Raider Strong Episode 001: Aaron Sperduto [Podcast]

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In this episode, Mr. Aaron Sperduto kicks off the new Raider Strong Podcasts as the first host.  Mr. Sperduto impacts our school by not only teaching a wide variety of art mediums, drawing, painting, pottery, and photography, he also serves as the yearbook advisory.

In addition, Mr. Sperduto is our head boys and girls tennis coach.

Mr. Sperduto is passionate about working with kids and realizes that teaching is a natural fit for him.  When he is not in school, you will find him outside enjoying hunting, snowmobiling and anything to do with nature.

Why Are We Creating Podcasts?
Our AP Environmental Science teacher will be listening to and creating podcasts in May 2017 based on an item of interest.  I needed to understand the workflow and found a purpose: introducing our great staff to the world! Discover the details!

Have a Suggestion?
Do you want to be interviewed (It Takes Five Minutes) or know someone in the #RaiderStrong community that should be interviewed, let us know!

Subscribe to the Podcast:
If you enjoyed listening to this podcast, please subscribe on iTunes!  I would really appreciate you leaving a review as this grows.  I want our podcast show to be #RaiderStrong

The Sketchnote Process

One of the twenty-four Google Slide templates serves as the backdrop for explaining Sketchnotes to students. Sketchnoting is a process that I started about two years ago.  It wasn't until the implementation of the Flex Mod schedule and true designation of "large group instruction" time, that I found a place for Sketchnoting.  Now, I am certain that Sketchnoting will fit into a student's life.

After extensive reading, speaking with educators, and practicing, I believe Sketchnoting can be and should be a tool used often in a student's educational life.  Whether completed using paper and pencil or a tremendous art app (Paper 53 now free) which is included in my "Top Tech Tool" infographic, the process can truly revolutionize one's ability to remember concepts.

A presentation intended for teachers and students on the "Art of Sketchnoting".  It will take about 25 minutes to share all the information with students or adults.  Consider giving students or staff a blank piece of 8.5" x 11" paper to "sketchnote" the presentation.  It's a great eye opener to see how the notes start with all words and progresses to images and words as the end of the presentation draws near.
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Eighth Grade Student Examples
As Mrs. Hoffmann, one of our middle school art teacher, stated,
"My 8th graders today really enjoyed it and wished that their other teachers would do this and actually give them time to do this because their teachers just rush through everything so they feel they have to write everything."

iBooks Author for Publishing Student Photography Books

Today, was the culmination of hours of planning.  We introduced the students to iBook Author as they are going to create a chapter in our class photography book.

About two months ago, Mr. Sperduto and I, determined the digital workflow for students submitting photographs on a weekly basis through Google Drive.

Now that all of the six student pictures have been taken, students are creating an interactive book using iBooks Author.  Because this was our district's first attempt at using iBook Author, I created the iBooks Author template (can only be viewed on a Mac loaded with iBook Author) so that "image place holders" were used for "drag and drop" photo placement.
Watch how the learning environment took place...


We completed this learning activity because

• we wanted a medium for students to publish photographs outside of the classroom
• our Art Department received an iMac lab
• students used Photoshop on the Mac

I would like to thank the iBooks Author Google Community for the tremendous help and insight to get this idea off the foundation.  I would like to especially thank:

• Anthony DiLaura
• Julie Willcott
• Cyndi Danner-Kuhn
• Katie Morrow
• Steve Dickie
• Peter Pappas - tremendous resource (s)

I would also like to thank Mr. Sperduto for allowing this idea to develop into reality.  It was truly awesome co-teaching with him and to see students formulating a book with their photographs.

Photography iBooks Author Template

Photography Final Products Fall 2014 (File Must Be Downloaded)


Creativity: student photography and placement in their book

Digital Workflow in High School Photography

It took some time, but we were able to determine a "turn in" folder for our photography students that meets all the criteria for efficient digital workflow.  We are using iMacs and Google Drive.  Some items that needed to be considered

• Teacher able to view all pictures from students
• Students not able to view other student pictures online
• Method for students KNOWING the teacher received their picture
• Assignment organization
• Student organization
• Class organization

Learn More About It

Art Teacher Present In Content Area Via Video

I really appreciate Mrs. Hoffmann using the power of technology to meet the needs of teachers and students to understand new concepts.

From Sara Hoffmann, Middle School Art Teacher

It seems to be a common theme among teachers that they want their kids to know how to draw PEOPLE either correctly or cartoonish.  So I did a step by step for figure drawing video...the quality is a bit better and I'm getting better at editing too.

We teach figure drawing as a 7th grade project in art, but now art is an elective in 7th grade...so not everyone gets to learn how, so this is great that they can learn quickly through my video.

Art Integration Into Content Area Through Video Casting

Mrs. Hoffman approached me last week to gain ideas of how to be in more than one place at a time.  As she  explained content area teachers want to incorporate art concepts with students and really needed her help in discussing how to draw cartoon characters.

Our solution was to use her IPEVO camera as her video device while using Screencast-o-matic to record her actions and voice. She placed her recorded video clip in Windows Movie Maker and added a text graphic. We then posted it to her YouTube channel by uploading it which serves as the vehicle to host and access the video.

Using this process, Mrs. Hoffman can be in multiple classrooms while she is still teaching her own art content.  Hear her reaction and see her production!