Scaffolding Success: Growing with GlogsterEDU

Interested?  "What do you want to create next?" I inquire. "A glog, glog!!" they all shout.  Glogster EDU is a wonderful site that allows educators and students to create online multi-media posters. It's a creative digital outlet that increases student engagement. Interactive Glogs can include text, graphics, images, links, audio, video, and more! We’ve found success this year with GlogsterEDU through the scaffolding process.  So, here's the story of how we all became GlogsterEDU Ambassadors this school year! 

innovative?  Since the EDU version was developed we dove in head first!  It's one of my favorite learning tools for SO many reasons.  Personally, I'm drawn by the creative element of the online poster concept.  Educationally, I can't express how motivating glog creation is for even my most difficult to reach students.

Last school year I took a different approach with most of the projects my students created. Each of them made their own product and few were collaborative in nature. The students tech skills grew, but they were missing some elements. Our favorite glogs from last year were part of our Backyard Birds Unit. Student groups wrote and performed an original reader’s theater together for Mr. Durren's class is Virginia that we connected with through the distance learning lab in the high school. Yet, their glogs were made and presented on their own.

This school year, a new approach was attempted in hopes that the students would not only benefit from the necessary components of communication that come from working on a collaborative project, but that they’d be able to learn tips, tricks, and skills from each other along the way. @ktenkely calls it viral learning when kids learn quickly from each other!  While working on a group project, it became more about the process than solely the finished product.

This Year's Stages of Growth…
Multi-media Book Reports - Why not create them with an online poster "board"?

Thanksgiving Reader's Theater - A way to display the characters and their final production!

Arctic Animal Adventure and Vote - Multi-step cross-curricular project that was one of this year's favorites!

Favorite Tech Tools 4 My Student Teacher - Easy way to share favorite links to inspire others and make them easily accessible!

Collaborative Olympic Research - Designing glogs together with Skype's screen share feature made awesome collab reports!

What is a Community? Adventure - Need a way to organize a global project and catch other educator's attention - use a glog!

Sign-Language Thank You "Card" - Looking for that special way to show your appreciation?

Summer Workshop Poster - Make your workshop poster interactive to encourage attendees and give all the "attachments" a home!

Candy Corn Contest - One reading group developed their own glog-creation contest for a book extension project!

Pond Life Interactive Reports - Our most-interactive glogs yet - a memorable project that involved learning lots of tech skills along the way. 

Our Final Project:


Basic Version Thoughts...

GRAPHICS - There's such a variety, so we try to focus on making sure that our graphics make sense with our glog's purpose.  My students "hunt" for the animated ones - I don't blame them!  Natalie came up with a great idea for using the same graphic multiple times for bullets when listing items. 

TEXT - We've learned this year how to choose what kind of text will best suit the need.  For example, bubbles = "quotes" to correlate with photos, titles = short text and labels, and stickers = lengthier text such as facts.

IMAGE - Since we now have a shared folder at our district, this has opened up a whole new world for my students.  For their final project, they not only had access to copy-right free images we located together, but to every other group's photos and videos that they'd taken down at the school pond.
VIDEO - Utilizing our digital cameras to create their own videos are so engaging.  It allows the students to be creators offline and problem solve as they take each others' video for a specific project.   
SOUND - We've used the iPod and uploaded clips, but we'll be exploring the GRAB feature more.
WALL - It can be such an understatement or the main feature of a glog.  Students take on how they use the "background" is always interesting and shows their personal style. 

Premium Version Thoughts…

DRAW - My primary students LOVE this feature.  Yet, I've used it to create quick arrows and circles as well.  A super-useable feature for any glogger!

DATA - We used it for our notes page for our pond project.  It could really be used to "attach" about anything to a glog.  My only thinking is that if you want others to know that the little bitty paper clip is there and that there's important information available use some text and/or graphics to nake it more known.

CLASS CREATION - We'll be utilzing this more next year, but I'd value it extremely if my students were older.

PROJECT CREATION - Initially, I thought that this would deter from their own creativity.  Yet, for some of my students, this will be the starting point that they need to succeed.  I'll be exploring the use of creating templates more.
ASSESSMENT OPTION - What a nice element to have.  It's wonderful how the developers at GlogsterEDU left it open-ended so that teacher can choose formative or summative assessment options.  Just be sure to have your students check their messages so they receive their grades and comments from the teacher.

Other Option Thoughts...

FRAMES/PLAYERS - Some utilize this feature consistently, while other students like it simple.  The frames and players add just that extra little decorative touch to videos, sound clips, and images!

LAYERING - My students often forget about this element.  They spread everything out.  Sometimes they run short on space and I'll suggest maybe they want to "bring it forward" or "put it behind" to create less scatter and more room.

