Project #12 Part A

Project #15 Lesson Plan #3

The Water Cycle

You can view my Water Cycle Lesson Plan. It is a plan that incorporates technology and art as students learn the phases in the Water Cycle and teach the cycle to a virtual audience.

C4K March 2014

C4K March #1

Meet Kama

Kama is a 1st Grade boy in Mrs. She's class. He is a student at the Pt. England School in, Auckland New Zealand. Kama was new to Mrs. She's class 18 and had his picture posted on the class blog. Because he did not have an assignment posted I was unable to comment on his work. I was able to introduce myself, tell where I live and include how to pronounce my name and city. I hope to see his work soon and am looking forward to his reply. I really want to know how he pronounces his name, Kama.
C4K March #2
Meet Memory

Memory is a year 4 student attending the Pt. England School in Auckland, New Zealand. Her recent blog was about her love of swimming. She is taking swim lessons and really enjoys it. I shared with her that my children swim, the name of our swim club and their favorite strokes. I hope she gets to Google West Mobile Swim Club. I also hope to learn the name of her swim team and her favorite stroke when she swims.

C4K March #3
Meet Paige
Paige is a Year 8 student at Pt. England School in Auckland, New Zealand. She recently posted her Maths Think Board. Here it is.

It is exciting to see how she is able to create her own digital representation of the problem. How fun is this? She is not looking at a copied picture, but she is solving the problem, explaining how it was solved and creating an image to support her explanation. I want to know how to create these images. I want to spend some time at Pt. England school myslef. Can we schedule a field trip?

Sir Ken Robinson

What do Abraham Lincoln, gardening and dreams have in common?
According to Sir Ken Robinson, education shares a common thread with Abraham Lincoln, gardening and dreams. In a speech Lincoln gave to Congress in December 1862 he said that our leadership needed to "disenthrall" themselves from the old way of thinking and problem solving in order to save our nation. Mr. Robinson says the same change in thinking needs to occur within education. The focus needs to shift toward our greatest natural resource, the talents of students, and no longer revolve around the processes we use to educate children. Organic gardening is one of the latest crazes, requiring extra time, patience and money. In organic gardening much of the work is done with the tools, soil and seeds you already possess. There is no need to purchase fancy fertilizers, weed killers or genetically modified seeds. You take the seeds available, plant them and, this is the most important step, give them the proper growing environment. Applying this concept to education means the main goal is not making sure children have information tossed at them with the goal of passing a test as motivation or as the end result. Instead, children are in an environment free of artificial teaching that comes in the form of the endless lecture and test cycle. Children are in classrooms that feel natural, full of activity and technology that seem natural to children. I personally do not believe a quiet classroom means the children are learning. It does mean they are well managed. Organic opportunities such as art lead to the next ingredient. Passion. As students engage in topics, activities, stories, and conversations about which they are passionate learning is a natural, organic product. Children can not help but learn, explore, question, challenge, consider and think about those things that interest them.
Mr. Robinson is encouraging an overall shift toward the passions and needs of children and away from the egos of those adults making decisions regarding their education. Too often education sits on the chopping block when budgets become tight. It is all too common that education is thrown into the center of a political frenzy. Isn't it ironic that those who suffer from the political agendas of others are not even old enough to vote? Robinson's final charge speaks volumes to educators, and, as a society, we need to listen carefully, too. We live in a world that does not cherish nor encourage our children to be what they are...children. Society forces them to grow up way to quickly, school introduces children to stress with non stop testing, parents are much too busy rushing to the next event to recognize the quiet plea for rest and teachers do not have time to find out what motivates children because scores are front and center. Education must become about engaging students. The current system might produce the smartest child in the world, but what good does it do the child or society if along they way their spirit is crushed? Mr. Robinson wants us to consider that "Everyday, everywhere children spread their dreams beneath our feet. We should tread softly.".

