tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18449228502365770322024-03-13T14:08:23.942-07:00Never Ending JourneyMusings on education, history and technology from a veteran teacher who is always looking to learn and grow in this journey we call life.Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-42433735132103858752013-04-28T20:03:00.002-07:002013-05-08T21:57:17.107-07:00Instagrok: A new way to engage students A funny thing happened on my way to <a href="http://www.edmodo.com/" target="_blank">edmodo</a> one day. Edmodo recently added apps to their learning management system which gives it another dimension for student/teacher interaction. As I was looking through the apps one day I noticed one called <a href="http://www.instagrok.com/" target="_blank">Instagrok</a>. It sounded familiar but yet not and thus peaked my interest enough to check into it further. What I found and what my students discovered was an all in one research and writing tool that was perfect for meeting <a href="http://www.corestandards.org/" target="_blank">Common Core State Standards</a>.<br />
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Instagrok can be a standalone research and writing tool or you can purchase it through the edmodo app store and have the added feature of submitting assignments directly from Instagrok to edmodo. So, how can Instagrok help you and your students? Well, vocabulary building is the first great feature. As students enter a topic of word a web of connected concepts is displayed. Students can then click on any concept to get additional connections and vocabulary. Definitely an excellent tool for getting students to understand academic language.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlxDNDWWr0rmjSwHiwUW2d8C4RPIi26DZlPNOsIZIi0GtshWdB9LDHKgoauW4w4ci4l2SfHUtr8LlOPeb4JKa1Pd44fbpCzq4vnXwq_szNeC3bHRJD5v5ho7BGhoYlmW7WCSFRK0SJX4/s1600/Instagrok_Search_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNlxDNDWWr0rmjSwHiwUW2d8C4RPIi26DZlPNOsIZIi0GtshWdB9LDHKgoauW4w4ci4l2SfHUtr8LlOPeb4JKa1Pd44fbpCzq4vnXwq_szNeC3bHRJD5v5ho7BGhoYlmW7WCSFRK0SJX4/s640/Instagrok_Search_3.png" height="453" width="640" /></a></div>
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In addition to the vocabulary features there are other useful tools like the reading level tool at the top center of the site as well as the journal and results sections. Students can toggle to their journal page and add research summaries, images, videos and glossary words to their journal by clicking on the little push pins next to each key fact or image.<br />
The assignment I gave my students was to use Instagrok for all of their research and then write a paper in the journal feature of Instagrok. I had my students add all of their research and images at the end of their paper and required them to incorporate it into their assignment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9vmC9cpDhmZcLlMLAysZCxRT3T7SiiaSG7qNSoieC38iVnFLGzZPAB3luPlfreuHz_usQ7I983vq_15x9-4ypBLf_1G88Qy3lyT9oFMY4NsHtjWB9rQX41YyGGPVBVrk-_Vck-j7ITM/s1600/Instagrok_Search1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX9vmC9cpDhmZcLlMLAysZCxRT3T7SiiaSG7qNSoieC38iVnFLGzZPAB3luPlfreuHz_usQ7I983vq_15x9-4ypBLf_1G88Qy3lyT9oFMY4NsHtjWB9rQX41YyGGPVBVrk-_Vck-j7ITM/s640/Instagrok_Search1.png" height="298" width="640" /></a></div>
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Students can then write their paper or start another search with another term and add multiple pages of research and vocabulary while maintaining one with the writing assignment. The ability to connect all of these features sets Instagrok apart from other search engines. In fact, Instagrok is not just a search engine but a tech tool designed to meet the needs of students and teachers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9en-8Qyk4mim7f2_xSCB2puP3dbnwHfz6gdycUNDVZg7rm7AGViWmq-gb_TT5PCDUTw4q_2y69-Vq7t9ATBxJA7RD49hFk_675YcjIipi6jnYJwHoyJeI2dmaJLZb0R340c4K0WjlX0w/s1600/Instagrok_Search_2.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9en-8Qyk4mim7f2_xSCB2puP3dbnwHfz6gdycUNDVZg7rm7AGViWmq-gb_TT5PCDUTw4q_2y69-Vq7t9ATBxJA7RD49hFk_675YcjIipi6jnYJwHoyJeI2dmaJLZb0R340c4K0WjlX0w/s640/Instagrok_Search_2.png" height="299" width="640" /></a></div>
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Common Core State Standards call for the use of technology and Instagrok is a convenient tool that engages students and gives them the means to expand their learning. Whether you use the free version or invest in all the features with the paid app on edmodo or standalone, Instagrok is sure to excite student learning.<br />
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Below are some examples of what my students produced from a couple of projects they did this year:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SWKS74Vtyk8X9Ekbc2ShcelpoBj80Hnlllfgoszwsp1blqxJYwW2RUcLEJagB8ESA6uo32gmOLSrxHBnqgXyyMQPkzwE8LMUSkIMiygCn39X0Jo1OzxFVjBeVzITwzz6kkL7aSoEUcA/s1600/Instagrok8.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9SWKS74Vtyk8X9Ekbc2ShcelpoBj80Hnlllfgoszwsp1blqxJYwW2RUcLEJagB8ESA6uo32gmOLSrxHBnqgXyyMQPkzwE8LMUSkIMiygCn39X0Jo1OzxFVjBeVzITwzz6kkL7aSoEUcA/s640/Instagrok8.png" height="320" width="640" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-xWA6g52A1AOGVt6HqWbaU2WIy7tgtHsY9P8sC1Trbs41xUZqUemHuU26IhPsc0mYLmY-y33ZmHmPWkN_-i7tre67XZ5ajcQOxqkU-Szb6pFvSGpEJec0pjITHk88x8oUB9lGDJWcYE/s1600/Instagrok6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz-xWA6g52A1AOGVt6HqWbaU2WIy7tgtHsY9P8sC1Trbs41xUZqUemHuU26IhPsc0mYLmY-y33ZmHmPWkN_-i7tre67XZ5ajcQOxqkU-Szb6pFvSGpEJec0pjITHk88x8oUB9lGDJWcYE/s640/Instagrok6.png" height="368" width="640" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRybMXLtbAOEKMeeVK_YZoX9F8aUYX7ndDOIDkSL0ho3qh2sQExWIUfqyI_wlgPOCXnCn3OuZTKf3B9-fXKgRMCx-HLDpnhia26X3sU6yIJI8yp-Ld22QHUyVultC7dqdTuqxN-UZd7o/s1600/Instagrok7.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizRybMXLtbAOEKMeeVK_YZoX9F8aUYX7ndDOIDkSL0ho3qh2sQExWIUfqyI_wlgPOCXnCn3OuZTKf3B9-fXKgRMCx-HLDpnhia26X3sU6yIJI8yp-Ld22QHUyVultC7dqdTuqxN-UZd7o/s640/Instagrok7.png" height="492" width="640" /></a></div>
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The top image shows all of the groks a student did for a project. A journal with all of the pins is represented in the second image and the third image is the final essay by one of my students. </div>
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My students came up with an appropriate saying: "Grok is good!"</div>
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<br />Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-46946001388056089242012-11-21T21:14:00.002-08:002015-12-11T14:38:29.740-08:00World News in 10x10 and 160<br />
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<b>By Ron Peck</b></h2>
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<span data-mce-style="display: block; text-align: center;" style="display: block; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">I love it when students get excited about an assignment. It's great when they see new tools and a new way to learn; their eyes light up and they eagerly get to work. So, when Rachelle Lamoureux came up with this idea for getting students to use several online tools to produce a collaborative news map for our NCSS12 presentation, I knew my students would take to it right away. First of all, the 10 x 10 News site is easy to use and visually appealing. Then add in the Visuwords site, Newspapermap, and Google Maps and you have the makings of a wonderful new way to engage students with current events, language arts and geography. </span></span><span data-mce-style="display: block; text-align: center;" style="display: block; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; text-align: left;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The 10x10 news site is excellent for students. It lists the 100 most popular news words of the day and then links it to a photo with several stories associated with it. Follow these easy directions to get your students started:</span></div>
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<u style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Directions for the Project</b></u></div>
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<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><b style="line-height: 19px;">Step 1:</b><b style="line-height: 19px;"> </b><span style="line-height: 19px;">Students will utilize the 10x10 site in order to interpret and analyze current event headlines. </span><a href="http://www.tenbyten.org/10x10.html" style="line-height: 19px;" target="_blank">http://www.tenbyten.org/10x10.html</a><span style="line-height: 19px;"></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Step 2:</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Students will utilize the Visuwords website to build and connect vocabulary. </span><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://www.visuwords.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; padding-right: 10px;">http://www.visuwords.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Step 3:</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Students will utilize the newspaper map site in order to interpret and analyze current event headlines. Students will use news sites from around the world. </span><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="http://newspapermap.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; padding-right: 10px;">http://newspapermap.com/</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Step 4:</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Students will engage in group discussions about information gleaned from current event articles using news websites from around the world. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Step 5:</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Students will use a collaborative Google map to denote the location of their article. </span><a class="wiki_link_ext" href="https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl" rel="nofollow" style="background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px; padding-right: 10px;">https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&tab=wl</a></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Step 6:</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Students will write 160 character summaries and add those summaries to their Google map place marker. They can also add images of their story.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #9fc5e8;"><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Step 7:</b><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Students will share the collaborative Google map to make connections and draw conclusions about their 160 character summaries.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The goal of this assignment is to not only to get students thinking about what's going on in the world but to also connect it to vocabulary they read in the news as well as to the geography of events in the world. Additionally, students have to compare their news story version with another version from the place of origin. Newspapermap is a fantastic resource for finding and reading news stories written in newspapers from around the world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">When students finish posting their stories to the Google Map they can then share with the whole class or have students describe other students' stories. Also, the map can be created each time for the assignment or the same map can be added to each time. If more than one class is adding to the same map, have each class use a different color place marker so they can see who is who. Have fun with this assignment. You can do it in one day in the computer lab or in class with a 1 to 1 set up or have them work on it outside of class if they want to get into more detail, especially at the high school level. Good luck and please share your experience after your students create a map. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">The screencast here gives you more information on how to get started with this project. Apologies to Rachelle. I pronounced her name wrong. </span></div>
