History Wiki

For my technology project I decided to create a classroom wiki space that my students could access and use throughout the year to supplement what I was teaching in class. I saw it as we were doing our technology review blog assignment and created a very modest one that day. I just felt like this was everything I was looking for in a class website. I was able to put links up to everything I wanted them to have access to with ease. Pictures were easy to come by, and the content was mostly completed already. I just kind of played around with it for a while and in a few days I had created 3 pages including 2 full unit pages, my syllabus, and a current event article section. I was amazed at how easy it was through
http://www.pbworks.com

I signed up for a free account and I was off to the races. Everything was easily edited and very teacher friendly. I will be updating this with all of my history units by the end of next year and will hopefully have a ton of links for students to use. On top of this, I included a section for students to download daily notes if they are absent and daily activity calendar too. Overall I am psyched to have this tool and to be able to add to it at will. It can go as far as I am willing to take it. Hopefully a blog will be added for next year. Here is the link to my site:

http://howardshistory.pbworks.com

You will need to login as a student to view it.

Username: burkestudent1
Password: howardshistory

Let me know what you think. Thanks,

Final Project- Webquest

Creating a webquest is not as easy as one may think. There is much preparation work to be completed before you even think about creating and formatting one. I found out the hard way. You may ask yourself, "Then why use a webquest?" The answer is because it enhances and supports the learner while using technology. Many teachers use technology like computers just to say they used them or to fulfill a requirement. The problem is that often times the improper use of technology does not enhance or support teaching and learning. It does take time and much consideration when selecting a lesson that integrates technology in a seamless and useful manner.

As I created my webquest, I basically have to have all aspects of the lesson completed before starting from the purpose, task, and goal to the end result, process, and assessment. Yes, I had to create all assessments before the task was completed so that students knew what the goal was. Not just what to do to get a good grade, but rather what to do in order to gain understanding.

A webquest is a good tool to use to enhance teaching and learning because it requires "high level thinking and makes good use of the web" (http://webquest.org/).Created by Bernie Dodge, a webquest is a "inquiry-oriented lesson format in which most of the information that learners work with come from the web" (http://webquest.org/). According to Gardenquest, a webquest creating site, the following must be completed before creating a webquest:

• Goal & Content- identify curricular Standards to be met, identify target, and identify content to implemented
  


• Task & Assessments- determine task(s) to be accomplished as a way to learn and how you will assess each task or end goal
  


• Process- decide what is the end point and how do the learners get there, find web resources for the learners to integrate and use
  


• Final Details- complete an introduction that serves as a "hook" for the learners, complete a useful conclusion that not only brings the webquest to an end, but review what should have been learned
  


• Polish- make sure the webquest looks good to entice learners, this may mean you would have to download links and graphics prior creating the webquest

So as you can see, creating the actual on-line quest wasn't what took all my time, although like anything else new it did take a while. The time consuming part of creating this quest was actually putting thought into everything that went into it so that it was meaningful, of sound quality, and met my goal. Kids just can't go read something because it doesn't convey purpose and develop meaning. Quality task or projects must be created to support your end goal.

I created a The Great Gatsby webquest for my 11th grade American Literature class. I will actually use this webquest this school year. As you view my quest, take note on the standards included, links reviewed by me first, assessments created for each task, and the actually task to be completed. As I typically would lecture and discuss all this information for The Great Gatsby as I teach in the Socratic Seminar, this is an alternative way that engages the students more actively and draws on them to be independent learners instead of regurgitate information lectured by me. I hope you enjoy my webquest and feel free to use it or change it to suit your needs.

http://questgarden.com/128/33/4/110629064309/

Final Project

For my final project for this class I decided to create a web page of lessons to teach students about digital citizenship. I think these lessons would be a great introduction to any class that will be using computers throughout the course. The lessons are mostly geared toward high school students, but could be modified to be used with middle school. I plan to use the website and lessons as an introduction lesson for my Computer Fashion Design class. The lessons also introduce students to using different technology resources that can be used throughout the course. Overall I really enjoyed using weebly to create the website, it was very user-friendly.

Hope you enjoy my website!

http://digitalcitizenshiplessonsforlife.weebly.com/index.html

Team 5 webpage....finally!!

I created a team website for our 5th grade team at King Science. We are a 5-8 middle school and our 5th graders are coming brand new to us from elementary schools all over the district. Over my past four years at King I've heard time and time again from parents that they feel the communication between home and school is desperately lacking between an elementary setting to a middle school setting. I've always wanted to create a way to keep parents up-to-date in a way that doesn't involve making tons of copies, trying to make parent phone calls, sending notes home with students, etc.

By creating our team website, I hope we can use it as a way to keep parents informed of important dates with a schedule page and a fun picture gallery page for them to stay connected with their child's education.

This is my domain name:
http://www.wix.com/maureenandbryce/5thgradeatkstm

The only thing I wish were different is that my email address, maureenandbryce, were not part of the domain name. I think the way to change this is to pay for the upgraded version which I do not want to do at this time. If the website becomes a success I may upgrade at a later time.

I hope you enjoy my website!
* On the gallery page you will see pictures generated from the wix website. Pictures will be updated as they are taken throughout the school year and with parent permission.

What a Ride!!

I have learned so much about technology and the benefits to the students in the 21^st century. My instruction is going to be much different this year. I plan on implementing many aspects such as the Promethean Board with ActivInspire Software and proposing some software into the building.

The web page was designed for educators of English Language Learners and Special Education Students infused with strategies, tutorial, and software to enhance the learning experiences