Maximizing Technology at SHMS

The best organization out there for improving skills with project learning or what we call Standards Based learning is Edutopia. It gives tons of examples of how to implement strategies that work in public education into the classroom. They can be found at www.edutopia.org. Their most recent endeavor has been a technology project highlighting the needs of the digital generation that we teach at SHMS. I attended a Webinar Online and here are a few insights into what I am working to implement in my classroom this year! Remember, its all an experiment of sorts, but I think it's great collaboration to share with you!

My teacher page allways has links to the sites that I am using, so look me up on SHMS's website. Here are the top three sites that I think every teacher at SHMS would benefit from as we try and use media as a way of publishing our student work.

www.thinkquest.org

Thinkquest is perfect for students under 13 that need a social network where they can collaborate with their friends to create projects or write real world tasks. I have become the schools coordinator under thinkquest, and I will share more as I learn. You can check it out and create a log on to see what it's functions are.

www.wikispaces.com

Wiki's are powerful because they are simple ways for students of all ages to post their work and get comments back from others. They of course need to be well monitored as students can post outrageous things, but it is wise to make sure and teach internet etiquette as you implement these things to keep away the hassle.

www.ning.com

Ning is the coolest way for students to collaborate, but unfortunately, students must be 13 years old to get a pass code. This would be a great tool and platform for our teachers to use as they seek to share strategies and collaborative ideas. It would also be excellent for our eighth graders.

As you seek to explore implementing ideas in the classroom, please don't hesitate to share. Also, here is one go to site that I am adding to my blogroll. It is www.coolcatteacher.blogspot.com. This is an excellent source of information from a technology guru in south Georgia.

Don't forget to check out the posts below as well! The one directly following this post is all about two teachers at Lyman Hall Elementary that are really doing creative things technologically and with Reading and Writing Workshop.