An Interactive Workshop Helping Teachers Integrate Mathematics And Master 21 st Century Skills

1. Peddling The PodcastBy Linda M. Jarzyniecki, NBCT, PresenterMATH & SCIENCE EXPO Troy UniversityJanuary 18, 2007linda.jarzyniecki@butlerco.k12.al.us 334-382-2608 An Interactive Workshop Helping Teachers Integrate Mathematics And Master 21st Century Skills Using Web 2.0 Wikis, Blogs, & Podcasts

2. Objectives • To understand the differences among: • Wikis • Blogs • Podcasts / Vlodcasts • To design a wiki or blog while at the workshop that can be used in your mathematics classroom.

3. Is it possible to find new and innovative ways for our students to learn math?

4. What is a WIKI? • A wiki is a type of website that allows users to easily add and edit content and is especially suited for collaborative writing (Wikipedia). That means that on typical wikis, anyone can edit anything at anytime. • Examples of wikis • Wikipedia - a free online encyclopediaeastwikkers - lists 33 wikis that are worth visitingWestwood Wiki - The online space for students of Westwood Schools to learn and collaborate.Weblogged Presentation Links - Will Richardson's info about WikisCollaborate with other teachers!http://7math.wikispaces.com/MathcastsEduWikipedia - For all things Education 2.0

5. A Clip to watch explaining the WIKI

6. Let’s Begin… • How to beginChoose a wiki hosting service • www.wikispaces.com - Free for educators, easy to use, not very flashywww.seedwiki.com - Free for educators, a little more versatile, a little more complicated • PB Wiki - They claim to be as easy as peanut butter, but you have to wait to receive an email before you can begin. • JotSpot Easy to upload files, built-in calendar • www.Wetpaint.com You invite the people you want to edit it thus eliminating spam, etc.

7. It is your turn to set up a WIKI • Go to www.wikispaces.com • You will need to pick a user name and password. Google will set it up. • Write a math problem for your students and ask for them to respond. Today we will use each other to respond. • See if you can hyperlink to http://www.free-ed.net/free-ed/Math/default.asp

8. What is a BLOG? • Wikipedia defines a blog… • A blog is a user-generated website where entries are made in journal style and displayed in a reverse chronological order. • Blogs often provide commentary or news on a particular subject, such as food, politics, or local news; some function as more personal online diaries. A typical blog combines text, images, and links to other blogs, web pages, and other media related to its topic. The ability for readers to leave comments in an interactive format is an important part of many blogs. Most blogs are primarily textual although some focus on photographs (photoblog), sketchblog, videos (vlog), or audio (podcasting), and are part of a wider network of social media. • The term "blog" is derived from "Web log." "Blog" can also be used as a verb, meaning to maintain or add content to a blog.

9. Why Use a BLOG? • You might like to create a reflective, journal type blog to...* reflect on your teaching experiences. * keep a log of teacher-training experiences.* write a description of a specific teaching unit.* describe what worked for you in the classroom or what didn't work. * provide some teaching tips for other teachers.* write about something you learned from another teacher.* explain teaching insights you gain from what happens in your classes.* share ideas for teaching activities or language games to use in the classroom. * provide some how-to's on using specific technology in the class, describing how you used this technology in your own class.* explore important teaching and learning issues.

10. More Reasons for a BLOG… • You might like to start a class blog to...* post class-related information such as calendars, events, homework assignments and other pertinent class information.* post assignments based on readings and have students respond on their own weblogs, creating a kind of portfolio of their work.* communicate with parents if you are teaching elementary school students as well as secondary school students.* post prompts for writing.* provide examples of classwork, vocabulary activities, or classroom journals.* provide online readings for your students to read and react to.* gather and organize Internet resources for a specific course, providing links to appropriate sites and annotating the links as to what is relevant about them.* post photos and comment on class activities.

