all right !!!!!

Thanks guys for all the hard work this semester. I know I was a little overbearing at times thanks for putting up with me. I am new to all of this. The only thing I had done on computer before this class was to write reports and papers. This was a big adventure for me.
Thanks for starting things up. Thanks for the technical support. Thanks for putting different assignments together.

update

Good Job guys on Everything! Plus thank you for helping me out when I had no way to connect at home....it was much needed.
Just have to complete this weeks stuff and we are done! Can't wait. However I think I might have to wait a year before taking another class at Western...we'll see. But it will be good to take off a year after being in college and feeling so overwhelmed for the past 9 years! Plus I need to start saving money and hopefully do some damage to the loan I started. We'll see...I kind of had an unfortunate weekend and I don't know how things will turn up.
However, it's be great being part of this team. Thanks so much for giving me a call if you had any questions...I know I can be kind of a geek whenever it comes to all that technical stuff. Hopefully I was pretty patient with tech support and everthing else.

195 out of 200!! woooohooo great job guys!

grade

She already has the grade up for the website.
Sorry guys I guess I shoould not be writing posts at 3:30 am. I should have went to bed. I just wanted to make sure my stuff was done for you guys.
I thought that every page had to have a new idea about project based learning. Some of you guys did not have that.
Also the names of who did what other than who did the page were not supposed to show.
I am also very hard on myself as well than as those who work with me because I can be pretty close to a perfectionist at times.

yo

hi guys,

i think my pages are done correctly- let me know if they aren't. The podcast takes forever to play, but i don't know what to do about that.

Drew- i still need your websites that you did an eval for.

Please- let me know if you think something needs help on my websites!

im very frustrated as well.. why didnt my digital story get on to the page? very confused... I think my two pages are done correctly and finished (other then Drews 3 new websites that he did not send....)

on second thought

Guys as long as I was the only one late we were all covered because of my surgery. Your grades would not have been down because of me. Mine may have been the only one cut. I am sorry for my lateness but, due to this is the fourth time for this same cut, recuperation has been very hard. I have tried to keep up my end and stay in touch with you and make sure that you all had what you needed from me to do your pages, and Kelsey, to keep every one's best interest at hand.
As I have now looked at the rest of the site and submissions (since posting here last)I see all of you are late and the site still is not done. I thought I would be the only one at this point not done. I do not want to be rude but that just is not right. Now my grade is on an unfinished website that is not due to me and therefore cut. Also what is done is not correct. I have pointed out that the module needed to be read as to what each page needed and the pages need new information about project based learning because that is what the website is about. I have even pointed out a few things that needed changed and I saw that Erin did as well. I know we are all ready to be done but what happened to the teamwork and our best foot forward that we had been doing so far? As I said I do not want to be rude but, I am a little frustrated and disappointed.

I may have screwed us up

Guys I did not look after my earlier post today. I went right in and did my page. I said to post when your pages were done and I would let her know that you were waiting on me to finish my pages. That is exactly what I did. I finished and then posted. I let her know you were waiting on me and not to punish all of you. (by the way we are all to individually post). It seems that you were not all waiting on me but each other as well. I hope that one of us posting does not create a problem now.

Also I hope you guys do not mind but I changed the order of the pages to make better sense.

Sorry Guys

I had quite the day today...and last night....yikes! Anyway, Lindsey, thanks so much for adding comments into my lesson plans. I know I didn't quite get back with that for you...sorry. There are a couple power points that don't have descriptions either. I'll look at them then add to them what is needed.
Is it only one of us who is posting the url to our site or do we all post it?

so Drew, I just looked at your lesson plans and took some of your learning context and wrote up some descriptions for your lesson plans so that page could be complete. I have been up since 6am this morning and I have to get up again tomorrow morning, so I cannot promise I will be up much later since Im kind of sick. If for some reason, I fall alseep, feel free to add your new websites to the "additional sites" page. Hopefully I can stay awake long enough to get them from you though!!

Erin.. I got your sites! yay!

and Drew, I still need your sites and descriptions for them and your lesson plan descriptions... (lindsey.m.morgan@wmich.edu)
and, I see that you have not added my digital story to the website. I sent it to you, but Im worried you dont have it. Here is the URL again if you did not get it, but i sent it along with the description so hopefully you did! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNJVcfihEz8

almost done- woohooo!

hi there-

lindsey- i sent you the new webpages- sorry about that, i had sent them to tina earlier. i was a lil confused.

drew- still waiting on your web site evals, and any help you can offer on how to make a link for the podcast. 269.385.5775

almost done guys!!!

webpages

I have not been able to look today, I am very sorry about this. I thought I had some back up help for today to work on this but I was mistaken. I will not be able to get at it until later and will be working until the very last minute. I hope everybody has all they need from me for their pages. When I last looked though guys there wasn't any new information on the pages about project based learning. That is what this web site is supposed to be for. I will post the URL tonight with whatever is there. I say just post the URL when you are done with what you can on your pages.

Lindsey Yes I copied and pasted thank you. I had that page almost done. How aggravating under normal circumstances now with my difficulty this week it is even worse. Ugh. I will let Kelsey know my part in this-very late-.
I can tell everyone just wants to be done. I agree.

so i dont know how we want to do this, but do we all have to add the link on elearn? I dont want to add it until its completly done. Just waiting for erin and drew to send me their stuff so I can add it!

okay, so I think I am pretty much done with my two websites. All i need is:

Drew- Descriptions for your lesson plans and 3 new sites with descriptions

Erin- 3 new sites with descriptions

If anyone needs anything from me today, just let me know. Ill be checking the blog all day to finish up my pages and see if anyone needs anything!!! YAYY almost done!!!!!

tina.. did you happen to copy and paste your text on your webpages from word? because I know i had that problem with the Mini website we made. It would not save if i had copy and pasted from word. I had to delete all of my material and start over, and type it straight into the page. that might help you!

