PechaKucha Created With Explain Everything On the iPad For Sociology Final Assessment

*My PechaKucha example at end of post.

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.

Creating a PechaKucha utilizing Explain Everything was extremely simple and effective.  I'll post more about the process and student examples as the students complete the learning opportunity.
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".

Mission First, People Always!

In 2012, I started this journey of being a support teacher for middle and high school teachers.  I guess my official title is "Technology Integration Specialist" which no one really wants to say or hear.  While preparing for my first year in this role, I developed a "commitment statement".  A phrase to guide my interactions with teachers.

Over three and a half years, my commitment statement hasn't changed, but my focus has intensified on one thing: Mission First, People Always!

What's behind Mission First, People Always!

• My faith brings me to the story of Jesus.  He had a mission to die and free us from the bondage of sin.  In the midst of his death-his mission, hanging on an "old rugged cross", Jesus said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do." (Luke 23:34)  People Always!  He continued to look after people in the midst of the mission.  When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved at the foot of the cross during his crucifixion, he stated, "Dear woman, here is your son." In the midst of His horrible death, he was taking care of people, always!  (John 19:25-27)  Of course, His whole mission was to take care of people always.
• Our mission is to bring the best quality education to our students.
• Our problem is that we DON'T put People Always.  We expect teachers to continually make more with less.  
• We must take care of people, adults who take care of our students, and students who are going to impact the world.
• The background: It's either a sunrise or a sunset.  
• Sunrise: The beginning of something grand.
• Sunset: The sense of accomplishment: calming and complete!

As I complete my fourth year, I am focusing on people!  Something I feel I always have been doing, but now with even more vigor.  It doesn't matter how important the mission (coaching, curriculum, PBIS, Flex Mod, scheduling, discipline), I will take the time to talk with people and care about them.

"Mission First, People Always!"

About.Me Student Digital Life

As we move into a new way of thinking, we are encouraging students to positively portray themselves online.  By "new way of thinking" I refer to a past practice where we encouraged students to limit items online.  Today, we need to encourage students to have three major digital items before leaving high school.  As George Courcos elaborated on these items in his 2015 TIES Conference Keynote, we must mold student's behavior and knowledge so that they are positively portrayed online.

Mr. Otto, business teacher, was already in the midst of having his students develop a resume.  We decided that students would create an About.Me page so that they begin to have one of the three items they need to have before they leave high school.

Images of Students Creating

Our students and instructor created some amazing pages on their way to a positive, digital life.  I used the embed feature from About.Me to create the information below.  If you are in the About.Me community, consider giving the students a compliment.

iPad Apps and Technology Tools For Learning Vocabulary Terms

Writing a vocabulary word followed by a dash and the definition is fairly isolated learning.  Enhancing the learning opportunity through connecting to real life situations and experiences can be so much more valuable.  In the upcoming semester, provide consider using offering technology tools to solidify a student's understanding and application of vocabulary in specific content areas.

Explain Everything
With an endless stage and the ability add images, videos, web pages a student can provide imagery to words.  Add in the ability for students to record their voice for understanding along with easy exporting to the camera roll, Google Drive, or Canvas and Explain Everything is perfect.


Popplet
A screen that provides web making options to tie all of the terms around a main idea fits learning vocabulary terms easier.  Adding images in the same "bubble" as the words and definitions will add to the understanding.  Text is easy with the typing of characters or writing with a utensil.  Easy exporting to the camera roll, Google Drive, or Canvas allows for an efficient "Check For Understanding".




Skitch
While Evernote is ending it's life with Skitch in mid 2016, Skitch continues to be a tremendous tool for an image annotated with shapes, text, or drawings.  The only negative would be the option to only add one image at a time.  If a variety is needed before the end of the school year in 2016, give Skitch a chance.


PicCollage
With the opportunity to have a controlled, framed image or a scattered image, multiple words, pictures and definitions can be placed on to one collage.  Exporting to the camera roll, Google Drive, or Canvas is simple for students.


SimpleMind
Perfect for word webs only, SimpleMind has the opportunity to be color coded with words, definitions, problems & solutions to understand the vocabulary word.  Exporting is easy as an image once the web is completed.  No inserting of images is available in the free version.


Stick Around
While our district has not purchased an entire district set of this app, Stick Around is perfect for labeling and practicing terms relating to images. Currently, the Science and some of the social studies' iPads have Stick Around available for use with students.


