Technology Conference Week: Dynamic Document Cameras

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I LOVE my document camera! It has changed the way I work with students in my classroom.  I'm no longer putting my back to them to write on the board (or not often) and I no longer have to worry about troubles with my overhead projector.

My set-up isn't ideal - but it is better than nothing.  I have the document camera connected to a computer which is then connected to a 42" TV that is mounted to the wall, up near the ceiling.

I've been able to set up my room so that when I use the camera I am facing the students.  This allows me to be monitoring comprehension as well as behavior during a lesson.  Also, since I am sitting at a desk as well, students have said they feel less "threatened" and more like we are simply having a conversation.  I made a point this year to have the same notebooks as the students (I teach 4th grade.)  So when it was math time, we all had math notebooks - they could see my notebook under the camera - or the textbook, or manipulatives.

In the session I attended about the document camera, I learned some interesting things! I can't wait to get back to school to try them out.  Here they are, in list form, as I noted them.

• Use both the USB and Serial cable to connect the camera.  Connect the USB directly to the computer and the Serial to the switcher that controls the computer/TV.  This way if the computer is in use, the document camera can still be used.  (Super! I had problems with that this past year.)
• Video capture mode will capture audio as well if a mic is connected to the computer.
• Use Image Capture to save an image of an item. Then save that item and use it on assessments - what an authentic assessment that would be!
• There is a "time lapse" feature in the Advanced Settings-Capture menu.  This would be useful over the course of a day or even overnight (if you can be assured the computer will be left alone.)

There is now a flash interface that will allow the document camera to be controlled from within a program like the Smart Notebook (that is my understanding.) I am extra excited to try this out.  We don't have Smart software but we have software and tablets from Interwrite.

Do you have a document camera?  How do you use it?  I'm always looking for new ideas!

Technology Conference Week: LiveBinders

So, today I want to share what I learned about LiveBinders.  This is another super cool site - I've seen some awesome binders and I can't wait to play around and make some of my own.

LiveBinders is (in my understanding) an online 3-ring binder. You can add whole websites, documents, video clips, pictures.  It is especially nice for teachers - you add a site to a binder and students can access the whole site, without ever leaving the binder.  It reminds me of the old days of web tech when some sites used "frames." The frames divided the screen and allowed the main page to always be there while other content showed as well.  That was annoying - this is anything but!

In our quick overview, we looked at setting up a binder, sharing a binder, and embedding a binder.  I'm thrilled that it looks like I can embed the binder into my district provided website (that I am required to update monthly.) This would be an easy, interactive, fun way to have updated content on my site without having to struggle with the SharePoint web program too often.

Another task I'm thinking about will be to develop a LiveBinder for my grade level to share.  This might be a way I can organize all our lesson plan documents for Science and Social Studies.  (Those lesson plans are already completely made for the whole year, I might add!)  It could be a great reference for whomever teaches 4th grade with me next year.  And as they find additional materials, they could add them to the binder.  We would all benefit.

One additional great thing about LiveBinders is their LiveBinder It tool.  This is a browser add-on that lets you add things to your binder without leaving the page you are on.  You find your content, hit the "LiveBinder It" toolbar, and click your options in the pop-up window.  Simple!  The next time you open your LiveBinder, the new site will be there.  You can move it around however you like.

I'll end by sharing one of my binders - it is very basic for now, but you get the idea. It is public, so as I add to it and make changes, you should see them reflected.

NC History – 4th Grade

Do you have a LiveBinders account?  What binders have you created?  Any additional tips and tricks?

Technology Conference Week: Wordless Wednesday

My district created this poster. So I have no idea who to give credit to. Ideas?

Technology Conference Week: Marzano's 9 and Technology

This session was led by a district trainer.  She's very knowledgeable in regards to Marzano and his big ideas.  I've heard a bit about it and I was interested in more.  Here's what I learned:

All 9 of Marzano's ideas are significant and have an impact on learning. Some do have a larger impact than others.  Big ideas are listed in order, from greatest impact to lesser impact.

Identifying similarities and differences: Inspiration and Kidspiration are best tools, word doc tables, Venn Diagrams, Thinking Maps,www.inspiration.com/examples/inspiration (kidspiration)

Summarizing and note taking: Cornell Notes and various other types of notes, including outlining. Note taking generator: www.eleven21.com/notetaker/   It is ok to give kids notes/outlines and have them fill in extra information. Give them key terms and allow time/space to fill in extra info. Bottom is for a summary of information.  Could also create a template in word and type in it. (Good idea for some SS notebook pages next year)

Reinforcing effort and providing recognition: least understood strategy, not automatic, do rewards when they are least expected, be specific and spontaneous with praise. Find movies/clips about people who have overcome obstacles and shown perseverance. Help students make the connection between effort and achievement.  

