Post Fishbowl Discussion 1 Reflections

• What themes, ideas, and connections emerged from your cohort’s fishbowl discussion today?  What ideas were most interesting or informative for you?
•  What worked well for you in today’s discussion? What suggestions might you have to make our next discussion better?

Please share your thoughts and reflections in two well-organized paragraphs.  

August 23, 2011: Nonfiction Research and Reflection 1

CC image via http://bit.ly/nD6PRT

Thank you for taking time to search, access, and reflect upon a nonfiction related to a current issue happening in a region or country in Africa.    Please organize your five categories of response in the comment space at the end of this post in the following manner; you may use block paragraphing to separate sections.

MLA Citation of Your Actual Information Source (you may use NoodleTools or the built in MLA style citation of your article to create the generation.  See Ms. Hamilton if you need help!).

Factual Summary:  short summer of the nonfiction piece you’ve read

Vocabulary:    
A.  Identify vocabulary words in the article that were unfamiliar or somewhat difficult to understand
B.  Explain how your resolved of understanding with the words

Interpretation:  what was the main point the author wanted you to get from reading this work?

Criticism:
A.  With which points of the piece did you agree or find easy to accept?  Why?
B.  With which points of the piece did you disagree or find difficult to believe? Why?

Personal Response:  

What do you think about this piece  OR how does this piece influence your ideas?

A Conversation for Learning: Media 21 Students Share Their Search Stories and Strategies

Seeing students utilize the information literacy skills you’ve previously taught them in a new context and independently without it being a mandate is probably one of the most joyful experiences as a librarian and teacher.  Take a look at how one of our inquiry groups is growing as budding researchers and demonstrating these skills, dispositions, responsibilities, and self-assessment strategies from the AASL Standards for 21st Century Learners:

• 1.1.8 Demonstrate mastery of technology tools for accessing information and pursuing inquiry.
• 1.2.1 Display initiative and engagement by posing questions and investigating the answers beyond the collection of superficial facts.
• 1.1.9 Collaborate with others to broaden and deepen understanding.
• 1.2.2 Demonstrate confidence and self-direction by making independent choices in the selection of resources and information.
• 1.2.7 Display persistence by continuing to pursue information to gain a broad perspective.
• 1.4.1 Monitor own information-seeking processes for effectiveness and progress, and adapt as necessary.
• 1.4.2 Use interaction with and feedback from teachers and peers to guide own inquiry process.
• 3.2.3 Demonstrate teamwork by working productively with others.

Reactions to Dateline NBC’s Winds of War

Twitter / Ann Curry: Thank you for watching, co … via kwout

On Friday, we watched Dateline NBC’s special, Winds of War.  Take a few minutes to review the video and reflect on our viewing of it; you may rewatch any clips as needed.

In a multi-paragraph response, discuss:

• What ideas, information, or statements stood out to you from the video segments?  Why?
• After your research on issues in Africa (and many of you focused on Sudan) and after watching these video segments, do you think the United States and President Obama should take a stronger stance on advocating for peace in Sudan (http://sudanactionnow.org/index)?  Why or why not?
• If you could pose one “how” or “why” question to either George Clooney or journalist Ann Curry, what would you ask?

Your responses should be thoughtful and well developed (hint—3)  paragraphs.  Please ask for help if you need any clarification on the directions for thinking and writing or if you have any questions.    Please post your response HERE in the comment field of this class blog.

Student Reflections: Praise and Suggestions for Presentation Zen Students

1.  What qualities have you seen in the first three days of presentations that have been exemplary or well done?

2.  In general, what suggestions might you have for next week’s presenters to be effective speakers/presenters?

Feel free to look to our rubric and presentation guidelines to consider specific suggestions and praise.

New Fonts in Google Docs

Check out the new cool new font offerings in Google Docs, including Calibri!

A more fontastic Google Docs – Official Google Docs Blog via kwout

Response to Poetry

CC Image via http://bit.ly/cPkCNH

from Ms. Lester:

Answer each question in paragraph format of  in 7-9 sentences.   Please do not number your paragraphs; you may create a heading (i.e. “Question 1) and then compose your paragraph.

1. What does the controlling metaphor in Donne’s Meditation 17 mean: “No man is an island…”?
2. What is Donne’s call to action for humanity in this poem?
3. According to Kipling, and in your own words, what was the “White Man’s Burden”?
4. What reward did Kipling suggest the “White Man” gets for carrying his “burden”?
5. Who did Kipling think would read his poem? What do you think that this audience might have said in response to it? How do you respond to this message as a 21^st century reader today?

Tuesday, August 24: Reflecting On Your South Africa Research Experience

In three thoughtful and well developed paragraphs, please discuss the following reflection points:

• Explain the sources you and your partner  used to find the answers. Did you and your partner stray from the pathfinder, and if so, why? What other databases or other resources on the pathfinder did you use and why? Which sources were the most helpful? Were you concerned about accuracy and credibility—why or why not?
• Briefly discuss the experience of co-editing, researching, and sharing information with Google Docs.  For most of you, this was your first experience using Google Docs in this way.  What worked for you?  Did you encounter any challenges or features using Google Docs?  On a scale of 1-10, what would you rate your comfort and confidence level as of today with Google Docs?
• What ideas and knowledge from your research stand out to you personally and why?  What ideas from today’s small and large group discussion stand out to you and why?

Please use complete sentences and remember to spell check; we suggest you draft, edit, and save in Google Docs before copying and pasting your response here in this discussion on this class blog.  If you have questions, please see Ms.  Lester or Ms. Hamilton.

HINT:  Log into your WordPress.com account; then click on the link to this post.  Your name, email, and link to your blog will be automatically added.  Your email will not be visible to the public.

Connected Learners and Networked Students

Today, we have watched the Networked Student video (see above); we also watched the PLE video.

Please consider these questions:

1. How do you see yourself as a learner at this point in time? Are you a networked student? In what ways? In what ways do you think you are not “networked”?

2. What tools or resources do you need access to at school that you can’t get to right now to help you become a more networked student? How would these tools or resources help you as a student and learner?

3.  Think about the PLE video.  What do you think of creating your own information dashboard?  How could creating and using a tool like this help you with your research projects and daily time management?

Please compose a brief paragraph (5-7 sentences) for each cluster/group of questions; please remember to proofread carefully before posting your response HERE on  THIS blog.  You will have three total paragraphs of 5-7 sentences.  You will need  to type and spellcheck in Google Docs or Word first before posting.    If you need assistance or clarification, please see Ms. Hamilton or Ms. Lester for help.  You should have your response posted by the beginning of class on Monday, August 9, 2010.

New Presentation Zen Resource

Presentation Zen: The storytelling power of photography via kwout