PSA Part 1

This week is the final week for the Web 2.0 class I've been taking.  This week our assignment was PSAs.  We watched one video and then a video of responses to that video from various people in a school community.  Then we were each assigned one of the school community role's in which to answer some questions about 2 other videos.  The role I was assigned was Teacher, which worked out really nice for me, since I teach 2nd grade!

Video 1:  Role: Teacher
The Essay

     1.  What was the main idea or point being made?

I think the main point that was being made in this video was that a long time ago the thought of having a phone that had so many capabilities, was small and portable, and did things that people didn't even know of yet was unbelievable and was just a childish dream or fantasy.  No one would have ever believed it was possible and yet today most people use their phone for the things said in the video and more.  

     2.  What audience was the video trying to reach?

I think the video was trying to reach a worldwide audience to get them to see the amazing capabilities that we have at our disposal now and to try to get them to buy something that wouldn't have seemed possible in the past, from them.  

     3.  Were the methods used to create the video effective?  Why or Why not?

I felt the method used to create the video was very creative and effective. It got you thinking about how much has changed, especially in regards to technology.  Here was a child "from the past" talking about what could be in the future.  We're in that future now with so many capabilities.  We can't even imagine how technology will change and evolve in the future from what it is now.  

Video 2:  Role: Teacher

We Think

     1.  What was the main idea or point being made?

I think the main point being made was that the internet makes it very possible for people all over the world to come together, collaborate, share ideas.  The sharing of ideas, connecting with other people, and talking things out help to make new innovations.  The more we share out ideas online with people all over, the more things that we'll be able to create and come from it.  

     2.  What audience was the video trying to reach?  

I again feel this video was trying to reach a worldwide audience.  The video wants to let everyone know that the more we can connect, have conversations to share our ideas, and collaborate with each other, more creativity will come from that leading to new inventions/innovations.  

     3.  Were the methods used to create the video effective?  Why or why not?  

I felt the method used for the video was effective, as there was no talking, just some background music.  You had to pay attention to the animations and words that popped up onto the screen.  This focus and the fact that you were sometimes reading things as they were typed and you didn't want to miss something, kept you engaged and thinking about what the video was trying to say.  

     

Infographics Reflection

This week for my grad class we had to create infographics using different criteria.  I have had to make infographics in the past using various platforms.  I really like the idea of having students create their infographic in class as a way to show their understanding of a topic.  With my second graders I think I would begin with having them work in pairs.  This way they'd be able to help each other out.  It would be a great way to see what information students' felt was important to put in.  I could see having my students create an infographic to tell the characters, setting, problem, and solution to a story.  I could also have my students create one after we finish a science topic.  We have been working on Changes to Land in science.  Students could show and explain the Quick Changes to Land we learned about, as well as the Slow Changes to Land.  With my students being so young, I might even have them start by having us all create one together.  I could be doing one on my computer and projecting my screen to the class and students could be doing it from their computer, just so they could get the feel for it when they go to create their own.  This would give them a model and a step-by-step approach to creating one.

You could have students do an infographic on any device, as there are a variety of Web 2.0 tools that could be used to create one.  I would have my students probably just complete it in the computer lab. We could take one day to set up a Google Photo Album with the pictures they want to use.  This way we could also teach them how to cite their source of the photo.  The next time we have lab, students would be able to learn about the infographic tool of choice and start creating theirs.  Since all of my students have Google logins, I like the idea of using Canva for creating an infographic, as you can use your Google login to sign-up and get started.  Then students would be able to post their infographic to their Class Dojo stories page (online digital portfolio) to share with their families.  It's such a fun way to integrate technology, let students be creative, and show what they've learned.  

Padlet and Narrated Tutorials

This week for my grad class I had two assignments that I needed to create.  The first one was creating a presentation using Padlet.  I like Padlet as a way for students (or even other teachers) to post thoughts, ideas, or what they already know about a subject on a virtual type bulletin board.  I also like that you can include links, videos, and pictures. This week we needed to think about a topic in education and use pictures to create a Padlet presentation on the topic.  I chose my topic on Flexible Seating as that seems to have taken over many classrooms.  I've seen many blog posts and classroom pictures of teachers ditching traditional classroom seating and getting all types of other seating for students to sit on and work from.  I give my students choice of where to sit during Daily 5, Math centers, I'm Done What Can I Do.  They can sit anywhere they want around the room; in their cubbies, on pillows, in comfy chairs I have, just a different part of the carpet, or even at someone else's desk (with permission).  For me, I still want my students to have a specific desk that they go to for certain parts of the day.  I feel they need to learn how to sit in a classroom chair for more than five minutes, as when they grow up they won't always get the choice of the type of seat they will be able to sit on.  It was challenging to create the Padlet to share those thoughts in only 6 pictures and using pictures that are allowed for reuse through creative commons licensing.  There are so many great pictures out there, but I wasn't able to use those since I was posting it on the web and didn't have permission.  I think that would also be challenging for my students.  If it's just for classroom use and students were able to just cite where they found the picture, I feel that would be easier and they could work together to create a presentation on a variety of different things that we are learning about in the classroom.  It would be a great way to create a presentation and share with the class.  I have not used Padlet with my 2nd graders yet, but in the future I would like to use it as a different way to create a KWL, where there could be a Padlet for each letter.  Then if we want to look at it or add to it, we can easily pull it up and do so.  It's a space saver in the classroom and students can access it on any device to add to it.

