Wikis, Blogs, and Videos at Westwood This Week
This has been an exciting week. We are almost getting through the learning curve for wikis (9th grade), video editing and movie making (10th), and setting up on blogs (Accounting.)
Teaching Beginners!
When you are teaching a beginner, the simplest things need defining! When you get ready to do any New Internet service, make sure you clearly define:
You wouldn't believe how many students try to set up on blogger and quit because they cannot figure out the username issue. (I've seen it with at least 10 students in the past two weeks.)
Here is what we've done this week:
Google Video!
We uploaded the video to Google Video . It is probably the somewhat cleanest of the choices and it is easy to upload. Just make sure if your files are over 100MB that you download the desktop uploader. I have to approve all videos before they go up. I did report a few inappropriate videos to Google that I happened to see and the videos were removed that day, even some very popular ones. I was impressed. Don't just complain about what you see, take time to report it!
Creative Commons
We also spent some time looking into licensing and discussing Creative Commons. We used the find feature (http://search.creativecommons.org/) to check the licenses on music. It is really a great feature!
The hilarious Pop Up Blocker video uses a Tom Jones song that is licensed under Creative Commons Share Alike license. What a great discussion we had about that. (Don't look at the video if you hate the three stooges, it is a slapstick video that is for sure! They used a plastic bat and a computer box from our new computer lab!)
Here's a summary of our week:
2) Post basic text.
3) What procedures are going to be included. Add the procedures.
4) What graphics are needed. (We like to use screenshots.)
5) What hyperlinks are needed. (I hate dead documents.) As you read, ask yourself "What information needs more?"
If I have two classes of the same subject, we ALWAYS collaborate between classes. That is part of Internet teamwork! Learning not to delete all of it because you "don't like it" is an important thing to learn.
I particularly like the Exercise 5 wiki.
Fifteen minutes before school was out, a circuit blew and 2/3rds of my computers were without power so I'll have fun fixing that one! Oh well, it is part of it all.
Using stat counter, I added counter boxes to show the number of visitors. I also have made the stats viewable which will allow students to see where visitors are coming from! This will enable great discussions of the dynamics of the blogosphere.
2) I added a countdown clock (thanks Mrs. C ) to show how many days until Graduation from tickercentral.com. I think they are going to like it!
As I talk to my students about blogs and wikis and how we interact with the world, I use this metaphor.
We've never had any trouble, but I always want to educate them and make them aware of how this Internet works. I use the word "effective Internet citizen" and "effective Internet privacy skills" and "effective Internet teamwork skills" a lot! I am up front about what I want them to learn!
The excitement of teaching with questions
What I love is that as I discuss, I usually have several study hall kids in my room working. They often sit back and raise their hands to participate in the discussion. Guess what -- I let them! They want to share what they know and learn. Since I teach by asking questions, I often have 4-6 questions per minute! As I was teaching Socratically today as we taught writely, beta and alpha versions of software, and about usernames, Internet collaboration, etc. I just had to think to myself! I love my job! I love to teach! I love my students!
The Best Adrenaline Rush
The best adrenaline rush in the world is teaching something meaningful that gets students excited! They love it! They are learning! They are excited! They are in there every second. The only drawback is that literally every period I am teaching as they ask questions and want to work on projects, edit movies, post to wikis, and blog.
I Web 2.0, do you?
Web 2.0 has made my classroom the hub of activity and excitement. My students get so much done in a week! They learn so much in a week! I have inter-class synergy that I cannot explain nor have I ever seen, but I LOVE!
Now that the learning curve hump is being approached, I'm getting to the point of learning from students and being amazed!
If you're not using Web 2.0 in the classroom, what is stopping you?
Start somewhere! Don't over analyze. Don't wait for new computers (I didn't.) Don't make excuses about filters. Find something that you can use and that you are allowed to use and start! Engagement is around the corner!
Get moving!
Remember that teaching is a noble profession to which many aspire but few truly attain. Teaching indeed is a noble calling! Act like it! Remember it! Be more! Be better! Be a teacher!
Teaching Beginners!
When you are teaching a beginner, the simplest things need defining! When you get ready to do any New Internet service, make sure you clearly define:
- Username - The name you use to log into a service.
