Natalie Laverne Shirley Jackson
Week 4 Application
01/30/2013
I began
to carry out my game plan this week. I have read and introduced on numerous
occasions the importance of opinion writing to my students and we are starting
to put that into practice in the classroom. Monday I introduced my students to
Prezi and Powerpoint and we discussed the differences among those two options for
their writing and technology assignment. I created a study island writing
assignment on www.studyisland.com for
the students to complete on their own time to have practice with opinion writing
and the techniques that are needed when doing persuasive writing.
My
colleagues in the building have been very supportive; in fact, the other third
grade teachers are following my lead and also trying these new things with their
students. As this week passes I hope to have the students explore Prezi and
PowerPoint on their own during one of our computer times, while also working on
their persuasive topic in class.
I look
forward to the next few weeks and watching the students in the classroom learns
how to navigate and organize their ideas and thoughts on different technology
programs on the computer. I feel this type of assessment will engage the students
and therefore their writing will show their strengths.
Hi Natalie,
ReplyDeleteI think study island is a great resource! We use to use it at our school but for some reason we do not have access to it anymore. Prezi is such a great program to use because it allows for so much creativity. It is also a good way to help them formulate their thoughts and organize their ideas before they start writing. Prezi will give them a way to do that other than pencil and paper. Great idea!
Jana
Hi Natalie,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great resource studyisland.com. I have never heard of it before but it looks like a great tool to use in the classroom. I agree with Jana about Prezi. It allows so much creativity and I have found my students to really think outside of the box when they are using it. You said you plan on allowing your children to use your computer time to explore PowerPoint and Prezi, but how often do your kids get into the computer lab for research like this? In our building the children are only in the computer lab every other week unless the teacher signs up for additional time, which usually only happens in the upper grades.
Sounds like you already have found some success and I look forward to hearing about your continued journey.
Have a great weekend!
Tricia
Hi Natalie,
ReplyDeleteIt sounds like you have had a quick and productive start to your GAME plan … at least compared to me. You seemed to have implemented several digital tools into one lesson/activity. I have not used Study Island, but I am a big fan of Prezi. That is one of the coolest websites out there. I have never implemented a lesson or project, but I have played around with it in the past. How did you find the time to design these projects around them?
Sometimes I think that I am putting too much pressure on myself when it comes to implementing these digital tools. I feel that they have to type up a formal lesson and instruction sheet, with rubric and time frames. I am trying to be a little more spontaneous with the digital tools I’ve been introduced with lately, just giving students small tasks to complete using them. Over time, I’m sure I’ll create and implement more in depth activities, but right now just testing out how the students can handle them, and the allotted time needed to complete these tasks is good enough. I’m discovering a lot about my students, and getting a lot of ideas about how to incorporate some digital tools more in the future.
Just yesterday I had students prove two mathematical theorems using www.geogera.org. I gave them a quick demonstration, then let them explore the tools and discover the theorems. It worked out great, and I know next year I can extend this assignment into a two day project. I think that all of the digital tools just take time, and a lot of practice.
Great thoughts, and good luck on your GAME plan.
Daniel
Natalie,
ReplyDeleteI think it is great that you are getting others involved with using technology in the classroom. When an entire grade-level of teachers are on the same level in terms of implementing technology in the classroom, it just opens up that many more resources that you can get ideas from. It is also great that you are getting kids exposed to these tools so early in their development. Once when they get to the high school to take my algebra class, they will be experts on the technology! Congrats on the progress.
Brian