I really enjoyed the Web 2.0 class. It has introduced me to new tools that I can now further explore into my professional and personal life. The 5 tools that I will begin to integrate are: RSS, Google Reader, Diigo, Blogging, and Wiki.
With my Arts Team, I would like for all of us to build a stronger professional learning community. Not only would we discuss student centered learning, but I would like to discuss articles, research, and other topics related to the Arts. Through RSS, I will receive in my Google Reader information related to the Arts. I will highlight information or share the entire article/segment using Diigo. The teachers will read the information and blog about it using blogger. If it is necessary to discuss further, we will allocate time during team meeting. I did not list Google Docs as a tool, because this is something that we were introduced to last year and it is an ongoing process.
In my personal life, I will be working towards my Masters Certificate in Arts Integration beginning this September. I plan to utilize the Wiki page that I started from this class and Google Reader. As I get to know more about the classes I will be taking, I will probably use more of the tools.
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Monday, July 18, 2011
Diigo - I want to love you
I am still trying to figure out how to use Diigo in the classroom. For whatever reason, I am not grasping the concept. That fact however, just makes me more determined to figure it out and to use it and once I do.
I look forward to becoming proficient in it’s use and sharing this information with my colleagues. I am especially looking forward to forming groups for special educator’s and sharing information relevant to us and our student’s.
I look forward to becoming proficient in it’s use and sharing this information with my colleagues. I am especially looking forward to forming groups for special educator’s and sharing information relevant to us and our student’s.
Saturday, July 16, 2011
Diigo
Username: BStone10
For someone who uses the internet for primary functions such as checking personal and business email, online shopping, and the occasional social networking, it was hard for me to figure out how to use Diigo for my professional and instructional use. I am thankful to enroll in this course, because it has opened my eyes to new ways to use the internet into my professional and instructional practice. Diigo and RSS has caused me to explore the internet for resources that I would not normally use, but found beneficial. I was able to bookmark and send emails to colleagues regarding information that I found. For instance, there is an organization that provide grants to schools with theater programs. It is too late for this coming school year, but it something that our drama teacher could look into for the following school year. The State Department offers grants that would pay for teachers to go overseas to discuss curriculum with educators. I plan to share this information with my staff. I am still learning. Hopefully, I will be able to think of ways to implement this in the classroom.
For someone who uses the internet for primary functions such as checking personal and business email, online shopping, and the occasional social networking, it was hard for me to figure out how to use Diigo for my professional and instructional use. I am thankful to enroll in this course, because it has opened my eyes to new ways to use the internet into my professional and instructional practice. Diigo and RSS has caused me to explore the internet for resources that I would not normally use, but found beneficial. I was able to bookmark and send emails to colleagues regarding information that I found. For instance, there is an organization that provide grants to schools with theater programs. It is too late for this coming school year, but it something that our drama teacher could look into for the following school year. The State Department offers grants that would pay for teachers to go overseas to discuss curriculum with educators. I plan to share this information with my staff. I am still learning. Hopefully, I will be able to think of ways to implement this in the classroom.
Monday, July 11, 2011
RSS Feed
After hours of searching and trying to find websites related to dance with RSS feeds, I found out that there were none. At least, none that I could find. I was forced to change my approach. Instead of looking as a dance educator, I chose to search as a general educator. More specifically, I looked into the education associations. Our local/county PGCEA did not have a RSS feed, but the Maryland State Education Association (MSEA) and National Educators Association (NEA) provided a RSS feed. What I like about NEA was that I was able to choose which subject/or category to follow. There was a link for grants and awards. Just by subscribing to the feed, I was able to locate a drama grant ranging from $100 to $500. It is not much, but every little bit helps. Unfortunately, the deadline has passed. Now that I have subscribed to the site, I will be able to see the grant opportunities as they are posted and share them with my colleagues. I hope that the dance world will soon provide RSS feed.
Thursday, June 30, 2011
E-Tools
Fifth Grade Dance
In the fifth grade, the students go to the National Zoo for Science and we continue to work on choreography in dance. The two websites I chose were Read the Words and National Geographic Kids: Dare to Explore. The fifth grade students will analyze the movement of an animal of their choice in order to create a movement phrase that represents that animal. They will first visit the National Geographic Kids site and click on Animals and Pets, then Creature Features. The students will scroll through the animals and choose one. Next, they will read the facts and view the photo of the animal. Then, watch the video. While reading the facts, they are to write down key words from which they can create movement. When they watch the video, they are to describe the movement that they see so that they can either replicate or draw ideas. Once they have gathered all of their information, the students will create a poem. In the poem, they cannot state the animal's name. They can only describe the animal's physical features, movement quality, and habitat.
