A New Ramble to an Old Haunt

Subject Area: English Language Arts
Grade Level: 6
Source of URL: http://www.gov.pe.ca/greengables/index.php3

Description of Multimedia Learning Objective: Students will take a virtual tour of the Anne of Green Gables house in PEI to better visualize and understand the context of the book.

Description of Integration Idea: While doing a novel study, as places are discussed in Anne of Green Gables, student can take a virtual tour of Green Gables to enhance their understanding and further discussion. Later students could choose to do a presentation on a certain room.

Planning and Preparation: The teacher should go through the tour first, making note of points to discuss with students. Quick Time will need to be in place to run tour.

Subject Outcome:
General Outcome 1 Students will listen, speak, read, write, view and represent to explore thoughts, ideas, feelings and experiences.

ICT Outcome:
C1
Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies.
C2
Students will seek alternative viewpoints, using information technologies.
C5
Students will use technology to aid collaboration during inquiry.

Be Safe...Not Silly

Although the internet is an amazing resource for education, it also poses many risks to students. Due to the accessibility and incredible size if the internet, it is a prime place for dangers and predators of all kinds. One of the most prevalent threats to students online today is cyber bullying.
Thus, it is crucial to teach students skills and precautions in surfing the web. Students must learn to discern fact from opinion and the ploys of online marketers. Teachers must emphasize the value of one’s privacy and how to protect that online. Students must be made aware of how to deal with and steer clear of inappropriate content and predators. Teacher’s have to think through these issues and implement ways of teaching students about how to be safe and productive online.

Daring Discussion Boards

I'm not sure why I called discussion boards "daring". Perhaps because they're something new for me or maybe it was just a nice "d" word for alliteration's sake. =)
Pros of Discussion Boards:
1) Facilitates group work
2) Gives all group members a chance to contribute/speak
3) Board can be accessed anytime
4) Teacher's can monitor

Cons of Discussion Boards: (As I haven't used discussion boards in the past, I found it difficult to come up with some specific draw backs. These are more general cons)
1) Minimizes face to face, personal interaction
2) Students are vulnerable to online dangers
3) Cyber bullying

Five ways to implement Discussion Boards in the classroom to enhance learning:
1) Teacher posts class information
2) Students can communicate about assignments, events, etc.
3) Students can compile information/research for class projects
4) Teachers or parents can use discussion boards to communicate
5) Students can practice leading/facilitating a discussion

Family Trees and Technology

I chose to use concept mapping to chart a family tree. This could be adapted for nearly every grade level as a way to help students learn about their community/family. Concept mapping lends itself fabulously to this activity, presenting the geneologies in a clear, organized fashion. This activity facilitates many of the outcomes for ICT, but some the general outcomes from division two this activity could encompass are:
C.1 - Students will access, use and communicate information from a variety of technologies.
C.4 - Students will use organizational processes and tools to manage inquiry.
C.7 - Students will use electronic research techniques to construct personal knowledge and meaning.
F.1 - Students will demonstrate an understanding of the nature of technology.
Specific Outcomes
F.6 - Students will demonstrate a basic understanding of the operating skills required in a variety of technologies.

It would be important to teach students about concept maps prior to giving them this assignment. The teacher could model concept mapping skills in front of the whole class before having students create thier own. The teacher should allow many different styles of mapping to encourage creativity and individual preference.