Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Project #14

For project 14, we created a lesson plan for second grade English and Language Arts. Each students will be assigned a partner, and after discussing lessons on types of stories, characters, main points, and characteristics, as well as reading Officer Buckle and Gloria, each group will make a Prezi presentation. In their presentation, they must include a summary, pictures, and details about the characters, among other thing.


The book, Officer Buckle and Gloria

Rubric
Lesson Plan
Calendar
PBL Checklist

Monday, October 27, 2014

Blog Post #11

What can we learn about teaching and learning from these teachers?


Several weeks ago I learned about second language learners in my Human Growth and Development class. After reading about language development and students who don't fully understand English or don't understand it at all,  I was worried that I may not be able to teach them as well as students who speak English as their first language. After watching this video, I learned that it is very possible to teach second language learners just as well as English speaking students. In this video, Brian discusses how he used Blogger, Wikipedia, and many other online tools to help his students learn things like science, all while developing language skills too. He explains that his students get feedback from all over the world, and they get to interact with people in different cities, states, and even countries, because of the internet and the technology they use in class. 

I had never heard of the blended learning cycle prior to watching  this video. After listening to Paul Anderson, I learned that it is taking the compelling parts of online learning and technology, and blending it with a regular classroom. He uses the acronym, QIVER, to explain. You start with a question, then investigate, then watch a video, then elaborate, then review, and then they take a summary quiz. Paul uses technology throughout the entire process. They watch videos online, use spreadsheets,  and they can investigate using the internet. I think that using the blended learning cycle is a great tool to use in science, along with other subjects, and I hope to use it in my classroom one day. 

A diagram of the Blended Learning Cycle.


In the video, Mark Church explains how he gets his students to think of headlines for the driving question of their lesson. I learned that this is a great way to get students excited about learning something. After they create their headlines and investigate the topic more thoroughly, he asks the students what they would change about their headlines. This shows what the students have learned. 


This video was all about Sam Pane's class creating cartoon super heroes who protect the internet from things like bullies, and hackers. First, the class discussed internet safety, and then they created their super heroes using a tool on their computers. I think this would be a great lesson for teaching my students how to be kind and safe on the internet, and I plan on using it. I believe the kids would really enjoy this lesson. 

The teachers from this video have blended all of their classes together. Instead of going to three different classes, the students stay in one class that covers all three: history, English, and technology/computer. After watching the video, I learned that this is a very effective way to teach. The teachers said that with the extra time they have with their students, they can teach them so much more. They said that the work they get is better, and that more students are proud of what they accomplished. 

At Roosevelt Elementary, they have created an excellent PBL program that is working wonderfully at their school. They not only teach their students the information, they teach them how to think for themselves. They also promote public speaking at an early age, which helps them not to fear it when they get older. Along with public speaking, their students learn many other life skills, like collaborating with others and using technology. Throughout the video, I heard several teachers use the term, "self-motivated." This taught me that PBL can motivate students to WANT to learn, which many people struggle with. Getting students excited about learning can be hard, but Roosevelt Elementary has done a good job of it.

Friday, October 24, 2014

Blog Post #10

Several years ago, Mrs. Cassidy was presented with five computers to use in her classroom. Since she received these computers, her teaching has evolved to include technology. After watching  Interview with Kathy Cassidy Part 1Part 2, and Part 3 I have learned a lot about how she uses technology in the classroom and ways that I can in the future.

Mrs. Cassidy uses Twitter to connect with people from around the world, and it is very useful for her. She and Dr. Strange discussed how they both thought it was useless and a waste of time when they first heard about it, but now it is a tool that they use regularly. I do not have a Twitter besides the one that I use for EDM 310, and before I got that I agreed that is was useless. However, when used correctly, it can be very useful.

Mrs. Cassidy also uses blogs in her classroom. She explained that students are more motivated to write when it's not just her seeing it, but people from around the world. She has several tools on their blogs that show them how many views they have, and also where the people are from. When students know hundreds of people are seeing their work, they want to do the best they can. People also leave comments on her student's blog post, which encourages them even more.

Along with Twitter and blogging, her class also uses Wiki. They can ask questions and people from around the world can answer. For example, they asked about rituals and got answers from many people. They also got videos and pictures from a school here in Alabama about letters. Along with Wiki, they communicate with other students through Skype.

She teaches her students to say nice things in their comments, just like we learn in EDM 310. She also teaches them to be safe while using the internet. Prior to watching these videos, I worried that using the internet in my classroom would be unsafe. However, Mrs. Cassidy said that she had never had a problem with anything.