CLONING - Did you find an element you'd like to use over and over? Just clone it. This time saver is priceless! There are times that my students could re-use some of their favorites non-stop if there was an infinate cloner setting like in SMARTnotebook.

LINKING - This has been very beneficial to link all of the glogs they've designed together.  This creates only one glog to embed, plus gives room for the project to be explained to the viewers.  For an interactive lesson on a topic, the link feature would be valuable.

COLORS/FONT - Not only can you alter the basics, but the actual text sticker or title can be changed as well.  The students have adapted to the fact that sometimes they need to adjust the size of their text.  They need to be careful that all of their words are seen and that they are the correct size for the object they've chosen.

FX - I learned what this was about from Tiffany this year!  She was creating shadows and couldn't wait to share what she'd found with me.  I'm glad she did!

Next Year’s Goals...
1. Keep our glogs simpler at times - even though the tool bar offers so much, it doesn't mean that every glog needs to incorporate every aspect!
2. Center station – add to a glog like an online sticky note (wallwisher) like Aviva Dunsinger, @grade1, had her students create with their music glogs.
3. Start independent glog creation sooner for all of the ability levels- each year they are ready for more at a quicker pace.
4. Re-design my class website - embed more glogs for sub-pages to branch from.

5. Unit planning - utilize the DATA feature more for notes pages for the projects and the PROJECTS for creating templates for those learners who need more support.

6. Check out other features - Link (directly to images and videos) instead of upload, SchoolTube videos search, Sharing of Glogs, and more....

My Adventure As an Official Ambassador This Spring…

1. Confronted with Challenges – A high school teacher in our district had just signed up for the Premium version and she had questions.  This encouraged me to problem solve and figure them out.  While doing so, I learned more about the details of certain aspects of GlogsterEDU that I probably wouldn't have explored otherwise.

2. Forces one to think about Feedback – I'm a natural reflector. But, it was one of the "requirements" of becoming an ambassador and rightfully so. They are striving to contiually make improvements.  I suggested a capture feature like VoiceThread and they have it already in the GRAB feature.  I wouldn’t have known if I hadn't have asked.  Last year I didn’t have a webcam and my own mic and I don't think I've click on GRAB since!  I'm looking forward to GlogsterEDUs addition of a search feature merely for the time-saving element.  I'm hoping that they will also add a collaborative feature in the future to share creation of glogs with another student or another class.  I'm so glad that the developers live by their saying of "GlogsterEDU is YOURS!"  They listen to feedback and are constantly making it even better!

3. Summer Workshop – I'm looking forward to a mix of teaching, learning adventures, and immediate implementation of GlogsterEDU with teachers from my district.  There are teachers from PreK - 10th grade registered, so hopefully we'll have a lot to learn from each other as well.  This time I'll be conducting the workshop and that in of itself will be a learning experience, but I can't wait for this opportunity to share something I've found so beneficial. 

4. My Mini-Ambassadors – Some of my students have earned this title in my classroom.  I'm learning from them many little tricks and new elements such as bullets from a graphic, play a video in edit mode, tab opens at the top for some things, etc.
5. Education Glogster Ning Network - The educators I've connected with so far are super helpful and approachable.  They are very supportive of each other in their endeavors to promote GlogsterEDU and it's educational advantages. I look forward to learning and sharing more in this network.

IMPACT?  It was brief in reality, but it seemed almost like an eternity. We were down in the lab and all of the students had signed on their computers, followed the multi-step process of logging into GlogsterEDU, and were engaged in their assignment. Every single students was on task and independently working on their Pond Life glogs. At first I was in disbelief, but then realized how much they’ve really grown this year. The little seeds that were encouraged, taught, and watered…. were flourishing.  The gradual release approach this year worked and we all learned more through the process. 

Impressed?  Overall, I've been extremely amazed by GlogsterEDU and what they offer educationally.  Also, in terms of tech troubles, they have the most helpful and approachable support team.  Jim Dachos, @glogstereduman, has been knowlgedable, supportive, and wonderful to work with.  His customer service it top-notch.    

Would it have been easier to have them create glogs all year on their own? Maybe. Do I think they would have learned as much? Probably not. The super-friendly user interface just makes it easy to manage for ALL of my second grade students, no matter what their ability level is.  This "Glogster Queen" looks forward to creating along with my next years' learners with GlogsterEDU!

What’s Your Tech Point-of-View?

An Educator's Best Resource... Crowdsourcing!
There’s a place where two worlds collide. Here’s where my PLC meets my PLN. Yet, unlike George's negative perspective this is an opportunity I want to embrace!  I'm hoping some of you will want to do the same.



PLC: My Professional Learning Community
You can check out our superintendent’s blog, Kimberly Moritz’s BlogPosts, to find more information.

