Thursday, November 29, 2012
MS/ HS Tech Tools Presentation
Here is the copy of the MS/ HS Tech Tools Presentation. We went through some great ways to integrate video in the classroom, ways to store useful classroom videos on playlists, as well as many great FREE video resources.
Elementary iPad Presentation
Last week I was able to do a presentation for the Elementary Staff. Here is the copy of some of the things we visited about and some great apps for the iPad too!
Projects vs. Project-Based Learning
Although the "discovery" lessons that I had to do while at SDSU were by far the most challenging of any lesson for me, once I got into the classroom the concept of Project Based Learning was something I was able to really enjoy. But, it made more sense to me when I was actually in the classroom. It was still very challenging to "let go" and "give the reigns" to the students and I surely made many mistakes during the process. Some technology resources, though, really allowed me to set up the Project-Based Learning Plan more easily.
So, I start today with a chart that you may want to check out: http://www.friedtechnology.com/2012/11/whats-difference-between-doing-projects.html
The chart talks about the difference between "Projects" and "Project-Based Learning". Here are some examples that were most interesting to me:
Projects: Project-based Learning:
| Are closed: every project has the same goal. (As in the example above, the end result is always The Alamo.) | Is open: students make choices that determine the outcome and path of the research. |
| Cannot be used in the real world to solve real problems. | Could provide solutions in the real world to real problems even though they may not be implemented. |
| Are not particularly relevant to students’ lives. | Is relevant to students’ lives or future lives. |
| Do not resemble work done in the real world. | Is just like or closely resembles work done in the real world. |
| Do not include scenarios and background information or are based on events that have already resolved. | The scenario or simulation is real or if it is fictitious, is realistic, entertaining, and timely. |
| Are sometimes based around a tool for the sake of the tool rather than of an authentic question. (Make a Prezi.) | Use technology, tools, and practices of the real world work environment purposefully. Students choose tools according to purposes. |
| Are often graded based teacher perceptions that may or may not be explicitly shared with students, like neatness. | Is graded based on a clearly defined rubric made or modified specifically for the project. |
Here are some resources that may help you to accomplish Project-Based Learning (or possibly create your own Common Core Performance Tasks as well):
1) Google Sites (https://sites.google.com/) will allow you to create your own site and have links, videos, images and other information online for you to direct students toward. You can also have students create their own sites to store and share information during a project. If you are interested in setting up your own Google Site, please let me know and I will be happy to help.
2) The Open Culture Free Resource List (http://www.openculture.com/free_k-12_educational_resources) completely made my day. What is better than an organized, free list of resources? These would be great resources to share with or link on your website for students to use.
3) The National Archives is a regular on my Google Reader with the Historical Document of the day, but there are also more resources on there that are great for interactive learning through historical documents. (http://docsteach.org/tools) This site will allow you to create your own account, build an activity for comprehension, analyzation or connection building with historical documents. Also, do not limit this to Social Studies class, you can find historical connections about theories, events, or scientific discoveries as well. Don't forget, if you ever need to find a primary document to delineate, the National Archives probably has a copy for you.
4) EasyBib (http://easybib.com/) is a way for students to create MLA Style Bibliography pages to document all of the resources used in the project. We all know there is a lot of bogus information out there... Have you ever heard of the Tree Octopus? (http://zapatopi.net/treeoctopus/) And, EasyBib may not tell students for sure if a resource is legitimate or not, but it will surely make them think more about it as they put in the publisher, date and author and create a Bibliography while working on their project.
5) iPad Apps for creation at the Elementary Level are also great for project-based learning. I reviewed many last Friday, so I will include the link to these again. goo.gl/kCp9m These are apps that are on the iPads right now for you to use. If you have questions, please let me know and I will be glad to help. If you have any more, please share with us! I would like to add as many great apps on the iPads as possible.
6) Rubistar http://rubistar.4teachers.org/ is a great resource when you are stuck on a rubric idea. I am a big fan of rubrics and I think that as we head toward project-learning and common core performance tasks, they will be even more important to the classroom.
I hope you have a great day and please let me know if you have any questions or I can help you try something new!
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Manifest Destiny
http://michaelporath.com/projects/manifest-destiny/#overview
This is good site with some cool maps of the Story of the US Told in 141 Maps in regard to the concept of Manifest Destiny. I'm not sure which of you teach this, but I thought you might be interested.
Have a great day!
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Common Core Resources
Good morning! South Dakota is part of the Smarter Balanced Consortium and there are multiple resources here below from the Smarter Balanced Consortium as well as other state's education agencies. I am with the Student Council tomorrow, but please let me know if there is anything I can do to help you this upcoming week.
The set of 15 iPads will be in Lisa Brandt's Room until January 3rd. All teachers in all grades have the option of turning in an application, including teachers that have already submitted applications. You may turn them in at any time prior to January 3rd.
There are 25 iPads in my office that you can use at any time. Check them out at: tinyurl.com/deuelipad The checkout is an online excel spreadsheet. On the bottom of the page are sheets labeled with the date. You click on the sheet and then add your name to the time and day you want to check out the iPads. Please email me or stop in if there is anything specific you want on the iPads. Right now there are many elementary level interactive books, math flashcards, math story problems, telling time/ clock apps, edmodo, and also many productivity apps for all levels. There are hundreds of apps that we can rotate on an off the iPads for your students!
The email app on all the iPads has a "Deuel Student" gmail on it. You can send students' documents or links to this email address and they can be opened on any of the 25 iPads.
Smarter Balance Consortium Sample Tasks and Exemplars:
Sample Performance Tasks and Text Exemplars from other resources:
http://readingandwritingproject.com/resources/assessments/performance-assessments.html (Click on the year to expand the links and download.)
Video: http://vimeo.com/39784324 This video is somewhat an overview for California educators, but it is a good place to start. As California is one of the governing states for the Smarter Balanced consortium, this video has more relevance to the history of common core.
Also, if you are an iPad user, I'd recommend downloading the Common Core App as an easy to read/ find/ manage the somewhat cumbersome inch-think printout of your Math or Reading standards. http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/common-core-standards/id439424555?mt=8
If you want to really explore Common Core, the CA DOE set up an online course the teachers' took as part of their training. I really think it helps to explain the differences of the standards and also some of the basics of how they are set up.
Have an awesome weekend!
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