Hi! Andrea and Carrie:
Thanks for your support and I would like to discuss with you two first because you are the only two I can reach so far(Apparently most people will lose contact in summer vacation) but it also mean you can decide the contents students are going to discuss in this project.
And I appreciate if you can join the discussion by click the "Comment" below the article and give us some feedback or what's your idea!
Here I have something want to discuss with you:
First, from September to December, I would like to focus on 3~4 topics so that we can maintain longer discussion in each topic. So far what I think of are :
1. What subjects do we learn in school. (In September)
We might have some common subjects in common (like math, science) and other different subjects(like in Taiwan we have Chinese class). We can discuss briefly about the similarities and differences. And the next step is to introduce a special learning subject in your country through text, presentation slides pictures or videos.
For example, My students will video tape their process of how they learn Chinese in class and post the film on the blog. And we'll put some learning materials on the blog (For example, how we learn and write "Chinese words")
2. Our lunch (From October 1st to October 16th)
Food plays important role in different culture. Maybe we can have students experience the food culture through their lunch in school! And It can be presented through pictures, text and presentation slides or video.
3. Outdoor or school activities (From October 17th to October 31st)
What do you do out of class? Playing sports? Is there any School fair or Exhibition in your school? I think it will be presented better though presentation or video.
Share them with us!
4. School rule: (From November to December)
Here I wanna to have students to discuss more details about their school rules. In Taiwan, students are always required to wear uniforms. We can compare the school rules in differnt cultures and analyze the reasons behind the rules. It may be more difficult to students so I want to spend more then a month to talk the topic. And if we still have time, we can talk about the newspaper content(planned to publish next year).
Please tell me :
1. Do you think these topics are proper for your students ? Do you want to discuss them all or just choose three out of them?
2. Do you think these topics can be handled by your or your students within these almost four month?
3. Is it too difficult for you to have students access to the multimedia presentation (picture, presentation slides, videos) ?
Any comments about what you think about these topics and the schedule is welcomed.
Thank you so much!
This is the place where we can discuss the details about the project "A day in my school" and also share some useful software which can be used in the blog!
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Hi there!
After looking at the breakdown, I would like to suggest a change. As a technology teacher I spend the first two weeks of school discussing rules and procedures. So, I feel that would be more appropriate to be earlier in the timeline.
I feel that the topics can be covered by my students in the four months but I would ask that you keep in mind that I only see my students for one hour a week. Therefore some of their work may not be as detailed as possible. I do intend on breaking some of the topics up across classes so that different classes are working on different parts of the project to help with this.
My plan right now is to have my kids use multimedia presentation tools such as PowerPoint, VoiceThread, and SlideShare. I would like to make sure that most projects we create to be housed online which should make it easier for everyone to access.
For question 1 which is about subjects, since I teach technology I would like my kids to focus all about their technology class and tell about it. Does anyone else have a dedicated technology class for kids of elementary age? It is only the second year of the program in our county and as far as I can tell we are the only county in the state of Maryland that has a technology specialist in their elementary schools. I'm hoping that having my kids focus on that as a subject would be acceptable. I may also have students focus on their band class because that is something special to upper elementary grade students. I figure that most schools across the world have band programs and it would be interesting to see the differences.
One other thing that I have is that I may not see my 5th graders until mid-September so we may struggle with getting involved earlier than the beginning of October but I'm still working with the 5th grade team to ensure that they begin technology classes earlier than they have in past years.
Dear Carrie and Ling,
Carrie are you a teacher of “Pointers Run” Elementary School – Clarksville?
I’m asking because it is important for us to know the details of the school we collaborate with. It is a pleasure to work together.
As for the questions:
I think that the four suggested topics are ok and we can respond sharing our experiences and activities using one or more of the tools that Ling indicated.
It is true that we are involved in a series of etwinnings and interactions but we have a lot of materials and resources to share.
In Italy, students will return to school on the 15 September. There is absolutely no problem if you want to start earlier.
I think that Carrie’s idea to involve different classes in the project is a wonderful idea; when you are a specialist you have this opportunity to work in various classes and of course more students can offer their support; it is also an ‘added value’ to the project. I have been a specialist of English for the past nine years working with some three or four schools every year.
Thanks Carrie for letting me know about VoiceThread, it’s new for me.
In Italy, in the recent years, we have ICT in the primary school curriculum from Grade 1 (5/6 years old) to Grade 5 (10 years old). Generally we have 1 hour a week in Grades 1 and 2; then we can have two hours a week in the following grades; it also depends on the specific school situation.
I think that your County made a very good choice for the pupils and their families because ICT and communication skills are basic in our world.
Can you please clarify about ‘band programs’? Is it about musical activities at school? Do you consider it a special learning subject? At “San Filippo” we have a very good specialist for music and activities are generally focused on preparing a final school show for parents at the end of the school (last part of May).
I think that’s all for now. I wish you all a happy summer!
Andrea
Hi Carrie and Andrea:
Thank you for your reply.
As for the timeline, what date do you prefer to starting?
My students will be back on Sep,1st but I think it's ok for you to start earlier than us.
We'll catch up with you soon.
Welcome to use different tools on the blogs and it's interesting to know to what degree those multimedia tools can affect students' learning. And it's ok for you to descide how much they are going to be involved.
It sounds interesting to introducing your band class and computer class. We have drum band in school and 3rd ~6th graders have 2 computer classes every week.
I'm thinking first maybe we can share the class schedule to see the difference or similarity of classes on Mon~Fri.