Blog Post #9 Mrs. Cassidy

First Grade With Mrs. Cassidy
Mrs. Cassidy teaches 1st Grade, but she does it with a technological flair. About 13 years ago her class was given 5 computers, and in an effort to utilize them she began her technology journey. Since the computers could only access the internet, no programs could be loaded onto them, she began searching for sites that would support curriculum and lessons she was teaching. With the support of key staff, things began to happen. Now, 13 years later, her class of first graders blog regularly, make and post movies, present their work to an international audience and enjoy the fruit of an audience consisting of more than their teacher.
Mrs. Cassidy approaches the use of technology with an attitude of discovery. She admits to not knowing how to use all of it, learning and expanding the work of other professionals and focusing on what she can do with her class. Not all teachers in her school want to learn how technology works, but she does not focus on changing their minds but on doing her best for her students. She encourages new teachers to begin their journey by deciding what interests them. Is is videos? Learn how to utilize YouTube. Is it photography? See how Flickr works. Is writing your passion? Build a blog. Identify what your favorite thing is and then begin searching.
Some of the problems I foresee are the attitudes of parents and administration. I need to be ready with ways I will keep children safe. Mrs. Cassidy's policy is to teach children to use only their first name, never associate a picture with a name, and stay on web sites the teacher gives. To further clarify, she tells her students to stay in the middle of the web site she sends them to and for them to stay away from the flashing lights on the perimeter of their screen. This also leads me to my second concern. How do I find enough credible sites to support the lessons I am expected to teach? The best solution for that can be my new best friend and enemy, Twitter. Twitter truly has the ability to expand access to incredible, credible sites, professionals and places that will enhance any class lesson. My biggest hurtle is doing it and understanding how it works. I was relieved when she said she felt silly when she began to use it. I keep wondering who really cares if I tweet? But, I must keep trying.
The major benefit of using blogs, wikis or YouTube is excitement. I never considered how excited a child would be to have grand parents and other relatives replying to their blog posts. Children would want to do it more frequently and get better because they have an authentic audience. The younger the child, the greater the potential for a future that easily transitions into a collaborative position. Collaborating can be difficult for many people, but if a child gradually learns the skill the transition would be seamless. Confidence is another product. Success on the smallest level breeds more success. Students are familiar with numerous technologies so using it in class is second nature. It leaves one less thing for a struggling student to over come. Students who are confident succeed.
I will use PLNs and Twitter to expand my arsenal of ever-changing technologies in my classroom. I will use blogging to let the world and Dr. Strange know how much I and my students are learning. I will use technology that is not even discovered because I just know I am going to learn about it through my PLN and Twitter!

Blog Post #8 New Technology

What is Aurasma?
Aurasma is an app supported on Android and Apple phones and tablets. Getting started is easy. It is so easy, in fact, that I was able to do it. After downloading the app onto your device, you begin transforming images aka "triggers" into digital experiences for those viewing your trigger photo. Imagine the typical book report. Students supply the author, illustrator, details from the plot and perhaps how they felt about the book. This is typed or written, presented to the class or simply passed into the teacher. The only people who benefit from this type of project is the teacher and maybe those students who stay awake during the reports delivery. Now imagine the same book report using the Aurasma app. The student uses their Android or Apple phone or table to record a video of them explaining the book. Next, they take a picture of the book jacket. Then, in the Aurasma app the picture of the book jacket is turned into a "trigger". Now each student, teacher, parent, friend or administrator with the Aurasma app can hold their device over a photo of the book jacket and have the student's recording play automatically.
This app can be found on the app store or at Aurasma.com. This app is FREE!


I wanted to add this after viewing the Langwitches Blog. This post was originally by Dr. Silvana Meneghini. Visit her at The Edge Blog to see other ideas, applications and directions.

To get a better picture of how the app is used take a peek at this video below.



One of the biggest questions is how can this technology be used in a classroom? The following video explains how high school students use Aurasma for presenting projects and even scheduling conferences with their guidance counselors.