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Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-4498796559468713012012-09-06T21:40:00.002-07:002012-09-06T21:40:59.653-07:00Staying Connected with TeacherCast<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHBRWMCcFSI/UDRN_4mZcjI/AAAAAAAAAic/FAE-jeUJ-DI/s1600/TeacherCast_Logo_600x600_No_Addy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;">TeacherCast<br /><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XHBRWMCcFSI/UDRN_4mZcjI/AAAAAAAAAic/FAE-jeUJ-DI/s320/TeacherCast_Logo_600x600_No_Addy.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Guest Post by Lynda Hall The o</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">riginal post is on her blog at:</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://thede-tech-tive4teachers.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">http://thede-tech-tive4teachers.blogspot.com/</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">With the month of August in the rear view mirror, so too is Connected Educator Month. Over the past several weeks, countless educators have expressed great appreciation and enthusiasm for the new teaching connections they have made as well as the new learning resources they have acquired. With the new school year now upon us, the goal is to incorporate those innovative pedagogical ideas into our current teaching practice. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">To continue to grow as an educator however, it is important to stay connected. Not only is it essential to nurture current teaching contacts but it is also important to continue to build your PLN (Personal Learning Network). Doing so can be difficult for some educators however. To aid in this process, a wide selection of resources in various formats in a central location is needed. Consequently, a website educators must try that offers these services and much more is <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a>. <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> is the brainchild of Jeffrey Bradbury, a music teacher from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Jeff's passion for connecting educators and sharing educational resources is clearly evident through his ongoing work with <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a>. In fact, the underlying principle of <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> is to build 'a place for teachers to help other teachers'. With a reach of over 400,000 followers and growing, the collaborative nature of <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> is truly motivating and engaging. </span><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMev9WbbRcI/UEDsEQK8-PI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/f9fcarcDTlE/s1600/TC+Screen+Shot+2012-06-12+at+9.10.34+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="228" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mMev9WbbRcI/UEDsEQK8-PI/AAAAAAAAAjQ/f9fcarcDTlE/s400/TC+Screen+Shot+2012-06-12+at+9.10.34+PM.png" width="400" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jeff's enthusiastic support for his teaching colleagues </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">does not end with just the</span> <a href="http://teachercast.net/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">website, however. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Jeff has recently added <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast University</a>, an </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">educational consulting service for teachers who are looking to expand their teaching practice with a more hands-on </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">approach. Jeff is a frequent workshop presenter </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">at Edcamps, TeachMeets and other educational conferences with the workshop topics ranging from technology integration to learning about Web 2.0 tools</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Virtual workshops are also available for those looking for a more</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> cost-efficient way of benefiting from Jeff's expertise</span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The goal for each workshop is to provide engaging and relevant material whereby each attending colleague leaves with something new to add to their teaching methodology. </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast University</a> provides additional professional development opportunities as well such as conference keynote presentations and technology integration consults. For those teachers who are unable to attend a <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast University</a> workshop, Jeff also shares his expertise through highly engaging webinars. Below is the first <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> webinar on Sandvox, an easy to use website creation tool for Mac.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="http://teachercast.net/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> offers a wealth of information on various educational topics. Below is a brief summary of some of the excellent features </span><a href="http://teachercast.net/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> provides: </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">1. <b><a href="http://teachercast.net/appreviews/" target="_blank">TeacherCast Mobile App</a></b> - Simply put, the <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">iPhone/iPad </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">app is "education at your fingertips"! This free, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">time-saving app easily allows educators to stay informed about the most current pedagogical practices, technologies, educational trends and much more. In fact, students can benefit from the <a href="http://teachercast.net/appreviews/" target="_blank">TeacherCast Mobile App</a> too by accessing a myriad of popular web tools and applications such as KidBlog. It is evident that this app is designed to be "the one app educators can use everyday." Click <a href="http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/teachercast-pro/id460774278?mt=8" target="_blank">here</a> to download the <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> mobile app. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">2. <b><a href="http://teachercast.net/appreviews/" target="_blank">App Reviews</a></b> - These very popular teacher-tested app </span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">reviews are a definite educational treasure for teachers! </span><a href="http://teachercast.net/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'s dedicated</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"> app reviewers, current classroom teachers themselves, recommend the best educational apps and suggest possible classroom activities for each. Click <a href="http://podcast.teachercast.net/app-spotlight-math-formulas/" target="_blank">here</a> to sample one of dozens of app reviews <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> offers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">3. <b><a href="http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=154861" target="_blank">LiveBinder Gallery</a></b> - A wide array of educational resources are shared by educators from around the world in this nicely organized LiveBinder Gallery. Click <a href="http://www.livebinders.com/play/play_or_edit?id=154861" target="_blank">here</a> to view the more than 15,000 LiveBinder resources!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">4. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank"><b>TeacherCast TV</b></a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b> </b>- A library of educational videos are available ranging from tutorials on the latest technologies to keynote presentations. To sample one of the many screencast tutorials, refer to the video below.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">5. <b><a href="http://teachercast.jobamatic.com/a/jobs/find-jobs" target="_blank">Career Center</a></b> - Looking for a job? <a href="http://teachercast.jobamatic.com/a/jobs/find-jobs" target="_blank">The TeacherCast Career Center</a> offers a central meeting place for both employers and employees to connect. To further assist prospective teachers, a search engine is available to help narrow down your choices.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">6. <a href="http://pin.teachercast.net/" target="_blank"><b>TeacherCast Pinboard</b></a> - A collection of educational links organized by topic that every educator will find very helpful. Links range from information about upcoming professional development opportunities to blogging tips.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Without a doubt, <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> makes the task of staying connected very easy! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the first in a 3 part series about the benefits of staying connected with <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a>. Next week's post will focus on the <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a> Podcasting Network - a network of very informative and highly engaging presentations featuring respected educators who share their knowledge and expertise on the most pertinent topics affecting education today.</span></div>
