Students as Self-Designers of Their Learning

Student creation of blogs, websites, and digital stories epitomizes self-directed learning. Take a look at how some students design their learning. Examples include blogs, websites, and digital stories.

cc licensed ( BY ) flickr photo shared by Spree2010

I collected this list for a workshop for social studies and art teachers, and the student examples are from social studies, English, and art classes. Review a few of the student examples, and let us know what you think of integrating these kinds of projects in the classroom.






Blogs from Mike Gwaltney's Students (created with WordPress)

• OSG's AP Government Blog 
• Directory of US History Student Blogs from Mike Gwaltney's class
• Discussion Boards from Mike's History class
• To learn more about this class, see the About page
• 10th Grade Age of Exploration Blog (course taught fall 2012): combined class blog; for more details about the class, see the About page

Digital Stories:

• See digital story examples on Government Gabfest Blog--Paul Fitzpatrick's students
• Depression Era (iMovie)
• Sept. 11, 2001(iMovie): scroll to bottom of the blot post; the video is the last one in the post.

Student Projects from Mike Gwaltney's Class Inspired by 2013 National History Day Competition (collected on a joint Blogger account)

• Turning Points in American History (students selected to create a video or website)--they posted links to their projects on a collaborative class Blogger account. You will find numerous examples of websites and digital stories. In most cases, students used Weebly for their websites.

Websites (created for high school English classes using Google Sites)

• Summer P. English2 H Website (Google Sites)
• Candace's English Site (Google Sites)
• Leon's English 12 H Website (Google Sites)

E-Portfolio (created with Wix)----shared by Vicki Davis

• Madison T. Art Portfolio

To follow Mike Gwaltney on Twitter: @MikeGwaltney

To follow Vicki Davis on Twitter: @coolteacher

Have You Tumbled Upon Tumblr?

Tumblr is an easy-to-use blogging site that is fast becoming popular among teens and pre-teens who are blogging on their own time. Check Tumblr's About page. Also, review the page, Why Everyone Loves Tumblr. Listen to David Karp, Tumblr's founder, talk about Tumblr:



Blogger is just as popular, if not more so, but it's the ease of use and many visual effects on Tumblr that make the site appealing to new bloggers.
 
If you are not blogging with one of these sites, what site do you use? If you are not blogging at all, what are you waiting for?
 
Here's a blog post by one educator,Kim Cofino, who sees blogging as way for students to showcase their accomplishments: Blogs as Showcase Portfolios. She includes in her post links to parts of her students' showcase portfolios. Do you agree with Kim that blogging is a way for students to showcase their self-reflection, accomplishment of goals, and progress? Would you consider using blogging with students,  or do you already? If so, do you recommend it to others?

The 35 Best Web 2.0 Tools Chosen by You

from http://edudemic.com/2010/07/the-35-best-web-2-0-classroom-tools-chosen-by-you/

The 35 Best Web 2.0 Tools Chosen by You is a list generated by teachers. It's a must-see list. Review it for what you are using and what you might be using. You'll likely find at least one new tool to enhance your teaching and professional development. These are all tools that teachers are presently using to enhance their teaching and enrich the lives of their students as learners. You'll get a good feel of what is out there for your taking.

Okay, enough preaching, but take the time to review the list, and post a comment. What on the list is one of your favorites and why? After checking out some new ones to you, let us know what you might consider implementing in the future.

Videos Feature Winning Digital Natives

See some wonderful digital media projects created by students, some as young as 8 and 13, and read their profiles to learn more about who they are. Youth Portraits at Eutopia features the stories of students showcased in the Digital Generation Project. This project is intended to help educators and parents understand how students are using digital media. Spend time reading the students' profiles and seeing their digital work. Afterwards, return to this blog and post your comments about the project. Which students' work did you find impressive? What have you discovered by viewing the students' profiles and work? Note what the students have to say about their education and how digital media has motivated them as students and learners. If you have some extra time, explore the Digital Generation: Educators section for specific teaching ideas. Let us know what you fnd of particular of interest to you.

10 th Grade Graduation to Begin 2011 in Connecticut

The New Haven Register today ran a story about the soon-to-be 10th grade graduation in the state. Parents and teachers offered responses to the article. Read both the article and comments. I know I have posted on this topic two times in the last week, but given the reality that this initiative is in our own backyard, let's be knowledgeable and keep current of the dialogue. Read all about it at: State to Test Early Graduation Initiative. And see the other two blog postings from last week that speak to the initiative on both the national and state level. Even consider posting a comment on the New Haven Register page; there is place that invites comments.

