Daily+Class+Log

**December 4th-**
We talked about the final date. If you finish the one last assignment that is due on the final day, you do not have to come to the final class (Tuesday the 16th). Then we talked about adding songs and sounds to a website or presentation. We looked at a website that contains song clips, a free picture website, and another website that contains sounds free of charge. Next, we explored [|Classroom 2.0] and [|Classroom 2.0 Wiki] and wrote a short blog entry for both explaining the differences that we noticed within the sites. Afterwards, we watched video's on [|teacher tube]. We had the rest of the time to fill out evaluation forms and to work on our final project.

**December 2nd-**
Today for the first half of the class we explored google maps and made our own small maps to demonstrate how it works. We learned ho to create our own maps and upload pictures to correspond to the places. We also looked at google books and saw that there are books online. Although we found that most are only excerpts, some of the older books are available in full. The second half of the class we asked questions about our final project and worked on our final project. We worked on our own to finish up anything on our wiki's or if we had any questions for the professor.

We read two other people's blogs on the 2 Million Minutes video then had to comment on them. Also, we read an article on digital footprints then wrote a blog using two quotes: one we related to as students and one we related to as future educators. Some people shared their selected quotes with the class.
 * November 25th- **

November 20th-
Today in class we watched a video on the differences in schooling and how it varies between the United States, India and China. We also wrote down the differences and are going to have to write an assingment about the differences in schools. Also in the video it showed how much harder India and China worked and the students did not achieve there goals, but in America where the students didnt work as hard they still did very well and acheived there goals. We talked a little about the final project and how we need 10 different tools. Today in class we first read an article about a soldier who was in Iraq and used a blog to post about the experiences he was having during his time in the war. The things that he was talking about were bold and many people liked reading them but he was eventually shut down because he was giving to much information. After we read this we checked our assignments on the new moodle links. Then we went to www.animoto.com and made an account. We had 30 min to create our own movie about anything that we wanted. You can get the pictures off of google images and select medium images so that they will fit. =November 13th-= Today we talked about our wikis being due on Friday the 14th(tomorrow). We read an article on the moodle website which can be found there called Digital Story Telling: Edutopia. We then watched a movie called Genocide and discussed what it was about. A student had made the movie instead of writing a paper.The Student used the technology available to him on his Mac computer called iPhoto. We then talked about the program iPhoto and the program that is similar to in on a PC. We talked about how to make a movie and where we can do that. We then went to [|animoto.com] and looked at the website. In animoto for education and watched the movie that first comes up. He then made a small video just to see how easy it is. Two websites are on moodle about web videos. We also received information about our final project, that is to be posted on our wiki page for Tuesday November 18th.Dont forget to do your blog! =November 11th-= In the beginning of class, we reviewed the requirements and the final due date of our resume wiki, which is Thursday 11/14. We also read an article that can be found on the moodle website. After reading the article, we went to Google documents and opened a presentation containing instruction on how to create an outline and graphic organizer on my webspirations by using the information found on the article.
 * November 18th-**

Today in class we listened to group presentations and on CFF and Cyber Schools. We also created a new blog site to post our blogs on instead of using moodle. = October 30- =
 * November 4th- **

Today in class we listened to the group presentation of social networking and web 2.0. Mr. Ehrhart showed us the homework on the moodle website for Tuesday and Thursday of next week, which is to be done on podcasting. For the remainder of the class period, we watched part of a video about a speech done by a Dr. of the brain on the brain.

