I am on my way!

I've been busy this week!  I have set up a private Wiki for my 6th grade social studies class, drafted a letter to parents asking for their permission for social studies students to use the Wiki and played on Wordle; but most importantly, I have used what I have learned from the E2T2 grant days to add to my section of our MMS 6th grade website.  Inspired by a student who will be absent from November 19th to December 3rd, I have created some self-directed learning on the site.  The site is a Google site, and works much like a Wiki, but a bit different.  I have had to learn to create a Google docs. section in order to upload PowerPoint and note-catchers, but I was able to do that because I was already experienced with how to do it on a Wiki page.  I was also able to, with MUCH ease, upload important videos from YouTube.  I was NOT able to do this 2 months ago!  Check out the website to see my handiwork:  https://sites.google.com/site/6thgrademms/

As I delve further into the technologically literate world, I find I am also encountering unanticipated problems.  Setting students up with email accounts so that our reading groups can create a blog.  This is not as easy as it sounds.  We have discovered that in order to establish an account with Blogger, one needs a Google account.  Some students who already have an email account, don't have one with Google.  It is just a logistical nightmare, and trying to keep track of who has what and how we will get them set up is daunting.  I know once the ground work has been set, it will be easy...but it is the groundwork...the grunt work that is weighing me down.   I have also discovered the coolness of Wordle...it is a great way for students to synthesize their learning and then see what the main ideas of their synthesis is -but there are problems with that as well.  You can't create a personal account, so whatever you create you have to either print right away, or save to a blog or something else.  I have not been able to get that to work yet.  Any ideas out there??  

I know once I get over these humps, students will be ultra engaged and my head swims with glee at the opportunity for students to provide each other with feedback on their blogs and help each other build a collective understanding of social studies concepts and skills on our Wiki.  We just have to get through this upcoming week - when we are going through the logistics - and then we can be on our way!!