10Tech Elementary Learn & Earn: Voice Data

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Voice Data

When meeting with parents during conferences, it can sometimes be challenging to explain their child's reading grade by simply showing them written data. This is a tricky area bec

ause unlike math and writing, reading grades require the teacher to listen to the student and take formal or informal notes. Parents then rely on these teacher notes and try to apply necessary changes at home in order to have their child improve in their reading ability. Isn't there an easier way to communicate student reading ability with parents? Well....

OneNote is a

Microsoft program we have had on our computers for some time. A few of us use it to organize files and notes, but most of us go running for the hills whenever they hear anyone utter "OneNote." But there is an easy and effective way to use this program: voice recordings! Instead of sitting down with a parent to discuss notes about their child's reading, how about letting them hear how their child reads while you analyze and offer suggestions. This post is to allow you the opportunity to see if it might be worth your time.

First, we need to open up Microsoft OneNote. Then we need to set up a folder to hold student voice recordings. Then we need to record and label. That's it! Take a look at this brief tutorial for help, then give it a try yourself!

After you have tried a few recordings yourself and played them back, here is what I would like for you to do: Please tell me if this is something that might be useful at all to you; either with reading or any other activity/lesson in which voice recording might be beneficial. Also, during parent conference time, do you present student information in any unique way? (perhaps through video, having the student work on a quick task in front of the parent, computer projects, etc.). Don't worry if you do not do anything out of the ordinary; I know I am still thinking of different ways to present information during conferences, but have not yet put them into practice.

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Kim Fitzpatrick · 780 weeks ago

Well, I've never used OneNote and had no idea I could record with it, so this is all news to me. I can see using OneNote for reading fluency conferences. Sometimes, I wish I could go back and listen to certain students again to confirm/verify scores or grades and I think it would be a helpful tool during parent conferences as well (depending on other factors). Having something tangible like an audio recording for parents to experience is a good tool as long as it’s supported with written documentation. I’m pretty interested in Jing too. I noticed you used it for recording your lesson this week. I’m going to take a look…thanks!

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mark lange · 780 weeks ago

After trying the voice recording on OneNote a few times, I did see its benefits. Even though I don’t teach reading currently, I think I could find uses for it in math and social studies. In social studies I teach the “Colonial Boston Story path”. After my students create his/her colonial character, I would imagine parents would find it both interesting and entertaining during conferences to hear (in their own child’s words) who they are, what family members they have in the classroom and what business he/she owns. As for math though, I am struggling to come up with how it can benefit math conferences. I guess possibly something to do with problem solving, but I would have to ponder that problem at a later date.

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Samantha Watkins · 780 weeks ago

I agree with Kim and Mark it would be a great tool to use in conferences and with reading. We could go back and listen to fluency and tape comprehension to explain more clearly to parents. In first grade parents think their kids can read when they decode, but comprehension and fluency are the things we are looking for while children read. As a parent I would love to have the chance to hear my child or even examples of what my kid should be reading like. I want to try it out. Thank you!

1 reply · active 778 weeks ago

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Tina McDaniel · 780 weeks ago

I have used Onenote to store emails and parent information, copies of certain assignments (via a picture) or examples of student work. I did this all last year,but it became quite overwhelming to keep up with it. I also tried using Onenote instead of a planbook, but I realized I needed to physically write things down in front of me to find it useful. One of the first grade teachers utlized Onenote when testing students reading fluency last year so that when conferences came, the parent could see what is actually tested and how that is assessed. I find that would be incredibly useful and may try that as an opportunity to measure student growth and also to have them set goals and see their own growth.

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Rachel Cragar · 780 weeks ago

I have used voice recording for my selective mute who went into a seperate room to read so that we could assess him. For him it worked pretty ok, however I cant see doing it in my class of thirty. It would be a lot to manage and keep up with. I think that I might try it next year to do a voice stream example for my struggling readers and go from there. One note... hmmm I think I have a love hate relationship with one-note. I really like some aspects like collaboration with my team, but I tried to use it for myself with planning and such bt I find that I end up redoing it so that I can have my plans written in front of me. I like my pencil and paper still :)

1 reply · active 778 weeks ago

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Wendy Ward · 780 weeks ago

I also don't teach reading, so I was trying to think of a use for the voice recordings in PE. I"m not sure if I'd actually do this, but I could rotate through 5th grade students and record them giving directions to a station, then play the recording for the K-4th graders or it could be a type of reward for older students who need extra attention. However, it may not be the best use of time when we only have 30 minutes with each class. I saw an example on line of a teacher who videotaped himself explaining the sub plans and the sub just had to play the directions for the class. Maybe the voice recording would give us a faster way to explain the lesson to a sub than writing it all out or it could be played back to the class to explain the lesson.