October 28-
Today in class we listened to 3 more group presentations--cell phones, blogging and one on one computers. Mr. Ehrhart said to check the moodle website for an assignment due Thursday. He also reminded us to keep up with our weekly blogs. The class will meeet in LS 310 again on Thursday to finish the presentations. =October 23-= In class on Thursday, we discussed how the group projects were going to happen and began the presentations. We were only able to get one group through, Video Games in education, but we had a great discussion and evaluated as a school board on the topic. =October 21-=

We discussed problems and issues that we might have had for the assignment that was due for today. We also looked at interesting sites that students found from the assignment. Such as [|thatquiz.org] which has all types of math topics and corresponding problems to solve, vocabulary in english and foreign languages, as well as geography. Another site we looked at was [|Invention at Play], which uses creativity to play the provided games to encourage students to think outside the box. The third and final site was titled [|Classroom.jc-schools] covered all subjects. For example, Social Studies contained games by matching the states, looking at maps, and quizzes. Afterwards, we met with our groups to work on our upcoming presentations; groups assigned specific roles to each group member. =October 16=  > > > October 9
 * Today in class we went over the assignment "Need for Change". We read the replies from other students and considered their opinions. We had to agree with one post and disagree with on post and explain where we stand. We also had to evaluate another persons post and critique it. Tell:
 * Was this a good answer to the forum question?
 * Was it complete?
 * Did it include factual support?
 * Did we believe that our post better or weaker than the person's?
 * How many points would you give this reply on a 20 point grading scale?
 * How many points would you give yourself?
 * Homework is to do the 3 resources assignment
 * We looked at vixy.net which provides teachers the ability to download videos that they can use in the classroom.
 * We started by going over our wiki resume grades. We discussed ways to improve our wikis for next time and discussed what you can do to jazz up our own sites. We looked at how to do things like makin a colored bar heading. Professor Ehrhart reminded us to ask others about features we liked on their wikis and how to make them. Professor Ehrhart passed back our rubrics that went along with the first half of our wiki resume project. We then discussed the new recquirements for the second part of our wiki resume. We then went over what was due on Thursday and discussed how to complete these tasks focusing mainly on google scholar, what it is and how it can help you.
 * We began a discussion on the presidential debate and the issues involved. We decided that most the class is registered to vote and are aware of current issues. We tried accessing a special search engine and were unsuccessful but we prevailed and did not give up our attempts. We created our own search engine for our subject. Eventually we were successful and reviewed credable articles on the 2008 dedate. We created our own custome search engine. We then wacthed a video on the alabama aburn school and their PBL program where the kids begin with the end in mind. They came up with ideas for their project should be and built a "plane" and "went to" Brazil using passports that they made. They kids use the internet to get information and come up with ideas.

=October 7=

=October 2= =September 30=
 * Today in class we started off with a small 15 minute writing assignment on the articles we had to read on PBL also known as project based learning. PBL gives students the opportunity to be more hands on in the class room and changed the roles of the student and the teacher, the teacher’s role changes because they must find recourses the student can use to incorporate into their PBL such as web 2.0. We were next put into small groups to come together and come up with three to five questions to ask Mrs.Scheffer, a teacher at Central York, on PBL. After brainstorming in our groups we came together as a class and chose ten good questions to ask her. When we came up with our questions we called Mrs. Scheffer on Skype to find out more on PBL, a few of the key points she made where that PBL must be curriculum based, kids have some choices teachers do not fully design the project and PBL is not suitable for all classes. Mrs. Scheffer also said that the best PBL projects are interdisciplinary and that research is being conducted that shows students score better on tests like the PSSA as a result of engagement in PBL.
 * In class today, we talked about our Webspiration project and what to do if your computer does not work. He said to be creative and find another computer or ask someone else to help you. Also, a library would be sufficient. We worked in groups to think of all the multi-tasking that we do and then watched an NPR video clip online about multi-tasking. It stated that we do not actually multi-task, instead we switch from task to task. For example, if we are texting and driving, we are either texting or driving, not doing both. We then got in our Webspiration groups and talked about our topic. Each group shared with the class a little about their topic. The Webspiration project is officially due Tuesday, October 7th. We must make sure that we put the information that is on our web in our own words. There is another assignment on Moodle about PBL, we should be familiar with it and be prepared to write a journal about it next class.
 * Today in class Professor Ehrhart, discussed the importance of always having a “plan b” when using the internet in class. We then showed another useful TechTool for classroom use that helps students and teachers organize information in a graphic organizer. The MyWebSpiration website, is part of the Beta group websites, meaning that it is a new tool and that users have the ability email the creator with a problem they encountered and they will fix it. We then created an account with [|MyWebSpiration] and then paired up with the person next to us to create a graphic organizer comparing and contrasting two holidays. After that we paired up with our group project members and created another graphic organizer with topics and information that we had in our Google Document. After we tried out the web organizers we got into our groups from before and were able to start working on our own. We have to make a web organizer for our Wiki project and it is due Thursday October 2. You need to pick three topics from your already finished Wiki assignment and break it down into an organizer. When on webspiration you got to documents and find the type of organizer you want and then invite Professor Ehrhart into your group.