The Agents:
JamieLynn Griffith – 2nd Grade Teacher, Ed Tech Explorer, Amateur Blogger, Glogster Queen, Educator Looking to Define my "Tech Point-of-View"
Tammie Thomas – 1st Grade Teacher, Podcast Enthusiast, Creative genius, Multiple Learning Style Implementer
Eric Sipe – New 6th grade Teacher, 4th grade and Reading Specialist Experience, King of PowerPoint, Master of “Scavenger Hunt” Activities
Melissa Shawley – New 1st Grade Teacher, Experienced 3rd Grade Teacher from Neighboring District
Nicole Pollock – New 4th Grade Teacher, Current Substitute, Recent graduate, Has One of the Friendliest Smiles I’ve Seen

We're a good mix of grade levels, personalities, and possess a mix of talents.  I can't tell you how much I'm looking forward to being a part of this PLC. 

Our Goals:
Focus - Connecting Classrooms Within and Broadening Horizons Beyond.  Some of our specific thoughts we've recorded on our Google Doc.  Our first initiative will be to concentrate on technology integration during content centers and cross-curricular centers- Math, Reading, Writing, ELA, Science, and Social Studies.

Our Collaborative Blog: We set-up an area online for sharing, posting, reflecting, and reading. RCS: Teaching4Tomorrow is our Blog that's we'll create together.  One collegue is looking forward to being part of our group virtually since she's working in another.  We're hoping that this format of a group bulletin board of sorts will encourage us to share what's working in our classrooms in a mode that others can learn from and we can learn from their comments.

Our Mission: Here’s the amazing part – we get to design our own learning! We have time to meet, plan, learn, share, implement, create, and inspire together various days throughout our school year.

Our Meetings:
September 1st
September 2nd
October 8th 1-3pm
December 3rd 1-3pm
January 28th
February 18th 1-3pm
March 18th 1-3pm
May 20th 1-3pm
PLN: My Personal Learning Network
Twitter has changed me as an educator. But, more importantly the PEOPLE I’ve connected with through Twitter have changed me.  I’ve been challenged, inspired, awed, intimidated, encouraged, and congratulated. I’ve found answers, hope, assistance, friendship, insight, understanding, and laughter.  I’ve learned, consumed, attempted, solved, suggested, and been confused.

I’ve thought about “expanding” my network and have some, but I’ll admit I’m more interested in putting time and effort into what I already have. My Google Reader patterns have narrowed to the reading what those below have posted more than the rest. I concentrate on tweets more than the others, as well as gathering ideas from their websites.

I LOVE food - everything about it!  The Food Network is one of my favorite channels.  Last week, The Next Food Netword Star started a new season.  Bobby Flay is my favorite Iron Chef and he's one the Celebrity Judges.  Regardless, the finalists embark on a food adventure with challenges and obstacles like any other reality series.  Yet, they are always confronted with the thought provoking questions about finalizing their food perspective or food point-of-view.  So, that brings me to the field of educational technology....  What's Your Tech Point-of-View?

My Invitation:
Dennis Grice –
Focus on the Learning Tool, not the Technology
A mix of humor, knowledge, curriculum, and always reminds me that words mean things...
Aviva Dunsinger –
Take a New Tool and Implement It “Yesterday”
Proficient with Kidblogs, web 2.0 presentations, and super approachable...
Andrew Kauffman –
New(er) Teacher Places Importance on Tech Amidst it All and One I'd Like My Son to Have for a Teacher
Flexible, excellent communicator, Skype, small group collab projects, and an amazing creative thinker.....
Karen Ditzler –
Technology is not an add-on...
Elementary-minded, provides wonderful examples for each tool on her wiki, I swear she reads my mind at times, creator of "tech" days with hands-on centers....
Jason Schrage –
His... Crazy Idea for online PD
Exploring alternative options for professional development such as Classroom 2.0 and some of his thoughts sparked some of the way our PLC was organized....
Jennifer Wagner –
Creating Collaborative Online Projects and More! 
An experienced organizer and the creative mind behind numerous collaborative events and projects - her bio on the site says it all.  First knew of her as the Guess the Wordle lady, but that doesn't quite paint the picture of Jenuine Jen!
Chris Hyde –
Still wondering what his job entails….I think he's Karen's boss.  No, not really.  But he's helped me a lot with issues, ideas, and inspiration.
He remembers – Mixbook. He encourages - my first RT ever! He shares - an idea we adapted for our arctic animal project! He has fun with Tech - Twibbon - Go Duke!.....
Rob McDonald –
Making Tech a Reality and Interwoven Throughout Ones Classroom
He's convinced me to stick with TweetDeck, he's one of a few 2nd grade classroom teachers in my PLN, I'm drawn to his blog set-up for tech projects and will be mimicking it this fall.....
Mark Carls –
Always there for you!  Now that I'm thinking on it, I'm not really sure if know his tech viewpoint.  But, more on Mark later.  He's the only one in my PLN that I work with "offline" as well since he's here in district one day a week.  So, things are more complicated I guess....

