Live+Scribe+Pens+-+St.+Thomas+-+October+2011

3-D Project Legacy


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


 * 1. Video **

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


 * Inventive Thinking: ** adaptability (re-doing, awareness and comfort level)


 * Effective Communication: **collaboration and interpersonal skills (sharing pencasts)

interactive communication (verifying with peers after viewing pencasts)


 * High Productivity & Quality: ** able to create, prioritize, plan and manage for results (creating pencasts)

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


 * a. advocate and practice safe, legal, and responsible use of information and technology ** (students were very aware that they were creating a digital document that may be accessed by many viewers and that they needed to use the pen appropriately, especially paying attention to their language.)


 * b. exhibit a positive attitude toward using technology that supports collaboration, **


 * learning, and productivity ** ( were some complaints at the start – one student was reluctant because the pen was “new” technology for him and he did not understand how it worked, but attitude improved when students were allowed to use the pen to create. Students were very engaged and focused on procedure and mastery of content when preparing for their pencasts.)


 * c. demonstrate personal responsibility for lifelong learning ** (students recognize that technology continues to change or have an effect on the way we now learn and will continue to learn)


 * d. exhibit leadership for digital citizenship ** (grade 9’s shared their completed products with the students in grade 7 and 8. Were also asking questions about possible ways to use the pen, ie: Can I write the words down first and then start the pencast to save time?)

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


 * The students feel a very **__real__** sense of “teaching” what they know as they realize that others will be watching carefully what they have displayed through the medium of the pen. Knowing this made them focus on their own understanding, more so than by using traditional methods. Having students use the pen requires a considerable amount of time, but so far seems be worth the investment. I work with small groups of students so that makes it easier for me. In a regular classroom setting the teacher may need to schedule students to use the pen. Perhaps have a sign-out for taking it home.

**5. What are some best practices?**


 * Posting Pencasts on your website allows both students and parents to access the instruction.
 * Providing Pencasts for substitute teachers allows students to receive instruction from their regular teacher when they are absent.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Could be used for homework assignments (some issues; Adobe, access at home).
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Allowing students to create Pencasts provides another method of assessing their work.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Students could use the pen to teach each other.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Need to spend some time experimenting and practicing with the pen.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Keep the lessons short ( 2-5 min.), focusing on only 1 concept in each pencast.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Have some fun with the lessons, showing some personality so that the lessons are not too boring (ie. monotone voice).
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Organize and save your pencasts for future use, review, and sharing.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**6. Listing what I have learned and what were some of the challenges**


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Taking the time to know the pen well and how it works in conjunction with the website.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Takes time to teach the students how to use the pen (if you want them to use it).
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">If students are using the pen, you need to find them a location that is quiet and where they will not be disrupted. Sending the pen home with students has its own issues.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Writing out titles and sentences can drag out the lesson. Tried to find a way around that issue but not successful.


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">7. What was your personal growth as a learner? **


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">A reminder to me that it is important to have the students be the “teacher”. Too often I get into instruction and assessment mode in more traditional pen and paper methods.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">A reminder of the importance of DI in the classroom. This pen is just 1 of many cool ways to instruct.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**8. What are some tips for next time users?**


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Organize and post pencasts on a website for student access. Good for review and exam preparation.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Keep the pencasts short (2-5 min.).
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Write out a script on regular paper to use as your guide when creating the pencast.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Get the pen into the hands of students.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Share with your colleagues!! (especially Math teachers!)

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**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)**


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Provided staff with PD on how to use the pen. Several staff members were able to borrow pens to experiment with, and some are using part of their budget to purchase pens for their grade team.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**10. Sample lessons - share 2 lessons that you taught using the equipment (short form – objective of the lesson, brief description of the activity, how did you assess it, and reflection on how the students responded)**


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Obj: Using the Pythagorean Relationship to determine the length of a missing side of a right angle triangle.

<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Desc: Students were provided with instruction and examples using a pencast.

<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Ass’t: Observation of student work from assignment; questioning.

<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Refl: Students were engaged, each had their own device and headphones to receive instructions. Some went back to the pencasts to review/verify the concept before asking me for assistance.


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Obj: Display your knowledge of 1 concept from the last unit.

<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Desc: Students were to pick a concept of their own choosing to show their understanding using the Echo Pen. They then shared their pencast with the class.

<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Ass’t: Accuracy of completed pencast.

<span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Refl: There was some resistance; “Why do I have to be the teacher?”. Some fear of using the technology as it was new and they did not understand how it worked. Their focus on making sure they understood the concept they were presenting was excellent. They took great pride in their completed pencasts. Awesome engagement through having the students create pencasts.


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">11. Websites, tools, or apps that you used with your students **


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Need to download **__Livescribe Desktop__** for yourself, not for the students. There are apps that can be downloaded to the pen, but I did not get that far into it.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">There is a Pencast App that you can download for tablets. It allows you to view pencasts you have created, as well as a bank of Pencasts created by others in many content areas.
 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">There are apps available for the pen itself. I only downloaded <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">1.

<span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">**12. Other unexpected findings from your project**


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">13. Final thoughts about your project. **


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Very cool piece of technology. Kind of allows a teacher to be in more than 1 spot at a time, something we often wish for. I feel that the pen really lends itself well to Mathematics as that discipline requires a lot of showing how and step-by-step instructions. However, it can be used for anything. It just takes the creativeness of the user. I found that the more staff members that experimented with the pen, the ideas that came forth for ways to use them.


 * <span style="color: black; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">14. Would you recommend to use this equipment? **


 * <span style="color: #4f81bd; font-family: 'Arial','sans-serif'; font-size: 13px;">Yes. It works especially well for individual instruction.


 * __ 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 __//**


 * Basic, scientific, economic, and technological literacies
 * Visual and information literacies
 * Multicultural literacy and global awareness


 * //__ Inventive Thinking __//**


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


 * //__ Effective Communication __//**


 * Teaming, collaboration, and interpersonal skills
 * Personal, social, and civic responsibility
 * Interactive communication


 * //__ High Productivity & Quality, State-of-the-Art Results __//**


 * Ability to prioritize, plan, and manage for results
 * Effective use of real-world tools
 * The ability to create relevant, high-quality products