=September 25=
 * Today some students had problems moving pages on wiki navigation bar. Click "edit navigation" and then cut and paste the link in the proper position and click save. In class we completed a journal entry on Moodle. //We are one third of the way through this class, and it is time to do some self-assessment. In terms of the use of technology in the classroom, where were you prior to this class, where are you now, where do you want to go? Write an introspective entry discussing your thought regarding these questions. Be specific in references and use correct terminology in reference to technology. Write carefully and in complete sentences.// The Google Docs research is due Tuesday's class. Then Ehrhart introduced us to [|speechable] and [|TooDoo]. Cartoons can be used as tools to help students learn or they can use them to make themselves. The we look as [|Mr. Wimmer's wife's web page]. Class sites can help communicate with not only students but parents. There are lots of tools out there to help in the classrooom.

=September 23=
 * We started by discussing our resume progress and what is to be completed for next class. The guidelines for this assessment can be found on moodle. Next, we read two different links relating to wikis. The first was a list of ways to use wikis, and the next was an article on how wikis helped "save a woman's teaching career." Then we looked at an example of how a wiki can be used by teachers as a useful tool (apchemcyhs.wikispaces.com). We also watched a lecture video about the importance of creative teaching. According to the speaker, we need to focus on arts as well core curriculum. Then we split into groups and discussed interesting and creative things we did in our own high school experience. Finally, we watched an interesting project done by one of Mr Ehrhart's students in AP History.

** September 18 **
 * Today we got in groups and started a group research project on [|Google docs]. We opened a shared document for the group and Mr. Ehrhart. Then we started researching our groups topic and putting sources and information on the shared document. Research is to be competed by September 30.

=September 16=
 * Today we went over the Quizlet assignment concerning details and specifics, followed by a brief discussion of our assignment due on September 23rd. Then we collaborated in six groups, responding to questions related to the video shown (in class). The video was a clip of students perspective on technology incorporation in the classroom and its effects on learning. Through this we learned specific reasons/necessity of teaching with new technology consistently, pending its availability. Afterward, Mr. Ehrhart presented a free tech-tool for teachers called [|SKYPE], which used an interactive web cam to have discussions via the internet. Our assignments for Thursday the 18th are to complete the blog entry concerning the educational blogs you read, upgrade 2 more resume pages and email him describing the improvements you made, and complete the journal entry essay worth 30 points.

=September 11=
 * Today in class we looked at the PA state standards. Our assignment for Tuesday is to pick a standard for one subject and create a 10 item [|Quizlet] for 3 of those standards.

=September 9=
 * We learned about forums and posts. We created a blog for the class and we conducted a digital discussion in a forum. We also watched a video on blogs called "Blogs in Plain English". During our discussion we responded to an article and responded to classmates responses.

=September 4=
 * We watched a video explaining RSS/Google Reader, we subscribed to Google groups and created folders to manage them. We went over the wiki, and how to view the comments on the journal entries. Our assignment is to find some educational blogs that we would like to add to our [|Google reader] and to read an article for Tuesday.

=September 2=
 * We completed a journal, started a daily class log, created our own [|Wiki] and a personal profile that we linked to the class website.

=August 28=
 * We entered a journal article, we created a [|Google] account, we created a wiki thingy, and we re-watched the videos.

=August 26=
 * Introduction to the class, names of students repeated and learned, watched two videos: [|Did You Know] and [|A Vision of Students]. Brief discussion followed the videos. Thursday's assignments will be emailed by Mr. Ehrhart later today.