This is just a collection of observations and random thoughts regarding each of you. I have a tough time finding the right words to describe exactly how you each have impacted me. Maybe you can help me by defining your tech viewpoint yourself. But, tech aside, you are amazing PEOPLE!

Also, it’s vital that I note that this invitation list is in draft form. There have been many more that I’ve connected had positive connections with and have learned from, such as Kathy Cassidy, Jared Bennett, Josh Allen, and more. Yet, some are also in the infancy stages and I feel I’m asking a great deal in my request. But, if you’re interested, please let me know. I’d be honored if you’d take part in the “mission.”

My Thoughts:
As a Global Studies student in high school, one of my assignments to learn about World War II was a Who’s Coming to Dinner? project. Mrs. Jacques, my all-time favorite teacher, had us create a dinner party with guests of the time-period, a menu, but most-importantly the dialogue between the guests. I remember trekking to the down-town library to find information on designers of the era since I couldn’t locate resources locally on my unusual people I’d chose. Even then I created my own challenges! But, this project was memorable and fun! I wonder what the dialogue would be like if you all came over for dinner on Saturday? You know I love to cook and bake, I’m taking menu suggestions.....

My Hope:
My goal would be to set-up webinars, video conferences, skype calls, whatever you want to refer to them as, for time to talk and learn from you. They can be brief or in-depth, formal or conversational, and topical or tool-focused. I’m thinking 15-30 minutes or so. Enough to be inspired and learn, but to still leave time for us to have a conversation after the virtual conversation.
Throughts from our Google Doc...
Skype w/ "experts" in the global community of educators on various topics - such as:
- successful student collab projects and details
- measurable learning of projects and "tests" with tech tools
- effectively sharing your tech vision/passion w/ others in your district
- favorite tech/web2.0 tools w/ examples for utilization
- tips on implementation of student projects - organization, rooms, groups, etc.
- other ideas?.....

Well, I’ve been so influenced by these educators that I can’t help but to share how they’ve inspired me with those in my PLC here at RCS. It’s one thing when my colleagues hear me say something is effective in my classroom, hearing it from an expert is another thing. On a personal learning level, I’ll have the privilege to learn more from those who have most impacted me.

My Wondering:
Maybe all of you can help me as I search for solidifying my Tech Point-of-View, but I’m thinking it’ll be ever evolving and changing from one moment to the next.

Educators of my PLN will you be willing to meet with my PLC on one of the above dates?  What would you like to talk about, teach us, inspire us with?  I'm looking forward to the possibilities and I hope you are too! 

So, who's coming to dinner?  Please RSVP below.

When the Ideas Aren't Yours...

Interested?
Student-designed learning.  My enrichment group was ready for another project.  I often can't wait to share my thoughts with my students and will say, "I have an idea!"  This time I asked them if they had any ideas...... This post focuses on what they came up with!  The other reading groups have had opportunities to decide what would be the purpose and creative outlet for their reading projects as well.  Small groups are were the success lies.  More individualized attention + at the students' level + their ideas coming to fruition = accomplisments they OWN!  

innovative? 
Group E's story....
They'd just finished reading Fish Face by Patricia Reilly Giff.  We'd used Edmodo to discuss the book.  But, it was time for an extention project.  They wanted to create something with avatars, readers theater, and record videos.  As they continued to share ideas, a solid project idea started to form.

First, they each created a character that could have been in Mrs. Rooney's class in the story.  They did this the old fashioned way with crayons and paper.  They brainstormed about what kind of character traits they could possess and each decided what their character's personality would be like. 
Next, they used Portrait Avatar Maker to generate an avatar from their crayon creations.  This site worked exceptionally well!  They really enjoyed it.
After that, the group was challenged as they worked together as writers.  They made a story elements chart of their ideas for the Readers Theater.  Then they composed the script that included the original characters
ensuring that everyone would have similar amount of lines, this part was very important to the writing team. Also, the writers made sure that the script had a lesson that could be learned or a theme.  Here is the Google Doc of their final version.
Finally, they filmed each other and make little video clips introducing the characters.  They showed their sketches and their final avatars.
Last, the students practiced and practiced the Reader's Theater.  The performed it for the rest of the class.

Here is the VoiceThread with the various aspects of the project....




Group E didn't stop there...
Next on their menu was The Candy Corn Contest by Patricia Reilly Giff
Here's the project overview -
Glog Creation Contest
Glogs will be judged using the following criteria:
1. Design - Creativity and Elements
2. Accuracy - Correct Events and Details
3. Teamwork - Cooperation and Working Together
4. Presentation - Confidence and Clarity of Voice

Your mission: To create a Glog with your partner on The Candy Corn Contest! How you go about this is up to you.... the possiblities are endless! Let the creative juices start flowing.