It's clear that we all have many materials to share in this project.
And I enjoy our discussion on the blog.
So I would like to invite you to edit the blog, too. So we can share the experience of using some new technology tools and teach each other how to use them.
And if possible, I hope we can discuss often during this project.
Thanks again!
Hi Andrea and Ling,
So to answer Andrea's question. I do teach at Pointers Run Elementary School in Clarksville Maryland. My school is part of the Howard County Public School system and we are located about 20 miles south of Baltimore Maryland and 30 minutes north of Washington DC in the Interstate 95 corridor. My students are primarily upper class students. The average homes in my school neighborhood are priced in the 700,000 and up range. Our kids come in with a wide variety of general computer skills. Last year was the first year of technology skills were we spent a lot of time working on the basics of using a computer and using the applications such as Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and some other less common applications such as ComicLife and Pixie. Due to our low turnover I expect to see many of the same students this coming fall when school begins. I hope to do more with telecommunications and Web 2.0 technologies with my student as well as analyzing the use of the web and being cyber smart. I'm hoping that this project will help me accomplish some of these goals.
As far as the Band Program goes it is a Special Music Program where students play a musical instrument in the band. It is a class that is separate and entirely optional for students to join. Students in grades 4 and 5 are invited to join the band if they choose and then meet with the Band Instructor at least 2-3 times a week to get instruction as well as prepare for an end of the year program. Students in this program typically go on to play for middle and high school bands as well as state bands for competition.
As far as starting I'm flexible. My kids begin on August 25th but as of right now I don't expect to begin seeing them for technology until the week of September 8th. I would venture to say that I can most likely have something to share by the end of the month from my classes.
My thoughts on having the different classes work on different parts is to one make it easier to get more information out and also limit the sheet number and size of items to share. For example when we talk about lunches I will most likely have one class work on the logistics of the our cafeteria and how it works. Another class will focus on our school menu and the food served through our school system that students can purchase. While a third class may focus on students who bring their lunches to school and how those lunches may differ from one other and from the school lunches.
Hi Carrie:
I think what you teach in your computer class is quite similar to ours.
Last semester, my students also learned how to use Microsoft Word, Excel,and PowerPoint.
And I also taught them how to video tape and put the films on the blog.
So I'll ask my students to video tape their school life with their narration this semester.
I think I can imagine how your Band Program operate because I saw some in American campus movies.
Do you have the film about the performance of your school Band Program?
We can put the performance film of ours school choir or recorder band on the blog if you want to see! But I think we can discuss about school band program then in Nomvember.
I think I will ask my students to start making the materials of introdcucing their learning subjects at the beginning of september. I think they can finish them by 9/19. Welcome your students give us some comments first on the blogs and do some intercultural discussion by the end of september.
Besides, I hope students are not just busy presenting many materials on the blog but they also can exhange their ideas on the blog when they meet different cultures, which can encourage them to present more interesting materials for supplement or for next topics.
So if possible, leave some time for your students to think the culture issues, join the discussion.
Do you think it's practical for you and your students?
I completely agree that the discussion piece is sooo important. I think it will be completely do-able.
This project fits well into an assignment I have for my graduate class so I'm going to be doing a short write up about it for my class. Can you tell me what other countries are participating in this project other than myself, Andrea in Italy and you in Taiwan?
So far yes, you, me and Andrea are going to be the instructors or guider of the projects.
I'm doing a research how students manipualte the multimedia tools in the blog and their attitudes toward this intercultural learning.
So if possible, we can post our obvervation on their learning changes.
It will be very meaningful if we can compare the learning procedure of students from different countries.
Carrie and Andrea,
Please allow me to introduce myself through the email I sent to Ling this week.
As you will see in the pasted email below, I have included two links. One will share some information on the town where I teach, the other is a link to my classroom website which will hopefully explain what I do as a teacher.
I looked over the project and your posts and look forward to being involved. Feel free to post any questions for me. I will get into more details about myself and my students as the school year gets closer.
Thank you, Ling, for offering me and my students this opportunity.
Greg
The email:
Ling-yun,
My Name is Greg Keith and I am a grade 5/6 teacher in Stonington, Connecticut, USA. Her is a link which gives a snapshot of where we are located: http://www.mystic.org/ . I read over your blog and its description and I looks like something that our students could benefit from.
Please feel free to check out my classroom's website for information on my classroom, school and the type of students I have: folio.stonington.org/gkeith/. I will not have photographs of my students or the classroom until September due to school policy.
Interestingly, I spent a few weeks in Taiwan in 1993 as a basketball player with the Hung-kuo Elephants until I had an injury that resulted in an early departure. Despite this, I have very positive memories of my short stay in Taiwan.
Anyway, I hope to be able to participate with your "A Day at School" blog. I would be glad to answer any questions if you have any.
I look forward to hearing from you.
Greg Keith
Mystic Middle School
Stonington, CT, USA
Hello Carrie, Andrea,Greg and Billy
These days I'm ckecking the timeline of the project. I'm wondering how many of you still can join in December since you may be on Christmas vacation.
And I'm thinking whether we should prolong the time of each topic so that we can have time for asking and answer questions on the blog.
What do you think?
I try to make some adjustment to the timeline.
Please check them and tell me if it is better or not!
1. What subjects do we learn in school? (In September)
2. Our lunch in school! (From October 1st to October 24th)
3.Outdoor or school activities (From October 27th to November 21st )
4. School rule: (From November 24th to December 19th )
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