Tool 7: Online Digital Projects

Connecting with students from other classrooms either close by or far away will allow my students to experience classroom cultures different from our class. Having students collaborate across grade levels, subject areas and cultures broadens the possibilities for new ideas. One project I'm considering would pair up my 8th graders with the 6th graders on our campus.

Content objective:  Given Skype, 8th grade students will evaluate the results of plate tectonic activity by holding a panel discussion with 6th grade classes.

When you plan to implement:  November, 2012

What tool(s) you plan to use:  Skype, Google Docs

A brief description of the project:  Using GoogleDocs, 8th graders will create a discussion document with questions and information about tectonic plate movement. They will communicate with 6th grade classes via Skype and hold a discussion to analyze how plate movement affects Earth. All discussion will be supported by evidence.

Tool 6: Using Web Tools To Promote Discussions

Polleverywhere

This is an example of how we use poll sites such as Polleverywhere in class. We can post a warm-up question and students get to use their cell phones or laptops to answer. They love being able to use their phones in class which makes the experience more meaningful.


Wallwisher

Wallwisher is an awesome site that will allow my students to interact with me as well as other students without the stress of having to articulate in class. This will help to clarify and solidify content knowledge.

Tool 5: Web 2.0 Tools

My Stupeflix Video My GoAnimate Video

Student products play an integral part in the science classroom. Our 8th graders are continually creating all types of materials including anchor charts, posters, models, interactive journals and multimedia projects. Digital tools provide students opportunities to showcase their understanding of concepts using differentiated talents. For this next school year, students in 8th grade science will be able to choose from a variety of tools, to create products relevant to the topics presented. The above examples are only two of many choices we will be providing to our students.

Tool 4: Google Apps

Google Docs has many options that I can see as being useful in the classroom. First of all, the Docs will allow teachers to collaborate on creating classroom activities. With the upload option, the team can revise documents currently in our curriculum without having to start from scratch. Additionally, I definitely see the Forms option being used with students for quizzes, exit slips, and many other assignments. I am sure that as continue to investigate Google Apps, I will find even more new things to enhance my teaching.

Tool 3: A Word About Copyright

My students through out the year create multimedia projects and we are always making sure the students have access to components that fit within the copyright laws. It can be confusing at times. A couple of sites that we found helpful are creative commons, freeplaymusic, and using advanced search tools in google images.

Tool 3: Finding Online Resources

We are not the center of the Universe!

Global health over 200 years.

Tool 3: Finding Online Resources

I explored several of the video/streaming sites and the one I found most helpful is Discovery Education. I chose this option because Discovery Education has a lot of specific videos for content that is covered in my class. The site breaks the videos from larger into smaller content segments.