Research Center for Educational Technology

Teachers and Classrooms from 2010/11

2011-12-15T06:39:00.000-08:00

Teachers from the 2010-2011school year, talk about their time in the AT&T Classroom.

Fall 2011 Session II Begins in AT&T

2011-11-03T09:28:00.000-07:00

The second Fall session began in the AT&T Classroom on October 31.

From Portage Path Community Learning Center (Akron Public Schools) Mrs. Amy Fejes and her fourth graders began their six week unit focusing on geometric shapes. They have been utilizing a variety of online resources to study shapes and angles including Johnnie’s Math Page and the National Library of Virtual Manipulatives.

In the afternoon, the AT&T Classroom is hosting the fifth grade from Franklin Elementary (Kent City Schools). Fifth grade teachers Mrs. Jody Frank & Miss Jenna Ward co-developed a unit on the solar system. Mrs. Frank’s students started the unit by investigating moon phases using a variety of web resources and also had the opportunity to view 3D images of moon phases using a stereoscopic 3D visual display system. Students then worked in groups to create videos and claymations depicting the phases of the moon.

Observation Information for ITech Students

2011-09-08T10:14:00.000-07:00

We welcome all KSU students to visit the AT&T Classroom to observe or complete field hours. The classroom is located on the lower level of Moulton Hall. Classes are in session daily Monday-Friday. There are times when the class may not be in session due to field trips or district-based activities. Any changes in sessions will be posted to this blog.

Classes are currently in session daily October 31-December 16 as follows:

Mornings: 9:30-11:00 a.m.

Afternoons: 12:15-2:00 p.m.

Please note: Classes will NOT be in session in the AT&T Classroom on the following dates due to district-based activities:

November 8: No classes morning or afternoon

November 11: No classes morning or afternoon

November 22 & 23: No afternoon classes

December 14: No morning class

December 16: No afternoon class

Fall 2011 Session Underway in RCET's AT&T Classroom

2011-09-08T10:01:00.000-07:00

The 2011-2012 school year is currently underway in the AT&T Classroom. From Walls Elementary (Kent City Schools) Dr. Deborah Dortch and her third graders are in the AT&T Classroom each morning 9:45-11:25 a.m. The class began their six weeks studying health and nutrition. The students have been using a number of online resources and simulations accessible at Sheppards Software, Kids Health, Nourish Interactive, and Nutrition Exploration. The class finished their Health and Nutrition unit by creating a PowerPoint about their favorites in each of the food groups. They also worked in groups to create a claymation to explain the digestive process. The third graders are currently using the LEGO WeDo Robotics software system to study force & motion. Lego WeDo is an entry level robotics system designed for ages 7-11, providing cross-curriculum opportunities for STEM. The system uses drag-and-drop software to program over 150 elements provided with the kit, including a motor, motion and tilt sensors, and a LEGO USB hub. The students have been approaching their work with the LEGO system by applying the engineering design process, the steps that an engineer uses in constructing products and solutions to solve a problem.

In the afternoon, Mrs. Rebecca Miller (Echo Hills/Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools) and her 4^thgrade class are here daily, 1:20-3:00 p.m. They began their six weeks learning to use a variety of digital tools for studying and navigating maps and more recently have been studying Ohio history. Last week the students hosted guest speakers from the Summit County Historical Society and as a follow-up created PhotoStories to document highlights of the presentation. Additionally, students have been conducting online research regarding a famous Ohio and are creating glogs to share their findings.

2011-2012 AT&T Classroom Teacher Cohort

2011-06-23T10:29:00.000-07:00

RCET would like to extend a warm welcome to the 2011-2012 AT&T Classroom Teacher Cohort.
A schedule of classes is provided below.

