Image

Using Foto Flexer, I inserted a woman's face on a caveman's body. I also applied a flashy star sticker to the upper right hand corner of the photo and applied a sketch like effect. This is such a simple process that can enable students (and adults like me) who struggle to produce attractive renderings of their mental images, to produce an artistic and professional looking piece of work that better represents what they are thinking.

The Power of Digital Media

This diagram shows the benefits of using digital media vs. traditional media to meet the diverse needs of all learners.

Standard

I am using the following standard as a target of focus this semester:


Discipline: English/Language Arts

Grade Level: 5-8

Producing Texts/Content Standard 2: Students will produce written, oral and visual texts to express, develop and substantiate ideas and experiences.


I find that since the first day of class I have been spending a great deal of time trying to think of effective ways to link visual learning with digital imagery. Following class last week, I was very excited when I found out that not only did my students have access to Kidspiration, but I could access Inspiration from my very own desktop as well. (The school purchased the software a few years ago, but neglected to show anybody how to use it!) I have been using it ever since.


Expository Writing - In the past, I used the "expository pillar," a linear organizer, to help students plan and organize their essays. If, after using the "pillar," their essays still lacked organization, students would write each paragraph on a separate index card in an effort to maintain a separate and distinct focus for each one. Needless to say, students were not happy about rewriting their work, but the visual did help some students understand the format better. Kidspiration eliminates this frustration.


Yesterday, I used it during writing with a student who jumbled together his intro, 3 main ideas, and conclusion in one paragraph. Using Kidspiration, we wrote the intro in the first link, underlining each of the three main ideas. Next, we linked the first main idea to the intro. "This is awesome!" was his response. Almost immediately, he created the last three links to the remaining main ideas and conclusion. Using copy and paste, he moved his relevant details from his word document to the appropriate links in Kidspiration and was delighted with his success. Over the past week, I have also showed my daughter how to use Inspiration to prepare notes for her science and Spanish tests, and brainstorm ideas for an English paper. She told me that the format helps her maintain a focus, or "think INSIDE the box."

Besides writing, I see applications in all the subjects I teach. In science, Inspiration can be used to show cause and effect, or maintain a focus for research. In math, it can be used to isolate digits in large numbers to illustrate the rules for rounding. And in reading, it can show how a plot develops, or trace chararacter change throughout a book. I hope my SmartBoard arrives soon so I can utilize this tool more efficiently.

Technology

When our tech expert is not available, teachers come looking for me. I have used a variety of word processing applications for many years, as well as PowerPoint and Excel, and can always find an easy way to organize someone's ideas using a table or chart. I am not afraid of the computer and I am always looking for new applications that will make the administrative part of teaching easier.

Teddy Bears

This project reminds me of the one my daughter's kindertgarten teacher initiated more than 10 years ago to get her students excited about writing. Every weekend, the class bear and journal would travel home with a different student. The student was expected to record the bear's activities in the journal through the use of illustrations, photos, and/or words. Then, on Monday morning, the student would share his or her entries with the whole class. When my daughter brought the bear home, I was surprised to see that only the first few entries had been completed entirely by the students. Six weeks into the project, parents had completely taken over the storytelling and recording. While I think the Teddy Bear blog is a great way to get students excited about writing, I would think twice before giving them access at home if I planned to use it as an assessment tool since parents have a tendency to take over projects completed at home.

eTIPS

I agree with the author that technology in the classroom is most effective when certain conditions are in place. First and foremost, the technology needs to be in place and in good working condition. For example, I have 5 PCs in my classroom. Last year, I waited more than 6 weeks for the hard drives to be replaced. That limited my students' abilities to complete works in progress and made for a great deal of frustration.

I also agree that administrators cannot assume that teachers who know how to use various types of software, also know how to use them in ways that enhance learning. Last year, I had a group of students who were very skillful when it came to using a word processor. During a mini writing unit that focused on revision, I taught them how to move sections of text, use the thesaurus, and turn on "track changes." Making revisions was no longer a laborious chore - it was something they looked forward to. Their typed drafts were easier to read, moving text to another place in the piece made it easier to reread for fluency, and "track changes" made it possible for them (and me!) to clearly see the amount of work that went into each piece. When I shared my success story with other teachers, they were not as open to the idea because they did not feel comfortable with the software.

Finally, I thought the most valuable part of the article was found at the end. The questions she includes for consideration are very helpful when planning lessons to make sure that the technology portion is actually enhancing learning. They are also helpful during discussions with administrators who are continually pushing teachers to utilize technology everyday - especially when discussing the time and support teachers need to understand the capabilities of the software, learn how to use the software, practice using the software, and plan effective lessons that integrate the software.

Flowers

Here are some pictures of the flowers in my garden.

My first blog

Now I know how to blog. I wonder who is using my personal and work email out there!