I like this app because it can transform any project into a self guided tour. It can connect parents to the classroom through verbal communication. Students can display their printed, painted, sculpted work in the library and personally explain their idea even if the student is not physically present. This technology allows students to be the author of their explanations on any project or topic. This can be a tool for those children struggling to write. They can create images and explain the water cycle instead of having to write the steps on paper. Teachers can create a class page and have assignments uploaded to the page where others can critique and view class projects. This is an exciting, engaging and fun use of techology.

I promise this is the last video. The students in this video are actually acting out the water cycle. This app actually encourages collaborative projects. Think of the international possibilities and the professional development that could occur by focusing on a single "trigger" image.

C4T #2

Meet Joe Bower

C4T#2 Post#1
Joe Bower is a teacher and resident in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. My first impression of Joe is that he is both a practical and compassionate man. He cares deeply for his students, but admits he has not always been passionate about teaching. This confession encouraged me as a teacher and mom. Joe reinforced a comment Dr. Strange made on Blog Post #5,"Teaching is hard, but so is learning." Joe is currently teaching in a local hospital that cares for students who are suffering with various mental health related issues. He must be working in a facility similar to the Lemoine School in Mobile, Alabama that is run by Alta Pointe Health Systems.
In Joe's most recent blog post he included a video by Stephen Krashen, a linguist at the University of Southern California. Mr. Krashen addresses how people learn language and argues that people learn language when they understand what is being said. This principle applies to almost every topic I can imagine, including the concepts in EDM 310. It has only been after reading and asking questions about this new "language" I am studying that I have been able to begin understanding what it is. Step 2 in the process is to determine how its used. I suppose I will be working on Step 2 the rest of my life.
Why are students today shutting down in the classroom? Why do students despise worksheets? The 21st Century student is quietly screaming for engagement. In the video a simple technique, pointing and repeating a phrase, brings greater understanding of the German language. Considering this simple example, how much more could our students understand and actively engage the learning process with tools that are familiar, meaningful and fun to use. Technological tools such as Discovery Education's Puzzle Maker, Kid Blog, and tablets, notebooks or iPads would move the focus from the drone of the teacher's voice to the movement created as the teacher models how to use technology for purposes other than entertainment. I feel a thesis coming on...As teachers avail themselves to the various, quality technological resources and tools, begin using the tools inside the classroom to model that technology is the "21st Century Textbook" and assigns projects that allow students to learn the use of these technologies (not teaching students how to use the technology), students will begin to have a love of learning, engage in meaningful conversation with their peers and teacher, and gain greater understanding of content and life skills, including problem solving and working together aka collaboration.
Another little jewel I found personally applicable was Joe's posts on the topic of why homework should be abolished. I will be digging into his blog a bit more and yes, he will be part of my PLN.

C4T#2 Post#2
Joe Bowers had an interesting topic on math. Which style of teaching should educators, school systems and parents embrace: the old style most adults grew up learning or the new math that has been rolling out in recent years? He points out that most adults are opposed to new ideas about education, math in particular, because they suffer from nostesia: a hallucinogenic mixture of 50% nostalgia and 50% amnesia that distorts rational thinking. He argues that much of the opposition regarding changes in math curriculum come from people who do not realize how poorly schools functioned in the "good old days". These people think the best days are behind us and the educational system needs to revert to the 1950s and 1930s. Never mind that drop out rates were as high as 80% and some children were encouraged to drop out by school officials! The other group seem to be those people who look at education through a political lens. The tendency to compare one nation's scores to another nation's without considering the myriad of variables that effect those scores. This side of the argument is more concerned with the scores students receive and not the level of understanding students reach. Neither of these positions lead to real change that results in students understanding, gaining useful knowledge, confidence and being important.

While change is difficult, it must occur. It may take time to become familiar with new ideas, methods, terminology or pedagogy, but change is essential to future success. Bowers argues that the crucial change needed is professional development, less focus on competitive testing and to focus on helping students understand "why" certain processes are followed in math instead of teaching the process.
I straddle the fence on this issue. While I agree new math is enabling students to think more critically, it can be tough to set aside the "old' way of thinking. Parents need to be very careful that their own confusion and frustration does not sabotage their child. I can become frustrated watching my children do their homework because I just do it they way I was taught. I have to remember that my negative speech about these new processes will only build a wall of misunderstanding for them and lead to an unhealthy view of change. Today's students will be successful. The older folks need to encourage students to apply themselves, ask questions and clarify uncertain concepts. The politicians need to stop throwing teachers under the bus and actually look at how had they work for the students. Most teachers are much more passionate about their students' success than any politician.

