Thing 12 Learning Management

EDMODO vs. SCHOOLOGY

Once again, I thought this particular project would be best suited for older students.  However, I did come up with some assignments for my students.  I think my students would be interested in using a learning management system, but I know not all would have access to a computer or internet at home.  I would need to ensure that all of my students had equal access.   

Since I don't currently use an LMS, both apps were new to me.  It was much easier to get going on Edmodo, but I do feel that posting was easier on Schoology.  I think my second graders would enjoy the option of posting on an assignment from home.  During some recent class discussions, they have expressed a lot of interest.

Some of the best classroom discussions happen before school even starts.  Students returning from a vacation or weekend have such an excitement to share with one another, especially without the teacher listening in to the conversation.  I could see the conversations deepening, to a more meaningful conversation without the teacher intrusion.  Students that didn't take part in an online discussion would be eager to hear what was discussed online.  I do think using an LMS would be beneficial to learning, both inside and outside the classroom.

Thing 11 Productivity

Productivity - Scanning & Saving

This is a copy of a receipt that I will need to turn in to our PTCO.  It shows how I  have spent my funding from them.

This notebook shows two different purchases I have made using my PTCO funds.











Productivity

I had a good opportunity to put these things to use this week.  I received a lengthy letter with some attached documentation from a parent this week.  I had to turn the original documents into our ISD school psychologist.  I wanted documentation of receiving this information.  I was able to use tiny scan and save this document in case this information is misplaced.  Since this is a time sensitive issue, I have documentation of when the scan took place and was saved.

There are occasions that I may need to access documents to show to someone, but may not have access to a computer.  In that case, that would be a CON to digitizing data.  However, I think these apps will help me keep track of important test scores and documents without having stacks of papers to store.

I tend to "lose" my desktop often throughout the school year.  I think I will be able to digitize a lot of test scores, for example running records.  One student can read through several levels each time they are tested for their reading level.  We keep track of their independent level and their instructional level.  This equates to approximately 3-5 pages per student times 28 students times 5+test times per year.  This equals too many papers piled on my desk!  I also think I can walk around with my iPad and take notes on different students.  I won't lose little stickies and they will be much easier to organize.

I shared what I learned with my husband who has been searching for business receipts for our family business.  I let him know that I can help him to digitize his receipts and other documents.  This will ease his stress when generating reports and gathering information to give our accountant.  I'm sure our accountant will love it, too!

Thing 10 Collaboration

Collaboration with Google Drive

       


Collaboration on Spring Break

I think that I would use collaboration mostly with my colleagues, however, I could see how this would be very useful with middle or high school students that are working on a group project.  For this project, I started a conversation with some of my colleagues about their spring break plans.  It was fun to see the pictures from my friends.  This got me thinking about how I would use this with my 2nd graders.

I thought about posting a picture and having my students name nouns in the picture and add adjectives to go with their nouns.  Then, I thought about having them post their own photos with nouns/adjectives.  I wanted to do this with my class, but in order to use google drive, you need a gmail account.  I'm not sure how parents would feel about an email account for a 7 year old.  I'm also not sure how I would arrange for signing everyone up with gmail (parent permission form, etc.).

Since I wasn't able to actually do this assignment, I'm not sure how I could make it better.  I do know that not all of my students have access to the internet when they are not at school.  I would need to plan enough time for the assignment to allow for students to get to the internet to access it.  Maybe I could offer some time slots after school for a student/family to come in to use the school lab.

1.  Identifying nouns/adjectives with photos
2.  A group of students writing a script would be able to post conversations back and forth.
3.  Create an add-on story. Have a story starter then, each student adds to the story.  It creates an interesting story.  This could be done as a class with another class (across town, or the world).

Thing 9 iBooks

 





For second graders, I didn't see as many title choices as I did for a high school student or an adult/college student.  I also use e-storia from Scholastic for my son.  They offered a set of free books when I signed up. The rest of the books are not free, however, the books are reasonable and support his classroom teacher.
I like the options available in iBooks rather than ePub.  The ePub books are black ink on white "paper" and are difficult for me personally to see.  I prefer to have a dark background with lighter print.  Besides the background choice, other advantages of using an e-reader include more choices of titles.  Some people, especially my husband, read more than one book at a time.  While traveling it is much easier to carry one e-reader than a stack of books.  You can also highlight, make notes and change the font size.  Using the contents allows you to quickly look back to another chapter.  When using the bookmark, you don't have to worry about losing your place. My son's favorite thing at my mom's is to pick up her book and close it, thus losing her place.
Annotations on a text can be cumbersome.  You know you saw a quote you wanted to go back to, but now you can't remember where you saw it, you spilled your coffee on your notes and page 5 is now
missing.  Using the notes, highlighting features and bookmark can keep you organized to complete your task.

Thing 8 Comic and Book Creation

Comic Creation

After many frustrating tries to download Story Me, I gave up!  So, my comic was made with Comic Maker HD.  I was frustrated that I didn't have another app to compare.  I shared my comic with my students and they were very excited to see it and asked when they were going to make them.  Making comics would motivate low readers and writers to be able to read others' comics and be able to write for others.   Some ideas for using comics in second grade:
1.  Writing and illustrating jokes.
2.  Showing beginning, middle and end of a short story and developing characters.

3.  Comics can be used to help students work out social situations (problems at recess).

Book Creation

How To Take Care of Pets 

Book Creator was a very easy app to learn and use.  So easy, a kid could use it!  I asked my son to help me write a story.  He came up with the idea to make a How To book.  We planned the pages, made a list of pictures we needed and then got started.  He was so excited to share the story when we were finished.  Some ideas for using Book Creator in second grade:
1.  Writing and illustrating back to school books Meet Me & My Family
2.  Students could document the process of planting seeds throughout the plant life cycle until harvest of seeds.  They take pictures and comment throughout the 40-day process.
3.  A class collaboration book to show what 2nd grade is all about.  This would be used the next year to introduce the incoming class to 2nd grade.


Students making a book to document the plant life cycle will need to monitor and comment daily on the growth and changes with their plant.  These actions relate to analyzing and evaluating which in turn relate to the SAMR Model as Modification and Redefinition.  

Thing 7 Digital Storytelling

Animated Story Project

The script of Pinky & Stripey working on a subtraction problem.

...and now for the video.

Pinky & Stripey 

Imaged based story project

A short video with facts about Abraham Lincoln and his birthplace in Kentucky.

The Video..

About Abraham Lincoln

Animated Digital Storytelling vs. Image Based Digital Story Projects

Teacher created
1.  Explaining the steps of a math problem
2.  Introducing a historical figure
3.  Using the puppets to explain a social situation (conflict resolution)

Student created
1.  Animating a personal narrative with dialogue.
2.  Building better sentences; using photos to add adjectives to a sentence 


I think my students would be able to make any of the projects I listed under the teacher created ideas.  If given a choice, I think younger students would be more interested in using the puppet apps.  My son (also a 2nd grader) loves to use Toontastic.   He couldn't wait to try Sock Puppets.  I think older students would enjoy using the Sock Puppets app, but I feel their curriculum would easily support the image based apps.  They would also be able to search more effectively for photos that are appropriate and acceptable to use.   I think teaching fiction would be easier with the sock puppets and nonfiction would suit the image based apps.