Literature and Living Environment: Using Both Free and Web 2.0 Tools

Presentation:•Course Overview•Moodle (as a connecting tool)•Zine•Wordle•Digital Video Editing•Web Research•Blogs and Forums•Conclusion (The Future?)

Course Overview – “Our Philosophy”In the Living Environment our goal is to learn more about ourselves and the world around us with an emphasis literacy and web 2.0 skills.

Course Description: The literature of Living Environment creates a risk free environment that combines the skills of Living Environment with literature that will support the units of study to help student reach a higher level of mastery of the key ideas and performance indicators of the New York State English Language Arts and Living Environment standards.Students enrolled in this class will earn both their Living Environment and English 9 credit.

Course Overview – “A look inside our classroom”

Moodle – “A Connecting Tool”

•Collaborative tool•Online Notebook- “No more lost documents”•Drop box for assignments- Reduction of excuses•Ever Growing Class Generated Glossary•Published student work as inspiration

Moodle as

Moodle – “A Classroom Without Walls”

Wednesday, 17 December 2008Christopher Sweeney [10:19 PM]: miss gnann it is 9:41 and im trying to do your hw and i just cant do it, i didint have time to do all of it, i had do mr. shears tech drawings that are due friday, mr. s power point for digestion, finish my mothers christmas present and a spanish hw packet because my class was bad for a sub and i was in such a bad mood that i could not finish your book because it was so slow reading it but i tried to do the card assinment but could not find the resolution because im not sure i found the biggest problem,and i had no time to do the language divices card because i dont have time to find all those words but i do know some of there meanings but a little iffy on others, so please give me some advice on what to do.I got my reportcard today and found that i had an 87 which is unexceptible on my terms,my parents are pleased with the grades but not me i shoot and will get over a 90 in each and every one of my classes and especially for yours because i like it so much and i would like to worrie less about this particular class and focus more on classes that are harder for me. So i need your help with this book,my grade and this upcomeing test.

Moodle – “A Classroom Without Walls”

Monday, 17 November 2008~MattDogg~ Matt [03:38 PM]: Hi Miss Gnann, i have a brilliant idea for scratch.mit.edu I am going to atempt to create a game about Fever 1793 and the object is to not get hit by the fever

so i guess i will create a certain sized blob that the person will have to avoid

well i will see you on tuesday!!

POWER ZINE

Example 1

WORDLE.NET – ENDLESS OPPORTUNITIES

•A DIFFERENT WAY TO PUBLISH TEXT•WORD CLOUDS IDENTIFY IMPORTANT TERMS

Windows Movie Maker Digital Video To Enhance Critical Thinking SkillsTHE ORGANELLE METAPHOR PROJECT

Windows Movie Maker– “Enzyme Animation Project”

Windows Movie Maker– “Enzyme Animation Project”Free Windows Software-Engages students in the steps of Biological Processes

-Holds Interest in dry material-Allows for individual creativity

Windows Movie Maker– “Heart Dissection Lab”Ideas-Allows the documentation of labs and activities in a video format that students can watch over and over again.

-While editing video students are forced to think about the science procedure and the creation of a final product that makes sense to an outside audience

– “Enzyme Animation Project”FreeAnimation Software -Engages students in the steps of Biological Processes

-Need to create an account to create and watch the animation

Web Research– “Pathogen Trading Cards”

Examples

Web Research– “Pathogen Trading Cards”Students Evaluate Internet Sources

Web Research– “Pathogen Trading Cards”Students Evaluate Internet Sources

Quick Web Research– “Pathogen Trading Cards”

Examples

Blog Spot:– “Pathogen Trading Cards Sharing Info”

Blog Spot:– “Pathogen Trading Cards Sharing Info”

Students Post Questions to Blogspot to be viewed by the entire class

Student Work Samples– “Pathogen Trading Cards”

Trading cards research stepping stone for “America’s Most Wanted Pathogen’s” video project

MOST WANTED PATHOGEN

STUDENT REFLECTIONS:

Movies are as fun to make as they are to watch, but when you are making a movie there is a lot more to it then you think. There’s animation, music, creativity, directing, camera crew, and you cant forget the actors. The movie has action, comedy, and science fiction.

I am most proud of the editing of are music and how we changed it for the climax and the end of the movie. All of the editing was Steven Randall and he did a really good job promoting the disease and how it takes over the body. I am also proud of the acting job that we had between me and Edwin it had action that blew you away.

The decisions that our group made to demonstrate the teamwork was from the beginning when we sat down with Steve and fed him our ideas in editing the movie till we finished our critiquing in the end of the movie.

We all participated and we all worked to bring this production together.

Forums– “Classification Carousel Activity”

Forums– “Classification Carousel Activity”

Forums – Free Tools

Advantages:-Free-Easy to use

Disadvantages:-Ad supported-Lacks total teacher control

Word Imagery– “A picture is worth a thousand words”

Word Imagery– “A picture is worth a thousand words”

Word Imagery– “A picture is worth a thousand words”

Student Comments

Through the year in English, my writing has improved. I have learned how adding literary devices in my work creates a more appealing text. Writing essays has become easier. I found new ways of adding what I am thinking. Also, my vocabulary has improved. I can use sophisticated words to interest the reader.

Student Comments

My habits have changed in a huge leap. Before in English class, I completed my assignments only to the expected levels, only putting in a limited effort, not unveiling my true potential. This year, I do not follow the given standards, but I rather set my own expectations high, high above what is expected. All of my work that I do in this class has been put together by 110% effort.

Student Comments

I feel much more of a reader than I did before. I personally always hated reading books, seeing them as a waste of time, but I have turned that around. I still don’t love to read, having a remaining bored feeling about reading, but I don’t mind reading as much. Having less revolt to reading has allowed me to focus in on the context so I am able to understand the plot much better. My reading comprehension has without a doubt improved immensely. Having a better understanding of a book when reading has made me enjoy reading more and I can see myself as an avid reader.

Student Comments

The use of technology in English class is out of the ordinary. When a person thinks about English, they think books and pen and paper. The use of technology has been useful. I did not know much about computer programs at the beginning of the year, but now I know a lot about how to use computer programs, which will help me in my future. Technology is the future!

Student Comments

Reading has become more enjoyable for me this year. I think because of my age and my willingness to explore I’ve begun to read more. I see myself as a high level reader, and I can understand sophisticated context. This year, I’ve become to like different types of writing; in this class I’ve had to read books about science, and I’ve come to like books with a little suspense in them. I read more outside of school now, and I take time to understand the books. This year, I’ve read many books involving life problems with people, and I can understand their position and I think of ways that my life can compare, or be different than theirs.

Student Comments

In this English class I have learned more about technology. I know about many computer programs that will help me not only now, but also when I go to college. These programs will be useful when I need to create presentations. Using this technology helps me understand better what I am learning.

Student Comments

In literature of the living environment ‘s technology use has helped me greatly. The use of different programs had helped me because I basically expanded the variety of ways to do work or projects. To have knowledge of use of different programs can also help me in the future as well as now. The use of different programs has expanded my creativity and ability to do certain things on the computer.

Final Results

Living Environment Regents Exam

English 9 Final Exam

Increase in the number of students achieving

mastery over traditional classes

Conclusion

Questions

Comments