Using Think.com in Student Projects Steven Caringella CUE Palm Springs

Presentation Resource Site Caringella.edublogs.org Caringella.edublogs.org

Presenter Bio Steven Caringella Steven Caringella Fifth Grade Teacher at Zanker, Milpitas Unified Fifth Grade Teacher at Zanker, Milpitas Unified Technology Coordinator Technology Coordinator Part-time instructor, Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College Part-time instructor, Krause Center for Innovation at Foothill College Professional development training in educational technology Professional development training in educational technology

Presentation Overview What is Think.com? What is Think.com? What is inquiry-based and project-based learning? What is inquiry-based and project-based learning?

Presentation Overview How was Think.com used in the Environmental Concerns project? How was Think.com used in the Environmental Concerns project? How can Think.com be used in inquiry-based cross-curricular projects? How can Think.com be used in inquiry-based cross-curricular projects?

Presentation Overview Think.com presentation, live on the Web. Think.com presentation, live on the Web. Tools for online research, reflective blogging, communicating and collaborating Tools for online research, reflective blogging, communicating and collaborating

What is Think.com? Think.com is a password- protected, student-safe online learning community. Think.com is a password- protected, student-safe online learning community

What is Think.com? Allows students to publish, blog, share documents, communicate, and collaborate. Allows students to publish, blog, share documents, communicate, and collaborate. Free access provided to schools by the Oracle Education Foundation. Free access provided to schools by the Oracle Education Foundation.

Think.com and Student Projects Think.com is ideal for use in inquiry-based, cross-curricular student projects. Think.com is ideal for use in inquiry-based, cross-curricular student projects. Central to the success of the Environmental Concerns in the Community project. Central to the success of the Environmental Concerns in the Community project.

Think.com and Standards Think.com can be used to help students meet California content standards. Think.com can be used to help students meet California content standards. Think.com meets ISTE National Technology Standards. Think.com meets ISTE National Technology Standards

Technology Productivity Tools Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. Students use technology tools to enhance learning, increase productivity, and promote creativity. Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works. Students use productivity tools to collaborate in constructing technology-enhanced models, prepare publications, and produce other creative works.

Technology Communications Tools Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences. Students use telecommunications to collaborate, publish, and interact with peers, experts, and other audiences. Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences. Students use a variety of media and formats to communicate information and ideas effectively to multiple audiences.

Technology Research Tools Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. Students use technology to locate, evaluate, and collect information from a variety of sources. Students use technology tools to process data and report results. Students use technology tools to process data and report results. Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness for specific tasks. Students evaluate and select new information resources and technological innovations based on the appropriateness for specific tasks.

Problem-Solving Tools Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions. Students use technology resources for solving problems and making informed decisions. Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world. Students employ technology in the development of strategies for solving problems in the real world.

How to Access Think.com Teachers at accredited primary and secondary schools can apply. Teachers at accredited primary and secondary schools can apply. Oracle Education Foundation requires site principal’s approval. Oracle Education Foundation requires site principal’s approval.

How to Access Think.com If you are the first at your site to use Think.com, you become the site lead. If you are the first at your site to use Think.com, you become the site lead. You can then add other teachers at your site. You can then add other teachers at your site.

Online safety Teachers who use Think.com with their students must monitor student content. Teachers who use Think.com with their students must monitor student content. Teachers must teach students how to stay safe online. Teachers must teach students how to stay safe online. Must have parental consent. Must have parental consent.

Inquiry-Based Learning A learner-centered process that begins with questioning and investigating. A learner-centered process that begins with questioning and investigating. Children have a desire to discover and finds things out. Children have a desire to discover and finds things out. Exploring, asking questions, searching for new understandings. Exploring, asking questions, searching for new understandings.

Project-Based Learning Students investigate a real- world problem, working collaboratively. Students investigate a real- world problem, working collaboratively. They use technology tools, gain skills and knowledge, and end with a learning product. They use technology tools, gain skills and knowledge, and end with a learning product.

Environmental Concerns Winner of the KCI Rambus Silicon Valley Award for excellence in innovation Winner of the KCI Rambus Silicon Valley Award for excellence in innovation

Environmental Concerns Students used Think.com during research, for reflection, to communite and collaborate, and as an eportfolio. Students used Think.com during research, for reflection, to communite and collaborate, and as an eportfolio.

