maryke

Maryke Nel BHMS/HS Art Big Horn Technology PDP Spring, 2009

MEETING 1: Feb. 12, 2009...4-5:30pm (1 1/2) A large # of people met, trying to coordinate schedules for future meeting times. We discussed our understanding of what the goals and actions of this PDP would be - specifically George's expectations and our individual visions of how technology experience and implementation can be accomplished. My personal goals are broad and a little scary...I need to become comfortable with specific computer and technology skills that can enrich my students' art experience. I have to become SO comfortable that I "buy into the idea" that this truly is better for my students. That's the scary part to me...it seems foreign, at this point. I WILL keep an open mind and hope to see such practical applications in other classrooms that they entice me into wanting to simulate the same wonderful new learning experience for my students. Long shot....

MY TIME: Feb. 13 (1 1/2) I reviewed the Troutner handbook - specifically checking out the virtual field trip sites: cathedral tours, virtual museums, expo ticket office.

MEETING 2: Feb. 16, 2009....4:30 - 6pm (1 1/2) OneNote training: We learned about logging in, creating folders - public vs. private, security settings. I see the practical applications. But overwhelmed....

MY TIME: Feb. 19 (1 1/2) I looked up the Italy guides sites, as well as the Central Park virtual tour, the Walking the Great Wall site, the Grand Canyon. I realize I need to learn about podcasts... Having some of these sites posted for students to use as extra credit options will be something different, at least....tons of sites I need to plow through to see what's applicable...I'm putting together questions that will accompany website suggestions that will be good writing assignments.

CLASSROOM TIME: H.S. Clay Arts - Took 1 class to examine virtual tour websites. Their reaction was predictable - some interest, some not, but at least it was new to them. Sites vary greatly from ease of maneuvering to substance of material. (1) H.S. Clay Arts - Took another class to examine same websites but some others as well, as we explored. They found others all on their own. I just want them exposed to this as a possibility for simple interest or extra credit to substitute a homework assignment. I asked them to share with everyone when they discovered some site that would be of interest specifically to kids. (1) H.S. Clay Arts - Took the last class to check out the websites...same experiences as other classes. (1)

MEETING 3: Feb. 23, 2009....4:30 - 6pm (1 1/2) Smartboard training with Cheryl in MS lab. A lot of information covered. Good hand-out that hits all of the components. Again, somewhat overwhelming, but it's reassuring to know the resources are there and accessible through Cheryl's patient tutelage!

ON-LINE COMMUNICATION TIME: Feb. 23 - March 16, 2009 (3) Blogs, Re-searching Cheryl-posted articles.

MEETING 4: March 1, 2009...9 - 12am (3) We looked at wikispaces, blogs, Google sites, delicious. Oh man, it's too much for my absorption capacity...I know it's an overview, but it almost hurts to look at the mountain of possibilities. I got a grip, ate something bad for me, and then started on creating a wikispace. Cheryl and Brett helped me with loading a picture, etc. I want to get involved in blogs and learn how to screen for really good ones.

MEETING 5: March 16, 2009...4:30 - 6pm (1 1/2) Hey, Cheryl's posted sites, such as "A Blog Every Educator Should be Reading" and "A Website Every Educator Should be Visiting" are the answer to my previous concern of screening blogs...Thank you, Brett, for a lively PowerPoint demonstration. Discussion on online communication requirement. Still a bit confused about components of that. Must ask Cheryl.

MEETING 6: March 20, 2009...9 - 12pm (3) Today was the most powerful session for me thus far...really made me think - good stuff, bad stuff. I saw/realized applications in the classroom previously not obvious to me. Thanks to Kathy, Rochelle, Renee, Lee, Marcia. And, Shawn's presentation on "TheLabnotebook.com" was eye-opening in terms of organization/presentation of art assessment materials for students. It can be done on OneNote as well, which will probably the format I choose, since it's the "chosen, central hub " with which we're all familiarizing ourselves with. (That seems to be one of the dilemmas: of all the possible tools we have and our communication with students and each other, which will become the "central hub" and how do we decide on that particular one?) Process of elimination? Are we getting enough experience to really make an educated decision? Are we jumping in and trying enough different ones, then at later date (when the new school is up and running) reaching consensus after a long enough trial period of different formats? And, by that time (2 - 3 years from now) new formats will have emerged. As Shawn said in response to a OneNote comment following his Labnotebook presentation, "Right... I forgot about OneNote..." We also looked at Nettrekker and Thinkfinity. Again, I'm overwhelmed with the possibilities and the unsettling feeling that the mountain of unknowns is stretching into the clouds...Must pull on better wool socks and keep climbing...

MY ONLINE TIME: March 26, 2009...4 - 5:30pm (1 1/2) Make-up group time but was canceled. I'm still doing it.

MY ONLINE TIME: April 1, 2009...4 - 5:30pm (1 1/2) Reviewing everyone else in group's wikispaces...I learned even more. Everyone's approaching the experience differently...I want to, soon, do the tutorial for OneNote.