Here's what the partner groups came up with...



The results...
We used Rubistar to create the rubric based on their ideas.  It was a mix of pre-made choices and custom options.  The rubrics were used to "judge" the contest by our panel of judges - Mrs. Giannicchi (Curriculum Coordinator), Mrs. Cullen (Library Aide), and Mrs. Root (Teacher Aide).

Two groups were tied upon the submission of the rubrics by the panel of judges.  The final group was brought to the front based upon the landslide of votes casts by the student audience.  As corny as it sounds, they were all winners.  But, then again it was the Candy CORN contest! 

Here's their Animoto of photos from the presentation...



Balto project details...
They read The Bravest Dog Ever:  The True Story of Balto by Natalie Standiford and loved it!  They've been on a roll with devising activites for their reading group, so it was their choice again. 

This time, they wanted to create a collaborative web similar to Cacoo, but they requested something that would be more user-friendly for them to use independently - aka didn't require a sign-in by the teacher.  So, Google Docs was utilized again.  But, this time they took advantage of the drawing feature to create their web.  Thank you to Mark Carls, our technology integrator, for reminding us of Google Docs again, when our attempts to use Gliffy didn't work out!  The students were quite persistant and he "saved the day" when the other options weren't cooperating as planned. 

They also wanted to create a digital timeline of the events in the book.  They worked together to put all of the events in the story in sequence.  They ended up using timetoast for the tech tool for their timeline.  They were hoping to sequence the events without dates, but everything we found required exact dates.  So, we improvised and decided next time to adjust and either pick a differerent book or an alternative project.  Here's their finished timeline....http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/61330

Here's some of the ideas the other reading groups have come up with regarding tech integration and links to their web pages....

Using a distraction to the learner's advantage....
Group A's Bubbles Jr. Letter Writing

Book report goes VoiceThread style combined with elements of our Skype Literature Circles....
Group D's Cam Jansen VoiceThread Mystery Book Report

Before, During, and After reading using online sticky notes, drawings, and non-fiction text....
Group B's Linoit - Camoflague

Collaborative Topical Web - Collection and organization of facts on owls from two texts....
Group C's - Cacoo Web on Owls

IMPACT? 
Their ideas were brought through to fruition.  They've learned to cooperate to make their visions a reality.  They needed to find that happy medium between their own ideas and those of the group. 

This post has been in draft mode for a while and when I read this Tweet by Andrew Marcinek, @andycinek, today, I couldn't agree more and it gave me the inspiration to wrap this up! 

Here's some of his other thoughts from #edchat today...

I'm always asking questions.  Constantly thinking.  These are a few that have consumed my thoughts lately...

What IS the role of a teacher? 

How do YOU inspire your students to think for themselves?

What steps do you take to TRANSFER more control of their learning over to your students?

Who makes up your student groups - differentiated, leveled by interest, created by ability?

When is it to stop modeling and time to let go & let them?

Impressed? 
It took them a lot longer on their own, but the end results were worth it!  Ideas mean something when they are put into action.  I'm proud of my students and love it when I now hear them say, "I have an idea!"  They are so excited to share their thinking and even more excited that they have the opportunity to act on it and make it happen! 

Enriching Learners with Edmodo

Interested? Our experience with Edmodo and how enriching this group of readers has helped them as learners. 

innovative? I learned about Edmodo couldn't wait to try it out with my students.  Edmodo is a free private social platform for education where you can set up microblogging in your classroom or connect with other classrooms. 

Here are the students' favorite parts of Edmodo...



I was learning along with Group E. We tried to give all aspects of Edmodo a shot.  During our exploration of Edmodo as a group of learners we:

Posted our own Notes
Replied to each others comments
Submitted Assignments
Added sticky notes to embedded Wallwisher of facts from the book
Took a quiz using an embedded Google Form
Linked to a collaborative Google Doc
Created a couple of Polls for votes & opinions
Added colored stickes to an embedded Lino canvas of our predictions
Experimented with Edmodo Chalk -
                 Edmodo's own real-time document that's similar to
                                    Typewithme or EtherPad 
Used the File option to upload images to show book choices to vote on
Took various responses and put them in a Wordle to analyze

Edmodo Beta Testers  - I contacted Jeff O'Hara, @zemote, through Twitter about joining this group.  When I find something that is really beneficial for my students, I can't help but to continually reflect on how it could be even better.  I am thankful to be a part of this "Group" on Edmodo and value the opportunity to give feedback.  I'd suggested about adding an option for the students to respond to the grade they are given. I knew it would come up and that at least one of my students would want to talk to me and inquire further details regarding their grade. I'd added comments along with the grades given, but sure enough one student still wanted to discuss it more.  Another suggestion that I really hope they add is an online sticky note tool option within Edmodo similar to Wallwisher.  It would also be neat to have a quiz generator tool.  Yet, I'm so thankful for the embed feature that allows other options to be utlized within this private microblogging format. 