When the students have completed their poem, then they will visit the website Read the Words. The students will type in their poem or download it to the site. They must choose an avatar and a reader of their choice. Once they are finished, they will download the poem to use once upon completion of their choreography.
The students are to create their movement phrase using their poem as inspiration. Students must utilize the elements of choreography: body, energy, space, and time. Once the dance is completed, the students will have time to rehearse the choreography with their recorded poem. Then they will present their finished product with their peers. The peers are to guess which animal their classmate chose.
In the fifth grade, the students go to the National Zoo for Science and we continue to work on choreography in dance. The two websites I chose were Read the Words and National Geographic Kids: Dare to Explore. The fifth grade students will analyze the movement of an animal of their choice in order to create a movement phrase that represents that animal. They will first visit the National Geographic Kids site and click on Animals and Pets, then Creature Features. The students will scroll through the animals and choose one. Next, they will read the facts and view the photo of the animal. Then, watch the video. While reading the facts, they are to write down key words from which they can create movement. When they watch the video, they are to describe the movement that they see so that they can either replicate or draw ideas. Once they have gathered all of their information, the students will create a poem. In the poem, they cannot state the animal's name. They can only describe the animal's physical features, movement quality, and habitat.
When the students have completed their poem, then they will visit the website Read the Words. The students will type in their poem or download it to the site. They must choose an avatar and a reader of their choice. Once they are finished, they will download the poem to use once upon completion of their choreography.
The students are to create their movement phrase using their poem as inspiration. Students must utilize the elements of choreography: body, energy, space, and time. Once the dance is completed, the students will have time to rehearse the choreography with their recorded poem. Then they will present their finished product with their peers. The peers are to guess which animal their classmate chose.
Friday, June 24, 2011
Google Docs vs Wikis
I must admit that I have more experience with Google Docs than Wikis. Both programs are web-based, free, and allows others to edit information provided your privacy settings. In detail, Googles Docs offers: word, presentations, spreadsheet, sites, and form creation that can be shared with others. The programs are easily accessible. I find that adding a form or a poll to the Wikispace is not that simple. The other day I was trying to add a widget to my Wikispace. I decided that I wanted to add a poll to see who understood Arts Integration. With Google Docs, I can create a form, which is within the program. With Wiki, it will send you to another website where you have to join in order to create a poll. This was not convenient. Wiki allows for collaboration in one place. As opposed to Google Docs provides multiple formats to edit documents: word, spreadsheet, sites, etc. With Google Docs, you can allow the world to see the information and provide permission for those to edit. With Wiki everyone can edit the information. Wiki has a discussion section. This is not offered in Google Docs as a separate entity. I am still learning about Wiki and Google Docs, but at this time I find Google Docs easier to maneuver and use.
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Wiki vs Blog
After watching the initial video about Wiki, I wished I could have used this two weeks ago. Tonight we just finished our 8th Grade Dance Presentation. The students were the choreographers and the costume designer. They had to select music that best represented the message that they wanted to convey to the audience. During the planning stage the students could have used Wiki to share their ideas. They could have created categories of topics that they needed to address and then shared their ideas under each of them. The only downside that I see to using Wiki vs a Blog is that you do not have record of what the previous person noted if it gets erased. At least with a blog, you are able to have running record of a conversation. At times, having a running record can be too much. If you do not have the time to read all of the comments, you may only skim through the comments and miss the important ideas or thoughts.
After creating my on Wiki space, I find it very overwhelming. I did not know where to begin or what my focus should be. As the Arts Coordinator, I find that most of my staff are not comfortable with Arts Integration. Thus, I decided to create my Wiki space around that theme. I find that the Wiki is a good resource and I hope once I finish developing my Wiki, it will begin to be a resource for me and others who would like to implement arts integration.
After creating my on Wiki space, I find it very overwhelming. I did not know where to begin or what my focus should be. As the Arts Coordinator, I find that most of my staff are not comfortable with Arts Integration. Thus, I decided to create my Wiki space around that theme. I find that the Wiki is a good resource and I hope once I finish developing my Wiki, it will begin to be a resource for me and others who would like to implement arts integration.
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