to this level without too much pain.

However, there seems to be a large gap to jump over to go from the adaptation level of technology integration to the infusion level. In order to reach this latter level, I believe some type of 1:1 environment is needed. For students to have access to multiple technology tools in quantities that meet the needs of all students whenever they need access to them, you would about have to have that 1:1 ownership. What are your opinions about what is needed to reach the infusion level?

So, while I believe that we can tech our lessons UP a notch, Fort Dodge is not quite ready to jump two levels at this point. But, it is good to know where we need to be headed.

See 5 lessons and my ideas to tech them UP a notch here, and then let me know what you think!

image from: Marcos Papapopulus

Mii

2010-07-03T15:02:00.001-07:00

http://www.myavatareditor.com/

YouWild.org

2010-06-21T20:26:00.001-07:00

Watch me turn into a
Bat at YouWild.org

Resources

2010-06-20T18:50:00.000-07:00

Here is a quick look at some useful resources I may have mentioned to one or another in EIT:

Download to individual computers:
TuxMath--" lets kids hone their arithmetic skills while they defend penguins from incoming comets, or offers them a chance to explore the asteroid belt with only their factoring abilities to bring them through safely!" Addition, subtraction, multiplicationm, division.
TuxPaint--"a free, award-winning drawing program for children ages 3 to 12 (for example, preschool and K-6). It combines an easy-to-use interface, fun sound effects, and an encouraging cartoon mascot who guides children as they use the program." Like KidPix, but better.
TuxTyping--"an educational typing tutor for kids starring Tux, the Linux penguin. This educational game comes with two different games for practicing your typing, and having a great time doing it."

Sites:
Professor Garfield's Knowledge Box--choose math, language arts, science, and social studies activities by grade level, K-6.

Sources to help children figure out who they are. Then, they can make stronger connections with others:
100 Questions to Ask Children About Themselves --article
Getting to Know You--"Help children celebrate their identity and get to know each other with directions and templates for four fun projects. If you've never bought an e-book before, this is a perfect introduction. The 24 pages are packed with information and patterns but the small file size makes it easy and quick to download."
All About Me worksheet for upper elementary
Get to Know Me worksheet
Getting to Know You worksheet
Create a Book About Yourself
DLTK's All About Me section
Graphic Organizer Posters from Amazon
The Skin You Live In book

If there are other sources I mention and don't post, please let me know!

Do humans have 9 lives?

2010-06-15T19:02:00.000-07:00

In class today, we looked at Second Life. It is an amazing virtual world, and I can see how this would really be a second life for some people. While wonderful for those of us who are 18 and older, it is not appropriate for K-12 students. Having children of my own and working with K-4 students, I do know of virtual worlds that are appropriate for this age group. I'm not sure if I can come up with 9, but that is OK. Nine lives belong to cats.

1. Wizards 101
*"Wizard101 is a Free Online Multiplayer Wizard school adventure game with collectible card magic, wizard duels, and far off worlds! The game allows players to create a student Wizard in an attempt to save Wizard City and explore many different worlds.
-->Wizard101 is Free to Play! Wizards can complete Wizard City and explore far off worlds with a Subscription or individual areas can be unlocked forever with "Pay-by-Area". and start playing right away! For more information about Subscriptions and Pay-by-Area, click here."
*You can buy cards at Game Stop and other places. For example, pay $10, get a card where you scratch off to see a code, enter the code, and get 1000 points. With some cards, you can get a free pet.

2. Pirates of the Caribbean
*Click here for an overview.

3. Poptropica
*"Poptropica® is a virtual world in which kids explore and play in complete safety. Every month, millions of kids from around the world are entertained and informed by Poptropica's engaging quests, stories, and games. "

4. Webkinz
*Purchase a Webkinz pet at stores such as Hallmark. (You can also buy trading cards, outfits, jewelry and more--all come with codes which bring surprise objects into your pet's world.) Open the tag to find your code. Enter your code and go through your pet adoption. Your stuffed pet becomes virtual on the computer. Remember to feed, water, and exercise your pet or it's health will suffer.

