Thing 3...Research Projects & MILI

So I finally motivated myself to look over Thing 3: Research Project Calculators & Dribbling.  As I reviewed some of the great organizational tools I thought, "How handy."  As it seems with many of the "Things" we discuss via the MILI grant I first think of how they apply to the scholarly life of my biological children before I think how I'd apply them to my classroom.  How would this tool keep family feuds to a minimum when learning that the research paper they've known about for 3 weeks is due in 3 days (UGH!!).  I like that an inanimate object can guide them through the process of choosing a research topic, creating a thesis statement, and sending them hounding emails re: what they should be doing to complete their literary assigment.

This time, however, my FIRST robotics team was in the forefront of my thoughts as I reviewed all of the support documents for creating a video.  The Millerbots have been tasked with creating a PSA (public service announcement) to promote robotics in high schools across America.  None of us on the team have done anything more than brief video clips that end up on facebook or You tube and we are feeling a bit "novice."  I think that many of the storyboarding worksheets, copyright and fair use info, and the video production step-by-step guide will really help this project move forward.  As is the goal with most of what happens related to high school robotics the adults try to facilitate rather than direct student achievements.  I hope they (the students) are as excited about these tools as I am. 

I also checked out the Google Educators links.  It looks like attending the Google Teacher Academy may be something I need to add to my life's "to do" list.  

As for the challenges related to using all of these great resources......TIME.  I don't have enough minutes in the day to do it all.  It would be great if as a building a committment would be made to introducing these tools consistently to all kids and then when the opportunity arises to use them it is not necessary to spend significant time "teaching" the process.  It would be nice to just create a step in the assignment that reads:  Step 1 - create an RPC for this assignment!  (and everyone would know what you're talking about).

As for dribbling.....hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.