BP#4_2009121_Web_2.0_ Tools_Cities360

Today's assignment was to pick one web 2.0 tool and play with it. There were so many choices.  So many tools, so little time!!!  I picked a few that were very exciting, but to my dismay, the new filtering program at my school blocks most of them.  I did find two or three, however, that were very beneficial.  One of the most interesting and that also can successfully make it through the small opening in our filter is  360cities.net

Currently I am the inclusion teacher for a group of 9^th grade students taking World Geography.  We have been through the first half of the textbook, and have completely covered North and South America.  As we review for the mid-terms, this tool will allow the students to virtually tour the countries they have studied.  The panoramic view and the fact that the pictures are actual photos give the students a clear idea of places in the world tht they have studied.
  The students will develop a five location presentation using the projector, and tie in places from the review and talk about one fact that was covered and will be tested on.  Students will have a rubric and a model to follow.  Presentations will be given in a small group of no more than 5 students.  Students will see 25 places that they have studied. It may inspire the travel bug, and at the very least it will open eyes of the some students. Students can:

• Plan a journey over a holiday break and journal about what they will see.
• Research colleges overseas and take a virtual tour.
• Compare climate/living conditions/economies etc.  on cities in the same country.
• Search for a specific word such as “school” or “church” and compare/contract the findings.
• Explain the different points of view in one scene.

These are just a few of the activities students would be able to do using this application. I particularly like that it is compatible with Google Earth, but I do not have to wait for an opening on the training schedule.  My students love this application, and it is amazing to see the fun they have with it.

Bryce Canyon in USA

BP#3_2009121_iGoogle_Screen_Shots

BP#2_2009121_Google Reader

Using Google Reader is addicting.  My assignment was to subsribe to five  relative to my profession.  The last count I had was 50 before I made myself stop.  Just crazy!   So I went back and just focused on the most beneficial.  Just like old Letterman style, I will do it in a top 10 format:

Number 10:  DeafNation--  This site is great for my receptive skills, and it just makes me laugh!  Several deaf adult vlogs, and a comic series staring SuperDeafy.

Number 9:  Stone Deaf Pilots-- is a deaf-techie blog that has interesting articles.  Also podcasting.  Think about that for a minute.

Number 8:  DeafAcademics --This group allows me to see what is going on internationally with deaf academics.  Most people in this group are deaf  scientists, researchers, instructors, professors, or lecturers.  I just like to see what they are doing.

Number 7:  Gallaudet Research homepage.  What is the leading Deaf university studying?

Number 6:  Florida School for the Deaf and Blind-- my neighbors to the east have excellent ideas that I sometimes use in the classroom.

Number 5:  Pennsylvania School for the Deaf--they have a great preschool program that combines ASL and hearing children and do it well.

Number 4:  American Annals of the Deaf--the oldest research, peer-reviewed journal focusing on students with hearing-impairments.  I mentioned an article in this once during an interview . . . and when I got the job the supervisor told me she was shocked anyone even knew what the journal was anymore.

Number 3:  Texas School for the Deaf-- my students link to this site daily for vocabulary and math practice.  I like to keep up with local events and teacher opportunities.

Number 2:  Teacher Tube--this has been a great resource for specific topics and videos loaded by other teachers.  Our class favorite is idiom videos created by other deaf students.

Number 1:  School Library Journal--I love hearing about new books and the author point of view.  Many times I will order the book and place it in our school library.  Or . . . place it on the wish list.






photo credits~ personal collection

BP#1_2009121_Educational_Uses_for_Blogs

     The many uses of blogs can be quite overwhelming.  I would eventually like to see that in my classroom, anything that can be written with a pen and paper can also be completed with a blog. A blog can help foster ownership and also teach techie skills that students crave.  A blog adds others by creating a two- or more- way conversation if there are comments and answers, and most importantly, it is almost always fun.    

     My research led  to a website where the author, Scott Leslie,  developed a matrix showing the uses for blogs, separated into the categories of reading and writing, and students and professionals.  Scott Leslie's site

     The visual organization just knocked me over, so a screenshot was necessary for me.  This will help me stay fresh and make sure that I remember to use blogs in ways that are sometimes out of my comfort zone.  

     Other uses of blogs can include:

 s
• Gathering student opinions and reactions to a common book or books on a common theme
• Sharing research on topics of interest to students, that the students researched themselves
• Creating a sense of ownership for the students and giving purpose for their writing and reading
• Engaging all learners at their level of readiness, ie—differentiated learning.

  I am especially looking forward to creating the sense of ownership and pride in student work when I use blogging.  A goal is to begin to use it after the Christmas break, and to tie it into their World Geo and/or Health classes.  For my students, that are d/Deaf, a really interesting benefit will to see how much their grammar skills improve if they know someone other than just the “teacher” is reading their writing.

photo credits:
pen and paper, reading a book ~ personal collection

blogging matrix screenshot ~  Scott Leslie site

Next blog topic:

Deaf Characters in Children's Literature