11. A class blog will let you… • * invite student comments or postings on issues in order to give them a writing voice.* publish examples of good student writing done in class.* show case student art, poetry, and creative stories...yes, even in a math class.* create a dynamic teaching site, posting not only class-related information, but also activities, discussion topics, links to additional information about topics they are studying in class, and readings to inspire learning.* make use of the commenting feature to have students publish messages on topics being used to develop language skills.* ask students to create their own individual course blogs, where they can post their own ideas, reactions and written work.* post tasks to carry out project-based learning tasks with students.* build a class newsletter, using student-written articles and photos they take.* link your class with another class somewhere else in the world

12. Your Students … • You can encourage your students (either on your weblog using the comments feature or on their own weblogs) to blog... * their reactions to thought-provoking questions.* their reactions to photos you post.* journal entries.* results of surveys they carry out as part of a class unit.* their ideas and opinions about topics discussed in class.

13. Student Weblogs… • You can have your students create their own weblogs to...* learn how to blog* complete class writing assignments.* create an ongoing portfolio of samples of their writing/problem solving.* express their opinions on topics you are studying in class.* write comments, opinions, or questions on daily news items or issues of interest that integrates math concepts.* discuss activities they did in class and tell what they think about them (You, the teacher, can learn a lot this way!).* write about class topics, using newly-learned vocabulary words, especially those that are used on the AHSGE • * use your notebook to save problems and post the solutions on the blog as well as the “how to work it out”.

14. Shared Weblogs • You can also ask your class to create a shared weblog to...complete project work in small groups, assigning each group a different task.* showcase products of project-based learning.* complete a WebQuest.

15. Podcasting

16. The Podcasting Process • Record sound • Transfer to computer (if necessary) • Edit sound, adding voiceovers and other elements • Compress into MP3 or other format • Post to a webserver • Submit your feed to directories like Itunes

17. Software Recording and Editing Audio Software is needed to capture and edit audio tracks. Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/) It is free and it supports multiple tracks and rather fine incremental editing. To export your Audacity project in MP3 format, you will need to download and install LAME MP3 encoder. (http://audacity.sourceforge.net/hel[/faq?s=install&item=olame=mp3)

18. Use iTunes version 4.9 and higher convert.aiff and .wav files to MP3 format. • Educause is a good screencast that demonstrates using the Audacity software to create a podcast. • http://www.educause.edu/Screencasts/Audacity/Untitles.html • Record a conference call using SKYPE software. This could be an online interview using an integrated voice-over-IP server. • http://www.skype.com/ • To record conversations or interviews, download and install a free Skype plug-in called Powergramo. • http://www.powergramo.com/

19. Explore Podcasts from Elementary School to High School • Elementary School • http://bobsprankle.com/podcasts/0506/rm208051906.mp3 • http://www.mpsomaha.org/willow/radio/shows/Willowcast19.html • http:/runkles1.podomatic.com/entry/2006-03-20T17_44_34-08_00 • Middle School • http://www.cranbrookcomposers.com/podcasts/vmspodcast3.mp3 • Podcasting in High School • http://www.madison.k12.al.us/buckhorn/library/reading.html • http://ghshonorsbio.blogspot.com • http://dansmath.libsyn.com • http://historypodcast.blogspot.com

20. Issues Regarding Privacy • You should receive permission to use the students in your blogs or wikis if you are posting their pictures. • Parent permission form (sample form here: http://itls.saisd.net/scribe/wp-content/uploads/2006/05/pubpermit.pdf) • You should never use last names or identify the students in any way that would jeopardize the students’ identities. • Issue guidelines to students so they are completely aware of what you expect. They will forget. Remind them again…and again…and again. If they refuse to remember, revoke their rights to blog. • If in doubt, then leave it out.

21. Peddling Web 2.0

22. Acknowledgements and Many Thanks to… • The 21st Century Best Practices Center and all the websites and links they have provided to us. • Sheryl Nussbaum Beach – Moderator and Guru for 21st Century Learning Best Practices • Randall Fullington – 21st Century Fellow randall.fullington@butlerco.k12.al.us • Debbie Lawrence – 21st Century GHS Team Lead debbie.lawrence@butlerco.k12.al.us