Yesterday, I introduced WIKI pages to my seventh grade literature classes. I set one up with a very basic question about a book we had just finished. I gave them a week to find time to complete the question, and I sent them home with directions for logging on and high hopes for the outcome!
I checked the progress at about 8:00 last night. To my surprise, 16 students had already logged in and completed the question! They were so excited about it this morning. They told me they want to do these all the time. They only encountered one slight problem. They found out that two students couldn't edit the page at the same time. They had to wait until the student working was done. No one seemed very upset by that though.
It was a really good experience and one I will definitely repeat!
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Project Draw... A Second Attempt
After more time playing with the program, I figured out the editing! I was so proud of myself =) I thought I should give it another try with my 8th graders this morning. It was all going so well. Then I made the mistake of saying how well it was going! Today, it wouldn't let us save anything! It kept freezing whenever we tried... I think I am ready to give up, and I had such high hopes for the program!
Monday, October 29, 2007
Project Draw
Well, I had great plans to use Project Draw with my math class this morning. I asked them, in a group of three, to create a unique shape (a combination of shapes), label the sides with measurements, and list directions on the page. They were to make a perimeter or area problem for another group in the class to later solve. I had hoped that 4 groups would be able to get one finished (2 computers). That didn't happen...
They were extremely frustrated by the end of the class with nothing to show for it. The editing is nearly impossible, especially in the text boxes. One of the two groups I had working was ready to give up about halfway through the period. I couldn't really help them much because I couldn't figure out how to edit it either.
Another downside is that I can't figure out how to print the drawings. I wanted to print out the sample I had made for an example. I tried printing right from the web page. The menus printed but not the drawing. I tried copying and pasting to a word document. That didn't work either. Finally I tried taking a "picture" of it (mac feature) and saving it to the desktop. When I tried to import that graphic, it told me it wasn't valid.
Overall it has been a VERY frustrating morning!
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Presentation Programs
I didn't realize you could find these applications online! It will be really great to avoid compatibility issues. It won't matter if we have macs at school, but the kids are working on PCs at home - the internet is the same.
I tried four different programs, and I really liked Zoho and Google Docs the best. Zoho was easy to use and edit. It also had great shape templates which help when doing the math presentations! That was the one downside for me with Google Docs. I did my presentation using it, but I had a hard time incorporating the shapes because it didn't have a template.
Spresent had lots of great tools. I am sure, with some practice, it would be a great program. I only tested it for a little while, and I couldn't figure out how to change the graphs and charts. I got frustrated and gave up, knowing I had others to test.
Empressr.com didn't have nearly as many tools as the others. There weren't any online directions that I could find. I know we had a handout to go with it, but most people wouldn't have access to that.
I can think of many possible applications for this in both math and literature. I think the neatest feature is that the kids can work on the same presentation from different computers. It will make group work much easier.
I tried four different programs, and I really liked Zoho and Google Docs the best. Zoho was easy to use and edit. It also had great shape templates which help when doing the math presentations! That was the one downside for me with Google Docs. I did my presentation using it, but I had a hard time incorporating the shapes because it didn't have a template.
Spresent had lots of great tools. I am sure, with some practice, it would be a great program. I only tested it for a little while, and I couldn't figure out how to change the graphs and charts. I got frustrated and gave up, knowing I had others to test.
Empressr.com didn't have nearly as many tools as the others. There weren't any online directions that I could find. I know we had a handout to go with it, but most people wouldn't have access to that.
I can think of many possible applications for this in both math and literature. I think the neatest feature is that the kids can work on the same presentation from different computers. It will make group work much easier.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Internet Graphics Programs
In class yesterday, we tried out some internet graphics programs, and I did a little more experimenting today. (It is hard to stop once you get started!) Some of these programs definitely required more artistic talent than what I possess!
Comics Sketch and Art Pad require artistic talent. I was disappointed with Comics Sketch because when I heard about it, I started thinking about all the neat literature applications for a comic strip. There aren't any real directions, you can't add any text unless you draw it, and you have to actually "draw" everything - no templates or anything to help.
Mr. Picasso Head was a lot of fun. I can see the children really enjoying it. I could use it in literature to create characters. It would be nice though if you could add text to the drawings. The only thing it will let you add is a signature.
