Anticipation...

Tomorrow, they're delivering my 30 laptops to my classroom from Central Office. School starts next week for teachers, 2 weeks for students.  I'm trying to decide how to physically number them so I can assign a specific one to each student.  I also want to install some icons on the desktop for easy access; Symbaloo with French/Spanish resources, LiveBinders, and I'm not sure what else.  I'll also have to assign printers to them I suppose - but I'm going to try to go as paperless as possible.

I think the whole Device Pilot will become "real" when the laptops are in my classroom - waiting in anticipation for our students.
Soon.. Very Soon..

Setting up, Getting organize. What goes where?

This website will be strictly for my students and myself and the work we do together.  I've set up a separate blog, http://msmuscikmscommunity.blogspot.com/ to share our journey to become a 1:1 Community of Learners.

So from this point on, just classroom stuff.

Getting the Environment Set

Room 401. Kernersville Middle School.  With posters on the walls, the desks in groups of 4, I'm almost ready for students to come in the door. (Yes, I meant to rhyme it.)

This week I spent setting up my classroom.  I've grouped my seats in 4's, trying to think of how I can see all of the screens at one time and still keep them in groups - I gave up.  My students and I have always had good rapport.  I think that will hold true - even with the lure of the glowing screen to entice them. I'll just have to be more.... Me

I'm not used to documenting my every move, so I will have to remember to take some photos and post them next week when they (WSFCS Dept. of Tech) bring the 31 laptops to my room.  I have really struggled with the control issue.  I've been thinking I need to supervise the students' every breath and keystroke, but I spent yesterday evening creating Symbaloo/Bridge sites tying in 10-12 Symbaloos creating booklets of resources.  I'm now thinking - I could assign Bellringers based on what students' needs are and what they need to accomplish objective-wise and they could use the Symbaloo/Bridge Booklets.  I see now where CiCi and Marty were talking about having students be independent learners.

I'm cautiously optimistic.

Ready or Not!

Just finished a 3 day training session with the other participants in our exciting adventure known as the 1:1 Device Pilot.  Whew, so much information to digest.  Day one we were introduced to the Community of Learners concept with the assignment to come up with a Classroom Management Plan and a 1:1 Best Practices. Day two we talked about Internet Safety & Copyright and today we worked on Lesson Plans and working out kinks with the tablets. Chelsea, Rose, Julie, Kathryn & myself were there. Mike was on vacation.  Looking forward to getting the year started to chase away the butterflies.

HTL:WDYT? - Endangered Animals? - What about Endangered LANGUAGES!!?

"Experts estimate that only 50% of the languages that are alive today will be spoken by the year 2100." How will their disappearance affect the rest of us?  In June of this year, Google (yes, our Google) launched its Interactive Endangered Languages Project website.  Visit it to discover which languages are being lost and what is the cost to the rest of us.
Here's the Link.  What do you Think?
http://www.endangeredlanguages.com/

HTL:WDYT - It's a Mexico City Revolution!

Monta Ud. en su bicicleta! - Ride your bike! It's a revolution in transportation in Mexico City.  Find out about this new way of getting around in Mexico's capital city.  Would it work in Winston?  Here's the Link.  What do you think?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-radio-and-tv-16833168

HTL:WDYT - What's the Best City for Students? Paris!

According to a recent article published by a British research group,  QS Best Student Cities who "looked at quality of life and affordability in terms of fees and living costs, as well as the number of institutions and their overall reputations among employers", Paris France is the best city in the entire world in which to attend University. 

Here's the Link.  What do you Think?
http://www.france24.com/en/20120216-paris-ranked-world-best-city-students-france-university-education