Amy's+Journaling+Page

11/1/2010. Observation at Iroquois High School. Biology with Ms. Ferguson

This morning we had a guest speaker for our superintendent day. He gave an interactive presentation on the new ways to approach education with technology. I brought my Ipad and followed the presentation with it and did a lot of the activities with the Ipad and it was great to follow along and get added information by using it!

In the afternoon, I went to Iroquois and saw a Biology class using the IPADs to complete a lab about Food Analysis. Some of the students shared Ipads as there were only 17 for a class of 23. Ms. Ferguson explained the procedures before letting the students get to the Ipads. She made students sign a sheet for the ipad they used to keep track of who had which iPad. Students worked well with ipads and each other for those who shared. Students were very engaged but also had a lot of questions and needed help.

Then we went to a Global 2 class with Mr. Violanti. It took a while to pass out Ipads. The assignment for today was to go to the Home Page. He had a camera on his Ipad so that it showed up on the screen. Group projects began on Friday. He had students open Google Earth and to go to Venice. Mr.Violanti created some very good geographic questions and discussion of the importance of water in Venice.

It was nice to see two very different applications of the Ipads. In Biology, students led their own learning. In Global, it was a teacher led use of the Ipad to start then students continued to work on a Renaissance project with their group. After two days, students will take a group quiz based on their research which will be graded immediately on the Internet.

11/4/2010. Observation at Depew High School. Government with Mr Wargala and Ms Merrill

This afternoon we observed a government class. They are working on mid term election results. Students will complete four Internet based tasks. They will research results, listen to sound bites and examine winners. Many Social Studies teachers are feeling the same way about the lack of apps for Social Studies classes. Many of us are using Sarafari for research but the lack of apps is frustrating. the Ipads are great as desk top reference machines but we could use more apps.

Mr Wargala did a summary of the elections then students got their Ipads, no sign in sheets, but quick distribution. Mr Wargala showed students where he wanted them to go on Safari by using his own computer and displaying it on his classroom screen.

December 6, 2010

the Ipad carts are up and running! I created a lesson with them for last Thursday but we had a snow day so I used it today and it went very well. it was fun for the kids and for me!! I really enjoyed adapting an old lesson and making it new with technology. Very cool!! it is difficult to use apps for Global so I used the Ipads as a browser. Students were assigned a Crusade to research and then were broken up into groups. Each person in the group had a different Crusade. students were then directed to my Teacher Page where I placed many different websites to research each Crusade. when students were done researching their own Crusade they taught the embers of their group about the Crusade. in the end, each group learned about all four Crusades. Students really liked using the Ipads. they were very on task. There were very few problems or glitches with the set up.

December 10, 2010

I am really enjoying using the IPads and I think my classes are too! Today I took another old lesson and turned into a fresh new one!! We started West African kingdoms today. Usually, I have students copy notes from a PowerPoint. Today, I put a series of different power points on my web page and had students research one kingdom and then teach the other students in the group about their kingdom. when they were done, the kids learned all the same info but they did it as a student centered lesson. when we were finished, everyone had a completed chart and got the same info as if I would have given them the notes. The new lesson forced them to research and study the topics on their own. They really got into it too. Many of them looked at the pictures and the maps in more detail than if I would have put it on a PowerPoint for them to copy!

We also set up a calendar last week for Ipad use which is very helpful. now, we know who is using them and when!!

December 15, 2010

Today was an IPad training day at Depew High School. First, we talked about successes and failures. We learned how to post a video to the wiki using the flip video camera. We also need to create a lesson plan and post it to the Wiki. The next plan I think I will adapt is he poster project we will use for our Aztec, Inca, Maya chapter. In the past, I have printed lots of pages and let students research these pages. This semester, I think I will let students browse using the IPADs. Unfortunately, printing from the IPad is still not easy so I will print pictures for them to add to their posters. I think the students will like to do their research on the IPads.