Google Drive & Shared Document
Having students create a folder for images that represent the definitions or applications of vocabulary
words could be a method for putting all of the information in one place.  Don't forget that a document shared with partners or groups could be a method for collaborating on words and definitions.  One students could be responsible for the word and an image, while another student could be responsible for the "book definition" and parts of speech, while a third student could be responsible for an applicable activity or statement.



Quizlet
This tool can be a place for students to create "flashcards" in which to study.  Images can be added.  Learning is one section but two games exist, Scatter and Gravity.  Surprisingly high school students like these games which is evidence by the "what time did you get" comments that occur followed by a "let's do play it again". Lastly, all of the terms can be included in a custom designed test filled with written, matching, multiple choice, and true/false assessments.

Snapchat & PicCollage In Anatomy

It's awesome that Mr. Anderson is allowing students to use a technology tool that they have mastered to accomplish a task that Skitch was used for.  More awesome is that the student decided Snapchat and PicCollage could be used for educational purposes.

I asked the student to demonstrate how the she accomplished the required task.



In the business world, more efficient, creative ways to accomplish tasks correctly is always rewarded!

As with everything, the bad of using Snapchat can always occur.

George Couros pointed out in his TIES 2015 Keynote on Tuesday a time when he gave a hashtag out to high school students while he was presenting.  I wish I could find the exact Tweets, but I can't at this moment.  I can share the summary of the story.  Three students immediately used the hashtag to display their displeasure with George's words while they were sitting and listening.  Of course, their language was graphic.  However, one Tweet by as student was noticed by George during the speech that was EXTREMELY positive!  George spoke up to the crowed asking where/who the student was that posted the positive comment.  George THANKED the student and told him how much he appreciated the positive comment.  The student was a "larger than life" football player.  Once George acknowledged the positive tweet many, many other students jumped on board the positive Tweeting bandwagon.

Sure, something could have gone wrong with the student using Snapchat, but it didn't.  If it did, it would be addressed.  Now, the student feels empowered and invested in this process which allows her to "show what she knows."

Let's hope that our schools and the educators involved can be more comfortable allowing creation and productivity to have a personal touch!  Eventually, the innovation and creation will be rewarded.

Market Place Project Digital Skills To Master in Explain Everything

The Market Place Project in Spanish II has always been an enjoyable experience.  This year, we are continuing the project, but the students will utilize Explain Everything to demonstrate proper dialogue while bartering for a product.

This will be our third time using Explain Everything.  Mini projects one and two were introduced through tutorials.  We are increasing the levels of digital skills each time we innovate with Explain Everything.  Our hope is to continue to build on the creativity and other modern day skills with the students.  We are already seeing students not "concerning themselves with learning the tech" as Explain Everything is just "our tool".  The process of learning the content is becoming the focus.

The Spanish teachers and I discussed the Unit 3 Market Project and collaborated on how it would look.  Some areas of emphasis for me as a technology integration specialist include Creativity and Global Communication.

The Exceeding Expectations is highlighted because we are going to encourage students whose final products are pleasing to them to post them on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook with #RaiderStrong 

Our Day 3 which is when the Explain Everything App is utilized looks like this:

As a help tool, I demonstrated the three skills that students will need to master 

• Background
• Characters
• Layering
• Animation

Using Explain Everything.



UPDATE:
We played the video above and walked students through each of the three skills that were to be mastered.  Students, all 168 of them, have completed the assessment.  We are SO impressed!
Please view the conversations from "The Marketplace" that students created.

Flipboard Magazine Link Without Email

EDpuzzle

Providing instruction is one thing, showing it successfully in action is another.  The video below demonstrates students utilizing EDpuzzle with students on an iPad through the app or in Safari.  Either tech tool on the iPad works perfectly.

Listen to the teacher's reasoning and planning and feedback from a student.

Google Cloud Printing On An iPad

Explain Everything Spanish 2

Students completed their second experience with Explain Everything.  Students were to create a picture with text that demonstrates the present.  Along with this, students created a part of the section of the product that included video to demonstrate the pres.prog.  I truly don't understand Spanish so the exact concept is new to me.

I do know that Explain Everything has become our main focus for this year to allow students to create items that "show what they know".  We want students to become so familiar with the technology tool (EE) that they don't even think about the tech tool, but simply focus on getting their knowledge to a digital medium.

Below is the information given to the students.  We are focusing on "Creativity" from the four c's for the entire year.

An example of the student's work is below.