Fall I: Sept. 12-Oct. 21
Morning class: Deborah Dortch, grade 3, Walls Elementary, Kent City Schools
Afternoon class: Rebecca Miller, grade 4, Echo Hills Elementary, Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools

Fall II : Oct. 31-Dec. 16
Morning class: Amy Fejes, grade 4, Portage Path Community Learning Center, Akron Public Schools
Afternoon class: Jody Frank & Jenna Ward, grade 5, Franklin Elementary, Kent City Schools

Spring 1: January 30-March 9
Morning class: Angela Kohl, grade 4, Tappan Elementary, Ravenna City Schools
Afternoon class: Kandis Cutlip, grade 5, Willyard Elementary, Ravenna City Schools

Spring II: April 2-May 11
Morning class: Carole Welsh, grade 1, Fishcreek Elementary, Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools
Afternoon class: Tracy Foreman, grade 1, Davey Elementary, Kent City Schools

Spring Session Begins in AT&T Classroom

2011-04-08T10:50:00.000-07:00

Our final spring session in the AT&T Classroom is underway. Kindergarteners from Kent State University’s Child Development Center are in the AT&T Classroom each morning with their teachers Nancy Condit and Alisa Hubner. Over the next six weeks, the children will be engaged in the engineering design process to create and build with a variety of tools and materials. During their first week, the children used Lego Digital Designer to build digital Lego structures. They have also been brainstorming about robots and created their own version of a robot using KidPix software. Next week the children will begin to experiment with the Lego WeDo Robotics system. Stay tuned for postings of the childrens’ progress and creations.

Echo Hills third graders (Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools) returned with their teacher Jamie Delorenzo. During their first week, the students have been using a variety of digital tools to explore specific mathematical concepts such as symmetry, angles, and 2-D shapes. Students explored the concept of symmetry using online resources at Symmetry Sort. Using an Interactive Geoboard, the students studied three line types. At the end of the week, the students created a Polygon Robot using SMART Notebook software. Across the six weeks, students will be working in "Flip Review Groups" in which they will use the Flip video cameras to create a video clip about what they learn each day. The videos will be compiled using Windows Movie Maker to provide a review tutorial of the unit concepts.

Echo Hills Performs Reader's Theater

2011-03-11T09:24:00.000-08:00

As a culminating activity to their unit on literature and genre, Cara Morelos’s third graders performed a Reader's Theater. The Echo Hills students created scripts, assigned roles for their skits and also collaborated on costume and set design. Students filmed their skits using Flip video cameras & and used Video Edit Majic for editing. Their productions were outstanding!

Echo Hills Creates Digital Stories

2011-03-04T10:18:00.000-08:00

Continuing with their exploration of literature and various media, Echo Hills students each created their own digital story of "their passion". Students brought digital photos from home and used PhotoStory to format their stories.

Holden Engineers

2011-02-28T09:09:00.000-08:00

Building from their investigation of simple machines, Holden Elementary third graders have been using the Lego WeDo system to explore robotics. Lego WeDo is an entry level robotics system designed for ages 7-11, providing cross-curriculum opportunities for STEM. The system uses drag-and-drop software to program over 150 elements provided with the kit, including a motor, motion and tilt sensors & a LEGO USB hub. The students have been approaching their Lego work by implementing the engineering design process, the steps that an engineer uses in constructing solutions and products to solve a problem. Click here to view a video of the Holden engineers in action.

Living Things and Their Environment

2011-02-24T07:08:00.000-08:00

Teachers Kristin Peel (Walls Elementary) and Kevin Draper (Longcoy Elementary) collaborated on the development of a science unit, focused on interactions between living things and the environment. In the video clips below they share their thoughts about their experiences in the AT&T Classroom.

Longcoy Elementary

Walls Elementary

Echo Hills students investigate other countries

2011-02-11T09:34:00.000-08:00

As an extension of their geography unit, Cara Morelos’s third graders worked in pairs to research a country to present to their classmates. They compiled their findings in PowerPoint presentations that highlighted the country’s location, geographic features, cultural traditions and language, government, history, environment, and tourism. Students also had the unique opportunity to learn more about Turks and Caicos by skyping with classmate McKenzie Klingensmith who is currently vacationing in the islands with her family.

Winter Session Begins in the AT&T Classroom

2011-02-08T07:31:00.000-08:00

Winter session is underway in the AT&T Classroom. From Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools, Echo Hills teacher Cara Morelos and her third graders are doing a six-week unit focused on children’s literature. They began their unit by examining elements of fairy tales and are in the process of writing their own fairy tales. They started by creating storyboards of their plots and characters using Kidspiration software. The students are currently drafting their stories which they will publish on Big Universe, a website that provides online opportunities for reading and writing. Be sure to check back to our blog to read the students’ finished fairy tales!

