A Tech Project

Here is a project my Associate Teacher, Lisa Dempster, created in her school library. 

Lisa has created QR codes using QR code generator like http://qrcode.kaywa.com/ for websites she picked or created.  The codes are then blown up to about 3" squares and randomly pasted around the library. 

When students use their personal mobile devices they can scan the code they find in various locations in the library and that will take them to the website associated with the QR code.

A few QR codes were to popular books with video trailers online, some to school library website and some to an interesting page Lisa has created (http://schools.tdsb.on.ca/riverdale/departments/library/qrrci.html) that says "show this page on your mobile screen to the librarian to receive your very own graphite communication device!".

Lisa mentions that only a few students have figured this one out so far.

I think this project aims to approach the students by using the latest technology as a tool to enhance their learning. What an interesting way to motivate students. I am sure Lisa has more cool projects underway. 

Live and Interactive with Alan Levine

 

In the “Technology in the Secondary School” course in  Teacher Education Program, just like in any other course, we had people presenting to us about important and relevant topics, but in a different way. The difference was that instead of the presenter being physically present in the class, the presentations took place through the Internet. The presenter and the class connected to an Elluminate session that allowed live interaction with each other.

Alan Levine recently joined with our class through Elluminate to talk about ‘digital storytelling’. Alan is one of the pioneers in developing ‘digital storytelling’. He told us that anyone with a story and a computer could create a digital story. We all have stories to tell. Conveying a story digitally makes it more appealing, creative and presentable.

Alan showed several different ways to make a digital story from the wiki site http://50ways.wikispaces.com/. It was very inspiring to find ways to use current technology and be creative.  We all thought about how to incorporate digital storytelling in our classrooms. Alan showed us the following story on YouTube that inspired me to use digital storytelling in my science classroom.

 
 

I immediately started thinking about ways to incorporate the idea of digital storytelling into my chemistry lessons. It would definitely be an ideal differentiated instructional tool to motivate and engage students.

Technology is great. It opens up avenues to be successful in 21^st century learning.  

Thanks Alan for educating us and sharing your experiences about digital storytelling.

 

My Virtual Associate Teacher

Lisa J. Dempster is my virtual associate teacher from Riverdale Collegiate Institute in Toronto, Ontario. Lisa currently is the Assistant Curriculum Leader of Library and Learning Resources, which means she is the “head” of the library at Riverdale Collegiate Institute.  She has been in this position at Riverdale Collegiate Institute since 2005 and before that Lisa has been a Teacher-Librarian at many different schools in Toronto since 1991. She held the head of the library position for the first time while at Monarch Park Collegiate.  Lisa did her Bachelor of Science degree at University of Toronto and graduated in 1986 with a psychology major.  Later in 1988 she obtained her Master of Social Work degree and in 1991 graduated with the Bachelor of Education degree, from the same university.

With several years of curriculum leadership in two diverse secondary schools, Lisa says she is eager to foster student success while supporting programs and colleagues across the board.  She has been actively involved in various leadership qualities development programs like developing and managing school library programs, presenting and participating in province-wide professional development, etc. and many other programs.

Hence, Lisa has become an influential voice in school and district programs and professional development. She believes the role of school libraries and teacher librarians is changing, reflecting the change in learning in the digital-age. The library is transforming with new technologies. Her commitment is to develop school libraries as learning commons across the curriculum and ensure school library programs remain central to 21st Century learning. 
 Lisa has been a wonderful support for me in terms of providing information and resources that are useful in the teacher education courses as well as in practicum. Through Lisa I could contact science teachers around North America with whom I exchanged ideas and resources to use in my classroom.  
I am hopeful that Lisa will continue to support me to develop myself to become a successful teacher. 
I truly honor her for being a kind, understanding and dedicated Associate Teacher.