My favorite, by far, was Cumulate Draw. There are so many ways I could use that in my math classes. I love the grid. It makes it so easy to make accurate shapes. I am thinking about creating a project where the kids will design a dream bedroom using Cumulate Draw. I think I will have them actually calculate the costs for designing the room as well. I could probably incorporate a spreadsheet for that part. The only downside I can see with the program is the editing. It is very difficult to change something once it is added.
These programs are so much fun. I really enjoyed experimenting with them, and I definitely want to try Cumulate Draw with my class.
Comics Sketch and Art Pad require artistic talent. I was disappointed with Comics Sketch because when I heard about it, I started thinking about all the neat literature applications for a comic strip. There aren't any real directions, you can't add any text unless you draw it, and you have to actually "draw" everything - no templates or anything to help.
Mr. Picasso Head was a lot of fun. I can see the children really enjoying it. I could use it in literature to create characters. It would be nice though if you could add text to the drawings. The only thing it will let you add is a signature.
My favorite, by far, was Cumulate Draw. There are so many ways I could use that in my math classes. I love the grid. It makes it so easy to make accurate shapes. I am thinking about creating a project where the kids will design a dream bedroom using Cumulate Draw. I think I will have them actually calculate the costs for designing the room as well. I could probably incorporate a spreadsheet for that part. The only downside I can see with the program is the editing. It is very difficult to change something once it is added.
These programs are so much fun. I really enjoyed experimenting with them, and I definitely want to try Cumulate Draw with my class.
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Tech Survey (Cedu510)
Here we are at the beginning of another class. We started with a technology survey to learn about what we know and what we don't... So much for starting a class with confidence... =)
I thought I knew something about the internet and computers in general, but after taking that survey... Well, I guess I don't know much after all! =) I didn't even understand what some of the questions were asking... so I guess I probably don't know much about those topics! Well, hopefully after these classes I will know what these things mean!
I thought I knew something about the internet and computers in general, but after taking that survey... Well, I guess I don't know much after all! =) I didn't even understand what some of the questions were asking... so I guess I probably don't know much about those topics! Well, hopefully after these classes I will know what these things mean!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Cedu 523 - Intro to the Internet
10/18/07
It seems odd to me that one class in the program is already complete! It seems like just yesterday when Trinie was talking me into doing the program with her. I have wanted to get my master's degree for quite a while so I am glad I am finally starting!
I can honestly say that I learned a lot in our "Introduction to the Internet" class. The thing that stands out most in my mind are the WIKI pages. I would really like to try that with my class. I am starting a new novel soon with my 7th grade literature class, and I am planning to do something with characterization on a WIKI page. I would like for the students to add information we find about the characters as we read.
Patty and I have also talked about implementing Moodle in our school. I don't know a lot about it yet, but that is definitely something I want to investigate. From what we saw, it looks like it would be a valuable tool.
I never realized Google had so much available! I'm a little ashamed to admit I thought it was a search engine, period. I think Google Notebook and Google Docs are great, and I want to use those with my class too. I think it would really work well to use Notebook with group research projects.
We've only finished one class, and I already have practical ideas I can take back to my classroom and use. I hope that continues throughout the rest of the program!
It seems odd to me that one class in the program is already complete! It seems like just yesterday when Trinie was talking me into doing the program with her. I have wanted to get my master's degree for quite a while so I am glad I am finally starting!
I can honestly say that I learned a lot in our "Introduction to the Internet" class. The thing that stands out most in my mind are the WIKI pages. I would really like to try that with my class. I am starting a new novel soon with my 7th grade literature class, and I am planning to do something with characterization on a WIKI page. I would like for the students to add information we find about the characters as we read.
Patty and I have also talked about implementing Moodle in our school. I don't know a lot about it yet, but that is definitely something I want to investigate. From what we saw, it looks like it would be a valuable tool.
I never realized Google had so much available! I'm a little ashamed to admit I thought it was a search engine, period. I think Google Notebook and Google Docs are great, and I want to use those with my class too. I think it would really work well to use Notebook with group research projects.
We've only finished one class, and I already have practical ideas I can take back to my classroom and use. I hope that continues throughout the rest of the program!
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