Week 4 - Instructional Strategies for T&L with Technology

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Thomas Schmitz on February 10, 2010 at 9:14am

February 10, 2010

1. Explain your position regarding the use of digital textbooks and wiki textbooks.

I have not fully embraced the concept of digital textbooks and wiki textbooks as replacements for traditional books, but I think it is naive to ignore reality. I cannot remember the last time a used a paper dictionary or asked a student to use one. http://dictionary.reference.com/ has nearly replaced paper dictionaries. https://www.pearsonsuccessnet.com has nearly replaced our need for reading and math textbooks and manuals. Mulvane has used http://www.bookshare.com/ for several years to provide electronic media to students. This electronic media can easily integrate with I-pods, MP3 players, cell phones, and other technologies that are a regular part in the life of a digital native. Software like Universal Reader (http://www.readingmadeeasy.ca/products/UniversalReader.html ) then helps balance the playing field for students with special needs. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/digitalnation/ (link from last week) did an excellent job discussing how our students are very unlikely to spend the hours required to read a traditional book.

2. Share an idea or real world example of using ePals in the classroom.

The debate teacher at MHS recently visited with me about the number of copies and the amount of postage required while preparing for a debate tournament. He was also concerned about the security of the provided materials. The concern was complicated by this district’s strict filters. One idea that we are exploring utilizes E-pals. The debate teacher will create “student accounts” for the surrounding districts that will participate in the upcoming debate. Needed files will be distributed electronically to the participating schools using the “My Files” feature of E-pals. Electronic communication will be established. The teacher will distribute and change log-in and password information as needed.

I did have a conversation last year with E-pals when I learned something. E-pals requires a signed parent consent form before a child under the age of 13 can have an active e-pals account. A teacher or administrator who creates an account for a minor child must only do so with signed consent from the parent. E-pals very highly recommends that an E-pals specific parent signed consent form be on file within the district prior to creating any student accounts. A parent initiated complaint or concern directed at E-pals is routinely redirected to a school’s administrative offices.

http://www.epals.com/privacy/forms/
http://www.epals.com/groups/about/pages/privacy-policy.aspx

Permalink Reply by Pam Collinge on February 10, 2010 at 12:45pm

I am extremely interested in this conversation and the thoughts from the group concerning internet safety with ePals.

I have been using the water project and natural disasters project with sixth graders for the past two years and I think they are terrific. Students are able to follow the project elements to get background vocabulary and then use the provided resources to answer the essential questions. The resources are varied enough that I can allow for individual differences in student ability. I usually require a product - video,presentation,poster- at the end of the project and I ask the students to write a post for the student forum. The learning is so much deeper than what we were experiencing with just using our textbooks.

I strongly agree with the need to provide more global awareness for my students. I experience different levels of paranoia when deciding on the safest way to accomplish this. I have not allowed the students to communicate through individual email accounts. I feel like the forum allows them to express their thoughts and also allows them to read the thoughts and responses from students around the world, with more oversight by me. I do allow them to refer to their projects from the school website.
http://www.usd389.net/vnews/display.v/ART/4b165e540d743

Do you think the students are placed at risk when they use a student forum? Is there a better way to provide the global interaction?

Permalink Reply by Kari Hinkle on February 11, 2010 at 11:55pm

I too am having a hard time embracing the idea that digital textbboks and wiki textbooks will replace the traditional paper textbook. I do believe that the time will come when paper textbooks are obsolete. Without a doubt the digital natives will not have trouble with these digital textbooks and wiki textbooks, and I look forward to the opportunity to experience using these tools.

Permalink Reply by Melanie Farmer on February 12, 2010 at 11:03am

I agree that digital natives probably won't have the 'overwhelming' feeling of sorting all of the various pieces of online information because they are just used to it and don't know how to function in society any other way. I think that the digital versions of texts lend itself to currency and resourcefulness. What will libraries be in the future? I once saw a documentary that suggests that the future 'game room' will be literally that...you put a helmet on and walk into an open room where you play the game in virtual reality. Will libraries be filled with interactive virtual spaces instead of lots of textbooks in the future?

Permalink Reply by Pam Collinge on February 12, 2010 at 11:08am

Interesting article that relates to libraries of the future.

http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/10/do-school-librari...

Permalink Reply by Mary Lawrenz on February 15, 2010 at 4:14pm

Interesting debate for sure -- I have shared this with our librarian! As a lover of books, I agree with those who hate to see them totally disappear from our libraries--at least until after I'm gone. In the whole big scheme of things, that's really not very long, and by then, those that are left will probably not have opened very many books ... those digital natives that they are.

As a budget saving strategy, our school library has subscribed to an online magazine subscription service which is much less expensive than the actual magazine subscriptions. We found that students were using the print media less and less so it was hard to justify the expense. Students definitely prefer access to their information wherever and whenever they are able to work on a project, so they seem to prefer the digital version. I have to say that in that regard, I'm with them.

Permalink Reply by Melanie Farmer on February 12, 2010 at 10:59am

Thanks for all of the great links in your post, Thomas! There are a lot of benefits to having online textbooks. I have dabbled with ideas by practicing with Google Books and exploring the full versions of texts online. You can think about vocabulary in multiple dimensions with the search features if the book is online. You can also use other online tools that work well with language arts, like Wordle, and encourage students to analyze keywords and make new paragraphs with the keywords that incorporate their personal opinions, perspectives, or interpretations.

Permalink Reply by Kari Hinkle on February 12, 2010 at 12:15am

I am very interested in using ePals in my classroom. I have some former students and friends who teach in other states and believe it would benefit my students greatly to talk and collaborate with their students. My students will read the story Cactus Hotel and I know someone who lives and teaches in Arizona. What better way to learn about the desert than to talk and share with students who live there?

My main concern with ePals is the security and the safety issue. I realize to use ePals a signed parent consent form is required. This is an avenue I need to explore further so I, a digital immigrant, have all the details, pros, and cons.

Permalink Reply by Melanie Farmer on February 12, 2010 at 11:08am

I haven't personally used ePals in the classroom but I have heard educators discuss the power of the tool. Think about a lesson about the environment and natural disasters. If you have youth in four parts of the country participating in a visual ranking activity of the worst natural disaster (e.g. earthquake, tornado, flood) as part of the lesson experience, the discussion could be very meaningful because students on the West coast would probably rank earthquakes over tornadoes, but students in Kansas could rank tornadoes higher because of their experiences. It opens up the opportunity for meaningful discussion that strengthens the goals and objectives of lessons.

Permalink Reply by Tammy Gilley on February 14, 2010 at 2:38pm

You have an excellent idea for using ePals; it is very similar to what I did with my students last year. Set the security level at the highest level; then all emails will come to you for approval before students send or receive them. Happy Learning!

Permalink Reply by Mary Lawrenz on February 15, 2010 at 4:01pm

Kari, let's try this! Isn't it Jennifer that is in Arizona? We'll have to get our heads together next week to see if we can make it happen :)

Permalink Reply by Kari Hinkle on February 16, 2010 at 1:01am

Mary, Yes I was speaking of Jennifer. I know that Nancy and her used to have their students exchange letters and postcards. We can visit about it Wednesday:)

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