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Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-41326851874145314012012-05-16T20:48:00.000-07:002012-06-03T20:07:01.896-07:00Cybraryman and The Newbie Project<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The phone call was nothing unusual. Jeff Bradbury calling to discuss a podcast or website issue is what I figured at first. But Jeff's question was different this time. He asked, "Can you help me? I want to get Jerry to ISTE." Okay, great idea so, what do we need to do? We talked about possible ways to make it happen that included sponsorships as well as getting people we knew to donate and I agreed to get the word out to see if my network of people had some ideas.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bazinga! Suzie Nestico got back to me within the day and asked if Jerry had been to ISTE. If not, then he might be a candidate for the ISTE Newbie Project. I knew about Beth Still's Newbie Project from last year when George Couros was the Newbie. I quickly contacted Jerry and sure enough he had never been. Suzie let Beth know and she agreed to make Jerry Blumengarten this year's Newbie. What a great idea! I love it when an idea becomes reality. Now it's just a matter of getting people to donate and raise the money. Not an easy task but we are confident that our goal will be met. What better way to give back to someone who gives so much to so many of us in education.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">So, if Jerry has helped you in some way or you have used his endless links and resources, then please contribute to this worthy project. If you're going to ISTE, then you'll get a chance to be thanked by him directly.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEysGalnjSntOnERfIiPfNzQekkVtcmd-yY6SpMkdpHdpAJwkrGl10neHvkSk326FW4dJIlzWvpkojcPvr5lk8svYGzkrbSYrXsjUK_lXsWjOyU47o8-XkWYRYC0hF46AvPBBo8YB5WtE/s1600/jerry.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEysGalnjSntOnERfIiPfNzQekkVtcmd-yY6SpMkdpHdpAJwkrGl10neHvkSk326FW4dJIlzWvpkojcPvr5lk8svYGzkrbSYrXsjUK_lXsWjOyU47o8-XkWYRYC0hF46AvPBBo8YB5WtE/s320/jerry.png" width="296" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>WE DID IT! Jerry is going to ISTE12.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Thank you to everyone who contributed to this great cause.</b></span>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-21936192146247493192012-03-31T17:23:00.000-07:002012-04-01T09:13:23.496-07:00The Experience of a Lifetime: Edcampss<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wow, what a rush! After 1774 emails and a dozen Skype calls, we made it happen. Edcamp Social Studies is in the books. I was so fearful that a subject specific edcamp just wouldn't draw people. Thankfully, I was wrong. All those nightmares of having <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/kennethcdavis" target="_blank">Kenneth C. Davis</a> speaking to ten people was just wasted energy. We had close to 100 people attend throughout the day and it was a huge success. To pull off a national edcamp is quite an accomplishment but it would never have happened without the hard work and dedication of the Edcamp social studies crew </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/dontworryteach" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Jamie Josephson</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/kyteacher" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Angela Cunningham</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/nesticos" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Suzie Nestico</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/irishteach" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Heather Kilgallon</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/ShawnMcCusker" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Shawn McCusker</a>,<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/gregkulowiec" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Greg Kulowiec</a> <span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">and </span><a href="https://twitter.com/#!/becky_ellis_" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;" target="_blank">Becky Ellis</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. Sadly, Becky could not make it but her work with the group on edcampss was invaluable. I am grateful to be part of such a passionate, dedicated and ambitious group. Thank you to these outstanding educators. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIS1N_sfoS4J4RelCQheqFdtbnG9H6JAMLaW7KOYpI1o6ao-jBW6-d7iWbAI3_2HiJCK_a3XdjNIHkt4DqIX1yvjlVT6KNms-sKitHNLfJbts34CUlBrgt3wJVwW5kIsyzEFjuPqHJtAk/s1600/EdcampCrew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIS1N_sfoS4J4RelCQheqFdtbnG9H6JAMLaW7KOYpI1o6ao-jBW6-d7iWbAI3_2HiJCK_a3XdjNIHkt4DqIX1yvjlVT6KNms-sKitHNLfJbts34CUlBrgt3wJVwW5kIsyzEFjuPqHJtAk/s320/EdcampCrew.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jamie, Angela, Suzie, Heather, Shawn, Me, and Greg</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course we could not have done any of it without the tremendous support of our amazing sponsors: <a href="http://www.collaborizeclassroom.com/" target="_blank">Collaborize Classroom</a>, <a href="http://www.edtechteacher.org/" target="_blank">Ed Tech Teacher</a>, <a href="http://www.diigo.com/" target="_blank">Diigo</a>, <a href="http://www.dipity.com/" target="_blank">Dipity</a>, <a href="http://www.edmodo.com/" target="_blank">Edmodo</a>, <a href="http://www.edutopia.org/" target="_blank">Edutopia</a>, <a href="http://www.findingdulcinea.com/" target="_blank">Finding Dulcinea</a>/<a href="http://www.sweetsearch.com/" target="_blank">Sweet Search</a>, <a href="http://www.flocabulary.com/" target="_blank">Flocabulary</a>, <a href="http://www.herffjonesnystrom.com/" target="_blank">Herff Jones Nystrom</a>/<a href="http://www.stratalogica.com/" target="_blank">Stratalogica</a>, <a href="http://www.livebinders.com/" target="_blank">LiveBinders</a>, <a href="http://www.milestonedocuments.com/" target="_blank">Milestone Documents</a>, <a href="http://www.polleverywhere.com/" target="_blank">Poll EveryWhere</a>, <a href="http://www.scienceleadership.org/" target="_blank">Science Leadership Academy</a>, <a href="http://www.simplek12.com/" target="_blank">Simple K12</a>, <a href="http://www.surveymonkey.com/" target="_blank">SurveyMonkey</a>, <a href="http://www.teachtci.com/" target="_blank">TCI</a>, and <a href="http://teachercast.net/" target="_blank">TeacherCast</a>. Interestingly enough it was Collaborize Classroom who were the first to jump in to sponsor us. I really appreciate the faith all of our sponsors had in us as educators and as an organization. We are blessed and amazed at the willingness of such great companies to support our little venture in education.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As I reflect on all that went into the development and organization of Edcampss, I can't help but think that without the technology of today, we all would have never met let alone worked together so well as a team. Two years ago along comes Twitter and we have the opportunity in our lifetime to connect with each other and look what happened. The creation of #sschat and the SSChat Ning have given many social studies teachers a place to learn and share virtually at any time. And with Edcampss there was an opportunity for some to meet face to face and extend the learning and sharing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Choosing to have a subject specific edcamp was as much about the model for professional development as it was about the energy we generated as we talked and joked about it. The moment we had someone offer to sponsor us is when we all sat up and thought...Hey, we can do this. And we did and it was better than I ever expected. The only down side was the lack of time we had together. The upside was getting to meet so many outstanding educators. People came from all over the country and shared their best practices throughout the day. <a href="http://www.dontknowmuch.com/" target="_blank">Kenneth C. Davis</a> did a fantastic job with his Keynote and helped fulfill my dream of meeting him and getting not one but two of his books signed by him. Thank you, sir!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO33qcA3eOpxuT2DcaGnmK6u2coSH23wKVesGW0asUi8TWnrEHS1AIf3RqVPXISZwPvw7J-A2X9IXdERc5II-jEKwjfEo6iF9B0PCTqyDsRGHuhsBPYmCOETNrPXKAbA1-Im4PndaWuQg/s1600/357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO33qcA3eOpxuT2DcaGnmK6u2coSH23wKVesGW0asUi8TWnrEHS1AIf3RqVPXISZwPvw7J-A2X9IXdERc5II-jEKwjfEo6iF9B0PCTqyDsRGHuhsBPYmCOETNrPXKAbA1-Im4PndaWuQg/s320/357.JPG" width="238" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">None of this would have been possible without the educators who attended this event in the city of brotherly love. Many traveled great distances to be there. Some flew in while others drove several hours. Thanks for your dedication. And a special thanks to <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/chrislehmann" target="_blank">Chris Lehmann</a> and <a href="https://twitter.com/#!/dlaufenberg" target="_blank">Diana Laufenberg</a> as well as the student volunteers, especially Jeff Kessler. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There were many great sessions as the session board filled up rather quickly. We actually added another room and it filled up in just a few minutes. I was able to live stream Mr. Davis in the main room and some of the sessions were recorded via <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/edcampss" target="_blank">Ustream</a> and all can be viewed. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that I'm back home and my education cup runneth over, I am on to many more projects and perhaps Edcampss2 is on the horizon. It may be too soon to tell but if our group gets to talking...watch out!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Edcampss was definitely an experience of a lifetime. I just hope our group has many more in the years to come.</span>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-46409553083220588222012-02-17T22:33:00.000-08:002012-02-18T10:29:52.534-08:00Lights, Camera...Engagement!<u><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Using Video in the Classroom to Empower your Students and Their Learning</span></b></u><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How many times have you thought to yourself, "In what way can I spice up this unit and make it student-centered?" One great way is to let your students be creative using video. With all the tools and technology available, making videos is easier than ever for you and your students.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently at the annual National Council of Social Studies (NCSS) conference Becky Ellis, Greg Kulowiec and I presented three different ways you can use video with your students in the classroom. Below is the slide show we used to introduce these tools:</span><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="true" frameborder="0" height="525" src="https://docs.google.com/presentation/embed?id=1-4XZW3GFpz8vPZqFZk9JF-7q0WrJutHBvw8q0Ggr8yA&start=false&loop=false&delayms=3000" webkitallowfullscreen="true" width="725"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are plenty of ideas and resources available through the links we shared and below is an overview of these video styles each with varying degrees of technology and resources needed:</span><br />
