One of the NETS standards I want to focus on is creating a local community with another classroom. I am going to interact with another kindergarten class from a school on the opposite end of our district. We are going to create voice threads, power points, and share pictures via email. We are going to explore the necessary tools we would need to talk live with each other through the screen on our smart boards.
- Am I finding the resources and information I need?
I do have access and am familiar with Power Point, voice threads, and sharing pictures via the internet. I am going to have to explore the technological resources we need to be able to share with each other live through the big screen
- Do I need to modify my action plan?
For my action plan I will need to make sure my students are familiar with the content. I must make sure my students are aware of what a life cycle is. Some of the resources my students will need are drawing materials and posters, student computers, and access to pictures. I also need to send a note home to my parents asking who has computers and internet access at home.
- What have I learned so far?
I have learned that with kindergarten basic skills cannot be taken for granted. My students need practice to stay consistent with their computer skills.
- What new questions have arisen?
Some questions that have arisen are how to group my students, or if I will place my students in groups. I will need students with good computer skills to work with my students who do not have the skills to be successful with this unit.
Hi Amorea:
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed looking over your GAME plan. I think your topic, the life cycle of frogs, will be fun and interesting for your students and that they will be willing to try new things and connecting with other classes. Is an active board like a Smart Board? I think if you are using groups it would be good, like you said, to pair up the kids with "better" computer skills with those who don't have as good computer skills. I am just curious, in your experience, how are the computer skills of a kindergartner? I know that kids are getting exposed to computers and technology at younger ages and the youngest age group I have worked with is third grade. I also think that voice threads would be great to utilize with your students. They could take pictures of their drawings and record their comments over them, with your assistance.
Smart boards are similiar to active boards, ubt active boards have touch screens and a few more anonymities that smart boards don't. Computer skills in kindergarten vary so much! Most of my students can control the mouse well and can get on the website we are working on through favorites. Thank for your comment!
ReplyDeleteHi Amorea,
ReplyDeleteBest of luck in grouping your students by Internet skills. I am not familiar with the district you work in. Is it possible to send out an email to the parents with a checklist of Internet skills. One was provided in our previous course. Parents could email back as to which skills their child is proficient in, has some limited experience with, or is unfamiliar with. Perhaps a simple MS Word table within the email would work. Another idea is to use an online survey site like surveymonkey.com. The downside of that idea is that the studnets remain anonymous I believe.
Wishing you well with your project,
Diane R.
Thanks Diane. I would like to utilize surveymonkey. I have never used it, but have heard about it. I am on the "Design and Leadership Team" at my school and one of our memnbers used surveymonkey to create a survey we did with our staff. Thanks for your suggestion!
ReplyDelete