Edmodo is something that I'm glad we have implemented into our classroom.  We have now conducted our "small group" for reading on Edmodo for 3 different books.  For our next learning task, the students will learn how to embed their glogs they are currently creating.  It will be awesome to be able to comment on each other's interactive book reports designed in Glogster EDU.

IMPACT?  Discussion was able to continue beyond the small group table.  A few of the students were going on and talking to each other at home.  Attitudes were altered!     Students went beyond their comfort zones in their converstations.  I enjoyed learning along with this group and being an example for my students that we should embrace learning and keep at it.

My heart goes out to the students who are proficient in the expectations of the grade level, but need MORE!  There are times when I've seen this type of student who is capable of the "above & beyond" be content with the norm.  Among the various levels of learners in the classroom, these students don't always get the extra attention that the students who are "left behind" are getting.  I understand that every student has a need & as a classroom teacher I need to ensure they are all being met, but I really noticed some of my above grade level students starting to slip.  Lately, I've been trying to give the students in my class who fit this criteria avenues to expand their learning & no excuse to be satisified.  My goal is that they will see the value of continually learning & striving for one's best! 

Impressed?  I am just amazed at how well the students succeeded with Edmodo.  Our class really enjoys sharing our learning with others, but this is something that was special in the fact that it was our own private reading group.  Edmodo is a valuable tool that we will continue to utilize in our classroom!

Connecting Communities

Interested?
A collaborative project involving 16 classes from around the world.
What is a COMMUNITY?..... learning together to create a definition.

innovative?
Since I'm a huge Glogster EDU fan, I couldn't think of a more creative design that would hopefully capture other educators' interest in this crazy idea of mine.  So, the above Glog was born!
I put it on Twitter, sent some DMs to those in my PLN that I thought might be interested, posted it on CAPspace, and my tech integrator, Mark Carls, put it in a couple of his Ning groups.

Google Form -



I liked... A simple and straight-forward way to sign-up for the project, plus one can add a theme to the background.  It was so nice to have everyone's information all organized.
Areas to improve on... Be sure to have all of the information you'll need in the form and be specific on what you're requesting.  I also realized after the fact, that I should have shared this with all participants.  Well, at least the contact information so people could set up collaborative projects with each other if they wanted to.

Google Doc -



I liked...How all of the classes were able to edit the same Google Presentation.  Classes were able to upload their pictures and put their questions up for the rest of the participants.  I'll admit I was amazed at the variety and amount of questions that the students came up with.  The kids were interested in each other and wanted to know about all aspects of their life.  In doing so, I think they were hoping to visualize and picture what it would be like to be in their town, school, state, country,..... community.
Areas to improve on... Be sure to request the email that the educator is using for their Google Account.

Google Earth -

I liked...The great feedback!  Many of the students and educators really seemed to enjoy how it made the project more understandable and easy to picture the locations of all involved.
Areas to improve on...The tour had one of the schools at it's old location.  Be sure to use the address even if the building pops up when searching.  Also, two of the districts had a difficult time getting the tour to work - check on different versions.  I'd also like to figure out how to embed the Google Earth Tour so it can be viewed online within the gadget so anyone can see it.... still working on that one.

Google Wave -
      

Here's the link to Aviva Dunsinger's Blog Post on the Google Wave since she was able to record it.
I liked...How SO many classes were able to take part in the Wave in real-time - about 6 or 7 classes.   Yet, it was also really neat how those who weren't able to, were able to take advantage of Wave's asynchronous benefit and add to it anytime after it was started.  I was also inspiring that there were many educators who hadn't tried out Wave yet and were willing to give it a try with their classes. 
Areas to improve on...Be ready for anything!  Sometimes things can change direction mid-project or not go the way it was envisioned or planned, but that's just part of the whole process.  We had so many people participating in the Wave in real-time, that that was amazing in of itself.  No, we didn't answer all of the students questions, but that's okay.  It was a tad unrealistic of me I guess, but thought they'd love it to see their question come up and everyone else answering it simultaneously.  Yet, kids were impressed regardless.  The discussions continued both on the Wave and in the classrooms.  

Collaborative Slideshare

What is a COMMUNITY?

View more presentations from JamieLynn Griffith.

I liked... The variety of quotes was absolutely amazing.  There was a nice mix of student slides, class slides, and slides created by a small group. 
Areas to improve on... Be careful of the directions.  Even though you may be trying to clarify to those who would like it, double and triple check the steps you've given.  But, when mistakes happen...just re-explain and move on.  Andrew Kauffman encourgaed me and said something to this effect... Remember we are always learning and it's just part of the process that leads to success.

IMPACT?
Here's how this project influenced....



