BP5_2009112_On_Line_Portfolio_Using_Flicker_A_Cool_New_Site

I found a cool new tool to use that students and adults/teachers will like for both professional and social use. I am creating an example now and will share both it and the site by tomorrow. Hope you find it as cool as I do!

The site is: www.slides.com. It allows you and your students to create slide shows right on the computer by uploading pictures and choosing how you want them to be viewed. It also allows you to add captions to tell a story from a visual perspective with minimal words. I made one as an example. Check it out at: www.slide.com

I seem to have gotten a little turned around here in that I thought that I had already included in formation for this new site along with information on Flickr as they can be used in conjunction with one another. After making my Flickr page, I shared the idea with a colleague who then shared with me the idea of Slide.com as he had used it to make a "Day in the Life" mini documentary. I decided to take some of the pictures I uploaded to my Flickr page and use them to make a demonstration slide show. This turned into several short slide shows as I tried to figure out which one looked the best, so I could share with you all. I have chosen "Family flight lessons" and will send out the link to you later.

When working with both of these applications, several students came to mind and ideas or how they would utilize this tool started popping up. I thought this application would be especially great for my students that love to draw and are very visual in their approach to learning.

Because science is such a hands on subject, it works with mostly everything that we do.

Some lessons that I would use this for are:

Living Systems organization- there are 5 levels of living things (cells, tissue, organs, organ systems, organisms) and each can be represented with a picture representation.

The idea is to have students search for pictures of items that would represent each and make a group in correct order with tags to show the levels. This would allow them to accomplish the same task with individuality and creativity. Also, this would be an engaging activity that can be stored, shared and even used for other projects later on (Life science builds on previous topics). They could also take this information and create a slide show for presentation, thereby connecting two applications.

Other ideas for lessons are listed below. This includes one that I found on the web. Enjoy!

1. Education History program

2. Student Museum on line

3. Environmental Awareness project

Online Portfolio & Critique Using Flickr http://alexgexclamationpoint.com/lesson.html

Standards: 
PO 1. - Create artwork using the most appropriate techniques and processes to communicate 
ideas and experiences

 PO 2. – Analyze the effectiveness of the characteristics of the specific media used 
to enhance the communication of experiences and ideas 
(http://www.ade.state.az.us/standards/arts/arts-visual.asp)

Objective: At the end the digital photography unit where high school students will have learned to utilize Photoshop and other digital technologies for creating images, they will learn how to upload their images to create an online portfolio. Each student will then participate in an online forum discussing their peers’ works.

Resources/Equipment/Materials: 
- Computer lab with Internet connection, scanners, cameras (digital/analog)
- Personal storage media (flash drives, iPod, cd-rw’s, online storage, etc.)

Vocabulary: 
- -Critique: A subjective discussion of a work of art. Things considered in a critique session include but are not limited to: content, composition, aesthetics, use of technology, emotion, whether or not it the assignment is followed, etc.
- -Flickr.com: An online community dedicated to storing and sharing one’s photography. 
- -Upload: The act of sending a file from your computer to a storage space online (e.g., Flickr.)



Introduction: This portion of the curriculum will begin with a discussion about the course as a whole and the students reflecting on the work they have created. We will then move on discuss ways of displaying and sharing out work; contemplating on galleries and the purpose of displaying art and segueing onto an introduction on internet based galleries. 
Students will be shown pre-existing Flickr groups dedicated to sharing and discussing users’ photographs, and given a general tour of Flickr.

Activities: After a short tour of the website, students will then be required to create their accounts, upload their strongest work, and join the group I will have made for the class. Each student will then submit their strongest piece with a paragraph about the image (images if from a series) and why they chose to submit it. It will be required for all students to write a few sentences of thoughtful commentary on their peers’ submission, including positive & negatives in a constructive manner.

Precautions: As these activities will all be Internet based, adequate content filters should be installed. A system for the teacher to view students’ screens should also be available.

Assessment: Student grades will be given based on enthusiasm, content of responses/reflection, and ability to complete the task.

Closure: Because this will be a relatively new experience for most students, this lesson shall be wrapped-up with reflections. Students will explain how they feel about the process, the responses/commentary, the usefulness of Internet galleries, and how the experience was in general.

The instructor should also reflect on what students needed help with most, the level of enthusiasm, quality of work, and success of the project a whole. Perhaps other methods of Internet exhibition could explore like blog and similar online art communities.

