Erin Schilling: Week 4 Application
Here are the answers to the questions from this week’s application assignment:
1. Are you finding the information and resources you need?
I am having a little luck finding what I need in order to reach my goals, but I think that I have been asking help from the wrong person. Last week I asked my library-media specialist about the potential of a voice thread project (my questions included, “Is there a kid-safe site that we can easily connect to (that it not blocked by our district?” and “Is there a site where students can create voice threads without having email accounts?”) He did not know and, rather than going to our district technology team for answers, he suggested that we look at some software applications (voice recording, Windows MovieMaker, etc.) that we already have. I think that before I use these programs, I will ask someone on the district technology team myself if there is anything we can do to utilize a Web 2.0 tool.
2. Do you need to modify your action plan?
I heard some good advice once; do not change your goal…just change your timeline. I do not think that I will change my goals, but I may need some more time to develop my actions. I want to include a larger, technology-based assessment for each of my content units (particularly science and social studies, but also incorporating writing, reading, and math where applicable). I do not think that this will all be able to happen this year, however. I think a better course of action will be to take notes on what changes I can make to the activities I already do and to slowly begin to integrate technology into places where it makes the best sense.
3. What have you learned so far?
So far, I have learned that there is never enough time in the day to do everything I want to with my students (well, I guess I already knew that). But, I am also learning that with each year I teach (this is my eighth year at fifth-grade), I become more efficient. My decision-making skills are stronger. I am able to stream-line my steps in order to “get the most bang for my buck.” I think that continuous professional development and communication with co-workers and classmates has helped me to learn a lot about solid instructional strategies and I am excited to use what I now know with my students.
4. What new questions have arisen?
I am still in need of an online voice thread site that is free, student-friendly, and (hopefully) does not require us to set up email accounts for my students. This is where I hope that my Walden classmates can help me out… =)
I appreciate any advice anyone can give me! Thank you!
It is great that even after eight years of teaching 5th grade that you are still looking for ways to make your teaching fun and interesting for your students. Have you thought about using VoiceThread but do all the recording and under your email address? It would take longer because the students would have to take turns recording, but then it would be public. From my experiences, most of the Web 2.0 tools require an email address, which has always been my hesitation with using these types of sites as well as students creating their own blogs. It makes sense though because without an email address or login of some kind, anyone could go in and change what is there. If the use of an email address is something you have to/want to avoid, using the software your school already has might be the way to go. Good luck!
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