Comments on: The Seeds of a Good Project http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/ teaching technology abroad Thu, 23 Sep 2010 22:39:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Kim Cofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2975 Kim Cofino Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:04:50 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2975 @Janelle, So glad the post was helpful for you! I definitely think this type of project would work just as well in first grade as it did in 3rd - just maybe a little more prep for the teacher. @Janelle,

So glad the post was helpful for you! I definitely think this type of project would work just as well in first grade as it did in 3rd – just maybe a little more prep for the teacher.

]]> By: Janelle Catlett http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2951 Janelle Catlett Sat, 12 Sep 2009 16:14:13 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2951 I had a similar idea with chicken incubation that I wanted to do with first graders last year, but it never came to fruition. As a new instructional coach who loves to promote engaging tech uses for student engagement and now meeting new teachers and students, I'm excited to read your experiences here. Thanks for such vivid examples and your journey for this project. This is a great resource for me to share with teachers in hopes that they will join me in a collaborative adventure! I had a similar idea with chicken incubation that I wanted to do with first graders last year, but it never came to fruition. As a new instructional coach who loves to promote engaging tech uses for student engagement and now meeting new teachers and students, I’m excited to read your experiences here. Thanks for such vivid examples and your journey for this project. This is a great resource for me to share with teachers in hopes that they will join me in a collaborative adventure!

]]> By: Kim Cofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2949 Kim Cofino Sat, 12 Sep 2009 11:31:11 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2949 @Kristen I'm so glad the post was helpful for you! If you ever want to try collaborating globally with one of our classes on something like this, let me know. It would be so interesting for our students to interact with yours when studying the same science concepts. @Erin Agreed - great way to summarize! @Kristen

I’m so glad the post was helpful for you! If you ever want to try collaborating globally with one of our classes on something like this, let me know. It would be so interesting for our students to interact with yours when studying the same science concepts.

@Erin

Agreed – great way to summarize!

]]> By: foss science related voicethread « TPES Technology Integration Portfolio http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2928 foss science related voicethread « TPES Technology Integration Portfolio Tue, 08 Sep 2009 17:23:48 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2928 [...] September 1, 2009 link to example of science project using voicethread [...] [...] September 1, 2009 link to example of science project using voicethread [...]

]]> By: Erin English http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2827 Erin English Sun, 12 Jul 2009 17:39:58 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2827 If the same tool is used often, then the students and teachers can become fluent in its use and focus on the content, rather than on how to use the tool. That's a good thing. There is always the danger of 'overuse.' I would define 'overuse' as when happens when the excitement, enthusiasm, and zest begins to wan. If the same tool is used often, then the students and teachers can become fluent in its use and focus on the content, rather than on how to use the tool. That’s a good thing. There is always the danger of ‘overuse.’ I would define ‘overuse’ as when happens when the excitement, enthusiasm, and zest begins to wan.

]]> By: Kirsten Terborg http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2815 Kirsten Terborg Tue, 16 Jun 2009 23:41:47 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2815 Kim, I came across your site as part of an assignment for a grad class on integrating technology into the classroom. Wow! I am glad I was asked to do this assignment! :) I teach 3rd and 4th grades. In my third grade science curriculum we too study the life cycle of a seed by growing them in egg carton containers. While they are excited to see the daily progress, I think my project can be made much stronger through the use of VT. I had no idea what VT was (except for the initials for Vermont) until I visited your blog. It's an amazing technology! It was a great idea for you to ban the use of certain words to help them more scientifically describe what they were observing. I appreciate how you started small and have given me confidence to give this a whirl. I think I'll play around with it myself this summer before introducing it to my class in the fall. I think having parent helpers could really be a blessing to this project as well. Thanks for giving me a great idea that I can use across many curriculum areas! I will be bookmarking your site and visiting it again even when I don't need to for a class. :) Kim,

I came across your site as part of an assignment for a grad class on integrating technology into the classroom. Wow! I am glad I was asked to do this assignment! :) I teach 3rd and 4th grades. In my third grade science curriculum we too study the life cycle of a seed by growing them in egg carton containers. While they are excited to see the daily progress, I think my project can be made much stronger through the use of VT. I had no idea what VT was (except for the initials for Vermont) until I visited your blog. It’s an amazing technology! It was a great idea for you to ban the use of certain words to help them more scientifically describe what they were observing. I appreciate how you started small and have given me confidence to give this a whirl. I think I’ll play around with it myself this summer before introducing it to my class in the fall. I think having parent helpers could really be a blessing to this project as well. Thanks for giving me a great idea that I can use across many curriculum areas! I will be bookmarking your site and visiting it again even when I don’t need to for a class. :)

]]> By: The Seeds of a Good Project by Kim Cofino | JED-ucation http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2808 The Seeds of a Good Project by Kim Cofino | JED-ucation Mon, 08 Jun 2009 12:21:46 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2808 [...] blog explores how a teacher’s goals can be met more effectively using VoiceThread. The teacher Kim [...] [...] blog explores how a teacher’s goals can be met more effectively using VoiceThread. The teacher Kim [...]

