Comments for Technology in the Classroom http://www.mraspinall.com 21st Century Learning - A Blog For Teachers, Students and Parents Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:39:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 Comment on Cross Curricular Media, Science and LA – Survivorman by andrea davies http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=283&cpage=1#comment-4123 andrea davies Sun, 20 Jun 2010 17:39:36 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=283#comment-4123 talking about survivors. have you talked about the man who survived 17 days underneath the rubble? talking about survivors. have you talked about the man who survived 17 days underneath the rubble?

]]> Comment on Credits by Ian Aspinall http://www.mraspinall.com/?page_id=10&cpage=1#comment-3488 Ian Aspinall Sat, 09 Jan 2010 16:20:07 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?page_id=10#comment-3488 Brian: Neat site, I'm impressed. By the way, I did not create the above website. Ian Brian: Neat site, I’m impressed. By the way, I did not create the above website.

Ian

]]> Comment on Twiducate.com – Scial Networking for Schools by Kisu Kuroneko http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=248&cpage=1#comment-3361 Kisu Kuroneko Wed, 30 Dec 2009 15:12:19 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=248#comment-3361 Hi Brian, Happy Holidays and thanks for the lead on Twiducate. We experimented with Twitter in our grade 8 classroom last year and this would solve some of the privacy concerns I had. (http://blog.classroomteacher.ca/338/twitter-in-the-classroom/) I'm looking forward to experimenting with the beta version this year. By the way, I sent you an email about collaboration possibilities for the future. Cheers. Hi Brian, Happy Holidays and thanks for the lead on Twiducate. We experimented with Twitter in our grade 8 classroom last year and this would solve some of the privacy concerns I had. (http://blog.classroomteacher.ca/338/twitter-in-the-classroom/) I’m looking forward to experimenting with the beta version this year.

By the way, I sent you an email about collaboration possibilities for the future. Cheers.

]]> Comment on Scratch Thought by Sharon http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=237&cpage=1#comment-3193 Sharon Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:40:31 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=237#comment-3193 It's a club, and it's based on interest. I'm not surprised that it's largely boys. It's very logical-mathematical, procedure tends to be a strength for boys, and they're making video games - another boy-skewed interest. None of that is a bad thing. While in our classrooms we need to make sure that we're engaging both boys and girls and giving both opportunities to use strength and interests, in clubs we don't have to do that. My hope is that one of the girls will see what they're up to and jump in - and as long as that opportunity is there, it's fantastic! It’s a club, and it’s based on interest. I’m not surprised that it’s largely boys. It’s very logical-mathematical, procedure tends to be a strength for boys, and they’re making video games – another boy-skewed interest. None of that is a bad thing. While in our classrooms we need to make sure that we’re engaging both boys and girls and giving both opportunities to use strength and interests, in clubs we don’t have to do that. My hope is that one of the girls will see what they’re up to and jump in – and as long as that opportunity is there, it’s fantastic!

]]> Comment on Thoughts For The Moment by Sharon http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=239&cpage=1#comment-3192 Sharon Sat, 05 Dec 2009 14:12:12 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=239#comment-3192 It was inspiring to see your students in action! When we planned our program for this year, we thought we might want to use Scratch for one session, but I hadn't seen enough of it to be completely convinced. My visit changed that. Upon returning to my office, I immediately emailed my teaching partner and told her that we had to try it. There are so many other great things about it besides the two you mention: real-world application of math concepts and logic, introduction to how programming works without the frustration of syntax errors, a platform that allows experimentation in a low-risk way, plus the introduction to how the open-source concept works. I can't wait to see the response from our students! CAT testing has its uses...DRA couldn't replace it for a few reasons (it's still pretty subjective, only measures one subject area, etc), but we definitely have something that could. I'm working on that. And you actually don't sort of owe me anything. I know an excellent teacher when I see one. Thanks for the opportunity to see your students in action! Seeing those kids so engrossed in the learning process was an inspiration! It was inspiring to see your students in action! When we planned our program for this year, we thought we might want to use Scratch for one session, but I hadn’t seen enough of it to be completely convinced. My visit changed that. Upon returning to my office, I immediately emailed my teaching partner and told her that we had to try it. There are so many other great things about it besides the two you mention: real-world application of math concepts and logic, introduction to how programming works without the frustration of syntax errors, a platform that allows experimentation in a low-risk way, plus the introduction to how the open-source concept works. I can’t wait to see the response from our students!

