Spencer's Latest Movie Trailer

Virtual Student Constitution - 2011 Edition

This week my 7th grade students took part in a Virtual Constitutional Convention Simulation PBL. They met in class and online in a private, secure social network set-up on Edmodo. Their goal was to write a Virtual Student Constitution (Student Handbook).  Their culminating activity is on a wiki, which includes student-created Voki talking avatars.  All of my 7th grade students collaborated to create the wiki.  Here is the link: http://farber7th.pbworks.com/w/page/34319057/FrontPage.

*Update: Results of the student vote are in! (66.7% vote of "yes" was needed to ratify the Virtual Student Constitution wiki.) Question: I think the Virtual Student Constitution Wiki should be ratified (approved). Yes 53.85%, 35 vote(s), No 46.15%, 30 vote(s)

Our Class Constitution Simulation Project Tied To Revolution In Egypt

Next week my seventh grade classes will be taking part in a Virtual Constitution Convention simulation project. They will collaborate to rewrite the school's student handbook.  

 

Students will use Edmodo for the project. Edmodo is a social learning network for teachers, students, schools and districts. Edmodo provides free classroom communication for teachers, students and administrators on a secure social network. Edmodo is accessible online or using any mobile device, including Android, iPhone and iPod Touch.

The culminating activity will be on a collaborative wiki: http://farber7th.pbworks.com/w/page/34319057/FrontPage

The project will be tied to social media and the revolution in in Egypt (freedom of assembly, speech):

• http://news.yahoo.com/s/yblog_thecutline/20110211/ts_yblog_thecutline/social-media-plays-role-in-egypt-some-expected-in-iran
• http://video.nytimes.com/video/2011/02/08/world/middleeast/1248069622796/cairos-facebook-flat.html 

Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century

Set your DVRs! This Sunday night "Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century" premieres on PBS. The following is a description from the PBS Teachers website: http://www.pbs.org/teachers/digitallearners/

Digital Media: New Learners of the 21st Century addresses this vital question, taking viewers to the frontlines of what is rapidly becoming an education revolution. The film, targeted at parents, teachers, and anyone concerned about education in America, explores how exceptional educators are increasingly using digital media and interactive practices to ignite their students' curiosity and ingenuity, help them become civically engaged, allow them to collaborate with peers worldwide, and empower them to direct their own learning.

Check it out! http://video.pbs.org/video/1767314964/

Skype Chat With South Korea

Today one of my 6th grade social studies class used Skype on our SMART Board to videoconference with an American TESOL professor at Sookmyung Women's University in Seoul, Korea. The teacher, who is an American citizen and a friend of mine from college, has been living and working in Asia for over a decade. Korea is 14 hours ahead of NJ.  It was pretty amazing having a guest speaker from halfway around the world!

Safer Internet Day

Today, February 8, 2011, is Safer Internet Day. The topic for 2011 is "our virtual lives" around the slogan " It's more than a game, it's your life". In 2010 Safer Internet Day was celebrated through over 500 events in 65 countries all over the world.