Homework and practice: not much technology in a traditional sense, homework tracking charts (this is really not an issue in my class, as I rarely assign homework. All students have to do nightly is read, study math facts, and study vocabulary/spelling.)

Nonlinguistic representations: create Jeopardy games with images/actions instead of words,  simulations, collages

Cooperative learning: webquests allow for students to take on roles within a group

Setting objectives and providing feedback: rubrics and online assessments, rubrics help students understand exactly what is expected from them before starting an activity.  

Generating and testing hypotheses: most engaging for students, simulations and investigations, use TV shows like Mythbusters/CSI to point out types of reasoning, predicting, and drawing conclusions.

Cues, questions, and advanced organizers: www.big6.com, put up question and use a timer before allowing students to give responses

I'll be honest - I lost attention toward the end.  The presenter was a local lady, but she failed to address (or maybe didn't realize) that many school do not have students with technology access from home.  She spoke at length about putting things online so students can access them.  That is all well and good, I see the benefit. But what about kids who don't have access?  And our day is so tightly scheduled, that there isn't any time when I could let those kids get online.


All in all, I did get some good ideas.  I like the Cornell Notes generator, I will definitely be using that in SS next year.  I will also be finding out more about the Big 6 (we have to do 2 research projects in Writing and a content area each year.)  Much of the other stuff I already do - I just might need to refine my practice of it.


Do you use Marzano's ideas?  Have you incorporated technology?  Do you use Bloom's instead? I'm interested in all these things - they all have an impact on teaching and learning.

Technology Conference Week: Using Twitter to build a PLN

I feel really lucky to have attended this session.  I was one of 2 people there!  I had a chance to pick the brain of the presenter (Don Lourcey)- and I really benefited from that.  Here is the digest version (we spent an hour discussing Twitter and Diigo. I've narrowed in on Twitter for the sake of brevity.) Enjoy!

First - What is a PLN?  It is yet another acronym. This stands for a Professional Learning Network.  There are 3 C's that happen in a PLN.  They are: Communication, Collaboration, Connection.  Teachers need to be looking for like-minded colleagues - and they might not be in the same school building. Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn are all places to start. I am on Twitter and Facebook and have considered starting a "team page" on Facebook for the next school year. We'll see.

Here is an image similar to one our presenter used - The Networked Teacher by Alec Couros. This one is from Flickr, click the image to go to Flickr. There are different versions of this image floating around - they all show how a teacher uses various Web 2.0 tools. Wonderful! I think I'm going to print this image (or one like it) and hang it near my desk next year. This will help me remember all the different ways I can stay connected.

The ISTE conference wrapped up last week. I sure wish I could have attended!  ISTE stands for International Society for Technology Education.  They developed the National Technology Standards for Teachers (ISTE Standards).  By becoming a networked teacher (by developing a PLN using Twitter and Diigo) you are developing these 3 standards:

-Model digital age work and learning

-Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility

-Engaging in professional growth and leadership

Building a PLN also lets us live the 21st Century skills we are trying to teach our students.  Those include things like global awareness, critical thinking, adaptability, collaboration, media fluency, effective speaking, problem solving, creativity, analytical skills, effective writing, curiosity, innovation, and synthesis.

Power of Twitter - I've only had a professional Twitter account for a few weeks (since the evening after this session actually!) But I've quickly realized how valuable it is.  It is what spurred me to re-task this website. I needed a place where I could record thoughts, reflections, and ideas revolving around my classroom.  Twitter has also helped me find some fantastic people to follow - check out who I follow and then who they follow.  Lots of great resources there!

@dlourcey

@web20classroom

@mbteach

@rmbyrne

Finally Twitter isn't just about making random Tweets. I'm still getting into the whole conversation end of it.  But if you follow hashtags (which is usually a word or acroynm with a # in front) you can find even more people to follow and share with.  Here are some hastags that were recommended to me:

#edchat - Education Chat

#edtech - Educational Technology chat

#elemchat - Elementary Ed chat

#daily5 - Daily 5 chat (a way of organizing reading groups/centers)

#teachertuesdays - Chat that takes place every Tuesday

 

For more on Twitter:

Cybrary Man's Educational Web Sites (How to take part in a chat on Twitter)

TweetDeck - manages multiple accounts and Facebook/Link'd In - a separate program that runs in the background. Lets you use Twitter without going to the main website.

Special thanks to Don Lourcey for not minding all my strange questions and comments during the session.  You can find out about him here, here, and here.