Publishing Photos

Two weeks ago, I sent a release form home with each student to gain permission to use photographs on our class blog.  (See the post below titled Family Privacy-To Post or Not to Post)  Many parents chose to allow their child's picture to be used in this documentation process so look for new photographs soon.  Hopefully, viewing photos will help you visualize what it looks like when students are using technology in the classroom.

Reading Instruction and Technology

Listening to reading is an important component of literacy instruction.  When children listen to experienced readers, they too become better readers.  In my classroom, I have struggled to offer students with a way to listen to reading.  As a relatively new teacher, I have access to an old cassette player, yet audio books are so much easier to access through iTunes or available mostly by CD.  This created a problem for me.  I wanted to implement this read to self option for Daily Five reading instruction, but I didn't have the right materials.  Recently, I began purchasing these stories from iTunes and collecting the books through book clubs or used book sales.  I also began importing my books on CD to my iTunes account and linking them to pictures of the book covers to make selection of the audio file and the actual book easier.  For the first time today, students were able to easily listen to new and favorite stories.  Since I have not yet had time to sync these stories to the iPod touches, I trained four children to be "team leaders."  These children easily selected already downloaded books from my MacBook and their groups were able to listen to stories that were too difficult for them to read independently during their selected time.  They fell in love! 

As I reflect on the "listening to reading" experience today, there are many positives.  Students were engaged with high quality literature while I worked with small groups and some groups were able to use high level cooperation strategies to choose books together.  Everyone agreed that the time they spent listening to reading was fun.  However, I am thinking about making some improvements because, as with any new thing that is introduced, there were some glitches.  When groups chose stories that I had only one hard copy of, it was hard for each child to see the pages and words  It was also hard for one group to agree upon a book to listen to and much time was wasted in the decision making process.  Syncing these books to individual iPod Touches would be beneficial because both of these problems would be avoided.  Students would feel that they had a choice in book choosing, which helps teaching them an important skill: how to choose appropriate books.  As I work to perfect this independent reading instruction option, I will let you know what works and what doesn't.

Responding to the 2011 Horizon Report

The Horizon Report is an annual report created to showcase up and coming media and technology.  Members of a board examine and rate new media and technology and this research is used to create a report outlining technologies that are likely to be mainstreamed into daily lives and education within the next five years.  "On the near-term horizon" technologies are likely to take off within the next 12 months, while "the second adoption horizon" and "looking to the far term horizon" tools and technologies are likely to be more fully developed and usable within the next five years.  This blog post will focus on electronic books, a "on the near-term horizon" technology, because reading instruction is at the forefront of the professional development that is occurring at my school and is a personal interest of mine.  However, each of the 6 described emerging technologies are very interesting and more information and the full Horizon Report can be accessed at http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2011-Horizon-Report.pdf .

Many, if not most of us, are aware that literature has become available online in recent years.  In the context of everyday life, many people choose electronic books over old fashioned books.  However, as the article mentions, when we download and read this text, we are simply accessing electronic copies of a typical book.  This creates a convenient way to carry around several titles at once but does not really facilitate interaction.  This report states that electronic books will become more interactive in the coming months as the technology continues to be developed.  In the context of the classroom, where we as educators are working hard to teach students to make connections, think critically, and comprehend what they are reading, this could be a really powerful addition to our reading instruction.

Currently in my classroom, students have access to apps called "Moving Picture Books" on the iPod Touches.  These books, though not interactive, use moving, bright colorful pictures, as well as a text highlighting feature, to keep students engaged in the story.  The students are very excited to participate in reading these stories because they do keep their attention.  I can only imagine the added layer of interaction that the Horizon Report suggests is just around the corner.  I feel that students would gain a tremendous amount from this technology.

Now curious, I will continue to research this up and coming instructional tool and share that information with you on this blog.  If you are currently dabbling in the use of this technology, please share any information that you have.

Student and Family Privacy--To Post or Not to Post

As I work to develop this blog, an important question has been raised about posting photos taken of my students during the day in the classroom.  As technology-using teachers with many opportunities to publish photos of our students, we need to be conscious about their privacy and security, as well as school and district policies about using photographs.  As suggested by the Director of Instruction in my school division, I will gain permission to use photographs and videos on my website by sending home a permission form.  I will make sure to maintain the privacy of those students who do not have permission to appear on my blog and will ensure that I never use a student's full name if their parents give permission.

If you need to get permission to use pictures on your blog or other published site, feel free to make changes and send home the permission slip below.

Dear Parents,

Our class has an exciting opportunity to create a blog documenting our use of technology as a learning tool in the classroom.  We will include photographs and videos taken during the school day on our blog posts.  When using these photos, I will ensure that your child’s identity is kept private by not using his/her last name, school name, or other sensitive information.  As always, I value your opinion and wishes.  Please indicate below that you give permission for your child’s picture to appear on our class blog.  If you have any comments, suggestions, or special wishes regarding this issue, please write them in the space provided or contact me by phone or email. 

Feel free to check out our blog at __________________________

Thanks so much!

 ________________________________________________________________________

I give permission for my child’s photograph or video recording to be posted on the blog (http://www.blogname.com/).

Child’s Name ________________________________________________

Parent’s Signature ____________________________________  Date ______________

Please do not use my child’s photograph or video recording on the (http://www.blogname.com/)

Child’s Name ________________________________________________

Parent’s Signature ____________________________________  Date ______________

Comments, Suggestions, Special Wishes

What If Education Came to Life?

What if education moved us?  See this inspiring video. 

21st Century Education

This is a video I viewed in a current class that I am taking at Radford University.  It is an eye-opening and thought provoking presentation about how 21st century learners, otherwise referred to as "Digital Natives" learn.  Check it out and feel free to leave your comment below. 

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog!  Its creation is my most recent endeavor in experimenting with how to best use technology in the classroom.  My goal is to use exciting, accessible ways to engage students meaningfully. I will use this blog to showcase student progress and work samples, as well as provide stories about my experiences.  My goal is two-fold; to enhance student learning and create a personal learning network where educators, parents, and students can share ideas and anecdotes.  Please feel free to join in on the conversations by leaving comments, suggestions, and/or ideas so we can learn from each other.

Let's start with a little background information.  I am a very fortunate Kindergarten teacher in Southwest Virginia with access to a variety of technology in my classroom because of my school district's participation in an exciting grant opportunity from Apple.  It is a partnership between Radford University and local schools in the area.  My students benefit because they have, at their fingertips, iPod touches, and macbook computers, as well as the standard technology that our district already had.   As the teacher, I am often excited yet overwhelmed by the idea of using these tools in the classroom.   I feel obligated to use them in a conscientious and appropriate manner.  Management and set up can also be an issue.  In the coming weeks, I will explore these issues in the classroom and post the results.  In the meantime, check out more information about this amazing opportunity at http://gameslab.radford.edu/iLearn/.