Project 14

Group 1: Our World

We created a project that would allow a group of students to learn about a individual planet that was assigned to the group. This project is going to be conducted over a week period. We devised a plan were they get to incorporate a Google slide presentation and a visual aid of their planet as a group on Friday. They also get to watch a fun movie at the beginning of the project that is about the planets. They are going to being conducting research as a group and answering a set of five questions about their planet that was found off of ALEX.

C4K Summary for October

1. 10/5/2014
Trinity , 6th Grade in Mrs. Rivera class wrote about tornados. She stated that tornados could also be called," twisters, dust devils, whirlwinds, waterspouts, and cyclones". She also said that when a tornado was based on a F-scale. This ranks the tornado according to their speed.
I replied with an experience that I had as a kid with a tornado and how scary it can be.

2.10/12/2014
Brett S., 7th Grade, Mrs. Ripp's class wrote about a book he read called waffles. Their was a character named Carlye (main character) and her mom which was in the hospital. He said that they did not have a good relationship. He also said that Carlye was a negative thinker. He did a great job of grabbing my attention.
I replied with telling him that he did a great job grabbing my attention and describing the main character.

3. 10/19/2014
Claire, 3rd Grade, Ms. Eisenberg wrote a paragraph about herself entitled, Presenting the Amazing Claireziny! All About Me. She gave me a brief description of herself. She is 8 years old, has 2 siblings, 2 pets, lives in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and loves Harry Potter and The book called Number the Stars.
I replied with telling her a little about myself because we were very similar in some things. I also told her that she did a good job descripting herself in one paragraph. I then suggested a book for her to read that I read at her age and loved. She replied by telling me that she already had.

4. 10/26/2014
Kyan, 6th Grade, Mr. Somerville class wrote about Being Fit. He stated things like exercise keeps your body strong and fit, exercise regularly, exercise makes you look and feel better, helps you sleep and relax, and that the body produces chemicals called endorphins which go to your brain.
I replied by telling him he did a great job and researched the subject very well.

Blog Post 10

What Can We learn from Mrs. Cassidy?

I would first take her advice and start with what I find interesting, whether it be movies, photo sharing, or writing. Since being in Dr. Strange's class I really enjoy the blogging would probably be the choice I would go with. I really think it is amazing what kids are capable of doing. Mrs. Cassidy said she only used her computers in the classroom maybe once a week, depending on the class. She makes the parents sign a permission slip making sure it is ok that their child is on the computer. She also takes extra precautions by not only not allowing the kids to use their last name, she don't use the correct picture for the correct kid(which I didn't think of, but is very smart). She stated that, "some teachers feel that their methods are working so my change". You should want to change because technology is here to stay, and "you are handicapping the kids if they do not use technology". Another reason I also did not think of that she said was when you write papers in class you typically only have one audience, when you blog the whole world is your audience. It is very powerful to the kids to know that other people all over the world could be and are seeing their post. Have online networks to help you with ideas.

If I was to add blogging into my classroom one day I would change it a little from Mrs. Cassidy. I think I would blog more than just once a week. Technology is becoming such a vital part of kids learning these days that I might even expand it to more than just blogs. I'm not really sure how using technology in my classroom would hurt my class other than something's not being visual/physical. I think with younger kids like kindergarten(the grade I want to teach) would want more hands on learning more than just playing with a compute all the time. Sometimes is ok but not all the time. But I think technology would benefit me and my future students way more than hinder us Like I said earlier I am so amazed at what kids are doing with technology already, that I would be curious what else they could do with it. If I was able to incorporate blogging or something into my classroom I think I would use her idea in how she keeps the identity of the kids hide as best as possible. That was a really smart idea that can protect kids from things that could be lurking out there. I also think I might find better ways in keeping the kids from bad websites that might appear, or explain it a little different than she did. But other than that she presented a good way to start using technology in a classroom, and I will definitely use some of her techniques.