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<div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.24042089516296983"><a href="http://www.animoto.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Animoto</span></a></b></div><b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 1: Sign up</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Animoto is an easy to use website where you and your students can create 30 second videos for free. As an educator you can sign up and get a free Animoto Plus account. The Plus account allows you to sign up 50 of your students for six months with the ability to create videos of unlimited length. The account is renewable so be sure to take advantage of the free offer. Otherwise, the Plus account is $30.00 a year which is not bad but we already spend enough money on our classrooms.</span><br />
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<u><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 2: Try it yourself and then show your students</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The great thing about Animoto is that all you have to do is follow the easy steps they provide you. Load photos and/or text, select your music and theme then produce. Your students will have access to over 600 music tracks to select from or they can download their own music for their video creation. Great for students to create a variety of projects from current events to a video biography or whatever you and they can imagine. All you need is access to a computer and your students will be creating cool videos with just a few photos from the internet and their imagination. My students were able to get started at school. I was able to assist them with the sign up process and then they did most of their creating at home where they had access to their own pictures and music. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><u>Step 3: Share with your classes</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students really enjoyed watching and presenting their videos. I had put a time limit of three minutes on the videos so that it wouldn't take too long to watch and critique their work. The students had a lot of fun with it and the topics they chose were interesting and well thought out.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's an example from last year:</span><br />
<object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" height="240" id="vp10DciI" width="432"><param name="movie" value="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/vp1&e=1329018744&f=0DciI0WwXm8n0b0UxZY0Fg&d=124&m=b&r=240p&volume=&i=m&options="></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed id="vp10DciI" src="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/vp1&e=1329018744&f=0DciI0WwXm8n0b0UxZY0Fg&d=124&m=b&r=240p&volume=&i=m&options=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="432" height="240"></embed></object><br />
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<b id="internal-source-marker_0.9826206418219954"><a href="http://www.commoncraft.com/"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 19px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Common Craft</span></a></b><br />
<div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b id="internal-source-marker_0.9826206418219954"> <span style="font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></b><b><u>What are Common Craft style videos?</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CommonCraft videos are made using simple paper cut outs and dialogue that focuses on explaining concepts “in plain English”. Pioneered by Lee and Sachi LeFever, this style of video utilizes a white background and will have all elements planned out to make a complex subject simple. Another key to the video style is that it is short--usually around 2-4 minutes.</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tasks for Creating Common Craft style videos</span></u></b></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br />
Storyboard a script for the video.</b> This will involve making sure students are explaining how something works, or why it was important. Encourage students to time their explanation in order to reduce it to it’s most simple form.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Creating props for the video.</b> Props in this case will largely be paper cutouts of simple drawings. Students can plan to use printed words as part of their props. Ideally, printed words should be used for a title slide and a bibliography slide. It will take students a few extra minutes to type but will result in a more professional looking product.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Filming the video</b>... usually best left to the teacher when there are time constraints. Students familiar with video production can be trained to take on this task.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Narrator.</b> 1-2 students can be assigned to this task. Students can narrate as the action is taking place, or narration can be added on a separate voice-over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>presentation specialists</b> (2 -3 students) These students are involved in manipulating the paper cut-outs in sync to the narration/explanation of the historical event.Steps Needed for a Common Craft Style Video Project.</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 1</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Assign topic</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students determine images central to project.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students script or “storyboard” their topic. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students find clip art or draw their figures for the presentations.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 2</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students participate in a trial run of the shoot where they practice the script and manipulation of figures and words.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students will need a template for the area the camera will see when they are practicing.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students are encouraged to make changes to their script and use a timer to make sure they are talking about the most important aspects of the historical event.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 3</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teacher or student videographers film student projects.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Students who are finished with filming may then add a voice-over if time permits, or edit out any parts they feel detracts from the expository nature of the film. Students complete a group project evaluation form.</span></div><div><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Step 4</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Videos are shown to the entire class. This would be appropriate as a test review or as a culminating project for the entire unit. This activity does not have to be done directly after filming. The whole Classroom Wins with this style of video:</span></div><div><object height="360" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/lPlzTsCmMW4&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/lPlzTsCmMW4&hl=en_US&feature=player_embedded&version=3" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowScriptAccess="always" width="640" height="360"></embed></object></div><div><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" mozallowfullscreen="" src="http://player.vimeo.com/video/1432863?title=0&byline=0&portrait=0" webkitallowfullscreen="" width="400"></iframe><br />
<a href="http://vimeo.com/1432863">Electing a US President in Plain English</a> from <a href="http://vimeo.com/user230075">leelefever</a> on <a href="http://vimeo.com/">Vimeo</a>.<br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Classroom Wins with this Style of Video:</span></b><br />
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<div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.24042089516296983"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CommonCraft video projects are student friendly. After seeing one example, students understand their task. This particular video style honors Gardner’s theory of Multiple Intelligences and allows students to excel in areas of strength. By having students work on the storyboarding, script, and manipulatives and titles as homework a teacher only needs to spend a part of the class period to complete this project. The meaningful homework assignment is a bonus as well! CommonCraft style videos are a low tech. You only need a video camera, tripod, and white surface for students to create this type of culminating project.</span></span></b></div><br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.knewton.com/blog/edtech/2010/12/15/how-to-make-an-interactive-lesson-using-youtube/" target="_blank">Choose Your Own Adventure - CYOA</a></span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">CYOA videos are a fun way for students to learn content and be creative. You need to be a little more advanced with technology but the process is simple for the students. Students will need a green screen, video camera and tripod as well as great preparation before they start filming. These projects are great for teams to collaborate and learn. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Typically CYOA projects are one week of class time and would follow this basic timeline:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 1 - Introduction and begin Planning</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 2 - Finish Planning and Write Scripts</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 3 - Finish Scripts and begin filming</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 4 - Filming</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day 5 - Finish Filming, editing and linking</span><br />
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<div><b id="internal-source-marker_0.24042089516296983"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 16px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Tips and Pointers for CYOA</span></span></b><br />
<ul><li style="font-size: 16px; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span id="internal-source-marker_0.24042089516296983"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you have computers available for student use, then they can edit and link the videos themselves. </span></span></span></li>