CLASSROOM TIME: (3/4) I took 6th graders up to the library to create wikispaces for themselves with the goal being them joining my art wikispace. They had fun doing it, especially making up their passwords. They seemed comfortable and eager. We signed up for the middle option, when it came to access.

MY ONLINE TIME: April 8, 2009...4 - 5:30pm (1 1/2) "Make up time for group"Marcia helped me navigate and create another wikispace...some discussion of Google Page vs. Wiki. Thanks, Tami, I felt better about my muddy navigation and short term memory!

CLASSROOM TIMES: April 6 - 20, 2009........

CLASSROOM TIME: (3/4) April 9, 2009. I took 6th graders back up to the library to de-wiki! I got a scare last night at the work session that they might be charged for making a wikispace yesterday - they simply should've joined my bighornart wiki. Zee Gads...Great panic overnight. See, I know just enough to be dangerous! Anyhow, they all canceled their newly-created wikis, and then, after Obi One Cheryl (xo) helped us understand that we're uncharged as long as we didn't choose the 3rd Private option (and then it's free for 30 days), and, indeed, they all need a wikispace in order to join my wiki. Eddie Atter emerged as a wonderful, patient teacher for all of us. It was great to see the kids jump in and teach each other as they learned themselves. Their first assignment is to, as Demetre wrote on his wiki for Ms. Stuttheit's class, pimp out their wiki! They got right on it, again, teaching each other. Very cool. I will get help from Demetre - I know he posted the pimp-out helpful sites.

CLASSROOM TIME: (3/4) 6th Graders returned to library to continue "pimping out" their wikispaces. We actually had Demetre help with questions, hands-on help. Again, students helped students. Most kids got to at least start on Assignment #1. I kept it simple, with making a list (with as much detail as possible included) to explain what 5 things they've learned in art thus far.They had fun coming up with passwords, as always, and they were quite impatient to have me "accept" their wikispace applications.

CLASSROOM TIME: (1) H.S. Clay Arts went to library to initiate wikispaces. They were mostly very confused about how and why. The few who hard heard of other people doing it in other classes were more enthusiastic to get to it. They were confused especially about the concept of creating their own space and just joining the art one. I'm still unclear regarding opening a new page within the wiki and just letting them join from their own.

MY TIME: April 15, 009...9:30 - 10:45pm (1) Accepted online invitation to learn about Skype. Looks easy. Instructions clear. Will talk it over with the boys and have Skype at home, to start. Need to ask Cheryl if she thinks it will become a school-wide given, to have Skype. I can see the incredible applications for kids being in direct contact with other kids all over the world - see them, hear them in real time!

CLASSROOM TIME: (1) The other H.S. Clay Arts class went to the library to initiate wikispaces as well. Exact same issues as other class. This group seemed to have more fun at doing it. Perhaps the idea of finding U-Tube videos was more appealing to specific individuals.

CLASSROOM TIME: (1) The last group of H.S. Clay Arts kids went to library to initiate their wikispaces. Thank goodness, Demetre was in this group, and although he was very helpful to other students, I didn't receive the help as readily! There are a lot of incredulous looks from him and deep sighs when I ask question after question. Kids seemed excited to be doing this. They started and finished the first assignment, for the most part.

CLASSROOM TIME: (1/2) More H.S. Clay Arts class time in the library. More work on wikispace creations and assignment #1. Most kids are getting on the same page, no pun intended.

CLASSROOM TIME: (1/2) More H.S.Clay Arts time in the library to work on creating spaces and do assignment #1.

CLASSROOM TIME: (1/2) Yet another H.S. Clay Arts time in the library to create wikispaces and finish assignment #1.

CLASSROOM TIME: (1 1/2) H.S. Art in the library. 1 1/2 periods to get wikispace created and assignment #1 done.

CLASSROOM TIME: (2) 7/8th graders (both sets) in the library to create wikispaces (those who haven't had Mr. Burtis are taught by those who have done it with Brett) and do assignment #1. They are creating it so efficiently, navigating seamlessly - obvious the time they've spent with Brett.

CLASSROOM TIME: (3/4) 6th graders in library again, to work on wikispaces more. Some are as tentative as I feel about asking "stupid questions". Vast range of technology experience within this group.

In conclusion, I'm glad I did this PDP. I was very tentative at first and simple usage and familiarity had the predictable effect of increased comfort level, which is exactly what I needed. The kids' interest level and efficiency surprised and delighted me. Now that I'm initiated into OneNote, SmartBoard, blogs, delicious, wikispaces, Skype, etc., my immediate goals are to delve deeper into OneNote, Skype, and the myriad of blog possibilities as well as continue using the wikispaces I've created. I have all my students, in every class, communicating with me via the bighornart wikispace. All homework assignments are accessible via wikispace as well as other assignments. I need a lot more experience to get truly comfortable with all the components of what we covered in this PDP. The nicest thing is to feel ahead vs. feeling behind now, in terms of tech integration in school. It'll be interesting to see how far our scope will go when the new school is in place.

Total Hours... Face-to-face meeting time: 12 Online communication time: 7 1/2 Classroom time with students: 14 My time: 4 TOTAL: 37 1/2