Tweet Tweet Tweedle-lee-dee

I was reluctant to sign up for Twitter--thinking along the same lines as a colleague who, until recently, insisted that Twitter was for twits.  I still don't think that I would use it to keep the world updated on my every move since I don't care to know that much about other people and they likely feel the same about me!  It is also pretty public and I don't need or want my students to "follow" my life.  However, I have already found it to be quite useful, not to mention quick and easy, to access information about the world of education.  I could definitely see myself continuing to use Twitter for my PLN.  Having said that I have time (summer vacation) and a specific reason (this course) to use it right now.  The real test of Twitter's usefulness in my life will be when school starts up again in the fall.  At any rate, I don't think Twitter is for twits, although some of them are out there tweeting too!



Module One - Tools to Collect

I ended up really taking the topic of this module to heart when I designed my first project.  My students will be doing a lot of collecting but other than their repository of information, OneNote, the other tools they use will be up to them.  I have set up a template for the project (see screenshot below) which I will introduce to the class using my SmartBoard.  Students will then create their own notebooks, saving them in a shared folder with their names as the filename.  I will let them adjust their sections as long as they include at least six.  I also set up three pages for each section using the same titles: notes, practice problems, and Internet links.  I think I will ask them to keep these pages just so it is easier to follow and assess their work.  I have not completed the rubric yet and doing so may change some of these smaller details.

I have used OneNote in the past but don't have a lot of experience with it so at first I was hesitant to suggest this project.  Then I remembered that I had the same feeling when I had a class use Inspiration to set up an atomic theory timeline.  I had minimal experience with that program but thought it might have good potential.  After walking around the lab during the first 15 minutes of class I had learned so much just by seeing what my students had tried.  Students did not have the option to use another program with the atomic theory timeline but another time when we were in the lab for a concept mapping activity about half the class chose to use Word and the other half used Inspiration.  I am hoping the same thing will happen with this project.  If my students and I see potential with OneNote then we will try to use it more collaboratively another time.  Another option if the project goes well is that students could continue using their digital notebook, adding the more advanced content we cover in the Science 10 course.

Time to Breathe

Last week was quite busy at school--supervising and marking exams, cleaning up classrooms, preparing for graduation, etc.  As a result I have gotten a bit behind in this course.  However, after finishing my graduation duties at 11:30 on Friday night I have had the chance to rest and regroup.  I spent the Canada Day long weekend camping in the mountains with friends and family.  It was fabulous and I was reminded how summer really is the only time of year when I truly have a break from the classroom. 

Over the weekend a 15 year old girl who was camping nearby was complaining that in this age of technology her iPhone couldn't get any service out in the mountains.  Meanwhile I was thinking how great it was to have a technology-free couple of days!  We certainly are teaching a different generation of students.

I also had the chance to reflect on some of the things that had been nagging at me over the start of this course.  There have been a lot of neat web tools to investigate but I have been struggling with how they could be used in my classroom.  Several years ago I used Moodle and I liked many of its features.  After two maternity leaves and a curriculum change I dropped it for Edmodo.  There were some things I definitely liked better about Moodle but overall Edmodo was more user friendly, though I find I really only use it for my Grade 9 and 10 students.  I tried using Delicious a couple years ago on the recommendation of a coworker and hated it.  At least it did not work well for the purpose I wanted it for.  Three years ago I set up a blog and never ended up using it in my classes. 

One of the roadblocks I face is using the technology available in our district.  I set up a SharePoint website for my classes not because it is user friendly, it isn't, but because that is the platform used for all school websites in the district.  At least I know there is tech support available, it is always backed up, etc.  I am also considering using OneNote for the same reasons.  Our computer systems are supposed to be changing over this fall so students will have remote access to files and programs.  Staff can currently remote access almost everything on the network.  Part of me doesn't want to jump too far ahead until I know how this will affect the use of technology for my students. 

I think I am starting to understand the point of this course is to see what is out there, try some new things, and keep what will actually work for you.  I have really appreciated the input and advice of others in the course as it saves time and energy when setting out to use a new program.