PLC+First+Meting+Assingment

=**PLC: The Terrific Tech Tool Tour **=

**Today's Topics:** Teaching with: Technology peripherals; Educational Software; Web 2.0 tools as learning tools;

[Note to PLC Leader: Create a new page for your PLC for today’s activity and link it to your PLC page—perhaps linked to your name under the leader dates. This is where you will record the Evaluate portion of today’s requirements. You do not need to paste anything else, as I indicated last week in class. You all can use this Calendar page for everything you need.]

Today's Class: Today's activities will be a "practice" PLC meeting All of our PLC classes will follow the 5E format—a great organizer, and a good way to model the lesson format. For today's PLC, I've given you a start here, and then you'll switch to some directions that are printed for you in the CITE lab, and then you'll return to this page. If at any time you have questions, ask each other, ask other PLC groups, or find me--I'll be somewhere in the lab on Friday between 9-1.

Here is the plan for today: 1. Your group should first finding a computer or two to READ THESE DIRECTIONS TOGETHER AS A PLC; 2. Then, READ THE FIRST PAGE OF THE PRINTED DIRECTIONS TOGETHER; 3. Next, begin the activities according to the printed directions; 4. Finally, return here to the wiki to finish.

Stay together! Think together!


 * ENGAGE**

[Note to PLC Leader: you might choose to suggest to your team that they do the Engage portion before Friday’s meeting. Or, you could meet early and do it in the lab. Please let your group know the plan, as well as what time to meet in the CITE Lab.]

What do you know about Web 2.0? Probably more than you think, if you use any sites like YouTube, blogs, Wikipedia, or Facebook. Web 1.0 was kind of the “original” Internet—websites that someone else uploaded, and you could go to look at. Web 2.0 sites are much different. They are interactive, allowing users to contribute their own content—text, pictures, video. Allowing users to participate brings along lots of new twists—now the online world is participatory, meaning folks (and learners) are talking and sharing and collaborating. Much different than the original Web, with many implications.


 * Get a sense of what this new, interactive trend of the Internet by watching this video: [|Web 2.0 ... The Machine is Us/ing Us]
 * Then, read [|Web 2.0 Is the Future of Education]

Today you will explore lots of different technology tools that can be used to enhance what you and your students do int he classroom. You'll also experience working examples of four of the 3112 assignments so you will know how to use them. The main Explore/Explain/Elaborate part of today will be conducted using a series of printed "learning support" available at the front desk of the CITE lab. All of the directions you need are on those printed pages, with the exception of this one link that you will need for the website exploration: the [|Jumping Off Page].
 * EXPLORE/EXPLAIN/ELABORATE**

Please read the first page of the "Terrific Tech Tool Tour" together as a group, and then follow the directions at the bottom of that page. You will be exploring and explaining and elaborating together using the printed directions as your guide. Note that these printed directions are LONG, but really contain the key features and considerations about using these tools in teaching and learning. So, PLC Leaders--make sure everyone reads!

When you have completed the printed pages and all activities associated with them, please come back here to the Calendar page to finish today's activities. Ready? Begin with the printed pages now!

EVALUATE (do this at the end of today!) Do this part together in the lab before you leave today. But first, you need a place to record your thoughts! Here is what you will do--read these directions first before you click away from this page.

On your PLC page for today, reflect as a group on the following:

What are 3 considerations you have taken away from the information today on teaching with educational software, Web 2.0 and, and peripherals (i.e., what did you learn today?!)

Be working on this . ..
AND, you have 4 homework assignments--to work on either as a PLC group today or on your own later this week.


 * First,** email Caroline and me your Portfolio Check--3 sentences as described on the Assignments page for the [|PLC assignment].

**Second,** you need to update your online portfolio with what you need for QUEST 2. Please review the [|Portfolio Maintenance assignment] listed under 3112. If you haven’t yet printed and worked through the Portfolio Status Self-Assessment page, do that now. Work together as a group to remind yourselves how to access and add and edit pages. Today, while you are in the CITE lab, would be an ideal time to get this done. And, I’ll be around for help in 324 after 1:00 p.m. This assignment is due next Friday.

1. Digital Story 2. Jumping Off Page 3. 3-Way Share 4. Assessment Tool
 * Third,** during today’s work, you have become familiar with 4 CUIN 3112 assignments--you saw examples of these today. Please look again at the [|Assignment] page on our wiki and at the rubrics and descriptions for these 3112 assignments. Discuss together how these tools might be used in your teaching. And, get started on these soon—note the due dates at the end of Reflection Week!

1. Read and listen to Module 1, Module 2, and Module 3 under our [|QUEST Teacher Research Initiative (See the link under Inquire on our Assignments page!]) 2. Review the [|assignment rubric for Inquiry #1]—this is the Child Study I briefly introduced last week.
 * And fourth,** you are ready to learn more about the Inquiry assignments. You will do this by reading some online modules and listening to some audio podcasts. This could very easily be done at home this week, if you wish. (**And, because this is kind of extensive reading--probably an hour--we will meet for next week's PLC meeting for just 2 hours**.) To get you ready to conduct Inquiry #1, please do these things:

Also, have you emailed your blog URL and portfolio URL to Caroline? That is due tonight by midnight, and without it, we cannot grade your work this semester! Any questions? Just ask!


 * What are 3 considerations you have taken away from the information today on teaching with educational software, Web 2.0 and, peripherals (i.e., what did you learn today?)**


 * 1) There are many online resources for both, teachers and students, that would improve the learning experience of the students. Such strategies can help on getting students more engaged on the area where the technological tool is being used.
 * 2) Educators should keep in mind not only the grade level of the students, but also children with special needs. It was a little hard to find a software that practiced inclusion in the classrooms.
 * 3) It is important for an educator to take the time to investigate the quality and credibility of the software in order to provide effective experiences with technology in the classrooms.