Happy Tuesday everyone,
We’ve been joking that this wired
weekday might have to shift to some sort of “Q” themed message considering it’s
coming out once a quint. It has been a busy time. Here’s an
overview of some of the ways that technology and teaching is working, wonky and
leaving us wishing for more.
What’s working:
- Ongoing experiments with Voicethread: Marina has student writing poetry, illustrating, narrating and commenting on other poems in Voicethead. Feedback from students has been quite profound regarding the impact on language learning. Students shared that hearing themselves speak, practicing, and re-recording what they are saying has given them more insight into the language and where they need to grow. Francoise and Steven are considering ways to use Voicethread collaboratively in their French and Spoken Word classes. If you’d like an account with Voicethread please email me or Alicia. If you’re curious about how it could be used, check out the ongoing discussion on our Voicethread homepage: https://northwestschool.ed.voicethread.com/
- Going old school - as a frequent experimenter with technology, Tina is once again pushing the envelope. She is having students call her answering machine here at school and leave a message in response to a homework assignment. Yep, it’s that simple. The message is automatically emailed to her and she can then use it for formative feedback. She had tried all sorts of things from Google Voice, Voicethread, Audacity and others – but this is the simplest solution.
- The Middle School Math department has been using the ALEKS program - http://www.aleks.com/ to great success. Assessment and LEarning in Knowledge Spaces is a Web-based, artificially intelligent assessment and learning system. ALEKS uses adaptive questioning to quickly and accurately determine exactly what a student knows and doesn't know in a course. ALEKS then instructs the student on the topics she is most ready to learn. This is an exciting way to make use of online learning while enriching class instruction as well.
What’s wonky:
- Documentation of the AV setup in the new dining room. We (Alicia and Catherine) are pulling together steps (with photos) and will be sharing these in the next week. If you do have questions about the setup please let us know. As usual please book that space with Brenda.
What you wish for:
- Here’s a little tutorial about how to book the main office conference room: http://www.screencast.com/t/bgMeNCeGC
- The library has added a few trial databases to the resource ABC-CLIO that we’ve been testing out with classes this quint. The new databases are Issues, Modern Genocide, and World Religions. Test them out, and let us know what you think, over the following few weeks, as we’ll need to make a final decision of which (if any) we decide to subscribe to. To test them out – just go to the NWS Catalog, log in as you normally do and click on ABC CLIO. The database links are on the right (screenshot is attached).
- More ways to take screen shots! Check out this handy little website: http://www.take-a-screenshot.org
Wild cards:
- NCCE – The National Council for Computer Education conference is approaching! March 12-14 here in Seattle. The deadline for early bird registration is Feb. 10th. Please let me know if you’re interested in joining us. I’ll collect names and get things organized. The conference happens just down the hill at the Seattle Conference center. The conference website is here: http://www.ncce.org/index.php/attendees
- Here’s the keynote speaker’s blog – a refreshing perspective: http://esheninger.blogspot.com/]
- A little plug for one of our adventurous students - Zach TB is in 8th grade and a co-leader of our Game Design and 3D printer Interest Group. He was just interviewed as their Designer Spotlight on the Shapeways blog (a 3D design community): http://www.shapeways.com/blog/archives/2428-Designer-Spotlight-Zach-Tsiakalis-Brown.html
- Carol Dweck’s research about the power of a little word: YET.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZyAde4nIIm8
So that’s what’s been happening…
and actually there will be more to share very soon about upcoming experimentation
with online learning. Stay tuned!
If you’re still reading this –
thank you! – and interested in joining me (Catherine) tonight for the
Parent Forum, we’ll be talking about parenting and technology. We’ll talk
about the power and importance of conversations, share strategies, talk about
modelling a mindful approach to technology, and connect our parenting wisdom to
the online world. Should be fun! Tonight – January 29 - in
the Commons 6:30-8:30 pm.
All the best,
Catherine & Alicia