5. ToonTown
* Another one from Disney. "Build cartoon characters, paint them crazy colors, give them funny names, and send them on adventures!"

6. JumpStart
*"JumpStart is an award-winning adventure-based 3D virtual world that is super-personalized, wildly imaginative and really fun, but don't let that fool you - it also teaches math, reading, and critical thinking skills so kids get a real jump start in life." Wonderful, engaging learning world. You can start for free, but if your child/student is really interested, you will be trapped into purchasing a membership.

7. Tracksters
*Purchase a car at places such as Amazon.
*"Tracksters are the ultimate mix of diecast cars and virtual play! This online game allows players to match cars they design in head to head races. Purchase a highly detailed diecast car that comes with a special code which allows you to enter the Tracksters virtual world. You can trick out your car and fine tune it for maximum race efficiency. Fun for all ages!"

8. Dr. Z has added Club Penguin for the list. Looks like a child can play for awhile, but must become a member for further options (like many of the others listed). Again, cards can be purchased at places like Target or WalMart. The code enables a one to six month long membership.

9.

All of these are educational in some aspects, but not necessarily for classroom use. JumpStart would be the closest to an educational virtual world on my list above. For education, take a look at Oracle ThinkQuest's Virtual World's page.

Well, I listed 7 virtual world's that I know about first-hand. Can you help me add a couple more? Then, we can be as savvy as the cats.

photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/nationalmaritimemuseum/4454627606/

The Public School Dynasty

2010-06-02T20:27:00.000-07:00

(First of all, in my previous post, I mentioned that my son loves to use Nintendo DSi's Flipnotes. You can find out more about Flipnotes by visiting Flipnote Studio.)

Now, my topic for this post is Educational Revolution.

As I read other blogs and articles about needed changes in education, I am beginning to see that something drastic needs to happen. The poster above alludes to the point that the fallout in education will be dramatic, just like the changes sweeping the news industry. But, it also says "wait until you see what happens." Well, I have a feeling we will be waiting for decades, if not centuries, if we don't overthrow the Public School Dynasty.

In the post Why Not? from the Cathy O's Reflections blog, she asks the question, "Why not change the school day/week?" in order to give teachers more time to work on professional development and the myriads of other projects they need to complete and problems they need to solve. While I think a change in the typical school day/week would be a positive way to ripple education, it is not the hurricane of change I think we really need.

After reading Education at the Crossroads, a posting from Seth Godin's Blog, and finding the above poster on flickr.com, I started internalizing the depth of change that our public schools need. Godin's point is that there is not one crossroad, but three (though I think we could all add more). He talks about the crossroads of scarce or abundant education, free or expensive, and schooling or learning. And/or any combination of the three. We could have free, abundant, learning or expensive, scarce, schooling. I know I would prefer the first. Godin is addressing higher education here, but I think we need to consider these possibilities for all levels of education.

An article, The Education Revolution, by Forbes columnist Reihan Salam introduced me to the Sweden education concept. In Sweden, they allow anyone, any group, to establish their own schools. Top schools are being almost franchised, like fast-food restaurants. The money that would have gone to public schools per pupil, now goes to these innovative schools. So, it is profitable.

If you were to design your own free school, what would you emphasize? How would you consider your school to be successful? Test scores, college placement, job placement . . . In the Education Revolution article, it talks about teaching and practicing "soft skills"--those skills needed for personal service jobs--which are jobs that are less likely to be "offshored." Also, less standardization and more spontaneity. I would agree.

We need everyone, not just teachers and lawmakers, to help make the change. We need new "Learning Centers" that are free, abundant, and promote learning rather than test scores.

