As we increase the amount of apps that go on our iPad2, there are some times when we get to a class period and the app does not appear on the students' iPad2. For whatever reason, it just isn't there!
Due to this issue, we have developed an easy way for students to report issues with their iPads so that they can be fixed. Once the issue is reported, the app is synced as soon as time permits.
I'm sure the method may go digital at some point, but for now it is an easy way to fix the problems.
After students report the issue on the board, they check out a new iPad for that activity.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Freddy Fraction & Frac Factory
We took 10 minutes to complete a fraction warm up before multiplying fractions.
Student Review:
Student Review:
U.S. Historical Documents and QR Codes
QR codes are a great resource for getting students additional digital information. We attempted a QR code mathematical scavenger hunt at the beginning of the year. We have also used QR codes for morning announcements. Both procedures using QR codes seemed to engage the students and the scavenger hunt was relatively successful in that students were able to find mathematical concepts throughout our school.
QR codes presented themselves as a great tool for our U.S. Historical Document activity. Students were to "discover America's history through U.S. historical documents". We did incorporate our OLD textbook into the activity, but included three (3) minute or less videos that we found on YouTube. These videos allowed for additional, more informative information than a small paragraph in a textbook.
The document that was given to students is found HERE.
Positives:
QR codes presented themselves as a great tool for our U.S. Historical Document activity. Students were to "discover America's history through U.S. historical documents". We did incorporate our OLD textbook into the activity, but included three (3) minute or less videos that we found on YouTube. These videos allowed for additional, more informative information than a small paragraph in a textbook.
The document that was given to students is found HERE.
Positives:
➽ The videos were chosen due to their length (tried for less than 3 min)
➽ Some of the videos were formal, some were informal
➽ Allowed for students to see reenactments of famous speeches or historical events
➽ QR codes sent students directly to the YouTube on the iPad2 which looks stunning.
➽ Opened up the content to more than a paragraph or a page from our textbook
Negatives
➽ 4 pages per packet for 50 students = 200 pages of paper that needed to be copied
The process:
The process:
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
U.S. Historical Documents App from Standard Works LLC
Our use of the app...
Student interviewing student and reviewing the app's bookmarking features.
Student interviewing student and reviewing the app's bookmarking features.
Team Building Activity
We have really worked on being a productive citizen in our classroom society. Which at times, means we need to go slow, to learn fast. We took about 35 minutes to conduct another team building activity.
See the idea below.
We then completed a writing prompt found here. Students were able to TWEET or BLOG as a response.
See the idea below.
We then completed a writing prompt found here. Students were able to TWEET or BLOG as a response.
✔12 students tweeted
✔12 students left comments on our classroom blog
✔23 students created their own blog post.
Positives:
Positives:
✔All video below was shot with an iPad
✔The ability to return to the classroom to reflect via everyone on a digital device with the opportunity to respond was beneficial.
Negative:
✔Would like to have students conduct the filming and production of video.
✔Would like to have students develop the writing prompt.
✔Would like to have students interview other students on the experience
In due time, students will have their own YouTube account which will facilitate turning the negatives into positives.
Friday, November 11, 2011
PaperPort Notes Improvement From Noterize
Yesterday, I discovered that our often used Noterize App (see blog post) has changed to PaperPort Notes.
Positive Changes:
Positive Changes:
►If you use PaperPort Anywhere - you now can obtain a document from the Cloud
►Obtain a "File or Snapshot from Web" Great for putting writing or images on class blog and having the students get "screen shots" so that they can mark it up. Not new, but new to our class
►Image from Camera - this is the item that I am excited about. Students will be able to take a picture of their work if we choose to do the work in our notebook and mark it up. Students will also be able to take pictures of group whiteboard work and mark it up.
I hope that the Nuance Company continues to update and improve this app as it is a well used tool in my classroom.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
PCSD - Model Classroom Teacher Work Day
I appreciate the fact that after almost three months our seven teachers are meeting today to discuss successes, failures, and the future.
➽ Successes
➽ Challenges
➽ Collaborating Time
➽Resources Learned
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Gmail Filter
Today, in our Wall Street 2 Wisconsin class, we viewed all of the E*Trade Baby Commercials to see just how easy they make it seem when investing stocks.
We also reviewed the "fine print" that E*Trade puts down about
No Bank Guarantee
Money May Lose Value
After this, I wanted students to send an email with thoughts as to whether they could invest their own money in real life. In order to have all of their emails skip my inbox, I created a filter in Gmail.
