Week+4

What will we learn about in class this week?
Students will:
 * 1) Learn about Learner Response Systems (LRS) (e.g., ActiVote, ActivExpressions) and how use them with an interactive whiteboard in the classroom - focusing on student participation and assessment.
 * 2) locate various funding sources/programs available for acquiring technology, specifically interactive whiteboards, for PreK-12 classrooms.
 * 3) Create a "final" flipchart that uses advanced features of the interactive whiteboard software to design activities/lessons that promote student interactivity and engagement.

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**__Movies to Watch:__** = =  **Week 4 in Review ** **(Time: 13:44)**

** __Required Readings:__ **
Interactive Whiteboards: Funding & Professional Development Author: Matt Silverman Article published online - HotChalk - August 10, 2009

**__Course Information:__** **1. What is a learner response system (LRS) and how can they be incorporated into IWB lessons?** These are many ways a learner response system (i.e., Clickers, ActiVotes, Activexpressions ) can be used with students in classrooms. Think of it as using them for two distinct purposes: 1) student participation, and 2) student assessment. When you design an IWB lesson you want to make sure that you are not just "presenting" information on the board, but you want to provide opportunities for students to interact with the information that they are learning in your classroom. Specifically, Promethean has designed three learner response systems - ActiViotes (we have these at ISU!), Activexpressions (more like a texting device - we need to get some!), and Activengage (used with 1:1 programs where students have their own laptop).

Watch this ActivTip video for more information about these devices! What is LRS? (First on list in ActivTip section)

In addition, it takes a little bit of set-up to use ActiVotes (or the other LRSs) in a classroom. Watch this YouTube video that explains the steps you follow to set these devices up for classroom use.

As you design future IWB lessons, think about how you will involve students using learner response systems. Some of the teacher feature segments that you watched might have had examples of teachers using these tools with the IWB. Just keep your options open as you think about interactivity within your lessons.

**2. Where can I find the funds to have an interactive whiteboard in my classroom?** As we have learned, interactive whiteboards have considerable promise for PreK-12 classrooms. But, the challenge can be getting the funds to have an interactive whiteboard in your classroom. As classroom teachers, we sometimes have to take on the responsibility of searching for opportunities to provide learning tools for our students. I wanted to make you aware that there are funding sources available, but you have to take the initiative to search for them. Here are a few examples!

Many companies are very philanthropic, but you just have to search to find their focus and the causes they support. Here are a couple examples of companies that provide opportunities for individuals to obtain technology for their classrooms!

Teach@15 Awards (Best Buy) - $1,500 of technology for your classroom! HyVee Smart Points - Win a SMARTBoard for your school! Target - Helping Schools, Helping People - Not really technology specific, but could be! Look at all of the grant programs they support!

Also, be aware that there are community groups that will always listen to a good idea that will impact children's lives. Make connections with your community groups like Lions, Rotary, and Kiwanas. One of the best sources is your own school's education foundation. School education foundations have really expanded the last few years and are a great source for funding technology needs in classrooms. Here are a couple school examples:

Maquoketa Community School District Central-Clinton Community School District

You might need a little bit of help with this, but watch this YouTube video that shows you how to make a low-cost interactive whiteboard using a Wiimote. People call this a $50 whiteboard!

Low-cost whiteboard!

When all else fails remember that you can look for low-cost alternatives! Here are a couple of online Web 2.0 tools that might get you thinking!

Fooboard - online interactive whiteboard where people can write, draw and share your ideas with others. CoSketch - online whiteboard designed to help you visualize and share your ideas with others. Dabbleboard - online collaboration application

//**Lesson Learned? Look for opportunities! They are out there!**//


 * NOTE:** Remember that the next CI 454x course offered this semester is on //Basic Grant Writing Skills//. If you are interested in this topic I am sure you can still enroll!

**__Assignments this Week:__**
 * 1) ** Read required reading as assigned and spend time looking at funding alternatives for technology. **
 * 2) ** Create a **"final" 5-10 page flipchart using ActivInspire **that teaches a curriculum topic in the subject area of your choice. Incorporate some of the advanced features that you have learned (during weeks 2 & 3) and the learner response systems (This week!). I would prefer that this be a totally new flipchart (different from Weeks 2 & 3 assignment). This flipchart should be a highly interactive lesson that engages students in subject area content.** ** Upload the flipchart to Moodle. Please make sure you include a title page and curriculum standards page (see below). **
 * 3) ** In addition, record an audio file that describes your lesson and how you will use it in your classroom with students. ** In the audio file that you upload with your flipchart include the following information (It is the idea that this takes place of a written lesson plan!):
 * Grade Level
 * Curriculum Standards - Iowa Core and/or Common Core - Select 1-3 standards that illustrate how this lesson connects to curriculum goals. To save time in the audio recording - you can just put these on a page in your flipchart.
 * Narrate the flipchart (page-by-page) explaining what each page covers and why you designed the page they way you did. Focus your comments on page design (see checklist) and student participation/assessment.
 * Record this file using any audio recording program. Ideas include: Garageband (Mac) or Audacity (PC) - podcast option; iMovie (Mac) or MovieMaker (PC) - just audio record; VoiceThread (Need to register); or any other program that can create and save an audio file. Try to keep the audio file around 5 minutes in length (save size!)