Creativity, Inclusion and Accessibility in the 21st Century

The students are going to be writing books and self publishing.  We have been looking at different mediums to create art.  Yesterday we used pastel.  The students then scanned their art work into the computer and displayed it onto the smartboard.  They students will then embed these pictures into their books and eventually print the book off.  The students were very quick to independently scan the pictures.  It is also a great way to display their work.

As I started to explain good writing, I scanned material and put it on the smartboard.  We were then able to highlight examples of good writing using both Kurzweil and Notebook.

The greatest thing that I can say about this whole project is that the technology has become such an integral part of everything the class does.

March 15

We finally got our smartboard installed.  It took three days of actual installation and connection.  It was done when the students weren’t present so that was great.  Now we are starting to use the smartboard.  I have the software installed on all my computers and students are getting access at home as well.

The first activity the students did was a organization where they dragged their picture under the heading that identified what they mostly did during the 3 days off.  We then used it to talk about fractions. 

  The students are working on Spelling – words their way.  I am putting all the sorts on notebook and creating anagrams as well.  The files will be put into the file share on our server and I am also uploading them to the wiki. Students will be able to work on the smartboard but also access the files from the laptops and from home.  It will allow students more access even if it isn’t actually on the smartboard. 

My next step is to start recording lessons and posting them on the wiki.  This will help when students are absent or need reteaching. 

I would love to start a drop in Smartboard cafe.  Teachers in the district would be invited to meet one afternoon after school to share what they are doing with their Smartboard.  This will would allow for self-directed Pro-D and also re-affirm and excite teachers with a support network.

I will be spending Spring Break getting things organized for the first week back. 

Eighteen people attended the morning workshop and 16 people attended the afternoon workshop.  The feedback was that the workshops were too short and that people would like to have time to work one on one or in small groups at a school to look at specific needs within the school.  This is the embedded pro-d that is needed to ensure implementation.  People need to feel supported and that there will be help when needed.  At this point I don’t think there will be widespread implementation of Kurzweil in schools.   As well, EA’s need to be given time to adapt and/or input material.  Once the student becomes more independent by using Kurzweil, then the EA can use that time to prepare the next chunk of material.  It is also important for teachers to realize that it takes time to prepare material.  It is not like a photocopier where you just push a button and the work is there.

I am going to continue to lobby our district for more support for this programme.

We are still struggling with version 12 Kurzweil and getting it working properly on the computers.  I think it still has to do with the reimaging and accounts.  I have created accounts for all of my students and today hopefully we can have a lesson in the lab so that all students can start learning the basics. 

Even though the printer drivers were installed on the laptops, they didn’t appear in the kurzweil programme.  The technician has been working on this.  Our technician has spent a lot of time trying to help get all the technology working.  Hopefully it will all come together soon.

I am doing two 2.5 hour sessions for the Pro-D on Friday.  I have 34 CUPE members registered.  I really want kurzweil to become a mandatory programme for all schools and have people at all school being proficient at using the programme.  That is my wish for 2012.

Technology is great when it works.  We are still experiencing some challenges with getting all the technology up and working.  We still don’t have our SmartBoard installed.  We are hoping for Spring Break now.  The computer that was to be used by me doesn’t allow me to access the SETBC programmes unless I am connected to the school network.  That has to do with the way the reimaging was done.  As we don’t have a technician on site, we have to put in a ticket and then the work is prioritized.  This is not a problem, it is just that I don’t know when the technician will be arriving and often don’t know if he has been in the school until after he has left and I receive a ticket saying the ticket is closed. 

I was hoping to post some of my students projects/videos but with the limited storage space, I don’t think it will be possible.

I can’t wait to have all the kinks worked out and have everyone being successful.

My class has been asked to be part of the CTV weather programme.  We have a weather station at our school.  On Monday we will start recording and charting the weather using the laptops and the wiki.  I have created a folder for weather with spreadsheets on temperature, visibility, humidity, air pressure, daylight, and wind.  Each team of students using the laptops will be responsibility for checking the information on our weather station http://www.theweathernetwork.com/schools/cabcpoi2150751 , downloading the spreadsheet from the wiki, updating the data, creating a new graph and then uploading it back to the wiki.  We will then start to analyzing the data. 

On Friday afternoon, when the classroom was extremely hot (we couldn’t shut the heat off) every student was engaged in learning!  I had 7 laptops, one transformer, 3 computers, digital cameras, and good old paper and pencil activities happening.  Students were working on reading response, drill and practice math activities, logical thinking problem solving, videos explaining math concepts, cartoons for Science healthy living projects …   It was amazing! 

Earlier in the week, I went in to a grade 4 class and had students working on an activity where students were introduced to Universal Design for Learning.  I didn’t say that.  I just said that they would be doing something different and that it might be a bit of a challenge at first because it was different but they would enjoy it once they got started.  Students could listen to a song (Disney) on the computer (downloaded and put on a jump drive so we didn’t have to worry about the internet), look at pictures (printed off) or read a story.  The students worked with a partner and wrote down words to describe the feelings and impressions that they got from listening, observing or reading.  The next lesson they will find a way to respresent the information:  poem, or poster.  They will need to consider, colour, design, layout to express the ideas.  At the end of the lesson one student came up to me and said “Thank you”  Later in the week, a student asked my when I would be come back into the classroom as it was fun.  This is what teaching is all about.

As part of the process of engaging students, it is necessary for them to know what the end product should look like and what is being expected of them.  A very valuable tool is having students help create the marking rubric.  It is amazing what students can come up with.  I divide students into groups.  On large chart paper, students write down all of the things that they should be assessed on for a particular project.  One student is the presenter and reads off what the group has decided on.  Then the students are given three dots to put on any paper, identifying what they think are the most important things that should be included in the rubric.  I then collate the information and complete the rubric.  When making the rubric, I start with a 4 (exceeding expectations).  I want students to see that as the first column rather than the last.  What we see first is what we remember.  I don’t want students to be only looking at a 1 and never get to a 4 to see what is being expected of them.  After the project is completed, students evaluate themselves prior to handing in the assignment.  This helps students with being responsible, and becoming more engaged.

I am so excited about starting this project with SETBC.  Thank you SETBC for allowing me to expand my vision and belief in students. As we embrace 21st Century Learning, we must adjust our thinking and views on teaching we need to become the guide on the side, allowing students to learn in a method that fits their learning style and be allowed to demonstrate understanding in meaningful ways.  We can no longer have the one size fits all model for learning. 

Universal Design for Learning, www.cast.org  has cemented the concepts that have been swimming around in my head for the last 25 years.  With technology and the internet (not available 25 years ago) I have been able to differentiate learning and engage my students.

When students are given choice, flexibility and curriculum that is at their level, they are excited about learning and are successful. 

CIA (Creativity, Integration, Accessibility) is the title of this project.  This is not a finite project but an evolving, on-going, process of meeting the needs of the students.  When I am able to engage my students I feel excited and want to learn new and different ways to expand learning and teaching.

I teach a grade 5 class with 15 girls and 9 boys.  I also have two designated students that have equipment from SETBC.   One of my SETBC students has just broken her arm.  Thanks to SETBC, I was able to get her a remote mini-keyboard.  She is now able to continue her studies. http://x2c.eu/dp

The project will incorporate the universal design for learning pedagogy.  We will be using a projector, laptops, wikis, cloud computing, the computer lab, pod casts, software for differientiation and other tools. 

Please feel free to ask questions and add comments as we go through our journey.