What is a PLN?
I look at a PLN as a personal roladex of resources. It includes great blogs, great websites, great people who can help me be a better, more effective teacher. The trick to creating an effective PLN is creating one that you will actually use to access the resources that are the most beneficial for you. I am trying to figure out a way to organize my PLN. Right now it consists of a google reader so I can follow good blogs. I have a Delicious account but am not using it effectively - that will be the next thing to add to my PLN. My PLN also includes a AP CHEM listserve to stay current with educators all getting ready to give the AP test in May. I love Google docs but have not yet brought many colleagues on board to use them. I started the Twitter account but I do not often go to the twitter page to see what is being added. Start small and add as comfort level increases. I will take this advice to heart.
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Essential #10 - YouTube in the Classroom
I love using YouTube in the classroom. It brings in so many real life science examples. Mostly people trying out different chemistry concepts at home. I have used how to supercool your water, make slushy pop, using a pressure cooker and I am including a link to one of my favorites - The Symphony of Science.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cd36WJ79z4
I used it as a brain break in my classroom and students still request it when they need a break. You do need to look for videos of projectable quality, with good engaging content. I also use the videos to show a professors presenting the same topic I am. For example, I am finishing up thermodynamics in my AP Chem class and will show a 5 minute overview clip of Gibbs Free Energy before I start the lecture. It will serve as a brief overview for the students.
I have found students enjoy the break and also enjoy the search for great videos.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Cd36WJ79z4
I used it as a brain break in my classroom and students still request it when they need a break. You do need to look for videos of projectable quality, with good engaging content. I also use the videos to show a professors presenting the same topic I am. For example, I am finishing up thermodynamics in my AP Chem class and will show a 5 minute overview clip of Gibbs Free Energy before I start the lecture. It will serve as a brief overview for the students.
I have found students enjoy the break and also enjoy the search for great videos.
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Essential #9 - Using Online Tools To Communicate
It is nice to return to the idea of blogs and message boards. I need to spend more time looking for beneficial blogs to follow. I have yet to find a Chemistry teacher who is using blogs with their students. I have a feeling it is my inability to search efficiently and not that they don't exist. Maybe I will send it out on Twitter and see what happens.
I was able to find one Chemistry teacher posting chem resources online.
http://chemistry-never-sleeps.blogspot.com/
Well after another hour of searching I was unable to find an actual blog website that shows how students and their chemistry teacher exchange information. I saw blogs that do not allow comments, being just a way to post the happenings of the week. I saw lots of interesting science blogs on a multitude of science topics. Despite all my browsing around the web and using different search tags I am beginning to wonder if there are any chemistry classrooms using blog technology effectively.
Check out this cool site
http://adventuresinscience.edublogs.org/
I was able to find one Chemistry teacher posting chem resources online.
http://chemistry-never-sleeps.blogspot.com/
Well after another hour of searching I was unable to find an actual blog website that shows how students and their chemistry teacher exchange information. I saw blogs that do not allow comments, being just a way to post the happenings of the week. I saw lots of interesting science blogs on a multitude of science topics. Despite all my browsing around the web and using different search tags I am beginning to wonder if there are any chemistry classrooms using blog technology effectively.
Check out this cool site
http://adventuresinscience.edublogs.org/
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Essential #8 - Audacity and Podcasting
So I tried out the Audacity software to record something great that happened in the classroom. What I would like to really figure out is how to mesh together my powerpoint presentation, my audio track and the smartboard notations made during the powerpoint all together so absent students can experience the class just as if they were in the classroom. I am sure there is a way to get all three parts into one file and easily loaded to our teacher webpages. District tech training for a day on this topic for people who are interested would be great!
I would also like to see students create pre-lab VODcasts to help students understand how to complete the lab.
After scrolling through some of the other blogs I notice a common theme - people are having a hard time finding time to get through the essentials and having a hard time finding great ways to incorporate the essentials into the classroom. Hopefully LPS will realize that teachers are in desperate need of new technology in the classroom (smart boards, projectors, laptops, etc.) as well as great tech training, in order to fully incorporate the great ideas being presented in this class.
I would also like to see students create pre-lab VODcasts to help students understand how to complete the lab.
After scrolling through some of the other blogs I notice a common theme - people are having a hard time finding time to get through the essentials and having a hard time finding great ways to incorporate the essentials into the classroom. Hopefully LPS will realize that teachers are in desperate need of new technology in the classroom (smart boards, projectors, laptops, etc.) as well as great tech training, in order to fully incorporate the great ideas being presented in this class.
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