Susan Louis (Holden Elementary, Kent City Schools) and her third graders are studying simple machines with a focus on robotics. They started their investigation by researching simple machines using online resources at Beacon Learning Center, BrainPop, and Ed-Heads.
Next, the students will explore robotics using the Lego WeDo Robotics software system. Stay tuned for postings of the students’ progress and creations.

Walls Fifth Graders Research the Revolutionary War

2010-12-16T07:55:00.000-08:00

Walls Elementary teachers Mrs. Robyn Elia and Mrs. Christine Lowden (Kent City Schools) brought their fifth graders to the AT&T Classroom to study the Revolutionary War.As part of their work, students chose a figure from the Revolutionary War to research and based upon their findings, students created a digital biography using PhotoStory. Students also studied the Revolutionary War by taking on the role of a person living during the Revolutionary War era. Working with a partner, students used Glogster to create an interactive digital poster, called a Glog, in which they demonstrated through visual images, video and audio clips their opinions of the war as they “walked in someone else’s shoes”.

Highland Third Graders Study Body Systems

2010-12-16T07:29:00.000-08:00

Third graders from Highland Elementary (Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools) have been using the technology in the AT&T Classroom to study body systems. As an introduction to the digestive system, the class viewed a video on the Game Aquariuam website and an online animation that helped to illustrate the digestive process. Students also played a game online that required them to know how the digestive system worked. Students used resources from Brain Pop, Kids Health, Medtropolis, and Sheppard Software to study the nervous system, circulatory system, muscular system, respiratory system and skeletal system. After studying the various body systems, each student created a PhotoStory to share what they had learned about one specific body system. In small groups, students selected a body system to research and then created a claymation to explain how that body system works. As a final project, each student created their own Glogster to share what they had learned across the six weeks about health, nutrition, fitness, sleep, and body systems.

Highland Students Study Wellness & Nutrition

2010-11-30T11:38:00.000-08:00

Brandi Timberlake’s third graders (Highland Elementary/Stow Munroe Falls City Schools) have been studying nutrition and wellness in the AT&T Classroom. Students have been recording their daily food intake and analyzing their data in comparison to the recommended daily allowances. The class has been using a number of online resources accessible at Sheppards Software, Kids Health, Nourish Interactive, Nutrition Exploration, and Smart-Mouth. After researching nutrition and wellness online, the students worked in groups to write their own lyrics for a song on nutrition & then created a music video to present to the class. During the next part of the unit, the class will be studying body systems.

Walls Fifth Graders Study Revolutionary War

2010-11-22T08:02:00.001-08:00

Mrs. Robyn Elia, 5th grade teacher from Walls Elementary/Kent City Schools, just completed a three-week unit in the AT&T Classroom on the Revolutionary War. As part of their work, students chose a figure from the Revolutionary War to research and based upon their findings, students created a digital biography using PhotoStory. Students also studied the Revolutionary War by taking on the role of a person living during the Revolutionary War era. Working with a partner , students created an interactive digital poster, called a Glog, in which they demonstrated through visual images, video and audio clips their opinions of the war as they “walked in someone else’s shoes”.
Mrs. Elia co-designed the unit with fellow Walls fifth grade teacher, Mrs. Christine Lowden, who will bring her students to implement the unit after the Thanksgiving break.
You can access the complete unit plan and resources at:
http://www.folioweb.org/lowdenc/rwtip.mht

Fall II AT&T Cohort Session Begins

2010-10-28T07:36:00.000-07:00

The second session of classes will begin in the AT&T Classroom the week of November 1st. Teachers Robyn Elia and Christine Lowden from Walls Elementary (Kent City Schools) will bring their fifth graders to do a unit integrating language arts and social studies with a focus on the Revolutionary War. From Highland Elementary (Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools), teacher Brandi Timberlake will be implementing a unit on wellness and body systems with her third graders.