Written Directions
Video:
Small change:
New way to access the settings is to click the gear button and get to settings.
The process worked beautifully as I received 20 emails in my designated folder from students.
Easy to grade and sorted!
We also reviewed the "fine print" that E*Trade puts down about
No Bank Guarantee
Money May Lose Value
After this, I wanted students to send an email with thoughts as to whether they could invest their own money in real life. In order to have all of their emails skip my inbox, I created a filter in Gmail.
Written Directions
Video:
Small change:
New way to access the settings is to click the gear button and get to settings.
Students Using Email
Be sure to tell the students the exact criteria that you are going to use. They will need to include this in their email. I chose to use the SUBJECT: option and told students that E*Trade Response must be in the subject.
The process worked beautifully as I received 20 emails in my designated folder from students.
Easy to grade and sorted!
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Veteran's Day Preparation
We have experienced Veteran's Day many times over in our educational career. This year, our teaching team chose to look at it in a different way. We tied it into our "History of the United States" timeline by focusing on nine major wars.
We used the Prezi below, combined with a "Rolling Thunder" Veteran's Day presentation this Friday, to focus in on exactly what our soldiers do to sacrifice themselves for this great country.
It's not too late to show some or all of the video clips in preparation for Veteran's Day.
*Note: Due to mature language and graphics, a parental note was sent home for their approval of their child viewing these videos. Students who did not get approval viewed all content on the Prezi, but NOT the videos.
**Thank you to our 8th grade social studies teachers for setting up the Friday Veteran's Day presentation!
We used the Prezi below, combined with a "Rolling Thunder" Veteran's Day presentation this Friday, to focus in on exactly what our soldiers do to sacrifice themselves for this great country.
It's not too late to show some or all of the video clips in preparation for Veteran's Day.
*Note: Due to mature language and graphics, a parental note was sent home for their approval of their child viewing these videos. Students who did not get approval viewed all content on the Prezi, but NOT the videos.
**Thank you to our 8th grade social studies teachers for setting up the Friday Veteran's Day presentation!
War: An Evolving Sacrifice on Prezi
It may take some time to load!
It may take some time to load!
Reflection: This was completed in a large group, direct instruction format with large group discussion. We felt that this would be the best for getting the content. Our intent and hope is to then progress with the driving question:
"What is the proper way to address a Veteran when seeing them face to face?"
We hope that our students respond with "thank you" or "we need to help them if we can". We hope this leads to the students having the desire to help one of the associations below or students will discover some other military organization that they want to help. We'll see!
► Amvets
Twitter - Reflections of First Time Classroom Use
Situation:
Our students completed a week long Problem-Based Learning experience in which they lived one full month as an adult. Twitter was used as a real time reflection piece to express excitements, disappointments, failures, and successes. They were required to complete a minimum of six tweets during the week.
Positives:
➔ I use it in my own personal learning, want students to experience it!
➔ Great real time writing!
➔ Instant viewing by all students and teachers!
➔ Makes writing concise (140 characters)
➔ Time stamp to know exactly when it was written
➔ Beautiful on the iPad2
➔ Students can follow and respond to other students
➔ All three teachers were able to use the same twitter account at one time!
Negatives:
Our students completed a week long Problem-Based Learning experience in which they lived one full month as an adult. Twitter was used as a real time reflection piece to express excitements, disappointments, failures, and successes. They were required to complete a minimum of six tweets during the week.
Positives:
➔ I use it in my own personal learning, want students to experience it!
➔ Great real time writing!
➔ Instant viewing by all students and teachers!
➔ Makes writing concise (140 characters)
➔ Time stamp to know exactly when it was written
➔ Beautiful on the iPad2
➔ Students can follow and respond to other students
➔ All three teachers were able to use the same twitter account at one time!
Negatives:
➔ Twitter continues to "suggest who to follow" and some of the suggestions are not positive for students. We discussed how this is a professional conversation, and you (the student) will be associated with the people that you follow. This must have worked as not many students wanted to follow famous people. I had one student ask if following the president of the United States would be o.k.
➔ It truly is open to the world. Not sure I am ready for that with students.
➔ Didn't really allow students to open up their twitter feed to outside sources.
➔ I would have liked if every student would have taken the opportunity to complete in depth reflection. "Got a house" is not what we were looking for.
Postive
Exceptional tweets are below.
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