What the QR??

Lately I've been noticing magazine advertisements and store pricing tags with those strange graphic squares called QR codes (Quick Response Codes). I've been meaning to find out more about these codes and I found a great site on them just today! They are being used in marketing and now it appears that they are being used in education.

First, check out Steven Anderson's blog post on QR codes http://web20classroom.blogspot.com/2010/12/qr-huh-what-heck-is-qr-code.html . Watch a short video (under 3 minutes) for an introduction. Then view the suggested QR code apps to download on various types of smart phones (and yes--there is one for the Android phone!). The article goes on to explain how to create QR codes and later includes a video that explains how you can use QR codes without a phone.

Joanne Meier in her blog article "Scan and learn? QR Codes in the Classroom" posted in Reading Rockets http://www.readingrockets.org/blog/41550 explains that the use of QR codes and mobile devices are motivating for students. The benefit for teachers is that the content is accurate and available instantly. Plus setting up different codes for different students allows opportunity for differentiated instruction.

For library uses, the QR codes can be used to promote books as well as create a scavenger hunt for information. Gwyneth Anne Bronwynne Jones, author of The Daring Librarian blog http://www.thedaringlibrarian.com/2010/12/hot-qr-codes-in-classroom-library.html addresses possible uses of QR codes and student smart phones for library lessons.

So if you are interested to learn of other opportunities to utilize QR codes in your classroom or library, head now to the site I found today from Jerry Blumengarten's Cybrary Man's Educational Web Sites featuring QR Codes http://www.cybraryman.com/qrcodes.html .

"Bottom Up" Instruction

It's spring break and I'm using some of the time to catch up on reading RSS feeds and exploring new blogs.

As I researched articles from Education World over coffee this morning, I came across a new blog that really has me thinking. The article, "Innovations in Teaching and Learning: Top Down or Bottom Up? " by Peter Pappas, blog creator of Copy / Paste: Dedicated to relinquishing responsibility for learning to the students is not a new concept but one that I think bears more examination on my part.

I was assigned a class of gifted/talented students this year and although I was a bit excited about it at first, I've been disappointed over the course of the year. I designed our class around the existing curriculum but tied in applications of edtech web programs to enhance our study. However, my expectations of working with this group of students has apparently been way off-base. I was expecting to work with students that were interested to take a topic to a higher level and were ready for new challenges. However, for the most part, I have encountered students who fail to bring materials to class and fail to complete assignments. I have tried to take our curriculum "outside of the box" and possibly outside of their comfort levels but I do not think that I'm asking for more than they can achieve.

So back to Peter Pappas. I've added his blog to my RSS feeds and am looking forward to reading more of his opinions on student-based education which is a "bottom up" approach to instruction. Pappas describes it below (read more from his blog at http://bit.ly/fRidvn )

"In fact, the best innovation in instructional practice is coming from the "bottom up" - from teachers who find effective ways to harness the creative energy of their students. These teachers don't simply deliver information to kids, they craft lessons where students can research, collaborate, and reflect on what they're learning. They harness a flood of new platforms that enable students "see" information in new ways and support a more self-directed style of learning."

I'm on board and planning to read more. Maybe I can capture my gifted/talented group of students with a new perspective of instruction and learning.

Yeah--"What Ed Said"

When school started, it was my intent to start up my blog again. What was I thinking? With three elementary libraries this year, I don't seem to have time to even check Facebook much these days!

Once a week or so, I try to take time to keep up with my RSS feeds. I've been following a blog called "What Ed Said" who describes himself as "a teacher, a learner, an inquirer, and now a blogger." He often writes blogs that feature a "top 10 list" and this is one that I found to be interesting and entertaining and sometimes close to home. As I'm checking my reader, I also find myself getting distracted and surprisingly, it's some of the same edtech distractions he names.

Read on to see if you also have similar distractions!

10 ways to get your reports written…
November 7, 2010

not!

While you’re at the computer writing your reports, do you have a few distractions happening on the side?

1. Keep Twitter open.

Check periodically to see what’s new. Click on promising links. Interact with interesting people.

2. Check your email.

Respond to the important ones. Deal with some old ones you’ve been ignoring that are now urgent.

3. Organize your reader.

Subscribe to some new blogs. Cull some old ones. Read some posts you haven’t had time to while you were writing reports.

4. Write a to do list.

You’ll have a lot to do after these reports are done. You’d better get organized in advance.

5. Update your facebook status.

See what everyone else is up to. Upload some photos. Comment on other people’s.

6. See what’s new on TED.

Listen to the latest TED talks. Catch up on some you missed while you were writing reports.

