Instruction across 2 schools

Today I could not get back to my base school in time for the 4th period research class. The librarian at the second school was informed and she allowed the students to work in the library. The students knew what was expected and were moving ahead with their projects using Chrome on the library desktops.

When I got a break between assessments in the first school, I jumped into my Google Drive and went to their work. One was working on notes for his project. I gave him some database assistance and asked him to remind the other student to Share his work with me. A moment later, the other student's work appeared in my Share Drive. I made my comments and moved on to other work.

Both students were surprised, but I'll bet money they were pleased they were doing what they should have been since I 'appeared' like magic.

iamaceltic.it

it's in the small details

Today the students began thinking about the presentations for their research. Because they want their displays to be innovative, several all already trying to figure out how to get images and music on their Chrome Books. We are blocked from Youtube so one student is downloading the Stevie Wonder song Superstition to his thumbdrive and will be using the Chrome Book as a speaker.

Images are proving to be a different animal. SketchUp (for planning the display) and Picasa (for editing pictures) seem to be other apps we were led to believe would be part of the Chrome Book purchase, but apparently were not 'part of the basic package'. So, along with EasyBib, Diigo, and Teacher Dashboard....extra money should have been built into the grant. The absence of EasyBib, in particular, became apparent today when two of the students who have taken this course before said she'd rather have been using the index cards all along because now that it's time to write the paper, she cannot sort her notes into the outline (something EasyBib does). We figured she would have to print out her spreadsheet and cut it up to sort.  Going through a multitude of clicks and copy/paste maneuvers just takes too much time.

nickagin.bigcartel.com

Now I know. I should have investigated the apps myself instead of relying on advice so I knew what to include in the grant. Live and learn!

Surveys and Spreadsheets

A couple observations about surveys and spreadsheets that I must share:

First, all my students produce some authentic data to prove or disprove their essential question: interviews, surveys, and experiments. It is the first-hand knowledge that makes the difference between a research project and a retrieval project. There are handouts guiding the procedure for writing a survey, interview, or experiment...and then there's the struggle of interpreting data.

That's the snag with students who want to do surveys. The rule of thumb is more is better, but the tabulating of 'more' drive many students crazy because of the time involved. A student may want to survey 6th, 7th, and 8th graders for information and then be able to see a pattern of change as they get older, but the numbers have be calculated first...and sometimes the calculating becomes too large a hurdle to overcome.

peopleperformancellc.com

With a survey done as a Google Form, the answers drop into a spreadsheet immediately which can then be added, or averaged, or whatever. It makes the statistical end of a survey so much easier!

This only work with people who have Chrome, or will copy and paste the link address into the URL box, but overall it IS thrilling to come back from whatever sports practice here is and get answers!

teacher commentary...

I find I make more pointed, on-the-spot, comments to my students' work with the Chrome Book technology and the Cloud. It seems that jumping in when the time is right is working better than trying to make a blanket lesson for all. Perhaps because it is subtle and private -- I make them on papers and in blogs. It could be because learning is deeper when the information arrives when the need appears, or perhaps it's because the teaching becomes individualized and not intimidating. One student I'm thinking of in particular would not normally ask for help, but eagerly leaves comments for me and takes advice readily.

From this standpoint, the semester is going smoother.

Cloud-y Days

Yesterday, none of the students could access their Drives. They were able to navigate through back doors to their blogs, but only to view them as a guest would who had stumbled on them. They did not do work other than do online searching for information. Unfortunately, many are now at the survey stage, or writing stage. Being able to access their work is important. Although my office is IN the library, most of the research work has been done so being able to make interpretations of survey data and write the research papers is the next step...a step not easily buttressed with manual labor (writing).

feroniaproject.org

We later learned this was a national blip, so it was not our equipment or server. We reviewed a backup plan in case this were to happen again. All students have been told to print out their survey data so they can make interpretations off-line. Research papers are saved on a thumbdrive in addition to the cloud so it can be worked in spite of no Cloud services.

A back-up plan is vital!