Project 12 part A

Blog Post 9

Seven Essentials for Project Based Learning

• A very good project needs

           1. A Need to know (tutorial of beach)
                 A.Ex. Asking students about an experience they might of
                     had with contaminated waters.
                    Then let them share with the class to engage them into the project.
           2. A Driving Question
                 A. Captures heart of project
                 B. provocative, open-ended, complex, and linked to the core of what
                     you want the students to learn
            3. Student Voice and Choice
                 A. letting them choose how they want to do the project lets the
                      project feel meaningful to the students
                 B. The more voice and choice, the better
             4. 21st Century Skills
                 A. evaluate how the group is working together with a rubric
                      created by the group
                 B. Boost Collaboration Skills
                     - team building skills
                     - practice oral presentation skills and learn to produce videos and podcast
                     - etc.
              5. Inquiry and Innovation
                  A. As a class they came up with more driving questions to investigate and answer
                  B. Students seem more interested if they conduct a real inquiry
                      -Inquiry- follow trail that begins with their driving question .
                             Leads to search and discovery of answers
              6. Feedback and Revision
                  A. critiques from teacher and peers
                  B. feedback makes the students want to create a better project to present
              7. A Publicly Presented Project
                  A. invite parents, peers, and community members to a exhibition night
                  B. schoolwork is more meaningful when presented to a "real" audience

Project Based Learning for Teachers

• Has students working over an extended period of time on a driving question
• The question is deep and requires a finished product to be shared with others
• Students learn all kind of collaboration skills
• Students take charge of their learning in PBL

Project Based learning and Physical Education
This shows that PBL can be in presented in any subject. You can always find a way to engage students. Project based learning seems to be more of the efficient way to engage students in a activity in classrooms now days. Step outside of the box and create a project where students can have a voice and a choice and let them run with it(while under not so strict guidelines). As in this particular subject they got another part of the school involved. Make the kids feel like what they are doing has a meaning behind it and they will give efforts that we might have never seen before.



Two Students Solve the Problem of Watery Ketchup By Designing a New Cap
BRAINSTORM!! Come up with all kind of ideas (not just one) for a project. Things are not always going to work the first time but keep trying, you will succeed. This video was another example of voice and choice. The guys chose to do research on a ketchup bottle, how much more of a random idea can you get? But they answered their driving question and were very pleased with their final product.


10 Sites Supporting Digital Classroom Collaboration in Project Based Learning
Times are changing and things and people are evolving. We do not really use books for a means of research like we did 10 years ago. Having multiple ways for finding information in a great use for project based learning. Collaboration seems to be a key essence of how you need to be as a teacher and a learner in a classroom in the 21st century.

Blog Post 8

What Can We Learn about Teaching and Learning from Randy Pausch?

I am going to start off with saying that I thoroughly enjoyed watching this video. Randy is a great example of a man that honestly loves their job. I can only hope that I have the determination and the will to keep moving forward as he does.

I think one thing that I found very interesting that Randy said was "let kids have their dreams, do not crush them. Let their imagination go because childhood dreams can come true". He presented and idea called "Head fake". For example you are just playing a game on the computer but in reality you might be actually creating a idea for Alice in wonderland (in this case). You can make it where kids are having fun while learning something hard.
    While in a interview for college, the dean gave him feedback that was a bit harsh. But instead of arguing back he toke it in. Randy said, "get someone to become self reflective". Take the comments and change what might be needed to change. Do not get offensive, the person whether it be others teachers or principal or maybe even parents take them into consideration not into a fight.
    Throughout the whole sermon he keep the audience awake. They laughed the whole time. As a teacher you can not be a boring teacher. You need to keep the kids awake and engaged. Use  project based learning in class room, this helps keeping the kids engaged. Take them on field trips, make fun games in class, or whatever you desire. "Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted". "Have hope", Randy said, you always need to keep going and never get up. Always help others, focus on others and not yourself, and most of all have fun! Make each class a unforgettable moment.
     Through out Randy's whole sermon he talked about a brick wall. "Brick walls are their for a reason, they let us prove how badly we want something". They are their to show our dedication. Everything that can go wrong will go wrong, just keep going, never give up. "Never lose the childlike wonder, its to important". It is what drives us to keep going. You can not get their alone, always ask for help when you need it.

Randy Pausch Video

Project 9

I am so proud of my group. We worked very hard on this project and it took us forever to get it right. But I'm glad we got it done! I think this is the first project that we truly worked as group and enjoyed recording ourselves. It was rather funny trying to get it done, we had a good laugh. I hope you enjoy!!

Project 13

Lesson plan: as a group (group 1) we came up with ideas for the lesson plan. We choose to do 3rd grade math as our subject. Here is what we came up with:


Group Rubric
Mathematics Lesson Plan
Checklist

Blog Post 7

How do we all become learners?

When planning a lesson with project based learning, I need to find ways to find subjects that can create projects, activities, and ways of engaging my future students. I think it will be fairly easy to find or make activities that are project based learning approved. I will not know till I am in a classroom how difficult it may or may not be to keep the kids attention. Finding ways to keep their attention and the way they learn is going to be a challenge because I have to watch and learn how the kids learn and what interest them. I will also need to find ways to incorporate technology into my lessons to. Technology is the future of the teaching world.