Life Cycles

2010-10-21T06:59:00.000-07:00

In their final two weeks in the AT&T Classroom, students from Walls & Longcoy studied life cycles. Students were introduced to this topic by watching a video from Discovery Education, Insects and Metamorphosis Life Cycle. The classes explored a number of websites to study the life cycle of a butterfly, a frog, and a chicken and then created Venn diagrams comparing the life cycles of a butterfly and a frog. Using Kerpoof Studio (free downloadable multimedia software) students further explored the metamorphosis of a butterfly and then created their own scene of the life cycle of a butterfly. For a final group project, students used their research findings to create claymations depicting the life cycle of a butterfly, frog, or chicken.

Create Your Own Classroom Blog

2010-10-19T07:08:00.000-07:00

Many teachers are exploring the use of online spaces to create an interactive learning context where their students are able to publish posts, participate in discussions, and access assignments and resources. One of our AT&T Cohort Teachers, Kristin Peel, third grade teacher from Walls Elementary/Kent City Schools, created a classroom blog for her students using KidBlog. There is no charge to set-up a blog for your class on this site and students do not have to have email accounts to be registered. Teachers are able to monitor and control all publishing activity within their classroom blogging community. You can check out the site at http://kidblog.org.

Learning in 3-D

2010-10-11T05:12:00.000-07:00

Students from Walls & Longcoy recently had the opportunity in the AT&T Classroom to experience learning using a 3-D stereoscopic image projection system. Building from their discussion on animal adaptations, students explored how we as humans have adaptations that help us to survive in our environment. Wearing specialized glasses, students viewed 3-D images of various anatomical structures and discussed the function of each structure as an adaptation. For example, students were able to view and rotate images of the brain and skull and discussed how the skull provides protection for the brain. They were able to see that the skull has many connected bones that grow together to form a protective case, an example of an adaptation that allows humans to have a large brain capable of thinking and problem solving. Similarly, the students also rotated 3-D images of the skeleton and were able to see how our skeletal system provides protection and support to various organs. Viewing 3-D images of the pelvis, spine, and legs allowed students to see how these structures allow us to walk upright, leading to a discussion of how walking upright is an adaptation that allows humans to move from place to place and leaves our hands free for obtaining food (hunting/gathering).

Animal Adaptations

2010-10-07T10:32:00.000-07:00

Third graders from Walls & Longcoy started their week studying endangered and extinct animals and reasons that an animal becomes endangered or extinct. This led to an investigation of how adaptations help an animal to survive in their environment. Students used a variety of online sources to learn about physical and behavioral adaptations, including an online game on adaptations and one on camouflage. As a culminating project for this part of the unit, students selected a specific adaptation to research, searching online for information and images of the adaptation and animals that use the adaptation. Students also explored how the adaptation helps animals to survive in their environment. Using Glogster, students created their own glog (an online multimedia poster) to report their findings.

2010-2011 AT&T Classroom Cohort Begins

2010-10-04T11:10:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the AT&T Classroom Blog, a space for teachers and students to share their learning and their work during their experience in the AT&T Classroom.

The AT&T Classroom kicked-off the 2010-2011 year hosting two third grade classes from Kent City Schools. Teachers Kristin Peel (Walls Elementary) & Kevin Draper (Longcoy Elementary) collaborated on the development of a science unit focused on interactions between living things and their environment. At the start of the unit, the classes investigated characteristics of living vs. non-living things, biomes, habitats, producers, consumers, herbivores, carnivores, and omnivores. Students have used online resources at Sheppard Software Kid’s Corner, National Geographic for Kids, Kids Planet, and EcoKids to study these concepts. Using Kerpoof Studio (free multimedia software) students created their own biome scene and inserted images of animals that would live in that habitat. The classes created a PowerPoint presentation to share each student’s research findings on a specific animal including the animal’s habitat/biome, food that it eats, prey/predators, and the animal’s adaptations for survival. Students have also investigated positive and negative changes to the environment including the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, its impact on the environment, and what would happen if there was an oil spill in Lake Erie. Most recently, students have been working in groups on a research project investigating endangered animals and they are using Audacity and Windows Live Movie Maker to create a video to share their findings. They learned more about endangered animals and the rainforest through a guest presentation from Kent State University professor Dr. Oscar Rocha. Stay tuned as the students continue their investigation of living things and the environment.

