Week #11 Current Event

  Group 5 Article Choice for Week 11

“PENNSYLVANIA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL LAUNCHES CLASS-SIZED IMMERSIVE SIMULATOR”

By Dian Schaffhauser

http://thejournal.com/articles/2013/03/14/pennsylvania-elementary-school-launches-class-sized-immersive-simulator.aspx

On March 20, 2013, Shaler Area Elementary School in Glenshaw, Pennsylvania, launched the Dream Flight Adventure.  A classroom was converted into the bridge of a spaceship, the IKS Titan.  Students enter the simulator, each with an assigned role that they are responsible to perform to help the IKS Titan complete its mission, whether it is in outer space or in the deep ocean.  The missions, designed by professional educators, involve unique adventures that expose students to critical thinking, problem solving, teamwork, and effective communication with the use of 21^st century technology and skills.

“The IKS Titan classroom simulator makes learning fun and memorable and inspires students to develop greater knowledge and skills in STEM...” said Cindy Foht, school principal.  STEM, an acronym for Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.  Because of the potential shortage of employees in high-tech fields, educators are working hard to keep up with the emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math education. 

“Shaler Area School District has committed itself to interdisciplinary learning and development of 21^st Century skills among our students, and Dream Flight Adventures will be instrumental in taking this effort to the next level,” said Wes Shipley, superintendent of schools.

Dream Flight Adventures at a Glance

http://vimeo.com/62150983

Task 3-2 Reflection

This week I continued my role as group leader for this task. I invited all our group members to join me on our Google Document on any of the nights this week, starting with Tuesday. I told them I would be on at 8:30 pm and we could share ideas and collaborate at that time.  Not all the members could make our "meetings", but we managed to finish our Document in a couple of nights.

As group leader I contributed by initiating group "meetings", committing to the time I said I would be available, and collaborating with the other team member in building our ideas and finishing the task at hand.  After having worked on the Google Document last week, we were much more comfortable collaborating on the Document, and commenting on the side.  What did work better was deciding to communicate by telephone as we typed and organized the Document.  It was easier to speak to each other rather than type in the comments column.

For next time, I still would like our group to meet face-to-face to discuss and share ideas.  I know it is difficult because of our other responsibilities and locations.  I can see how social webbing has made it possible for us to communicate and complete this week's task, despite not meeting face-to-face.  Still, I cannot help but feel we could each contribute more to the project if we were in each other's presence, like students who physically attend class.

Althea Rodrigues

Task 3-1 Reflection

This week, the members of our team were asked to research and share their findings at our "meeting" on Google Docs on Wednesday evening at 8:30pm.  For myself, I took on the role of leader, setting up our group Google Document, setting our "meeting" date, and initiating the opening remarks of our submission.  Although all of our team members did not make our "meeting" , those who did shared a wealth of knowledge  and ideas. We did receive notes from an absent team member, who posted her notes on the document, which we preceded to include some of her ideas.  Having a meeting with all members physically present is difficult because of our work and school schedules, the distances between where we live, and our family responsibilities.  Collaborating on the Google Document simultaneously in real time worked well for us.  What I would do differently for next time is to encourage at least one meeting when we are all physically present to discuss our next project. 

Althea Rodrigues

Week 9 Task 2 Debrief

Classtools is my academic web tool choice. www.classtools.net

Classtools is a website that allows teachers to create educational games for their students.  There are dozens of templates to choose from and teachers choose the subject, create the questions and supply the answers.  The information is downloaded into the game template and ready to be accessed with an assigned URL address.  Teachers can even go back to the game and edit the questions and answers as desired. When lessons are presented as a game, learning is more fun and better received by students.  What better way to keep students engaged than entertaining them as they learn? And there is no fee to use Classtools.

I would use this web tool in my classroom to reinforce learning, add variety to my teaching tools, and give my students something fun to do in class.  I especially like the option to go back to a game and change the questions and answers.  See the educational game I created:

classtools.net/mob/quiz_64/Rhythm_Counting_Beats_0t5R3.htm

When searching for web tools I try to put myself into the role of a teacher.  This past week, as I navigated through  websites, I asked myself,  "How would this help my students learn?"  In the beginning, when I first started searching for webtools, I would Google search a topic and hope that something good pops up.  At this point, however, I find myself more careful on my choices.  I don't know how to make web searching easier.  I seems the more I learn about the different types of web tools, it gets more difficult to choose.

Althea Rodrigues

Week #8 Current Event Group 5

Students depend on their teachers to guide them to learn.  Teachers design comprehensive lessons plans, using the teaching tools available, but besides the responsibility to teach students, teachers also have to keep records of each student’s attendance, class work, assignments, merits, disciplines, grades and progress.  Teachers also need to prepare reports and communicate this information with the school administration, faculty, and parents.  Having the right administrative and classroom management system is vital to help teachers keep accurate records and prepare reports without taking away their valuable teaching time.

                                         

SchoolFront is a web based school and classroom management software designed to allow administrators, teachers, and other school staff to record and process students’ and teachers’ information.   Government reports, report cards, transcripts, and more can be easily compiled and completed.  The classroom management features help teachers with attendance, grades, report cards, transcripts and even classroom seating.  A Parent and Student portal opens communication and allows parents and students to view class work, assignments, grades, reports and school activities and even submit homework and other files.

SchoolFront was developed by FrontEdge, Inc., a company that specializes in web-based software and created by directly involving students, parents, teachers and school administrators.    Their system is highly secure and private and their commitment is to keep their system upgraded and enhanced to meet the changing needs of our schools.  You can learn more about SchoolFront  by visiting their website:  www.schoolfront.com/overview.aspx

Week 8 Task 2 Debrief

My website choice for Task 2 is "SchoolFront"  www.schoolfront.com/overview.aspx

Before I started my search, I tried to put myself into the role of a teacher.  I thought about what I would need to help me keep efficient records on my students, their attendance, their grades, and their classwork.  With so much to do as a teacher, I need a system that is easy to use throughout the day.  I especially wanted a system that is user friendly and in case of a "system melt down" I can get tech support right away.

When first entering the SchoolFront website, navigating the overview homepage for information was so easy, I knew that this is the tool I would use in my classroom.  The program addressed my needs for classroom management and I especially like the Parent Student Portal.  Parents can view classwork, assignments, turn in homework see attendance and discipline records and contact the teacher for any concerns they may have.  And upon purchasing the software, SchoolFront provides a comprehensive tech support system to be available as quickly as possible.

I typically start my search for websites by typing key words into Google Search and reviewing the list of sites that appear.  If I am not satisfied, I type in different key words and review the next list that appears.  I keep 2 or 3 websites "on tab' to review and compare, adding and deleting until I come to a decision.  One improvement I would make is being able to keep my 2 or 3 websites "in open windows" rather than "on tab".  It would be easier to compare and review the different websites.

Althea Rodrigues