Wicked Part B

1. What is the TP knowledge for the solution?  (i.e., how does the technology you have chosen support the teaching strategies and methods you have chosen?)

I think the "Virtual backpack" supports my strategies as it gives students a start into getting organized.  It is important to be organized with PBL as students need to know how to start, where to save, and then how to present.  Having these "tools" will give students a set way to do future projects and to keep organized.

Schoology is another tool for students and for me to know exactly what is due, when it is due, different resources that they can use and post, blog about problems and questions, and (for me) I will know when students turn in assignments.  So this tool will put everything in ONE spot so students are not confused as to where to go.  This helps me as well because I can keep everything in ONE spot and I also like the blog feature for students to ask questions.

The different presentation tools support my PBL as they give students choices.  Not every student can do a Prezi or a Glogster, but it does give them a choice and in some cases they will learn a new tool.

2. What is the TC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically does this technology make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible?  Be sure to think about representation.)

I think the different technologies I am using make PBL more intellectually accessible by keeping students organized. Organization is key to a good project...the virtual backpack is just a tool to help them do this.  Getting in the habit is just part of the solution. Schoology lets students post links to different sites.  This gives them a chance to post items they think are important to the rest of the class.  This makes students think about what they are posting and they need to make sure it is something that others can use. I also think that the blogging part of schoology is good for students.  They know that everyone can see the posts so they are more apt to really think about what they are posting and how it sounds.  The final projects with PBL need to be in some kind of presentation format.  The different presentation tools forces students to really think about HOW they want to present and evaluate what they want to do for that.  I think the different choices allows students to be creative and when these projects are presented they need critical thinking skills on the best way to do this.

1. What is the PC knowledge for the solution? (i.e., how specifically do your pedagogical choices make the content in your problem more intellectually accessible?) Be sure to think about how the student will experience the content given these instructional strategies.

One of my problems in class is that I know students are not reading the novels I assign.  It is just so easy for them to find the information on the internet without really reading.  With my implementation of PBL students are given choices and therefore are forced to really read the material in order to create quality projects.  Students can also go more in depth with the information and I think are more likely to pursue  interests.  I think by doing projects this way promotes learning and curiosity with the subject matter.  With PBL students will create their own experience.  They are following what they want to read/learn and this motivates them to keep going with the different projects.  They are more apt to go more in-depth and in different angles.  They will also take more pride in the outcome of the projects when allowed to chose the material.

Part A Brainstorming

1. What web conferencing tool did your group use?

Our group is using Google Hangout for our project communication.

1. What were the advantages to using the web conferencing tool to discuss this project?

Some of the advantages of using Google Hangout: members from all over the country can communicate, the ability of screen sharing, the ability of different Apps to add notes etc., and ability to record sessions and then add them to uTube.

1. What were the disadvantages to using the web conferencing tool to discuss this project? 

Some disadvantages of Google Hangout include: delay of voices, dropped internet, not everyone can record a session, can't scroll with the screen shot so view is limited if looking at the end of the shot.

Updated video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JV34EjugCp0: video

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1kwpg1zKsVAuyZpMzR-pmk-pFVFYm2EYESktIDIlGSuU/edit

Google doc Brainstorming

Web-Conferencing

Group Video

Updated Group Video

For our blog conference we used Google+Hangout.  I was a bit unsure of how this would work so I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get everything working.  Everyone was present in our group and it was very interesting to listen to everyone's take on the project and get different feedback on what we were going to try to do.

We used a lot of different software...video part was one, we could see everyone, hear everyone and that went great.  We also used the Google doc tab.  This tab allowed us to modify a document that we started about the project.  I realized that I couldn't add anything, but it was a simple function of sharing that allowed me to add to what everyone else was doing.

We used the side "chat" bar to share links and iPad app ideas.  This was a good idea as we could be chatting and then add something that we could all view in a different window.  We also did a screen share.  I believe Maer showed us a different screen and then we were able to discuss and look at the different aspects of the screen.  We added a few apps to our hangout.  It was fun to try out "Scoot and Doodle."  This was a drawing app.  I could see our group using this to collaborate on our ideas.  Another great app we used was the "symphonic" which is a virtual sticky note.  I think this will be very useful when were are brain storming about the project.  The sticky notes will help me remember what roll  I am supposed to do and side comments.


I do not know if I would do much different with this dry-run.  I thought it was successful.  I think it will take more collaboration and getting used to the tool, but I think we picked some good add-ons and we utilized the different tools of the Google+Hangout.