Mrs. Cassidy's students are very tech literate, and they use many different forms of technology in the classroom. In my future classroom, I plan on teaching my students how to use the internet safely, like Mrs. Cassidy does. I also plan on using Blogger to motivate my students to write well. I hope to use many of the tools that she does in her classroom, and thought the videos were very informative.


A diagram discussing why kids should blog.






Project #12 Part A


Tuesday, October 21, 2014

C4K Summary for October

The first blog I commented on was Clayton's Blog from Ms. Horst's Class. Clayton has written many post since the last time I commented on his, but his most recent was the fourtienth goldfish. Clayton wrote about how the story reminded him of when his own goldfish died, and how sad it was. He also said that he made a prediction about the grandfather in the story. In my comment, I told Clayton that I had beta fish when I was younger, and I agreed that it was sad when they died. I added that it was exciting to get new fish though. I also said that the book sounded great, and it was awesome that he was making predictions about the story. Lastly, I thanked him for posting.

The second blog I commented on was AngelaN's Blog from Miss Jacklin's Grasde 5 Class. Angela write a blog titled "My Grandmother." In her blog, she wrote that her grandmother was from China, and that she loved to cook Chinese food. She also said that her grandma was strict, and would make her do things. Angela wrote that she had a special tradition of helping her grandma with the Chinese New Year, and that she had a special name for her. In my comment, I introduced myself to Angela, and told her that her grandmother sounded like a cool lady. I also told her that I loved Chinese food, and asked what her special name for her grandma was. I told Angela that I loved reading her blog, and that it was a great post.

The week of October 13th, I commented on Madison T.'s Blog. Madison wrote a post titled "How to Babysit." In her post, she gave a lot of helpful, yet hilarious, advice on how to take care of babies. For example, she wrote to not leave them with any animals because she had seen a baby throw an animal by the tail into bulletproof glass. She also said to sterilize everything, take the baby to the doctor 3 times a month, keep babies away from wires, and don't leave them alone with expensive TV's. Madison gave a lot more advice in her blog as well. In my comment, I told her who I was, and that I babysit all the time. I said that I loved reading her blog, and that I hoped I never had a baby throw an animal by the tail. I also told her that her post was funny, and that she should keep blogging because she did an excellent job.

My last blog to comment on in October was Stevenson @ PT England School. I his post, Being Fit, Stevenson wrote about staying fit by exercising. He wrote all about how it is beneficial to your body and mind to exercise regularly. For example, when you exercise, your body releases endorphins which make you feel good. He also wrote about the difference in exercising for strength, and exercising for stamina. In my comment, I told him who I was and where I'm from. I told him that he had excellent writing skills, and that I enjoyed reading his blog. I also told Stevenson that his post was very informative, and that it was well written. I asked if he had plans on being a writer, because his post was so good.

Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Blog Post #9

What Can Teachers and Students Teach Us About Project Based Learning?


When I was in school, I dreaded doing any project. When asked why we had to do something, the answer was generally, "Because I said so," or "Because it's on the test." I had no motivation to do the work, because I felt as if it didn't benefit me. I would do enough to get a good grade, without worrying about learning the information. After reading this 7 Essentials for Project-Based Learning, I know that using PBL is a much more effective way to get students involved in projects and learning. The article gives some great advice for creating good, meaningful projects, that students will actually enjoy. For example, each project should have a driving question, it should include 21st century skills, and it should have a real audience, instead of just the teacher, among other things. 

This video gives an excellent summary of what Project Based Learning really is. After watching it, I learned that there are so many ways we can use technology in PBL. I knew of quite a lot from EDM 310, but this video showed a lot that I had never heard of before. This video stated that a driving question is very important, just like the article above. 

After watching this video, I learned that not only can Project Based Learning help students to learn information, it can solve real world problems. While most people may not think watery ketchup is a big deal, I find it very impressive that two high school seniors engineered a cap to fix the problem, designed it on a computer, and 3-D printed it. If 2 boys can solve this problem, there is no telling what ideas other students can come up with and problems they can solve, all while doing a school project. This video is an excellent example of how PBL is a good way to get students excited about learning, and how the results can be fascinating. 

