Netbook+Craig+and+Pamela

3-D Project Legacy

**How do we know we have been successful? **

1. Students are reporting on their experience - (2 - 3 students sharing - recorded on video) attach videos

While I don't have any student testimonials to report, I can tell you that students absolutely loved this experience. Netbooks in the classroom really equates to the world at the student's finger tips, and they jumped at the opportunity to take their learning to the next level. One student quote that has stuck in my head is "Mr. Baskerville, this is actually pretty decent!"

The Students were thrilled with the opportunity to have this technology incorporated into their daily lessons. They would ask every time they came into the classroom if we were using the net books that day and lessons that did involve the netbooks found the students consistently engaged and on task.

2. Students have acquired new technology skills that they had not had previously - please see the 21st century list below

The students definitely displayed "Inventive Thinking" skills in my classroom. Many of them were able to share evidence of their learning in ways that were not possible before in my classroom without the netbooks. I encouraged the students for work in a self-directed method, using me as a facilitator rather than an expert. 21st Century students are more comfortable searching for knowledge on the Internet than in a textbook, even though a textbook is readily available and laid out in such a reader-friendly format.

The “inventive thinking” skills were evident throughout our time with the netbooks. The students were given a wonderful opportunity and shown a new way of learning. The students taught themselves a new way to research and find conclusions while I became a facilitator that only helped guide them instead of directing them. They could ask their own questions and the answers were readily available for them to search out. I also found they would help one another manage tasks if a peer or fellow student could offer help they were more than willing to do so.

3. Students have learned about digital citzenship - please see the digital citizenship list of skills below

I would say that my students have learned about digital citizenship in my classroom, however, we did not have a full on digital citizenship lesson. The students already understand the expectations that teachers have on them and if teachable moments arose, then I took advantage of the opportunity.

I found the students very respectful of the technology and the responsibilities that came with it. I spoke briefly with my classes in the very beginning about the basics of digital citizenship and experienced minimal issues when it came to managing the students on the netbooks. They were all very grateful for the technology and therefore used it wisely.

4. How has our teaching changed? What practices will you continue?

I hope that students now understand how much knowledge is available to them online. I will no longer have the netbooks, but I will be making even more use of our school computer labs. My lessons have shifted more from independent study to student collaboration. I will continue to use web-quests and streaming video in the future.

My eyes have been opened to the 21st century learning. I hope that I will be able to continue with the digital lessons through our school labs but the convenience of the netbooks right in the classroom will be missed. I will definitely continue to use my class wiki space to post assignments and communicate with my students and parents.

5. What are some best practices?

www.edmodo.com. This is a safe and effective social networking tool that allows teachers and students to remain connected and collaborate on their learning. I love this site and I recommend it to everyone. I have tried websites and wikis and I've found that this is the best way to keep students engaged in technology based lessons.

I have used the wiki and found it to be effective. I appreciate that the students and parents can post questions and contribute to the site. Unlike my website that only I can change and update my wiki allows the members to post a question and if another member answers it before I get to it that is what it is all about, two way communications and collaborating to solve whatever questions arise.

6. Listing what I have learned and what were some of the challenges

I have learned that students don't know as much about computers as we think that they do. They know how to search the web, but many can not copy and paste a picture from a website into a Word document, and they know how to log into Facebook, but they can not log into a wireless network. I recommend to future teachers using this equipment that they spend some time teaching the students the basics when it comes to using the computers. Never assume that they know more than you about the technology, because most of them don't. I also had issues with my school's wireless infrastructure for the first month that we had the computers. Students' computers were disconnecting from the network regularly and still, students do not have the ability to use the computers anywhere in the school. For a technology like this one to be truly successful, there needs to be a strong infrastructure for it to work on. I also feel that two months was not enough time for the project, perhaps one or two classes with the technology for a full year would have been more appropriate. As soon as my students and I became comfortable with the computers, our time with them was up. I also think that our division needs to focus more on computer literacy in elementary grades, students know how to do many things on computers, but they don't understand WHY.

We have had many successes and challenges over the past two months. The students beam when they are able to collaborate and successfully upload a finished assignment onto the wiki, but the steps it takes to get there are many! Everything needs to be broken down part by part, what you think may take one class could very easily take two or three. As eager as the students are they are also unfamiliar with basic practices that I was sure they would already have the skills to achieve. I think I went into this project thinking they had far more basic computer skills then they actually did. Sometimes simply logging onto the wireless was a bit of a struggle. We also had some challenges with the wireless connection itself. Towards the middle of our time with the netbooks, logging on became difficult and the students and myself became frustrated with the technical difficulties we were experiencing.

7. Personal growth as a learner on an online collaborative environment.

As mentioned before, over my time with the computers, I've transitioned from a classroom website, with is only information one-way, to a two-way wiki, to a full blown collaborative experience on a social networking site, Edmodo. My understanding of 21st century learning has grown so much and I know that I am now a better teacher because of it.

