Meeting 4- 30 January 2014

Members present: Scott, Amanda, RoJean, Megan, Julie

We began our conversation with an read aloud from Scott from Bill Bryson's Thunderbolt Kid.  We learned how to make Lincoln Logs white.

One loop of conversation had to do with punctuation on blogs: does it matter or not?  Julie was adamant about correct punctuation, and Amanda chimed in with, "If the punctuation is off, I'm distracted by wanting to correct it."  Ultimately, should we be telling our students the importance of public presentation?  Should they be treating blogs as personal writing or public writing.

Professional blogs vs. personal blogs?  How closely does one follow these journals?

We wonder how Susan keeps up with all the blogs!  Scott suggested that it's not so much about "grading" what they're doing, it's about giving students the skill and opportunity to create.  Megan asked,  " Again, what knowledge are we measuring?"   Perhaps our role is to teach them appropriate public/private blogging.  RoJean talked about younger students taking things literally, and how carefully we need to craft our own language when introducing blogs.

Scott loves the opportunity that blogging gives the students for inspiration.  In some sense, it offers the old fashioned "free writing" type of writing where the point is finding the idea as you are writing. The modern twist is that other people can comment and bring new ideas to the original.  Cool.

Meeting 3 - Jan 23

Members present: Scott, RoJean, Megan, Julie, Lori, Amanda

Use of infographics can be challenge for younger students.  Scott would like to do one with the 6th graders, and Megan would like to use them with the 4th graders.  However, the sites that are out there can be cumbersome.

Having the technology allows the students to stay self contained with their off-taskness.  It also allows mixed-gender groups to collaborate without the stigma of going to one person's house.

Lots of discussion about gender as the 7th grade sections are separated by gender.  (The students are all in a tizzy about it.)  Given our common experience, boys are more prone to lose their iPad during class for inappropriate use.  Gamification is a key thing, especially for boys, to engage them in topics.  The physical care for an iPad is also a gender issue.  Amanda reported that every major break has been a girl iPad.

Meeting 2 - January 9

Julie would like 7th grade students to video the multi-cultural booth.  She is trying to figure out how to make this work using a certain piece of technology.  She's decided to use iMovie on the iPad and import the video into the 7th grade e-portfolio for student led conferences in March.

Are paper/pencil tests going out?  Our students prefer the paper/pencil tests for the higher level assessments but are diving into technology to show projects/presentations.  Megan found a great link to on-line portfolio assessment (it is geared to individual classroom portfolios).  http://faculty.pepperdine.edu/mriel/edc664/demo.html

How do we use technology to show what our students are learning?  Lots of ways.  We use videos, google options (sites, docs, presentations, spreadsheets), a variety of iPad apps, PowerPoint, Prezi, etc.

http://www.iste.org/docs/learning-and-leading-docs/nets-s-standards is another helpful resource that outlines the need for digital skills.

Meeting 1

12/12:  Scott, RoJean, Amanda, Megan, Lori

Student was responsible for creating a video that would be the instructional video for the entire class.  Students were required to watch the video in a method of flipping at home before taking the quiz.

Trying to utilize Smart Capture to make video of lessons/presentations.

How to make an event like MultiCulture Fest more techy, and get away from the just poster boards.  Could you incorporate a digital footprint - like a video of their board walk through, photos, documenting the procedure, etc.   Also, using video to demonstrate their understanding of Latin roots/quotes.

Using Infograhics with the 4th grade to show their understanding of collecting and displaying data.  Need to find a website that is 4th grade and iPad friendly.

Girls are better are putting iPads away when told to do so.  Boys tend to need more reminders and tend to stay on iPad after being told to put them away.  Is that really tech related or just a gender difference?  Discussion to be continued...

Next meeting: Come prepared to discuss gender differences in technology usage.

KJ's Student Created Syllable Review Video

Ariana and Molly spent over two hours creating this video (not only did they both ace the quiz but they received 5 extra credit points!)

NOTE:  Do not attempt to upload a video from google drive because we don't have permission to watch.

Goal of our Group :)

Scott, RoJean, Amanada, Julie, Megan, Lori

Our goal is to determine effective methods for students to show their learning via technology.