I see this being very useful with my students.  I will use thing with my group projects.  I like the idea of the video being recorded...that way you know if the students are talking about the project and who is participating more.  It also helps with them in keeping focus and on the correct topic.  It makes them more accountable.  I also like the Scoot and Doodle to see how students can create a visual of the project and how everyone will participate.  I also like the Symphonical as a way for students to add ideas to an app like Scoot and Doodle or a screen shot of what they are all looking at.  I will defiantly look more into this and how I can use this in my own classroom...especially with PBL!

Wicked Project Part A

Wicked Project Part A

• An educational need or opportunity.

My educational opportunity is to implement project based learning  (PBL) into my junior classes next year.  For the past two years I have used my juniors as guinea pigs for a “self paced” classroom.  For the most part it has worked really well, but I always felt like the projects the students were doing were sub par to what I thought they should be doing.  So I will be combining the self-paced class with the project based learning and hope that the projects are more in-depth, creative, and cover all the standards.

• How you plan to address this educational issue with technology.

I plan to address this educational issue daily with technology.  My school is going 1:1 next year so, in theory, every one of my students will have some type of a device to use in class.  I think this will be the perfect time to implement the PBL into my classroom.  “Virtual Organization” is lacking for a lot of students (and teachers!) So I really want to get them to use technology to help them out, not make them more confused.  I heard a great term this summer, “virtual backpack.”  I will try and equip my students with a virtual backpack that will help them with projects and organization.  

One way I will use technology is with a web 2.0 tool called Schoology.  Schoology is a classroom tool that will allow me to post all my assignment, add a calendar, post announcements, put students into groups, allows students to add resources, all with a class blog.  I will use this to put everything into ONE space. Right now I have a web site and a wiki and it is confusing for my students and a pain for me to up date.

I will also be using Diigo for research.  I want my students to get into the habit of saving their research, taking notes on-line, and then possibly sharing the information with a group or me.  

With PBL I need several ways for students to present the final project.  The technology I will use with that includes: powerpoint, Prezi, Glogster and more if I can find them.  I want to give my students choices and the more ways to present I find the better the presentations.

• Logistics of solution:

The Logistics of my “virtual backpack” ( which will include Schoology, Diigo, and the presentation web 2.0 tools) will be used from day one.  I want to spend a lot of time with my students to help them get organized for PBL (and their other classes too).  The first two or three days will be spent putting things into the “virtual backpack” AND showing them how to use these tools.  So many times teachers give students tools, but then they do not show them how to use the tools effectively. I want my students to get into the habit of going to Schoology for assignments, questions, and ideas.  I plan to have my students save all their research into Diigo. And finally I want  students to play around with the different presentations tools.  I would like them to get out of using Powerpoint and explore other means of presenting.  I plan to use these tools all year long with all of my students.

• Relevant research and resources

Schoology:
http://www.softwareshortlist.com/articles/Schoology_Review.html
http://www.teachersfirst.com/single.cfm?id=%2011217
http://mulloverthings.com/2012/01/41-schoology-review-part-1-dashboard-profile-blog/
Diigo:
https://sites.google.com/site/team8project9440/using-diigo-in-the-classroom-2

https://sites.google.com/site/team8project9440/using-diigo-in-the-classroom-2/using-diigo-in-the-classroom-1

http://theedublogger.com/2012/02/10/social-bookmarking-with-students-quality-not-quantity/

Project Based Learning:
http://college.cengage.com/education/pbl/background.html
http://www.gsn.org/web/pbl/index.htm
http://www.hightechhigh.org/pbl/

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/sept10/vol68/num01/Seven_Essentials_for_Project-Based_Learning.aspx

http://www.piecesoflearning.com/UserFiles/File/Handouts/NCAGTprojectbasedBI.pdf

http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/feb08/vol65/num05/Project-Based_Learning.aspx

Virtual Backpack
https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_H18AdRaNWOSlBrUWhnT3R6NkU/edit

• A plan for the portion you will implement during this course and the portion you will implement after this course completes.

During this course I plan to implement Schoology and one Project that I will give my students at the beginning of the year. I think it is important to be very organized for the beginning of the year and one way to do this is with Schoology. I also think it is important for me to have at least one project thought out from beginning to end and to have everything posted on Schoology and ready for the beginning of the year. The portions I will implement after this course are Diigo and the “virtual backpack.” As I get more comfortable with PBL I will then introduce Diigo and how students can use it effectively.

• Indicators of a successful project

One of the indicators of a successful project is for me to have Schoology up and running and to be organized before school starts.  Another success will be to have my first project thought out, written down, and all the logistics worked out for my students.  It would be nice to have an example of what a good PBL project looks like.  I want to put this on Schoology so my students know what to expect from the next projects.

Janet's Intro Video