Carolyn McCarthy
CEP 810
May 5, 2010
I would like to become more proficient at using online collaborative tools to improve the way we work on projects together. I have already experimented with blogging as a tool to enhance literature circles in my classroom, but what else can I do? I have lots of ideas yet I have not implemented them. Some of my ideas incorporate Web 2.0 and Google tools, in particular; Wiki’s, Google docs and forms, Voicethread, and blogging. I believe if I am accomplished at collaborative tools it will make a difference in the quality of collaboration in my classroom as it gives students a way to enhance their group projects whether they are at school, home or out and about.
Already in CEP810 we have used Google Docs, which I am familiar with, but I am going to be challenging myself to go a little further with Docs or blogging so when I am comfortable within a Web 2.0 tool I can learn more about the tool and become a more effective tech teacher. For instance, instead of using WordPress for my blog I have decided to use Blogger, I believe using another program will broaden my spectrum of what is available out there and I will not get stuck in a rut.
Another goal of mine would be to look more at the product and less at the process. Although this may sound counter intuitive for teaching, we are a school that uses Understanding By Design (otherwise known as Backwards Design) and we are concentrating as a school on our assessment process. I find this tricky with technology as often we are looking at the grading the content of what the student has produced but the technology does not get graded. I find a great tool or program and I want to use it, but I need to first look at how will it effect the content of the product and the standards involved. How does the technology enhance the learning? I want to look at the end product of a unit and find a way to add the technology use to the rubric, performance assessment or other grading tool.
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