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!!

Project 2 PhotoStory

Believe it or not, this was my very first You Tube video.  Yes, of course, I have watched many videos on YouTube, but I have never actually put anything up myself.  I'm embarrassed to admit it, but the hardest part of this assignment was figuring out that all I had to do in order to save this in the right format was to change three letters at the end of the file name.  I kept looking for it on my computer, not thinking to just type it in. (duhh!)  I had to say it, because I know someone out there reading this is thinking it.

That all aside, this is a really cool tool.  I'm going to have my students do one of these next week.  I really think they will enjoy it, and I know they can use it in their other classes too. I like the way they just walk you through it.  It is very user friendly and easy to use.  It's surprisingly fast too once you have all your pics.

I chose to narrate my "Feed your 5000" PP presentation.  My son is doing the famine again this year, so this is something very near and dear to my heart.  I am also the youth leader in charge of this event.  I initially had also put in some background music, but thought it was better without it.  I hope you enjoy my first PhotoStory as much as I enjoyed creating it.

The NETS 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!!

Project 1 Powerpoint Presentation

Here is  my PowerPoint presentation titled "Feed Your 5,000."  I had some problems with getting this to autoplay when accessed through Dropbox, but I think I have fixed it.

That being said, I made my PowerPoint to be shown to our church Teen Youth Group "Blaze" in preparation for our 30 Hour Famine which will be coming up in April.  I will also be using it at school with the Bible Club.  PowerPoints are still a popular presentation medium and with time and some effort, you can make them turn out pretty awesome.  I have to say, however, that I actually find Prezi faster and easier to use.  I do still enjoy putting all the little personal touches on my Microsoft Presentation and appreciate all the wordart, themes and template styles that Microsoft offers.

Applicable NETS; #3 Model Digital Age work and learning.  Using resources to support student success and innovation. Also, I would be demonstratng fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.

Jing Screencast

I made my screencast movie about making a student award certificate using Microsoft Word. Once again, I'm happy to have another tool in my arsenal.  I don't think I will be using this one quite as much simply because of the classes that I teach and the way the book and my lesson are set up.  However, when doing special projects or group work, this could definitely hit a home run.  The biggest drawback I'd have using this as a student project tool would be time.  It could take quite a while for each group to get it right.  Unfortunately, time is always of the essence in any class.

Outcomes questions are as follows;
1.  By using the Jing selection tool, you literally just point, click and drag until you encompass the part of the screen that you want to record.
2.  You can save your screen capture as an image or a video; with or without sound and finally, you can upload to your account or put it out there so that the public can view it.
3.  My screen capture sun is in the upper center of my screen. All I have to do is point to it, and its ready to go.
4.  You can push to the internet or share with others by using the share button when you capture it or by going back into your history and sharing to screencast there.  Once its in screencast, you can then get the embedding code and embed it or link it wherever you want to.
 
I think the same NETS were prevalent here as in the last JING exercise. I see a strong emphasis on 1. Facilitate and Inspire student Learning and Creativity, #3- Model Digital-Age Work and Learning  Using a tool like this, especially putting something together in front of the class, is a great way to model and spark interest at the same time.  Once again, I also think this would be great to work on in groups to have the students polish up on their collaborative skills.

Jing Graphic

Let me start by saying that I love this little bit of sunshine on my computer.  I have actually already used it in my classroom.  I have included a snapshot of the graphic that I used on Monday.  My class broke into 4 groups according to what they thought were the best Super Bowl commercials.  (We all discussed, viewed and then voted for the top 4.)  Once in their groups, they are to work cooperatively to defend and present why the commercial they chose is the best in their opinions.  They have to include a technology piece in their presentations.  I met with the groups Tuesday and they will present tomorrow, Wednesday Feb. 6th.  I have to say that I am really proud of them.  From what I've seen, they've done an awesome job.

I find Jing very user friendly and self explanatory.  I like the extra features like text boxes and arrows.  Although the extra features are very limited, they are also very useful and convenient.
I do have a question though,  has anyone tried using Jing on a SmartBoard?  I downloaded it at school and the little sun pops up, but then I can't get it to work on the SmartBoard.  I tap and drag, but it just sits there. If anyone has had success with this, please let me know your secret.

Test Questions:
1.  All my Jing files have been saved as pictures.
2.  I save them in my pic files for school, family, youthgroup, etc.
3.  I access my Jing history on the middle ray of the little sun at the top of my screen.
4.  When you screencast an item from your history, it goes to screencast.com.
5.  I upload saved filed from Jing to my blog via my computer files.
6.  I publish my artifacts the same way as blog posts.  Am I doing this right?  Because I get the feeling that I am not. :(
7.  I share by hitting the share button when I post my blogs.  I check that they are public too.

I can see several NETS standards here.
1. Facilitate and Inspire student Learning and Creativity, #3- Model Digital-Age Work and Learning  Using a tool like this, especially putting something together in front of the class, is a great way to model and spark interest at the same time.  In this particular case, it also inspired creativity and collaboration among groups of students.

Here is the graphic I created for this lesson: You may view the full size graphic here.