AP Bio Cell Communication Using Stop Motion

Thinking about how to learn concepts in a different way is always exhilarating and challenging.  Of course it's easier to read (or lecture) about the content and answer questions, but DOING seems to allow the content to be understood in greater detail.








Mrs. Vertz did an amazing job of transforming cell communication content into an active learning and creating opportunity.

See the details

Watch some video here, here, and here!

View a final product.

AP Biology Books For Elementary Students Using Book Creator

In the past, students have created books to read to elementary students via a hard cover book.  While this was an option this year, we also gave the students an option to use the Book Creator App.



The students traveled to one of our local elementary schools to read them this morning!

Cell Respiration Utilizing Explain Everything Project Options

In the past, our AP Biology teacher, Mrs. Vertz, would have students either draw and cut or find and cut out images that represent the elements from the cell respiration process.  Since our entire student body obtained iPads after our district roll out this week, we decided to utilize a more efficient method.

Our teacher created four slides that contained all of the elements using Explain Everything. Once the four slides were created by the instructor, the project ONLY was exported to Google Drive.  The link from Google Drive with the .xpl file was placed for student access on Canvas our LMS.

Students were prompted to "open in" the file from Canvas.  The option to open the file into Explain Everything was present.  The teacher created file became the students personal file in which they explained the process of Cell Respiration.  Once student audio and action were complete the video was exported to the camera roll.  The finished product on the camera roll was submitted as an assignment on Canvas.

...and all of this was so simple because students WERE NOT sharing iPads.  Blessed!



View how Spanish II teachers utilized this same process with students.

iPhone Photos to Google Plus Album to Google Site

The workflow for getting a slide show from an iPhone to a Google Site might be easier, but this is the process that our AP Biology teacher and I came up with.  The bottom line is that she wants to showcase many things they are doing in the class.  A Google Plus slideshow is the easiest way to embed this in a Google Site.

The workflow is below...

Google Site, Edit, Insert Google Plus Photo Album, Choose Album, Extra Large, Center the Google + Photo Album, Save

1.  Take photos with iPhone

2.  Google + Home

3.  Photos
4.  Click all photos

5.  Blue arrow on top left

6.  Blue Arrow

7.  Green Share button

8.  Google + on computer

9.  Photos

10.  Click arrow of pictures

11.  Move

12.  Choose album

13.  Should be in Google Site

VIEW THE WEB Album

VIEW THE SITE with slideshow

Google + Community For AP Biology Reviews

Earlier in the year, our AP Biology teacher, Mrs. Vertz, attempted to conduct an evening review session using Google Hangout.  It was ok, but at times the video lagged which caused some frustrations.  As we get closer to the AP Biology test in May, we have decided to incorporate the Google Plus Community as our method for posting pictures, discussion questions, and videos. Today, we used our personal iPhones or Android phones and classroom iPads to join the community and to post comments to questions.  The teacher also set up and event, which is scheduled for tonight at 8:30 P.M. Since the community members can respond Yes, No, Maybe, as to whether they will attend the session, Mrs. Vertz now has an indication as to the number of students that will be attending.  In addition, the community allows for students to return as much as they would like to look at the posted items.  Essentially, this could become her online learning management system.

View The Day's Activities


Impact On Students:
Collaboration:  Ideally, this community would allow for threaded discussions that would lead to deeper questions and deeper discussion among students and teachers.

iPads, iPhones, iPods, BYOD in Google Hangouts For AP Biology Review

Today, was a classic "go slow to go fast"!

Mrs. Vertz has decided that a Google Hangout would be the best tool for an "at home" review session. Prior to today's lesson, Mrs. Vertz walked through information for setting up personal accounts.  We spent an entire class period dedicated to setting up personal Gmail accounts.  We needed personal Gmail accounts so that Google Plus and Google Hangouts could handle more than one person.  Our district has decided that Google Plus will be enabled for teachers only.

The best way to connect students was for the teacher to search Google Plus for the exact email address that students created for their Google Personal Gmail.

The mobile devices connected for a number of students as well as personal computers on our network.  We did run into a few error messages for students when connecting to Google Hangouts.  This could be for a number of reasons which we are investigating.

Tonight, we have planned a practice Google Hangout.

Video Link



Impact On Students:
Collaboration: A review session is a perfect time for staff and students to pool their resources together to master a topic.  With Google Hangouts, many people can review together in the comforts of their own home or on the go!
Critical Thinking: Students will have questions and both students and staff will determine the best answer. With Google Hangouts, screens can be shared and therefore, resources can be shared!
Citizenship:  Students needed to create personal Google accounts.  Connecting with the proper students from the class was a lesson that forced students to choose the correct contact.