Critical Thinking

Second graders often shy away from the critical thinking questions.  When challenged with analyzing a topic or explaining their answers, they want the teacher or another student to share the answer.   In the past we have focused so much on students learning facts and skills to pass the standardized test, that the critical thinking part of the curriculum was saved until after the test.  However, recently we have decided that developmentally, K-2 students are not ready for standardized tests.  We are doing our best to move toward helping students use their higher order thinking skills more effectively. 

The Everyday Math program challenges students to be engaged in critical thinking.  Students enjoy being able to  think of different strategies to solve a particular problem.  When students work in groups, they are able to analyze and make decisions about problems.   They explain their decisions to the other groups.  This creates a great dialogue among the students.

Last week, our assistant principal was sharing with my students how to program a LEGO robot.  The questions that arose as he was sharing showed that the students were thinking critically.  The students have now been challenged to explore so that they can answer those questions.  

Other areas I try to model and incorporate critical thinking are reading, grammar, and writing.  I have challenged myself to move away from the worksheets and provide opportunities for students to discuss and develop strategies to assist them in understanding the concepts.  A few weeks ago, my students created poems and songs to assist them in understanding adjectives.  

We are moving more toward problem-based learning so that concepts will not be taught in isolation.  This will assist us in helping students think critically.   I will also continue to research ways to assist my students in thinking critically.  I hope to start more reciprocal teaching so that students will be more involved in analyzing, decision making, and explaining their decisions.

Telecommunications

In viewing the telecommunications sources, it reminded me of  ThinkQuest.org.  It is an online environment in which students across the world may share projects that they have created.  Others may view their projects and comment or even join in with them.  It is sponsored by the Oracle Education Foundation.  They have a competition in which students collaborate to create projects, digital media, or application development.  Students choose a problem to solve through the use of technology.  It is a site that I believe works best for teachers of fourth and fifth graders through high school.  It would allow them to communicate globally with others.  The GACS Web Design Team uses this forum to share project information on which they are working.  This is a source that our BOOST teachers could use as well. (The site is monitored by the teachers who sponsor the groups and any inappropriate comments may be reported and removed.  Also, the guidelines state that inappropriate language or content may result in accounts being deactivated.)


Since my focus this year will be book clubs, there are several options for communicating globally with authors and others about books. 

• With the addition of book clubs in our reading curriculum, The Skype An Author Network would be a resource that my team and other teachers could use.  This would be an opportunity for students to connect with the author whose books they are reading. We recently had Carmen Deedy visit our school.  It would be great to follow-up with her via Skype after the students have had an opportunity to read more of her books. 

• Another opportunity to connect with others about books is the Scholastic STACKS blog.  Students may comment or ask questions about a particular book that is posted on the blog.   Comments must be approved by the moderator.  They are also monitored for appropriateness (according to the site).  In addition to commenting about books, there are writing prompts that may be used for writing. 

• Communication has been a topic of discussion in our class for the past few weeks.  As I searched for other options for communicating about book clubs, I came across eFilms on ePALS, a global community to connect learners.  The topic of discussion this month is communication.  Students are presented with questions about the eFilm they watch.  Students may also contribute by creating their own video in response to the eFilm.  Since we have Macs this year, I was especially interested in the eFilm on the evolution of the Apple computers. One means of communicating is storytelling.

• The storytelling portion of ePALS would be an opportunity for students to create their own stories after reading a book.   

ePALS has a lot of information and one could get lost.  It would be very helpful to limit the search to a particular topic so students and teachers won't get distracted. 

e-Learning

This chapter on e-Learning reminded me of our discussion we had last week about Blackboard Collaborate.  Last week, our technology integration chair shared with us that there is space in our access to Blackboard Collaborate for all of our teachers to have a room.  We were discussing several ways that this could be used with our students. 