Lindsey- I just sent you the new websites with the descriptions. I did not go with our topic but with part of the planning aspect of a project. I hope that is okay. I am so sick of this topic. We have done it to death.
I tried this afternoon to do a bunch on my web page. I was pretty far but it would not save. I noticed you guys had the same problem as well. I went into the help and well they weren't. In fact they could not help somebody else with the problem and she dropped the program altogether. I will keep working and if need be let Kelsey know of MY situation so it does not effect your grades.

Let me know guys if you need anything else from me to complete your pages. I think I at least have that part done now. Obviously you need my pages too. working on that one.

ahhh so overwhelming.

Okay, so I think I have sent everything to everyone. Please tell me if I have not. I still confused on whos doing what, it all gets clumped together, haha.

Drew- I still need your descriptions for your lesson plans you sent me. I sent you my digital story and my description for my powerpoint.

Erin- I sent you my websites and descriptions.

Everyone- I am doing the additional websites page and I only have Kristins 3 new pages so far. I tried to find new websites, but its tough when I dont really know which websites have already been used. I understand if you cant find any new ones until the Web Eval page gets put up. I will be free all day tomorrow to finish the additional website page if need be.

I also am doing an additional lesson plan, so i will add that to my page.

A few more things, just wanted to remind everyone we have to have a pciture on each page and an email address and name of who created it too. I looked at the page kristin created and did the same thing she did, but changed it to my name, so the pages would look the same, just an idea.

And Drew, I noticed your pages have the names of the people who created the Digtal stories and powerpoints. In the module, it notes that our work must not contain the name of the person who created it. Just a heads up.

Let me know if anyone needs anything, if I missed anything, or if there are any problems with the pages I created!! Thank youuu!

trying to stay caught up.

Boy this is not a week to be only partly with it is it? I am so sorry guys. I get spurts of energy that do not last long enough to get hardley anything done. I barly get caught up to everyone and boom I'm down.
I just sent Erin my web evaled sites and their descriptions. I think that all I have left to do now is the 3 new sites to Lindsey.
I also forgot about the new project. It dawned on me this morning. Yikes.

web pages

Kristin- When I looked the other day there were only three pets across the top. Today 4 does show. ?

Erin -I can not get our podcast to show.

Am I understanding correctly that Erin gets the websites from our original evaluation and Lindsey will get our three new websites?

Lindsey- I sent you my lesson plans along with the descriptions.

Our names are not supposed to show with our work except what is on the created piece itself. The only other place our names should show is on the page we created and then as a group on the homepage for creating the website.
All of our pages are supposed to have new information on them.

question

I think it was Erin who said before that you can't see all of my perfect pet page. Whenever I look at it, it is all there. I was wondering what other people see. There should be a table of 4 animals on top and then 4 on the bottom. Same with the name table.
If you guys could check that would be great. I don't know how I can fix it, if it is not right.

Updated my sites

Due to the lack I chose the wrong computer to actually edit this web site deally, I wasn't able to add a couple descriptions of things. Lindsey, I e-mailed you my lesson plans I created from taskstream. Is there anything else I need to send anyone. How do the Youtube videos look....or the digital stories look? Damn, I'm a film major I shouldn't be saying either one of those terms! :) I'll be back on this thing to edit some more. Not too difficult. Again I hate our powerpoint page. I have descriptions in there for most of them. I still have to add a couple description to some of them. I just hate that you can't link the title of your powerpoint to the file or even add your powerpoint presentation through "add presentations" I definately wouldn't use google sites for anything professional! Plus it doesn't take advantage of Illustrator, InDesign, Flash, etc that really shows professionals what you are capable of if you create a professional site using those programs..."Legally" of course :)
Anyway, babbling sorry.
Erin, give me a call when you get a chance. I think you are running into the same problem as I did when posting my powerpoints. I figured I got them on there some how, so if the professor wasnt to complain...let her complain, it's the only way I could get it to work.

descriptions

Alright, Drew: I sent you my powerpoint and digital story a while ago but I just sent you a description for each if you still need one. I sent all of that to your gmail account.
Lindsey: I sent you a description for both of my lesson plans and then I also sent you my three additional websites along with a description for each.
Erin: I will send you the website evaluations soon (sometime tonight)

blog

is someone putting together a page for the blog?

just an idea

hey, i noticed by looking on some of the webpages that have alreday been completed that they lack a description of the links/ assignments. i think it would be easier for everyone if you were to provide the description for your own stuff and email it to the person putting the page together- just a thought.

website evals

i'll do the website evals as long as no one else has claimed it?

my two pages

Sorry guys recuperating issues and pain meds. They do not help one stay awake to do homework, or think as clearly as usual. I have my two pages; the final concept map and the final page. I have not seen ideas for either as far as that the final map needed any changes after I got done with it(I will work with as is), or the idea for the final page other that what Kristin and I wrote. I will just get creative. I think I have a fun idea for the last page (mixing all the ideas) let me play around a little.

I have not checked the site again yet so ?. Drew I just sent you the descriptions for the power point and movie. Lindsey I will work on getting you my lesson plans and descriptions next.(see comment):). My comment about looking over the module again was not so much about the overall project as it was the individual pages.

ok my second webpage can be the one with the new websites!!! so, i will start looking tomorrow since today i work 8am to 9pm. So, in the mean time if anyone finds a good website just let me know!!!

More pages

ok so i just read over the module again.... we still need a page for the website evaluations and for the new websites that we need to find. Also for the digital stories, powerpoints, and lesson plans, we need a short description for each.
Does everyone have two pages they are working on because if not... we still need those other two pages!!!

Okay, so this working two job thing is killing me. I just started my Lesson Plans page, but i need everyone to send me both their lesson plans so i can add them and write descriptions about them. email : lindsey.m.morgan@wmich.edu

and jw what I need to send people?
and what else needs to be done? The module says everyone has to create two pages so I need to know whats left so I can do that.

and I will create an additional lesson plan and add it to my page. If anyone else does the same, just let me know so I can add it.

final page and web page assignments

I guess I will do the final page. There are some ides given by both Kristin and myself as to what that can be. Please give your own ideas and then we can kind of vote but lets do this quickly. I do not actually have a preference as to what one we do.

Lindsey Again I need your e-mail for the lesson plans.

