Batch Geo- Mapping Made Easy! Part 1 and 2

I loved this assignment.  It was short, simple and oh so cool!  I have often wondered how they got those little balloons on maps to mark, "you are here," and now I know!

The first part of the assignment was to go to Batch Geo in order to input my information into a spreadsheet which would then be used to create a map detailing where our individual class members reside.  Part 2 was to go back the next day and produce the actual map with the information from the spreadsheet.

I found this application to be very user friendly and fun too.  Even my fifteen year old son said, "Pretty cool, show me how to do it." For some reason the right click copy and paste didn't work for me, as Dr. Pierce had indicated it might not.  So, I had to use the keyboard commands to copy and paste from the spreadsheet to the website window, but that was no big deal at all.

I could find a hundred and one uses for this in the classroom.  The first thing that popped into my mind was history.  I'd have students mark the actual places on a map where certain events took place and include a date and some pertinent detail in the descriptors.  They could also map out colleges that offer the program they are looking for or the colleges they are already considering.  They could map their families or ancestry.  The possibilities are numerous, and I think they will have fun researching and creating the assignment.

The NETS I see here are:
 1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

a.	promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
b.	engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
b.	develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.
c.	customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.
d.	provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:

a.	demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
d.	model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

4. Promote and Model Digital Citizenship and Responsibility

Teachers understand local and global societal issues and responsibilities in an evolving digital culture and exhibit legal and ethical behavior in their professional practices. Teachers:

b.	address the diverse needs of all learners by using learner-centered strategies providing equitable access to appropriate digital tools and resources.
c.	promote and model digital etiquette and responsible social interactions related to the use of technology and information.

Google Forms

I put together a response form that was given to students back in November in paper and pencil form. The form titled, "Its Your Education, but How are We Doing?" can be found by clicking here.
The summary data is also included.

Students were instructed to go to my blog and click on the link to take the online version.  I thought it might be interesting to see how or if the data has changed since the beginning of November.

The NTSE standards addressed with this teaching tool are:. 
3.Model Digital-Age Work and Learning

Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:

a.	demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.
b.	collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
c.	communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats.
d.	model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity

Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:

a.	promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.
b.	engage students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:

a.	design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.
b.	develop technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning, and assessing their own progress.

Self Grading Form

My self grading quiz was a few easy questions about Spring.  I had my son and husband take the quiz and they both answered all three questions correctly.  However, I wanted to see that I did everything correctly, so I changed their answers so they had some wrong. The spreadsheet worked great and the results were accurate.

I was actually surprised that this wasn't more time consuming.  When I first saw this assignment, I just groaned and shut the computer down thinking it would take me forever.  Of course it didn't help that I had the flu and a temperature of 102.  All that aside, however, this is an awesome tool!  I wish I would have known about this at the beginning of the year.  This will make my grading of tests so much easier. :)

This is also a great communication tool.  I could send questionnaires, etc. to parents and or students via Edline to both give and receive timely pertinent information.

My biggest challenge was to get the URL once I was out of the program.  I forgot to get it before I started my blog.  I like the fact that you can view both the quiz and the spreadsheet along with the fact that you can allow or disallow changing of responses.

One drawback I see is the fact that you must be online to use this tool.  Therefore, if you don't have a Google account, you need to get one.  Also, if your internet goes down, you cannot continue working.

The NETS most prevalently addressed in this assignment are;   5.  Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership, 5c evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning. d.  contribute to the effectiveness, vitality and self-renewal of the teaching profession and the school and community.  It is important that we as teachers not only keep up our skills but show students and the community that we are by employing tools such as Google forms in the public arena.

Prezi

While this is not the first time I've used Prezi, it is the first time I have used it this extensively.  I chose to do my presentation on writing, because our students will be taking the Online Writing Assessment the week of 3/18-3/22.  All teachers in the school have been really working to improve writing techniques and getting the students to think in an organized fashion before they begin inputting their final draft. This seemed like the perfect platform. 

I like the flexibility of "Prezi" and the professional look of it.  I also appreciate the movement from screen to screen.  It keeps kids more focused.  Its hard to compete with the technology they have literally at their fingertips.

I like Prezi a little more than PowerPoint.  I think they are both pretty easy to use on the surface, and equally difficult when you start getting into the real meat of them.  However, both platforms are equally attainable to the average person, and I like that.  One advantage Prezi has over PP is that there is no need for additional software purchase since it is on the internet.  That also means easy access from any computer anywhere.  If you forget to upload the changes you make to a PP presentation and are in a different location and would like to work on it or show someone; Oh well, you're outta luck!  With Prezi, you can do either.

I have used both Prezi and PowerPoint with my students in class.  The preferences of my students is split at about 60/40 in favor of Prezi.  They too liked the fact that you can work on it anywhere without having to worry about carrying around a jump drive.

The ISTE NETS addressed would include #3 Model Digital Age work and learning.  Using resources to support student success and innovation. Also, I would be demonstrating fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.  Also, 1c was well represented in this project; promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding, planning, thinking and creative processes.  If they can come up with pictures to tell a story or a process and then narrate it, they probably have the material well in hand.  I can see this being a great assessment tool!!