Week 4 ~ Getting 'techno'

Every new school year that I teach I am always trying to add more technology, more project-based learning activities. For this reason I am excited to be involved again with IMSEP. Last year’s externship emphasized the need for my students to be able to use spreadsheets. I learned many of the departments used spreadsheets for “punching the clock” each morning and evening to using it as a tool for data collection and analysis. So I added more Excel in my curriculum and taught them more formulas to use.

This summer’s externship is giving me yet more exposure to different technologies I haven’t used yet. John is our “tech” guy. He is showing us how to create Google maps and documents that we can access on the computer or through email on smart phones. It will definitely be a good time to upgrade to a smart phone in the next month.

The following pictures and screen shots are some examples of technology I will have my students use during the year with their STEM PBLs. They will use digital cameras or cameras on their phones and download the pictures into Word docs and PowerPoint presentations. They will also use cameras or phones to take video and incorporate them in presentations. They will use a smart phone app to take “ground view” pictures or 360 degree panoramic shots of a location. They will learn to upload them into a blog or presentation. They will use Excel even more this year. They know how to check their grades on PowerSchool. But I weight their grades which are separated into three categories – tests, quizzes, and homework. Most students do not know how to calculate their final grade. They will use Excel to do store their grades and to be able to predict what score they need to get on the next test to bring up their grade. They will use Excel to store and analyze data. They will make tables and graphs in Excel and use them in presentations. They will use Edmodo for assignments and communicating with each other during STEM projects. We will also use Skype to communicate and collaborate with John and Angie’s classes.

Students will know things have changed by using these new technologies. In teaching math skills, either I or the kids are at the boards a lot. Some of these technologies are new to me and they will be new to most kids. My old “projects” will take on more characteristics of 21^st Century Learning. More will be required of them. Students will be taken out of their comfort zones, but they will also learn more. Hopefully they will enjoy this format more!

Another way my students will know things have changed is that for a couple of their STEM projects, they will be out of the classroom – like the three of us in the following pictures!

Testing Bear Creek that feeds into the Cedar River near Palo.

Testing for phosphate levels in Otter Creek off Blairsferry Road.

A Google Map of our adventure sites.

A screen shot of one of a panoramic view of Otter Creek ― using a Smart Phone app to take panoramic pictures.

A screen shot of Edmodo