Also who will do the sources page with our original evaluated sites?
Who will do the page with the new informational sites?

Ladies and Gents we still have a lot of work to do. Ugh!!!

website

thanks Drew for the info. I did get the e-mail but was still very out of it last night. I thought i felt better but upon feeling even better today no. You have things covered already with the power point page so go ahead. Kristin did the home page.
Okay I hate to burst bubbles, and I know we are all ready to be done with this, but we need to relook at the assignment again. There are some things on the already created pages that should not be there and some things missing that should. Drew I will shoot you descriptions of the power point and movie.

Accessing our team webpage

To log on and use our team webpage you need to use the e-mail address made specifically for our team web page. Any time you want to edit this site or create your own web page you need to first log in using the e-mail address Kristin created and the password. If anyone did't get that e-mail it is :
hey guys, here is the info for our group website:
username/email account: obtainclasspet@gmail.com
password: classroompet
Don't use your own gmail address because that will only allow you to create a whole new site or edit your mini-site
Tina, I didn't realize you were going to do the powerpoint. If you still want to do the powerpoints, I can give that up and try to figure out something else to work on. I thought you were working on the concept map page and the home page. Maybe I misread an earlier post, Yikes!
I am partially moved in to my new place and hopefully I'll be able to connect to the wifi when I'm there...hopefully!

how do I get in?

Okay guys. How do I get in to be able to make my pages. I can look at the web site. I can click on the bottom where it says sign in. But then it will not let me do anything. What is our user name and password to get in or what is the trick? By do I feel dumb.

webpage

Where would you like me to put the concept map. Should it go in the begining or next to last?
Also aren't we suposed to put on each page who made it?

Drew I sent you my power point. Let me know if I did it right or need to send it again please.

What came up was the two pages for Kristin and the two pages for Drew. I am not sure if anyone else has put anything on or not. If they did they are not coming up.
Kristin for your page with all of the pictures it looks as though there is some information outside of the range of the screen(to the right) but no way to move things over to see it (yes I had it on full screen on my end). I could only see three wide.

I am starting over I guess

Okay I need to look at the website to see what has been done. I am now lost as to what my second page will be. I thought that before I went into the hospital I had established I would do the power point page as well as another power point. It seems Drew has now done this. So I am not sure what is left. As far as our extra project Kelsey says we do not all have to do a different one just make sure it is a different concept.
So I think what I have is that Erin I do not need to send you anything because you have the podcast. Correct me if I am wrong.
Lindsey I need to send you my lesson plans. Please give me your email address. tinacrtn@gmail.com.
Drew I guess I will be sending you my power point. And it looks like all came up okay for the movie.
The concept map page, I think I am still doing this, I do not see that anyone thought anymore changes needed to be made and what was posted before I went into the hospital is okay. I will start working on this page with the map as is and go back through the posts for Kristin's ideas to pick up my second page again.

I am back

okay guys I am sort of felling human again. I will look at all the old posts and figure out where you guys are and where I need to be.
I hope the concept map thing went well. I sent it to Erin and Drew on Thursday night in case you guys wanted to change some more. I also let Kelsey know.
Drew I also sent you my movie. I hope you got it.
As I said I will read up and catch up. I hope things are going well.

hey, so i said that i would do the lesson plans page. what else needs to be done?

and also, if anyone is having problems saving still, i know that i couldnt save my page because i copied and pasted from word and apparently you cant do that, so that would be the problem too.

If everyone could send me their lesson plans, that would be great! lindsey.m.morgan@wmich.edu

Fixes

Erin, Tina...try not to stress this. I had the same problem because I had the webpage opened in another Window or something. It wouldn't save and told me to wait later. The problem is in the way you have logged in. It's hard to explain without just showing you. But what I did was just closed out of my firefox or Internet explorer if you are using that....and since I had so much stuff typed out or whatever I just hightlighted it all and right clicked on copy. You can also go into Word and paste it into word if you aren't definite it will stay in copy, especially if you are copying and pasting multiple things. Anyway, just get out of the whole internet explorer or firefox and open firefox/internet explorer again. Go back to the google sites and log in like you normally do. the just copy and paste the stuff you typed out where ever it is missing in the webpage, make sure you click on the save button before going to another link (I think this is where google sites gets frustrated if you don't do this and tells you it can't save at the moment). Then just go to whereever else you need to go to in the site and edit - copy/paste what you originally had and save again before leaving that page. What I've learned is to just take advantage of the save button.

Okay as far as what I'm doing for the webpage. I thought I said I was going to do the powerpoints. I had problems actually uploading my powerpoint project onto the page I created...I don't know, it was being a pain, wouldn't let me add powerpoint like we add pictures! This was fustrating so I just added my project file into the section below the text I created. I also started the page for posting our digital stories. I need everyone else's urls from their YouTube Videos to complete this...I just had Tina's. But I did start a powerpoint page, it would be nice to get everyone's powerpoint file...just e-mail it to me at deward.drew@gmail.com. I really kind of just made up stuff to say as the intro to those sites, if you have suggestions on changing that please let me know and I can modify that whichever way. Also if you need to call when running into problems my number is 269-599-7780. Please don't hesitate to give me a class. I am moving into a new place so I probably won't be able to get online unless I'm at work or have time to stop by the computer lab at school before they close. Hopefully the place I'm moving into I'll be able to connect to the wireless, but if not, then you'll know why I haven't been on here much. But please don't hesitate to call and I'll try to step you in the right direction over the phone (even if I can't connect to the internet).

HELP!!!

hey guys, especially Drew, or even Krisitin 'cuz i noticed that she also had this prob:

i am having trouble saving my web page- what can i do?

Also,
so far i have the following down for the group webpage:

Kristin: homepage, pic page
Tina: concept map, powerpoint page, amd another powerpoint
Erin: i'll do the podcast and an additional lessonplan, and something else if need be
Drew:?
Lindsey:?

PPPPLLLEEEAASSSSEEE help me with how to save the webpage!!!!!!!

Nevermind

ok so I think I solved all of my problems so forget my last post. Thanks!

