I feel good. All of my students have created their first blog, which I linked to my Moodle site. At this point, everyone has an introductory blog and reflection. They are SO COOL!
Ran into a couple of snags:
1) All students have to have an adult with them in other rooms at all times...I got in trouble. However, all these students have worked out or will work out an alternative plan.
2) You can't view blogs in the "private" mode...so, students concerned about their privacy need to consult me about an alternative setting.
3) In order to create an online blog at school we had to type in "help" as a title and "help" in the blogspot title...it was a pain, but it worked.
What to do next?
1) Share blogs with parents and administrators
2) Share blogs with each other
3) Create a plan for pitches
4) Figure out what to do over spring break. Woot! Woot!
Enjoy your break! See you in April...
Friday, March 28, 2014
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
My First Blog...Ever
Hey IBWL Students!
Welcome to my blog! I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm doing it anyway. 20-Time is my 20-Time project and I am allowing myself to fail miserably. However, I learned a ton this week. So, here's what I know right now:
1) My students are amazing! I've read over all their 20-Time project proposals and I was blown away by their ability to embrace this project, take the risk with me, and try to make it meaningful. Students selected a range of topics. They will be studying everything from back flips to zombies to new instruments to new artistic expressions and beyond! I can't wait to see what happens!(And, no, I'm not yelling at you. I will try to avoid overusing exclamation points in my writing, but I still want you to know just how excited I am
2) Google Blogger: I set up my own blog and even wrote this post myself, but I needed someone with knowledge and experience, so I met with Ms. Bonotto, who is attempting 20-Time in her Spanish 3 class as well. I met with her at lunch and worked out some of the kinks. I'm still having trouble with getting my Pages to appear on my blog, so I'm going to email Chris Sabourin, the head of technology for MPS, to find out more. I'm also going to learn how to upload emails to share this blog directly with my students. This will be a quick easy way to communicate with them.
3) Scheduling: I laid out the plan for the rest of the year and how we are going to incorporate 20-Time. I found myself wanting to schedule more room for this, and I had many students asking for more time. This is a problem: balancing IB requirements and 20-Time needs. Right now I think I have a good plan, but if you are my student, you know my calendar can and will change at least 20 times ;) And I'm worried about AP/IB testing and sports in May. My smarty-pants, athletic students will be absent all over the place. I need to stay on top of missed work.
4) Future Plans: I need to layout my exact expectations for students' Pitch assignment. I am going to ask them for feedback to find a manageable and purposeful way to carry this part of the assignment out. I don't want this to seem like extra work. I want them to share their love of learning with the world.
So, that's it. Now what do I do? ummm.... spell check? publish? eat the entire bag of Dum-Dums in my closet? We shall see.
Thanks for listening. Post any questions or comments when ready.
Here is a picture of me creating my first blog. Courtesy of Kelly Derees
Welcome to my blog! I have no idea what I'm doing, but I'm doing it anyway. 20-Time is my 20-Time project and I am allowing myself to fail miserably. However, I learned a ton this week. So, here's what I know right now:
1) My students are amazing! I've read over all their 20-Time project proposals and I was blown away by their ability to embrace this project, take the risk with me, and try to make it meaningful. Students selected a range of topics. They will be studying everything from back flips to zombies to new instruments to new artistic expressions and beyond! I can't wait to see what happens!(And, no, I'm not yelling at you. I will try to avoid overusing exclamation points in my writing, but I still want you to know just how excited I am
2) Google Blogger: I set up my own blog and even wrote this post myself, but I needed someone with knowledge and experience, so I met with Ms. Bonotto, who is attempting 20-Time in her Spanish 3 class as well. I met with her at lunch and worked out some of the kinks. I'm still having trouble with getting my Pages to appear on my blog, so I'm going to email Chris Sabourin, the head of technology for MPS, to find out more. I'm also going to learn how to upload emails to share this blog directly with my students. This will be a quick easy way to communicate with them.
3) Scheduling: I laid out the plan for the rest of the year and how we are going to incorporate 20-Time. I found myself wanting to schedule more room for this, and I had many students asking for more time. This is a problem: balancing IB requirements and 20-Time needs. Right now I think I have a good plan, but if you are my student, you know my calendar can and will change at least 20 times ;) And I'm worried about AP/IB testing and sports in May. My smarty-pants, athletic students will be absent all over the place. I need to stay on top of missed work.
4) Future Plans: I need to layout my exact expectations for students' Pitch assignment. I am going to ask them for feedback to find a manageable and purposeful way to carry this part of the assignment out. I don't want this to seem like extra work. I want them to share their love of learning with the world.
So, that's it. Now what do I do? ummm.... spell check? publish? eat the entire bag of Dum-Dums in my closet? We shall see.
Thanks for listening. Post any questions or comments when ready.
Here is a picture of me creating my first blog. Courtesy of Kelly Derees
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