Group Me for CUE Convention Conversation

I've found an app (for Iphone and Android) for our CUE convention conversation. It's called Group Me. Check it out. The site doesn't say whether or not there is a way to record the texts/conversation, but I submitted a request for more information. I found the source on a SXSW (South by South West) article. I believe the convention takes place this weekend so hopefullly there will be even more goodies for us to explore. Also, in mention of Twitter, I have found that many teachers use Twitter to hold class discusssions. Of course, there will be our issue of students not having phones/computers (ah, inner city) and whether or not we can actually require the students to participate since it is sometimes considered "taboo" or "inappropriate" (ah, LAUSD) but I think we can do it!!

7 Tips For Using Social Media In Your Classroom

This is a great article called 7 Tips For Using Social Media in Your Classroom  It really got my wheels spinning. It was like a mini-PD with Sean. I would love to discuss it with you both. And, we can even try using TodaysMeet.com (a tool mentioned in the article) to chat about it. 
-Mel

Podcasting

We (Andy and Melissa) at our podcasting in-service with Sarah (who's paired up with another teacher right now) and the rest of the ELA dept.  Sean Williams is presenting about podcasting and  we are using Vocaroo.  Web-based, so cool.

Here is the first podcast from Andy and Melissa:  How to make a chicken sandwich.  Click to listen.


Voice Recorder >>


Melissa's comments:  Sean has really broadened my definition of podcasts.  I was thinking that "podcast" meant a student produced radio show that takes a significant amount of time to plan, execute, edit, etc.  But, now I am thinking about it as simple voice recordings that can be used to create and respond to content.  Instead of only using text based comments (pen/paper writing, blog comments), these voice recordings allow a different medium.  I am so excited about the simplicity.  Students can create podcasts/voice recordings to create/respond to content (an embedded video in a blog, a passage in a book, a student's story or presentation).

And there are so many ways to capture those voice recordings.  Vocaroo is great, but it can't be edited.  Google voice can be used, and it will provide a transcript.  There are so many other things to think about. Comments please...

280daily

I'm looking at having my students use 280daily to do quick writes in.  Amy Hansen is using it as a journaling tool for her son (she posted this on Facebook...).  You have 280 characters to say something.  So many of my students are wordy beyond belief, I'm thinkin' that this may help them organize their thoughts.  The downside is I would have no control over their posts, and, if I wanted to grade them, I'd have to visit 69 site...  It's a fun tool tho'.

Department P.D.

We are good to go for our presentation to the department on January 31st.  I thought we could use the blog to start listing the things we need to include so writing the handout will go easier.  Things like I opened another Google email account so my school mail account wouldn't be inundated with emails when students start sharing documents...

First Thursday in the Lab

We got through the first Thursday in the lab!  I did 20 minutes SSR in the class, had them hand in their homework, then took them to the lab.  My assignment was:

-Check your grade on engrade.com. (they are supposed to do this whenever we go to the lab)
-Check your email.  (same as above)

1.  Explore blogging and send me an email telling me what blogging is.  Make sure your subject line is p7.yourname.blog.

2.  Comment on the class blog mordohp 7.blogspot.com.  (the post asks them to tell me what expository literature is)

Not the most exciting lesson, but it is a start towards their research power point.  I got lots of emails but very few comments.  It is really interesting to see that we still have some students who are totally tech challenged.  I don't let them help each other because I've found that if I do, they continue to need help.  I do love the fact that they will go home and finish assignments that they can access through their google account.

Wireless Equipment

The wireless equipment is great! It's much easier to keep the kids on task while roaming the room. It also allows for personal assistance without pointing and giving directions. They can follow along on their computer with the screen at the front of the class. It feel more like guidance instead of commands. Excellent purchase. Great suggestion Mel!

Wireless Equipment

I've ordered the wireless mouse and keyboard for Andy and myself. The total was $107.73. Hopefully with Mel's order we will come in near $187 (cost of books).

I had a very interesting three days in the computer lab.  After all the hardware problems were taken care of, I was presently surprised to find my 7th graders are very adept at using the computer and Google Docs!  I do have a couple who are so challenged that I think they are stuck in a time warp and are really from an earlier period when there were no computers, they are my challenge.  Many of them will take a verbal suggestion and just run with it.

I am staying with my rule of no talking and no helping anyone else out.  I want them to learn to use the computer themselves, not to have someone do it for me.  I think that pains the helpers more than those who need help tho'!

Propeller Head

I (Melissa) admit that I cannot resist fiddling with technology. Today, my classroom blog post asked students to articulate a theme about Party Girl, the novel we just finished. I also asked them to support their claim with a textual example, and then to assert whether or not the theme was true in their own lives.

I have been trying to comment back to them. But, Blogger doesn't let users comment on comments the way that Facebook does.  So, I've been trying to add my own comments aimed at individual students like this @Cynthia, @Armando, etc. like this:

It gets pretty hard to keep up with this in class. And, I don't know if they bother to read my comments anyway.

Well, fiddling around today, I realized I could set the classroom blog to automatically send me a message each time someone commented.  That was fine. But there was no way to respond to an email from "Armando B." <noreply-comment@blogger.com>."

It occurred to me that I could reply by taking the email I received from Blogger and forwarding it to their student email address.  So, I opened the Excel file I had with their email addresses, etc., turned it into a CSV file, then imported it into my mail reader (I use the standard Macintosh mail package).  The trick was getting that CSV file to sort right so that their period would appear under "Company" and their ID number in the "Work Phone" field in my Address Book (also the standard Macintosh application). Here's what it looks like in Excel, with the student names blacked out for their protection:

Now, all the emails come into my email box and I can email students right back. I gave it a try this evening and it was quick and efficient.  Since I am grading some of their posts, this will be a quick way to provide feedback.  

I know admitting that I spent time on this makes me seem like a propeller head, but, hey, a girl has to have some fun, doesn't she?