Placement upgrade

1.) Our group spoke with Mr Carpenter. He gave us and idea of what he wants us to do. And what he asked us to do is a grade 9 geography project about Immigrating families. Our job is to find a way to put some technology into project. My role in the group is to find ways of using gapminder.com for the project.

2.) We have to come up with something for tomorow, because its the due date Mr Carpenter gave us. So monday period was spent working on the project for grade 9s.

Placement

1.)
-         Finding online resources for teachers;  (I spend lots of time on computer, so I can have some time dedicated for researches)
-         Finding ways to incorporate technology into existing projects;  (I chose that one, because that was most closest to me out of the rest points, and I think I will be able to find some ways of incorporation technology into existing projects.)

2.)
-         Creativity   5-8   (depends on my mood and inspiration)
-         Responsibility   6-8 (most of the time I try to be responsible, but sometimes I fail at it.)
-         Web design    1-3  (I have never created any web sites, so I have no knowledge in it)
-         Developing action plans   8 ( I can organize things in proper order and make an action plans, that's not a big problem to me)
-         Teaching other people  5-10   (well, I think I am good at teaching, I can understand what people mean, and can make them see what I mean. The only problem I have is my language. I am not strong at explaining and teaching in English)
-         Meeting deadlines  6-9   (I try my best to meet all the deadlines, but sometimes I fail...)

3.) I do not think so. ( because of my language)

4.) On my own! I like when the work I am doing only depends on me.

5.)I could work in English. May be history and geography. I would not want to work with media and business.

Enriching technology - conclusion

            Yes, I think my idea is worth pursuing. This is how its going to be done. First we should chose a class or classes we will start of (later will do it to all classes), and start turning its program online. All the handouts and texts should be online. We will teach teachers how to create and keep a blog, for homework and assignment upgrades, just like the one we have in our class. Students may have their own blogs too. Later we will teach them how to use webtools, so they can apply the tools for their home/class works. Basically all we have to do is to make all the classes in our school like IDC class (exceptions are jym, music classes, woodshop and such..). I dont think its that hard. Some teachers even use blogs, its just not as popular as in our class. So the idea is working, we just have to develop it.
            Another, side advantage is that less paper going to be used, which means we save trees. :)

enriching technology

Idea:   Make all classes like IDC class

Subject Area:  All subjects

Details:  Our class is a reflection of future! We do not have any paper works and writing, everything is online. We do not have to bring heavy books to the class. Our homework and classwork is done online. Basically our class is all about brainstorming and working online! why not do this in every class?

Technology needed: every student and teacher needs to be able to use computer.

Pros:

• Something new-entertaining 
• no heavy books are needed.
• no binders, all the handouts are online.
• less handwriting, more typing (some students prefer to type)
• advantages of webtools
• group work could be done without physical meeting (google docs)

Cons:

• we have to teach teachers how to use a blog and webtools

What Needs to Happen to Make the Idea Work – Who is Responsible

1. Our class is responsible
2. We need to teach teachers how to use a blog and show them how webtools could be used in their classes, so they can choose some of them for their classes and start applying them.
3. 
   

webtool entry

Xtimeline.

What it is?

xTimeline is a web tool used to create/search timelines.

What it is useful for?

• Creating timelines;
• Diary/Agenda;
• Presentations(presentation mode);
• Searching of timelines;

Advantages:

• Simple and fast creating of timelines;
• Timelines are saved to the site;
• Timelines are easy to understand;
• Search option;
• Media could be added to timeline;
• Timeline can be divided by periods of time;

Disadvantages:

• Can not be used often;
• Limited design;

Educational applications:

• History (timeline of historical events);
• English (timeline of events in a book/timeline of a plot of a book);
• Science (timeline of chemical reactions)

Links:

• http://www.xtimeline.com/profile/index.aspx?id=78466

elnstruction

for this one we shoud divide our class for three groups:

group #1 will be writing lyrics and recording a song
group #2 will be singing the song and acting for video
group #3 will be recording a video and editing it.

we should discuss on topic and lyrics of the song in class..

futireShop

well, our school do need new technology!! half of computers in library and in CIC are about to die. We should develop this idea. We also can provide a video of what we do in our class. How serious we take new technology. Not just giving it away to anybody. Making researches, presentations, interviews and surveys. I think that will be the best, to show the work our class is doing.

Staples

To be honest this is a topic I know a little about.. I think in our essays we should talk about what our school had done to environment. I'm pretty sure Mackenzie putted lots of effort to keep area around us clean and friendly, including recycling. We should talk about that. Also we should write about what are we doing or may be planning to do to improve environment around us.

Webtool - "Wallwisher"

                               Web tools – “Wallwisher”

What is it?

Basically it is just a page with your name and title (question/topic). You also can put up your photo and chose a background for your page. On that wall visitors can post notes, video, links, music etc. Posts can be named or anonymous, also they can be moved around a wall. It is not necessary to be registered at the website to post on walls. To post a note you just have to double-click anywhere on a wall and a special window will appear. It is easy and safe to use.

            Teachers in our school might use Wallwisher for posting a topic or a question to discuss. It is easier to see and read responses on one page online, than collecting lots of paper works. Also it might be used for extra help. Instead of making appointments teachers and students can communicate through the wall, because the notes are posted instantly. Another use for Wallwisher is a diary or to-do list. It is kind of agenda online.

What can you do with it?

• Announcements;
• Keeping notes;
• Communication;
• Discussions;

Advantages!

• Can post images, videos, music, pages, links;
• No registration is necessary for posting;
• Easy to use;
• Wall can be totally privet;
• Safe;

What is it usually used for:

• To-do lists;
• Party invitations;
• Feedback collection;
• Wishing people on occasions, like birthdays, anniversaries;
• Anything that might need input from a lot of people;
• Diary;

3rd Post

• Dabbling.

 ??

• Doing old things in old ways.

 Netbooks could be used for essays and other typing works. Instead of typing it at home, library, in class, and than printing it, students can just do all the work on netbooks, and send it by email.

• Doing old things in new ways.

 For old things in new ways, netbooks might be used to make all the written work visual. For example instead of reading a paragraph, student could just watch an animated explanation of topic.

• Doing new things in new ways.

 Doing new things in new ways is not happening yet. And considering how fast technology develops in our society it will happen, soon. To do new things in new ways we have to change everything we had before and computerize it. All the assignment, notes, homework, classwork should be done on computers.

4th Post

I. Web Tools
II. in depth Software development
III. Net book cart team

1.) I ranked them this way, because I think I can find a use for Web tool, and Im good at research.
But I dont really know how to set up netbooks so, they are last.
2.) I am good at research, and Im pretty creative, which will help me finding a good use for a webtool.
3.) Setting up netbooks. I dont know how to.

2nd post

The course is alright. I never chose it, but I dont regret that I am in it. I dont really see is its purpose, but im enjoying the absence of tests and homeworks. I like how most of our work is done on computers, so I dont need to bring anything to this class.

1st post

4 - I was the first one to provide needed questions for survey;

4 - Shared my work, participated in surveys;

4 - Made some suggestions that were accepted later and affected our work in a good way;

3 - I was more of a worker, not an organizer;