Help Asap

Hey guys, I'm having troubles with the website. I can't seem to save the page. It just tells me that it is unable to save at that time and to try again later. It has been telling me this for days and it is frustrating. Also somehow I have managed to create like 3 pages for the perfect pet. haha I don't really know how this happened but does anyone know how to delete a page?

Problem with Power Point uploading

I'm running into a big problem with uploading my powerpoint project onto the webpage. Is there another way to do this?

Reply to Webpage

Sorry...I know it won't take too long to create a two pages on the webpage. Also, thanks so much for setting it up for us! That is a big help, just getting it started. I plan to create one of the pages to include all the urls for our digital stories. Then I can work on the powerpoints if each person sends me their powerpoint file via e-mail. I can upload those to a page and create links for it. I was thinking of creating another powerpoint as my last lesson plan on Language Arts and applying that to the page. I still need to check out the webpage and see what has been done on it so far. I looked while I was at work, didn't look like there had been much dammage started on it yet. I think all of us are thinking a like and just want this class to be done with. These projects are getting too repetitious.
Either e-mail me your urls or post them on here as a block comment so I can link them on one of the pages I'm creating. I'll be checking this all night long so I can get it completed. I'll also be checking my e-mail. Again the address for it is deward.drew@gmail.com

website

Hey guys, I set up the website several days ago and i sent everyone the info on that. I was just wondering if anyone has been able to make that work. Just checking. Oh and also our concept map is due today I believe. We are all set with that then, right?

okay so i can be in charge of the lesson plans page and anything else thats left.

ahhhh hey sorry that I have been MIA as well... I had a camp overnight for work for the past few days! But I am back so I just need to read all the posts and figure out what I need to do so I will let everyone know soon!

heelllo

hi guys,

i apoplogize for being mia- i've had quite a bit of family stuff (as well as other class work) going on for the past week or two. i'll be geting to this stuff later tonight. i just wanted to contact you to let you know that i am still very much on board.

erin

concept map

I gave the map back to Drew just in case the rest of you want to add/change anything between now and Sunday. I will be in the hospital starting in the morning until Sunday. I will do the concept map page so I will look to make sure the map I turn in is the right one just make sure please to announce that there is a change made so I catch it.

Sent Email

I sent everyone an email with the username and password for our website. Now we can start putting it together.

Digital Story

I don't know if anyone had chosen to work on the page for our digital story. But I can work on this page: gathering everyones youtube urls and linking them with a short description of each after the link. I should be able to find some images to put on the page to make it look a little more professional. Please e-mail me at deward.drew@gmail.com. I usually only check thtat address.

I'm sorry I haven't gotten on here sooner. Family is in town and there has been too much drama over the past couple days (gosh, how much I hate that when family is in town!). I actually get more work done whenever I am working, so it is kind of nice to be able to work on this some more when at work. Please e-mail me though. Also let me know if you have a webpage already started and let me know the url for it so I can log onto it and edit.

I'll look through other required areas to see what else I can do. For an individual lesson plan (well program or something) I was thinking of puttig together a powerpoint presentation, if that's ok, on something to do with Language Arts. I kind of have an idea going for it...just need to figure out slides and concepts to use.

Again, sorry for not getting on this sooner.

I do not know if we all have to do something different for the new project or not. If you need my e-mail again for creating the website tinacrtn@gmail.com let me know the URL so I can get in.

website

Tina, the concept map looks really good! Thanks for getting that done.

As for the website... I think we can do whatever we want to for our new piece that we have to create. The way I understood the assignment was that we just had to produce one piece and it didn't matter if it was in the same program as someone else; meaning that if we all wanted to make a lesson plan we could. Correct me if I am wrong about this.
So Tina is going to make another powerpoint. I haven't decided yet if I want to make another powerpoint or if I want to create another lesson plan.
This is what we have so far:
Me: I will do the homepage and a page of pictures and either a powerpoint or a lesson plan
Tina: The concept map page, the powerpoint page, and an extra powerpoint.

let me know

I will try to post this in the discussions E-learning as well.
Let me know what you think. I did add your ideas except the one about journaling. That was already mentioned in the idea. I tried to add a little more. The biggest thing I did was to try to link a couple of the things that overlapped. I changed the layout a lot. I hope evening it out a little.

Concept Map

website

okay, As I said earlier this morning I will do the power point so I guess I will take care of the power point page as well.

As far as our last page I also have a couple of ideas.
1) We could do a reflection type page as to what we thought and learned doing this.
2) We could "tell a story" of the pet we chose and maybe make some journal type entries from the kids taking care of it.
3) There was a thought put out by me early on this semester of the possibility of having the kids adopt an animal at the zoo. The final page could speak of that and link to zoos as well. Binder Park and John Ball each have websites. This could show how the project and what is learned during could go beyond the class and help pass the education about animals to others. Although how exactly the adopt a pet thing works would have to be looked into, as well as which zoos do this.
4) Kristin's idea of using the last page for our blog is okay too. Maybe we could add other ways of conversing like the wiki or others we have read about.

I'll do the powerpoint. That seemed to give me the least amount of problems and since I am not sure how I'll be after surgery I think that is wise for me. However will it be over our project as a whole or over our subject?
Yes I will do the page for the concept map.

opps not

okay that did not work. It is 3 am. I'll try again tomorrow. I have it done though I think. I just want your input, that is when I get it up here or somewhere.
Kristin I have not ead again yet but I think ok.

Concept map I hope

Group Website

So I read through the module and I agree that there is a lot involved in this website. I think that we should start asap so that we have time for needed revisions at the end. Each person has to contribute to two pages in the website so I think we should just decide now who will do what. This means that we must have 10 pages to our website in the end since there are five in our group.

First we have to have a homepage. (this includes a short introduction of our topic and a description of our website, standards and benchmarks, contact info, URL to our blog, and the wmu logo that links to the wmu site.) I can do this page!

2nd page: our final concept map along with a description of it. (I was thinking maybe Tina would want this page since she is in charge of the final concept map)

3rd page: posting of our podcast with a description of it.

