WebQuest

I was worried about this assignment, but it turned out to be my favorite one. I really got into making the site with all the links and information. I even got to use it! I "borrowed" a 3rd grade class for a couple computer lab sessions and put them to work. They really loved working on the projects. I will upload one of their projects in a couple of days. I think that my WebQuest is a HEAT 4 maybe 5 since it is for 3rd graders who don't have much technology background.

My process- I simply looked at a lot of other WebQuest and decided what I did and did not like about them. Then I got started. I went to google sites and started with the home page. I played around a little and learned how to make other pages and link them to the navigation. I also learned how to link a page in the site to another page in the site. I actually worked while I was having a yard sale. I got to show off my work to some shoppers! They were very impressed. All-in-all it went very well. I didn't really hit any snags.

I decided to do my lesson on West Virginia. There are a lot of things about our state that many students don't know. I wanted to use the internet as much as possible to teach proper searching skills. Like I said I actually got to use my WebQuest and it turned out well. I had such a variety of WV topics covered and we all learned a lot.

So check out my West Virginia Research WebQuest.

ISTE NETS
3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
Teachers exhibit knowledge, skills, and work processes representative of an innovative professional in a global and digital society. Teachers:
a.
demonstrate fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations.

d. model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

Google Documents Presentation - In Blog & PDF

I told myself I would not give up on this assignment. I tried and tried to follow any directions I could find on exporting a pdf. I just couldn't get it to work. I even asked a dozen people and no one could show me. I followed you advice in blogs, and it just wasn't happening. So I gave up. Now I am back to try again. I wanted to learn how to do this. I know I will be able to use this skill. Mainly I just hate it when I struggle with something.

My PDF Powerpoint Presentation.

Fun with Data - Narrative

The narrative step wasn't too bad either. I liked making the summary page and added all the information in. I guess I like seeing the final step.
Learning how to use excel, and all it's features will really be helpful with the implementation of RTI. I could easily type in my students scores for each category and see the results in comparison I am glad I figured it all out, no matter that it took A LONG time.

There is a link to my published data page in the Fun with Data- Manipulating Raw Data blog.

Fun with Data - Manipulating Raw Data

This was the "scary" step. I did it with a trial and error method. I looked up the codes and used them. I had to check them to make sure they are right. I sometimes even work out math problems because I don't trust calculators, or how I typed into them. The same went for this formulas. After doing one page I felt confident to continue the rest.
Here are my final Data forms. (It has the summary page too, I did them in the same sitting.

Fun with Data - Formatting

This part wasn't too bad. I am not accquainted with Excel. I don't even have it on any of my home computers.
I simply copied and pasted the headings into place.
The next two steps look a little more challenging.
I wasn't sure if we were supposed to share the formatting step. I didn't see anywhere on the directions till after the final step how to submit it.

Assessments Forms

I liked this assignment. I didn't know it would be so easy to create an online quiz. I made all my questions required because I wanted to make sure none of my students left anything blank.

This is my Quiz.

Assessments Rubistar

I have used rubistar many times before. This was an easy assignment for me. This is my rubric.

Windows Movie Maker

This was a really easy project for me. The only hang up I had was trying to find time to do the project at school because I only have powerpoint at school, and the presentation I wanted to use was saved on my school computer. I was not able to add voiceover because I did this at school. I may be able to add it later when I get back from visiting my family now that I have the show saved as a movie and don't need powerpoint. I went ahead and downloaded movie maker on my home computer because I like using the program.

All the CSO, ISTE and 21st Century skills are on my movie. Enjoy!

Action Buttons

This is My Jeopardy Game from ftp.
I saved it in FTP and linked to it. The first time I tried to open it, it did not work. It worked the second time. I tried it several times and it would and wouldn't work.
To be on the safe side I emailed it to Dr. Pierce.

I also added the link to My Jeopardy Game from google documents. I don't like the way it opens because you can not use the action button to go back home. I am not sure why this function is lost in the uploading process. I triple checked it and it worked find when I saved it.

CSO
M.O.1.4.6 identify, count, trade and organize the following coins and bill to display a variety of price values from real-life examples with a total
value of 100 cents or less.
• penny
• nickel
• dime
• quarter
• dollar bill

ISTE NETS
a.design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

Powerpoint Shows/Web Page

I have created my PowerPoint. I had to do it on the computers at the school where I teach because I don't have PowerPoint on my computer (huge inconvenience). My next step was to save it as a show and as a website. I had no problems saving it as a show and a web page. My problems occurred using my FTP server. I tried for DAYS to get it to open. I have never been so frustrated with technology! After trying over 100 times one time it just opened. I quickly saved the three different types of files. I didn't have any problem opening the web page link. The show went well too but I can't see it because I don't have PowerPoint.

