Smith,+Toni+Kaye-+Cool+Tools+Review


 * Cool Tools Review and Application Plan ** - Write a review and reflection of the Cool Tools sessions you attended as a part of the Institute. In addition, create a contextualized lesson or unit plan in which you conceptualize putting these tools into action as an instructor and foresee having your students engaging in activities using these tools for content specific learning.

I thoroughly enjoyed the Cool Tools Sessions that were offered. There was a wide variety of information presented, and there was not a session where I was not introduced to new tools to use in planning lessons. The hardest part is trying to process all that we were given.

During the Cool Tools Carousel, I began with the Creatively Synthesize, Evaluate, Publish and Share. It was a good presentation that included several tools such as Sock Puppets, SlideRocket, and ToonDoo that I was unfamiliar with. I am looking forward to using them with my students. The second session was Developing a Framework for How to Find and Select Tools. I really appreciated the information on evaluating Web 2.0 tools. This information built on what we have been learning in our college courses. The Information Fluency Wizards will aid in research and I am looking forward to investigating more closely the Similar Sites tool. The last Carousel session was Developing a Compelling Question/Gather & Analyze Information. As a language arts teacher, I was very impressed with all the tools presented that will make the research process easier for my students. I was familiar with Livebinder, but was given some creative ways to use it. The other tools presented were new to me.

During the Cool Tools and Hot Topics session I attended Making Global Connections presented by Mark Otter. He included some great sites to use when bringing in the global connection in our lessons. We were presented a lesson and took the part of students. I enjoyed this as I was able to see what my students would have to do in the lesson. The lesson contained a way to include a public service component which I liked. I want to take a closer look at the iEARNS and ePals sites as I believe the collaborative connections will be useful.

The English Language Arts Cool Tools for Learning with Dr. Beach on Wednesday was very informative. The argumentative lesson was great. I got a variety of ideas that I am anxious to share with the ELA teachers at my school. I believe the on-line role playing with Ning would appeal to the students and would be a great way to work not only on argumentative writing, but research writing as well. I use Diigo, but have never set up a group or used it with my students. I think it would benefit them and the sticky note component is wonderful. I have never tried a voice thread, but I have several students who would like this option when creating projects.

The lesson plan I have created addresses the following 7th Grade ELA Common Core Standards: Reading Standard 8: Trace and evaluate the argument and specific claims in a text, Assessing whether the reasoning is sound and the evidence is relevant and sufficient to support the claims. Writing Standard 1: Write arguments to support claims with clear reasons and relevant evidence. Writing Standard 7: Conduct short research projects to answer a question, drawing on several sources and generating additional related, focused questions for further research and investigation.
 * Lesson Plan: **
 * 1) Students will read an article that was in last week’s Charlotte Observer on the need to extend the school year. They will analyze the article for reading standard 1.
 * 2) I will divide the class into two groups. One will take the position that the school year needs to be increased. The other group will argue that the school year should stay the same.
 * 3) Students will research their position, paying attention to why other countries have a longer school year. I will introduce them to **Information Fluency Wizards** at [] to aid them in their research. They will use **Diigo** to bookmark, annotate, and share research with those who have the same position.
 * 4) After they complete their research, I will set up a **Ning** site so that they can share their position and the information they have to support it.
 * 5) Students will use their information and that gathered from the Ning interaction to write their argumentative paper. In order to create their Works Cited page, they can again use **Information Fluency Wizards** which has a citation maker.
 * 6) Students will submit the assignment via the class **Edmodo** assignment section which will allow me to make comments and return it to them. They can file their paper in their **Livebinder** portfolio.