Rubrics

Yay!  Finally something I KNOW how to do!  I've used Rubistar numerous times so this assignment was a breeze.  I just had to login to my account and select one of my previous rubrics.  I never thought about saving it in Excel or even downloading it to Google Docs, but I see the importance of it now.

Rubrics are a set of explicit criteria used for assessing a particular type of work or performance.  They include levels of potential achievement for each criterion with a numerical score given for the achievement.  You can make a rubric using the Rubistar link, or creating one in a word document using tables.  Sharing a rubric is easy, you can email them, link them, or share them through Google Docs.

Since this is an assessing tool, I feel the same NETS-T Standards from the Excel assignments apply here, too:

Standard 2d: Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.
Standard 3b: Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
Standard 3c:  Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats.
Standard 3d:  Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.
Standard 5c:  Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.

Excel 2

Using the same data from the Excel 1 assignment, we were to determine the statistical data using only the male/female data.  To accomplish this, I would need to choose the "t-Test: Two-Sample Assuming Equal Variances" option of the data analysis.  Next I had to choose both the male and female data from the various states (again I deleted DC and DoDEA) and clicked ok.

The null hypothesis: there is no significant difference between reading scores of 4th grade males/females.  Although  I know that females scored higher (according to the previous data from Excel 1 assignment), I should reject the null hypothesis.  But according to the above data, I should accept it.  So I've come to the sad conclusion that I've probably botched this assignment somehow (because looking at some of my fellow classmates blogs, they are VERY different than mine).

The NETS-T Standards that apply to this assignment are as follows:
Standard 2d: Provide students with multiple and varied formative and summative assessments aligned with content and technology standards and use resulting data to inform learning and teaching.
Standard 3b: Collaborate with students, peers, parents, and community members using digital tools and resources to support student success and innovation.
Standard 3c:  Communicate relevant information and ideas effectively to students, parents, and peers using a variety of digital age media and formats.
Standard 3d:  Model and facilitate effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.
Standard 5c:  Evaluate and reflect on current research and professional practice on a regular basis to make effective use of existing and emerging digital tools and resources in support of student learning.

In essence: Data drives instruction!

Excel 1

Better late than never I guess.  This was extremely difficult for me, no matter how hard I tried--I just wasn't getting it.  But lo and behold, I FINALLY GOT IT!  Getting to the NCES site and exporting the data was easy.  Then I saved it (because I had to go back many, many times and attempt the directions) and imported it to my Excel sheet.  Once I figured everything out, the first thing I did was get rid of the extra columns.  I went ahead and sorted the scores in ascending order first, then clicked on 'data' to complete the descriptive statistics (see below):















Then I inserted the scatter plot:

Compared with other states, Virgina is doing fine with a score of 226.37, where the state average was 220.81.  There were 7 states above Virginia, and 42 below us (I removed the District of Columbia and DoDEA).

The ISTE.NETS-T Standards that fall under this assignment are:

Standard 2: Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments; Standard 3: Model Digital Age Work and Learning; and Standard 5: Engage in Professional Growth and Leadership.

Oops!

Well now I get to post about a lesson learned.  Yesterday, I wanted to resize my map for the Batchgeo assignments so I went in and clicked the edit button, resized the map, clicked on post and guess what happened.  Nothing.  Somehow, both posts are now permanently deleted....with no way of retrieving them.  So fellow classmates, watch what you do and remember this--if you delete ANYTHING, you won't be able to get it back.  Now I feel completely stupid, well, kinda.

After all, tomorrow is another day!

Google Earth

Taking the same map locations from the Google Maps assignment, we were to use Google Earth to show the same points of interest.  The first thing I had to do was download Google Earth.  Next I went back to Google Maps to retrieve my map.  All I had to do was click on "my places" and select the map I needed.  Once I did that, I just had to click on the "KML" button where a window popped up asking me where to save the file--I chose Google Earth.  Simple enough.

Below shows my points of interest for my Civil War tour.

Google Earth provides instructions if you're not familiar with everything it can do.  Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is an extension file that is used save geographical information from one map to another--in this case, from Google Maps to Google Earth.  Google Earth gives us a 3D look whereas Google Maps is in 2D.  It's an exciting way to get a "realistic" view of a location.  I found my son's address in Hawaii and looked up where my other son stayed while deployed in Afghanistan.  Another excellent resource for the classroom!

Just as with the Google Maps, Google Earth fits with the following standards:


Standard 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity by promoting, supporting and modeling creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness; and engaging students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

Standard 2: Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments by designing or adapting relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity; developing technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning and assessing their own progress; and customizing and personalizing learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.
Standard 3: Model Digital Age Work and Learning by demonstrating fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations; and modeling and facilitating effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

Virtual Field Trip

Well, this assignment has an enormous amount of potential!  So as usual, I'm always trying to think of curriculum core areas to incorporate, after all, I may be able to use this stuff later--and my e-portfolio could always use more evidence, right?

For my topic I chose history, specifically, the Civil War.  I decided to use only twelve historic sites and per our instructions, use Google Maps to create a "Field Trip."  Once you open the Maps, you just click on create, then type your location in the search bar, click on the icon, and save it to your map---easy.  Once you save your map, you can share it.  I took a screenshot using Jing (because I can not figure out how to embed it without the code) or as a link to share with others.

Civil War Virtual Tour

We were also required to create a Google Docs document.  I'm really beginning to like Google Docs!  As with the map, I captured a screenshot of the document (below) and shared it.



The ISTE.NETS-T Standards that this assignment incorporates are:

Standard 1: Facilitate and Inspire Student Learning and Creativity by promoting, supporting and modeling creative and innovative thinking and inventiveness; and engaging students in exploring real-world issues and solving authentic problems using digital tools and resources.

Standard 2: Design and Develop Digital Age Learning Experiences and Assessments by designing or adapting relevant learning experiences that incorporate digital tools and resources to promote student learning and creativity; developing technology-enriched learning environments that enable all students to pursue their individual curiosities and become active participants in setting their own educational goals, managing their own learning and assessing their own progress; and customizing and personalizing learning activities to address students' diverse learning styles, working strategies, and abilities using digital tools and resources.

Standard 3: Model Digital Age Work and Learning by demonstrating fluency in technology systems and the transfer of current knowledge to new technologies and situations; and modeling and facilitating effective use of current and emerging digital tools to locate, analyze, evaluate, and use information resources to support research and learning.

Self Grading Form

Well, I have to admit that here's another assignment that I actually liked doing.  I decided to create a test based on my weather unit and was able to get the results, too.  At first I was a little intimidated by having to include the formulas for the grading, but the video that was provided was a big help.

As a teacher, this would be an excellent tool to use in the classroom.  I could have two computers set up with a test on them and allow students to cycle through as they would when centers are in place.  And when a student is absent, I wouldn't have to try and figure out a way to pull them to administer it, it's already there.  This would also be an excellent tool for SOL prep--especially since they are computerized anyway.  What a great tool to get a benchmark that will enable you to focus on what your student's need to know.

This assignment zeros in on ISTE.NETS-T Standard 2:  Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments that incorporate contemporary tools and resources that will maximize content learning in context and develop knowledge and skills.