Tech Happenings @ LvHS

Google docs was introduced as a way to allow students to edit each other's work... there is a learning curve that must be overcome for the students to try out the "sharing" of files and then the online tools to comment on each other's essays. It is difficult to rush this and expect wonderful things to happen right away. Teachers will need to be willing to let the students try out the new technology without evaluating the quality of the feedback on the first day. Time to try out sharing and contributing... 1/2 class period. Quality peer editing, another 1/2 class period. The use of Google Docs is simple so I would think only ONCE will we need that extra 1/2 period to teach them the sharing.

Integrated Science (freshmen) used Excel spreadsheets to create data tables and graph results. Three scenarios were tried during the day: 1) every student had a computer, and worked individually on four required graphs. There were too many students for two teachers to assist well. They got two or three of the four graphs done, and had to finish for homework on their own. 2) Students worked in their groups of 4 at the workstations, and each took a turn creating a graph with the help of her team. Most groups finished all four graphs and saved it to all four flash drives. 3) Students used two computers per team of 4. Each pair created two of the four required graphs. All but a few students finished in time, with teams helping out their pairs. Students who finished early became class helpers to assist students to complete the task. I liked the third scenario best. Pairs worked better than groups of four because there was no way to tune out the work being done. It was manageable for the...

Using Windows 7, students were able to quickly arrange two open files side by side. The class worked on commentary based on a quote, so the quote was open in a file on the left, while the file on the right side was used for questions and development of their commentary about the quote.

Students in junior English with Alyson Staves will use PowerPoint and Google Docs to prepare presentations with partners. Best practices are stressed, simplicity, clarity, attention on speaker. YouTube video of comedian mocking "bad powerpoints" was shown in class.

Honors Biology students completed an online activity and assignment called Illuminating Photosynthesis. This activity was designed to reinforce the current unit. Students were very engaged, completed the task in time, and enjoyed the visual depiction of photosynthesis.

Senior and Junior English classes are using the new netbooks for library research, interenet research, and essay writing (MS Word). They will begin to use Google Docs to peer edit. Students will be paired and also the teacher will participate to see the editing process. Technical Skills Learned/Practiced: Internet searching/database search Word 2007 formatting/MLA format Collaboration on a document for editing purposes Saving to flash drives and/or Google Docs

Freshmen all had the chance to create a short video using PhotoStory . Each pair of students retold a story either traditionally or modernized. Photos were downloaded from Creative Commons, and then uploaded into PhotoStory . They wrote a script and then narrated the photos. They included a personal reflection at the end of their stories. A rubric and self evaluation was completed and submitted to the their teacher. Tech Skills Learned: Searching for images Saving images to flash drive collaborative writing with Google Docs (optional) PhotoStory development audio recording saving as a video file . wmv Benefits: Creativity Collaboration Oral speaking skills: speaking clearly and professionally Working quickly to complete task within time constraints Challenges absenteeism/leaving early for sports their partners had to do more of the work Communicating the saving process needed to be very clear and visual using projector pacing students to prevent them from creating too large a project ...