Talkin... for real.

I wrote a lesson called "Talk it Up" - students read books and then write book reviews.  Students will record their review and possibly give a screen shot of the book to capture the audience's attention.  One important key is to not 'spill the beans' about the book.  The transfer from a 1.0 review (looking information up about the book, if necessary) to 2.0 would be a bit of a change for this project.  The kids could use their school Google accounts to post videos on YouTube and then they can share/comment (interact) with each other this way.

I'm not positive that I would try this with just any class, but with classes that have earned trust and shown responsibility with tools.  This year, I would never attempt using YouTube with my class.  They haven't shown responsibility or respect (as a whole class) in the slightest amount... which seems terrible to me because they are one of the most technologically capable classes I've ever encountered!  It seems like (for lack of a better term) such a waste.  The constraints with time: constant testing and the amount of curriculum that is required of 5th graders; it's really a struggle this year (and every year) trying to fit technology that is genuinely authentic into the curriculum.  I've done a better job than in the past, but it's still ridiculously lacking!  Benefits, however - well... that's another story.  They're getting exposure to a new form of technology, they're integrating technology with core curriculum, and they're interacting with each other.  Since they're working with their school Google accounts, they can also be working within their firewalled environment, which is a safe environment to practice in, which is a great benefit to practice their skills.

I guess if time permits we can see if we can swing this 2.0 thing. ;o)

Social Media - To Be (Real) or Not to To Be (Real)

Well, this year, I toyed with the idea of having a classroom Facebook page.  I set it up.  I joined Twitter.  I figured it was time to get "with it."  Now I have followers and occasionally I tweet.  I pretty much fell off the wagon because I have to be on the computer 24/7 between work and school (school and class? - What the heck do you guys call it?... I usually just call it school and school and let people fend for themselves with context clues).

I'm glad I decided not to use the Facebook page.  It was probably too real.  I'm encouraged to use Blackboard at my school.  We use discussion board and I've set up threads so the kids can respond on those and as the year progressed, I let them set up their own threads and let them respond to their own (and comment on each others), so I could monitor more and work a little less...That was nice. :)

[warning - ranting paragraph]
I've also been encouraged to use Google Docs.  Double edged sword.  Google Docs opens up into their county firewalled email accounts (which my class has rampantly hacked into each other's accounts and I officially received my very first HATE mail... not "from" my student, but from his sister's account.... so they were both in trouble, since it came from his fingers after he hacked her account).  <--Hence why I am glad I opted not to open up the Facebook can of worms with this group.  They're too Internet savvy for me to be trying it out on a group.  WELL, I've completely digressed here.... Back to Google Docs - my students have set up Journals in technology class (my group is the only 5th grade class that has 1/2 of a special time (I repeat, HALF of a special... which definitely is barely enough time to log into the silly computers before they log back out and head to PE)) that they share with me.  These journals are a way for them to receive feedback - they can share their documents with whomever they choose (actually, anyone in the district, if they like, but we try to keep it to students in the class, or at least in the grade, for class purposes).  They can comment on each other's work and it shows time stamps, it shows edits/revisions, and if someone makes a mistake, we can go back to retrieve the work before the mistake was made.  Everything works in "real tune," so it's the closest thing that we have to Social Media.  They receive feedback from their peers, but they can also communicate privately if they like through messaging with peers and teachers, but the district Google Docs is a firewalled program, so they cannot send or receive messages outside of the cloud... I've tried :)  It bounces back. 

So - while the district pushes the Blackboard site - the Google Docs will probably win out, if they continue to partner.  Hopefully Google will continue to improve so it becomes even more user friendly in the future.