To change the subject just a little, the BP Oil Spill is a horrific tragedy. But, I believe this disaster will strengthen the push for and realization of the need for alternate energy sources. I predict the spill will start the fall of the Oil Dynasty. So, just like the oil dynasty, I believe (not necessarily happily) that the Public School Dynasty needs to fall. It will be traumatic, like the oil spill, but, I think we will come out sunnier after the storm.

photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dkuropatwa/3838583501/

Short Order Teachers?

2010-05-27T18:42:00.000-07:00

In the book Web 2.0 New Tools, New Schools by Gwen Solomon and Lynne Schrum, there is a section in chapter 2 called "the customization generation." It talks about how students are used to changing technology devices to meet their own needs and using the web at home to research, learn, and play as they wish. Students are used to customization outside of school. They can customize their Twitter account, their music, their tv viewing, customize a McDonald's order, customize paint colors for their rooms, customize T-shirts, and on and on. I believe technology has made customization simpler. There are so many more choices everywhere you look. For instance, growing up, I remember wearing the same outfits to school as others--because their were fewer choices, we shopped in the same stores, and chose from the same outfits. Now, people can order clothes online, go to shopping malls with many stores, Wal-Mart or Target, Goodwill, and garage sales. Rarely do I see children wearing the same outfits.

So, has technology made customized education possible? Can teachers be the short order cooks of student learning? Here is an article from Education Week called "E-Learning Seeks a Custom Fit" http://www.edweek.org/dd/articles/2010/02/03/02e-customization.h03.html and another from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette about a principal who advocates customizing education for each student http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10105/1050449-54.stm. Both articles point out that one shoe does not fit all. Our current way of "mass teaching" is not effective for each student. The articles point out that with e-learning, with the technology of today, customized education has a promising future.

This year I have had the opportunity to work with a literacy program on the computer. This is for Kindergarten through 4th grade. When it works (we've had server/virus issues), the kids innitially love it, are engaged, and all doing something different--chosen by the computer based upon an innitial testing. This program is standards based, aligned with the Iowa Core Curriculum and all of that. You can run a multitude of reports--from individual student reports to class, grade, or even building reports. It is an extremely customizable program in many different aspects.

Although this is just the first year we have been using the program, I don't think it will ever (not in the near-to-mid future, anyway) take the place of the way reading and literacy is currently taught in the elementary school. I think it is an excellent intervention and reinforcement tool to use once or twice a week. After half an hour on the program, students start to get antsy. I don't think the program would keep them engaged enough to teach them all of the literacy skills they need at this young age.

So, an IEP for each student? Can teachers be short order cooks? My guess is not alone, but maybe with the help of technology and a few more years of perfecting e-learning. And definitely more of a possibility with secondary students. What do you think?

VoiceThread: Sewing Lessons Together

2010-05-24T19:51:00.000-07:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/2179088675/

VoiceThread is another social way to share and connect with others. I like how VoiceThread allows multiple ways to respond, including text, voice, and camera. I also like the layout--the basic black and white is very calming after spending time with busy, flashy social media such as Twitter, blogs, and wiki's. Being able to focus on one picture or one video clip is refreshing.

In the elementary school, I can envision VoiceThread being used in various ways.

Adding a video of students performing a short Reader's Theater, then parents and other relatives commenting. (As a parent of two elementary students, I would appreciate this opportunity!)
Reading a book, then students adding their reviews of the book.
Sharing information with students in another school across town, another school in a different part of the state, another state, or another country--for example, one group shares information about a holiday, and another group comments--then reverse
Looking at a picture, then every student comments--threading comments together like a poem for the picture
A student draws a picture of his/her mother, then adds comments about mom for Mother's Day.
Critiquing a music concert.
Put up a picture of Christopher Columbus (or anyone!) and each student researches information to add. A class research "paper."
Put a picture of a classmate up, then every student adds a compliment.

As I look at curriculum, I know I could create more project ideas. I do like some of the ideas posted in this wiki: http://voicethread4education.wikispaces.com

VoiceThread is a great source to help sew our society together--not only our educational society which I focused on here, but also our families and communities.

Does VoiceThread have enough glitz and glammor to keep the attention of your students?