1. How to make an audio QR code
 Go to www.record.MP3.org to record yourself talking. A lot of teachers will record themselves reading a story and play it back for the students. This kind of makes the teacher become a tutor. When you begin recording, do not start talking till you get to 1. Click save recording that then creates you a URL. Then go to www.qrcode-monkey.com to create a QR code. Then put the code into word, duplicate it and save. Parents should get a free QR code scanner online.

2. IPad Centers
In the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iezQjGbTpm0&feature=youtu.be the teacher has created different stations for the students to participant in. The particular station in this video is called the IPad center. She has the students setup the IPad where it will record them reading a story. They then play it back and listen to themselves reading, where they can then correct themselves in the process.

3.  Poplet as a center
 The teacher created a station for the students where they used the iPads. She had a app called Poplet. The teacher would find books that where on the kids grade level that were about different careers. IN this video the kids choose a book about veterinarians. They would put the title in the center of the poplet. Then they would proceed to take pictured from the book and place them in the web. They would add a description of the picture. This station also them to read the book but also work on their typing skills.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ophIZhNs2s4

4.  Alabama Virtual Library as a Kindergarten center
The teacher allowed the kids to log on to the Alabama Virtual Library app. They click onto student resources then elementary schools. They type in the search engine the category they are looking up, in this case it is bicycle. The students research about bicycles an watch/listen to videos or just audio. They then draw a picture of the item they looked up. The following week they write a sentence with there picture.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wvgz8efzKLA&feature=youtu.be

5. Mrs. Shirley's 1st grade class: How to use and build a board in DE for project based learning
The students created a PDL about the moon. They watched a video about the moon and wrote down facts. They then proceeded to make a board, choose a background, and titled it. Add facts about the moon as well as a video or image. The students added narratives about an adventure to the moon. Then Karley(the student) shows us how to find pictures or images to add to their board. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bS7DMH7FqXE&feature=youtu.be

6.Students Sharing Board Builders Part 1
These to young boys shared with us their board about whales. They took a virtual field trip to glacier national park in Alaska. They found their pictures for their board on safari and saved them to the computer. They are from Gulf Shores Elementary. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TyrmP3OL18&feature=youtu.be

7. Students Sharing Board Builders Part 2
These three girls are showing us their small board about The Haven. They are collecting money for the animals. Their driving questing was, "why is it important to collect loose change for haven." They looked up on safari an found big vocabulary words on a website. They also found their images on safari. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LxAs2ffAysQ&feature=youtu.be

8. Using IMovie and the Alabama Virtual Library in Kindergarten: July 7, 2014
Students in elementary are using IMovie just like the College students in Dr. Strange's college class. The students are eager and engaged in the movie making process. They do not want to quit. Dr. Strange's class has problems with wanting to be so engaged, they are just ready to get it over with. The teachers do not completely show the kids how to work IMovie, they will just give them the basic mechanics. AVL allows students to be engage an research things that interest them. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRNvyhTmcck

9. We all become learners
Using devices changes the dynamics of teachers teaching students, students teaching students, and students teaching us. Everyone in a classroom are teachers and learners. The elderly lady shared an experience with us that one day in class she was unsure of how to use the camera in a certain app. A kindergarten student came up to her very serious an told her, "I know what to do, ill show you". She also talked about students learning how to use poplet by taking pictures of themselves and posting them. WE ALL BECOME LEARNERS! When going to Gulf Shores Elementary School the students are always eager to show you their work. Some teachers can and will rely on their students to teach them the new dynamites technology.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v5TAWgwv9O4

Project 8 Book Trailer

Project 7 part A

My Sentence is....

Implications and Teaching Opportunities for Camera Use in Teaching and Learning

Other facts about cell phones:

1. One in ten children are getting mobile phones by the age of 5(Theguardian)
2. Most kids have phones by 11
3. 62% of parents are concerned that they are not able to fully monitor everything their child is doing and seeing on the phone(Edudemic)

   Cell phones have good and bad place in the classroom. They can be beneficial because students and teachers can use them to research, projects, calculators, and even putting in important dates of when things are due. Even though we want to believe that kids and teacher are using phones in a classroom for good use, but they are not. Texting for teachers and students is a distraction. Like Dr. Strange stated on EDM310 Blog 87% of people say their smartphone does not leave their side.
   