- Password - The password you use to log into a service.
- Display Name (Screen Name) - The name shown to others (should be a pseudonym)
- Verification (or Authentication) - Most services, require you to go into your e-mail and confirm that you set up the service.
You wouldn't believe how many students try to set up on blogger and quit because they cannot figure out the username issue. (I've seen it with at least 10 students in the past two weeks.)
Here is what we've done this week:
Accounting (Elective for 11th & 12th graders)
- We've got our Future Profit Blog up and running. http://futureprofit.blogspot.com -
I took a grade today for everyone who had signed up on the blog to post. We've literally worked at this for a week. MOST of these students have worked in the classblogmeister and wiki environment, but not all. Those who haven't are considerably behind those who have. It is amazing the difference and the importance of understanding these tools. - I've modeled our work here after Darren Kuropatwa's Scribe concept.
Each day, I have an assigned scribe to take notes for the day. It is their job to share the basic concepts we've learned. Those who've already posted have had me before and blogged within moments of class ending. Those who haven't, we'll I'm having to take extra time with them. Soon, I hope to have everyone comfortable in this environment and that the remainder of this week's posts will be online. It just takes time!
Computer Science
We've managed to introduce Computer Science and have an extensive discussion of computer privacy and security during the past few weeks. This past week we've learned how to shoot and edit basic video using Logitech Web Cams and Pinnacle Studio 10. It took a while for us to learn the program but it is very easy now.Google Video!
We uploaded the video to Google Video . It is probably the somewhat cleanest of the choices and it is easy to upload. Just make sure if your files are over 100MB that you download the desktop uploader. I have to approve all videos before they go up. I did report a few inappropriate videos to Google that I happened to see and the videos were removed that day, even some very popular ones. I was impressed. Don't just complain about what you see, take time to report it!
Creative Commons
We also spent some time looking into licensing and discussing Creative Commons. We used the find feature (http://search.creativecommons.org/) to check the licenses on music. It is really a great feature!
The hilarious Pop Up Blocker video uses a Tom Jones song that is licensed under Creative Commons Share Alike license. What a great discussion we had about that. (Don't look at the video if you hate the three stooges, it is a slapstick video that is for sure! They used a plastic bat and a computer box from our new computer lab!)
Here's a summary of our week:
- We've enhanced our wikis using the videos that we've created. The five videos that are already uploaded include: Pop Up Blocker , Firewalls , the Spam Shark, and two Identity theft videos. The videos took some time, but once the basic process is learned, it becomes faster!
- We've set up our scribe notes blog at http://computers4teens.blogspot.com . You can see the daily notes of what we're learning.
- Our question of the week was about the Robomower.
Robomower (See http://www.friendlyrobotics.com/) is beginning to sell more rapidly in the United States.
The goal of the owners is to capture 10% of the lawnmower market in the United States. Read about the Robo mower and answer the following questions in complete sentences. You should have three paragraphs as follows:
1) Is the Robomower a computer? Why or why not?Last week's question has some good answers as well. I've often learned that the ability to ask a meaningful question takes more ability than that of just answering a simple yes, no question. (Some of you asked me to post my critical questions post, here it is):
2) If it is a computer, what classification should it be in? Why?
3) What will be their biggest obstacles to overcome for people to consider buying these robomowers? (At least 3 sentences)
Sometimes knowing the right questions requires more knowledge than just stating your opinion. In this post, I am asking for you to create five questions as your answer.
In the article, Movie Download Service Sued for Spyware many interesting issues come to light.
After you read the article, you are to post five questions on your blog that could be used to discuss your article:
1) LITERAL QUESTION - The first question should be answered literally from the article.
2) DRAWING CONCLUSION QUESTION - Write a question that forces a person to draw a conclusion.
3) INFERENCE QUESTION - Write a question that requires a person to make an inference.
4) PREDICTION QUESTION - Write a question that asks someone to make a prediction.
5) POSITION ON THE ISSUE QUESTION - Write a question that asks someone to take a position on the question.
Computer Fundamentals
- We've completed our first lesson of Microsoft Word and now are applying our intuitive learning method to writely. (See my Intuitive Learning post for more.) Using this model, we look at:
1) menus
2) toolbars,
3) drop downboxes,
4)help,
5) panes, and
6) dialog boxes.