BP4_2009111_Researching_and_Blogging about_Web_2.0_Tools

This assignment directed us to look through and choose a Research Web 2.0 Tool that I would find of interest to my middle school science students for teaching and learning. One thing to keep in mind for all of this 21st Century Learning is that the majority is made and launched on collegiate level where security measures and appropriateness is not so much an issue. I had to think about not only what is appropriate for 12 and 13 year olds, but that are easily and readily accessible through the schools limited web access permissions. The site I chose is called Myoats.com, which is a place where one can create all types of designs, and drawings that can be rated, downloaded as an image, png, made into wallpaper or save to a personal account. A member can also rate others designs, edit the archived designs and save new ones. I chose this for several reasons: Art is a wonderful kinesthetic tool used in science to demonstrate understanding, and allow for individual expression that can be used as a measurable tool for assessment.

I played around with the site myself after watching the tutorials just to get a feel of it and boys will my students find this fun! This will be especially useful for my boys that love to draw more than anything else! I created a design that I called Electromagnetic NRG! which looks like several horseshoes radiating their magnetic ability.

The lesson I would create for my students would be to design a drawing or depiction of either of the following: The Cell and 5 of its organelles, Create a Taxonomic Chart listing the categories in order, The Steps of Cellular Division, or Depiction of a 20 base DNA model (double helix). They would have to write a summary to complement their visual depiction of the topic to explain it and therefore show level of understanding of these major concepts in 7th grade Life Science.

The class will benefit as they can comment and make edits to each other's work like a Google docs to model their own learning community in a visual fashion. This would not only facilitate creativity, interest and intrigue but would give kids tools to draw beyond their limited ability with regular pen and paper. Check out my first drawing and let me know what you think!

2009Myoats.Retrieved on 2009.11.2.from.http://www.myoats.com/

2008Myoats.createpage.Retrieved on 2009.11.2.http://www.myoats.com/comments.aspx?p=0&wd=126489

BP3_2009111_iGoogle_Screenshots

Here are screenshots from my iGoogle Webpage.

BP2_2009111_RSS_Feeds_Review

RSS Feeds Review

This is a situation where students were encouraged to show how tech savvy they are by using social media to attend the Inauguration of president Obama. The students had to compete for the 10 slots buy completing a several activities using social media assessments. The ones selected were to record and share their experience with all back at school using Flip cameras and iTalks (iPod recorders). They also had to post their interviews via YouTube and Podcast and embedded into a their blog. They took pictures with their cell phones and uploading them to Flickr as well as Twittering during the entire trip and used Skype to report back to the school. This article is a great demonstration of students owning their own learning and using their technology skills to teach, educate, and share useful and relevant information with the fellow classmates and the world. What a wonderful way to use social media and participate in a great moment in history!

This article explores the idea of availability of technology vs. use of technology. Surveys show that students determine which college they choose to attend based on the availability of technology on the campus. Even though they want and say this is the lure, the students only use icat and personal e-mail or social networking while on their computers. A very low percentage stated that they had ever used web-conferencing and most stated that even if they wanted to use the technology in their classes, they did not feel that their teachers were proficient at the technology. The universities state that there are instructional sessions provided for teachers to become proficient. So what is going on here? Just like the discussion board on Anit-Teaching, the question is, what makes a student’s learning more meaningful? This is a situation that demonstrates that more technology does not mean greater use or inspiration and meaning for the learner. This is something to think about both from the faculty and from the staff point of view and how to get both to become comfortable and interested in using these 21^st century tools in the classroom.

What are your thoughts?

Carvin.A: Learning.now. Students using social media to attend the Inauguration:http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/2009/01/students_using_social_media_to.html

Carvin.A: Learning.now. Campus Technology and the Expectations Gamehttp://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/2008/10/campus_technology_and_the_expe.html

BP1_2009111_Getting_Started_With_Blogger

This blog was very simple to make. In my research on blogging, I found it to be a very popular and successfully used method for education, especially at the high school and above age. Studies show that students are more prone to write when they can be creative, do it with technology and consider it more fun than task. This is a plus for both the teacher and the student in that the assignment is completed and the student is able to demonstrate their individual understanding of the topic or subject matter. Blogs are also used amongst faculty and staff to share information and develop learning communities far and wide. This is a great way to share information and get feedback for ideas in the same subject area far and wide!