Guest Speaker - Paul Sims

Today we are fortunate to have Paul Sims - Executive Director of Technology and Continuous Improvement for Clarke County Schools.

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On Thursday, March 2 we will discuss in detail the TELE Project so that everyone is clear on what is expected. Please complete the form distributed in last Thursday's class before class Thursday, March 2 so that I will be better able to prepare you for this project. You may type the information directly into the form or write in the information by hand. This should be a very informal sketch of what you plan to do - just to get your brain working. This informal proposal is not graded - it is used for class discussion purposes on the 2nd. The final (more formal) draft of your proposal is not due until Thursday, March 9.

Please remember that your group's resource packet is due Tuesday, March 7 at the beginning of class.

Digital Images, Podcasting, Midpoint Review

We have 2 digital media presentations today. These are the last of the presentations. It is hoped that you will be able to use what you have learned through your own presentation, as well as the presentations of your classmates, some ideas for what can be included in your own Technology-Enhanced Learning Environment (TELE) Project.

All that remains to be completed for your digital media project is your group's resource packet - due Tuesday, March 7. The goal is to gather all of the information put together by each group into one resource that you can use after the semester has ended. At the beginning of the semester we came up with an organizational structure for the resource packet:

1. What is it?
2. How do I use it?
3. What standards does it address?
4. What do I need to get started?
5. References and additional resources

It is expected that the resource packet will contain more information than what was shared during the class presentations. At least a page should be dedicated to topics #2-5 (topic #1 should be very short and clear with links to examples). Anyone outside of our course should be able to pick up the resource packet and be able to gain a solid understanding of the digital media tools discussed. It should be appropriate for a classroom teacher to use as a reference. It is expected that all members of the group will contribute equally to the development of the resource packet. The resource packet is due Tuesday, March 7 at the beginning of class. You will submit one printed copy and one electronic copy (via email)-- all members of the group should also have an electronic copy.

Please review the updated course calendar. Several changes have been made to topics, due dates, etc. Also review the updated projects page - some assignments have been eliminated - changing the weight of upcoming projects.

Mid-semester review:
So far this semester we have:

1. Defined technology-enhanced learning environments.
2. Defined digital media and shared information about 5 different media: weblogs, e-books, flash, podcasting, and digital images.
3. Discussed new learning environments and technology's place therein.
4. Investigated teaching and learning strategies that allow for active learning.
5. Designed learning activities based on the ASSURE model.
6. Reviewed peer-developed learning activities to improve ability to write performance objectives and to develop appropriate assessments for technology-connected activities.

During the remainder of the semester we will:

1. Learn more about the state of K-12 technology integration from Paul Sims - Executive Director of Technology and Continuous Improvement for Clarke County Schools.
2. Discuss informal learning environments such as museums and aquariums and technology's role in these environments with Denise Domizi.
3. Visit the Children's Museum of Atlanta and the Georgia Aquarium to learn more about the role of technology in informal learning environments so that we might apply that knowledge to traditional classroom settings.
4. Learn more about the role of writing and communication in K-12 environments through the use of weblogs with Anne Davis.
   
5. Work independently to develop a technology-enhanced learning environment based on knowledge gained in EDIT 2000 and EDIT 5500 as a culminating project.

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On Thursday, March 2 we will discuss in detail the TELE Project so that everyone is clear on what is expected. Please complete the form distributed in today's class before class Thursday, March 2 so that I will be better able to prepare you for this project. You may type the information directly into the form or write in the information by hand. This should be a very informal sketch of what you plan to do - just to get your brain working. This informal proposal is not graded - it is used for class discussion purposes on the 2nd. The final (more formal) draft of your proposal is not due until Thursday, March 9.

Flash in the Classroom and Image Editors

We have one digital media presentation today:

Flash in the Classroom - view this interactive demonstration.

Flash website from class: http://www.arches.uga.edu/~cymrose/flashprojectmain.htm


We have two digital media presentations for Thursday:

Podcasting in the classroom: Please read the 2 articles linked on this webpage.
Digital images in the classroom: Review this website.