The Rainforest

2010-08-20T10:50:00.000-07:00

The Fishcreek students studied the rainforest and become experts at using technology tools for research and to demonstrate what they have learned. Mrs. Tiffany Harris began the unit with a study of living and nonliving things. Using the Smart Board the students will able to drag images of living and nonliving thing into the correct category. They used the internet, books and magazine to investigate animals and plant life. Much of this information was used to create graphs and charts with excel. In order to illustration what they have learned they created Kidpix, PowerPoint and Inspiration projects to share their new knowledge with their teacher and classmates. During their time in the AT&T Classroom, the class took a field trip to the Kent State University greenhouse. At the green house they were able to see many of the plants they have been studying.
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Health and Science

2010-08-20T10:43:00.000-07:00

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Holden Students Study the Weather

2010-02-05T10:45:00.000-08:00

Students from Holden Elementary in Kent studied weather with the aid of the AT&T classroom. 2nd grade teacher Amy Hopkins used a variety of methods to help her students understand weather and its effects. A Kidspiration template provided a format for students to display and record daily weather, including temperature, and cloud type. Learning the weather patterns that are associated with different cloud types gave students the opportunity to make
predictions based on their observations.
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AT&T Classroom Hosts Holden Elementary

2010-02-04T13:10:00.000-08:00

The AT&T Classroom at Kent State University welcomed Holden Elementary students for the first session of the fall semester. Ms Longanecker's 5th grade students spent their time in the classroom studying maps, geography and economics. During their time in the classroom, they used the computers, the smart board, digital cameras, GPS units and the 3D system to research each subject and create reports, slideshows and videos.

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Writing and Reading

2009-08-06T08:08:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Tonelli and her 1st grade students, from Longcoy Elementary School used the tools of the AT&T Classroom in a unique and innovate way to practice writing and reading. They used the software Write Out Loud to help with their pronunciation of new and difficult words and the software KidPix to write stories and reports. The focus of their study in the classroom was on Living Things. They used their study of living things in order to improve their reading and writing skills.

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The Study of Plants

2009-08-06T07:55:00.000-07:00

Miss Fudale’s fourth grade class from Fishcreek School in Stow, Ohio used their time in the AT&T Classroom to study plants. The classroom was an excellent place for the study of science because of the wide range of tools available, such as computers for every child with internet connection and a Palm Pilot EX for each student to use at home and on the ride to and from their home school. Two of the most widely used tools were the Wolf vision overhead projector and the Smart Board.

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Fishcreek Elementary Students Learn About Nutrition

2009-07-09T11:38:00.000-07:00

The AT&T Classroom stared the spring semester hosting two third grade classes from Fishcreek Elementary, Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools. Mrs. Miller an Mrs. Harris's unit focused on the students' investigation of nutrition and the digestive and skeletal body systems. The students begin their study with a complete overview of proper nutrition. Throughout the unit, students recorded their daily intake of foods on their handheld computers. The students then transferred this information to the website mypyramid.gov. This website creates a graphical display comparing the student's actual intake of nutrients to the ideal diet plan for a child of their age and size.

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Fitness and Wellness "All Systems Go"

2009-02-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

Julie Obraza and Lauren Alexander of Fishcreek Elementary School designed a unit based on fitness and wellness called "All Systems Go". The students began their study with a complete overview of proper nutrition. This involved an introductory lesson on nutrition from Deanna Lavanty of Kent State University and a field trip to the food lab in Nixon Hall. Greta Siler gave the students the opportunity to touch and taste a wide variety of nutritious foods. Throughout the unit, students recorded their daily intake of foods on their Palm Handheld Computer. The students transferred this information daily to mypyramid.gov and created graphical displays comparing the students actual intake of nutrients to the ideal diet plan for a child of their age and size. This graph was printed and the students shared this information with their parents.

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NASA Visits the AT&T Classroom

2009-02-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

Mrs. Christi Bates and her fifth grade students from Holden Elementary School launched their study of astronomy with a visit from NASA. Students learned about living in space and all of the adjustments that must be made for a zero gravity environment. The students used their computers, Flip video cams, Smart Board, and Palm TX handheld computers to study phases of the moon, changes in seasons, orbits of the earth and moon, eclipses of the sun and moon, shadows and the atmosphere of the earth. A new 3-D viewing equipment on loan from the KSU Biological Sciences, gave students another representation of planets and the moon.

