Google Map

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217978130351065042524.0004c14b0637b8b8d7ea9&msa=0&ll=42.682435,-81.210937&spn=36.366443,86.572266 This a map students can use to analyze the distance from Kalmazoo, MI in comparison to the Sahara desert which they are analyzing birds from both areas.

Assignment VII Part A

Hi guys! I hope you’re lessons turned out good. I thought since both of the group assignments have collaboration I thought it would be a good idea to separate them out into two posts. I started playing around with the Google Documents and started the document and sent Allison an invite to your Gmail yet I need yours Kristens. Can you e-mail it to me or post it? Also do we add Woodard when we are done or while we are working on it? I wanted to check with you guys to see what information we should use and brainstorming will probably be the easiest on the blog. So we each need to add and review/edit what is posted on this document. Are we still sticking with the same grade? I ended up using second grade standards for my lesson. What about you guys? I think what every grade we decide on should be the same as the penpal group and it should also be a different type of environment then around here so maybe somewhere with really wet or dry climate. What do you think?

Assignment V and VI

I hope you all thought the concept map was okay. We had a lot of ideas and little space for me to fit everything so I tried to pick what was most important and add it all in there. So our next assignment (assignment V) has us all picking a topic and doing a lesson plan on it. It would probably be easiest if we all just pick one of the areas from the concept map. I kind of already have some research on species from doing the concept map so I don't mind doing that one, unless someone else has some really good ideas for it and would like to do it. For assignment VI we all need to evaluate 3 websites. It would probably be the easiest if we used some of the sites that we are using for our topics from assignment VI, do you guys think we can do that? Let me know what you are thinking!

Okay so I downloaded the software and am starting on the concept map. Its due Sunday and we should probably get started on it! I do not mind doing this one because I know there are more to in the future. Keep sending me ideas and I will continue to add to the concept map. I will e-mail it to you both before I submit to to get your feedback.

I've been trying to think of some ideas we can use in our web sticking with the Michigan birds theme.  I think "The birding project - Michigan birds" would be the center of the web.  Some of the areas we could add on to that could be different species, migration patterns, where they live, life span.  These are just some ideas, and I know we will have to think of more ideas to web out from each one of those, but I just thought I would see what you guys thought about that!

Hey guys! I don't know if you guys noticed this but you can comment on each post and Woodard did on Allison’s about the URL. I think we should try to all be on like Friday or Saturday night to figure this concept map out either works for me.

Hello! I think only one person needs to post the URL. Check your grades and let me know because as of now I have received a 15/15 for posting the URL. Also Wednesday morning work for me, just pick and time and let me know! I’m flexible. First, who feels comfortable downloading the software for the concept map? Do we all need to download it or is just one person supposed to do it? Ellen I really like the idea you can up with! I think our topic should be Michigan Birding. Like you said we can have students focus on making their own field guide and then exploring birds outside of that. Next, the concept map kind of sounds like a web, I have not looked at the links yet. Like you said we can have the “The Birding Project” in the middle and expand out from there with flying, food ect. I really like your ideas!

So here is what we need to figure out…..who feels comfortable downloading the software and starting the concept map? What time can everyone meet? And we need to further discuss our ideas on “The Birding Project.” 

Also, are we all supposed to post the URL for the blog or just one person? I just noticed no grade has been posted for it and I thought that it had been uploaded.

I hope that I am doing this right.  I have never used a blog before so this is totally new for me!  Wednesdays work for me however afternoons are better, but if we can't make that work I can try to rearrange some things.  I am in Minnesota so there is also a 1 hour time change, I am an hour earlier than Michigan.  I am usually busy Wednesday mornings from 9-10am, which would be 10-11am your time.  I like your ideas on the project.  I also had a little confusion about what exactly we were supposed to be doing, but what you said makes a little more sense.  We should decide who wants to download the software to create the web as that has to be done by Sunday right?

Good job with changing the URL Kristen! We have this concept map we need to make and figure out a focused topic for Birding. Would Michigan Birding be a good focus with something along the lines of the students making their own field guide of local birds then seeing how many they can find outside. I am slightly confused about what this concept map is supposed to look like because first Woodard says "Remember, the topic you are working under is not the Big Project. Your group will need to decide what that Big Project is going to be. Use your discussion board to figure this out before you can brainstorm for your concept map." But then she says "Your Collaborative Inspiration Concept Map must contain the final big project in the center surrounded by all main ideas for your Project (these should be everything you would need to teach to get to the final big project -- see Example under Resources)." Your guys thought? Looking at the sample it looks like the center would look like "The Birding Project" then whatever we want to focus on. I wonder if we could incorporate something about the science of birds flying, migration, what they eat or something like that. I am just brainstorming because I know we don't have a set time to chat yet but we defiantly need to start next week.

Anytime Wednesday works for me though I do prefer working in the morning better. What do you think Allison? Does Wednesday work for you?