Projects

A few other projects in which I am involved and quite proud.

EdTech Classroom Podcast

At the end of this summer, one my favorite CTAP friends, Burt invited me to start a podcast with him all about using technology in the classroom.  So, far we’ve had a great time and exchanged some pretty fantastic ideas with each other and our listeners!  I know I always learn something to use with my students every time we record.  Have a listen and let us know what you think.

San Juan & Sylvan Moodle

Moodle? What’s that!?! Does it come with marinara? Two years ago that was my initial reaction when learned about this fantastic online course management system. Now, using Moodle for the fourth school year I hope I never have to go back to a Moodle-less existence.  If you’d like to check out my Moodle courses send me a note from the Contact Me page and I will send you the guest enrollment key.

Mr. Wood’s News & Notes & Salk Scientists Blog

Did you know you can steal your student’s attention away from MySpace and YouTube with a class blog? Me neither! I am always amazed at how many comments I receive from my kids on topics ranging from Grade Updates to the History of YouTube…and at the oddest times. My dream – to turn them into bloggers (secretly getting them to write and like it). Why didn’t I get a Language Arts Credential?

Room 34 Wiki Textbook

After borrowing stealing a great idea from an innovative teacher with whom we should all have the pleasure of working, my students and I started creating a online textbook in the form of a wiki. Students are broken into groups and each group is responsible for a “chapter” based on one of the California 8th Grade Science Standards. Now students seem to prefer “wiki work days” over anything else. Our wiki has spawned conversations not only about science, but Creative Commons and basic HTML as well. By April we should have a great review project for statewide testing. Take a look at our work in progress.

Room 34 Wiki Glossary

While one class is creating a textbook my other class is creating an online glossary.

Review Podcasts

Every 12 weeks my students have the pleasure completing a benchmark exam (aka Trimester Final). I am always looking for interesting ways to get them to review. Last year we started Trimester Review Podcasts. So far it seems quite popular. Stay tuned for updates.

Mr. Wood’s in London

This was actually my first blog I used with my students and it still gets hits from former and current kids. Last April I went to London over Spring Break for my 30th birthday. Most of my students have never left the state and were eager to see my pictures. Before I left I set up this blog and almost half of my students were regular viewers. Each afternoon I would rest my weary feet, post a few pictures and thoughts, and then head of to dinner. The next morning I would have comments and emails from many of my students. So next time you head out on a vacation think about keeping a blog. Hey! Perhaps I can write off part of my trip as a work expense?