Presenter: Johanna Riddle

Imagine my surprise when I read FETC’s program the following:

Want to keep your students learning through the summer? Come take a look at the way one media specialist used technology to stay connected with her elementary students on her journey through China. Students continued their spring studies of China well into summer through a teacher authored weblog, and used the information gathered through the blog to master further research and technology skills

I could not believe it. Another teacher had traveled to China and took her students with virtually through a blog.

Johanna handed out a magazine with an article of hers that talks about the travels and blog with her students: The Summer Travel Blog: A 2.0 Travelogue to Bridge Summer Down Time

Johanna used Blogger as the platform for her travel blog.

The latest post talks about a project that students did, using photos that she had taken in China. I am going to recommend this project of a Digital Postcard to our fourth grade levels, who are the target grade for each year’s China studies.

Here’s what they did:

1) Selected a site from the Google Map on this site.
2) Used Internet research to assemble a “quick fact” research sheet.
3) Put the facts together in first person form.
4) Assembled a period costume and took portraits of each other.
5) Looked through my collection of on line albums to find photos of the site they selected.
6) Created a timeline with several important events related to the site.
7) Used Adobe Photoshop Elements to get creative!

1. Basic Geography skills about China
   1. location
   2. major cites
2. Research Skills
3. Literature Based Learning-
   1. A single strand by Linda Sue Park : writing summarizing, sharing.
4. Technology Skills
   1. creating and writing entries
   2. responding to posts
   3. graphic designs
5. Promoting the project
   1. making presentations
   2. making business cards with magnetic strips sent home to the families. Making sure your audience remembers that you are going to be there.
6. Keeping in touch
7. Organize the trip by topics, not daily entries
8. Album and Slideshows
   1. Picture Trail
   2. Adobe Photoshop Elements
9. Google Maps
10. Multiple LIteracies

Johanna shares possible downfalls:

• Choose the right blog site
• Moderate comments
• IP addresses and other adjustments (if traeling internationally)
• Access and restrictions to the Internet
• Training our participants

What’s next?

• New applications of technology skills
• Students generated blogs
• Writing and vocabulary skills
• Integrated learning through literature, research and technology.

Posted: 24. January, 2008 at 11:15 am. Filed under: Conferences, Travel.
Comment | Trackback