ECIC Overview …created and implemented by Mary Howland, Beth Fensterwald, and Steven Caringella …created and implemented by Mary Howland, Beth Fensterwald, and Steven Caringella Earn While You Learn Fellows, Krause Center for Innovation, Foothill College, CA Earn While You Learn Fellows, Krause Center for Innovation, Foothill College, CA

ECIC Overview Multi-classroom: Students from three Northern California schools collaborated using Think.com. Multi-classroom: Students from three Northern California schools collaborated using Think.com. Cross-curricular: One school focused on science and two schools focused on language arts. Cross-curricular: One school focused on science and two schools focused on language arts.

Essential Question How do we become aware of environmental concerns and how can we make a difference? How do we become aware of environmental concerns and how can we make a difference?

Almaden School Fourth graders from Almaden School collected water quality data from a local creek. Fourth graders from Almaden School collected water quality data from a local creek.

River Glen Elementary Seventh graders researched environmental problems, then wrote persuasive essays advocating change in treatment of the environment. Seventh graders researched environmental problems, then wrote persuasive essays advocating change in treatment of the environment.

Zanker Elementary Fifth graders conducted research, then used it to write persuasive essays. Fifth graders conducted research, then used it to write persuasive essays.

Zanker Elementary The students also produced public service announcements using digital video. The students also produced public service announcements using digital video.

Communicating With Think.com Students from all three schools wrote bios about themselves, then “met” each other online. Students from all three schools wrote bios about themselves, then “met” each other online. Throughout the project, students read, reviewed, and evaluated each others’ work. Throughout the project, students read, reviewed, and evaluated each others’ work.

Collaborating With Think.com Almaden Fourth graders wrote letters and posters in response to the River Glen newsletters that they viewed and discussed. Almaden Fourth graders wrote letters and posters in response to the River Glen newsletters that they viewed and discussed. almadenschool/FellowsStudentW ork2.htm almadenschool/FellowsStudentW ork2.htm almadenschool/FellowsStudentW ork2.htm almadenschool/FellowsStudentW ork2.htm

Collaborating With Think.com Fifth and Seventh grade students included the Fourth graders’ water quality data in their research. Fifth and Seventh grade students included the Fourth graders’ water quality data in their research.

Collaborating With Think.com Zanker Fifth graders created web resource lists during research that were shared by team members for the essays and the PSAs. Zanker Fifth graders created web resource lists during research that were shared by team members for the essays and the PSAs.

Reflective Blogging Throughout the stages of the project, students reflected on their learning process by writing reflective blog entries. Throughout the stages of the project, students reflected on their learning process by writing reflective blog entries.

Think.com as eportfolio Throughout the project, students uploaded finished learning products, reflected on them, and received teacher and peer review and feedback. Throughout the project, students uploaded finished learning products, reflected on them, and received teacher and peer review and feedback.

Learning Products Included… Field journals Field journals Water data Water data Website links Website links Informational articles Informational articles Poems Poems Persuasive essays Persuasive essays Letters and posters Letters and posters Digital video clips Digital video clips

Think.com Project Ideas Think.com provides project ideas that can be used in the K-8 classroom, that meet ISTE standards. Think.com provides project ideas that can be used in the K-8 classroom, that meet ISTE standards

Think.com Demonstration Tools used for online research, reflective blogging, communicating and collaborating, and creating eportfolio web pages. Tools used for online research, reflective blogging, communicating and collaborating, and creating eportfolio web pages

Krause Center for Innovation Northern California Institute that is dedicated to helping teachers integrate technology into the curriculum. Northern California Institute that is dedicated to helping teachers integrate technology into the curriculum.

Krause Center for Innovation center.org/kci center.org/kci center.org/kci center.org/kci Donor-funded center. Donor-funded center. Potential donors should contact Gay Krause. Potential donors should contact Gay Krause.

Krause Center for Innovation Offer technology classes for educators. Offer technology classes for educators. Earn While You Learn: Three week institute in July. Earn While You Learn: Three week institute in July. Earn While You Learn Fellows: Collaborative project. Earn While You Learn Fellows: Collaborative project.

Earn While You Learn 2007 Deadline to apply is March 15. Deadline to apply is March 15. First three weeks in July. First three weeks in July. Create a technology-enhanced project. Create a technology-enhanced project. Earn a $4000 stipend. Earn a $4000 stipend. Receive college credit. Receive college credit. More information on the KCI website. More information on the KCI website.

Think.com Try Account Click on Try It First Click on Try It First Key code for Try Account is “tryus” Key code for Try Account is “tryus”