My class - We had an opportunity to connect with many classes and cultures.  They really liked creating the quotes & slides in a small group.  Regarding the Google Wave, my classroom actually was more engaged the day after when we referred back to it.  We really liked reading about Ms. Purti's class in India. They also were awed at the different areas that the communities were located in the Google Earth Tour. 
Others - I was thankful that other classes shared how they were learning about communities in their classrooms.  The original and creative ideas that others make happen in their classrooms.  I was really amazed at Mrs. Dunsinger's videos that her students created about community helpers. 
Me - I think I learned the most of out of everyone.  I don't usually go into something wondering what I'll leave with, but this time I feel that I was the one that learned the most.  Well, at least I learned so much more than I ever imagined.  I'm so glad that all of these opportunities and challenges that were unexpected came into my life.  I'm a reflective individual always looking for better ways to approach things and the list is lengthy this time, yet I'm so thankful that those that were in this project alongside me were understanding of the learning process.  Will I ever tackle another collaborative project involving numerous classes?  Definitely.  Will I approach things differently?  For sure.  Will I learn and grow from my mistakes?  Continually.  Will this make me a better learner?  Yes. 

Impressed? 
I was impressed with how this impacted me as an educator.  There are some absolutely inspiring educators in our world.  I'm just thankful that I had the opportunity to connect my class with some through this project. 
Last week I attended Riding the Digital Wave in West Seneca, NY.  I really like the approach that the Keynote speaker Roger L. Firestien, Ph.D. recommends when evaluating ideas of others -
Consider the:
Pluses - strengths of the idea
Potentials  - list them
Concerns - phrase your concern as you would phrase a question or problem statement (This way your mind will immediately begin to look for ways to overcome it instead of disregarding the whole idea.)

I'll be using this approach on my own ideas in the future... 
Sometimes I get so into the potentials, that I fail to address the possible concerns.  Although, some ideas aren't necessarilty poor ideas, but just might need to be accomplished in another manner. 

So, here's to trying things that are HARD regardless!

I learned so much more than I could have imagined.  I'm glad this was difficult and that I decided to take the risk. 

The purpose of learning is growth, and our minds, unlike our bodies, can continue growing as we continue to live.
   ~Mortimer Adler


 

Online PD - aka my Twitter Tale

Hmmmm... Where do I begin?
Online PD to me....can be described with one word Twitter!

I was looking for a class to connect with this year on a more regular basis than last year. I'll fully admit that I'm a picky girl. I was looking for someone that met some specific requirements:
1. share a similar tech vision
2. an effective communicator
3. a lifelong learner
4. patience to deal with me

Tough to fill, especially the last one, but my wonderful technology integrator - Mark Carls (@mcarls) - found just the right educator for me to connect with - on Twitter of course. It was Andrew Kauffman (@atkauffman) and after checking out his Tweets and class website, I was so impressed! I left some comments on his class VoiceThread, sent him an email, Mark sent him a Tweet..... I hoped the connection would come to fruition.

I can't say enough positive things about Andrew Kaufman and how working with him and his class has made such an amazing impact on myself as an educator and therefore my classroom. But, more on that later. One thing that I'd been toying with was the idea of using Twitter. Mark Carls always told me about how he'd send a question out to Twitter that I needed an answer to and I'd tease him about his "following," but when Andrew Kauffman, a second grade classroom teacher just like me, told me it was the best thing he's ever done in terms of Professional Development, I figured it was worth looking into further.

So, I started off very small with my brother. I asked him my questions, instead of Mark, because I was too embarrassed with my lack of knowledge about social networking. Usually I'm a totally upfront person, admiting my inadequacies, but I don't even have a Facebook page and my tech passion has been educational, not social. My cell is almost always dead in my purse. But, for a country girl looking for more for her already tech-infused classroom this was just what I needed next. My brother and I hadn't talked so much ever - he's a technology buff - and this was an effective way for us to communicate! I learned the basics and was ready to expand my Twitter usage beyond a sibling "conversation" and was determined to find educational connections, resources, and be a part of the educational conversation. 

Well, little did I know that I was actually developing a PLN. I didn't even know the term until at least a month into Twitter. But, I have learned SO much! Here are just of the few things that I'd highlight from my own learning adventure or online professional development:

1. Tech integration ideas - I've altered & implemented so much based on what others have shared - cacoo, linoit, progressive stories, and the list goes on & on + increased my idea base for favorites such as Glogster EDU & VoiceThread
2. Blogs - now I have a Google Reader &  am awed by the educators who are passionate about their profession
3. Edmodo - use for Enrichment with my second graders thanks to Jason Schrage (@oswego98) tweets of progress with his middle schoolers
4. Educator's Comments - votes, comments, & tweets of praise on the class projects have inspired my students
5. Becoming a Blogger - I have a lot that I've found success with in my class & now have a place to share beyond 140 characters
6. Skype - I've found so many classrooms willing to connect & share

I've totally went off on a tangent with this one! But, my Twitter PD has been so effective. The purpose of PD is to learn and implement in your classroom, right? Well, I've had the opportunity this year to broaden my learning community and make the strategies, tools, connections a reality in my classroom!

