In spending more time in our high school Sociology class with Mrs. Krause, we have experienced a few "Show What You Know" learning opportunities with the iPad as the technology tool of choice. We've already used Popplet as a tool on the iPad to "Check For Understanding".
As we approach the traditional "final exam" period which comes at the end of Semester 1, we will not be conducting the multiple choice, true/false, essay exam. Instead, students will be analyzing all of the content they discovered over one semester and apply that to their life. We are focusing on taking one or two concepts that spoke to the students. Students will then take these concepts and demonstrate how it has impacted their life.
To do this we are incorporating a "presentation" method of PechaKucha. Truthfully, until TIES 2015 and Ben Friesen's introduction, I had not heard of this presentation method. Discover the history behind PechKucha or see one of many examples.
Of course, readers of iPaddiction know we are focused on creation and workflow utilizing iPads. In other words, how are we going to create a PechaKucha on the iPad?
Explain Everything is going to be our tool of choice. Placing one image or a collage of images on a stage while recording is easy. Since we are modifying the PechaKucha format slightly (using 10 slides x 20 seconds each vs. 20 slides x 20 seconds each) Explain Everything's visible clock while recording is SO helpful. Students will record each slide for 20 seconds.
Their thoughts. 20 Seconds. Don't Go Over!
Also, if students error while recording one slide, the entire presentation is not ruined. Students simply rerecord the slide that is incorrect.
Another awesome feature to Explain Everything is the feature of easy access, viewing, copying, and moving of each stage (slide). Ten slides are needed. Since we have used Explain Everything before, it will be very easy for students to create and arrange the slides according to their needs.
Once students create, arrange, and record each slide to their liking, students will export the video to the camera roll. Students will then "submit" this video as their assessment to Canvas which is our Learning Managment System. Students will view each other's creations. While students are watching presentations, students will be engaged in a discussion utilizing Canvas' Discussion option. We provided them with a rubric and guidance.
My PechaKucha example to the students is below.
Option:
- Have students create each slide with silence and have students speak in front of the class while their "silent movie" is running on the screen.
Images from our "recording day" are HERE.
- Students in our Spanish II class are utilizing the PechaKucha speaking option. Due to the "second language" concept, students are being given the "leveling up" option. This option gives an "exceeds expectations" status to the presentation if note cards are not used. If note cards are used, a "meets expectations" status is given. We feel that with the added element of speaking in a second language students should have the opportunity to have note cards. It is our hope, however, that they will be used sparingly.
Reflection:
I am so impressed with our students and the presentations they have conducted. The fact that the "slides" kept moving motivated the students to talk to the audience as opposed to reading cards. Students also needed to "think on their feet" if they finished early on a particular slide or "fill in" if they finished early. There was also REAL connection from concepts in Sociology to their life.
That's what we want!
Students applying knowledge gained to life experiences. The PechaKucha format really provided a great medium for students to "Show What They Know".