4th page: everyones' lessons plans. we each have at least two and we need to include a description for all of them.

5th: links to everyones' digital stories with a description of each.

6th: attachment of everyones' powerpoint along with a description for each.

7th: additional websites

8th: pictures of possible classroom pets with stats and stuff. (I can do this page as well!)

9th: a sources page??

I know that this is only 9 pages so I don't know what we want to do for the other one but here are just a few ideas I thought we could include. Maybe instead of including our blog site in the homepage we could make that a seperate page which would then give us 10. I don't know.. just thinking out loud.
But like I said, I can create the homepage and then the picture page. I was thinking that for the other pages where we need to include everyone's seperate work...... we could just send our stuff along with a description of our work to one person who can then put the page together. I think that might be the easiest way to do things.

Also we all need to create one new piece of work so I guess whatever you choose (powerpoint, lesson plan, etc) we will just add it to the correct page.

I know... a lot of info but just let me know what you guys think!

wow this is a big assignment

Okay I agree and have to reread it as well. We need to get started. I did not read last week the description of the web page just that we had to do one.

I am also going to look at the samples. That helps me get a visual for what she is talking about because, although I am better after this semester, I still have very little idea sometimes af what the jargen is. (LOL my family now thinks I am very computer savy.)

Team Web Site

OK....I have briefly read this next module. There's a lot to it! I'll have to reread through it to make sure I understand it clearly, however we are each suppose to submit something original on the team website. I don't know if this means original, as if we didn't already create it through them semester or plan something entirely new. Umm I don't know? Anyway, it sounds real long! Maybe we can figure out a way each of us can battle a few of the objectives when putting together the team web page. I know there are some objectives that we all have to work on, however there are still others we might be able to designate each person to work solely on those objectives. Does anyone else have an opinion on how this should be handled?
I'll reread through things a little bit more when I get more time.

Ideas for Concept Map

Ok so going off what Kristin said I have two ideas. When the students take the pet home, they can keep a journal of what the feed the pet, when and what they do with the pet?

And also, with the gaming the pet, I work at a day camp and we had a contest where all the kids picked names and we drew out of a hat. Last year the cow was named monster and this year its named Mr. Moo Cow (both were female haha) but the kids love it so that could be an idea too!

Ill try to think of more for the concept map....!!

Concept Map

So I was trying to think of some other things we could add to our concept map. I agree that there probably isn't too much more we can add seeing that it is very complex already. However, what if we create branches off of the bubble that talks about having one student responsible for the pet for a week (top of map). We could add in the different types of things that the student would have to do. For instance, clean the cage, feed the pet certain times each day, etc.

Also what if we add in something about deciding on a name for the pet. The students could brainstorm ideas for names one day and then take it to a vote until one name is decided on. Just an idea.

As for the website; I did mine on Spain and I'm almost done with it. Hopefully I will get it posted today.

Good Luck Everyone!!

Mini-page....posting

Here's what I have so far. I still haven't added a paragraph description of the linked sites...and don't have a total of 5 linked sites (just two). I'm just so glad I have some experience creating a webpage since I help with sound production at my church and we have to record and post each sermon on the churches web site. Google sites is pretty cool! I don't know if they give us unlimited storage if we decided to create our own porfolio site, but it is a pretty cool tool for this assignment.

I don't really mind getting away from the family to do this stuff. Sometimes it better to do it during the day than wait till night, because then I really don't feel like doing anything. Plus this helps me "Get Away!" LOL. Love the family, just sometimes having time alone is good too...especially when they are overwhelming!

Well here is the URL for what I have so far. It's a start. Hopefully I can get the rest done tonight. https://sites.google.com/site/italyinformationminipage/home
Tell me what you think if you want

mini webpage

I forgot to tell you guys, my web page is about Denmark. My great-grandpa is from there. I do not think it matters though if we do the same country. I would be done but things are not going very smoothly like the demo shows. Oh well it will fall into place one way or another.
For our concept map I pretty much agree there isn't much more to add but we need to try I think. I was going to maybe change things around a little because it looks like a couple of things could hook together that we do not at the moment have that way.
Yes it is hard with family. I have found after bed time is the best. In your case adults do not go to bed as soon as kids. You will just have to pick a time at the end of the day after spending the day with them and say you need to work. Adults understand that better than kids. Do remember to have fun though.
I can not imagine doing this in only 6 weeks. With all the trouble I have had (I think mostly due to lack of experience) a week per project on the individual projects seems jusst enough to learn the program and get the work done. I do not think I would be doing so well on the assignments if I were rushed anymore. My opinion. ( yes I am doing well. I panick when I do not see grades and do not know what I am doing)

Mini-Web page

Okay We are suppose to pick a country. I decided to do mine on Italy. I hope this doesn't steal anyone else's choice in the country they were going to pick. I could just pick a city inside of Italy. I chose this one, because My sister lived there for a few years after she got married. Anyway...

Also as far as concept map goes, I really can't think of anything else to add to it. Maybe just include some kind of mini-category or subcategory from the stuff we've already been talking about. Sorry, I can't think of much else to put onto it Tina. We have kind of already covered all the basises for our class pet. I really think using Kidspiration is the true revenue of the assignment. So just try to play around with the program. Maybe change something here or there, then export the image and post it onto blogger.

I really need to start this mini-web page thing. I hope it won't be too hard...it doesn't sound like it's suppose to be. Just so hard to do when I have family in town from all over the U.S., spending time with them and doing this class. I think this class should only run 6 weeks like typical summer classes do. Oh well, just my opinion.

trouble with mini website posting

I am not this far yet so I do not know what the trouble is. In viewing the reflections it seems there is a problem with the posting of the URL. Just thought you would want to know in case you are waiting until late to do it. It looks like give yourself a little time.

concept map Urgent

I would like to have the concept map done by Thursday night before I go into the hospital. I will be in until Sunday afternoon at the earliest. Can I please have any thoughts/ideas before than so I can make sure we get it in. Thankyou.

Sorry for not getting on here Sooner!

