This is just a test to see how images upload!  Diary of aWimpy Kid is about Greg Heffley and his school experiences.  It is a very funny story.  If you like it, you can read one of the other four books in the series, read the Diary of the Wimpy Kid Movie Book or create your own in the make it yourself journal.

Session5: Digital Tools for Information Usage and Collaboration

Various Tools and Resources to Locate, Analyze, Evaluate, and Use Information for Research and Learning

Some tools that my students have access to that aren’t free are both WorldBook and Britannica Online encyclopedias and the Kids InfoBits database.  These are great “entry level” tools that are useful in helping young students begin the research process.  I teach them how to access and use the tool then monitor and support as they research curriculum content which then is followed by a creative use of the information they have collected to further their application and usage of technology tools to create a variety of products.

Inclusion of research models such as The Big 6 and graphic organizers such as those found at Teacher Vision or Web English Teacher Graphic Organizers can provide students with a framework as they learn to locate, use, and record information available from various sources.

No matter which tools you choose and use, the SmartBoard provides an excellent tool to introduce how to access and how to use any of the technology tools available. In addition, there are many excellent sites that have dozens of activities that can help students learn to evaluate and use information.  Multiple links for SmartBoard usage are bookmarked in my http://www.portaportal.com/ account with Guest Access TBCapstone. 

Digital Tools for Communicating and Collaborating with Diverse Audiences

There are several tools even elementary students can use to collaborate, provided they’re not filtered out!  ePals is a site that is very useful for students to collaborate with others across the world or accros the country.   Wikispaces provides free and easy to access space for students to collaboratively share ideas and create content.  Edublogs and Blogger could serve about the same purpose as Wikispaces.  Google Docs is a great collaborative tool and has a lot of potential for all learners, but it wouldn’t be my first choice for an introductory tool for young elementary students as there are so many components and sometimes it can be challenging to get your files where you want them.  As an adult learner and educator I would consider using any of the above tools to collaborate with peers.   

Session 4 Creativity and Innovation

Ways Students Can Use Digital Tools and Resources to Enhance Creative and Innovating Thinking

Elementary students benefit from instruction in using basic resources such as informational databases, online encyclopedias, website evaluation and navigation, and other electronic resources.  When students are exposed to a variety of graphic organizers and are allowed to use various digital tools (Microsoft Office PowerPoint, VoiceThread, Microsoft PhotoStory 3, Make Belief Comics, Museum Box, etc.) they become engaged in the learning process, research with a purpose, and are able to create projects that showcase their learning in ways that are relevant and engaging to them and. they are building skills that will help them become successful learners and more prepared citizens for our increasingly digital world.  Everyone is not doing the same print report.  They can pick and choose what works best for them as learners and content creators. 

Some examples of student lessons that enhance creativity and student thinking:

1.  Students research animal habitats then make digital trading cards using Microsoft Excel templates or create their own templates based on age and ability.

2.  Students research their favorite author and make PhotoStory 3 presentations that give biographical information as well as book talks for younger students.

3.  Students research a historical figure and create a Museum Box to showcase that person’s talents and contributions to society.

4.  Students create and post to a blog to discuss their favorite authors or series.

5.  Students use VoiceThreads to create PSAs regarding researched earth care tips, best books, etc.

Technology-based Learning Activities to Engage Students in Critical Thinking, Creativity, and Authentic Problem Solving Centered on Real World Issues

Technology-based learning activities afford educators a great opportunity to tie in current events, even in elementary school.  For example, when there is an earthquake, typhoon, or other natural weather phenomena, 4^th grade students could research the weather phenomenon using databases or bookmarked relevant and authoritative websites to determine its cause, measurement/severity, etc. and then focus on the impact on people and research potential solutions.  Information could be exchanged with others using Skype and students could develop plans or activities that could support those in need.  There are also opportunities to tie in geography with plotting where such events occur and looking for geographical patterns. 

Technology-based Learning Activities to Promote Student Reflection using Collaboraitve Tools

Blogs:  One easily accessible tool that allows students the opportunity to collaboratively share and build information would be the use of blogs.  The opportunities to share information through blogging are nearly endless:  book reviews, recording of field trip knowledge and events, sharing of results of experiments, etc.  There are blogging opportunities for any curriculum area. 

Glogster:  Glogster allows students to create a visual and auditory response or reflection using a free and easy way to make digital posters which could then be shared in either an online gallery or showcased in print form in the school library, classroom, or hallway.

I saw an idea while reading one of the articles in which art students used Flickr to evaluate art pictures by uploading comments directly onto the digital, online photos to record their reflections and analyses.

Conclusion:

There are multiple tools and activities that can support our 21^st century learners and so many ways to make learning engaging and to differentiate instruction to meet the needs of our students.  With so many options, bookmarking sites such as Portaportal can be very useful for teachers to organize the vast array of tools and activities.  I have several portaportals: 

Tbritt63 for instructional activities and resources for student use,

Tbritt11 with  tech tools A to Z that I can use with my students,

TBCapstone for information resources I can use as an educator,

TBRT for my Readers’ Theatre information

I believe all teachers should try to take their learners from where they are to where they need to be and in 2010 that certainly includes employing a wide variety of technology tools and activities that will help prepare our students for a successful life in our modern world. 

Session3: Assessment and Rubrics

The Value of Reflection

There are millions of ways to be a great teacher and zillions of ways to make learning engaging.  Even the best teachers need continued professional development that encourages them to evaluate what, how, and why they do what they do.  Reflection enables us to re-evaluate what we do, to create plans to help us maximize what we do, and to infuse new, neglected, or forgotten tools back into the educational process to the benefit of ourselves and our students.

