Google Workshop for Educators

On January 18 the faculty at Country Day took part in a Google workshop for educators.  I am happy with the progress that I am making using Google resources but there is certainly more that I can be doing.  I currently use Google for:

• Search
• Images
• G-mail
• Reader
• Docs
• Blogger
• YouTube

The workshops that I attended covered maps, search, docs, sites, and youtube.  As a history teacher I am still trying to figure out how to do a better job using Google maps and Google earth with my students.  With my current use of Edmodo and blogger I'm not sure I see the need to create my own website but that might be something to consider in the future.  If anyone has any suggestion on using google tools, let me know.  

Welcome to Edmodo

If you scroll down through a few of my blog posts you will see my technology goals for the school year.  Well, #6 has finally become a reality.  Two weeks ago, the students all signed up for Edmodo.  Edmodo is a social networking site for educators and their students.  Its format looks very similar to Facebook, which of course most of the students will recognize.  We are using Edmodo for a few key purposes:

#1.  It makes it very easy for students to communicate with me and with each other.  The minute a student posts a question or comment, I receive a text message on my phone.  By using the Edmodo IPhone app (or my computer), I can quickly respond. This has already proven useful to answer questions about upcoming homework or tests and quizzes.  It made it quite easy for the students to communicate with me when I was in Dallas at the football coaches convention.

#2.  I can post all of the homework assignments on Edmodo which are easy to download.  I have placed a link on my old homework page to Edmodo so students can quickly learn about their assignments. 

#3.  The calendar allows me to post due dates for homework, tests and quizzes, and FHAO paper dates.  It is an easy visual which helps the students know exactly what is coming up.

#4  I can post videos for the students to watch or links to articles that need to be read.  The students also have the ability to post videos and links on the site.

This site is limited only to me and my history students.  No one else has access to our group.  However, if any parents are interested in access to the site, I can arrange for that as well.

I am excited about the possibilities with Edmodo.  The early feedback from the students has been very positive.  If any educators are reading this and have advice on how you have used Edmodo, I would love to hear from you.

Dolls, Inc.

There are a few topics that I am interested in writing about so I am just going to go chronologically and write about the assembly line simulation that we did in class.  About two weeks ago, the students and I experienced one of my favorite lessons of the year.  Rather than simply discuss working conditions in the factories of the early 20th century, I tried to simulate life on an assembly line.  As the students entered the classroom, they were welcomed to their first day on the job at Dolls, Inc., a New York City paper doll manufacturing company.  They then met Robert Grasso, the quality control inspector on the assembly line floor.  Each student was assigned a particular job in the doll making process (head, eyes, nose, etc.).  The students then began drawing their particular section of the doll as the first sheet of paper worked its way down the line.  As they worked, the loud sound of machinery filled the classroom and the room got progressively hotter as time passed (due to the fact that is was the middle of summer and the bosses refused to pay for air conditioning).  We were able to get the room up to 87 degrees.  Talking had to be kept to a minimum as the workers completed their 30 minute shift.  Each doll was inspected at the end of the line to make sure that it met company specifications.  After 30 minutes of constant work, the machines were silenced, the heat was turned off and the class and I debriefed by discussing the pros and cons of an assembly line for both the workers and the company. 

These are the types of lessons that I love to teach.  They are unique, hands-on, and leave an impression in the student's mind.  Not long after the lesson I ran into some of my students from last year.  When I told them about the simulation they immediately could recall what it was like in their class last year (when they worked for the ABC Book Company).  These are definitely the lessons that the students remember.  I hope to continue to use simulations to teach U.S. History as we move forward.  This year we have also simulated the Civil War experience and the immigrant's journey to and through Ellis Island.  My only regret is that I didn't take any pictures that I could post with this blog entry.  I will make sure to do that next time. 

Thanks for taking the time to read my blog.  Any feedback is always appreciated. 

New Year ... New Efforts to Post

I feel as if I should be clearing cobwebs off of this blog as it has been quite long since my last post.  But with the new year comes new motivation to get this blog up and running again.  One of my goals this year is to do a better job communicating with the parents of my students as well as other educators.  I will be using this blog to periodically update what is going on in our classroom.  I will also post videos or links to articles that relate to our studies.

As the students returned to school today, our focus has turned to a study of the Progressive Era, a period of time between 1890 and 1920 when the U.S. was forced to react to many changes that had taken place in the country as a result of industrialization. 

The students have a quiz Friday on the Presidents from Abraham Lincoln to Woodrow Wilson. 

Please feel free to leave any comments, questions, suggestions, etc. that you may have about our studies.  I will be posting another blog later this week to explain our work with Edmodo, a secure, social learning network that the students will join this week.