Projects in the Technology Rich Classroom Irving Elementary Teachers Wichita, Kansas

Projects in the Technology Rich

Classroom

Irving Elementary Teachers

Wichita, Kansas

What is TRC

• TRC stands for Technology Rich Classrooms

• The project is a collaborative partnership between the Kansas State Department of Education, The Advanced Learning Technologies in Education Consortia, ALTEC, and Wexford, Inc.

Creating 21st Century Learners

• Our Goal was to seamlessly integrate technology in the classroom by utilizing it to enhance learning already taking place. TRC classrooms prepare students by equipping them with 21st century skills employers are looking for such as: interpersonal skills, complex problem solving and collaboration.

The Effects on Our Students

• Differentiated supported student learning

• Heterogeneous groupings allowed for peer tutoring, collaboration and accountability

• Increased parent attendance at events showcased technology

• Leaders Emerged!

TRC

• Kansas Technology Rich Classrooms

• Technology Rich Classrooms Project- Wichita Public Schools

Blogging

What is a Blog?

• an online diary; a personal chronological log of thoughts published on a Web page; also called a web log

How can Blogs be used in the classroom?

• Language Arts– Response to text– Check for prior knowledge– Share ideas– Make predictions

• Social Studies and Science– Check for prior knowledge– Compile information (research)

Inspiration

What is Inspiration?

• Primarily educational software

• Helps the user create graphic organizers in many different ways– Outlines– Concept Maps– Webs

• Useful in all subject areas

Examples of ways to use Inspiration

• Writing Web

• Concept Map

• Character Map

• Outline for Reports

More examples of uses

• Helps students write descriptive sentences

• Helps organize ideas for persuasive writing essays

• Helps organize steps in problem solving

Inspiration with Power Point

• Students take notes using the software in outline format

• Then students import the information into the PowerPoint application

• Next students can focus on adding pictures and backgrounds, thus the focus is on the content instead of the visual options offered by PowerPoint

GlenCanyon

plants

animals

climateiN THE

SUMMER THE

CLIMATE IS VERY

HOT.

prickly pear

bullfrogantelope

fish

globemallow

Piñon Pine

fall is mild.

winters are very cold.

family activities

you can

get on a raft.

you can get on a

horse and ride around.

you can feed

ducks.

An example of a concept map created by a 4th grade student studying National Parks

Podcasting

What is Podcasting?

• Podcasting is the creation and distribution of amateur radio.

• iPod + broadcasting

Things you need for a Podcast

• A digital audio recorder that can create an MP3

• Space on a server to host the file

• A blog and something to say

Educational uses for Podcasts

• Students make a podcasts to share with the class and the public on content area they are learning.– Teaching safety tips for certain weather

conditions (Tornado Safety)– Recording literature circles or class

discussions about a book being read in class– Teaching health tips during flu season

iPods

• We use iPods as an easy to carry and store listening center. The students are able to listen to the story and follow along in their books.

• We also load educational songs onto the iPods to help students learn different concepts.

Using Podcasts to teach

• Subscribe to podcasts with your iPod for professional development purposes

• Subscribe to “how-to” podcasts that teach your students to speak another language or about another content area

• Subscribe to National Geographic Vidcast and take virtual fieldtrips

Using Podcasts to teach

• Students can create morning announcements, they can be emailed to teachers, who will then be able to listen to or play the announcements at a time that is convenient for them.

• Students can record stories that they have read or stories that they have created so that other students can listen to them.

How kids can use iPods to learn

• You can use your ipods to help teach reading fluency. If your reading adoption has fluency cds then you can put tracks onto your ipod and have students practice reading out loud with the iPods. This is a great reading center.

• You could also download a podcast and then have students practice taking notes on what they hear. This would be a good listening skill center.

• Educational songs can be downloaded for reviewing educational concepts.

Places where you can download podcasts

• www.apple.com/itunes/ If you would like more information on itunes go to the following link.

• http://ipodlounge.com/index.php/articles/comments/the-complete-guide-to-itunes-49-with-podcasts/

Podcast Websites

• The education podcast network www.epnweb.org

• This is the USD 259’s resource page for Podcasting by our technology specialist Brad Niessen.

• http://technology.usd259.org/resources/Podcasting/index.htm

Track Star

Getting on Track with Track Star

A maintained site at 4teachers.org that allows teachers to specify sites they

want students to explore.

Don’t reinvent the Wheel!

• Find teacher resources by doing key word searches.

• Find student resources, that have already been created.

• Make your own Track.

Narrowing the Focus to Reach all Students

• Differentiate

Instruction

• Math

• Center Time

• Reading- Enrichment

• Research• Allows the teacher to

find sites with appropriate reading levels and information

• Make worksheets, tests, or take notes.

Exploring Track Star

• Hurricanes- 26422

• Wolves- 243514

• Skeletal System-236741

• Math

• Kansas Day-276087

Resources

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/k12links.htm

http://www.funbrain.com/cgi-bin/getskill_s.cgi?A1=selects&A2=math&A4=0&A7=0

www.amathsdictionaryforkids.com

http://nlvm.usu.edu/en/nav/vlibrary.html

http://nces.ed.gov/nceskids/createagraph/default.aspx

http://www.sadlier-oxford.com/phonics/control_page/front2.htm - 3

http://english-zone.com/

http://www.4teachers.org/

http://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Wikijunior

http://www.internet4classrooms.com/k12links.htm