November Entry

Due to continued construction and no connection of the Internet at our school Internet instruction is non-existent.  However as soon as we are connected I am anticipating utilizing the terrific 
lesson plans that are being created in Cyber exchange class. 

I am disappointed that the students I currently teach are unable to access the Internet because it is such a valuable teaching/learning tool.  Internet interest is high and middle school students have a positive response to this medium. 

December Entry

In November my students worked on the metric system and tools for science. 
Due to renovations still in progress at Jefferson Middle my classroom has no connection to the Internet.  I regret that the students I currently teach are missing out on the activities that could be obtained from this technology. 
A technician worked on my computer on Dec. 13.  My computer says it has no memory. 
HELP!!!  Have computer, but cannot work!!! 

January  Entry
January 20-25, 2000 students will do a computer activity from a program that was downloaded when our school had Internet access.  The program is on Mitosis and goes through each of the phases of the cell division process.  Another program that enhances the Cell book is the Photosynthesis download, a short video that explains the process of the green plant making food.   Students view the video in class and complete a worksheet. 

February Entry
TLG 2000 Experiences 
 I used my valuable at home time to go visit another teacher who had Internet connection at her school to attempt the TLG unit process.  She said this is taking too long so we packed up the copies I had and headed in the snow to her house.  I spent two more hours trying to find websites appropriate for my topic of integrating space studies and Earth’s atmosphere that supports life.  The textbook that I will be beginning next week is Exploring Planet Earth.  Finally about 9: 00 P.M. on a Friday evening I called it a night.  It is very frustrating to have creative ideas and know that there is a wealth of information that students would be able to access if there was only “connection” at our school.   Too, I feel it is very unfair to put in so many after school hours and not be compensated or rewarded for work relating to the grant. 

Internet Uses 
Students have completed two rotations on the computers in my classroom.  One unit that students participated in is the Mitosis Review that I downloaded last year when out school had Internet connection.  Students did an excellent job on this activity as this unit reinforced the information in the book very well.  Working on the computer for this unit was immensely beneficial for the students. 

March Entry

April Entry
Tlg Experiences Integrating Internet Resources 

Students in my classroom used the computers without internet connection in March.  Using the text Exploring Planet Earth students worked on the computer using the World Atlas program and located the three largest oceans and countries and cities to find facts for a worksheet.  Using newspaper and magazines articles as well as the computer students were to find information about the recent floods in Mozambique.  Activities on the computer are always of high interest and students generally make better grades as a result. 

My next unit of study would have benefited greatly if our school had Internet connection.  Parade of Life Protists has several websites that would lend understanding to the microscopic world.  One of my special education students brought in fantastic pictures printed from the Internet that she and her mother had worked on together.  Although she may have problems with learning in some aspects of the classroom she felt very proud of sharing this information with the other students. 

Internet resources thinkquest .org on the planet Earth was fantastic!!! 
One of my students printed the material for class.  This material illustrated my TLG proposals about planet Earth.  He made a notebook with the wonderful color pictures and wrote a letter thanking me for the sites.  I was ever so grateful to him because he worked at home (yes, the dreaded homework) and compiled the information and then reflected on the material.  Wow!! Isn’t that what we’ve been doing all year??? 
I think this WORKS!!! 

I made a short Power point presentation on classification and the five kingdoms.  One of my special education students was intrigued by even the simplest presentation.  A regular education student who was absent used the presentation as review.  Students were tested on the material from the book, notes, and Power point presentation.  Overall grades for the test were higher, I think, because of the simple presentation. 

 TLG experiences  I was totally frustrated when I began the TLG because I was unable to locate a track to accommodate my unit of study.  Thanks to colleagues in the class and the use of a friend’s computer and finally a good connection to find the sites.  Connie was wonderful in helping me finally locate a track that fit with my particular unit.  I appreciate all the time and effort that all teachers in out system have spent on this worthwhile project. 
Applause for all who participated!!! 

May Entry
     Since Jefferson Middle has been under construction for the 1999-2000 school year I have not been able to use the Internet as a teaching tool.  However as a result of the Cyber exchange classes sites have been recommended to students and students have gone on line at home to enhance their learning for certain areas of studies.  One site on planet Earth prompted an eager student and his father to design a notebook with information from the website.  He wrote a paper on what he had learned and commented that the learning was fun!!!   What a wonderful concept that students find that the experience of learning is fun. 
Currently my students are working on fascinating facts of the human body from a cd-rom program.  Students are extremely eager to complete computer activities in the classroom.  Connie Campbell, Technology Instructor, has also shared software from the Technology Center for my classroom.  On one day in particular the software was a lifesaver because the video I had planned to show on the endocrine system was absolutely blank.  So I “cranked” the cd on the “Amazing Human Body” and the students were able to learn the parts of the endocrine system that were on the quiz for the next day.  Learning in progress, computer style! Student’s interest was held high and knowledge was gained, plus my day was not ruined because of a blank video.
 In the school year 2000-2001 hopefully our school will be connected and I will be able to integrate activities involving the web.   I particularly missed last year allowing students to learn about ozone levels in the Smoky Mountains that affect our region each fall.  I’m looking forward to connection and sharing information this fall. 

Students have been informed of the website and have been encouraged to use the Jefferson County Web page.  I am excited about the sites that are provided and will certainly visit the site when Jefferson Middle is connected.  Having such a great instructor as Connie makes using the web much easier and less time consuming (searching for sites).  Students’ interest is always high and grades on any computer activity are overall in the B or above range.  Middle school students in my classroom who are notorious for rushing to complete or just half doing assignments generally complete and do very well on computer activities.

PowerPoint instruction has been teacher made because of time constraints.  
Students were presented with PowerPoint instruction on Protists recently.
PowerPoint is a POWERFUL tool because it can be used for introduction and review.
It also can be utilized effectively if students are absent on a day of instruction by     allowing the student(s) to review on the computer while other activities are ongoing in the classroom.

 In all other professions colleagues are afforded opportunities to confer with peers on professional issues.  One of the problems of being an educator is never having the time to confer or reflect with peers during the regular workday.  Why must a profession that is so crucial to our society ignore collaboration as a routine portion of a workday?  After hour meetings and after hour phone calls, electronic communication should be compensated in some form.  Most other professions have compensated time for extra hours of working or are paid for the time in which colleagues collaborate.  It’s time teachers are compensated for time and effort for reflection.

The most beneficial aspect of this project has been working with other classroom teachers and sharing some of the same concerns about technology.  Too, the information gained in class about the websites and the MONEY from the TLG has and will enhance activities in my classroom.  Time for reflection and sharing with staff members that is part of the regular workday is a must for our profession.  Too long have we labored without reward.  This class has been great because it recognized the need for teachers to have learning time in order to be better and more effective instructors.  I have shared websites with other teachers from this class.  Other teachers have shared their classroom connection or their home connection with me, in order that I could complete the TLG.  Without the assistance of other colleagues I would not have been able to complete my grant work.  Thanks to Connie for her invaluable assistance!!!!