• Break out rooms for groups to collaborate during the class time
• Sessions during times like our snow storm we had last year
• Help sessions for small groups which can be recorded for the entire class to review

As the chapter indicated there are advantages and disadvantages to e-Learning.  The instructor plays one of the most important roles in ensuring that e-Learning is successful.  The instructor facilitates the learning.  The instructor must make sure that the course content is very well organized; he/she is very well knowledgeable of the subject matter; and rapport with the students is developed from the beginning of the course.  


The topic of ePortfolios captured my attention in this chapter, especially since I had to prepare my ePortfolio.  This is an excellent way to showcase students' work as well as determine the progress of students throughout the course.  I enjoy hearing what my colleague Shelley is doing with her class in this area.  I am still trying to determine how I can effectively manage ePortfolios with my second graders. 

Communication, Collaboration, Cooperation

As I began reading the assigned chapter from Supporting Learning with Technology, I was reminded of a prezi that our technology integration chair shared last year.  It reflected on the 4 Cs of the 21st Century--collaboration, communication, critical thinking, and creativity.  This chapter focused on the 3 Cs--Communication, Collaboration, and Cooperation and the role of technology in supporting these. 

Communication between students is very important in the learning process.  When students are able to communicate with one another, they provide support for and learn from one another.  They are challenged to think critically.  Last week, I had a chance to observe the conversations between students as they were collaborating on a project.  They were discussing their answers to questions and explaining their rationale for their answers.  In one group, one student indicated that they were finished.  However, another group member quickly announced that they were not finished.  He was correct; they had one additional question to answer--a critical thinking question. 

As I continued to read the chapter, I thought about the project on which my class is currently working.  Each team decided on a job they wanted to do.  However, one fifth grade teacher felt that the students are limited when they are assigned a job or task to complete.  She notes that there is a difference between cooperative and collaborative learning.   Collaborative learning requires all students to actively participate in all parts of the learning.  Cooperative learning, she believes, is best when we want to teach students about accomplishing a task.  I will take this into consideration when planning the next project. 

The chapter states that technology can play a central role in learning through all forms of communication.  One teacher mentioned that as students collaborate on a project using technology, "the activities encourage careful reading strategies, creative thinking to solve a problem, and respect and constructive behavior to accomplish a task.  A sense of trust, mutual respect, acceptance, and responsibility will also be fostered as they work together." One of the reasons I entered the LDT program at UGA is to gain a better understanding of  the role of technology and how to effectively use it to promote learning in the classroom.  Throughout the program, there are constant reminders of the ADDIE model.  It is important for me to plan, develop, analyze, and evaluate lessons so that effective communication, collaboration, and cooperation occur in the learning process.  


Prior to leaving school on Friday, my principal, Rhonda Hawkins, shared the following in an email:  "Secondly, I love the way I am seeing you stretch yourselves.  I love seeing examples of project-based lessons, collaborative learning, use of technology, and most of all, students who are happy and loving school."  She assured us that we should never be worried about students perfecting the final product.   "The process is much more important to me than the outcome."  Her email was so encouraging.  I look forward to being able to provide more opportunities for my students to effectively use technology to communicate  through collaboration with their peers and other students throughout the school and the world. 

Pre-Plan

My pre-plan is coming along a little slower than I anticipated.  However, I am excited about incorporating a few of the suggestions shared by the Apple trainer, Paul, last week.  Paul, too, suggested Storykit as a tool to use in showcasing the students' book reviews.  He also suggested the Sock Puppet app.  I have used it with my niece.  However, I had not thought of using it for the book reviews.  This would be great tool to use with the students who enjoy role-playing.  Storyrobe was also suggested.  He recommended purchasing it for 4 of the iPod Touches  or even my iPad and using it as a center; rotating students through to complete their project.

I also located Story Line, an app which could be used  a storyboard to prepare for the book review.  Each student would add his/her own part and then another student could illustrate it.  I am still exploring how to use it.  But, it looks like it would be a good tool.  There are several other apps I came across to use to create their storyboard.  

Kids' Vid is a site that shares how to create the video.  This will be a source for students to view if they wish to create an iMovie or Slideshow to showcase their book review.