7. Go to Google Talk.

See who’s online. Engage in a short chat or two. Catch up with an old friend.

8. Sign into Skype.

Some of your relatives might be online. Make a quick call to see what’s happening on the other side of the world.

9. Try new tools.

Explore some tools you’ve been meaning to. Add to your repertoire. You’ll need them after reports are done.

10. Write a blog post.

Call it ’10 ways to get your reports written… not!’


http://whatedsaid.wordpress.com/2010/11/07/10-ways-to-get-your-reports-written/

Changes are coming!

It's been a long time since I posted a blog--since last September!! I started this blog as I have a friend who blogs regularly and it fit with my quest to become a 21st century librarian! Although I found it enjoyable, it takes quite a bit of time for me to sift through edtech articles and links to find/try out/evaluate online tools that I think have educational application. So when school began, the blog became history.

So, why start posting now when the 2010-2011 school session is just days away? Well, in addition to being assigned to oversee THREE elementary media centers, I recently found out that I have also been assigned to teach the 5th grade GATES (gifted & talented) classes!

Talk about change! Our district is relocating teachers and students as our PK, K, and 1st grade teachers move into our brand-new, huge early childhood center this August. With 1st grade moving out, 5th grade is moving back into the elementary schools. It has been my past practice to focus library lessons for grades involved with NCLB (or as a friend calls it "NCLU" or "No Child Left Untested!") and since 5th grade fits that category, I'm trying to determine not only WHAT but WHEN I will fit another grade level into my teaching schedule as I rotate around town.

When I found out about the GATES assignment, I need to admit that I have considered the possibility of moving into teaching elementary GATES . Currently, it is a half-time position which I thought might be a great option after retirement!?!?! Fortunately I was informed of the assignment first and had the opportunity to choose my grade level. Since I have been on my Web2.0 quest, I have come across so many exciting online sites that I think could be a fantastic learning tool for students and teachers. Therefore, I thought 5th grade might be the more appropriate level for me to have an opportunity to test these applications. So even though I'm feeling a little over my head with everything, I'm secretly a little bit excited for this challenging opportunity!!

Change offers opportunity and change can be positive. So, here's to change--it's here!

Resolve to be a master of change rather than a victim of change.
- Brian Tracy

If you don't like something, change it; if you can't change it, change the way you think about it.
- Mary Engelbreit

Read Alouds & Mr. Peck

I just recently gave my Oklahoma Sequoyah Children's booktalk and genre introduction lesson to my 3rd and 4th grade students. After I provided a brief introduction to genre using the posters I shared in an earlier blog http://wisewordswhatever.blogspot.com/2009/07/into-book-other-visual-resources.html I gave a short summary of the sixteen titles included in the 2010 contest where we determined the possible genre of the book.

Due to the reading level and/or length of the books, I encourage my 3rd and 4th grade teachers to read at least 2 titles to the class and possibly 3 so that every child will be eligible to vote in April. Our district has always believed that reading aloud to students, especially books that are above their independent reading level, was a good way to introduce them to new authors, more complex sentence structure and plot development, and new vocabulary. Teachers always stop to explain complicated situations in the story and pose questions to help students better understand the plot and the vocabulary.

Tonight, as I was trying to get caught up in reading my GoogleReader RSS accounts, I came across an interesting blog from The Reading Zone http://bit.ly/3kpofM that discussed an interview with Richard Peck in Notes from the Horn Book where he "scolded" teachers that read his books aloud to an entire class. I was relieved that the author went on to defend the value of read alouds.

If you believe that reading books aloud to your students has educational merit, remember to reference the research of Jim Trelease. Here's an article from Education World http://www.educationworld.com/a_curr/curr213.shtml that included statements from Jim Trelease plus comments from teachers to support the benefits that students receive from read alouds. Not only are read alouds used to develop a love a literature, but they can also to be used to improve classroom climate, to provide a print-rich environment, and to increase the ratio of books to students. The article includes three examples to make read alouds work for comprehension, to highlight math concepts, and to include parents.

As the author from The Reading Zone stated in the article, perhaps Mr. Peck was misunderstood in the interview and his statement was not a direct reference against reading aloud to students. In my opinion, Jim Trelease and his research makes a solid statement for the value of read alouds.

What are your thoughts about read alouds?
What benefits have your students experienced from read alouds?
Are there certain titles that you like to read aloud to your students for specific reasons?

If you need some ideas of what to read to your class, you might go to Jim Trelease's web site for his "Read-Aloud of the Week." http://www.trelease-on-reading.com/readaloud-of-week.html And you might even ask your school librarian for a suggestion! :)