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<li style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you are limited on computers, you could cut this timeline down to four days and edit and link the videos yourself.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> It is reasonable to expect that students will be responsible for the content of the scripts as well as the digital images needed for the backgrounds.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> You will need to get a green screen. Any green material will work as a green screen.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal; list-style-type: disc; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Make sure you have a light source between the students and the green screen to avoid shadows behind them.</span></li>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Planning:</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most important part of Choose Your Own Adventure Videos is the planning phase. Below is the process that Greg's students went through to plan their video and filming.</span><br />
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<embed allowfullscreen="true" height="480" src="http://www.box.com/embed/m0frm3l9915gns1.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="653" wmode="opaque"></embed><br />
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<div><span id="internal-source-marker_0.24042089516296983"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Making videos is a natural medium for this generation. Students make videos and post them to Youtube on their down time. So, why aren’t we bringing video production into the classroom? Using Animoto, CommonCraft, or Choose Your Own Adventure videos can really spice up your classroom and take the pressure off you as the teacher. Having students make their own videos helps them to be in charge of their own learning. </span></span><b id="internal-source-marker_0.24042089516296983"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 15px; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">As an added bonus, using videos in the classroom helps school get just a little closer to a kids real life.</span></b></div>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-75700657673105292442012-01-28T21:08:00.000-08:002012-01-28T21:08:07.076-08:00Edmodo ~ Student Management in the 21st Century<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Edmodo...the name sounds kind of cool. What does it mean? Well, it means a lot of things to different people. Ed= Education + Modo= Methods as was pointed out to me by Betsy Whalen of Edmodo. However, the reality is Jeff O'Hara, one of the founders of Edmodo, just made the name up. Excellent choice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For me and many other educators, Edmodo means connecting, collaborating, teaching, and learning. My teaching has changed because of it and I love how it has broken down the walls of my cave...er...classroom. Students now have more help with assignments, projects, and anything they might need assistance with after hours. I even have office hours in the evening if students have a question or just need help. That's pretty powerful! So what's all the fuss about? Well, here are a few of the features and how to get started with Edmodo:</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/-Q6wjF1oWSk?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some of the features I didn't mention in the video include:</span><br />
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<ul><li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Student Backpack - students can add items for reference and use.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blogging</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Edmodo Help and Support Center</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Group Management</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Archiving Groups</span></li>
</ul><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All of this and more can be accessed in the Help Center and if by chance you don't find an answer there, you can go to the Support Group and post your question. Help is only minutes away. The support team is very helpful and lightning fast in responding. A truly great group of people. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another great thing about Edmodo is that the students love it and find it extremely easy to use. They really like the ability to post messages to everyone or directly to me if they have a question. For me I like the fact that students often times help each other when one of their classmates is in need of help.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Edmodo is safe, secure and doesn't require student emails. It's a great blend of social media and student management system that makes the administration of teaching easier. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I know it's made me a better teacher.</span>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-22590645365955611262011-12-23T12:22:00.000-08:002011-12-31T09:44:04.998-08:00EdCamp Social Studies: From Joke to RealityOver the past year I've met some pretty innovative, productive and inspiring educators who invigorate and motivate me every day. During that time I've created some excellent lessons and used new tools that have helped my students and me learn better. Some of these teachers I now refer to as my colleagues and we are a collaborative team and at times we push each other to just be better. We have formed a core group who run SSChat on Twitter and maintain a social studies ning <a href="http://sschat.ning.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">SSChat Ning</span></a> website. Our group was characterized by<span style="color: red;"> <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dancallahan" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Dan Callahan</span></a> </span>as "kind of intense" and we have lived up to that label time and time again.<br />
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One of these occasions was the night of our NCSS presentation proposal deadline. Different teams of us were putting the finishing touches on our proposals. I was in the process of submitting a proposal on using video in the classroom that <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Becky_Ellis_" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Becky Ellis</span></a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/gregkulowiec" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Greg Kulowiec</span></a> and I had brainstormed when another member, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/Dontworryteach" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Jamie Josephson</span></a>, encouraged us to quickly put together a proposal on SSChat and social media. Not only was it an exhilirating experience that resulted in a proposal in two and a half hours but it was accepted and we presented it at a national conference. You see, they are a very inspiring and motivating group where the challenges have only just begun.<br />
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Sometime in May of this year during our Monday night sschat someone (Brad Campbell...cough, cough) jokingly said that they would love to see us do an EdCamp based on just social studies. Edcamp up to now are "unconferences" for all teachers and grade levels. Well, the jokes went around and someone laughed and said they had a friend in Las Vegas who could hook us up with a facility and the jokes kept coming. No one took it very seriously except a few of us who wondered if we could pull it off. Then during our anniversary chat one of the topics asked what you wish for sschat in the future. Again a few people mentioned an Edcamp social studies. Except this time we took it seriously.<br />
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After SSChat Monday evening some of us stuck around and threw around the idea of an Edcamp for social studies. By the next day we were already in the planning stages. Within a month we had our conference <a href="http://www.edcampss.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">EdCampSS</span></a> put together with a Keynote Speaker in <a href="http://www.dontknowmuch.com/about-kenneth-c-davis/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Kenneth C. Davis</span></a>, a date: March 24th, 2012, and a location: Science Leadership Academy in Philadelphia. Wow, what a rush the month of August was. We sent over 800 emails back and forth during the month. Yes, we are <a href="http://sschat.ning.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">#kindaintense</span></a>!<br />
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Our team is incredible and I owe them so much for making this event happen. Thank you to my colleagues:<br />
<span style="color: red;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/kyteacher" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Angela Cunningham</span></a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/becky_ellis_" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Becky Ellis</span></a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/gregkulowiec" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Greg Kulowiec</span></a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/irishteach" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Heather Kilgallon</span></a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/dontworryteach" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Jamie Josephson</span></a>, <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/rachlabossiere" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Rachel Labossiere</span></a>, <span style="color: red;"><a href="http://twitter.com/#!/shawnmccusker" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Shawn McCusker</span></a> </span>and <a href="http://twitter.com/#!/nesticos" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Susie Nestico</span></a>(s)</span><br />
