Thing 27

Crazy as I'm sure it sounds I've tried to customize a google page and I've done it twice and what I create doesn't get saved. I know this is user error and i feel like an idiot but what can I say. I'm excited to get this up and running as many of the others in our group use it to get all of their RSS feeds and it makes many of the tools we've learned about easier to use. Jeanne has helped me out so many times with all of these great lessons I hate to ask again but...

Thing 31 EASYBIB

When they say easybib they aren't kidding. My students created web pages from information they found on line and then had to site the sources on their web pages. We wanted to shoe them an easier way to do this than trying to find all the correct spacings and puctuation so we took them to easybib.com. WOW is all I can say! I think it made bibliography making a little less painful for them and it is a tool they will likely use again and again. Here is the link to the webpages.
http://www.district112.org/CMw/6th/coppercougars/johnsonk/index.htm

Thing 18

As I am exploring all things technological I had my students create a "web page" about the setting of a historical novel they were reading in class. They were required to research using BIG 6 and then create a word document that we would then save as an htm file. DON"T DO THIS! We found that when we tried to save the file it moved things around and we couldn't see what was supposed to be there and where it was supposed to be. THe kids did an amazing job and I'll include the link if you'd like to check it out! Next time we will work in publisher...live and learn.
http://www.district112.org/CMw/6th/coppercougars/johnsonk/index.htm

Thing 23

Please don't think that I've forgotten about this initiative, I am using more technology than ever before in my class. My students are currently working with a wiki! I left my comfort zone with help from my media goddess Jeanne and created a wiki as a means for my students to comment on the graphic novels they needed to read for a book project. What an amazing experience. I learn as I go but setting the wiki up was really easy. THe complicated part came when we needed to give 120 students access to the wiki so they could edit it. They are required to have e-mail to do this so we (or should I say Jeanne) created a gmail account and added all 120 students to it, ugh!!! However, the kids are excited to get out there and write about their books and I get to see right away what they've typed. I have created an evaluation for them and I am excited to see what they thought of the experience!

http://cougargraphicnovels.pbwiki.com/

Thing 23 Delicious

I love delicious! Aside from the name, it is a great tool. I've had to download the buttons onto several computers that I frequent, it would be helpful to have a laptop that I take with me (I'm working on my husband to make this a reality). However, it is so easy to share information with others when you invite them onto your delicious account. I also love being able to go back and look at resources that I've found helpful in the past and have forgotten about (my short term memory is very short). Being able to tag items in several differents way allows me to put it in every category that would be useful to me. I've also noticed that many of the websites I visit now have their own link to delicious and that is helpful if I'm not on a PC where I've downloaded my own buttons!

Big 6

My students are starting research today and I am encouraging them to try research techniques other than Google et all. They are having huge success with Gale Infotrac and Historical Newspapers. It is very rewarding to see them getting excited about doing research in a new way. We are also exploring all the different ways World Book online can be used. I am shocked at how many students have not used these sources before. I'm learning as much as they are about all these sources have to offer. It's fun to try new things. It's not always easy to leave the comfort zone but it sure pays off when you do!!!

Thing 15

I am really excited about a new project Jeanne LaMoore and I just started today. My students are going to be reading a historical fiction novel and I thought it would be great to incorporate a research element with the setting of their story. Jeanne and I met and came up with a UbD plan to incorporate the Big 6 research strategy with having the students create web pages linked to our Copper Cougar page. I can't wait to get started!!