When I think of PE, I always picture playing sports, running a timed mile, and walking the track. However, this article made me realize that not only can you implement PBL into subjects such as math, science, history, and English, but you can also use it in PE. Along with doing physical activity in class, it is important to teach students how to stay healthy outside of school. This article explained a project where high school students create physical fitness programs for middle schoolers. It would be very beneficial for teaching students what they should be doing to stay fit, as well as promoting teamwork and collaboration. Overall, this taught me that PBL can be used in virtually any subject. 

This article shares many very useful websites that students and teachers can use for Project Based Learning. Some of them, such as Google Docs, we have learned about in EDM 310, but there were several that I had never heard of such as Note App, and Linoit. This post taught me that the possibilities are endless when it comes to technology you can use in PBL, and it also taught me about many of the sites I could use in my future classroom. 

I think the main idea behind all of these articles and videos is that Project Based Learning is a wonderful thing, that teachers around the world should look into. Teachers and students can teach us so much about how to create meaningful PBL projects, how to get students excited, tools you can use to enrich your lessons, and so much more. 

Cartoon of a girl doing a PBL project.

Thursday, October 9, 2014

Implications and Teaching Opportunities for Camera Use in Teaching and Learning

I got my first smart phone when I was in 10th grade, and since then, it never really leaves my side. I use it for calling people, texting, playing around on social media, e-mailing, playing games, reading the news, taking pictures, and so much more. People spend hours each day wasting time on their smart phones. They have come to be an essential tool for people, and teachers can no longer expect students to leave their phones at home. Instead of banning phones, educators should embrace them. They can be very useful in and out of the classroom.

One of the most useful things smart phones can do is accessing the internet. The web holds so much information, and it is always available to students. Many students don't have their own personal laptops, but most have cell phones. Letting students use their phones to do research could be very beneficial. Not only can you do research on your phone, you can also use the internet to connect to people around the world, as well as experts on all different topics. You can subscribe to news websites and get information about what's going on in your world, or you could look up videos to watch on the Civil War. The possibilities are endless. They don't end with what you can do on the internet though.

Most smart phones, if not all, have cameras. There are so many ways cameras could help students learn, all while being fun to use. For example, you could take photos of plant growth to document it, take pictures of as many nouns and verbs as you can think of, or take pictures of rhyming words. This doesn't even scratch the surface of what all you can do with a camera. For more ideas, check out 100 Ways to Use Digital Cameras, by Scholastic.
An iPhone taking a picture of a yellow flower.

Sunday, October 5, 2014

C4T#2

This week, I commented on Denise Krebs' blog, Dare to Care. In her post My World, Mrs. Krebs wrote about her picture of her world that she created on The Open University Create Your World. Her picture included many elements, some of which were a tree, wedding rings, two flowers, chalk, books, fruit, letters, and several other objects. Each object represented something in her life. For example, the two flowers represented her children, the wedding rings represented her marriage and her husband, and the tree represented Jesus, and how he brings shade to the world and stands over her puzzle piece of life. In my comment, I introduced myself and gave her the links to my class blog as well as the class blog. I told her that Jesus, family, reading, and teaching were some of my favorite things as well, and that we probably have a lot in common. I said that the website she used to create her picture was something that I would love to use when I graduate and become a teacher, and that kids would love to play with it. Lastly, I told her I enjoyed reading her blog.

The second time I commented on Denise Krebs' blog, I commented on her post, Reading About Learning, Brains and Metacognition. In this post, Mrs. Krebs discusses how it is important for children to think about thinking, which is also known as metacognition. This idea changed all of her teaching. She also discussed how it is important for kids to understand their brains, and how it can change the way they learn and deal with mistakes. She wrote that students should think of themselves as thinkers, and teacher should help them to do this through asking them questions and helping the students along. She also shared several links: Carol Dweck's Work on Mindsets, Whats Kids Should Know About Their Brains, and Mind/Shift. In my comment, I thanked her for sharing the links, and told her that I found the article, Whats Kids Should Know About Their Brains, to be very interesting. I told her that I thought it was a wonderful idea to teach students about their brains, and that it would motivate them to do better. I really enjoyed reading Denise Krebs' blog.
"Thinking is an essential part of learning... Indeed, if you are not thinking about what you are learning, you probably aren't learning." -Jim Knight

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Blog Post #8

What can we learn about teaching and learning from Randy Pausch?

Randy Pausch's Last Lecture holds so many wonderful life lessons. Personally, I was reminded that I need to be thankful for every day I am given on this earth, to love those around me, and to dream big. I also learned several things about teaching and learning.