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So, now is the time for you to join us for what will prove to be the best experience for collaboration, professional development and friendship. Visit our website <a href="http://www.edcampss.org/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">EdCampSS</span></a>, register, and grab our badge for your own website. Oh, and don't forget to spread the word as well as join us in March.Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-11684393575153672662011-12-23T11:15:00.000-08:002011-12-23T11:36:06.987-08:00The Art of Storytelling<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When was the last time you were told a great story? Do you remember being captivated by the visual imagery conjured up? Was there ever a time when you couldn't wait for another tale to be told by that one person be it your grandfather or quite possibly a teacher? If not, you've missed out. It seems the art of storytelling is declining and it's a shame. Think about it, there was a time when that's all people had.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before writing people told stories as a means of passing oral tradition as well as entertaining everyone. In ancient Greece there were traveling bards who would command vast audiences at times and would tell tales that would enthrall the crowd. Some of those great tales like "The Illiad and The Odyssey would later be written down by the likes of Homer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In some parts of the world today storytelling is still an important piece of culture. Some peoples rely on the oral tradition to establish norms, mores or folkways for their society. In every part of the world storytelling is important for the transference of ideas and socialization. Let's face it, everyone likes a good story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Those of us who have the task of teaching to the generation of today must be master story tellers if we intend to capture our audience. Weaving in the hidden history of an event or person requires knowledge beyond the textbook. Personally, my favorite reads are ones that include the back stories of history. For example, "<a href="http://www.americashiddenhistorythebook.com/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">America's Hidden History</span></a>" by Kenneth C. Davis is an excellent source for some of the stories in U.S. History. Other great sources are biographies. I loved "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Founding-Brothers-Revolutionary-Joseph-Ellis/dp/0375705244" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Founding Brothers</span></a>" by Joseph Ellis, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Cleopatra-Life-Stacy-Schiff/dp/0316120448" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Cleopatra</span></a>" by Stacy Schiff, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Augustus-Life-Romes-First-Emperor/dp/0812970586/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324667015&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Augustus</span></a>" by Anthony Everitt, "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Rise-Theodore-Roosevelt-Edmund-Morris/dp/1400069653/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1324667133&sr=1-1" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">The Rise of Theodore Roosevelt</span></a>" by Edmund Morris and many others. They all have great stories you can share with your students. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Knowing the stories is one thing but you must be able to entertain with them as well. Doing a Ben Stein interpretation will certainly not do. Get animated! Have fun with it and get into character. Stories are what you make them. So go out and read some interesting history and share it with your students. They will thank you for it. </span>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-31506173861834164712011-07-02T15:34:00.000-07:002011-07-04T08:04:30.108-07:00Making Current Events Projects with Animoto and Wordle<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you're like me, bringing current global, national and local events into the classroom is always a high priority. The problem lies in how to make that happen while keeping it student-centered and of interest to them. When I first started teaching I would require my students to write summaries and/or make a poster board of their news story and present it to the class. Those days are long gone as students and teachers now have access to so many more tools to enhance and engage current events. This past year I was working with another teacher, Rachelle Lamoureaux, and together we created a different way for students to connect with what is happening in the world around them. Below are the student instructions to a project you can use in your classroom. Students can present them to the class or post them to a class wiki. I did both. </span><br />
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<div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Welcome to my latest tech integration project. Everyday important and not so important events happen around the world and some elicit excellent class discussions. Some of the questions and responses from you have been very powerful and thought provoking to say the least. In preparing for class, I have researched or have received links to a variety of amazing resources that can be used as a source and/or starting point to continue the learning and collaboration. As a result, I think that we must capitalize on these resources while combining Web 2.0 tools to create "The Week in 30 seconds" project.</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Demo: </div><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" height="240" id="vp1x5Hus" width="432"><param name="movie" value="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/vp1&e=1309759036&f=x5Hus1o7GNKWbByl0eMsFQ&d=113&m=a&r=240p&volume=100&start_res=240p&i=m&options="></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed id="vp1x5Hus" src="http://static.animoto.com/swf/w.swf?w=swf/vp1&e=1309759036&f=x5Hus1o7GNKWbByl0eMsFQ&d=113&m=a&r=240p&volume=100&start_res=240p&i=m&options=" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="432" height="240"></embed></object><br />
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<div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">The goal of the project is investigate and analyze online news reports, images and videos to inspire you to build a list of reaction words, use those words to create a Wordle, and finally to make a 30 second Animoto video that represents and reflects their synthesis of the events in Northern Africa, Middle East or other parts of the world.</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li>Student task #1: Analyze a minimum of 5 of the 10 sites I have provided which all relate to the most current events happening in Northern Africa, the Middle East or other parts of the world</li>
<li>Student task #2: Synthesize the information from various sites to build a list of words that describe your observations, feelings and reactions to these events. Your list should reflect what YOU have learned and YOUR feelings. There is no incorrect reaction or adjective! Try to write as many "reaction" words as you can for EACH site you investigate. Keep track of the reaction words as well as site they correspond with. You may use the same reaction word as many times as you wish. A minimum of 15 reaction words are required.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="" data-mce-src="/file/view/WordleScreenShot.PNG" data-mce-style="height: 323px; width: 800px;" height="256" src="http://peckspage.wikispaces.com/file/view/WordleScreenShot.PNG" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" title="" width="640" /></div><ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li>Student task #3: Create a Wordle of your reaction words at <a class="wiki_link_ext" data-mce-href="http://www.wordle.net/" href="http://www.wordle.net/" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Wordle</a> Type the set of your reaction words for each site you investigate into the wordle text box. Click on "Create." Name your wordle so that it is connected with YOU. Once you have created your Wordle, take a screen shot (shift+command+4) of it to be used as an image for your 30 second Animoto video. You can also save your Wordle to the public gallery and then save the image to your desktop or take a screen shot from there.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li>Student Task #4: Choose from the following list of sites to investigate. As you read through the information and look at images make a list of reaction words and/or phrases that describe what you are learning. Be creative and list words of how you feel about what's going on.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1. <a class="wiki_link_ext" data-mce-href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/2011225165641323716.html" href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2011/02/2011225165641323716.html" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Al Jazeera News</a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2. <a class="wiki_link_ext" data-mce-href="http://www.cnn.com/" href="http://www.cnn.com/" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">CNN</a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3. <a class="wiki_link_ext" data-mce-href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/26/world/africa/26libya.html?hp" href="http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/26/world/africa/26libya.html?hp" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">New York Times</a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">4. <a class="wiki_link_ext" data-mce-href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/02/libya_report_from_the_ground.html?hpid=topnews" href="http://voices.washingtonpost.com/blog-post/2011/02/libya_report_from_the_ground.html?hpid=topnews" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Washington Post</a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5. <a class="wiki_link_ext" data-mce-href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/world/" href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/world/" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">Huffington Post</a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">6. <a class="wiki_link_ext" data-mce-href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">BBC News International</a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">7. <a class="wiki_link_ext" data-mce-href="http://www.ap.org/" href="http://www.ap.org/" rel="nofollow" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.wikispaces.com/i/a.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 100% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; padding-right: 10px;">AP News</a></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><ul style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 3em; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><li>Student task #5: While you are investigating the sites above, find images that reflect the list of reaction words. Copy and save the images to your desktop. Go to animoto.com. Sign up for your free account. You will need to verify your account via the email address you used to sign up with. Once you have verified your account you can begin creating your Animoto video using the images you have saved on your desktop. Your Animoto video will allow you to upload between 10 and 13 images. Keep in mind that you will also use your Wordle image twice in the Animoto video.</li>