CAT testing has its uses…DRA couldn’t replace it for a few reasons (it’s still pretty subjective, only measures one subject area, etc), but we definitely have something that could. I’m working on that.

And you actually don’t sort of owe me anything. I know an excellent teacher when I see one.

Thanks for the opportunity to see your students in action! Seeing those kids so engrossed in the learning process was an inspiration!

]]> Comment on Narrative – Explode the Moment with Movie Maker by Technology in the Classroom » Animoto For Education http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=211&cpage=1#comment-3188 Technology in the Classroom » Animoto For Education Wed, 18 Nov 2009 11:25:07 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=211#comment-3188 [...] Previously I mentioned Movie Maker for Narrative Writing. [...] [...] Previously I mentioned Movie Maker for Narrative Writing. [...]

]]> Comment on Scratch – Homemade Video Games by software for students | SOFTWARE http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=217&cpage=1#comment-3179 software for students | SOFTWARE Wed, 28 Oct 2009 14:30:30 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=217#comment-3179 [...] Technology in the Classroom » Scratch – Homemade Video Games [...] [...] Technology in the Classroom » Scratch – Homemade Video Games [...]

]]> Comment on Mario From Scratch by Technology in the Classroom » Scratch - Homemade Video Games http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=101&cpage=1#comment-3177 Technology in the Classroom » Scratch - Homemade Video Games Wed, 28 Oct 2009 10:28:54 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=101#comment-3177 [...] Each sprite on the screen can have an algorithm applied to it to animate. I’ve seen High School students re-create the first level of the NES version of Mario Bros. from 1985. It was very well [...] [...] Each sprite on the screen can have an algorithm applied to it to animate. I’ve seen High School students re-create the first level of the NES version of Mario Bros. from 1985. It was very well [...]

]]> Comment on Imagination Cubed – 2 SMARTBoards, 1 White Space by admin http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=215&cpage=1#comment-3175 admin Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:22:44 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=215#comment-3175 I tried this last week with a neighbouring school. Since you must click and drag the mouse to write on that whitespace, the board pens will not work. There is also a huge lag, but that could be a network issue within our board. The typing features work just fine, but this lead us to also try EtherPad at the same time. Its a better choice for live real-time peer editing of work. Each computer types on the same document at the same time, and in a different colour. Can also be used at different times, the text stays, like a Google Doc. How did you get around the "children must be 13 to use Google Docs" component? We have a high population of students without computers at home, so even a permission slip sent home wouldn't allow these kids to have permission to use Google Docs. I teach a straight 8 and rotary Science to all intermediates (7 and 8). Would love to collaborate on something using any form of technology. I tried this last week with a neighbouring school. Since you must click and drag the mouse to write on that whitespace, the board pens will not work. There is also a huge lag, but that could be a network issue within our board. The typing features work just fine, but this lead us to also try EtherPad at the same time. Its a better choice for live real-time peer editing of work. Each computer types on the same document at the same time, and in a different colour. Can also be used at different times, the text stays, like a Google Doc.

How did you get around the “children must be 13 to use Google Docs” component? We have a high population of students without computers at home, so even a permission slip sent home wouldn’t allow these kids to have permission to use Google Docs.

I teach a straight 8 and rotary Science to all intermediates (7 and 8). Would love to collaborate on something using any form of technology.

]]> Comment on Guitar Hero in the Classroom by admin http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=208&cpage=1#comment-3174 admin Wed, 21 Oct 2009 10:21:21 +0000 http://www.mraspinall.com/?p=208#comment-3174 GH and RB are both done just on the projector, but with an extra audio source (don't want to blow that high quality projector speaker!). I have a permanent TV in my room so wheeling in 2 more was simple and gave us 4 "learning centres" for the afternoon. Not many of the kids were allowed to bring in their systems, but we did manage to get 3 Wii's and 1 PS2 for the afternoon. As for the writing, we had just started narrative so I had them choose a character from any game they played / saw and explode the moment. Our EQAO results show flaws in boys writing and this piece seemed to let them shine, especially with their descriptive settings. GH and RB are both done just on the projector, but with an extra audio source (don’t want to blow that high quality projector speaker!). I have a permanent TV in my room so wheeling in 2 more was simple and gave us 4 “learning centres” for the afternoon. Not many of the kids were allowed to bring in their systems, but we did manage to get 3 Wii’s and 1 PS2 for the afternoon.

As for the writing, we had just started narrative so I had them choose a character from any game they played / saw and explode the moment. Our EQAO results show flaws in boys writing and this piece seemed to let them shine, especially with their descriptive settings.

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