Gosh, I've been so busy at work. Almost done with my 9 days strait. One more day...and boy, am I going to the beach afterward if the weather permits it! Today was ridiculous, we had so many school groups/summer groups come into the museum. I lost count how many I helped check in. Miraculously we got it all done, plus the craziness of Wednesday hands-on.

Anyway, I've just been so crazy busy that I haven't yet had time to read the next module. I'll do that soon. I just didn't want to log on here and think I abandoned you guys when we are only a few weeks away from this class actually being done.

Anyway, I hope all of your weeks are going good. I'll talk more when I have actually read through the module!

look ahead

I am trying to look ahead a little due to my surgery on the 17th. Our next concept map is due the 19th. Can I please have any final ideas this week so that I can get that done early.
I have to say though that at this moment I think we have just about covered everything. How much more can go into this really? I will keep thinking and looking for your updates as well.

I did get both Erin and Drew's versions of the podcast. I turned in Erin's and then got Drew's. I went in and resubmitted it. It still said attempt 1 afterwards so I guess it is okay. On past assignments she has given the option to fix things for people so I think that if not everyone recieved Drew's in time we should be okay. Thanks again both of you.

Also if I understand the next module (10, next week not this week) it appears to be two weeks also for our web page. I will try to get some of that done early as well and then jump back in. Let me know though if I am understanding this wrong please. Sorry to make you all think ahead but I want to make sure I do not let anyone down.
On the up side, this next assignment looks like a lot of fun. Maybe a few gliches in programing the pages to come up but overall fun.

thanks guys! i think all of you did a great job as well and the project seemed to come out pretty good.

Drew- did you post the newer version of the podcast?

I got an email from Erin, but not Drew. Which MP3 file am i supposed to post? My emails lindsey.m.morgan@wmich.edu

do not sweat Drew

If it weren't for you I would not have gotten about half my stuff done. I am not going to be upset over a little music. I think there was confusion in the begining about if we did it individually or if the person putting it all together did it anyway. I think this kind of thing is why we get two tries.

Sorry guys if you read the reflections. I was getting a little paniky if we would finish on time. With my having been gone pretty much the first week I expected you guys to be waiting on me and almost done. I was trying to keep Kelsey posted in case there did end up trouble. That saves our behind if we need it I have always found in the past. When a teacher knows nothing of what is going on until after, that is too late with some. I was trying to help not offend.

Erin great job. Mine seems to have come through and submited just fine.
By the way if I did not say so earlier thanks Kristin on creating the blog and concept map. Also Drew for the second concept map. And Lindsey for posting the concept map as background the first time.

New PodCast

I'm so sorry guys for doing this to you...especially last minute. I hate how that stuff is done.
Anyway. I e-mailed everyone the newest MP3 file. I kind of explain it in the e-mail what happened.
Anyway. Hopefully when we post it into the assignments the instructor will see what was done...also in our reflections she'll so some sympathy
Erin, you did an awesome job assembling things together!

i sent it out- let me know of you didn't get it.

Hey! Erin, hows the Podcast coming along? Just want to make sure its going smoothly for you and that you received my part!! And are you going to email the final podcast to everyone so we can submit it?

hey,

i have recieved everybody's emails, i think. i am going thru them right now and making sure that i can open them a ll with audacity. sorry ia have been mia- i had my family reunion over the past three days. i'll email you guys thsi is a little bit.

yee ha

It sounds like we have all made it to Erin in one form or another. Erin are you getting everybodies and how are you coming? In case you need it again in e-mailing back tinacrtn@gmail.com. Now to hopfully fight off future problems with this project, anyone know how to get it off of the attachment and then post it? I am just guessing that with the hoops we have had to jump so far there will still be more. Just guessing though.

FINALLY!

YAY! im figured it out finally! Drew, thank you though, I was going to take you up on that offer and call you but I got it! I missed the whole upzip the folder part... so Erin I emailed it to you. Let me know that you get it!

Drew personal

Do you mind my asking where you live? Your picture looks like the kid (I am old, 39, you are all kids) across the street from me. I only see him from a distance and this picture is about the same. The dog too. Actually I am not so sure that dog is still there. What a hoot that would be if it was you.

done

Man this project is a pain. Do not ask me how I finally managed to figure it out because I am not exactly sure. Any how it is almost done. I say almost because I will still have to get it back and post it. Erin I tried e-mailing it to you exported the right way. I also e-mail to myself to see if things work and they were not. (trick from a past teacher, good butt cover). I have ended up pulling a Drew and posting it in the elearning discussion of obtaining a pet. I sure hope you can get it. Again sorry for the last minute. I tried very hard for it not to be.

okay so when i dl the lame ...its saving it as a dll.zip file..and thats why its not working. anyone run into this problem and anyone know how to fix it?

Ughh! I am SO frustrated! I cannot figure out how to export it into an MP3 file... i cannot get the lame file dl to work...! HELP!

finished

Erin, I sent you my podcast last night. Just let me know if I need to change anything.

ahhhhhhh

Thank you Drew for the step by step but it is not working for me. it goes well until the look in part. mine does not do that. I have vista is that possably why. I tried to go around all of this and e-mail it to erin. I do not know if it will work.

Concept Map

Tina...I need to know your e-mail address so I can send you the project file of our Concept map. When I used Kidspiration, I downloaded the big file and installed the program. I think the big file has all the cool little graphics and everything...not sure! But if you want to download the big file of Kidspirtation just to be safe, that would be a good way to do it.
Later!!!

MP3 Podcast posting

I used e-learning to post the MP3 file for the podcast I created. It's in "Discussions" under "Obtaining a Classroom pet" You'll see my little e-mail/attachment in there. Erin, you should be able to download the my file from there. Just let me know if you need help during editing, I'll try my best to help! I don't know if there was another place we could post the MP3 files, so I just put mine on e-learn. Let me know if you want it somewhere else.

