Tech Idea-Week 11

I have not had the opportunity to teach my technology lesson yet. We are still planning on doing the scavenger hunt that I described in my previous post. We will have the students go around the school in groups with a digital camera, and take pictures of all the different shapes and angles we have been learning about. Then, we will create a review game using i-clickers so that the students can be prepared for their assessment. Both of these things include technology and are closely aligned with the core curriculum that our class needs to be learning.

Tech Teaching Idea

My third graders have just started a polygon unit. For my lesson, I want to test their understanding of polygons, so I would split them into groups and assign each group a camera. I would have them go around the school and take pictures of different polygons found throughout. We would them come back and I would print off the pictures and the teams would have to collaborate and create a poster or other graphic organizer and explain to the class why they shapes they took pictures of are polygons (closed, no curved edges, and 3 or more sides).

Tech Inventory

When I first got into my classroom I thought, "Wow! There is NO technology in here". However, I was sadly mistaken. My teacher has carefully planned lessons that incorporate technology, even if it is just watching a projected video from her laptop, or using a microphone for class. When I asked her about other technologies, it turns out the school is more technologically advanced than I thought! It turns out that there are many resources for teachers to use technology in their classrooms.

The 6th grade students have access to SMART boards, which I must say are pretty cool! I think that they help students to have hands-on learning with technology...what more could you ask for? Students have an opportunity to go weekly to the computer lab to learn more about technology and the great resources that can be found using it. I think that my school has plenty of opportunities for students to use technology and for teachers to get technology into the classroom. It really is a great thing!

Google Earth

So, I hope this worked...Google Earth is harder to work than I thought! Basically, I used it so that my students would have an idea where in the world each type of ecosystem is...

Click here for the tour

if that doesn't work, just go to http://sites.google.com/site/foript287/my-files

Psych Questions--Quiz 8

True or False:

1. ___ Goals that are specific, moderately difficult, and that are able to be reached in the near future increase motivation.

2. ___ Arousal is a feeling of tension.

3. ___ Self-actualization is an object that encourages or discourages behavior.

4. ___ The contribution of a task to meeting one's goals is utility value.

5. ___ Failure-avoiding students do not take risks.



Answers: 1. true 2. false 3. false 4. true 5. true

TPACK for Google Earth tour

Content:

Objective 2 Describe how various communities have adapted to existing environments and how other communities have modified the environment.
a. Describe the major world ecosystems (i.e. desert, plain, tropic, tundra, grassland, mountain, forest, wetland).

Pedagogy:

• observing
• classifying
• questioning/predicting
• group learning
• inquiry

Students are able to visualize different ecosystems of the world and see what types of animals, vegetation, etc. are included in each ecosystem. Students will identify the different types of ecosystems by observing different parts of the world. They will be able to classify other areas of the world into each major ecosystem.

Technology:
Google Earth is a great way for students to see certain places and really get inside the culture or surroundings of an area. Google Earth will help students to see different types of ecosystems and why/ how they are different. This is a great tool for students to visualize aspects of an ecosystem.

Google Earth Plan!!!

Here is my table for my tour plan

Location	Activity	Google Earth Content
1. Mojave Desert	Discuss as a class what a desert ecosystem looks like. With a partner, draw a desert ecosystem, like the Mojave Desert	terrain/panoramio
2. Nebraska	Discuss as a class what the Great Plains are and what a plain ecosystem is. As a class, research 3 states within the Great Plains	terrain/panoramio
3. Sri Lanka	Talk about tropic ecosystems and research Sri Lanka. What makes this a tropical location?	terrain/panoramio
4. North Pole	Discuss as a class what a tundra ecosystem looks like. Ask the students if they know of any other tundra ecosystems.	terrain/panoramio
5. Inner Mongolia (China)	In groups, research grassland ecosystems. Look up Inner Mongolia and come up with at least one other grassland location.	terrain/panoramio
6. Rocky Mountains	With a partner, talk about mountain ecosystems. Find 3 other mountain ecosystems and share these with the class.	terrain/panoramio
7. Daintree Rainforest, Queensland, Australia	As a class, discuss a forest ecosystem. Ask the students what this would entail and see if they know of any other forest ecosystems other than the Daintree Rainforest.	terrain/panoramio
8. Florida Everglades	Research Florida and the Everglades. Talk about what a wetland ecosystem is. As a class, discuss what types of animals are found there and what type of vegetation is included in these regions.	terrain/panoramio
Details of image overlay / path / polygon	polygon