Conway's Digital Learners

Thanks to Tom, a parent volunteer, we now do a hour of PE per week!!  The hive is buzzing with enthusiasm and new energy.  I see many more smiles shining back at me.  And they have such sportsmanship.  Now if they would just have the same enthusiasm for multiplying fractions!!

I finally have a web site that is linked to our school’s web site.  It is a simple site with links to our blogs and to our wiki pages.  I have also learned how to make interactive forms.  Now the possibilities have grown and the time needed to maintain these sites has grown accordingly.

Now that I will have most of my class during math, I plan to use the ipod touches all day. I want the students to use the ipod touch like a pencil and paper.  I need to re-establish routines, procedures and parameters.

Today I heard on the radio that as you get older time seems to pass by quicker. If that is true, babies must live in limbo.  Everyday I learn more about using technology in the classroom.  My students use the computers daily and are becoming bloggers!  But spelling remains a challenge.

The students really liked writing Jane and Joe into colonial times.  Their stories are full of facts and imagination.  I think I will assign a Jane and Joe story for every theme and for past themes.  It is a good way to read what they have learned from the selections and the themes.  

Keeping technology current and working is not an easy task.  Thanks to the District Tech Help Desk and our site Tech Master, my room is up and working once again.  Now I just need to charge and sync the ipods.  I’m sure that technology is like laundry–a never ending chore.  But technology is so much more fun.

Be sure to check the Assignments Page regularly since I post new assignments weekly.

I have learned many new things this week, such as Do not unplug all computer cords even if they are stretched to the max. Now nothing in Room 37 is on the server and it makes using the ipods a challenge.  I also learned how to use Mobile Studio app and how to add fun animated media to a post. I successfully added Shelfari to my blog and can use it as a web-based book hook.  So much more to learn!!

Blogging with students is a different way of finding out how much they listen, process and understand.  I have just finished about 10 hours of blogging with ipod touches.  Some students are off and on their way.  Others have no clue.  And some just played around.  So now, I will plan blogging circles so they can talk academically about blogging.  Just another learning curve for me and the students in this digital classroom.

Working and teaching with iPods is a challenge. The most annoying problem is keeping them all charged and synced.  Students will stay on task for a long period of time and it fosters academic conversations.  Students will discuss what they are doing and why they do it.  I also like how it enpowers students.  Looking up words on Dictionary. com app is much faster and easier to read and find the etymology.  I find that my lowest readers will eagerly listen to the selection several time and then actually use the text to find answers.  One student told me that reading with the iPod helped me read the words and that in turn helped him understand the selection.

I now look for ways to use the iPods for every assignment.  I’m in the process of learning how to download their work to a central computer.  I just realized that when you sync them again, it will erase all the students’ work files.  Having a set of microphones would extend the learning experience.

Every day I am learning more.  I am determined to move my students into the 21st century.

Welcome to your brand new blog. It is a digital daybook where you will leave your thoughts, assignments, reflections and other learnings.  This is another way to participate in your own learning journey.  Because the blog is web-based you can work on it from your ipods or from your home computer.  There is no limit to your access.

Your first blog assignment:  Create a digital storybag all about you.  Use pictures, writing and music or voice recording to make your storybag personal.   I want you to explore the blogging process and maybe you can give me some insights as I am as new to the process as you are.   Please do not use last names in your blog posts.  Believe in yourself and have fun.

Happy Blogging!  Mrs. Wohlhieter