From 1.0 to 2.0

Over the summer, the ITSers were asked to design an interactive project using web 1.0 tools. I created a problem solving/ sequential creation project where were asked to create quilt squares about their communities and cultures and then pass them on to another group of students who would do the same. If I were to change this to use web 2.0 tools, I would probably use a wiki so that different groups or classrooms could collaborate and share information about their own communities and cultures with each other. Using a wiki would also allow students to add or edit each other's work. One issue I would anticipate with using a wiki to create this interactive design project is that it might not end up being a sequential creation. In a sequential creation, students are asked to use what the previous group or students have done and add to it. A wiki allows the users to not only add sequential information, but edit and change already existing information. If students used a wiki with this project, there would have to be specific rules about not changing the previous person's information. The wiki would also allow students to write more information, but not necessarily change how they would create their quilt squares. They would still have to create their quilt squares on paper and then take pictures or scan them to upload to the wiki. I am not sure a wiki has more benefits than just web 1.0 tools. Of course a wiki affords for more collaboration, but I am not sure that collaboration is needed when creating a sequential creation project.

Social Networking

I love social networking tools and probably have an addicition to facebook and pinterest. I could be on these sites for hours just checking out friend's photos or ideas for recipes. I don't tweet, but I have heard that is addicting too. So now I am thinking- how can I incorporate social networking tools into the classroom?

I think everyone knows that facebook and twitter are completely inaccessible in the schools, so these are tools that cannot be incorporated. I know there are other tools, such as Edmoto that mirror what Facebook can do, but are allowed and safe for students to use. I don't want to be a Debbie Downer, but I am not sure even these tools are appropriate for the age groups I work with. I don't think you children should be expected to use a Facebook like tool to communicate with a teacher or other classmates. At the younger grade levels, I think it could be used as a tool between parents and the teacher though. It would be simple to post reminders about homework or projects and for parents to respond with any questions. I also like that the teacher has to approve what goes up on the "wall" because you might get that parent who says bolder things online than they would in person.

Again, I am not sure I would use a Facebook type social networking site with young students. In searching online, I found another site called Learnist. It is a place where people can share information they know and looks a lot like Pinterest. Other people can comment. It is something the teacher might have to monitor or closely instruct students on how to use, but it looks like an interesting site.

Podcasting

This entry is supposed to be about podcasting, but as I was thinking about podcasting, I went and googled the word! And guess what came up... that's right... a wikipedia entry about what a podcast is. Anyway, I didn't really learning anything too new from the podcasting entry in the wiki, but  I did learn that podcasts were first mentioned in a February 2004 newspaper article. I thought it was kind of interesting because I don't remember them being available then. 

Anyway, I am actually a pretty avid podcast listener. I really got into them over the summer while I was working a data entry job for LCPS as they were transferring IEPs from one system to another. I would download a few different podcasts and listen to them when I got tired of the same music on my iPod playing over and over. The one I really enjoy is the Freakonomics podcast which is pretty interesting because the hosts are economists who investigate different social issues or oddities they come across. I found out you can also download the audio from CNBC or 60 Minutes. I don't know if these are actually podcasts, though, because they are just replays of what has already been on television. I also found a podcast that is supposed to teach you Spanish. I listen to that one occasionally, but the episodes don't come out often enough for me to actually apply what I have learned. Even though I really enjoy listening to podcasts, I am not sure I like making them as much. I guess it is a pretty easy format because you can talk about whatever topic you like (even though most are narrowed down to a broad topic) and you can pretty much say whatever you want. The reason I don't really enjoy making podcasts is because I have to listen to myself speak and I feel like my voice is not as engaging as I think it should be.

That being said, podcasting is a very exciting tool to use in the classroom. Students can create podcasts as they learn about a social studies or science topic. They could interview "famous people" via podcast. They could do movie or book reviews. I think the kids would enjoy listening to example of podcasts and also love being able to create one themselves. It can't get anymore exciting that posting your ideas in your own voice so everyone can hear it!

What's a Wiki?!

