They’re getting old.  We’re falling behind.

Wouldn’t it be cool if we were able to hold virtual classes with our students if school was canceled?

I was telling this cautionary “ask me website” tale to another class, and someone decided to do some digging.  Of course, we were sure this would be a simple “eagles don’t eat kangaroos” debunking of WikiAnswers and/or Ask.com.  From the more reliable source of Wikipedia (kangaroos–not a hotly debated page and complete with sources cited), we learned that eagles do eat kangaroos.  Sort of.  They eat kangaroo carrion.  This means, of course, the kangaroo has already turned up daisies; therefore, the images conjured up from the ask site of eagles snatching full-size kangaroos and taking them back to the nest for baby eagles to munch on were sort of misleading.

Anyway, eagles like them some kangaroo.  How about that?

I am still fighting the “ask site” war.  Despite my copious amounts of keyword search examples that do not involve full on questions (putting in “polar bear diet” instead of “what do polar bears eat”), kids still like to put those questions in there.  They want to just get an answer so they can write something, rather than read an article about an animal and come away knowing what it eats, its habitat, etc.  In essence, I may be up against the lazies.   But, it’s hard to blame them.  That is how we’re moving as a society right now.  Give me what I want, now.  Answer.  Check.  Move on.  Speed up.  On demand.  I wish we could just SLOW DOWN for a minute and deepen our experiences instead of coasting through skimming the surface.  I am going to keep trying nevertheless.

???

Yes, we need them.  Yes, I’ve done a staff survey.  Teacher Technology Survey

It still is so difficult to make such an important decision.  We will definitely need to buy a trickling amount because we have no funds, but by this time next year we might be down to one or two 7 year-old eMacs in every room.

Netbooks or Macbooks?  Laptops at all or stationary?  Teachers say they want Macs because of the creative capabilities, but no one uses their computers except for Standford Math, Head Sprout, Destination Learning, A.R., and Study Island.  Maybe the occasional word processing.  Maybe a powerpoint.  Maybe internet research.

We’d really like some iPod Touch kits for listening centers, reading, apps, etc. but without wireless, it makes it difficult.  Even getting wireless access points in our school seems to be an insurmountable challenge.

It’s a daunting road ahead.  If you could restructure the technology in your school, how would you do it?

Why do eagles eat kangaroos?

I was asked this by a fourth grader.  After repeating the question to be sure this was what she was asking, and it was, I asked her where she got her information.  The internet.  *headdesk*  Well, this provided a good opportunity for a little 1-on-1 review of reliability on the internet.  I mean, I could be completely wrong here, and kangaroos are the eagle’s favorite snack.  Then I would feel bad.  But…

A great example to tell your own students when doing internet searches.  WikiAnswers and Ask.com are NOT reliable sources of information.  Of course, I thought my classes already knew that, but it seems one slipped through the nets.

…Or “Why it’s hard to do research projects with your computer classes.”

This has become the project that never ends.  It will end, of course, it has to.  These will be our spring exhibition projects.  Seeing the kids once a week to work on their projects is…disjointed.  I think that’s the problem.  Also, doing a project in the classroom is different.  You have time for more inquiry and exploration of concepts and issues related to the topics of research.  Here is a more ideal way to do a research project.  Week to week, we have to recap, assess where we are, set a goal, try to get some more stuff done, assess again–and then the hour is over.  It makes it a challenge to be sure.  SO, I have had to cut my losses and decide that this is purely a project from the technology standpoint first and foremost.  We are learning how to gather information on the internet and evaluate it, and then apply digital tools to use the information.  Flat out NETS.  I would love to have more freedom to use more tools than what I’ve got, but this is what I’ve boiled it down to.

Based on the National Educational Technology Standard III, Research and Information Fluency, students will apply digital tools to gather, evaluate, and use information. So far, students have been taught how to complete keyword searches on the web and on a page, in addition to evaluating online information sources for relevance and reliability. Students have also been taught a simple internet citation format. Using guides as starting points, students will complete research notes (in outline form), taking citations as they go, followed by an expository report, or fact sheet, all compiled in word processing. Once information is gathered, evaluated, and understood in concepts, students will begin the final product.

Students in grades 3 and 4 will create Powerpoint slideshow presentations featuring not only facts, but their own analysis and a video diary reflection. These slideshows will include text, images, and other media.

Students in grades 5 and 6 will create a documentary video using iMovie, in which they mash-up editable footage from Discovery Education Videos, text, images, music, and voice-over narration to show what they have learned and analyzed. They will also include a video diary reflection.

All projects will include a works cited page and a typed reflection.

Topics:

Grade 3: Tennessee Hero Biographies (3-01/3-02), Tunisia Geography and Culture Study (3-03, 3-04)

Grade 4: Animal Studies and the Impact of Humans on Animal Habitats

Grade 5: Topical StudiesConstitution of the United States

Grade 6: Topical StudiesThe Middle Ages

All students are encouraged to collect information from sources at home or in the classroom; however, citations must be used for every source. They have to bring it to computer class, of course.

Third grade is having a hard time working independently, mostly I think because they are so ADD, but I might have to make some adjustments to the research process for them.

Suggestions are welcome.