I was very much in the dark when it came to 21st century learning. I didn’t realize how much easier the technology would make day to day teaching. Not only are the students more engaged but the wiki allows more communication with the students and parents in return making staying in touch and collaborating as a team so much simpler! I think my personal skills have expanded by leaps and bounds. I was terrified in the beginning, thinking I had gotten in way over my head but I was pleasantly surprised with the knowledge and skills that I acquired during this technologies stay in my classroom.

8. What are some tips for next time users?

- Don't be afraid of the technology. - Don't be afraid to ask for help. - Don't overestimate the student's abilities, they don't know as much as about computers you think they do. - Use these for everything, the more you use them, the more comfortable you are and the easier it gets. The kids do catch on very quickly. - Try to do at least one assignment completely paperless. It's a fun and environmentally friendly was for the kids to complete their work.

Don’t be afraid – I had a great deal of anxiety at the beginning and I remember one of my very first lessons went so well I was hooked, and so were the students! Try new things – push your boundaries and go outside your comfort zone, find new sites and attempt things you wouldn’t have before. Start Simple – don’t assume that the students are capable or know more than you about the technology … they don’t! :) start simple and build up.

9. What is your legacy piece? How have you left a digital footprint to let other know about your important work with kids? (Video, digital storytelling, celebrations with parents, inviting senior administration, manual, collaborative place for yourself and your students)

I have created a collaborative wiki for me and my grade seven students and parents to continue using even after the netbooks leave. The wiki will allow me to post my smart lessons, worksheets, assignments and any notes they may need. It also allows for two way communication between students and parents and me.

I thought the development and use of Google docs and a wiki would be my legacy, but now I know that my use of Edmodo has taken on that role. Edmodo has definitely left a digital footprint in my classroom and I will be using it for the rest of the year. I have students logging in on evenings and weekends to ask for homework help and to check for homework, sometimes just to say "hi". When a student wants to pop into their digital classroom on their own free time, you know that they are truly engaged in what is happening in class.

10. Sample lessons - share 2 lessons that you taught using the equipment

1) I had the students complete a scavenger hunt on Irrigation in Southern Alberta using Google maps, Microsoft Word, and my Wiki. 2) I had the kids create posters on Microsoft Word for a lesson on Conduction, Convection, and Radiation. Not a huge leap from what we've done in the past through computer labs, but this assignment was completed entirely through Edmodo, I wasn't even in the classroom to give instructions; I had a sub in on that day and my sub plans read: tell the student to log into Edmodo, all of their instructions are there. The kids lived it, and I knew the work would be completed to my specifications.

Mrs Westman Wiki

12. Other unexpected findings from your project

If anything, the project only exceeded my expectations.

13. Final thoughts about your project.

Having the netbooks incorporated into our daily learning was a great blessing. We were given the opportunity to use technology in day to day learning and engage the students while allowing them to collaborate, discover and create.

Thank you for this tremendous opportunity!

14. Would you recommend to use this equipment?

I would 100% recommend class sets of netbooks to any school. I think it will be hard to return to daily teaching without having them readily available at our fingertips.

Yes, absolutely. Every student at St. Francis of Assisi should have access to a netbook in every core class. This technology would require very little PD for teachers in our school to implement because we are already so familiar with Windows-based computers. The cost is lower per unit than iPods and they have superior web browsing and word processing abilities. Netbook use in the classroom is inevitable and I can only hope that my school division recognizes the potential for learning and finds a way to get them in the hands of all of our students.

**__ Digital Citizenship – ISTE Standard #5 __**

Students understand human, cultural, and societal issues related to technology and practice legal and ethical behaviour. Students: a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, learning, and productivity c. demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning d. exhibit leadership for digital citizenship **// Demonstrate what you did to accomplish the digital citizenship portion of the project. Were you able to integrate any of the above into your lesson? //** **__ 21st Century Skills __** ** This is a list of 21st Century Skills. Did you witness any of these skills in your students and in the learning activities you provided in the project? Give some examples. ** **//__ Digital-Age Literacy __//** Ø Basic, scientific, economic, and technological literacies Ø Visual and information literacies Ø Multicultural literacy and global awareness

**//__ Inventive Thinking __//** Ø Adaptability/managing complexity Ø Self-direction Ø Curiosity, creativity, and risk-taking Ø Higher-order thinking and sound reasoning

**//__ Effective Communication __//** Ø Teaming, collaboration, and interpersonal skills Ø Personal, social, and civic responsibility Ø Interactive communication

**//__ High Productivity & Quality, State-of-the-Art Results __//** Ø Ability to prioritize, plan, and manage for results Ø Effective use of real-world tools Ø The ability to create relevant, high-quality products