January 14, 2010

Today I used the Ipads with all of my classes. In Global 1, we did a IPad reserach packet for our chapter on the Age of Exploration. Students had to reserch definitions, charts and diagrams dealing with topics of the Commercial Revolution, the Columbian exchange and the Trianglur Trade. Things went very smoothly. However, studetns worked a bit slower than I anticipated so they will be given 20 minutes on Monday to finish the packet. In my Global 2 clas, Icreated a packet of review charts for the exam at the end of the semester. I found a few amazing powerpoints and had students research different topics including early civilizations, economic systems, famous people and human rights violations in history. Students took 20 minutes to research their own topic and then shared with thier group. It was very good for review but we had a lot of problems with the intenet connection. Ipads were slow and constantly breaking out of connection. It was a little stressful but students rolled with pretty well.

I also used the IPADs the week before Christmas for my Maya, Aztec and Incas group pster projects. I let students use IPdas for reserach. It went very well. Usually I print a bunch of pages off the internet but this time they could really focus on their individual topics for the projects.

February 16, 2011

Today I was observed by Mr. Wargala from Depew. Most of the class time was reserved for a test but Sandy put together a review on eclicker to start the clas off. The students really enjoyed it and it helped them prepare for the test. Mr Wargala learned how to use eclicker from Sandy and said he hopes to implement this activity in his classes for review before tests. The students really enjoy the Ipads and have been waiting to use them since I gave the survey on the first day of the semester. Now that the semester is up and running, my goal is to use the Ipads once a week in all three of my Global 9 classes.

March 14, 2011

We used the IPads in class today to complete a chart on ancient Sparta and Athens. Students did web searches to find info comparing the two city states. They worked very hard but it did take a little longer that what I tradtional have them do for the chart....which is use the textbook! They got a good comparison and got to view lots of info and images. I want to keep incorporating the IPads into past lessons to see if I get different outcomes from the students.

April 11, 2011

Last week Thursday we had a training session at Iroquios. Everyone worked on and presented lessons using the ipads. Fortunately, Gretcen Kaderli and I strting working on the lesson a few days before because we did encounter some difficulties on the day of the training. Our lesson was about Muslium achievements. First, we had stdents complete a review sheet of what they learned the day before on the Islamic Empires. Then, students used the ipads and my webpage to research Muslim Achievements in math, science, medicine, art, architecture and astronomy. Finally, we created an eclicker review to check for student understanding. The lesson went well. I wish we could have added more websites to the research. Many people had great ideas and used many apps and websites for their lessons. Looking forward to people adding to the wiki library of websites for new ideas.

April 13, 2011

I have been spending the last week working on my observation lesson and I plan on incorporating the ipads. I want to show my prinicpal what we have been doing with the ipads so far. The beginning of the lesson will be an eclicker review to get students ready for the vocab quiz. They will have studied Chapter 12 vocab on the Byzantine Empire. Then students will complete by using a webquest to find information. I hope the students enjoy the lesson and get alot out of it. I will let you know how it goes!

May 16, 2011

I forgot to write back about my observation but I thought it went very well. Students used the IPAds for eclicker review before the vocab quiz and loved it. Then they used them for a webquest on the Byzantine Empire. The only gliche was that they were so into the webquest they did not interact with one another at all!! The room was completely silent for 20 minutes!! I adjusted for the next class and forced them to work in groups. There was more working togther and talking in my other classes.

I have been using the Ipads alot lately as I made up many lessons last semester and am re-using them again for this semester. We have done activities with the Crusades, West African Kingdoms and Latin American groups. They have worked very well. Students are very familar and comfortable with the IPads. Lessons run very smoothly and students work very well.

June 8th, 2011

Today was our last Ipad training. We worked on our lesson this morning. We created a lesson dealing with Muslim Achievements by creating a chart and searching specific websites from My Teacher Page. in our training, we spent time reflecting on the year with Ipads. I am glad I got the opportunity to use them with my students. I am looking forward to creating new plans and ideas for next year. They are a  Very valuable resource for the classroom.