11/7/2011-11/18/2011

Weeks 9 and 10:

Technology projects both in and out of the lab have taken flight this year, really helping to promote a variety of 21st century skills.  Here are a few from the past two weeks:

8th Grade Math Students Make "Moneyball" Connections:
8th grade math classes on both clusters E and F completed a series of projects related to the movie "Moneyball."  In these projects, they analyzed linear and nonlinear equations, using excel and an online graphing calculator to plot their equations.  Here are the links to the different activities:

Creating Spreadsheets and Graphs in Excel

Graphing Calculator

Moneyball Activity

8th Grade French Essays on Google Docs:


Ms. Langlois had her French students put their French skills to use in the computer lab, as they wrote essays about their lives at Bigelow in French.  Students shared their Google docs with classmates "to comment," and they made recommendations on each other's work using the "comments" feature.  Ms. Langlois shared a document of editing tips with the students, but the editing process became more of a collaborative activity than a student / teacher activity.  Their comments and replies are just as much a part of their grade as the writing itself.  They are also inserting images with proper citations that enhance their essays.  We look forward to seeing their final drafts next week!

To learn more, visit Ms. Langlois' website!


7th Grade English Brain Frames The Land:

As the 7th grade students read The Land, they are expected to take notes in a variety of ways.  One way is brain framing, and students have the choice to use pencil and paper, or Google docs.  Here is an example of a student's sequencing frame:

6B Character Wheels:

Mr. King's English students studied characters and character traits by creating character wheels in Google Drawing based on their independent reading.  Here is an example:

6AB Student-Made Quizzes:
To review for their culture quiz, students created their own quizzes using Google forms, and took each other's quizzes for homework.  Mr. Spiegel interacted with the students, commenting on their quizzes, and helping them to create strong review questions.

6th Grade Student Uses Family Trip As a Learning Experience:

Sophie, a sixth grader, went with her parents to visit the rest of her family in Lebanon.  She used this trip as an opportunity to expand her learning, as well as her classmates' learning.  After studying the eight traits of culture in Mr. Spiegel's class, Sophie created a compare and contrast brainframe and a write up comparing the culture in Boston to the culture in Beirut.  She also skyped with her class, showing them her grandparents' house, and aspects of their culture in Lebanon.  It was an eye opening experience for all!

10/24/2011 - 11/4/2011

WEEKS 7 + 8:

We have had a busy few weeks in the lab.  Not only have teachers been doing innovative projects with their students, but they have also been leading and participating in trainings that will benefit their classes.  Here's a taste of what has been going on:

Ms. Alberts Students' Collaborate on Play Writing:
6th graders in Ms. Alberts' class learned about play writing in drama class.  They discussed how one can tell dialogue apart from stage directions, as well as aspects of a play.  Students worked in groups on shared Google docs to write and act out their own plays.  Check out Ms. Alberts' site for more information.

Cluster B Netbook Rollout:

The one to one laptop program rolled out this past week!  Each student on cluster B has been assigned a netbook to use in their on-team classes.  They have additional rules to follow as well as responsibilities that are clearly stated on their netbook licenses.  The netbooks help the teachers to enhance lessons with technology, and the students to collaborate and create their own learning. 

Click HERE to learn more about the 21st century classroom initiative.

Using Google Earth to Make Connections:

Both Mr. King's and Ms. Levy's geography classes spent three days introducing their students to Google Earth.  During the first day, students learned about many of the uses of Google Earth, as well as how to navigate it.  On the 2nd and 3rd days, Mr. King's classes created their own tours, mapping their connections to the world, and uploading them to Google docs.  Ms. Levy's classes created tours of physical features throughout Europe as an introduction to the continent.  Both classes will have work posted online next week!

7C Uses the Lab to Differentiate Instruction:

Mr. Souza created a multifaceted quiz review, which included a Google form, web videos, readings, and worksheets.  Students could move through the lesson at their own pace, and Mr. Souza could use the form as a formative assessment and meet with students on an individual basis.  Click HERE to check out his lesson.