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Renae Hanson · 780 weeks ago

Love this! Would love it even more if I taught reading. :) I had a few different kids read to me this morning during zero hour. With the first two, it was challenging to hear them on the "play back". For the third kid - I used one of our new headsets with the microphone attached and his voice came through loud and clear! This would definitely be a beneficial tool for reading...it would be great to share with parents during conferences and I think there would be great value in having the kids hear themselves read out loud. Another place I could see myself using this is in the computer lab. I think it would be neat to hear a kid's voice describe/narrate a presentation that they have created. I also thought the tool used to create the tutorial was impressive!

2 replies · active 778 weeks ago

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debbieo · 780 weeks ago

Who knew!!??!? I always wondered where things went when OneNote came up! I can totally see using this in my resource room with the Language! Program. We practice and test reading fluency frequently. I would love to be able to share the students progress with parents, but mostly with the students so they can hear how much they've improved throughout the year. My only problem is.....I can't figure out where the microphone is? Do I need a headset with a microphone to plug in? Should I see one built in somewhere? That's why I'm taking this class! :) Thanks!

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Molly Klemkow · 780 weeks ago

I think that OneNote could be a great tool! I don't really know how I would use it in the preschool classroom. If I could catch my students saying sounds or words then it would be great to send that home or share with parents at a conference because I have a lot of students who don't speak or speck very little.

I also couldn't figure out where the microphone was?

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Diane · 780 weeks ago

I love one note and use it all the time. This is the 2nd year that I've used it for my plan book and it has been very easy. When I plan I do it right over last year's. It is a good check to see if I am ahead or behind of last year.
I have never used it for recording though. I think it's a great idea. In first grade there is so much to talk about that I'm not sure that it would be the best use of limited time during conferences, for me. I can see using it with students so they can hear themselves. I would love to havea fall recording of them reading and let them compare it to their own reading in the spring. They would be very surprised at how much better they are.

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Ruth Cerna · 780 weeks ago

I checked this out a long time ago during a One Note inservice but forgot about it! Renae was right, you really need a microphone. I sang Barbara Streisand's class song "People" into my laptop it was difficult to hear so then I used a microphone and it was much better. I will try and use it with my reading groups with the headset/microphone but I feel it should be text they've practiced. There is a ton of research about having kids evaluate their own reading this way -- much better than having them read aloud with the teacher providing feedback. I've never tried anything like this at a parent conference but can certainly see the benefits. Brandon, is that a recipe for french toast creme brule on your desktop? Yum!

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

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Tenaya Williams · 780 weeks ago

Interesting…. I’ve often wondered what One Note was. I agree with Renae, there could be great value in having students listen for inflection, and fluency as they hear themselves read out loud. Beyond conferencing, I could record individual students read at the beginning of the year set goals for them, re–record them as the year progresses and celebrate their accomplishments with them. I might use One Note recordings for the occasional conference when I have significant concerns about a student as a reader. I would like to ask Tina more about using One Note as a plan book.

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Beth Belmondo · 780 weeks ago

I think this would be a great tool for conferencing with parents of struggling readers. I don't usually have my laptop with me to conference, and there is already so much information to go through that I wouldn't want to do this for every student. I hope that the parents are working with their child and know what I'm talking about when I explain what I'm seeing in their child as a reader. I was thinking it might be useful to have a benchmark video of an average reader at the reporting periods to show those parents what it should be looking/sounding like for their child to be reading at grade level. Maybe even showing it at curriculum night just so the parents know what we expect as teachers.
I have used my digital camera as a recording tool to show the parent some behavior issues at a conference. It was really helpful for the parent to see what their child was doing and what the other kids were doing, and it made a big difference in her willingness to work with the school. So, I think it is very important to know how to record and share those videos, but like I said I don't think it is worth it to do it for every student.

P.S. I also take a lot of videos/pictures throughout the school year and make an end of the year video for the parents. Not a conferencing tool, but the parents really treasure that summary of their child's kindergarten year!

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cheryl reilly · 780 weeks ago

In speech therapy, I have used recording tools on the computer forever! I love it. I think it's so important for students to hear themselves and for me to hear them again, and for me to hear myself and the way I work with them! On the old desk-tops I used a plug in microphone, but the laptops have a microphone built in to the keyboard. I have used many programs and various software to record voice, including powerpoint. One note also can VIDEO record with sound.
Love this! Totally applies to my kids!

2 replies · active 778 weeks ago

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Suz Chen · 780 weeks ago

I struggled with finding a way to use voice recording in my work as the social worker, but then realized it might work well for teaching kids about tone of voice. I often teach lessons on how to be assertive and stand up to bullying behaviors and it might be helpful for them to be able to hear what they sound like when they say "no." Voice recordings would be useful in demonstrating the subtle difference between assertiveness and aggressiveness.