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Second Graders Focus on The Weather

2009-02-16T10:30:00.000-08:00

Hurricane Ike provided some real life experiences for the second graders and their teacher as they began their study of weather. Images of Hurricane Ike were examined using Google Earth with the weather layer selected. Students used Flip Cam cameras to film the weather outdoors. Newspaper articles were reviewed daily using The Wolf Vision document camera and Kidspiration provided students with a format to display and record daily weather, including temperature, and cloud type. The highlight of the unit was a trip to Channel 2 studio where the students were encouraged to explore the control and experience the green screen with weather graphics.

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Children Learn How Living Things Grow and Change

2008-08-27T10:25:00.000-07:00

Butterflies, Mystery Seeds, Spring Flowers and Shrubs all contributed to the study of how things grow and change. Nancy Condit's Kindergarten from the Child Development Center at Kent State University traveled to the AT&T Classroom daily for six weeks to investigate this question. Students witnessed the metamorphosis of butterflies. Using the Wolf Vision Document Camera Mrs. Condit's class saw the dramatic changes as the threadlike caterpillars turned into fat little larve. Soon the enlarged insect formed a chrysalis and finally erupted as an adult Painted Lady Butterfly.

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Virtual Journey Through the Rain Forest

2008-08-27T09:53:00.000-07:00

First grade students attending the AT&T classroom with their teacher Alissa Dyett investigated the rain forest using a variety of technology tools. The Riverview Elementary students from Stow-Munroe Falls City Schools found learning a lot of fun when Smart Board, computers cameras, Palm handhelds and a large variety of Internet sites were at their disposal.

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Brimfield Students Study US Regions

2008-04-23T13:23:00.000-07:00

Mrs. Harper and Mrs. Twynham fifth grade students used their time in the AT&T Classroom to study the regions of the United States. Students followed a daily plan as they researched and experienced various aspects of the major regions of our country. Information about the regions on a variety of topics was recorded on a note taking grid called Tic Tak Toe. Once the facts were accumulated the students created a PowerPoint slide presentation. Students used Palm Handheld Computers daily to record journal entries describing what they learned.

Each student contributed to a movie that was created on each region. These movies were posted on a class blog where parents, teachers and fellow students could observe the student work.

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Portage Path Elementary Students Explore USA Regions

2008-03-20T10:53:00.000-07:00

The fifth grade students of Mrs. Grindall from Portage Path Elementary School in Akron had a rich experience attending the AT&T classroom at Kent State University. Using the internet for research, they produced both individual and group PowerPoint projects on the continental US regions. Students were required to fill out a planning document outlining the presentation they were formulating. Online research for presentations included a challenge to find products that could honestly proclaim, "made in the USA" from that region. During the course of their studies, they had a field trip to the Map Library on campus and Kent State archivist, Stephen Paschen gave the class an orientation to the University. An open house was scheduled for the last week of their experience. Distinguished guest from the community were invited to witness the students presenting their final group slide show on the US regions.
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First Graders Develop Technology Skills in the AT&T Classroom

2008-03-20T08:03:00.000-07:00

The bus rides to Akron Portage Path Elementary Schoool from Kent State University were both educational and fun thanks to mobile technology in the form of Palm handheld computers. Mr. John Bennett, their first grade teacher, digitized children's alphabet programs for use on the Palms. Along with Math Ace, a free software for the handheld, the children entertained and improved their language arts and math skills at the same time. The unit of study was about how "I Will Share Me and My World With You". Mr. Bennett created a Wiki for a collaborative project with a class in Malaysia. This made the sharing of information between his class and the class in Malaysia possible. He incorporated websites, curriculum standards, lesson plans, photos and some of the childrens work to be shared with teachers, parents and children.

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Using the Smart Board: Plotting a Journey Across the USA

2008-01-17T12:38:00.000-08:00

Fifth grade students from Walls Elementary School, under the guidance of their teacher, Robyn Elia, used their time in the AT&T classroom to study the regions of the United States. Google Earth in concert with a Smart Board enables the students to explore the regions of the USA with the tip of their finger. Each of the regions was also investigated through the use of the World Wide Web. Garage Band Software under the direction of Dr. Walter Gershon, was unitized to create hip-hop inspired musical jingles based on the region being studied. Students working in cooperative learning groups composed short quizzes focusing on a particular region of the country. The students completed each quiz by using clickers, a personal response system.

