PE7_Final Project Reflection and Video

I was very impressed and excited about the reception my Web 2.0 tool, Glogster, received from my students.  They were extremely excited to get on the computer and jump into the creating!  There were a few "bumps" on the road.  Glogster is currently not an approved site on our school server, therefore, every time we went to the website it constantly asked whether or not it was work related.  The computers were also running slowly, so the students had to keep refreshing the page over and over again.  It was very frustrating for both the students and myself.  I would need to adjust the timeframe next time.  I didn't have enough class time to allow the students adequate researching and creating time, so the project will have to be extended to give more time.  Other than that, I thought the project went really well.

The ease at which I was able to incorporate this exciting tool makes me even more excited to start incorporating more/different tools and to share the success with my peers!

 I have included a video that started out as a documentary, but slowly morphed into a persuasive message because I didn't have enough footage to make it a documentary.

Keep learning!

-Heather

Music:  iLife Gallery
Photos:  Microsoft Clipart Gallery and Personal photos obtained with parent permission

PE5_Glogster

Today I sat down and created my Glogster poster for Camel Adaptations.  It was so much fun!  I was able to search for pictures on the internet for camels so that I could upload them into Glogster.  I found several pictures from a website called classroomclipart.com.  I was just amazed at the speed with which I was able to create this poster.  It took me more time to find the pictures than it did to create the entire poster.

I was able to browse for backgrounds and there were numerous to choose from...from educational and basic to fun and funky!  Then it was a matter of clicking and typing.  I entered the major facts that I knew about camel adaptations along with the pictures I found.  I, then, decided I wanted a video in my presentation.  When I clicked on video I was given the option to search school tube videos and, low and behold, they had one about a camel!

I cannot wait to show my students the poster I created and to see their final products as well.  This is such a great motivating tool to get the students to produce the work you want, in a format they like!

Check below for a short video I put together showing me creating my "masterpiece"!

-Heather

PE4_Glogster

This week we were given the assignment to add a web 2.0 tool to our learning environment to create a Relevant and Innovative Learning Scenario.  You could add the tool to an existing lesson plan or create a new one.

I have decided to add Glogster to one of my upcoming units.  We are studying plant and animal adaptations and I thought that having them incorporate a Glogster interactive poster would be a great addition to this unit.  Each student will get their own plant or animal to study during the week, create a Glogster product, and then share their product at the end of the mini unit.  I should mention that I teach 5th grade Science.

I showed the students the site yesterday and they LOVED it!  They were so excited to be able to get on the computer and start creating.  I know that I am going to get the quality projects I desire from most of my students now, judging by their motivation.

I can't wait to see the final products!  I haven't seen my students so excited and motivated for a project in quite some time.

Check back later in the week for my "final product" on the camel and for updates about how my students are enjoying their experience.

-Heather