Logo from New Haven Register, online.

Graduating High School After 10th Grade

Just this past Wednesday, Feb. 17, 2010, I posted an article, High Schools to Offer Plan to Graduate 2 Years Early, about students getting a jump start on college. I am now posting a link to read about the issue from the perspective of several educators including college presidents. Check on this debate using a posting from The New York Times, Feb. 18, 2010: A Diploma in 10th Grade?

The Gates Foundation has already funded such initiatives and plans to be involved in the 10th grade graduation initiative. School systems are likely to join the bandwagon knowing both private and public funding will be forthcoming. The federal government has already earmarked funding, and states have applied for the funding. One of the states to start the program in the immediate future is Connecticut, as part of the federal initiative. Several towns and the cities will be participating, and invitations have been sent out statewide.

Those of you interested in secondary education should keep current of the issue. In fact, those interested in education in the earlier grades might want to consider how the traditional K-12 curricular sequence will change with implementation of this plan.

After reading through the postings about the debate, via A Diploma in 10th Grade?, what is your position, and why?

What Does the iGeneration Mean for Teaching?

Tech-Savvy 'iGeneration' Kids Multi-Task, Connect posted in USA Today offers viewpoints on the effects of social networking on children of today. Although research has largely focused on the multi-tasking skills of preteens and teens, researchers are now looking at how those under 10 are responding to the variety of technological media surrounding them and how this environment will affect how they develop and will be motivated to learn in school.

A 12-year old from West Hartford, CT is quoted, reminding us of the frequency with which people her age post videos on Facebook via webcams. Another youngster of 3 is described as having "a collection of nine cellphones; four are the non-working cast-offs of family members, and the others are plastic, including Cinderella, Tinker Bell and Dora the Explorer. She also has a plastic pink-and-purple Barbie laptop, which has its own mouse and programs that teach math, vowels and Spanish, as well as some computer games."

What is your response to the research findings and reports cited in the article? What do you see as the implications for teachers as the newer generations progress through school?


Photo is from the article with the byline and note:
By Joe Brier, for USA TODAY
Heather Nokes, 18, watches as her 3-year-old sister Kaci, 3, uses a Barbi Learning Laptop for math and spelling practice, while Wendy, 13, holds her cellphone in their Winchester, Va., home. All born after 1990, the sisters are considered part of what sociologists are calling the iGeneration.

Why Let Students Blog in the Classroom

This video provides numerous reasons for letting students blog in your classroom. View it, and please take a moment to comment. Does the video spark your interest in using blogging in the classroom ? If so, how and why? If not, why not?

To Catch a Thief

As stories abound about cheating in the computer age, we have to wonder if the blame lies with the tool or the person. Check out this story that Gina sent from The Hartford Courant, "Nationwide: Computers Increase Students' Temptation to Cheat." Even the title maligns the computer, but what or who is the real culprit? Do we stop using computers in schools?

This blog post from Education Week, Once A Cheater, Always a Cheater, addresses the fact that we need to start building character in students to counteract societal influences. Data from the blog post is based on the Johnson Institute of Character Survey, which you might want to look at as well.

Logos from Education week and Johnson Institute as posted on their sites.

Students Leading the Way

Per Gina's recommendation, check out this story at USA Today, "College Technology 'Catching Up' with Students."

What Do Students Want?

By now you know about all the money that the Obama administration has earmarked for public schools. A survey completed by students indicate what they want in their schools is more mobile technology. Take a look at this story which reports on the results of the student survey, and weigh in on what we as educators are learning from our students. Do you really think teachers are on the same page as their students? Are we missing the boat? How do you think the money from the Obama stimulus package should be spent.

Photo from the story page found in eSchool New, Wed, Mar 25, 2009 .

This additional story from District Administration, April 2009 will tell you about how funding can be used to enhance teacher professional development activities focused on classroom technology integration. Basically, the author claims, "learning is not just technology -- it's the teacher know-how to integrate technology and 21st century skills into students' learning. Take a peek, and feel free to comment on this article, as well.

Blogging Hits the Classroom Setting

To hear from students' points of view about blogging in the classrom, view this YouTube video.



Which of the reasons mentioned in the video, do you agree with? Which do you disgree with?