</ul><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span data-mce-style="margin: 0px; padding: 0px;" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">In "create" mode, you can chose from the free templates provided. Next you will upload the images that you saved on your desktop.</span></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_12.08.41_PM.png" data-mce-src="http://2ndhourgeography.wikispaces.com/file/view/Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_12.08.41_PM.png" data-mce-style="height: 409px; width: 800px;" height="327" src="http://2ndhourgeography.wikispaces.com/file/view/Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_12.08.41_PM.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" title="Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_12.08.41_PM.png" width="640" /></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 1: pics & vids - upload the images that you saved on your desktop.</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><img alt="Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_12.10.30_PM.png" data-mce-src="http://2ndhourgeography.wikispaces.com/file/view/Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_12.10.30_PM.png" data-mce-style="height: 409px; width: 800px;" height="327" src="http://2ndhourgeography.wikispaces.com/file/view/Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_12.10.30_PM.png" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px;" title="Screen_shot_2011-02-27_at_12.10.30_PM.png" width="640" /></div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 2: Music. Select a track from the list of songs provided. Animoto allows you the option to listen to the track before you chose it. The track you select should convey the reactions words and images you chose for your Wordle and Animoto video.</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Step 3: Finalize your Animoto video. This step will process, rendor and finalize your video. Depending on the song track, and images used....this may take some time.</div><div style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you would like your students to produce longer videos on Animoto, you can sign up for an Education account and have each student register through a phony email address you provide them. Instructions are on the Animoto site. I did this and had some students producing two to three minute videos that were creative and outstanding. </span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="line-height: 19px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Have fun with this project and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me.</span></div>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-89547798045634483882011-06-30T10:39:00.000-07:002011-06-30T17:03:10.121-07:00Moving Beyond 140<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Technology and the Internet have brought an infinite amount of changes to the way we teach not to mention changes to our society. Luckily I am not one to sit still and let the world change while I watch. Therefore, I have always believed using technology is something to be embraced as a means to an end in the classroom and in my personal life. Part of my tech journey fortunately included the discovery of Twitter as a tool for Professional Development, resource sharing, peer engagement and collaboration. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Many people, educators included, engage each other with vast amounts of, shall I say trivial dialogue albeit entertaining at times. An even greater number of educators share resource links that get saved into Delicious or Diigo for future reference when and if they might need or remember the resource link. Some like myself apply what we learn from these resources and it directly improves our profession. Twitter is an outstanding format for developing professional relationships that are rewarding and fruitful for a lot of educators including myself. The tools and ideas are endless and worthy in and of themselves. The problem lies in the usefulness of the relationships if they never move beyond 140 characters. Of course that presupposes a willingness to make those relationships useful.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Twitter provides a vehicle for connection but it is up to us to enhance those relationships and move them into something more permanent and useful. I envy my PLN that have gone to conferences like ISTE and have met face to face. So far I have met two PLN members and it was a rewarding experience. This year at NCSS I will finally get a chance to meet the most valuable members of my PLN, the SSChat crew. I encourage everyone to seek out your PLN beyond the 140 characters.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This year the core group of us @gregkulowiec, @becky_ellis_, @Dontworryteach(Jamie), @ShawnMcCusker and @kyteacher(Angela) have done some amazing things beyond Twitter. We have shared a GDoc on a number of occasions to plan for SSChat as well as write proposals for the NCSS conference in December. In May we started the SSChat Ning and have seen it grow for Social Studies teachers everywhere. We are currently planning more exciting things to come for our group. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">If you haven't done so, take the next step. Plan to meet people, work on a project together, Skype with each other's classrooms, go to conferences or engage in any other medium that enhances your professional and personal relationships beyond 140.</span><br />
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</span>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-857035044209050952011-05-16T21:10:00.000-07:002011-05-16T21:10:00.663-07:00The Gift of Teaching Gifted Students<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">The classroom is an interesting place to say the least. As teachers we are solely responsible for setting up and setting the tone for learning every day. Many of us are fortunate enough to teach a variety of subjects to a diverse group of students but not all of us have a gifted class. When I first starting teaching (um, 18 years ago) I had 35 gifted students in a social studies class and it was an eye opening and exhilarating experience. Starting my career like that really got my attention.</span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">You know that time when you just started your first teaching job and you have a million ideas to use in your classroom? Soon some of those ideas do not turn out like you planned and you end up switching to plan B more than you expected. But then there is one class in which everything you try turns out better than expected. Why? Was it your approach? Enthusiasm? Did you reflect long enough to realize it was the chemistry of the class? For me those 35 gifted students had amazing chemistry. I quickly realized I could do anything with them as long as I included them in the learning process.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">Here I am 18 years later and again have a group of students who are amazing and gifted. They are my AP World History students and they have energy and a passion for learning and life. I feed off their energy and try to meet their needs on a daily basis. The challenge is in diversifying their needs enough which will fuel their learning and keep them focused. Yes, despite them being gifted they have a variety of strengths and weaknesses that provide quite a challenge every day. The one factor they all have in common is that they "get it". They understand the value of education and are motivated to come away with a deeper knowledge of the subject not just the grade. Although there are a few who see the grade as all important, most understand the need to learn and grow as individuals. So, when I ask for their input on projects, assignments, etc. they provided great feedback that will steer their learning in the direction that best suits them.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">As I look forward to next year, I want to use the experiences from this class to design, create and implement a learning environment that will allow all students to learn and grow. Therein lies the challenge. I'm confident with the feedback I receive this school year from my gifted students that I will be better prepared to meet the needs of next years classes.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #20124d; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS',sans-serif;">I'm looking forward to it.<br />
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</span></div>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-12883238198616676642011-02-16T20:44:00.000-08:002011-02-24T10:47:09.121-08:00We Are Not Alone! Connecting in a Digital World.<div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Do you remember the first staff meeting you ever attended? Did you look around the room and wonder who you might be able to work with in the coming weeks, months or years? I remember and can still feel the sense of apprehension I had about whether or not I would have an opportunity to collaborate. As my first year progressed I found it easy to collaborate with a couple of teachers in subject areas other than mine but for the most part I was alone, on my own when it came to learning, growing and developing into the teacher I wanted to be.</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Most of my early opportunities for collaboration were found in workshops and conferences. There I would meet great like minded people to share ideas and resources but once it was over and we all went home, the collaboration stopped. Even in one of my more recent professional development activities with the TAH grant I was limited when it came to long lasting sustainable collaboration with colleagues. I'd have to say I was a little disappointed with the lack of contact with colleagues in my field. Well, at least until I happened upon Twitter by accident.</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">You see a couple of years ago my wife was curious about this thing called Twitter. I had heard about it but never gave it a second thought. Then one day she started an account so she could poke around on it and see what it was all about. The only problem or as it turns out fortunate problem for me was that she had actually signed me up. I decided to keep it open and slowly began following fellow educators. Soon I was gathering resources and discussing educational issues on a daily basis. Finally I was chatting with teachers in my field and last July, Greg Kulowiec and I thought it might be a good idea to start our own Twitter chat for social studies. We created the hashtag #sschat and have been steadily growing our following. Since that time my professional development is focused on the resources, links and people I follow on twitter. The amount of learning and collaboration is filling a void in my professional and to some degree personal life. (Later post I'm sure)</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">People I have never met are now the best resource I have ever had in my 20 years in education. I am at the point where I am collaborating on projects, presentations and documents with people I don't even know! Yet I think I know some of my colleagues on twitter better than the ones in my building. And soon I will get a chance to meet with a few of these wonderful people at a conference later this year. It will be like we have known each other for years. </span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #20124d; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The reality of the digital age is that there are no boundaries to how you learn, share and grow as a person or educator. The only rule is that you have to jump in and explore. I am thankful that this medium has afforded me and many of my Twitterverse colleagues the opportunities that we never had before. </span></div>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-77910698524947359612010-07-29T08:07:00.000-07:002010-07-30T10:37:36.490-07:00Is it Learning or Compliance?