Here's my idea for my inquiry. Thanks for feedback!
Inquiry Question:
Can I learn to use Open Office software for word processing and presentations well enough to teach my second grade students so they can create a yearly timeline of their learning using Impress while uploading it to Google Docs for previewing and sharing with families. (I’m also considering tracking one student throughout. I have already noticed an unmotivated writer in my room and wonder if he will become more motivated if he’s composing on the computer).
Why would I want to learn to use Openoffice?
§ My school has completely changed over to a Linux operating system. I need to learn how to use the applications so I can effectively teach them to my students.
§ In the past, my students have kept a monthly time-line on paper, which ended up as a collection for an end of the year record of all they had learned. We create several movies each year, and it would be interesting to have all their learning in one place (Impress).
§ Students will be expected to learn to use Openoffice throughout their schooling in Orono. By learning the applications at a young age, they will be prepared for the future.
§ Some students are not motivated to write with a pencil/paper. Their motivation may increase as they compose on the computer.
§ This will make my teaching in the computer lab more focused as I usually plan a lesson from week to week that doesn’t teach them about the applications-usually we explore a website to learn about a concept in our current theme. It’s important for students to understand how to use the applications in Open Office.
My Vision (My Plan):
§ I will create templates for each month on Impress that will be shared on each student’s computer.
§ I will take pictures/video of students working in the classroom and upload them for students to choose from.
§ Students will learn to open a saved file in Impress each lab session.
§ Students will learn how to choose photos so they can write about one photo a month and tell what they learned/liked about that lesson.
§ Students will learn how to keyboard well enough to tell a story. I will teach how to capitalize letters, put one space after each word, how to punctuate sentences, and how to spell check.
§ I will document my work on my laptop. Entries will include lessons taught as well as problems and successes! I will also compare the one student's in-class writing with his computer work.
What Help do I Need at October Meeting:
§ I need to learn how to use Impress well enough to teach it. I know it is similar to PowerPoint and I have a basic understanding of that.
§ Is Impress the best program to use for this work?
§ How do I create templates that can be sent to all kids’ computers?
§ I don’t know how to download pictures onto our computers-where do I put them to make it easy for kids to access them? (Thin Clients).
§ I want to learn how to share movies on Impress so students can have the movies we create in their yearly timeline.
§ I need to learn how to podcast so clips can be added to the timeline.
§ I’m not sure if I will put these on Google Docs for parents. I don’t have the capability to burn discs on our computers, but I want parents to have access to their child’s work. If I do go with Google Docs, I need to learn how to use it. Maybe there’s a better application for this? I don’t know.
Problems I may encounter:
§ The server is often down. What will I do if I am not able to have the kids do this work because of the server??
§ I’m not sure how I will go about editing student work to make sure the pieces have correct spelling, punctuation, etc. I'm hoping because the writing is monthly, I can keep up with it.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteA Moodle site may be an easy way to upload templates and different documents for parents to see. My school powers our own moodle, but I just searched "Moodle" on Google (yes, try to say that three times fast) and the top hit on the search is a site where you can develop your own page.
Basically, a Moodle is a webpage that you upload documents to and parents/the public can download and see anything you want them to....all they need is your URL.
A big plus to a Moodle page is that you can update it whenever you like from whatever machine you are on. You also don't have to send out an email every time you want to get a new document out.
Kim,
ReplyDeleteThis sounds impressive! I agree that the opportunity to use open office rather than paper pencil may motivate those reluctant writers. I use Moodle for a grad class I'm teaching and found it to be very easy to use, with great icon buttons, another plus when working with 2nd graders. I'm interested in hearing more about Impress, I'm not aware of it.
Hi Kim!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds like an awesome way to integrate technology into an emergent writer's day!
Consider your inquiry question, it only requires a "yes" or "no": "Can I learn to use Open Office software for word processing and presentations well enough". It seems to me you're interested in:
A. Getting students familiar with digital technology/writing now so they'll be set up for greater success later
B. Bridging the gap between home and school by sharing a student's learning digitally
C. Motivating reluctant writers through digital writing.
(All awesome avenues)
I would take the inquiry question off from questioning your skill set and focus on what you want to accomplish with your kiddos!
Moodle is very popular - but personally I find it unattractive and quite cumbersome. I use free webs myself, which looks better and is super easy to set up and use. Visit my AP Language site for a sample
ReplyDeletewww.freewebs.com/jyork
Hi Kim - I'm quite late to this conversation, but I'll join anyway. I'm wondering if what you're doing isn't the same as having students create a digital learning portfolio; the timeline is really showing snapshots of their learning over time, correct?
ReplyDeleteSo, would a research / inquiry question be better focused on whether digital learning timelines are an effective way to take snapshots of student learning, or foster / motivate student reflection?
I was wondering why you'd need to edit student writing? If these are essentially pictures of student learning...
I could see uploading these to GoogleDocs to share at home...and if your school uses GoogleApps and each child has an account, that's great. But I'm wondering if 2nd graders are saavy enough for this, and I'm wondering about those folks who can't get to a GoogleDoc at home.
Moodle complicates the situation as well - and I'm a little leery about second graders navigating Moodle at home.
I wonder about this: what if kids created these timelines (or if only a few did?), but shared them at school with parents during conferences? Or during a parent's night, and these were exported as auto-playing video files? That would alleviate the access issue, and maybe simplify things.