Exporting MP3

I hope most of you were able to figure out Audacity. I thought it was going to be any easy fix to record that little part in my script and copy paste the wave section into my current program. I was wrong. I had to rerecord the whole thing. This time I pushed the shot gun microphone all the way up (It's also called a boom microphone), so it was super sensitive when recording into the my DP-portable mixer....but at least all the sound is good, wasn't too hard to edit. Just a lot of pushing the space bar and pressing the delete key! LOL If you all don't know the keyboard shortcuts for a lot of those editing commands and want to know, it makes your life a lot easier. I just know since I was a production major and most of the programs work the same...anyway, I know I'm sounding proud here. I'm really not that proud of a person if you talk to me LOL...Anyway....
I know some of you have been having difficulty exporting MP3 format. It's a little tricky because it gets a little manual to actually find the .dll file the Lame installation created (hopefully you all downloaded and installed the correct Lame executable program from off the internet) Here's the Url to go to for downloading the correct Lame installer http://lame.buanzo.com.ar/
Alright. After you download and install the Lame program you go into Audacity. I'll make it easier by creating a step-by-step instructions

1 - Go into Audacity (or load your audio file into audacity)
2 - Go to File
- Export as MP3
3 - Name your file
- Click Save
This is where it gets a little manual. A popup Window shows called "Export MP3". At the bottom before the buttons it asks if you would like to locate the .dll file.
4 - Click Yes
Another Window pops up
5 - in section "look in:" at the top of that window it says "My Documents"
- Click the down arrow or just click on "My Documents" and a pull down menu will show
6 - Go down to "Local Disk (C:)" and click on it.
7 - Double Click on "Program Files" if you have a 64-bit system (most shouldn't) it'll say "Program Files (x86)"
8 - Double click on "Lame for Audacity"
9 - It's the only .dll file in this folder, just click on the file
10 - click "Open"
Another wonderful windows pops up! I wouldn't worry about this window too much, just make sure the second option above is bulleted saying "ID3v2 (more flexible)" This will allow Erin to edit our MP3s "more flexibly" ! LOL
11 - Click "OK"
Watch the magic happen!
There you have it! That's all there is to it folks. Damn Windows for making our lives so difficulting...should have gotten a Mac. LOL...I don't think that would have been any easier! It's like BSD-Unix system very sugar coated!

ughh i cant export mine into MP3 either! let me know if you figure it out!

exporting

Okay things went well today and I am done with my podcast. There isn't anything fancy as I ddi not want to jinkx that all was going well and for time purposes. Here in though now lies a problem in that I can not manage to get that lame program thing to work so that I can Export the file. I agree not good. I e-mailed Kelsey earlier because she asked how the podcasts were going on a new announcement. I will have to update her on this new issue. I will try again later need to make dinner.

By the way she is having surgery next week. (I sent her a chit chat e-mail yesterday). Anyway if she dissappears again now we know.

has anyone had trouble downloading Audacity? I cannot figure it out! this is not good..!

please read posts

My script contains the Excel.
Erin is doing this project not me. I am doing the next concept map.

concept

my concepts were that we will fit the technology to the task we are working on and that I will be able to monitor the progress and keepthe students on task while letting them work on their project.

erin's script

Your child will participate in a process that involves researching and employing a fundraiser. After the students have established the animal that they believe will be the best fit for their class and the materials required for care and maintenance of the animal, they will establish a goal for the fundraiser. They figure out this dollar amount by gathering data on the costs pertaining to the pet, and then organize them into a spreadsheet in Excel. This is an excellent opportunity for young children to learn the basics of this program, how to organize data into a chart, and exposure to computers in a way that they generally aren’t used to.

After establishing the students have established their goal comes the fun part- figuring out how to reach it. The students will again do some research, but this time they will be investigating different fundraisers using various search engines such as yahoo kids and kids click. They will be partnered up in groups of three and look into two different fundraising approaches. Each team will present their best finding to the class, including the start up costs required. The class will then vote for the fundraiser that they believe will help them best achieve their goal!

From here we make a plan for when, where and how to conduct the fundraiser. This also includes any parent help that they may need, signage, use of a parking lot or lobby, and any other resources that may be called upon to make the fundraiser a reality. The students will also create a chart to track their progress to their goal. All of this requires extensive team planning. I will create the teams responsible for the main components, but the students will lead majority of the aspects of planning. I will serve as only the project manager and to offer support.

As far as the actual fundraiser goes, it is a great way for students to understand the work it takes to make a dollar. This could maybe even lead to shorter birthday lists- not likely- but maybe. But really, it instills a sense of responsibility and respect in a child for both hard work and what it means to take care of a living being. Students also get to work together on accomplishing a common goal- something that will help build lifelong skills such as working as a team, problem solving and planning. I look forward to this experience with your child.

To complete the entire activity, the class will create a website to document the whole experience. It will include the video logs they have created and presented to the class, project journals, plenty of information and photos of the classroom pet, and anything else the students want to share. The students will update the website on a semi-regular basis, informing readers of anything happening with the class pet. This is a great way for the students to learn this technology (something that I have only just learned as an adult) and for you as a parent to see what is going on in your child’s classroom.

podcast script

This is what I have so far.... I am recording now and will send it to you soon.

Project-based learning is becoming more popular among classrooms as your child and other students are given the chance to enhance their learning in a new and innovative way. With the use of new technology, teachers such as myself can capture students’ interests while they learn to work together and share ideas, improve communication skills, and express themselves through a variety of ways. Recently we have engaged your student in the steps to obtaining a classroom pet. By involving them in the procedure to this decision, they were be given the chance to voice their opinions and take on an important role where they learned skills that will be sufficient later on in their personal lives and in the workplace.

We feel that the projects your children are involved in should be realistic which will help them learn how the world works. We believe that starting children out at a younger age will provide them with greater knowledge and success in their future. Within the process of obtaining our classroom pet, we as teachers shift our usual leadership roles and allow the students to become the content experts and essentially take on the role of the teacher. Technology can provide students with a mass amount of information and give them a chance to analyze information through several different forms of media. For instance, your children have been able to view information through a movie created by their teachers and use programs on the computer such as powerpoint or excel. Technology also helps them to connect to others. By being able to reach beyond the classroom, students experienced how to express themselves which essentially improved their communication skills.