]]> By: The Seeds of a Good Project by Kim Confino | JED-ucation http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2807 The Seeds of a Good Project by Kim Confino | JED-ucation Mon, 08 Jun 2009 11:11:30 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2807 [...] blog explores how a teacher’s goals can be met more effectively using VoiceThread. The teacher Kim [...] [...] blog explores how a teacher’s goals can be met more effectively using VoiceThread. The teacher Kim [...]

]]> By: Kim Cofino http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2802 Kim Cofino Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:04:58 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2802 @Paula, Congratulations on your award! It sounds like your first time using VT was quite a success! Your description of the learning curve when using technology in the classroom is so familiar to me. It's amazing how much easier each tool gets with repeated use - before you do something for the first time it seems insurmountable, after a few tries, it's a breeze! I think students absolutely love to be class experts at every grade level. It's empowering for them to be a leader in the classroom and refreshing for them to see their teacher as a learner. It's so great that you facilitate that kind of learning experience in your classroom! @Paula,

Congratulations on your award! It sounds like your first time using VT was quite a success!

Your description of the learning curve when using technology in the classroom is so familiar to me. It’s amazing how much easier each tool gets with repeated use – before you do something for the first time it seems insurmountable, after a few tries, it’s a breeze!

I think students absolutely love to be class experts at every grade level. It’s empowering for them to be a leader in the classroom and refreshing for them to see their teacher as a learner. It’s so great that you facilitate that kind of learning experience in your classroom!

]]> By: Paula Naugle http://mscofino.edublogs.org/2009/06/07/the-seeds-of-a-good-project/comment-page-1/#comment-2796 Paula Naugle Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:30:08 +0000 http://mscofino.edublogs.org/?p=368#comment-2796 Kim, I used VoiceThread for the first time at the end of my school year. It was quite a learning experience for me and my students. I had no one to help me with the technical aspects. My students and I worked through the process of creating a VoiceThread and helped each other. I didn’t know to set up my students and their avatars before starting the project, so I had to redo the VT. I messed up several times with the voice recordings and one of my students stepped up and pointed out what I was doing incorrectly. He became my recording expert... My students didn’t seem to mind rerecording until they got it “right”. Will I use VoiceThread again? You bet! Now that I’ve learned how to put one together I can concentrate on the content of the next one. I am writing plans over the summer that use VT for several projects I do with my math students. I remember the hours it took me to learn how to out a PhotoStory video together. Now I can complete one in under 30 minutes. My next step is to have my students make their own next year. I’m sure my next VT will be easier to complete. BTW I won second place in an integrating technology into lessons contest that my school system held with this VT lesson. I was right in between two high school winners. Not bad for my first attempt. Teachers at ISB are lucky to have you to help them with their technology integration. I am teaching these skills to myself and then plan to share with the other teachers on my faculty. I am constantly inspired by the projects you write about in your posts. Kim,
I used VoiceThread for the first time at the end of my school year. It was quite a learning experience for me and my students. I had no one to help me with the technical aspects. My students and I worked through the process of creating a VoiceThread and helped each other. I didn’t know to set up my students and their avatars before starting the project, so I had to redo the VT. I messed up several times with the voice recordings and one of my students stepped up and pointed out what I was doing incorrectly. He became my recording expert… My students didn’t seem to mind rerecording until they got it “right”.

Will I use VoiceThread again? You bet! Now that I’ve learned how to put one together I can concentrate on the content of the next one. I am writing plans over the summer that use VT for several projects I do with my math students. I remember the hours it took me to learn how to out a PhotoStory video together. Now I can complete one in under 30 minutes. My next step is to have my students make their own next year. I’m sure my next VT will be easier to complete. BTW I won second place in an integrating technology into lessons contest that my school system held with this VT lesson. I was right in between two high school winners. Not bad for my first attempt.

Teachers at ISB are lucky to have you to help them with their technology integration. I am teaching these skills to myself and then plan to share with the other teachers on my faculty. I am constantly inspired by the projects you write about in your posts.

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