We talk through this process and it is amazing what we learn about the program within 5 minutes. Using this method, we talk through almost every feature of a new software program in 5-10 minutes time. Even though I somewhat "invented it" it is a expeditious way to teach it. (We use the mneumonic device "Momma told Daddy, 'Happy Pappy Day'" to remember the order to explore. - We've completed a question of the week about Intuitive learning , and next week will be comparing and contrasting writely and Microsoft Word.
- We've almost completed posting our first wikis on our Microsoft Word lessons.
The process I teach them to approach a wiki is a multistep process:
1) What basic information should be included -- add the headings.2) Post basic text.
3) What procedures are going to be included. Add the procedures.
4) What graphics are needed. (We like to use screenshots.)
5) What hyperlinks are needed. (I hate dead documents.) As you read, ask yourself "What information needs more?"
If I have two classes of the same subject, we ALWAYS collaborate between classes. That is part of Internet teamwork! Learning not to delete all of it because you "don't like it" is an important thing to learn.
I particularly like the Exercise 5 wiki.
Keyboarding
We're over half way through the keyboard. We started using Mavis Beacon server edition and I'm going to love its progress tracking and reporting features. Keyboarding, however, is still very much a teacher-involved process because technique is so important. If a teacher isn't involved the students rest their palms on the tables and set themselves up for trouble. They'll be blogging in another month and wiki-ing a month after that. We'll start timed writings on Tuesday.Fifteen minutes before school was out, a circuit blew and 2/3rds of my computers were without power so I'll have fun fixing that one! Oh well, it is part of it all.
I've made a few enhancements to the blogs for my student's educational benefit:
1) I set up statcounters -Using stat counter, I added counter boxes to show the number of visitors. I also have made the stats viewable which will allow students to see where visitors are coming from! This will enable great discussions of the dynamics of the blogosphere.
2) I added a countdown clock (thanks Mrs. C ) to show how many days until Graduation from tickercentral.com. I think they are going to like it!
Fishbowl to Ocean
As I talk to my students about blogs and wikis and how we interact with the world, I use this metaphor.
Could you take a salt water fish out of a salt water fishbowl and pour it into the ocean and expect it to live?
"Of course not," they say.
I tell them that I have them in an environment more like a part of the ocean with a sharknet. We're part of the Internet but I'm the lifeguard watching. They also must watch because they are part of the ocean too. As they know, shark nets are pretty good but it is possible for a shark to get through so it is all of our jobs to keep watch and communicate with the life guards.
We've never had any trouble, but I always want to educate them and make them aware of how this Internet works. I use the word "effective Internet citizen" and "effective Internet privacy skills" and "effective Internet teamwork skills" a lot! I am up front about what I want them to learn!
The excitement of teaching with questions
What I love is that as I discuss, I usually have several study hall kids in my room working. They often sit back and raise their hands to participate in the discussion. Guess what -- I let them! They want to share what they know and learn. Since I teach by asking questions, I often have 4-6 questions per minute! As I was teaching Socratically today as we taught writely, beta and alpha versions of software, and about usernames, Internet collaboration, etc. I just had to think to myself! I love my job! I love to teach! I love my students!
The Best Adrenaline Rush
The best adrenaline rush in the world is teaching something meaningful that gets students excited! They love it! They are learning! They are excited! They are in there every second. The only drawback is that literally every period I am teaching as they ask questions and want to work on projects, edit movies, post to wikis, and blog.
I Web 2.0, do you?
Web 2.0 has made my classroom the hub of activity and excitement. My students get so much done in a week! They learn so much in a week! I have inter-class synergy that I cannot explain nor have I ever seen, but I LOVE!
Now that the learning curve hump is being approached, I'm getting to the point of learning from students and being amazed!
If you're not using Web 2.0 in the classroom, what is stopping you?
Start somewhere! Don't over analyze. Don't wait for new computers (I didn't.) Don't make excuses about filters. Find something that you can use and that you are allowed to use and start! Engagement is around the corner!
Get moving!
Remember that teaching is a noble profession to which many aspire but few truly attain. Teaching indeed is a noble calling! Act like it! Remember it! Be more! Be better! Be a teacher!
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