Netbooks in action

I have had my Journalism students working on their projects using the netbook computers yesterday and today. They love the cute little computers, but I'm having to point out which applications they can use and which they can't on the little netbooks. They are learning it is possible to type without a Microsoft product. We are discovering there are certain times you really need the big computers and other times it's great to use the baby netbooks. The only problems so far are getting all the netbooks to connect at the same time. Some of them seem to have a few quirks and we are working on identifying those.

Tech Apps Classes

Since the Mac Lab is brand new to all my students, all classes have been working with the iLife applications in creating several products. They started first with the Photo Booth and used the different effects in it to create really silly pictures of themselves & their classmates. From there we went to iPhoto and brought all those pictures in where they learned how to edit them some more with cropping, rotating, and more types of effects. Afterward, they created a slideshow of their images and exported it as a final product. Next, they learned how to record themselves in Garage Band, edit their recording and add music and sound effects. They they exported it as a podcast. Currently, they are scripting their first movie which will be all about themselves and their lives from family, friends, school and goals. They will use Photo Booth to shoot this & if our new Flip Cameras come in, they will use those as well. From there they we'll learn to import all of this in to iMovie and edit it into a real movie. Our plan is to post all their work, for now, on our school's Intranet; if it will work. By doing all of these projects up front, my plan was to have a cadre of 6, 7, & 8 grade students with a basic working knowledge of the different applications and their processes so they would be the leaders for the rest of the school as teachers begin to delve in to all these wonderful acticities. That's about it for now, but I think they've been pretty busy!

My 1st Attempt With the Touches

This week I used the iPod touches with my classes for the first time. The students used the Piqqo Project app to learn about a couple of projects people in other countries have set up to conserve energy and then wrote summaries about what they had learned. Overall, I was very pleased with how well the students stayed on task and were enjoying getting to learn in a new way. I think they really enjoyed being able to see the videos and pictures that went along with the written information. Doing it did point out some of the difficulties with web based apps though. If you are planning on using a web based app, make sure to check it out in your room with several of the touches ahead of time. Even after getting the app set up to work in the district (thanks Karen for your help getting that done!), we still had a few touches that couldn't get what was needed for the assignment. I'm looking forward to using them again!

Early Steps

My students are working on videos for a district project where they create 1-2 minute videos titled "I Am Inspired By." We should begin shooting the video this week. I'm hoping we can have them ready to post in the next two weeks. I think they will be excited to see their own work actually completed and "out there" where other people can view it as well. We should also have our first newspaper edition ready to go soon and will spend some time making selected articles into a NMS news podcast as well.

Getting Started

Our iTouches and MacBook computers have arrived. We have begun looking at applications we feel will best utilize the equipment we have. So far we have worked out a process for signing the equipment in and out and reserving which teacher will be using it. We are trying to add some additional equipment to make sure we have what we need to get the biggest bang out of each item we purchased. If feels like we are finally on our way to getting our projects going.

My students have been working on getting their initial activities going that will lead up to actually publishing their work on the Internet and making movies we can upload and play on our iTouches. There are a few technical snags as we work out all the parent permissions and try to make sure we are all on the same page, but it looks like we are ready to begin actively using our equipment any time now. We really want to get the items in the students' hands to see what they do with the opportunities we have planned. I'm betting they will come up with lots of ideas we haven't thought of yet.

A Magnet for Modern Learning

http://www3.signonsandiego.com/stories/2009/sep/20/magnet-modern2/?northcounty&zIndex=169002

Just an interesting article I found on facebook regarding magnet schools integrating arts/ science and technology...

Project Based Learning

Tracey and I met with the 4 core teachers last week. Each one of the 4 core teachers took one of Jennifer Blaine's books on Project Based Learning. They are going to read and share with all of us! We want to put the technology in the kids' hands so that the tools are there when they need them. I was so inspired by Chris Tovani and Sam Bennet and how everything they talked about is what we are trying to do! This is a really exciting time! Starting with the end in mind, Finding the "Big Ideas", such an inspiring way for kids to learn!