This is my PowerPoint web page.


This is my Show.

PowerPoints can be used in tons of ways for students. They can create their own, or you can use them to support your lesson. They can even be the visual aid for the whole lesson.
This one that I used was made for my first grade students to help them recognize coins and the dollar bill.
We also have used them to make their own presentation on a topic, displaying their ability to design and apply their skills using a digital tool.
CSOs

M.O.1.4.6


identify, count, trade and organize the following coins and bill to display a variety of price values from real-life examples with a total
value of 100 cents or less.
• penny
• nickel
• dime
• quarter
• dollar bill


ISTE NETS

a.
design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

c.
communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.

PodCast- Your PodCast

This is the script of my PodCast.

I didn't have any trouble deciding what to make my lesson about. I am not going to be in my classroom on St. Patrick's Day so I made my podcast about Ireland and St. Patrick's Day. This way I can make sure my students get the information i wanted them to and I don't miss out completely.
First I wrote my script and timed myself. When I was happy with it I downloaded Audacity. I used it to record myself and add some quiet Irish introduction music. (If it was too loud my students would start dancing and not hear the lesson).
Next I made a PodBean Account and uploaded my file. This took a little work to convert the file to an MP3. Next I published it on my new PodBean account and created the link on this blog.

Hope you enjoy it!


CSOs:
SS.O.01.05.03 identify characteristics of the past and contributions of heroic people using sources such as stories, folk tales, pictures, poems,
songs, legends, holdings and customs, and organize historical data.
SS.O.01.05.04 investigate cultural differences through celebrations, holidays and family traditions to build empathy and understanding for individuals

ISTE NETS
1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity
Teachers use their knowledge of subject matter, teaching and learning, and technology to facilitate experiences that advance student learning, creativity, and innovation in both face-to-face and virtual environments. Teachers:
a. promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments
Teachers design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning experiences and assessment incorporating contemporary tools and resources to maximize content learning in context and to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes identified in the NETS•S. Teachers:
a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

3. Model Digital-Age Work and Learning
c.communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.

Web Album

I used Picasa Web Albums to make My Web Album. It took forever to load the pictures. I don't know if it was my Internet connection or the site. I liked it because all of the pictures I had on my blog were automatically there.

You could use these in our classroom to share photographs from locations. If i was teaching about Mount Rushmore I could upload my photos from my vacation there and share them. You could do this with many lessons.
Or you could use it to upload pictures of the class doing activities to reflect on them later.
You can allow the students to explore their creativity with the sites editing tools.

ISTE NETS
c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.

design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

Photoshop Express

I have created my online web album using Photoshop Express.

I cropped, touched up, red-eye reduction, sharpened the puppy and softened the background. I also adjusted the lighting. I wanted to edit a photo of each of my dogs. I got two finished. The site started to freeze up. I will still edit the other 3 later and add them to a blog.
This is a neat tool. I always wanted to know how to make the picture black and white with a pop of color in the background!

In the classroom:

You can allow the students to explore their creativity with the sites editing tools.

Share photos from areas you are studying.

ISTE NETS

customize and personalize learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.

promote, support, and model creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness.

Online Graphics - Crappy Graphics

Below is my "Crappy graphic". I created it for my first graders as a supplement to our Reading story, which is about dinosaurs. We are also learning about sorting in Math so this came at a good time because I can share the Venn Diagram as a way to sort information.


This assignment gave me the chance to learn something new. I have never made a Venn Diagram any other way than to draw it. I wish I could allow my students to actually make their own online, but I wouldn't trust them not to navigate away to inappropriate material. Plus the name is inappropriate for first graders. Even though, just showing them the diagram from the computer (projecting it) will hold their attention better. Anything from the computer is "so cool".

The following ISTE/NET were addressed in this assignment.

1. Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity. Teachers:
c. promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.

2. Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments

a. design or adapt relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity.

Online Graphics - Kids Zone (Graph 2)

I used the same process for this graph as I did for the first one.
I determined that the 4 states I would compare would be West Virginia, Utah, Arkansas, and Mississippi. Their Per Capita Income for 2006 were as followers.
WV 28,206
Utah 29,406
Mississippi 27.028
Arkansas 28, 473

They were all very close.
Then I search from google for the number of students on IEP in each state. I used the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). The amount of students on IEPs were also very close, as my graph shows.

I used KidZone again to make this graph.

In the classroom:
Graphing can be used in every subject. There are endless possibilities for what your students could graph.
Also you can use graphs to relay information to parents, co-workers, administration etc.

ISTE NETS
c.promote student reflection using collaborative tools to reveal and clarify students' conceptual understanding and thinking, planning, and creative processes.


c.communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital-age media and formats.

