Students as Designers (animal classification)

As a result of the learning going on in my cohort as well as my classroom, I decided to quiz my at on their knowlege of different animal classifications. I first reviewed many characteristics of different animals with my class and put those classifications onto sheets of paper. I also put the names of different animals on sheets of paper. The names of animal groups were also put onto sheets of paper for students to manipulate. Students were asked to figure out how all of these sheets of paper could be put together to inform others as to animal characteristics, names, and actual pictures of animals. This afternoon, as a class, we put the organizing into action. It was important for students to figure out, on their own, what needed to go where. As this week progresses, students will use Inspiration to design an Animal Classification Web to display their knowlege of animal classification. They will need to figure out how make the presentation educational as well as appealing to the readers eye. They will also need to include examples of each animal in their sections of the web.

I don't know if this is a good example of student design, but I am trying to get them to think about organizing information in an appealing educational way that includes text and visual graphics.

Stay tuned.

Forgot about the Internet

Thinking only about personally communicating with others as far as telecommunications and lesson design is concerned, my last blog was a little out of line. I definitely confused telecommunications and communications. I did not see the connection of using the Internet as a telecommunications tool. Not only is the Internet a telecommunications tool, but it is a widely used tool that if used creatively will have profound positive educational outcomes. Shame on me for my ignorance.

Telecommunications and 7 year olds

I am really struggling coming up with a lesson to use telecommunications with my 2nd graders. Very difficult figuring out a way to use telecommunications as the learning tool for such young students. I am kind of not really sold on telecommunications being at all effective with any elementary aged students. I guess time will tell.

Well a week after my lesson and it went very well. Eight year olds needed much assistance with the website as they have little experience with websites, but they were able to come up with accurate lists and made some choices for a new infielder for the Nationals. I enjoyed the interaction the kids had with the site and their enthusiasm with the end result.

Lesson 1

Well, I did my Washington Nationals lesson last week. It went pretty well. The kids could not believe I knew someone that worked with the Nationals. They had so many questions. I felt terrible stretching my tall tale with them. The lesson went great. We did not finish it as it extends over a few days, but the kids were so pumped and excited to get to work on it. I am anxious to see how they respond over the next couple of days with the lesson. I am waiting for the parents to start asking me to get autographs for them.

Google Earth

Keeping with the whole authentic problem thing, I couldn't really think of anything authentic to introduce the Rocky Mountains and the Appalachian Mountains to my class with. I had some ideas, but really nothing I could use as few of my students have really ever been out of the immediate area. The only thing I could think of was using Google Earth for them to adventure through the two mountain regions. Using the smart board we were able to really get a great perspective of the two ranges. Students were able to interact with the site by zooming in and out as well as traveling in all directions within the mountains. There were several pictures linked to areas on Google Earth that provided images of the actual mountains. Students were easily able to compare the two ranges. Not only were we able to identify the location of both ranges, but students were able to gain an appreciation for the terrain. I may now be able to incorporate some authentic problems to go along with these mountain ranges for different curricular area.

Authentic problems

I have been trying to incorporate more authentic problems as I am introducing and carrying out my lessons. I have found students to be more responsive and motivated to what the lesson was all about, I am yet to see results in assessments, but it should all come to light very soon. Stay tuned.