Assessment

I find the amount of time students have to endure summative assessments in 2010 alarming.  Yes, it is an important piece of the evaluative process, but it is consuming too much time to the detriment of teaching and the fear and stress associated with it from the top down affects not only morale, but also the education our students are receiving.  How much better the time would be spent on more project based learning, peer collaboration, scientific exploration, and engaging lessons rather than more practice on how to take a test! 

The increase in formative assessments and data driven instruction are two very strong trends in education currently that truly do impact student learning in a positive way.  We are losing many opportunities to fully engage and appreciate more learners when we rely most heavily on a handful of summative assessments that undervalue the achievements of many who could be educational superstars if their needs were met and their abilities appreciated for the contributions they make. 

I loved how the Edutopia article stated that skills such as teamwork, collaboration and moral character are among those critical to success that aren’t measured by typical standardized tests.   In addition, the critical skills needed for students in the 21^st century- recall, analysis, comparison, inference, and evaluation- are all essential components to success in project-based learning.

Rubrics and Project Based Learning

One item that I truly believe in that I’ve neglected in recent years is the use of rubrics.  I love rubrics!  Creating the rubrics helps the educator clarify their expectations, identify their priorities, and provides a tool to communicate the expectations for successful completion of the task to their students.  Of all the professional development sessions sponsored by my school system through the years, I will say the two most beneficial were those about Rubrics and Thinking Maps graphic organizers.  That said- I don’t use them as much as I could in the library.  Since these discussions on Project Based Learning and the refresher on Rubrics I am committed to employing them more as I move forward this year. Well-designed rubrics support your visual learners by providing an easy-to-understand, brief visual recap of your expectations, your auditory learners as you introduce and explain the rubric, and your tactile learners as they have a piece of paper they can manipulate and write notes on, use as a checklist, etc.   It’s easy to tell your learners what you expect, but showing them helps ensure that they are on target and also helps them learn what a quality product must include.

Porfolios and Multiple Intelligences

Portfolios are an excellent way to showcase both student growth and student ability without the confines of standardized testing.  Not every child excels in "test taking" but that doesn't mean they don't possess valuable skills in other areas.  Every teacher should have more to offer during conferences than test scores.  Actual work samples, especially when collected throughout the year, can document student growth in a way standardized testing cannot. 

When I taught first grade I did a simple "portfolio" as a keepsake for the parents.  On the first day of school I took a picture of each student, had them write their name 5x on a piece of primary lined paper, draw a self-portrait, and write their first story, and would have my assistant record their answers on an apple pre-printed with "fifteen favorites" (ie: color, food, etc.).  We would repeat these exact same activities in June and I would put each entry side-by-side so parents could see the amazing growth their child achieved during first grade.  It's amazing how much those few simple samples provided.

Session2: PBL and UDL

Project Based Learning

There has never been a better time to implement Project Based Learning (PBL) in the classroom.  Educators with computer access in their classrooms have never had a wider variety of tools available to meet the needs of their students, to engage their learners, or to differentiate instruction to make learning relevant and meaningul for every student.  One concept that I really thought was critical to the success of PBL from a student standpoint would be that of empowering learners through 'voice and choice.'  When students have some ownership of their work/projects they are much more motivated and involved.  Such ownership affords students the opportunity to choose projects of interest in line with their preffered learning modes and individual strengths.

As a teacher, I think I'm well on the path to PBL, but have to determine how to move further down the road.  Due to the fact that I am elementary and very interested in infusing technology into the curricular content, I do much of the initial instruction on using various technologies such as databases, online encyclopedias, Microsoft PowerPoint, etc.  I may be wrong, but currently I feel that this instruction is critical as how can they use what they do not know.  If I don't teach them how to use the tools and give them opportunity to practice, how would they be able to manage PBL with no 'bag of tricks' so to speak?  The time factor is also an issue as I have a fixed schedule in which I only see my 4th/5th graders for instruction every other week.  I expose them to as many difference resources and tools as I possibly can to prepare them for middle school, but employing full blown PBL given these time constraints is a challenge.  Some of my lessons already cover 2 to 3 sessions meaning a time lapse of 4-6 weeks.  Certain lessons can be adapted for such a schedule, others not so much.

Universal Design for Learning

Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a great way to build student enthusiasm for learning.  As our student population and their needs become more and more diverse, it is an exciting concept to build learning opportunities that allow students celebrate their uniqueness and talents while extending the range of tools available to meet various learning styles and intelligences.  I like that all tools are available to all students so those with special needs have a better opportunity to blend in rather than be singled out. 

I was able to bookmark several sites, some under Planning Resources and others under UDL that provided multiple resources, templates, and professional development oppportunities to help me continue to broaden my understanding and application of PBL and UDL in my library.  I believe that if more teachers applied the concepts of PBL and UDL with  incorporation of 21st century skills, we would see the dropout rate decline and that the increased engagement of students would translate into a better prepared workforce. 

In conclusion:
One of the things that bothers me about education in general is how many classrooms today still look like the classrooms of my youth.  To think that so little has changed in these classrooms with all of the technological advances of the past 20 years is both insane and criminal.  Our nations' dropout rate speaks for itself.  Too many learners are checking out leaving their futures grim and society picking up the tab for lost productivity, social assistance, and overcrowded jail cells.  We need to do a better job of engaging all learners and maximizing the development of individual intelligences therefore increasing the number of successful and productive citizens.

We are losing too many learners, as Daniel Pink, author of Drive:  the Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, states that the secret to high performance and satisfaction whether at school, work, or home is our need to direct our lives, to learn and create new things, and to enrich ourselves and our world.  I interpret this to mean that our students win when PBL, UDL, and 21st Century Skills are the core of their learning.  What is more powerful and more critical to the future success of our nation than empowering today's learners and tomorrow's leaders?