Blog post3_201013_week1

This is my artistic endeavour using Cacoo. Something of what my students will be able to do once they log into this site. I am really excited about this.

Blog post3_201001_week1_Action Research

At work, we are now creating our curriculum maps, we have to keep & constantly update data binders. Also, we have created inquiry groups-- I have to choose a few students, set goals, implement strategies to use, tools I'll be using, etc. All that on top of what is required in this course.

The good thing is that I am going to 'kill 2 birds with 1 stone' and use the same data for both my Action Research (AR) and my inquiry team. That will make life a little easier.

I now have 4 critical friends in place.

Cacoo_Web2.0_ blogpost3_201001_ week1

Loved Cacoo, I signed up for the free membership immediately. Yesterday, I wanted to be able to draw some cool organizers for my students, didn't want to use the tool in Word and wasn't sure that Lucidchart would be it either. Today, I find Cacoo and I'm in love. (Haha)

This site has what a non artisan like my self need, it can bring what I have in my head on the paper/board and I know my students wont be wondering what it is I am trying to represent to them.

Whenever I give drawing assignments, my artistically challenged students always are opposed to it, now here is a site that will make things so much easier for them (and me). I can't say enough good things, I am so excited about it.

Here's how I would introduce my students to the site (I'd have to talk with the Technology teacher as I only have 2 computers in my room and I would want all my students using the tools at the same time). My lesson plan would be centered around students visiting the site and playing around with images, stencils, drawing tools, etc. They would create their own masterpiece. The next time/day we would go back and I would have the students use the tools to recreate a scene or a place, for example, main office, classroom, scene from a reading, chart.... Doing this would familiarize them with tools and make them comfortable with the site.

For homework, I would have students go into the site to correct whatever they feel is necessary or correct according to my suggestions. They do not have to use the computers at school to gain access to the site (another great thing about (Cacoo).

For the students who don't have a computer at home and/or no Internet, they could go to the public library or else go to the compute room after school to complete the homework assignment.

This would lead up to the group project. Usually I would have one person in the group being the artist, but with this site, everyone can showcase their creative side. The work also can be edited from anywhere, anytime.

Blog post2_201001_week1

feed://teachingteachers.com/?feed=rss2

This is the RSS feed on Teaching Teachers, I chose this blog, because I really like digital storytelling and I don't want to fall into the trap of doing the wrong thing and thinking I am doing the right thing.

feed://feeds.feedburner.com/DEN-DigitalStorytelling

As I said, I really like digital storytelling and what it could do for my group of struggling readers and so as I become more accustomed to what it is and using it more, there is still alot that I need to 'perfect'.

feed://www.edutopia.org/crss/node/6185

Edutopia was mentioned as a good tool, and I do love Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligence Theory. I know that all my students can achieve if I am truly able to tap into their 'major' intelligence and bring them into whatever knowledge I am trying to impart through that intelligence.

http://feeds.feedburner.com/AboutUsWikiWeblog

Although I have never been a lover of Math, I find it much easier to teach than ELA. The students do a better job at it too, so what better way than to combine that with some online learning to boot!

http://www.reformation21.org/blog/2010/01/rules-for-writing-well.php

Even I could use some rules for writing... so I will use this website as much to help me as it is to aid my students as well....

ETC

This is such an exciting time in the world of technology for me. I enjoyed creating iGoogle, infact I chatted with my sister right after I created it. I have a brother living in Ja. and so this is a great way to communicate with him instantly...