Fayne,+Jonathon

I scanned through several blogs and tried to think a different and creative way to use one in a classroom for this assignment. Using a Blogger account to set up a classroom blog along with a field trip with a Fifth Grade class is one idea I came up with. The blog will allow the students to extend their learning as well as show what they have learned and comment on other students writing. Prior to the field trip, I would post links for the field trip site on the blog. I will use Roger Williams Park in Providence, RI as an example for this lesson. I would also post links to other zoos as well as links to sites and blogs about animals the students would likely see at the zoo. These sites would allow the students to research any questions or interests they may have. This would allow the students to begin thinking and learning about the zoo and the animals they will see. I would post a few comments to get the students to start blogging to the site. Some of these comments would be what I expected to see, my prior visits, and what my favorite animals are. I would encourage the students to comment on my post as well as add their own and comment on their peer’s additions to the blog. The students would not be expected to start commenting on other students work without a few minutes talking about how they needed to be constructive with their comments. Only positive comments are allowed. During the actual trip to the zoo, the students will hopefully be more inquisitive due to the research and blogging done prior to the visit. Raising their prior knowledge with the blogging should definitely get them thinking and learning during the visit to the zoo. After the zoo visit, I would post a few comments to the blog about what I saw and learned with a request that the students do the same. My post would encourage the students to comment on their peer’s comments as well as to add their own. Depending on the amount of comments and interaction, I may add questions for the students to answer relating to the trip to the zoo. These questions may involve some research using the links I posted to the blog. Some ways to extend this lesson would be to have the students complete writing assignments relating to the zoo visit. These assignments may be short stories, research projects, and poems. The blog would be a way for the students to publish their work and allow their parents to see and comment on the classroom work. Any students without computers at home would be allowed time in class to post their work on the computer or can hand in a hard copy. Student volunteers may be recruited to help type and post these assignments to the blog. The lesson will be assessed according to the following four-point rubric for a total of twelve points. 4 3 2 1

4)Student posts many original ideas 3)Student posts some original ideas 2)Student posts few original ideas 1)Student post no original ideas

4)Student adds many appropriate comments to other student’s posts. 3)Student adds some appropriate comments to other student’s posts. 2)Student adds few appropriate comments to other student’s posts. 1)Student adds no appropriate comments to other student’s posts.

4)Student uses all 5th grade quality sentences. 3)Student uses mostly all 5th grade quality sentences. 2)Student uses some 5th grade quality sentences. 1)Student uses no 5th grade quality sentences.

The Standards (RI GLEs) that will be addressed are: W–5–1.1 Students demonstrate command of the structures of sentences, paragraphs, and text by…• Using varied sentence length and structure to enhance meaning (e.g., including phrases and clauses).

W 5-11.2 Students demonstrates the habit of writing extensively by... sharing thoughts, observations, or impressions. W 5-9.5 In independent writing, students demonstrate command of appropriate English conventions by...correctly spelling grade-appropriate, high frequency words, including homonyms and homophones and applying syllables and affix spelling patterns/rules.

W 5-6.1 In informational writing (reports or procedures), students organize ideas/concepts by …using an organizational text structure appropriate to focus/controlling idea.


 * Deliverable #3**

VoiceThread could be used in the classroom in many different ways. ·  Oral Histories-Students interview or record grandparents talking about their life, war stories, etc. ·  Vocabulary Training/ESL Lessons-Teacher records vocabulary lessons and students practice responding. ·  Art-Teacher or students upload images and other students comment on these images. ·  Visual Math Lessons-Teacher records lessons explaining concepts for students to use at home. ·  Lab Reports-Students can record video, audio, and written work relating to experiments to VoiceThread ·  Digital storytelling-Students actually make something that people all over the world can see and comment on. Imagine the first time a student reads a comment on his work from another country. ·  Digital Portfolios-Teachers and students can upload examples of student work for archival ·  Field trips- teachers can upload images of field trips and students can comment or add thoughts vocally or written. ·  Parental communication-teachers can communicate with parents with video, audio, or written notices. Teachers can differentiate lessons according to student’s individual needs. Lessons can be extended if needed as well. VoiceThread can be as simple as a student recording spoken words into a microphone or typing a story onto the computer or very complex using a video camera or embedding a VoiceThread onto a website. Each student is able to have their own identity with many different avatars attached to their identity. VoiceThread allows students to make and post something they created which is closely related to the theory of “constructivism,” which says that learning occurs when people actually construct something. VoiceThread also allows students to work with their own learning style. Visual learners can use images and videos, auditory learners can use audio and vocal posts, and musical learners can use record songs, while kinesthetic learners can record videos of dance, sports, or other movement-based option. These are some interesting VoiceThread posts and articles about VoiceThread. ·  This post shows how a teacher recorded a lesson on measuring angles on a smart notebook. http://voicethread.com/?#q ·  This post has a student instructing how to multiply and divide fractions. http://voicethread.com/?#q.b8752 ·  Here is one where students read their favorite poems. http://voicethread.com/?#q ·  This post has students writing poetry and drawing pictures relating to weather. http://voicethread.com/?#q ·  A site formed by a group of educators using VoiceThread for Educators http://voicethread.ning.com/ ·  Excellent article on VoiceThread and how it improves on PowerPoint http://www.pbs.org/teachers/learning.now/2008/04/slideshare_and_voicethread_not_1.html ·  This is an article describing the positive virtues of VoiceThread and digital storytelling. The article has a link to a VoiceThread project trying get students enthused in reading using “The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe.” http://www.speedofcreativity.org/2007/09/05/instructionally-investing-in-voicethread/ ·  This final article explains what you can do with VoiceThread and how to join. http://langwitches.org/blog/2008/06/19/digital-storytelling-part-vi-voicethread/ ·  Cost-$60 per class or $1 per student for whole school ·  Security-Many people are worried about security of students and their work online. ·  Cyberbullying-Students can be victims or victimizers of online intimidation. ·  Teachers and students who don’t know how to use VoiceThread. ·  Blog sites are often blocked by district filtering software ·  VoiceThread has special pricing for district orders. ·  Cost is less than having to buy and administer new software. No software is loaded onto district computers. VoiceThread is flash based and 99% of computers already have this installed. ·  Ed.VoiceThread is only for educators and students. All users on this network are invited, known users and student email addresses are not required. Only the administrator knows all information other than student’s first name. ·  VoiceThread tutorials on homepage to assist teachers and students using VoiceThread. ·  VoiceThread homepage has information on how to unblock VoiceThread site on filtering software. I think that the district will see many areas of improvement if VoiceThread is incorporated into the curriculum. Students who have trouble with class discussions will soon be able to open up more both posting and commenting on other posts they see and listen to. This service will make PowerPoint obsolete. We are all tired of seeing all of those boring PowerPoint presentations. Once VoiceThread is implemented, students will begin adding video, voice, and written works for the whole world to see and comment on. I think the district will be pleased with the small, $1 per student, investment in VoiceThread. I feel the upside is seemingly unlimited with what students and teachers can do with it. It will help students, staff, and families communicate with each other and others around the world in ways we have never been able to before.
 * Proposal**-I propose that VoiceThread be put into practice in our school to allow students and staff to share and collect group conversations.
 * Technology**-VoiceThread
 * Description**- VoiceThread is an online multimedia slideshow that holds images, documents, videos, and audio and lets people leave comments using audio, video, or voice. Group conversations can be followed and commented on from around the world.
 * Evidence Showing VoiceThread Works**
 * Roadblocks**
 * Ways to overcome roadblocks**
 * Long-Term Goals for Improvement Using VoiceThread**