Creating a Quickfire

     Today our quickfire challenge was to create our own quickfire!  We were to go to the site to give us some ideas to spark our creativity. Our group decided on creating a motivational quickfire challenge.  In this challenge you create a motivational and de-motivational poster using the tool fotoflexer.   Take a look at our lesson!   I have attached a couple of the examples below.  I would love to try this quick fire challenge with my classroom.  It would be so wonderful to have all of the motivational posters in the classroom that the students created!

Digital Citizenship

2 Minute Screencast Challenge with Jing

21st Century Reflection

    During our MAET class we were asked to take a 21st Century Reflection about our district.  Overall, I believe our district is headed in the right direction towards fostering 21st century learning.  Most of our results were in the transitional stage, which appears very promising.  We just recently passed a technology millage, which will allow the district the opportunity for more tools and professional development to further enhance our schools to meet the needs of digital learners.  I look forward to our district implementing the use of the TPACK model to foster the needs of our learners.  My goal is to play an active role to enhance the development and success of 21st century learning in our district.
  

21st Century Learner Representation- Using Legos!

My First Week of MAET Reflection

During this past week of the MAET program, I have learned a lot about my passion and dedication towards the applications of technology. It has been an intense, yet worthwhile experience. I have had the opportunity to extend my basic knowledge of the web 2.0 tools  that I  have previously learned.  This week wasn’t necessarily learning about the tools, but more about the opportunity to incorporate these tools and the applications of use in the classroom. One of my favorite experiences this week was learning about QR codes.   I have previously been exposed to QR codes. However, I had the opportunity to create one and see its purpose in the classroom. This week I created a QR code for my class website to include on my professional website.  Once I "tweeted" out my QR code on Twitter, I received feedback from another professional that had a google document as to how I can incorporate them into my classroom!  My PLN continues to amaze me!  

 This week was also my first experience learning about TPACK,which stands for Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge.  We watched a short clip about the idea of TPACK, and it has remained with me ever since. How can I as an educator provide that perfect culmination of content, pedagogy and technology into my classroom? My goal over the next few weeks of the MAET program is to extend my knowledge and application of TPACK for my classroom as well as my district.

Power Of Creativity

        Are the classrooms today stifling creativity? Are we allowing choice in our classrooms to show the creativity of our students?  Sometimes we need to take a moment to see what the students have to say. Take a look at this Video from Ted. com Talks where Adora Svitak discusses quite convincingly how adults can learn a thing or two about creativity from kids.


       This week during our MAET classes, we had the opportunity to participate in a few "ice breakers" to get the creative juices flowing!   One of the activities was to pick out an object from a bag and come up with all the different ways you could use the object.  I had a magnifier with a light.  At first, you think of the simple way to use it- to enlarge things we read. However, at more time to think "outside the box", provided alternative ideas that I had never thought before.  I took advantage of its shape, color and texture to come up with other uses.  It was then when I had an AHA! moment!  Many times as teachers we give a student and assignment and tell them exactly what to do and how to do it.  By doing this, we don't allow for the creativity and uniqueness of the student!  Giving the student opportunity and choice to think outside of the box will allow the child to "think out of the box" and quite possibly have an AHA! moment with the content.  Is that what we are searching for?  We all don't learn the same way... why should we be expected to share our knowledge with the same product?
   My goal for this next year is to extend the idea of project based learning into my classroom more frequently to allow students the possibility of creativity and choice.  We all need as many AHA! moments as we can get. Why not start incorporating that into the classroom each day?  For some ideas on how to get started, take a look at these links..
http://www.uwsp.edu/education/lwilson/creativ/
http://www.cloudnet.com/~edrbsass/edcreative.htm
http://creativity.denverartmuseum.org/lesson-plans/elementary/ 

Beautiful Sunset Example using Creative Commons

Photo Attribution:  Original Image :Sunset 

Photograph By: Moyan Brenn

http://www.flickr.com/photos/aigle_dore/4103331038/ 

During the course of our year in 4th grade, we discuss descriptive writing.  Using vivid pictures provides a visual example for the students to practice writing descriptively.     There are many pictures in Flickr that could provide examples for writing.  My goal is to work on building my photos on my personal Flickr page.  Hopefully,others will benefit from my collection.

