Using Technology with Classroom Instruction that Works

My Project Based Learning Project is based upon twelfth grade and higher learning students. They will be creating a Business Block/Cover Letter for the purpose of submitting it with their resume. The majority of the students that I teach do not believe it is necessary to create a Business Block/Cover Letter or even feel that it is important. In this project, the objective is to help the students to learn what a Business Block/Cover Letter is and realize just how important it is to create one to accompany their resume.

This lesson will cover the purpose of a cover letter, organization, formatting spelling and grammar, state standards and technology protocols. For validity of information learned, the students will be given a post assessment to see if they have retained the information taught.

The web 2.0 tools that I will be utilizing for this presentation will be Prezi and Blogger.com. the students will also create an e-mail account prior to setting up Prezi and Blogger due to the face that an e-mail account is needed. With these tools, the students will be able to collaborate with their peers, teachers and possibly employers. Below is the Rubric that will be utilized for the class presentation.

Letter-Writing: Business Block/Cover Letter

CATEGORY	4	3	2	1
Return Address Spelling and Date	Return address is missing 6 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors Date is missing	Return address is missing SOME information 4 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors Date is formatted incorrectly	Return address is correct 2 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors Date is correct	Return address is correct NO punctuation, spelling and grammar errors Date is correct
Inside Address and Salutation	$Inside address is missing Salutation is missing Subject line is missing 6 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	$Inside address is missing SOME information Salutation is complete Subject line is missing 4 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	$Inside address is correct Salutation is complete Subject line is complete 2 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	$Inside address is correct Salutation is complete Subject line is complete NO punctuation, spelling and grammar errors
Sentence content, organization of paragraphs, and accuracy	There are more than 6 sentence fragments Paragraphs is not following the format layout Message content is not organized 6 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	There are more than 4 sentence fragments Paragraphs is following the format layout but not organized correctly Message content is not organized 4 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	There are more than 2 sentence fragments Paragraphs is following the format layout and it is organized correctly Message content is not organized 2 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	There are NO sentence fragments Paragraphs is following the format layout and it is organized correctly Message content IS organized There are NO punctuation, spelling and grammar errors
Closing, Signature and Collaboration	Closing information is not there No classroom collaboration 6 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	Closing information is partially there There is little or no classroom collaboration 4 or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	Closing information is there There is classroom collaboration 2or more punctuation, spelling and grammar errors	Closing information is there There is classroom collaboration There are NO punctuation, spelling and grammar errors
Creating accounts for e-mail, prezi and blogger and their use	Created accounts but could not remember username or password Found the applications hard to use Did not read instructions	Created accounts but could not remember password Found the applications hard to use Did not read instructions	Created accounts and remembered username and password Found the applications somewhat easy to use Read instructions	Created accounts and remembered username and password Found the applications easy to use Read and understood the instructions

View my Presentation on Youtube!

Collaboration: Google Doc and Amazon Book Reviews

This has been an exciting project and I’ve learned a lot on this book review journey. It is the first time I’ve ever created a book review. To tell you the truth, I’ve never even thought about writing and submitting a book review until this project. Normally, when I order books from any web site, it is because it is mandatory or recommended by someone who has already read the book that I know personally. I can certainly tell you that it was not an easy matter trying to submit a review to Amazon without an account or having purchased an item from them. I’ve ordered from other companies but never Amazon. You live and learn.

Collaborating on Google Docs

Camille, Julie, Sharon and I have had great experiences working and coming together as a whole for the common good of our projects and Google Docs was no different. Google Doc allowed us to collaborate on the document together. We were able to make decisions on who would do what when it came to choosing chapters and coordinating the posting of our information in the requested order. We actually had to read and review two book which were Blogs, Wikis, Podcast and other Powerful Web Tools for Classrooms by Will Richardson and Rethinking Education In The Age Of Technology: The Digital Revolution and Schooling in America by Allen Collins and Richard Halverson. Both books gave great insight information on education in technology from the beginning, where we stand now and where we can be in the future. Examples and web site were given to substantiate information, quotes and findings. I really enjoyed reading the both of them and I think it is a great educational piece for any classroom.

Posting to Amazon

When it came to posting to Amazon, I encountered a problem. The problem was that if you’ve never purchased any materials from Amazon you are not allowed to post a review. That’s was not good, but all ended well after sharing my concerns with my group. Thanks Sharon, great suggestion, I was able to post to my blog space with no problem after speaking to Mr. Umpstead. Three Thumbs Up to my Group!

Google Docs Review

Amazon Review: I had to post mine here on my Blog page.

Thanks

Book Review/Amazon.com: Allen Collins and Richard Halverson

Allen Collins and Richard Halverson Rethinking Education In The Age of Technology is a MUST read for any individual interested in the future of our Technological Education. I will go as far as saying that the book should be made a mandatory read for grades five and higher as a part of the school curriculum. The material in this book gives the reader insight on where we’ve been in education and where we’re going in educational technology. It also elaborates on our skeptics verses non-skeptics when it comes to the benefits of educational technology change in the classroom as they state, “…and while we consider the skeptics’ points fully, we hope to convince readers of the opportunities and the value of technology in learning” (Chapter 1-3, pg7). Collins and Halverson also make a good point within this book on how we THINK and should RETHINK education. They make you think about the fact that our everyday lives are affected by technology, our jobs and of course education and we need to embrace it and educate our children because our future and the future of our country depends on it.

Collins and Halverson also elaborate on Horace Mann being credited for “…leading a movement toward universal schooling that shifted the responsibility of educating children from the family to the state.” (pg. 49-50) This book also give those with understanding an even better insight how technology affects our education today and those who do not understand or disagree with educational technology change an eye opening experience of just where we (they) are headed. In other chapters of the book these guys elaborate on home schooling, where we been with it and just home important it is to our future with numbers to support what they are claiming. As the book explains, we need to Rethink how we educate our next generation to keep from being left behind. Good Book!