We have started off the new year in Social Studies trying to integrate technology within the classroom whenever the opportunity allows.  First, most textbook lessons are being enhanced with powerpoint visual presentations.  Geography terms, concepts, cultural diversities and people from all over the world can be brought into the classroom using rich visual pictures, animation and sound.  Students in my class have just finished studying about land use conflict in the Amazon rainforest.  We researched 6 different groups that use the rainforest resources and the issues surrounding deforestation, sustainable development and traditional ways of living.  During this unit, I was able to bring teachertube into my classroom to show my students videos created by other students on deforestation and ways to save the rainforests.  This jumped started much enthusiasm for a project based on “saving the rainforest”.  Students could present their ideas about saving the rainforest, traditionally using poster board or mural designs, or step outside the box and “wow” me with technology. Many of the students did powerpoint presentations, some created videos and 1 group designed an interactive website.  I was astonished at how much the students know about technology.  While the technology based presentations were being done, students were engaged and learning. The projects were varied in subject matter and were very interesting due to the current information students could activate from the computer.  It was a huge success! A second way we are using technology in Social Studies is that most quizzes are administered using Qwizdom.  Students have become very familiar with using Qwizdom as an assessment tool.  They have a paper copy of the test to read and answers are electronically recorded.  Students have practiced reviewing their answers and can change an answer if necessary.  Once complete they can get their final score immediately.  It is truly a wonderful way for teachers to see in real time who understands the concepts that were taught and what needs to be reviewed.  It’s immediate feedback for both the teacher and the students.  Plus, we are saving the rainforest by conserving paper by recycling the test for other classes to read and having no answer sheet!  Lastly, I am encouraging all my students to use technology whenever possible and to share their wealth of knowledge with their classmates!  Looking forward to our future lessons surrounded by lots of technology!!!

Students, Stephanie, Hantha and Kamila research Brazilian nuts from the Amazon rainforest.  They found that certain brands of ice cream are made from these nuts.  Their motto,”Save the Amazon…Eat Brazilian Ice Cream.  As an added treat the students shared samples of the ice cream with their classmates.

The 6th grade teachers organized a winter vacation jeopardy game using Quizdom.  Students played 2 rounds of jeapody answering questioned based on the 6th grade content.  Subjects included Math, Science, Social Studies, English and Poke Fun at the Teachers!  Once again, the students enjoyed the game of Quizdom Jeopardy while actively engaged in learning.   The students were very well behaved and had a wonderful time playing.  Congratulations to Caitlyn Applin for “winning it all” for her homeroom by answering the final jeapody question correctly!  The 6th grade team would like to extend our sincere thanks to Mr. Simpson for his time and effort spent bringing fun and technology to our team and students.  Also, we would like to wish everyone a safe and healthy holiday.

The students in the 6th Grade have been learning about the process of urbanization and the patterns of inequality that exist in urban areas.  As a review for an exam on this topic, I created a quizdom lesson using multiple choice,  and true/false responses.  Again student engagement is incredible.  I noticed this time that the students are now settling in with the “newness” and are really concentrating on the self-assessment that the program offers.  When students answer correctly you can see the immediate positive feedback.  When students struggle with an answer, the teacher can pace the lesson and use each question as a “teachable moment” correcting the misconceptions about the concept.  This is probably one of the most useful aspects for using Quizdom for both the teacher and the students.  My lesson also involved modeling good test taking strategies.  If the lesson is projected onto the white boards you can mark up the question showing students how to find and use the context clues within the question to help determine the correct response.  When projecting charts and graphs, students that have clearly mastered the concept can be called up to mark up the board sharing their strategies to other students that may find the concept challenging.  Overall, another successful day in Social Studies bringing technology into the classroom.  This could not have been possible without the help of Mr. Simpson and Mr. Teixeira.  Again, many thanks from the 6th Grade Team and the students!

The 6th Grade Team organized a fun way to begin the Thanksgiving Day Holiday.  The teachers put together a game of Jeopardy using Quandary, a program that is part of Quizdom.  Each teacher submitted 5 questions from their curriculum which was then uploaded into the Quandary program.  Quandary can be programmed to categorize the questions by subject.  Once the program is set up it resembles the real television show Jeopardy.  The entire 6th grade was brought into the cafeteria, where Mr. Simpson, Mrs DeSantis and Mr. Teixeira had the “show” set up.  A large projection screen was ready to view the game and four desks lined up for the “contestants” to begin their battle.  Homerooms played against each other competing for the most points and for a chance to play “final jeapody”.  As the students filed into the cafeteria you could see the excitement and interest in their eyes.

“Let the game begin”…….. Once students where briefed on the rules and strategies of the game the learning and fun began!  One “contestant” would choose the subject and amount of points to be waged. “I’ll take Math for 200, Mrs.D”, said Walter.  As the teacher controlling the Quandary game, I would then announce the topic and points, then reveal the question.  The “contestants” would then read, think and answer as quickly as possible to lock their answers into the Quizdom remote.  Once all had responded, the answer was revealed and the points accumulate accordingly.  The atmosphere in the room was explosive……students, thinking, laughing and building friendships!

The students and teachers had so much fun and best of all it was all curriculum based!! Students were actively engaged and having a great time.  Nice work to the 6th Grade Team…. We would also like to thank Mr. Simpson for all he does as a technology leader.  Also, a special thanks to Mr. Teixeira for taking time to teach another teacher about ways to implement Quizdom into the classrooms!

The Technology Leadership Team at the Ferryway School has been established to promote technology within the classroom.  Under the guidance of Robert Simpson, the Technology Team has successfully completed three workshops and has attended many meetings on how to best implement digital media into our lessons.  This has been very exciting for both, teachers and the students.

The 6th grade team and the students have had many opportunities over the past few weeks to implement technology within our curriculum.  First, Mrs. Terranova and her students did podcasting  book reviews.  A few students were selected to try a live podcast based on their writing reviews of books they had read.  The students met with Mr. Simpson and had a lesson on how to use the audio equipment.   Once the podcast was uploaded, Mrs. Terranova played the podcasts for students within her ELA classes.  The students excitement was infectious.  They all wanted to “go live”.

Due to the success and interest of the podcast book reviews, we came up with the idea of a picture podcast.  In Social Studies, the students wrote about the Five Themes of Geography using a personal photograph.  A few students were then selected to present a “picture podcast”.  Once the students became familiar with the podcasting process, they were then asked to demonstrate what they did to the class.  The students that did the picture podcasts, taught their classmates how to do a live podcast.  Pair/sharing at it’s best!  Students teaching students!  How motivating and exciting!   Again, it was amazing that the students were so comfortable with the computer, microphone and program.  We were so surprised at how much the students knew about computers.

Powerpoint has also been used in Social Studies to present information to students using charts, pictures and graphs.  Visual context is a valuable tool for all students, including students with learning disabilities and English Language Learners.  Overall, Ferryway is moving forward with technology in the classrooms.  Keep up the good work, both teachers and students.