Thursday,+February+10,+2011

** Day 2 – Thursday, February 10, 2011 **  me: Hey guys 8:04 PM Stephanie: Hey  Dean has joined  me: Happy Thursday!  Stephanie: Yey!  Dean: HEllo 8:05 PM So what is the goal tonight? 8:06 PM me: Well I was wondering what else I need to do. I mean, I can keep compiling the bibliography as we go but we won't have a lot for a while  So I don't want to not do anything 8:07 PM Stephanie: I think since Sunday is more of a check in than a due date we should make sure we have everything set up as far as technology goes  Dean: I emailed our professor today and she told me that the flowchart is a work in progress, so I agree with Steph. 8:09 PM me: Yea, that sounds good.  DON: Hello everyone. So many of the items listed for Sunday are actually items that will be added on throughout the project.  me: What do we need to make sure we have?  Stephanie: ok here's the list for Sunday on the Moodle (list of assignments due) <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Dean: I am having trouble accessing Wikispaces...is anyone else? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:10 PM Stephanie: no I just got on  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Never mind I am in. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Wiki Space created. Should we add our proposal to the wiki? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:11 PM Stephanie: I added the parts of the proposal to the wikispace...it's not pretty but we can change that as we go if we want <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:12 PM Dean: I will have the Flowchart posted to the wiki by tomorrow <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:13 PM DON: What is a threaded discussion board? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: That was going to be my next question. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:14 PM We have the calender and the Diigo group posted <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Would that be our group meetings? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: I was wondering the same thing Amy <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: I guess, how do we prove that to her? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:15 PM DON: It could be but from what I can see it sounds like a forum. You would not be able to chat on it. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: I Think we just make it as a link inb our wiki <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: I think it is a discussion board of the work we do on our own <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:16 PM asynchronous means work occuring independently of the main jproject <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:17 PM Maybe it's something we post to as we do research and have thoughts about what to do for the other parts of the project?? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Thank you Stephanie I was just going to look it up. :)  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:18 PM Dean: I could fire an email to the professor, if everyone wants and then forward her response.   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Yeah that would be good to clarify   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Sending it now.   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:21 PM Dean: Its sent.   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:22 PM Perhaps all it means is that we have to use different types of collaboration.   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Maybe   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> there is a discussion tab at the top of the wikispace but there is nothing there so I don't know what that means   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Aside from that, do we have the other components? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: That is what we post <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:23 PM DON: I can set up a shared doc on Google Docs for the annotated bibliography. Also I can spruce up the proposal on the wiki. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Like we can send messages to eachother when we find links <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:24 PM It's like e-mails but everyone can see them <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: That is what I see the discussion thread being. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:25 PM Stephanie: I found some links to websites on literacy and technology, but I just posted them to the diigo, I'm assuming that if we don't want to use them I can just delete them <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:26 PM Dean: (list of assignments due) This is from the rubric on the webpage. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Wait, guys I have a question. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:27 PM I don't want to create a problem here but I thought about this the other night and was thinking about it today so I'm going to throw it out there. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> I think this is supposed to be like a project for students to do. Not us. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:28 PM If I'm wrong, let me know' <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> But this question seems to be really broad and I'm confused on how we can make an actual project on it  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: In this case, from what I understand, we are both the students and the teachers <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:30 PM Dean: I thought our project was for students, but we act like we are completing it. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Yea, I agree but i think when we are thinking as students, we are meant to think as high school students. Like for history, we would make a project on Egyptian leaders throughout history and how they've changed <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Yeah that was my understanding. WE create the project for students and then pretend we are the students and create an example project <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:31 PM me: Yea. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: so you think we need to focus our challenge a little bit? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:32 PM DON: Don I agree <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Yes. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: about create the project and then being the students <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:33 PM me: So if we want to stick with reading...  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:34 PM DON: I think reading is fine. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Or we could do History. Since Egypt is a huge issue right now. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: That's general enough that we could all use it even though we all have different focus areas <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:35 PM me: Ok. So what kind of focus? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Thinking <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:36 PM Stephanie: Well do we want them to create a book guide for a book of their choice? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:37 PM me: I was thinking something like that too. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: They pick a book, research the themes, period of the piece, and create a guide for the book <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:38 PM The way it could work for a ll levels of readers because they can chose their own books <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: They could have a list of vocab words to define, and give major character analysis <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Yea. But we as students need to choose a book and do this project <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: They could embed vocab, educational videos, discussion board, essentially create a wiki for their book <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:39 PM Stephanie: Yeah we should pick something that we have all likely read before <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Of Mice and Men? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> It's short for us as well <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: OK, OK. I'm thinking... Long-term. Dean and I read somewhat of the same novels this semester. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: I like that lots of history to tie in  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: I was thinking that or Death of a Salesman <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Stephanie: To Kill and Mockingbird? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Dean: Crucible and the Cold War vibe? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:41 PM me: Uhhh I hate the crucible as a play. Love to teach ABOUT it, but I think the play is ubelieveably broing. Movie is awesome though <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Oh Amy your judgment would freeze beer. . . John Proctor <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: hahha <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Stephanie: At this point we would not need to change much of what we have already done <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:45 PM Alter the wording of the challenge and the essential question and that's about it. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Some of the resources I found may not be useable now, but that's ok I already had found them for a new clas I'm writing <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:47 PM Dean: I like this idea as well, because it still allows the students choice and it could be used as a way to get students excited about reading and improve scores. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: This is fine with me. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Yea, me too. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:48 PM What about Great Gatsby?? