Mid-Planning

As Kesha reminds us, "tik-tok on the clock, but the party don't stop," well I guess in this case the work "don't stop". Like everyone else in the class, midterms have taken up most of my time for the past week an a half, which did not lend itself well to working on the class wiki. However, this week I was able to assert my role as the LMS and pulled together some ideas and resources that Andrea (classroom teacher) can implement into lesson plans for the unit. Our chosen unit theme for this project (Michigan geography), provides a great starting point to incorporate many different types of technology into lesson plans, especially using web 2.0 resources. I spent the week researching different types of web 2.0 technologies that students and the classroom teacher could use in lessons, activities, and assessments (both formative and summative). Here is the list I have compiled so far, with some rough ideas of how it can be used with the unit:

-delicious: Students would be able to manage links they find about Michigan and geography.

-Mindmeister/Scribblar: Students would be able to collaboratively brainstorm ideas for a group project or for personal use.

-Rubistar: The classroom teacher can use this to efficiently create quality rubrics for authentic assessments.

-Poll Everywhere: This could be used for teachers to poll students while doing a lesson. Students can text or IM answers, helping the teacher receive instant feedback. It also is a creative way to use students phones in a productive way in the classroom.

-Wordle: Students can use this tool to create a poem of natural resources vocabulary and mix it with the names of the actual resource found in Michigan. This can be an individual example and also put into their final assessment piece.

-Wallwisher: This tool can be used to open the whole unit. I might use it as a pre-assessment piece. Students are able to post comments or questions they have about the upcoming unit. The teacher can then use these questions to develop lessons tailored to the students learning needs.

-Voicthread: Students can use this to collaborate on a project.

The next four web 2.0 tools will be part of the final assessment of students learning. I have been brainstorming ideas but do not have anything finalized yet. This is what I am thinking...

I will have students create a Michigan magazine. They will use the links below to create their magazine, develop a commercial "why come to Michigan?", and pull assignments they have already created and add new pieces for the final magazine. This magazine will serve as the students final portfolio assessment for the unit.

-Openzine: Students can use to create their online magazine.

-Magmypic: Students can gain ideas of what the cover of their magazine might look like.

-Animato: Students can use this tool to make their "why come to Michigan commercial?"

-Sumopaint: Students can use this to create art for their magazines.

I think this unit will showcase, how technology can be integrated into a unit of study to engage and facilitate vital learning skills to students. These resources can help those students from underrepresented groups engage in the lessons and activities in a way that they never have before. This collaboration has enabled my teaching partner and I, to find new and creative ways to reach the benchmarks and standards, as well as the 21st century learner objectives.