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Fishcreek Elementary Students Explore The City of Stow Government

2008-01-17T11:35:00.000-08:00

The Fishcreek Elementary students of Deb Miller utilized new technology in the AT&T classroom to study the city government of Stow, Ohio. The city and government were explored and researched by using internet sites and Google Earth. The students saved the information they discovered on their Palms and in their folders on the network. Google Earth maps were manipulated by both teachers and students using the Smart board. A 3D map of Stow was created by the students using Community Construction Kit software.

Students were nominated for the office of mayor and members of city council. Using PowerPoint software they produced campaign posters. Audio and video speeches were recorded and played back for the election. A trip to the Stow City Hall hosted by Mayor Fritschell was a culminating event for the unit.

Deb Miller and her students created a video of their time in the At&T Classroom

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Kindergarten Children Study Weather

2007-07-02T10:18:00.000-07:00

Ravenna kindergarten children spent six weeks in the AT&T Classroom looking at the change in the weather during the spring season. Daily trips outdoors to film the clouds helped in the construction of a timeline. Weather instruments and sendors were used to take temperature, wind speed, humidity and barometrice pressure. Mrs. Farrar, their West Park teacher provided the students with a variety of activities including reading stories, creating timelines, and journaling on their Alpha Smart keyboards. The students also used digital camaras to record nature walks where they examined evidence of wind, precipitation, sun and shadows.

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Science and Language Arts

2007-07-02T09:58:00.000-07:00

Mr. Shawn Jones of Walls Elementary School taught both science and language arts in the AT&T Classroom.
The students learned about sound and light through the use of many hands-on experiments, web quests and programmed activities on CDs associated with their science textbook. Each student also brought in famil photos and spent time using the scanner to make digital copies of the pictures. These were incorporated into a Mother's Day program on a CD with music.

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Looking at Change

2007-06-18T06:22:00.000-07:00

Fourth graders from Fishcreek Elementary School looked at change in Modern Ohio as well as in other aspects of the natural environment with their teacher Kelli Ternent.
Physical and Chemical changes were examined through a series of hands-on experiences including the making of Alka-Bombs, and the expansion of Polymer Alligators. Changes in Ohio were also a focus of this unit. Students selected a famous Ohioan to research and present a representation of this knowledge to the class. Turning Point slides were designed by the children so that classmates could “vote” using a personal response system “clicker”.

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Learning Genetics Through the Akron Zoo Captive Breeding Program

2007-06-15T12:34:00.000-07:00

Traci Restivo, seventh grade science teacher from Bolich Middle school, Cuyahoga Falls City Schools, found a unique way to exite her students on the the subject of Genetics. With the cooperation of the Akron Zoo, two teleconferences were scheduled to educate the children on concepts essential to understanding data for wildlife in captivity. The students working in teams, were assigned one of four endangered species to investigate. Following extensive research on the animal, including phone calls to zoos across the country, the groups created a breeding recommendation and whared it with the Akron Zoo.

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AT&T Classroom Podcast 7- Genetic Babies

2007-02-14T17:00:00.000-08:00

Genetic Babies in the AT&T Classroom

Marlene Osborn's seventh grade class from Roberts Middle School spent six weeks investigating genetics. Flip booklets and other models using various forms of technology were crafted depicting the stages of mitosis. DNA was extracted and the materials were investigated using the Intel digital microscopes. Students examined many inherited traits like PTC tasting, widow’s peak, hitchhikers thumb, free ear lobes etc. and built heredity wheels using Paint Shop Pro to enter the data. The culmination of the unit was a simulation of a gene pool where students randomly selected gametes with their inherited traits for egg and sperm. These combinations resulted in genotypes which were used to create “genetic babies”. Assessment of student understanding using the Turning Point personal response system provided the teacher with an alternate method of tracking student knowledge.