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Amy Cassady · 780 weeks ago

At the training last year, I thought this would be a great tool, but it seems a little overwhelming to me. I teach science/social studies and writing. It would be a good place to keep track of the student's writing but because I haven't thought it through logically yet, it feels really overwhelming to keep up with. I team teach so I would have to keep track of 50 students and their writing. Already, I feel overwhelmed with the amount of record keeping I do, and kind of feel like this might be just one more thing. I see the benefits, I just need some time to think through how it would benefit me and what I already do in class.

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Denise Strom · 780 weeks ago

I hadn't previously used One Note for anything! After the cool tutorial, it was easy to get into it and make my own voice recordings. I think this will be useful for reading fluency assessments...playing it back for both students and parents at conference time. I will try it with the microphone, though, because I could barely hear myself. Maybe if I sang like Barbra Streisand, I could do what Ruth did. But mine turned out to just be a Snoop Dog rap.

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Teresa Eccles · 780 weeks ago

I have taken video and voice recordings of my students and find them to be helpful for the students to self evaluate. I would love to be organized enough to use these for conferences. I am struggling with the microphone settings and just haven't had time lately to spend working it out. I went to a great session at the Tech Conference about keeping electronic portfolios and I think OneNote would be a perfect vehicle for that. I especially find it easy to use our big copy machines to scan and send PDF's of student work. The machine can just email the PDF to you and then they can be sent to OneNote.
Does anyone think an external microphone works better than the internal one?
I am also interested in figuring out how to easily send the items in a one note folder to someone who does not have one note.

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Mona Best · 780 weeks ago

WOW! That is SO cool. Like Cheryl, I've used recordings of students to provide a way to increase self-awareness, self-monitoring, and to help them compare/contrast their speech production. I never thought of using it to help carry over strategies or lesson plans for parents. I emailed myself the One Note document and accessed the recording easily.

Thanks for this resource!

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Evelyn · 780 weeks ago

I am really excited about using One Note to record a struggling reader, and repeat the process every couple of months to share progress with the student. In the Reading Conferences I've had with parents this year, it would have been so helpful to play a recording (or just part), and explain to the parents the skills their child has gained, and the ones they are still working on. I'm not always sure when I'm talking with parents if they totally understand what their child is doing as a reader. It would be nice to say, "Did you notice your child . . . .?", and then give ideas of how I would support or work with that particular reading behavior. I'm anxious to get Renae Hanson's reply to my comment about her headphones with microphones attached. It sounds like a few others are also interested. I've used One Note in a variety of ways in the past, but this is something that sounds very beneficial to someone in my present position.

2 replies · active 778 weeks ago

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Sue Chase · 780 weeks ago

Wow - was that cool or what!?! I'm sure I've been to some class that mentioned it - but must have put it out of my mind. I am intrigued by all the people mentioning microphones and have the same question as Evelyn - where/how do you get them? It sounds from most people that it would be beneficial. I LOVE Teresa's idea of using this for students to self evaluate. (Those of you doing Pro Cert and Nat Boards - what a nice idea for "student self reflection!" ) I have in the past videoed oral presentations and to use them for students to do "self reflection" from everyting from voice level, posture, inflection, effectiveness, etc. would be super! I have also seen class projects like creating a "class book" or even just to log in for a "blog" or newsletter would be great. Of course I would need help as to how to incopporate that but isn't that one of the fun reasons we get to meet with our building Tech Specialists?!!

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Evelyn · 780 weeks ago

Brandon,
You're tutorial was awesome! I'm wondering, if I had a recording of a student's reading, would it be possible to share it with the classroom teacher, and still keep it on my One Note file, like you do with text?

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Kimberly10tech 66p · 780 weeks ago

Testing comment

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Kim Schmitz · 780 weeks ago

Well, I have tried OneNote. I did try to use it last year as my planbook, but ended up not really caring for it. I know that my fabulous neighbor, Diane, uses and loves it, so I have thought about giving it another chance. Perhaps I will take a class on it at the Tech Institute this summer.....or just play around with it more in my spare time....yeah right. I did agree with Diane that it may be time consuming for a parent conference. I also liked (ok I loved it) her idea of recording kids in the fall and then having them listen to the difference in the spring. I will jump on her bandwagon and try this out. Is there a way to put them on our Swift site in the documents for parents to go in and look and listen to themselves? That would be very cool.

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Melissa Morlock · 780 weeks ago

I used One Note or the built in sound recorder in November to record students reading. I found that it was a lot to manage and it added quite a bit of time to the already time consuming reading assessments. I can see how using technology in this way could be beneficial. The first being that students can hear themselves. I also liked the idea someone posted about using a recording to share a benchmark of an average student with parents and students. This will be something that I keep in the back of my mind to see if I can refine and make work for me.

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