    This generation of people pretty much do not know how to live without their cell phones or ipads. Toddlers in the 21st century know how to operate technology now days better than some people. Just like elementary students are able running a successful blog and college students struggle with the same thing. My point is students and teachers are going to have cell phones weather we like it or not, so teachers might as well make good use of the distraction. Find activitys that can engage them to find things with technology.

Edutopia has some great ideas for incorporating iPads into a elementary classroom. Educational apps where students can practice their math skills. or practice reading. I think I would like to add things like this into my future classroom by adding into my lesson plan 20 or 30 minutes a day of fun time for the kids. They could get on the computers or iPads if the school I will work at has them. Allowing them only games that are dealing with educational purposes. Depending the grade I ending up teaching I might be able to come up with some sort of project they can do similar to the book trailer that we created in this class.  I am not sure if it will be possible, but assuming that most kids that i might end up teaching will have a cell phone. I might could have speed drills with them. I could ask them a question and whomever finds it the fastest gets a prize. The younger generation are learning many skills from technology these days that they enjoy being able to be on these devices. My little sister is 8 and in the second grade. I do not think they have yet advanced to using iPads in the classroom but she loves using her iPad at home. Its amazing what kids can do at that age with technology. 

Project #3 Presentation

C4K: Septmeber

It amazes me what children can and are doing these days in school. I read 2 students blogs. One named Lorenzo and his post was about a book he had read called "La Luna". He described a sunset in so many words. He actually created a picture in my mind. He did a great job!

My most recent student that I read from was Trinity. She is a 6th grader in Mrs. Rivera class. She read a book called Tornados. I never knew that a tornado could be called so many names. Thanks to her she showed me this.

I enjoyed reading from both of the kids that I read from. They are doing such a great job on there blog, I can only hope that I will be able to do what they are doing when I finish this class. They make it seem so easy! Good luck kids!

Project 15

Search Engines

Definition: Yahoo

1. A software program that searches a database and gathers and reports information that contains or is related to specified terms.
2. A website whose primary function is providing a search engine for gathering and reporting information available on the Internet or a portion of the Internet.

 

1. Wolframalpha

    This site allows you solve math problems, and facts about all kind of things. For instance definitions of words, and tons of movies and their descriptions. When you log onto wolframalpha there is a search bar, just type what you want to know about a particular thing or math problem and it will help you with that answer. I have never heard of this website before, but it seems that it might useful in certain things when I get stuck or need a quick references of a word.

2. Facebook
    Facebook is a social network that allows you to connect with people all over the word. You can interact with them anytime you want. Just type in the persons name or just a letter will do and all sorts of people with that name will pop up. Facebook will also allow you to be connected with your favorite stores, movies, or hobbies. They will show you updates on anything they decide to post.
I personally like having a Facebook. It keeps me connected with friends that I don't always get to see, or classmates when I need information.

3. Bing
    This is very large search engine. This particular one can find just about anything you want it to find. It allows you to search for different websites that pertain to the subject you are looking for. Bing is a very easy and successful search engine and is used world wide. I have not really used bing that much, but it seems to work just fine for what I need it to do.

4. Ebay
   If you are looking for all sorts of items to purchase online, this is the place. You can buy or sell on Ebay for typically lower prices than the store has the product. Just type what you are looking for into the search box and it will provide you with all sorts of options. I think Ebay is a great way for people to get there product out there, I use Ebay all the time and will continue to use it.

5. Wikipedia
  Wikipedia is a encyclopedia online. It covers many subjects such as people, movies, and historic events. This search engine can provide you with dates that may be needed for a project or just for someone's curiosity. I like this website a lot, it has always seemed to give me quick and easy facts about things I am looking for.

6. YouTube
 One very popular search engine is YouTube. Used for searching music videos/lyrics, short movie clips, news events, and just plain funny things. This site is used all the time. People tend to think it is funny to post videos of themselves doing stupid things, even though they are not the ones laughing in the end. I use YouTube on on occasion from time to time, and it typically finds me what I need. I find it a useful site for the entertainment industry.

7. Yahoo
Yahoo is another world wide search engine that can be used in the place of bing or Google, just a matter of preface. Can be used to find other sites on the subject you are looking for. It can be used also to show you updates on the news and sports events. I like yahoo better than bing, but sometimes yahoo does not provide all the information I need.

8. Yellow Pages
 Yellow pages will allow you to find people with their address and/or their phone number. Yellow pages has evolved greatly over the years. It use to be this big yellow book with yellow pages(hints the name) with people and businesses near you, now they are able to move with technology and find you way more than what is just in your surrounding areas. Yellow pages is very useful when trying to find someone or some place. It has helped people for many years and will continue for many more.