I also had to create a narrated tutorial and I can definitely see the advantages of that with my 2nd graders.  There are MANY times when I give directions and students don't remember what to do as they have a hard time remembering multi-step directions on their own.  Creating a tutorial that they could stop and play as needed would be fantastic!  Again the problem I was having was coming up with an idea I could do in 4-6 pictures using pictures that are allowed for reuse with the creative commons license.  Once I was able to come up with one, the process wasn't hard.  We did this using Adobe Spark.  You just click on the plus sign, then video, and it's very straight forward from there.  This would be very handy if you had multiple iPads and could put them at a station for student use.  Again if it's only being used for classroom use, I could take pictures of the actual materials and steps in my classroom to use for the tutorial and that would be much easier.  I like the idea of students creating their own narrated tutorial as a stepping stone or alternative to How-To writing.  It would make students stop and think about each step and talk about it.

Both of these assignments could also be used as a different kind of assessment for students to do to explain and show what they've learned about a certain topic.  If you're not 1:1 and just have a few devices (I only have 5), you would still be able to have students do both of these, you would just need to allow more time for all the students to complete it.  They are both things to consider using in the classroom.

Daily 5

One of the things that I love implementing every year in my classroom is Daily 5.  I love that the students are doing something meaningful to enhance their reading and writing skills while I'm meeting with guided reading groups.  Daily 5 has changed a bit, in regards to the stations, from when I first learned about it and started doing it in my classroom.
I start introducing Daily 5 the first or second day of school.  It depends on when I can get books in my kids' book boxes.  We start off with Read to Self and work on building up their stamina day by day.

After a couple weeks, I introduce Read to Someone, which makes them very happy since they get to be with a friend.

 

Then it just depends on which center I introduce next.  This year I introduced Listen to Reading.  I have 6 iPod Nanos in my classroom for my students to use during Listen to Reading.  I got the iPods thanks to three grants I had funded through Donor's Choose.  For each grant I asked for two iPods so I'd have better odds at getting them funded.

 


Then I plan on implementing Work on Writing and finally Word Work.  For Work on Writing I have lots of different writing activities that the students can do: recipes, letters, creative writing, poems, lists, and postcards.  I also have an Art of the Week project that I do each week where the students do a craft and writing that goes with it.  I also have some fun Word Work activities for the students to do.  There are magnet boards and magnet letters, white boards and markers, letter cubes, and different spelling and grammar centers.
My students love all the choices that they have at each center and in which centers they do during the day.  Taking all of the time to introduce each center and expectations of Daily 5 really pay off and help to make them independent while I'm meeting with groups.  Even though I don't get to guided reading groups until October, I feel it's very worth it.
I have a Smartboard in my room so I've created a Daily 5 board for my students to use to make their choices.  I take each students picture and they move their face to the center they want to go to.  Each center has a certain amount of spaces available for each rotation.  Students can easily see which center has spots open and make their choice from there.  I also teach them that they can't repeat the same center on the same day.  So they aren't allowed to do Read to Someone twice in one day.  They would have to wait until the following day to do it again.  We usually only do three rotations each day, but all five Daily 5 choices are available to them.

Some of the changes that have come to Daily 5 are in regards to adding more or different technology into the stations.  I usually introduce it as the year goes on.  They start off with the iPods.  Then I introduce using the iPad minis for Read to Self.  I have QR codes that the students can scan of new books they can read on the iPads.  That usually helps to re-energize Read to Self and get the students to stay focused again.  Then later on I introduce the app Epic! books.  With this app, students are introduced to a TON of books that they can read.  They can search series, topics, and authors, besides what's recommended for 2nd grade.  I also introduce new Word Work centers where students can use the QR reader on the iPads to check their answers.
I have another Donor's Choose grant proposal out now to try to get 2 more iPad minis for our classroom.  I would love to be able to have some Work on Writing choices for students to do on the iPads, like using Smore or Chatterpix to bring their writing to life.
Adding in little changes helps to keep Daily 5 fresh so students stay interested and I don't have behavior issues while I'm meeting with groups.  It's one of my favorite times of the day, as well as the students.

Been Awhile...

So it's been a really long time since I've been on here as I found it hard to keep up with blogging as well as work and family.  I also never felt like I had anything new and interesting to say that anyone would need to take the time to stop and read my blog when there are so many amazing bloggers out there.  Well now I'm in my final class of a Masters in Instructional Media program and our assignment this week is to create a blog.  I thought, well I already have one of those sitting, not being used.  I'll log back in, give it a sprucing up, and use that one again.  Who knows maybe it will get me blogging again.  I've learned so many other great technology tools and ideas that I want to put in practice, maybe this will be a great place to reflect on them.  So I'm back from a 3 1/2 year absence.  Hope everything has been going well with everyone!  Going to be posting again soon!  :)