Hello- I'm a LiveBinder

     Today during our MAET class we had the opportunity to become a tech tool.  We took some time to learn about a tool that we were interested in learning more about.  I have always been very curious about creating a LiveBinder.  I took a few minutes to learn about LiveBinders to be able to share it with my teammates.  The class then proceeded to "speed date" as tech tools, to provide the opportunity to learn about a variety of  web 2.0 tools.  It was such a creative way to find out about a variety of tools! I have seen (and bookmarked) many LiveBinders that others have shared.  Now it is my turn to step up and give back!
    The first thing that I love about Livebinders is that it has a "LiveBinder It" tool that you can add right to your bookmarking bar, which allows for easy access.  I also love that you can binder several sites, documents and videos about a particular topic in a binder with one URL address.  Previously I have put each website on my blog, which can take up a lot of space!  It is also hard to go back the links start accumulating!  This would definitely solve this problem!
Take a look at the LiveBinders that I have created! Caution:  They are still a work in progress!  Hopefully they will be helpful to others in the future!
   Division LiveBinder
 Web 2.0 tools LiveBinder

My Class Website QR Code!

As I learn more about QR codes, I learn about the many possibilites of using it in the classroom. Scan my code to see where it will take you!
  Want to create your own QR code, check out these sites!  http://jumpscan.com/
                                                                                            http://goo.gl/
                                                                                            http://www.qrstuff.com/

I Believe..

Untitled from kim powell on Vimeo.

What's Your Learning Style?

    Today in our MAET classes we were asked to take a learning style quiz. Take a look at my results! I am very pleased to see that my learning style directly relates to my profession. What is your learning style? Take the quiz at http://www.edutopia.org/mi-quiz.

My PLN - A Work In Progress..

My PLN has been invaluable to me!  They have provided my classroom with meaningful connections, collaborations, and creative learning adventures!  I am constantly growing each and everyday through my PLN.  Each day holds the possibility of meeting someone new and discovering an amazing opportunity. My journey awaits...

21st Century Learning Map

I believe this map will be a work in progress throughout my own path towards 21st Century Learning. I look forward to the building and changing of this map while I am in the MAET program.

An Amazing Year

     It is amazing to look back at all the wonderful things that my classroom accomplished this year!    My students had a passion for technology!  We started the year with a classroom blog, and found ourselves participating in World Read Aloud Day with international authors, participating in Mystery Skype with 13 states, creating a Voice Thread, collaborating over Edmodo and wikispaces through our FlatClassroom Project, as well as students finding their own voice on Kidblogs to a global audience!  The biggest challenge we had was the limited use of time that we were able to borrow the mobile labs.  We needed more access time! Our class was filled with learning and collaboration!  Each day the students inspired me to find a new tool, a new outlet to see our curriculum in a creative way!  We were very fortunate to be featured in the local paper twice this year for integrating technology.
    As a professional, I have also grown in so many ways.  Through the use of Twitter, my PLN has grown tremendously!  Twitter is a professional development tool that can happen at anytime of the day!  Throughout this year I have participated in a #4thchat on Monday evenings which allows me to connect with others on my grade level and share ideas!  This has also provided opportunities for collaborations with other 4th grade classrooms.   I have also had the opportunity to connect and collaborate with other educators throughout the world over Elluminate during the Flat Classroom project.   These are only a few examples of how my horizons in technology have expanded.  I continue to grow, collaborate and learn each day through the use of the many blogs I follow through my Google Reader.  The connections have sparked a fire in me to continue my passion and pursue my Masters in Educational Technology.
    I hope that I continue to enhance my professional development and grow as an educator through the use of technology.