The ASSURE model practice activity is due Thursday, February 23 at the beginning of class. Please bring a printed copy with you.

Peer Review of the ASSURE Practice Activity

While there are 6 sections of the ASSURE model - there are 2 that require some special knowledge and skills: the "State Objectives" component and the "Evaluate and Revise" component. We will work on both sections today and we'll spend some time reviewing/revising one another's work.

"State Objectives" --

• What is it that you want your students to learn and be able to do? What will they get out of the lesson activity?
  
• What are the state standards that inform your choice?
• Have you included the ABCDs? Audience, Behavior, Conditions, Degree?
• Did you use performance terms?

As a group - let's look at some sample objectives and improve them based on these questions.

1. Students will understand the effects of the relative positions of the earth,
moon, and sun. (6th Grade Earth Science)
2.Students will estimate, then measure, temperature (Fahrenheit) and determine
if estimations were reasonable. (2nd Grade Mathematics)
3.The student will demonstrate knowledge of the criminal justice process. (9-12 American Government)

"Evaluate and Revise"
How do you create a rubric that assesses what students have learned? How can learners become involved in the design process? What do learners think of rubrics? What do teachers think? How can learners become involved in the design process? What is Rubistar?

• Is there a match between the standards listed and what is assessed by the rubric?
• Are all components of the rubric addressed in the "Require Learner Participation" segment?
• Is there some flexibility in the rubric?

Work in groups of 3 to evaluate/revise your ASSURE learning activity. At the end of the activity, each 5500 student should have completed an overview assessment, an objectives assessment, and a rubric assessment. Additionally, each 5500 student should have one of each of the 3 assessments completed for their ASSURE learning activity.

For Tuesday:
1. Revise your ASSURE learning activity based on feedback from peers. The final draft is due (printed out) on Thursday, February 23 at the beginning of class.
2. Digital Media Project preparation:

E-books and the ASSURE Model Practice Activity

In class today we'll learn more about e-books and how they can be used for teaching and learning. This is the second session in our Digital Media presentation series.

For the remainder of class we will work independently on the ASSURE Model practice activity. Please remember that you are designing an original learning activity and following the ASSURE model for your development process. Also, you can choose a topic/activity related to your final TELE project or work you are doing for another course. Your final product (due Thursday, February 16) will be the completed instructional plan template. It will most likely by 3-4 pages long. The largest section of your template should be the "Require Learner Participation" section, as this is where you will describe your actual learning activity -- what your learners will be doing.

Class will not meet on Tuesday, February 14 to allow time for you to work on your learning activity. I will be available should you have any questions during our regular class meeting time on Tuesday.



Happy Valentine's Day!

Weblogs and Designing Learning Activities

Your blog posting on teaching methods is due today. Please make sure you have emailed your blog address to me.

I will update you on trip dates this Thursday (I promise!)

Leigh Haddon and Ashley Holmes will share their Digital Media Project on Weblogs during the first 30 minutes of class today.

We will be working on an independent WebQuest for the next two weeks.

For Thursday:
1. Begin work on the WebQuest.
2. Digital Media Project #2 tasks: Explore the following website and think about possible advantages or disadvantages to eBooks... www.pbskids.org/lions/stories.html

What is a learning activity? How do you design one?

Now that you've begun to collect a set of teaching strategies -- how do you determine which teaching strategies to use to teach a specific objective? How do you decide what will be taught when -- and why?

In a group of three, create a recipe for trail mix using the ingredients provided in class today. After agreeing upon a recipe, develop a plan for teaching someone how to make your version of trail mix. Assume that the person has never heard of trail mix and knows little about cooking. On chart paper - draw a diagram of your teaching plan. (What software would be ideal for this activity?! What software do we not have access to in this lab?!?)

As a whole group, we will discuss the parts that make up a teaching plan or what I prefer to call a "learning activity". What are the necessary components? In what order should they be? Are all components necessary in all situations?

For Tuesday:

1. Complete the teaching strategies blog posting assigned on Tuesday.
2. Read the chapter on the ASSURE model
3. Go to the following websites and read brief articles about weblogs:

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