Weekly+Report

Weekly Report
We'll use this page to share ideas, resources, and lessons from our weekly reports:

Teacher: Karen Canino:**
 * Week of November 3rd

So, I'm the first one up and hope this is correct. Since I don't have a classroom of my own, I am trying to get students to use my office (//during content area classes//) and create mini-lessons, lesson reviews, or study preps for other students in class. I am just starting this so it will be slow at first, but think this will be helpful for students and teachers to involve technology in the classroom.

For example: Students in living enviornment a topic and and will use the computer in my office to create a slide show or smart notebook lesson. The purpose of the lesson will be to review what the class has learned and help the other students prep for the quiz or test.

In additon, I would like to create a wiki for the other students in the class to respond to the lesson and offer feedback. Or perhaps the wiki itself will have the lesson.

This is still a work in progress since the content area teacher and I have to work together.

Irene Snow
 * Week of November 10

It has been a bit of a stuggle for me to wrap my mind around the concept of wikis. My son is a social studies teacher and uses wikis in many different ways. I have been exploring his wikis for ideas.

My next step is to narrow down the ideas and actually begin to build a wiki. One of my thoughts is to use a wiki to post assignments when I am out of the building. Another thought is to post a trade-related math problem on a wiki and ask students to brain storm some solutions before we meet as a class. I would welcome any ideas you may have for me to try.

I do know that when I am ready to experiment with a wiki, I will be seeking assitance. I may use our group as a dry run.**

Week of November 17: Athena Swikata

(Thanksgiving)

Week of December 1: Rob Angiello

Sorry I'm late on this. I've got a blog up for my film studies class (started in late October). The students post their comments to the films to the blog. It's a paperless class - all readings are up on the blog. The final student project is an 'immersion' in a genre, director etc - each student is creating his/her own blog centered on their subject - all the kids read each other's blogs. I've got the first 5 up on the blog roll. I began on edublogs, but soon became frustrated with the slow speed of the server(s), and the lack of space - bought a domain name and added the blog to my hosting site (for my creative writing class)...wanted more control of the back end of the blog, more upload speed, and especially, more space. I've got my web sites hosted by BlueHost - they have an easy WordPress integration. What else? I think WordPress could make it easier to embed video, but it's not too tough to go in and out of the html editor mode. As for the students, they seem to like the 'class without walls' - being able to continue readings and discussions after class. I must say, I haven't gotten them to do too much commenting on their comments (eg "oh Sally, I agree with your thoughts on John Alton's cinematography in Raw Deal....etc) but we're getting there. I am also in the process of revamping the creative writing web site into a WordPress blog, because my old FrontPage web site seems a little lacking stylistically to me at this point...although it does the job of delivering handouts via the web.

Week of December 8: Lou Baldi

Week of December 15: Sharlene Bass Hi Everyone, Well, I've been using my wikispace for one of the 17 classes I teach math in. The class that I chose to focus on was the Fashion Design and Merchandising class as they will be doing a group project (fashion show) that they really need to collaborate on. It was a challenge to get all 16 of them signed up, logged on and for them to remember their passwords! I'm also struggling to get them to use the space so I've been giving small assignments that "force" them to log in and do something. Today, I had them complete an online quiz using the Quia site that Tom sent us a link to. I included the link to the quiz on my "assignments" page in my wiki. I liked the Quia site so much that I actually subscribed. I am excited by the potential of the technology but am struggling with the roadblocks I've just described. I'm trying to think of this as just the beginning of a long process towards making this a natural part of my curriculum. I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing, recuperative vacation!

Infusing technology has been rather difficult. After taking the course in October, I created a wikispace for my students to use to post their writing pieces and get feedback. (http://juniorhighwriting.wikispaces.com/) The students were beyond excited to find out that their work could actually be on the internet! However, this was not as successful as I would have hoped. Many of the Junior High School classrooms don't have a student computer, or any computer for that matter. There is one computer lab (with 8 computers) shared by the whole school. Many students don't have computers with internet access at home. Even if they did, they are not required to do homework. Some educators continue to be intimidated by technology, so that is another hurdle I am trying to get over. I am trying to mix technology into the collaborative process, which is difficult in itself. In summary, the school I am currently in lacks the resources to effectively infuse all the great ideas I have learned about in class. Oftentimes, the technology we do have does not work. I definitely understand why some classroom teachers are reluctant to embrace technology! Of course, I will continue to learn and keep notes on all the new ideas I get. I'm sure, in the future, I will have opportunities to do these motivating activities with students!
 * Week of January 5: Catherine Armisto**

Sorry I am late. I think this course has helped me search the internet better. I share lots of tips from the videos and the book with the teachers. I just do not know if I am exactly ready to make a WIKI that the teachers will be able to use as a resource in their classrooms when their technology is limited. The majority of the students I work with also have trouble using their hands to work with the internet. I am trying to collect information for teachers in which they will have it right there for them. I think I am constantly learning from my students and teachers about what they need and how to make technology useful to them in many ways through their lessons. I will continue to collect websites and help teachers and students find other communities online that they can share information with on a constant basis.
 * Week of Jan.12:** **Collette Martin**

It's early due to that I'm in the workshop on Poscasting and just remembered about this. The next two weeks will be nuts in my class, so I'm posting now. This course is very exciting. The Tech tools are very cool and things that help engage the students to want to learn (even though I always need to remind them to do the weekly wiki. However...... today we learned Podcasting and now I'm going to record something very cool to send to the students to remind them to do their Weekly Wacky Wiki Assignment! Thanks :)
 * Week of Feb 16th**