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AT&T Classroom Podcast 6 - Geography & Government

2007-02-14T16:28:00.000-08:00

Stow Ohio, Geography, History and Government

Julie Obraza's third grade students were moodling in the classroom during their six week study of their community, Stow Ohio. Moodle is an online community where students can exchange ideas by posting information. Mrs. Obraza was the first teacher in attendance at the AT&T classroom to utilize this form of communication for reflection.
Students learned to use a compass as well as a GPS instrument to determine direction and location. A ranger from the Cuyahoga Valley National Park Environmental Education Center, Pam Barnes, did a hands-on activity with the children using the GPS system. A daily activity using the Interwrite Board and a projected map of the world, provided students with an opportunity to give and follow directions.
The study of Stow government was launched with a field trip to the City Hall. Here Mayor Fritschel addressed the class and students got a glimpse of the council chambers. The Geographic Information System Coordinator, Steve Gibbons, used a variety of Stow maps to show how the population has grown from the early 1950s to the present.
Upon returning to the classroom, students were given the choice to run for elected offices. A primary election (along with voting booth) was conducted and the final slate of candidates was posted on a Turning Point slide show which allowed the students to vote anonymously using the personal response system. Timelines using Inspiration software and Palm handhelds were constructed to document all of the fun and educational activities the third graders experienced.

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At&T Classroom Podcast 5 - Excel

2007-02-14T16:26:00.000-08:00

Excel Spreadsheets on the Palm Handheld Computer

Nancy Pittner's fourth grade class from Riverview Elementary School in Stow, Ohio spent six weeks in the AT&T classroom learning about how to collect, organize, represent and analyze data. Children used ordinary materials like raisins and M&M packets to estimate and then find precise counts. Line plots were constructed and the terms associated with statistics were defined. Students were soon picking out the mean, mode and range on measurements of their height and that of a group of first graders.
The students gathered and organized data from surveys, read and interpreted tables, charts and graphs, constructed spreadsheets in Excel both on desktop computers and on their Palm Handheld Computer. A final project gave the students an opportunity to utilize a variety of technology options to demonstrate what they learned. Several of the student groups employed animation, using PowerPoint and Digital Blue cameras to show the change over time. Whether it was raisins on a graph or a clay flower growing and blooming, the students demonstrated that their understanding of data analysis had grown and developed over this six week unit.

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AT&T Classroom Podcast 4 -Lizzie Borden Trial

2007-02-14T16:22:00.000-08:00

Students Debate the Lizzie Borden Trial

The students of Cuyahoga Falls Roberts Middle School and their teacher Debi Bolls elected to do a study on the elements of nonfiction while attending the AT&T classroom. The focus was on plot and conflict. Students examined various Little Golden Book stories to identify problem, action and result. Using Inspiration, graphic organizers were prepared outlining the characterization of the characters in the script. These formed the basis for the construction of a conflict journal. The students then did a Reader’s Theater reading of the “Murder On Second Street” by Suzanne Barchers, published in Read Magazine. This provided a good background on the Lizzie Borden trial .
The culmination of the unit was a mock trial with half of the class presenting the prosecution point of view and the other half the defense. Each student was required to present and defend a portion of the case. During the trial the students voted on the points to ponder with the personal response system. The final project for the unit was the preparation of a paper…. I (student’s name) find the defendant Lizzie Borden (not) guilty of the crime of murdering her parents because ……..

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AT&T Classrom 3 FBI Video

2007-02-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

The AT&T Classroom, which opened in the spring of 1998, serves as a unique learning and research environment. State-of-the-art technology is available for K-12 students and teachers in the classroom on a daily basis for extended, inquiry-based unit of study.

Owl Pellets Video

AT& T Podcast 2 Video

2007-02-09T13:19:00.000-08:00

The Research Center for Educational Technology (RCET) was founded in 1999 to provide a collegial network for university researchers and K-16 educators committed to studying the impact of technology on teaching and learning. RCET offices are located in northeast Ohio on the campus of Kent State University in the Moulton Hall Learning Technologies Center. The work of RCET is multi-dimensional and dynamic. A broad scope of work is in place to accomplish our mission:To explore the uses and influences of technology in education through rich collaborations among researchers and practitioners, to help improve teaching and learning in today's classrooms and inform the development of the ubiquitous computing environments of the future.
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AT&T Podcast 1 Audio

2007-01-03T09:11:00.000-08:00