Wiki- it is such a fun word to say! I know I am going to get a lot of giggles from my little guys when I introduce wikis to them. The word is just so funny and has such a distinct sound. They have probably never heard of one, even though we encounter one every time we search information online. Wikipedia is always the first source of information to pop up. I guess my little first and second graders will soon learn this as they get some more freedom to search information online. AND even though we encounter Wikipedia all the time, I didn't even think that I could create my own, so wikis are kind of new to me too.

Okay, so the million dollar question... what is the significance of a wiki and how can it be used in the classroom? It is a good question, but I just want to whine, "Why can't they just be seamlessly implemented?!!" I know, I know nothing in the world of education runs seamlessly and wikis can't run smoothly unless I actually teach my students how to use them. So, after some deep thought, as I was trying block out my fiance as he was talking on the phone with a mortgage lender, I decided I would relate creating a wiki to the process of peer revising. My students have practiced reading each other's writing and revising as well as complimenting their peers. A wiki is really no different- someone writes something on a topic and others who have access can go in and edit, revise, and comment on what was written.

Hopefully, I have a lesson plan in progress here! Now, I just need some kind of authentic application where the tool or vehicle is a wiki. Maybe a magazine where different groups work on different topics and then rotate to add or change articles. The only problem I think I might encounter is that students may change correct information, but I guess I could monitor it and make sure everything that is being written is accurate. Once the articles are written, they could be formatted in a word processor to create the magazine. In this way, students are able to collaborate more than they would be able to if they just typed straight into a word processor.

Ok, off to do some more thinking about wiki wiki wikis!!! (And I am kind of feeling motivated to document my homebuying experience in a separate blog... I will update you soon as I have that one up and running :)

Blogging About Blogs

Although I have only written one blog so far, I have been doing a lot of thinking about blogging and how I can make good use of them. I have even searched blogs related to special education to see what other teachers blog about. I found some interesting blogs, but not a lot of proof of students creating blogs.  Will Richardson's book, Blogs, Wikis, Podcasts, and Other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms, makes some great suggestions on what do with students. However, I am still struggling with how to make the tool accessible for my students. I was thinking a blog about books might be interesting . Students could use the blog space to share reviews, summaries, or thought of books they have read. It would be almost like a virtual book club. The one thing that kept coming to mind as I read about ideas and activities teachers could use blogs for were all of the activity structures we discussed in the summer semester of the ITS program. Although not exactly like keypals or some of the other projects we discussed, blogs allow students to interact globally. Blogging is something I will definitely keep in my repertoire for teaching, but have to figure out a good way to scaffold it for young children.

In the meantime, I am thinking about starting another blog outside of this teaching one because I am having a lot of fun writing my entries. Now the question is what topic can I focus on for my personal blog...? 

Amazing...?

So this blog entry is supposed to tell you who I am and what I care about. I think writing my autobiography here is not going to be interesting reading for anyone, so I have chosen to just write- spill my guts about what is on my mind. Hopefully, that will give you a sense of who I am and what I care about.

I teach first and second graders. They are smart, insightful, and absolutely hilarious. I tell people I am a special education teacher and they immediately tell me how amazing that is, how much patience I must have. I politely say thank you, but honestly, I don't think it is that amazing. Don't get me wrong, I love what I do. That's why I don't think I am that amazing. I teach kids to read and write and solve math problems just like any other teacher. Whenever someone tells me that what I do is amazing, I think what could they possibly think is amazing about it? I think they imagine that special education kids are "bad" in some way. When in reality the kids are the ones who are amazing. What people don't realize is that they are the ones with patience. They are the ones who learn to function in a room of 25 kids when they have ADHD. They are the ones who learn to read despite the fact that letters look backwards and upside down. They are the ones who are able to make friends (thank goodness for other caring and understanding 8 year olds!) when they have a language processing disorder and autism. They amaze me every step of the way, every single day. They are amazing and I am lucky. I am lucky that I get the chance to watch them learn, develop, and grow every single day.  I wouldn't choose any other career because I am so lucky.