Online Graphics - Kids Zone (Graph 1)

This is my graph comparing the WV and the National 4th grade Math scores for 2000 - 2007.
I used KidZone to create the graph.
It was very user friendly and only took 5 minutes to create.
I saved it as a jpeg file on my desktop then uploaded the file onto google documents. From here I published it as a web page and the link is provided above.

From these statistics I can conclude that WV scores were always below national average. I also
The differences between WV and National scores are as follows
2000- 1pts.
2003- 3 pts.
2005- 6 pts.
2007- 3 pts.

Source- I got my information for the graph from NAEP.

Image Capture

I approached this assignment as if I was using the print screen function to show students how to publish a document using google documents. I am responsible for teaching my students how to use a somputer now that technology class has been cut. I normally have the students follow along as I project the steps, but if a child was absent this method of printing the screen would do well to help clarify the directions.

I simply opened the print screen in Paint. Then I resized and cut some things off the sides. Next I added text and an arrow. I saved it as .bmp. I also used the print screen technique to share the attributes with you ( top of page).

Graphic Link

I went ahead and published the graphic to my blog because I wanted to check it out and see how it worked. Here is the link to the actual web page http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd38kvk5_21czfbmzhb .

President's

President’s Day

February 16, 2009

Feb. 12, 1809 – April 15, 1865

 

16^th President of the United States of America

 

  

 

Feb. 22, 1732 – Dec. 14, 1799

 

1^st President of the United States of America

 

Desktop Graphic

This assignment went pretty well. I do things like this a lot. I decided to use Microsoft Word this time because it is something all my students are familiar with. I made a simple graphic about President's Day. I will use this in my classroom when teaching my students about President's Day. I didn't want to use too much text because I am just using it as a visual aid. I simply found two images on google image search and saved them in my files. I used paint to add the text. Then I used Word Art in Microsoft to make the title. I saved the document as a RTF and them uploaded it to google documents.

Cone of Experience and FTP

Describe what Dale's Cone of Experience is?
Simply put, it is a visual aid that shows how much we remember from the different ways we learn.
Is Dale's Cone of Experience logical? Factual?
Looking at the original image, without the percentages; it does seem logical. I can say from experience that I remember more information if I see it and read it as opposed to just reading it. Even further I remember more of things I actually participated in than anything else. For example, if I read a book I sometimes forget parts. When I watch a movie I remember much more of it. However, I strongly believe that not everyone learns the same. Therefore reading my result in a larger amount of information retained for some more than others. So a percentage could never be assigned to it. The percentages are a little “fishy” because they are all tens.
How does Dales' Cone of Experience comport with current research on teaching and learning in the assigned reading. After the reading, comment on your opinion of the validity of Dale's Cone of Experience.
Current research suggests that higher level thinking skills need to be engaged in learning. Some ways to do this is to engage the student in the lesson. Make it a personal experience. I do not believe in the percentages.

FTP
I was succesful in saving a document in FTP but have not been able to open it through a link.

Skype

I am having some Skype issuses. I got a microphone, but Skype was installed on my old computer. I had to replace that computer. We still have it to do basic internet searches and I was planning on using it for Skype but the microphone won't work on it. I tried to upload Skype to the new computer, but I would lose all my contacts and my username. My husband thinks he has a solution and hopefully the microphone will be up and running tomorrow.

My Electronic Resume

You can view my resume at http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dd38kvk5_0vqmvwtfb. I really like how it turned out, and I needed to update a couple things on it.

I am still working on my response to the syllabus. With all the snow days, and the upcoming PTC I am swamped with work. I will put the finishing touches on it and post it tomorrow. Now I must finish re-planning my lesson plans.

My Photostory

This is my photostory. I really enjoyed making it. I also uploaded it onto YouTube. You can find it by using my gmail address, mrsvukovich@gmail.com.

Adding Links

I decided to use the Spring 2009 spreadsheet to add all my "coursemates" blog sites to my blogspot. I like being able to quickly see what everyone in the course is doing, as far as with their blogs. It was a little time consuming to add everyone, but worth it.

Assignment Checklist

So far for this course, 6305 I have set-up a skpe account, a gmail account, taken 2 surveys and of course I am blogging. I have had some obstacles to overcome already this semester. My computer crashed last week and I had to go out and buy another one. Of course my husband wanted to customize it and I ended up driving to Pittsburgh to pick it up so we could have it in time to do our assignments, because we both have online classes. I am working on my photostory tonight. I have an idea of what I want to do with it. I haven't started yet because we are still setting up the new computer. I am excited about this assignment because I love pictures.

My Short Introduction

I am Jamie Vukovich and I have created this blog for my class 6305. I teach first grade at Barrackville Elementary. This is a picture of my class when we did StarLab.