Project #9 Video Book Commentary

Group Las Vegas Discusses Mark Prensky's book Teaching Digital Natives.

You can also check out Group Las Vegas' Google Site for another view of our this conversation.

Project #14 Individual Lesson Plan

Why Is Blue Dog Blue?
In this project George Rodrigue's book Why Is Blue Dog Blue? will be read and discussed. Students will share how colors can be used to depict emotions, create a color name to describe an emotion they feel during certain situations and paint their own Blue Dog painting which will include the sentence, "When I ______, I paint Blue Dog _____." Students will record or be recorded saying their sentence while holding their Blue Dog painting. This video will be uploaded to their blogs or the class blog. Students will need to include a brief explanation about why they choose the name of their color and how it relates to what Blue Dog is doing. An example of this is ,"When I mow the grass, I paint Blue Dog sweaty." While the color of the sweat can be any color the student chooses, they need to explain why they choose to name the color "sweat". So they may say, "I painted Blue Dog "sweaty" because I get hot when I mow the grass."
Visit my lesson plan site to view the project calendar, project overview and rubric.

Blog Post #7

The Randy Pausch Effect
Since becoming a mother I have asked myself what things I would say to my children if I knew I only had a short time to live. Naturally, I would want them to know how much I love them, but what would I say to spur them on years after I was gone? How would I leave my legacy in a few spoken, written or recorded words? Randy Pausch did exactly what I have only thought about in his "Last Lecture".


Randy Pausch was a husband, father, son and brother. His passion was teaching. Listening to his lecture clarified how important it is to make learning an engaging event, view obstacles as opportunities to show others how badly I want to achieve, and to break the mold. As corny as this may sound, teaching is the most important job in society. That is precisely why parenting is so hard. Parents are their child's first teacher and continue the role well past the sweet preschool years. To be a good teacher means taking the "arrows" in the back just like Randy Pausch. Then use the arrows to motivate you, teach you, and fuel your determination. Teaching is a constant pursuit; always be ready to learn. Pausch says that teaching is the best place to enable childhood dreams. The passion of the teacher effects the student and the excitement of the students' effects the teacher's passion. Being a teacher is important!
Learning is just as much for teachers as it is for students. Teachers learn how to make learning fun by engaging students in activities that feel like playing a game but actually teach valuable lessons. Teachers learn how to accept criticism from students' attitudes, parents' questions, a principals' observation and peers' taunts and sarcasm. Teachers learn to adapt to the brick walls that go up in the classroom, curriculum, discipline, time management, budget cuts and school assemblies. Teachers learn how to say they don't know in a way that encourages students to share what makes them excited about learning a certain lesson. Teachers learn that by not being the smartest, best teacher, they in fact, become the teacher who, Randy believes, is able to demonstrate how to respect authority while questioning it.
Teaching and learning require each other. In order to teach one must be willing to learn how to relate to and motivate those under their authority. Teachers need to be teachable.

Project #13

The Eye of the Storm
This is a collaborative lesson plan created my Nancee Dehoff, Angela Garrone, Kevin Reese and Kelsey Bramlett. In this lesson students will discuss concepts they know about hurricanes or have previously experienced, during or after a hurricane. After watching a hurricane hunter in action, students will begin searching iCurio and A to Z Teacher Stuff the students will create a collaborative crossword puzzle, Google Presentation and present their presentation. After completing this assignment the students will have gained hurricane awareness by recognizing important terms related to a hurricane's development, being able to follow predicted land falls and being able to create their own hurricane supply list.
Visit EDM Las Vegas 2 to view our Project Overview, Project Calendar and Project Rubric.