If you are anywhere near Hamilton Area and would like to join other like minded individuals for an evening of fun, learning and networking
join the TEDxOntario Satellite Hamilton Location. This event is being HOSTED by Aviva Dunsiger
at: Ancaster Meadow School (93 Kitty Murray Lane, Ancaster, Ontario).
Let’s not kid ourselves, we are all in this “PLN” because it makes our jobs more exciting and it’s FUN. Sure, we say it is for the good of our students. Sure, we say that we learn more and that we always have experts and information at our fingertips, from anywhere, from anyone, at any time of the day. Sure, we get to connect and collaborate when we want and then tune out, when we need a break. OK, I admit, my learning curve has peaked this year because I have this resource – this bank of ideas that just keep pouring in, all day long. But still, what drives me to maintain my PLN, to participate, to seek out members and support colleagues – is the fact that I stay ENGAGED. I wonder what happens to teachers when they don’t feel engaged anymore?
Well – I feel pretty engaged. Today, I thank @mrspal, a colleague in Philly that I met through twitter and blogging. Just read her blog: http://middleschool101.edublogs.org and you will see that she has a passion for education that is viral. She is transparent in her teaching and makes it a priority to share and support others.
After reading her post “take a walk down memory lane”, an interactive, inquiry-based activity using Google Streets View, she inspired me to try it out on my own students. Within the hour, she emailed me her lesson plan/student instruction sheet and seemed as excited as I was. Now that is open source, open content, free, creative commons, license-free at its GREATEST.
STUDENTS – Enjoy the activity. TEACHERS – Enjoy your students enjoying the activity
Come and take a walk with me…
Can you imagine being a young child and walking through your neighborhood? Do you ever wonder what it was like when your parents were growing up? How about your grandparents?
This assignment is going to tap into your technology skills, conversational skills, and story telling skills using google street view as a platform along with any of the digital storytelling platforms that we’ve used in the past.
As we approach the end of Term Two, students are working on a variety of culminating activities. Generally, students will complete a culminating activity independently as a way to show what they know. In this activity, we will collaborate our ideas and thoughts in a text form by using Etherpad, a collaborative writing document. Students are familiar with this form of writing as they use Google Docs regularly, however, Etherpad colour codes what students are writing. Initially I will introduce this writing tool in a whole group activity by asking students a variety of questions based on the Social Studies Curriculum. In partners, students will discuss a response and will use resource to look up information. Later, I will use the Etherpad as a backchannel, or collaborative writing tool between our classroom and other classrooms to help students with comprehension in reading.
Click Here for Current Etherpad Activity