Artifact Reflection Blog #4: Collaborative Web Tools: Keep it about Genre

Collaboration has been something I thought I was pretty good at using in my classroom for students to practice and reinforce skills I've been teaching in class. I generally used group work for students to discover new things, practice skills and ultimately flip my classroom into a problem based culture. The following artifact and project which I designed for my students to work with genre, a larger focus this year with regards to literacy in my school, is one activity I can't wait to try!

In my experience students at the 4th grade level tend to know the difference between fiction and nonfiction but their knowledge of genre usually ends with those two. Even their definitions of fiction and nonfiction are surface level and it takes many opportunities to prove that nonfiction is not just "real pictures." This artifact is a google classroom assignment focused on encouraging students to explore genre with a depth they may not have experienced before. Through the guiding questions, students are encouraged to think outside of their "normal" type of books, and to choose a genre they are less likely to read. They are to then study this genre and create/present a slide to the class in regards to their chosen new sub-genre to fiction or nonfiction.

The collaboration truly takes shape when students begin to comment and encourage one another with the commenting feature on google drive. Students are asked to collaborate with one another in a unique and timely way. They are then going to gain knowledge of different genres simply by helping one another on their individual slides.

I'm excited for this activity and ultimately hope to be able to use it within our Family Reading Night event at our school this year. I'd love to have students present their genre to families over the course of the night. Collaboration and encouraging a depth of learning at its best!

Artifact Reflection Blog #3 Collaborative Web Tools: Quickfire Challenge

Collaborative Web Tools Fall 2019 Artifact Reflection

As an educator collaboration has become a redefined term in my professional practice since beginning the Collaborative Web Tools class. I've begun to look for new and exciting ways to include students at all levels with and without technology. More importantly, I've continued the focus as I gained in our first course, and made sure that all technology decisions I make in my classroom are for a specific learning target.

As the course, Collaborative Web Tools comes to a close I'm thankful for the opportunity to build my professional toolbox a bit bigger with collaboration ideas. Much of the lessons and activities we were assigned came from existing lessons I am already implementing in my classroom. This allowed me to productively reform my teaching with technology as an aide and collaboration used for student success.

The following artifact entitled QuickFire Challenge is one I want to remember for a variety of reasons. First, it was a real challenge for me with technology. Though I'm happy to admit I'm tech savvy, this new app entitled "Goose Chase" was one that reminded me of the importance of perseverance with learning. I worked for 45 minutes straight trying to get an activity for my students to keep them engaged and ultimately focusing on learning and reviewing basic place value targets. It was challenging, but a necessary activity to remind myself that time should never be the reason I stop trying to move forward with technology in my classroom. I ultimately learned a great lesson with this activity. I'm happy to report that my students enjoyed Goose Chase and I did too. We can't wait to use it again.

I can instantly see it as a great review opportunity for students at some point during the year with place value concepts. It will help with the mastery of these skills and give students another formative way to demonstrate their knowledge. I'm eager to use this again next year.