My Projects

1. Class Wiki created on PBWorks. I am only using a wiki for one class. I will refine my use of the wiki with them, learning as I go how to use it best for my content. I have tried to organize it so that it is easy to follow. The directory will get them to the page they need. Separate groups will be easier to manage. The wonderful thing about a wiki is nothing is set in stone. I can change things up if I need to. I will have their names within the next few weeks to insert into Group A or B. I will not have a separate page for each unless the students grow comfortable with the technology. For projects that require smaller group work I can add pages as the need arises. The school has worked this summer to have a new layout for student folders that are easily accessed for any class and by any teacher. I don't want to duplicate anything and make it more work for students so they will keep work in the folder and post final copies to the Wiki. I will have the syllabus page complete after a few meetings next week with my co- teacher and my goal is to have all labs entered into the lab folder and link them with the syllabus. The resource page will be an ongoing page as the year rolls. Hopefully students will use and contribute to it as an extra source of information.
I need to have a formal procedural sheet for students and parents. I know I have seen a few. When I find one I like I will post it and students will need to sign off on it. I am concerned with tampering but the wiki will be closed and they will need to sign in so theoretically I will know who edits what.
Students will be expected in college to learn online, even with regular classes so much is done online. It is my goal to demonstrate they can all participate and learn from each other using this online tool.

2. Energy Transfer Project I have always been bothered by student power point presentations, even students in college. Most students will do exactly what you are not suppose to do. Well, high school is the time to learn how to do it correctly. For the ecology unit students need to understand energy flow through the ecosystem. To select the environment I would like to have students use Google Earth but I am leary about incorporating too much into one project. I have posted the excellent video, How not to use PowerPoint and given them an example of a presentation from slideboom. Students will also learn to use a file sharing site like slideboom.com which I am hoping they will use in other classes.
Objective- Students will select an ecosystem and create a presentation of the food chain and webs within the system.

3. Pathogen Project This will be part of our Homeostasis Unit and use glogster as the presentation tool. I created a glog for cholera that is about what I am looking for but I may only show them then take it off. I want them to be creative and not follow my example. Our school has been emphasizing student writing abilities and so for this project I will have them write a small article for a travel magazine (or appropriate medium) about the disease with the poster as the visual. There will be two rubrics.
Objective- Students will describe how a specific pathogen causes a failure of homeostasis leading to disease. Students will detail how the body fails and the prevention measures taken including vaccinations. They will create an education poster and summarize the information in a written article.

4. ACS Biology This is the blog I will use for my other two classes. It will be shared by myself and another teacher. I am not sure how to keep the classes separate. I will refine this as we go. I also wanted to gauge their online use. I created a poll that students will take the first few days.

5. The Voicethreads are amazing. I have posted one for students to comment on for the Wiki, at the bottom of the page and will embed it into the blog as well. I want to keep these fresh so I may only use one a unit. There will come a time when I want the students to create a thread themselves but I am not sure where yet. As I get my material and objectives set for the year, I am sure I will find a place for student-created voicethreads.