Social Networks

For my first PTP I decided to explore and learn a bit more about wall.fm to use for a class social network.  Here is the link to the network I created http://smithsworldofbiology.wall.fm/

I decided to learn about wall.fm because I really want to create a community of learners in my classroom, where students can share cool, interesting things related to our topic of study and where they can serve as resources for each other.  I believe if I can integrate using the social network into assignments then I can really get the students to be looking out for things to share with one another, and to help answer each others questions. 

I also wanted to learn wall.fm because I think having students interact with experts is a really important part of science education.  By introducing the students to working and interacting with professionals I can help open up possibilities for future careers and education plans.  Students will also have another resource to use when questions arise.  Using a social network would play an important role in fulfilling this goal.  Not all experts can leave their jobs and come talk to high school students, but they can jump on-line and answer a question or two and share any new information with them. 

I thought of some instructional activities I could use this for while I was creating it.  I think in order to get students using and interacting on the network I'd give points for asking and answering questions and for posting relevant links.  I'd also have them create groups for projects they are working on and have requirements for what information needs to be shared there (so I can look at it too to check progress).  There is also a blog section.  I think I'd give students a blog assignment to write a scientific article about a topic they are interested in and have them share it there.  These can address the following Intended Learning Outcomes:

• 2a.  Read and look at books and other scientific materials voluntarily
• 3a.  Know and explain science information specified for their grade level
• 4b.  Use precise scientific language in oral and written communication

So what did I learn?!  Well, first off, there are SO many things I can do with this network.  I believe it could become really interactive and help extend learning beyond the walls of my classroom.  But I also learned that because there is so much I can do with it, I'll need to be very thoughtful of how I actually use it.  I don't want it to become one more place students spend all their time on.  I want to encourage smart use, not just use for the sake of using.  Secondly, I was very impressed with the privacy and permission levels I have control over.  I think this will be key to keeping my students safe on-line. 

PTP's

Like I said (typed) in the Voice Thread I'm really interested in a lot of the different technologies... Google Earth, Prezi, Glogger, GPS field trips, Social Networks and Google voice/video.  It's hard to choose.

I believe I've settled on Social Networks to connect my students with scientists and on Logger Pro to learn how to effectively use the probes and data in my classroom

Copyrights

This video was posted by a teacher using material found from the multimedia CD that came with the textbook he uses in his classroom.  I think posting this on-line for others to use is in violation of copyright law because these video clips are being sold with textbooks to schools.  If you were to use this in your classroom from this Youtube clip, that would definitely be against fair use policy because you would be diminishing the commercial value of this publishers materials.

These high school biology students are pretty clever and entertaining.  As I watched I noticed that they followed copyright fair use practices with their music choices (only using pieces of songs) and their images. They made it for educational purposes, and in no way diminished the commercial value of the images or music they used.  I was hoping that at the end of their video they were going to have a sources cited slide... but they didn't.  So ultimately in the they did not follow the fair use guidelines because they did not site their sources.

Finished Class Website!

Finally a post on this blog!!!

I just finished my website. I'm particularly fond of it and have already started to think about how I can keep adding to it.  I'm excited to integrate more technology in my teaching.  Here's the link to my website:

https://sites.google.com/site/mssmithsworldofbiology/

Q: How do you think you will use your website in your own teaching? 

A: I feel like this will be a great place to post homework assignments.  I always hate typing in website address, so if I can post it as a link, then my students will be more likely to get to the right site.  I want to use my blog to be a launching place for my students as they continue learning about biology.  I've included helpful links for each topic that they can use as the do any background research for projects in class.  And a top priority for me is to connect my students to scientists and their current work.  I'm hoping that I can use our class website to do that through the blog.  I'll share current research findings, spotlight a researcher, have students post questions to have our scientists answer.

Q:What aspects of the website will be most useful for you, your students, and their parents?

A: Probably the most helpful to me will be to post assignments online.  I won't have to worry about making copies as much, or keeping copies for students who were absent.  I think it will also be useful to communicate with my parents.  For my students I think they'll appreciate that I'm integrating technology and other texts instead of just our text book.  I think that mirrors best how they learn and interact with information these days.  Students will probably find the calender and syllabus helpful as well.  As for my parents, I think they'll appreciate having clear, concise and consistent communication from the teacher.

As far as personalization...

• I changed some of the fonts
• I also imbeded some gadgets (electronmicroscope pictures, and marine weather station map) that are relevant to the courses I'm teaching.