As teachers we also know that when you get a group of students together who obtain different views on a topic, there tends to be conflict. As part of our learning experience, managing conflict is an important concept. Students learned how to manage their own team conflicts which is a real-life skill that they will forever use. Together, students agreed on their personal roles and responsibilities. At the end of the project, both a self-assessment and group evaluation were given to see how well the students worked together. During the time that the students were working, the teachers walked around in order to help provide greater achievement and to keep students on task.

Many different aspects are involved in the decision for obtaining a classroom pet. Your child’s interest has be captured from the start and by involving them and allowing them to experience each step to this process, the students not only learned useful skills such as team building but had fun at the same time.

also I forgot to mention that along with team building, I will include how to manage conflict

podcast

ok guys, my concepts I plan to cover will be the importance of real-world projects with the use of technology and allowing students to express themselves, share ideas, and build communities. This will also cover how students will work together and involve eachother which will also enhance their communication and teamwork skills. I will be recording today and I can post my script on here later.

SORRY- this is what i have so far- i got a little mixed up:

Drew-facebook account, and time mgmt skills
Tina- use of a blog & project based learning
Lindsey- project mgmt skills, project log & research
Erin - creation of a website (after whole process is done), & team planning

Do you guys think blog use and facebook are trying to do the same thing? should we change one of them? Does it really matter at this point?

again, my email is erin.m.hoyle@wmich.edu
phone # 269.598.5268

concepts used so far...

what's up? okay, so far i have the following people covering these concepts from the book:

Drew- use of a blog & project based learning
Tina- project mgmt skills, project log & research
Erin - creation of a website (after whole process is done), & team planning

Let me know if any of these are incorrect.

My email is erin.m.hoyle@wmich.edu
phone # 269.598.5268

I'll be around most of the day working on this. Fun, fun, fun!

audacity

it is 2 am. I was trying to finish tonight but no. This is not so easy to figure out. I have recorded my script, imported my music. I can not find the fade tool she is talking about. Help
Erin sorry it looks like you may need more time then we have given you by the time we get our individual ones to you. I see why we had two weeks.

Drew of interest to you

I almost forgot yet again. Drew I heard on the radio that Grand Rapids is having a film fest. You can submit your own film to this I guess. I listen to 91.3 I think they said they have more details on their website.

my script

Erin I still have your number so I will call you about getting this to you I sincerly hope tomorrow. What is your e-mail?

Please keep in mind guys that I do not always stick to script. I will pretty much but when taping it will hopefully become a little more natural and therfore slightly off script.

I am so excited about the upcoming unit I have planned for your child. The theme of this unit is "Obtaining a Classsroom Pet". We will be integrateing the subjects of: Science- in learning about what a habitat is and those belonging to different animals, Math- through talking about various types of fundraisers, budgeting and the cost of obtaining and caring for the pet, and Language Arts- through various journals set up throughout the project on a varity of areas of the pet and project itself. I am currently involved in a practice run of this project with 4 other collegues. We are working on this using a wide varity of technology programs to enhance your child's learning, not only of the subject but, technology as well. I will admit this is a first for me and I am learning a lot and will continue to be right along with your child. I will make sure we use just the right program to fit the section, for example we will be using Excel in data gathering, and making graphs to read that data. This project will be that of project based learning which means that your child will be learning by doing. The students will be working in groups on a blog. I will give them the lesson and let them go. I will however be monitoring theri blog. I will comment in the blog on ocassion to not only help keep the students on track but help them get into the right direction if they get lost. I am so looking forward to this project and hope yur child will be too.

ok so ive been trying to write my part...let me know what you guys think! Tina, when do u want it recorded by? hopefully i can get to that soon.....


Throughout the project, the teachers will guide students on how to navigate their learning experience. This will be done in the beginning by getting their minds ready. We will encourage passion into the project from the moment we introduce it. This will start by getting the students attention and letting the idea settle in their minds. They will have a few days to think and discuss specifics about different types of classroom pets. The students will be invited to research and explore special aspects of different pets and then have them share their findings with the class. A week before the project begins; we will introduce the topic, to get the students minds going. Each day following, we will bring up the topic again for a few minutes, which will get the students excited and talking about their findings thus far. This will leave them eager to move forward with the topic.

Another way to help the students stay involved in the project is to set up a project log or journal that will introduce project-management skills. This log will help the students track their progress and findings on the certain aspects of the different types of classroom pets. This can include findings, check lists from certain projects, or reflections on their progress and conclusions. This will help us, as teachers, to track the student’s progress and understanding with in the project. We will dedicate a few minutes at the end of each work period to write in their logs.

ugg

okay I was hoping to work on this last night but ended up yet again in the er. This time with my husband. All is well. I am really rather sick of doctors right now. My surgery guys is the 17th. I do not remember when this class ends. I will be in the hospital a few days. They have wireless and I will be uninterupted so I will take my work with me. If I am not out of it I will keep up.

Before I signed in there was a posting that seams do have dissapeared upon signing in. There was a question about who was taping this. I am under the impression that we are all taping our own script and then sending the finished to Erin. She will be putting it all together then sending the fully finished to us and that is what we submit. I will get it to you asap Erin. I think that we are to do our own music as well.
Drew I like your script. I need to look a little but I think that part of my script will include making sure that the technology we use is right for our project. I think I remember reading something like that somewhere. I think I understand the project in as much the same way that Drew does and do agree that a little more direction would be helpful.
I have to admit that I did expect feedback from her on our blog throughout the semester to guide us when needed. Oh hey there is my second aspect. Well now that I have my two concepts I will right my script and actually look at the program we are to use (hopefully my family can stay away from the er for a while :))

Okay, so, each of us write a script, but do we record it ourselves...or Tina, are you recording all of them?

hello

hey guys

so, i will put the music in the background so that it all flows together. drew- i probabally will be consulting you. tomorrow i will be working alot on this, so you may get a call from me then. your script sounds great by the way, but maybe put in five teachers rather than three since there are five in our group.

i haven't gotten too far on this project, but i will let you guys know asap about what aspects in the book i am going to cover.