In Randy's lecture, he told a story about assigning a 2 week project to his class, and being completely amazed at the results he got. He even stated that if he would have gotten the same results after giving the students a year to complete it, he would have given them all A's. This is a great example of how students will go above and beyond what you expect of them. The instructions for this project were very vague, and there were only two rules. Leaving so much room for the students to do whatever they want gives them the opportunity to be imaginative, think critically, and surpass expectations. I plan to use this in my classroom through Project Based Learning. Randy also talked about how he had a professor who pushed him, and helped him to become successful. A teacher plays a very important role in many children's lives. You can either push your students to be the best they can be and help them to get there, or accept mediocre work and not expect great things. Randy's professor is a great role model for all teachers. Educators should push students to succeed, and help them in any way that they can. I hope that I can inspire my future students like Andy was inspired.

Not only did I learn several things about teaching from Randy, I also learned about learning. Randy discussed "brick walls" several times throughout the lecture. Brick walls are problems you face when trying to achieve somethings. After listening to Randy talk about finding ways around these brick walls, I learned that life doesn't always give you the easiest hand, and you have to learn to work with what you get. Life is a never ending learning process. People are always learning, and you need to welcome all opportunities to gain new knowledge.

This lecture was very interesting, and it really opened my eyes to how important it is to enjoy today and spend time with those you love. You never know when you will lose someone or be the one who is lost. It is a great lecture for anyone to watch, but as a future educator I really appreciated many parts of it.
Randy Pausch with his wife and three children.

Thursday, October 2, 2014

Project #13

Our group chose to create a lesson plan about the Temperate Forest. Each day, the class will learn about a new topic concerning the forest: Plants, animals, weather, ways to conserve the forest, and the location. Each child can chose two topics from the 5 listed, and create a Popplet about them. 

Temperate Forest

Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Blog Post #7

How do we all become learners?

Before taking EDM 310, my experience with Project Based Learning was nonexistent. Sure, I had done projects before, but they always came after the lesson. Before I become a teacher, I have a lot to learn. I want to learn how to use technology more effectively and how to incorporate it into PBL lessons, which this class has helped me with so much already. I also plan on working on how I ask questions. I tend to ask close ended questions more often than open ended questions, so I want to improve my question asking skills. I don't think I will ever stop learning how to be a better teacher, so these are just a couple of the things I want to work on. I also think I have many strengths that will help me through my career. I am patient, and willing to learn knew things. Most importantly, I love kids, and am excited about learning.

An example of a QR Code.
How to make an audio QR Code.
This video explained how to make an audio QR Code, which I didn't have any idea how to do. She explained that you can use this for many things in the classroom. For example, some of the kindergarten teachers at her school made audio QR codes for the books their classes are reading. The students can then listen to the books before reading them.

iPad Reading Centers
From this video, I learned that students can record themselves reading on an iPad, and listen to it afterwards to self check their reading. This is a great strategy to help students improve on fluency. I would love to have this reading center in my classroom when I become a teacher.

Popplet with Ginger Tuck
This video explains how to use Popplet, which is a tool used for Project Based Learning. Ginger Tuck uses Popplet as one of her learning centers, and her kindergarten class can use it on their own. This video is a great example of how students are capable of using technology without hours of instruction. Through Mrs. Tuck's Popplet center, her students can practice their reading skills, typing skills, and learn how to use technology more effectively. This would be another great tool to use in the classroom.

AVL and Kindergarten Students
This video explained that the Alabama Virtual Library is a great tool for all age groups to use in the classroom. I learned that it can be used to research projects for PBL, and it can read the information to the students, so younger kids can use it as well.

Tammy Shirley Discovery Education Board Builder Moon Project and Mrs. Tassin 2nd Grade students share Board Builder Project Prior to watching these videos, I had never heard of Board Builder. These videos explained how to create a board, and how to use it. I learned that using this would be a great Project Based Learning lesson. You could use it for many subjects, such as science or writing. In the second video, it showed an example of a board two students had created. This would be a great tool to use for presentations.

iMovie Logo. Using iMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten
Throughout this course, I have learned that students of all ages are capable of using technology, but this video reinforced that. Michelle Bennett shared that kindergarten students can make iMovie book trailers, and teachers at her school actually have iMovie as a learning center that students can work with on their own. Elizabeth Davis summed up what all AVL can be used for, and how well elementary school students use it.

We All Become Learners
After watching this video, I learned that when using PBL as your teaching technique, not only are you a teacher, you are a student. Your students can teach you so many things about technology and many other topics if you're open to learning from them.