Wordle and Java

One of the resources I like to use is Wordle -- a word-cloud generating website that allows students to copy and paste their text into a box and get back a montage of words that sizes each word based on the number of times it was used. It is a visual presentation students can use to check their writing for word over-use.

Unfortunately, our Chrome Books cannot access Wordle because it involves Java Script. The same thing happens with TestNav, the Pearson tests Virginia uses for the SOL assessments. So, Chrome Books will be useless for the end-of-year SOLs.

learning new things everyday

We are learning new things to do with the Chrome Books everyday. Yesterday we learned that Sharing a link to a Form does not guarantee the potential respondents will necessarily be able to open it. They need to be in the FCPS Google domain. Also, traveling into and out of the domain can cause issues.

Today students learned how to screen shoot information to include as a blog post. Along with that is the process for bringing up the keyword short cuts available on Chrome Books. Another reason it would have been nice to have gotten some training beforehand.

Discovery.

Mid-way survey and student work...

The students took a survey yesterday about their perspective regarding the research work they are doing now that the Chrome Books are here.  All but one took the survey (she'll take it upon return to school tomorrow morning). The results seem to indicate, generally, that they think they are getting more done in a shorter period of time.

With a more detailed review of the answers, it appears the students who didn't perceive much difference in the amount and quality of research work before and after are the students who haven't done much all along. It was the students who were trying to access databases, take notes and complete daily target dates that have noticed the biggest differences in work efficiency. The students who have never taken this course before, and who have never had to produce a handwritten journal and note cards, are the ones who do not notice much difference in quality or quantity of work output.

So, my preliminary opinion so far? Two observations: 1) You can lead a student to research, but if the curiosity and persistence to dig deep for information is not present, no amount of new technology will make those traits appear. 2) Without knowledge of how tedious research CAN be, and HAS been as recently as last semester, the new technology is the norm and therefore not better or worse. In those students, the only difference has been the time it takes to log in.

rozesto.wordpress.com

Critical Friends

Today I instituted a new course requirement: critical friends. Every student's homework tonight is to locate 2 or 3 people who will agree to be critical friends. A critical friend is someone who helps with a project by making constructive useful suggestions and comments. A critical friend assists with ideas and support when th e project needs propping up. A critical friend is valuable for successful critical thinking and reflection.

Making this a new requirement should help on a couple levels: they choose who they want to work with (and trust), they collaborate willingly and therefore challenge the ideas and thinking that happens, and build an deeper interest in their topics by reflecting on the CF's comments. They can share their work with the CF as they do me, so there is a mutual understanding that no one has all the answers but working together generates new perspectives.

Trials for the study..

Yesterday and today we tried some trials:  database access, Google Hangout, and working outside the office.

Accessing databases instead of search engines has been a problem. The students are doing research, not retrieval projects. Being able to access scholarly information is critical. Although Google Scholar may present articles, studies, and books, the students cannot get to them without signing in or paying to read them. What we've done is worked with the librarian here at school who sent me the link for the Gale Group database (purchased by the school system). I put it into a Google Doc and shared it with the students. Now they all have access to databases!

The Google Hangout doesn't work because the students don't have gmail accounts. I understand students at another middle school in the county has gmail accounts. That may be where this needs to go to allow for the critical friend collaborations.

Chromebook outside.

Taking the Chrome Book and working outside the office, into the library, was successful as far as I could see. One student who tends to be quiet, and tends to prefer quiet, took advantage of working alone outside the group of chatty middle school students. Two students who tend to dominate conversations in one way or another worked in the library and got a lot done AND did not irritate the others with constant vying for teacher attention. All in all, a worthwhile trial of personal freedom. The note spreadsheets look like everyone got work done in their own way and at their own pace. As the weather turns warmer, we'll try working outside and see how that does.

Chrome Book on the road...

I've taken the Chrome Book home and to Williamsburg and back and forth from school to school. In all instances I can access my work, my student's work, and share my semester project with my students. I can make comments and offer guidance as they make notes, generate surveys, and collaborate with their critical friend. I have been impressed enough with this equipment to consider purchasing one for myself this summer.