My superitendent, Kimberly Moritz, proposed a plan for our Professional Development next school year. We have giant pieces of paper posted in the offices to write down what topics we are interested in pursuing. I'm so thankful that she understands that educators' learning goals can differ and we are given the opportunity to make a choice. Yet, that's NEXT year. So much will change in education, especially regarding educational technology, between now and then. I can't even think of what to record on the group sheet, but I know that I'm going to continue learning, applying, refecting, sharing, growing, and am thankful that I finally grabbed my wings and started tweeting!

But, to answer one of Jason Schrage's questions from his
Crazy Idea for Online PD:

Question # 2. I really like your blog idea. I've enjoyed mine for highlighting what I've learned, applied, and refecting on it all. I think it would be an effective way to share with others in a format that is non-threatening. You can read and learn from your collegues and just be a consumer of information. One can comment and take the participation further. Better yet, one can try it out in their own classroom and learn from each others' successes and failures. I'll admit it'll be hard to share with ones collegues - it can be intimidating, you might wonder about how others will perceive you, you may think your ideas aren't ones to share. But, the most important thing I've learned on my adventure in learning on Twitter is that we are all educators looking to see our students succeed as learners. So, what better way to be the model and be the learners ourself.

Here's one example from this week of how my online PD has proved to be worth it:

1. Learned about Storybird on Twitter
2. Implemented it in my classroom
3. Wrote this Blog post - Storybird Surprises
4. Continue to receive feedback from others & learn....

I hope that our PD next school years turns out to be as beneficial for others as mine has been this year! 

Storybird Surprise

Interested? Karen Ditzler and I set up a collaborative Storybird project with a small group of students from Mrs. Plever's class in PA and a small group of students from my class in NY.  It was an amazing month of co-authoring a story using Storybird and Skype to connect.

innovative? We've enjoyed connecting with numerous other classrooms this school year.  More recently, I've been able to find connections for my students to work collaboratively in small groups.  It enables them to have more active participation in the project and me to act as the guide to encourage deeper conversations.  So, I was looking for someone to connect my reading group D with - Mattison, Matthew, Zachary, and Tiffany.  Karen was able to organize students from Mrs. Plever's class to join us.

First, we connected with Skype.  The students on both "ends" of the camera were excited to meet those who would be writing the story with them.  Karen shared her screen with us and we talked about what set of illustrations we should use for inspiration for our story.  The students finally agreed that Andy McNally's set included a good mix of characters and background design that would spark conversations while writing the book. 

Next, Mrs. Plever's group along with Mrs. Ditzler wrote the first two pages and then we "switched turns."  When you switch turns using Storybird you are able to write a note to your co-author and it sends them an email notifying them that it's their time to write.

After that, my group added two more pages with different illustrations from the set by Andy McNallly created and continued the story.  We switched back and forth so each group had three turns. 

Finally, it was time to wrap of the story and write a conclusion.  During our video Skype call, the students took turns reading the pages of the story each group had written and all worked together to choose the final illustrations and how the story would end.  The title was added, the story was published, tweets of the student success were shared, and then the experience just continued to create lasting impressions....

Here's the Storybird book on Group D's website.

Mr. Bobblehead's New Gadget and the Valentine's Surprise on Storybird

 

IMPACT?  Here are a collection of the tweets surrounding the fantastic Friday

 

It's neat to have someone re-tweet what your students have accomplished. So, thank you @Storybird and @Nat_Mich! I'm so proud of the student authors in my group and how they were creative, especially behind the scenes and off camera, but it's encouraging to them to see other educators who respond to their work that's posted on Twitter.  The groups worked together to write an amazing story or as @Storybird put it, a "tale about ice cream and love!"  Next, the illustrator, Andy McNally, gave a RT!  Then we started receiving email notices that educators were commenting on the Storybird website (see below the storybook).  Last, an educator sent me a Direct Message wanting more information on the project!  It was a fanastic Friday.

Impressed?  The students were in awe at this point and I'll admit so was I.  The illustrator's comment was very detailed in it's praise for the student authors.  We turned this into a class moment and I briefly shared with the rest of the class the amazing things that were happening as a result of the small group of students in our classroom.  One student said, "I wish I was in that group!"  We've been in contact with the illustrator via email.  So, now we are gooking forward to an orginal drawing by Andy McNally arriving in the mail! 

We will use Andy McNally's artwork as continued inspiration in our classroom to carry on on our learning adventure in room 40 while incorporating technology, writing, and collaboration into our curriculum!