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[|Classroom 2.0 Website] Robert Provonost on using web2.0 tools in his classroom

Robert Provonost, a second grade teacher in California, was the featured speaker. The questions presented to him were what does web2.0 mean to you, and why do you use web2.0 in your classroom? His answer was "tools that anyone can use through the internet." In his classroom, he not only has his personal ipad and ipod, but he also has 10 mac books, four ipads, intereactive white board system, and a classroom set of ipods. When I think of all the web2.0 tools and technological tools that he has in his classroom, the first thing that comes to mind is for most schools having all these tools is an unrealistic dream. However, what I found interesting was that he said he recieved almost everything through grantsand other donation services. This makes me think, for schools that don't have these tools and resources, is it that these schools aren't worthy enough for grants of this nature, or are they just not trying hard enough? In fact, every teacher that I have ever came in contact with have said that the majority of the things they get (that they once thought was impossible for the classroom) was through grant money that they worked hard to get.

Robert Provonost then went in to explain how and why he uses web 2.0 in his classroom. He spoke about when he uses the tools as a teacher. such as for classroom management, during whole group and small group instruction. He talked about a classroom management tool that I really liked. It is an ipod app called Names in a hat, in which he shakes the ipod and a name is drawn out at random. I like this because it encourages fairness and randomness when selecting individuals for something in the classroom. I really like it because instead of wasting paper to draw names out of a real hat (or bowl) the ipod does it for you. He also talked about how he used ical/itunes on his ipad. He automatically sets an alarm, a song plays, and the students know the song playing means to clean up for lunchtime. I really like this idea because it saves him time and if he was working with another student he doesn't have to interuppt what he was doing to remind the others perhaps minutes before that it is lunchtime soon. Mr. Provonost also spoke about using ichat/skype/facetime as a whole group instruction tool. He said he uses this tool for his class to talke to other classes of students around the world. He also said that they are working on trying to talk to people such as scientists. I really like these ideas. With more school budget money being cut, field trips are basically non-existent for many schools. With the right connections, this tool can be used in place of field-trips.

As for small group instruction, I really found it interesting as to how many tools there are for reading and writing purposes. One tool that I can see as being very helpful for me in the future is the daily notes that he talked about using during writing conferences with the students. This allows him to write notes about the progress of the student and what he/she is struggling with. I found it really intersting that you can actually 'tag' what a student is struggling with like capitalization, so that eventually he has the option of having the program group all the kids having trouble with capitalization or all the kids having trouble with punctuaton. This way he now can place those students in a group and supply work according to what they need help on. I also liked italk lite in which the students record themselves reading and give themselves feedback by answering a form that he had created on google docs. I like how the students can monitor and assess their own progress, and yet as a teacher you are still able to see through google docs what the students feel they do well in and what they improvement with. When I observed a first grade classroom during my 2011 spring semester, there was alot of time designated toward individual reading time, so I think it is a great idea for the students to be able to record themselves and then play it back to see how they sound.

Finally, Mr. Provonost also spoke about how the students can use the web 2.0 tools such as ipad/ipod apps. He talked about a game called Planet Turtle which asks questions similar to what is on the California state tests. As a teacher, he has the ability to look and see what the student has been working on and how well he/she is doing. This is a great tool because not only is it good test practice (especially with No Child Left Behind), but by looking at the history the teacher can look at a students progress and maybe give the student extra help in the areas he/she is struggling in. I also liked the Idea paint which allows students to write on the desks. It is a step toward going GREEN and the information is not lost because he takes a picutre of it. Also, when someone hears they can write on the desk, who wouldn't be excited and engaged?

As a future teacher, I am definetly going to remember how web2.0 tools can be used in a classroom and if possible would love to incorporate some of the ways Mr. Provonost uses the tools in his classroom into my classroom oneday. The fact that everything is in one place, and how engaed students are when using the tools is a win-win situation. Not only are the tools fun, but they are quite helpful in the learning process of the students and I believe the use of these tools in the classroom such as skype, ical/itunes, daily notes, or idea paint will enhance the learning of every student.