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Dean: Love the Gatsby. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Stephanie: I'm fine with whatever book as long as I'm familiar with it  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Stephanie: It's been a while but I've read that one <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">me: Don, what do you think? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Ah I hate to say this but I did not like the great gatsby but I did read it many moons ago. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Slaughterhouse Five? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:51 PM We are reading this right now. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Slaughterhouse Five is good. We are covering Of Mice and Men in class too. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:52 PM Dean: I know both of those books very well. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: The new Challenge: With the aide of technology, create a book guide to help struggling students improve their reading scores. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> I really liked Of MIce and Men <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Dean: Can I tend the rabbits??? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:53 PM me: Agree on Of Mice and Men? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Not until you finish your work, Lenny! <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Mice and Men is good I can also change the challenge. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Yes <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Hahaha..Sorry everyone. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: That's fine with me  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:54 PM me: OK good. So what do we need to finish tongiht <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> ? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Special Ed would have helped Lenny. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Hahhaha <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Come on Don...all he wants is to live off the fat of the land, <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Not if George had anything to say about it  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:55 PM Stephanie: Well, we should change what we need to for the proposal and submit it? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: I could do a history piece on the historical context of the book. Migrant workers and Great Depression info. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:56 PM Yep <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Yes. I like the proposal you gave, Steph. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Then maybe start thinking about what we would need for guiding questions and resources <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: I will change the proposal <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Should I change the Wiki name or is "Literacy Project" still good? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:57 PM Stephanie: I think that still works <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> that's still the main theme of the project: improving literacy <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: I think Literacy Project still fits <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Got it. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Okaley Doakly! <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:58 PM me: Proposal? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">8:59 PM Dean: For the flowchart I have to put down what we did so far, would everyone be able to email me their job descriptions, so to speak tomorrow and I will get that done. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Don said he would change the wording for the proposal <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Yeah I'll get that to you <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Can email tommrw <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:00 PM Dean: For Sunday we need the following...this is from the rubric, (list of assignments due) <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: OK. Should I just stick with getting artifacts and creating the bibliography? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: We have diigo group <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> I will do the mind map <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: We have the wikispace with everything linked <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Yep. 9:01 PM I emailed our prof about the discussions <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: I will put our meetings up with post-its <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> to the calendar <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: we need to create a google doc for our chat notes to go in? and link it to the wikispace? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> ok that works <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: I will set up the page for the bibliography. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:02 PM Dean: Did anyone save our chat notes? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: ok what can I do?? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Yes, I have all of the chat notes. I will keep track of them. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Amy could you upload the chat notes onto the wiki? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Yup. Should I put them into the discussion part? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: all synchronous meetings posted to the Google Calendar with attendance posted and notes shared on Google Docs – archived chat rooms or messages posted to the wiki discussion board)  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: I think we have to have some proof of our meetings?   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: That is what the rubric says   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: Hm, Don brings up a good point. i'll e-mail her and ask about the chats and if she can clear that up. I'll let you guys know   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:04 PM DON: OK we will have to keep it clean. :D   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: haha   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Haha   <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:05 PM Stephanie: Well since everyone else seems to have a task what would you guys like me to work on? Maybe start working on a rough draft of some guiding questions? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Steph would you want to send the link to our wiki on Sunday? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: I can do that <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:06 PM me: Just sent her an e-mail. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:07 PM DON: OK so, we are set for Sunday? I guess next step would be to work out the details of our project. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: This is what will be due the following week <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> * The Big Idea <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">* The Essential Question <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">* The Challenge (a.k.a. the vehicle) <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">* The Guiding Questions <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">* The Guiding Activities (create at least one guiding activity with instructions and resources per group member) <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">* The Guiding Resources – Create a list of resources as references and tools to support students as they engage in the guiding activities. Each of these resources should be bookmarked and shared to your Diigo group. The wiki page can simply include a link to your Diigo group. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:08 PM Stephanie: Yeah we just have those questions that Amy and Dean sent, but we can deal with those through e-mail once we get an answer <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Lest work on some ideas and meet again in chat on Tuesday next week, <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: so basically we need to add guiding questions and each come up with a guiding activity <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:09 PM DON: 8:00 pm  <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Sounds good <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: That's fine with me. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Dean: For Tuesday, using our strengths lets try to come up with two questions and two activites for Mice and men <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Each come up with two questions and two activities? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:11 PM Dean: I could focus on history and perhaps racism with Crooks <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Stephanie: I was thinking of comparing it to current situations with migrant workers? <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> me: I can come up with vocab and symbols <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: I like it. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Questions sound good. I can focus on Lenny and his disability or maybe ability and what he symbolized. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">9:13 PM DON: Well, I gotta go. I will email everyone tomorrow. <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: Ok have a good night <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Dean: Same <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> Stephanie: see you all on Tuesday <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';"> DON: Can I go to bed now? I am drooling on my keyboard. You know, I am old. :D <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">DON has left
 * <span style="font-family: 'Book Antiqua','serif';">Group Collaboration #2 **