Mr.+Haines


 * Mr. Haines - 6th Grade**


 * I am in the process of learning the Moodle Program and trying to create more of a paperless classroom for the future. Currently, technology is something that I utilize with everything I teach along with what I want my students to complete. I have had a smart board in my classroom for 3.5 years and I could not live without it. Students are encouraged to come up to the smartboard and interact in their learning. Math problems, science experiments, and social studies maps are just a few concepts that the smartboard is being used for. Whether we are watching a 5 minute tutorial on how to check your brakes, to an animated carton on the stone ages, students are exposed to technology in every period.**


 * I also have 5 classroom computers in my room that students use to practice their basic math facts, access team information from the web site or create work that can be submitted electronically or through their student directory.**


 * Lastly, students are given several opportunities to learn with the set of netbooks that we have. Students can use the netbooks for research, projects such as power point, or even to work on our school wide Study Island program designed around PSSA preparations.**

**THE PEN PAL PROCESS WITH MOODLE**

 * The pen pal process was designed to encourage interaction with 5th grade students at the elementary school with 6th grade students at the middle school. Students at the middle school (6th grade) will send a letter to their respective 5th grade school and classroom. Those students will then send a return letter back to the middle school. A follow up will be a meeting and lunch in the spring before they begin their first year at middle school.**


 * Students will utilize Moodle for the entire Pen Pal process -** [|http://moodle.parklandsd.org]


 * How this works:**
 * 1. Students at the middle school will brainstorm in Microsoft word a list, web, etc. on the key components of an effective letter. This will specifically include what should be in their letter.**
 * 2. Students will save this into their directory and close.**
 * 3. The next step will involve them utilizing the moodle program to upload and submit to their teacher.**
 * 4. The teacher will open each file and make necessary corrections, additions, and suggestions with comments in Microsoft Office 2010. The teacher will then send the document back to the student to begin the next step.**


 * 5. When this process is complete students will begin tryping their rough draft.**
 * 6. Upon completion of the rough draft, students will switch computers with a partner and have them peer edit using the comments in Microsoft Word 2010. This will appear with arrors and in a different color.**
 * 7. This can be done by clicking the review tab at top and then New Comment in the middle. This will insert comments where you want a student to make a correction, add more information, or eliminate information.**


 * 7. After the students switch back to their letter, they will make the necessary changes and submit through moodle to their teacher.**
 * 8. The teacher will access their class and see the submissions from the students. The teacher opens the letter and makes the necessary grades/suggestions/deletions to create the perfect friendly letter. He or she does this by utilizing the review tab comment button.**


 * 9. When the teacher adds the comments and sends back to the student, the will see all of the comments on the right. As soon as the students makes the corrections in red by clicking in the designated area, they comments on the right will disappear.**

media type="file" key="New Comment Editing Video.mp4" width="624" height="624" align="center"
 * Watch brief movie on this process:**


 * 10. When all corrections have been made, the students will submit one last time their final letter to the teacher who will then in turn submit the letters to their respective schools.**


 * 11. Using the moodle program allows this process to be completely paperless.**


 * The following is what our class moodle assignment page will look like.**


 * The following is where our students will go to submit their letters to the elementary school. Also where the classroom teacher can oversee the discussion forum that is occuring between each pen pal.**


 * Web Sites Used:**
 * Moodle =** [|http://moodle.parklandsd.org]
 * Screencast O Matic Movie Making =** []
 * Microsoft Office Help Homepage =** []
 * Microsoft for Dummies =** []

hainesj1@parklandsd.org []
 * My contact information:**
 * Jim Haines**