Technology in Education: Class Project Jessica Hosey-

HeitzmanLSISMarch 12, 2012

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Overview

Technology can make class projects much easier, and more interesting for students. It can also enhance the classroom environment and make daily tasks easier. It engages students while making learning more interactive.

This project looks at how blogs, texting, and WebQuests can be used in an educational setting. 2

Blogs

What is a blog? It can be many things: journal, soapbox, group space,

news site, anything! It is a website where you write something and it is

categorized with the newest items on the top. Others can comment on items, or add material.

How do we get a blog? There are a number of websites you can get free blogs,

with an email address and password:▪ Blogger.com▪ WordPress.com▪ Edublogs.org▪ Classblogmeister.com 3

How to use blogs

First the user creates the account. Next they name the blog. Today websites allow you to choose what

the blog looks like (from templates), all the user has to do is create the entries.

Each blog entry (post) has the following: Title Body (content) Comments (from readers, or poster) Permalink (so that only a short portion of the post is

visible at first) Post date (date and time it was published)

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How to use blogs in education

Blogs can be used for a number of projects, but they typically fall into four categories: Classroom management – A notification of classroom

requirements, assignments, notices, or even a question and answer board.

Collaboration space – Groups can work together on projects, teachers and students can work together to peer review work, older and younger students can gain writing and teaching skills.

Discussion Boards – Allows everyone to have a voice to share their thoughts and opinions on a topic. Gives more time to a topic than class can provide.

Student Portfolio – Can archive work to help the students grow as writers. Can keep students interesting in writing more and better work.

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Using blogs to help students with disabilities

Gives a social output that all students need for development, but those with disabilities often lack these outlets.

Blogs are a great space to practice writing techniques needed for all subjects.

Students with speech disabilities Can express their thoughts more clearly with written

words through blogs. ▪ There is more time when using a blog to clearly express

what one is thinking allowing for more defined responses. Students with visual disabilities

Speech-to-text software (and screen readers) can help students create blogs with information they would not normally be able to produce. 6

Texting

What is texting? Sending short messages (SMS) through cellphones or

pagers. 85% of students with cell phones use texting. Why use it in classrooms?

It engages students, allowing them to use technology they enjoy using. Allows teachers to send students reminders or more study material.

How would we get them for schools? Students could choose to allow text messages from

teachers to their phones or iTouch (or pager) with parent permission. Students without these items (or those who do not want to use theirs) could possibly check out a iTouch from the media center which would then have a texting app that needs internet access to receive the messages.

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How to use texting in education Teachers first send home permission slips

asking for phone numbers or other information to text to.

Once authorized teacher can directly text to a group of students through their phone or an email texting service.

These messages can be notices of homework or tests, extra questions for credit, pop quizzes, or even discussion based.

Students can write back to ask follow up questions, or get help on homework, papers, etc.

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WebQuests

What is a WebQuest? Interactive web-based learning. Students use websites to

find the information needed to move to the next step. Can be short (one class period) or long (month long lesson). Can be individual or in groups

What can they be used for? Anything! Lessons can vary from science to social studies.

If it can be found on the interwebs it can be used for a WebQuest. Teachers can teach across disciplines, using math skills to move on to the next step, writing skills to write what they learned, etc.

How do we obtain a WebQuest? There are a number of websites that specialize in the

creation of WebQuests (zunal.com, educscapes.com, etc.)

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How to use a WebQuest for classes,part 1 – set up

First take your learning objective and break it down into the WebQuest process. Create an outline of: a title, introduction,

tasks, process, evaluation, and conclusion. Once the WebQuest is created (by

following the very easy steps in the site’s tutorials)

test on another teacher. Print graphic organizers to keep track of

the information they learn and create.

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How to use a WebQuest for classes,part 2 – student use

Students will use the WebQuest to follow along like a scavenger hunt of information.

They can learn about anything! Watch a video, take notes, and create charts on

what they learn. Give them a list of research topics, break down

what you want them to do, ask questions. Any subject from the digestive system to gravity

can be broken down into research, note taking, activities, and creation of a paper, poster or project by using different websites.

Quizzes can be added as well to assess learning. 11

Example of webquests in a school

For “Watsons Go to Birmingham”, a student will mimic driving to Birmingham from Flint by choosing a car, learning about gas consumption, choosing places to stop for food, etc.

Students can learn about simple and compound machines by researching both, then use activities to learn about different types of them, how they work, and then create a poster on what they learned.

To learn about the digestive system students could use National Geographic online to write the definitions, use a website to take a tour of digestion, write down what they have learned, go to websites with different facts, then play a game which is actually a quiz.

Zunal.com has all of these free to use!12

Demonstration of a WebQuest

http://www.screencast.com/t/PVkeTttnI used jing.com to create a screen capture using this WebQuest! Please use this link to view my screen capture 13

References

Education up close. (2006, October) Retrieved from Teaching Today website: http://www.glencoe.com/sec/teachingtoday/educationupclose.phtml/47

Thomas, K. (2011). Using text-messaging in the secondary classroom. American Secondary Education, 39(2), 55.

Workshop: WebQuests. (2004). Retrieved from Thirteen Ed Online website: http://www.thirteen.org/edonline/concept2class/webquests/index.html

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