<div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">This topic has bothered me for some time. After reading 4thGrdTeach's blog on homework she inspired me to write. Homework is a big issue but the bigger issue is what are kids learning from the class? Are students truly learning or are they just complying with our course requirements to "get the grade?" How do we build young minds to desire knowledge? Have we taken the time to write curriculum that engages them or are we using the textbooks as an easy time saving devise? Are you one of those teachers who assign reading and questions at the end of a chapter? Or do you know a teacher who is referred to as "Captain Handout?" This is all very real and sad and it only functions as a means of turning kids off to learning. Not all students love all subjects but we can at least make it interesting by building a better mouse trap.:-)</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Many teachers complain that they just don't have enough time. Okay, I understand the limits of time for teachers but there are a lot of us who take the time to create good lessons that get kids interested in learning. What is the point of a lesson if the student doesn't learn anything from it? Ask those teachers, "What the heck are we here for anyway?" I have heard countless students tell me that a class was a waste of time or that they were so bored in a class. Didn't I read recently that the number one reason for high school dropouts was boredom in school? Houston, we have a problem!</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, how do we move kids toward an intrinsic desire to learn? There are a lot of ways and I am hopeful that my colleagues will use some of the many examples that they learn from professional development and their PLN. Wait...most of them don't even know or want to know what PLN stands for let alone create and use one. Alas, that is a problem but things change and many of us who have a PLN and blog and dare I say...LEARN are forcing the change. </span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Staff and students learn differently! We know this from Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences, Differentiated Curriculum training and Sir Ken Robinson's "The Element." Therefore we need to allow students the freedom to learn in the way they learn best. Paper and pencil is not the answer for most kids. Give them choice and give them buy in. Once you give them a choice then you can build solid lessons that engage them. Cooperative learning works wonders when done well. Students learn more when they share with each other. So here are a few methods to incorporate:</span></div><ul style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><li><span style="font-size: small;">PBL - Project Based Learning with student choice of topic and type.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Cooperative Learning - Students learning from each other. Score!</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Socratic Circles/Discussions - Works well in most subjects.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: small;">Collaborative Web based Learning - Wikis, Nings, Moodles, etc. </span></li>
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</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Okay, I get the fact that those of you reading this already do many of these things and that I'm preaching to the choir but, I am hopeful we can spread the word and influence others.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">We need to work hard to develop a child's desire to learn. Create a democratic classroom. Don't talk at them, talk with them. As we move away from the old model of education, let us hope that learning is at the forefront of what the new model looks like. Be a part of the solution!</span></div>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-72165743692064228272010-07-09T13:10:00.000-07:002010-07-29T14:16:23.243-07:00A New Road to Travel<div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The world is an amazing place where technology changes faster than we can keep up with from day to day. People however do not change. We still have the same hopes, dreams and desires that have been with us for millennium. We want a good life with family, friends and enough to feel fulfilled. For many of us these thoughts are realized as we work to make them happen but for others the struggle continues. Personally, I believe that those of us who have should help those who do not. Thus, that is why I am an educator.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am blessed to have the opportunity to work with young people on a daily basis. They keep me young and give me the desire to be a better teacher, coach, advisor, and mentor. As a result, I seek to learn more every day. Moreover, I look for ways to improve the educational experience for all of my students; lucky for me and them the world changes. </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">Globalization for all its faults has created new technologies and connections never seen before in world history. Of course there are pros and cons to most everything. For all the negative impacts of consumerism and technology there are some positives that many of us should and will take advantage of to make the world a better place. As more and more of the world tries to emulate the West's lifestyle and standard of living competition forces us to be better educated as well as up to date on the latest tools for our chosen field.</span></div><div style="color: #444444; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #444444;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; font-size: large;">Technology has provided us an opportunity to see the world in many new and different ways. We now have the ability to work, talk, write, text, research and learn from almost any place on the globe. Careers and jobs in the future will require skills in technology that currently are unknown. Those of us in education should and in my opinion must learn and embrace technology for our students and their futures. If education reform has any definitive look to it, then technology is a big part of that picture. So, let us encourage, push, prod and force our colleagues to grow and change. We owe it to our students, to our selves and to our world.</span></span></div><br />
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</span>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1844922850236577032.post-74162914424362373492010-07-01T21:30:00.000-07:002010-07-02T07:48:09.997-07:00Adventures in Santa Fe<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxzo42DMXPRfrJVoUAR-SrdzHUvLnG4ABsSB_LCuv0i9SgbLCmkL34i2qtv3HjckfehJonAG06FiMP9An82cGlkwo6cjVwT69rvjw3E6KNh4iTG5dGaliLdN3SJ_2LjbWL15rc-ahoSI/s1600/Photo0111.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 259px; height: 195px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxzo42DMXPRfrJVoUAR-SrdzHUvLnG4ABsSB_LCuv0i9SgbLCmkL34i2qtv3HjckfehJonAG06FiMP9An82cGlkwo6cjVwT69rvjw3E6KNh4iTG5dGaliLdN3SJ_2LjbWL15rc-ahoSI/s320/Photo0111.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5489182226797433250" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;" >For my first post I am compelled to write about my summer exploits in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Learning is just apart of who I am as an educator and therefore every year I try to find something, somewhere to give me deeper appreciation and knowledge that I can share with my students. So, last February as I was looking through the many opportunities for summer workshops I was intrigued by one called "Contested Homelands."<br /><br />"Contested Homelands" was being developed and sponsored by the University of New Mexico. I was interested because I didn't have a lot of historical knowledge of New Mexico other than the Santa Fe Trail and the Camino Real and because the fact that I didn't know much bothered me. So...I applied and was accepted! Yay me!<br /><br />The good news is that there was a stipend for the workshop. The bad news is that it ended about the same time ISTE10 was taking place in Denver. Nonetheless, I was excited to be going on another journey. One that would prove to be my most fulfilling yet.<br /><br />As the date approached I received a book on Po'Pay and some articles on the history of Santa Fe. Very interesting reads for a history geek like me. Of course I did a little research to find out more and was feeling pretty good about my trip.<br /><br />I arrived for a weeklong adventure by way of 10 hours of travel time that took me through four different airports, the least of which was Phoenix International, ugh! Nonetheless, there I was in Santa Fe ready to learn and boy was I going to learn.<br /><br />The week started off with a nice reception and introductions from the four leaders of this adventure and discovery. They made us feel at ease despite the demanding schedule we would endure for the week. I was feeling pretty good about my time in New Mexico and prepared for the variety of activities we would be exposed to in the days to come. And we did a lot but the outcome from this journey surprised even me.<br /><br />See, it wasn't the museums or the visits to pueblos or the lectures by respected scholars that impacted and inspired me. It was the relationships I built with other educators from around the country. How powerful it was to connect with each other, learn and grow as professionals and people. I am truly blessed by the people I met and as the director of the project, Dr. Rebecca Sanchez said to me, that hopefully "</span></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;" >elements from this workshop weave into your consciousness." Those elements for me are the people. So, take that to your classrooms and remember that the most important elements are the ones that come through your door during the school year and for many of us the educators who make up our PLN.</span><span style="font-size:100%;"><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:georgia;"></span></span><br /><br /></span></span>Ron Peckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09119795934696383305noreply@blogger.com1