Course Development Tool

Another way to keep connect to your students is the use of Edmodo. Edmodo allows teachers and students stay connected to the latest assignments in the classroom and allow the students to keep updated on the assignments that need to be completed. The reason though that I picked this program is because it reminds me of facebook and with facebook being so popular with students, I thought that this would be the best program that would get my lessons across and students eager to use. Since my lesson is on organization, this program will give another way for students to stay connect in one location. The use of notification, which allows students to view upcoming events, replies to post and alerts. For teachers this can be used to view request from students and assignments that need grading. The calendar in this program can not only help the students and teachers become organized, but also allow parents to get in on the action as well. Another reason why I picked this besides the organizational skills for my assignment was also for the co-teaching aspect. I am currently a special education teacher working with the science department and sometimes it can be difficult keeping up with the regular education teachers assignments. This program will allow the co-teacher to join in on notices, grading and other tools. How I would use this in my lesson is with the use of share folders and updated notification on when assignments need to be completed by. When a student is done taking notes in the evernotes app, the student will then be able to share folders of information through this program. I will also put notifications up so that students stay up to date on when the assignment should be turned in. The best part about the notification though, is that it can be sent by text message as well, which kids love to use these days. If all this information did not prove that this is a great program, then how about the badges the student will earn for achievement. You have to love the constant organization and motivation.

Evernote

Evernote: The New Notebook

 

Evernote( free)Have you ever scribbled notes on the back of your paperwork? Or just not taken notes at all? Well Evernote is an easy to use application that helps you remember all key notes, while at the same time sharing your notes with others. Once logged into Evernote the author will have the option to view all notes, view a particular notebook, share notes with others and tag notes that are key materials needed at a later date.  When a note is created, the author will create a title to the note section, but the notes will allow the author to take pictures on the notes or record the author’s voice to the notes.  For my purpose this application will be used as an interactive notebook throughout the year in Environmental Science. This notebook will give the students the organizational skills to be successful throughout the year. Below you will find a short tutorial on Evernote and a student’s experience with the use of Evernote in the classroom.

Evernote Tutorial

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHeVZvnCjNA

 The student perspective:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ueQUoeXBfHU

 

Action Map

The following action map is a guide to being successful in identifying and underling the Earth's Spheres. The main purpose of this activity is to Increase a students comprehension level on the Earths Environmental system with 90% accuracy. In order to obtain that goal each type of learner will need the opportunity to a achieve it. The main things that need to be achieved is to  describe two major ways the Earth's system interact and to define Earth's geosphere, lithosphere, biosphere, atmosphere, and hydrosphere. The activities that will help us achieve this goal is to watch a YouTube video to help the visual and auditory learner. The flip cards will allow the Kinesthic learner to make a connection between the text and a visual and the paraphrasing and summary will allow the linguistic  learner to be successful in achieving this goal. Minimal material will be needed. the materials that you should have the student is the textbook, color pencil, paper and television to show the video.

Curricular Project

Jacquline Breshock - curricular project

1.       Who is the audience?

-          Environmental Science In- class support (supporting High School special education students)

 

2.       What do they need to learn?

-          Goal- To make a connection between technology and are environmental world.

-          Objective-Set up Interactive Notebooks.  Observe rubric for Interactive grading.  First interactive page is to explain the focus of environmental science.  Describe the recent trends in human population and resource consumption.

3.       Create a concept map based on preliminary research: See attached

 

 

4.        What are the delivery options?

-          Delivery options that are being used are word document’s/ Evernote app

 

5.       What constraints exist?

-          Time is the major constraints students will face (interactive notebook will take the student time to put together and work properly)

 

6.       What will the students do to determine competency?

-          Student’s notebook will be graded biweekly using the rubric attached. Quizzes will also be given on information obtained.

 

7.       What is the timeline for project completion?

-          This assignment is an ongoing yearly assignment. The assignment itself will be broken down as followed( timeline is subject to change based on student progress)

-          Day 1- Label your interactive note book on app

-          Day 2/3 reading and paraphrasing chapter/section in the text

-          Day 4- Discussion on reading /notes

-          Day 5- put key information in interactive notebook

 

8.       What are the classroom/Web learning differences?

-          Making sure all students complete all assignments and on the timeline

-          Teaching proper note taking skills/concepts

-          Teaching web concepts

 

9.       What are the pedagogical considerations?

-          Consideration on key size, might be difficult for special education to use the IPAD

 

-          Students might struggle with note taking skills/summarizing, but more time and instruction can be given in this area.
 

Games in the classroom

Isn’t it funny?

When we were younger are parents were always saying to get off the computer and get are homework done, but who would have ever thought that one day we can respond by saying the computer is my homework.  In the horizon report one of the key trends developing is Game Based Learning.  This trend is the most amazing trend to me, because who would have ever thought that we could actually learn from a computer game. Currently the most popular apps sold today are gaming apps such as Move the Turtle and Dabble and because of this teaching has really evolved in today’s society from learning out of a text and to interactive activities and the great part is, are kids finally being able to prove the parents wrong when they said video games will rot your brain.  These games are not only fun to the gamer, but it will foster the gamer’s ability to learn collaboration and engage students in the process in learning. One thing we know about kids is if they enjoy it, then don’t change it by telling them it is good for them and this is beyond good for a learner. Students will develop cognitive skills, communication, problem solving and critical thinking and a safe learning environment away from failure.  Games in the classroom will give the student an opportunity to be excited about their accomplishments and un-judge with failure. With so many great advantages of games in the classroom I cannot wait for the program to take off. Even though it might take three years and some older teachers might be hesitant of the new learning styles, I am confident that we will back away farther from the text and into a world of technology.

Jacquline Breshock

 

Where can we really go???

The question I listed above is one that I wonder about a lot. As I listen to Karen Cator talk about Transforming America, this question is like a broken light that keeps flashing in my brain. The reason I feel this way is because where can we really go with technology, especially in schools with lack of funding? I hate to be the Debbie Downer of the topic, but if we lack the funding, how can we possibly implement the high expectations in which they are hoping for us to achieve. I would like to think of myself as the "cheerleader” of my teaching staff, but reality also needs to come in play at some point. Take for example a student in your class or mine, we would love to say that yes they are going to get an "A" on this test, but reality is outside factors might enable the student from accomplishing that( example: up all night taking care of their siblings, while the mom is working to support the family). In Karen Cator lecture she speaks that in 2020 President Obama would like us to have the highest graduation rate and that we need to pick up the pace, but how do we do this with just words and ideas? I believe that we are going in the right direction with teachers certifications and NCLB, but to really advance and to prepare the future for technology advances is impossible if we do not have the funding to support it. I know some districts in which I have been at did not even have enough textbooks to support the class, rather than having smart boards to advance in education. In order for us to even "Out Innovate, Out Educate and Out build" we as educators are going to need more support.

       Even though I feel that this discussion is hard, because all I can think about is how this is
 possible when in schools we might not have funding or in the community having a computer might not be possible, I did enjoy some things she did express, Key points I enjoyed, especially with me being a special education teacher are:

-          Personalization

-          Focusing with the connection of interest

-          Multiple ways to show a concept and demonstrate

-          Being a highly effective teacher /Re-inspire

-          Mapping out learning progression

 

To sum my thoughts, “If now is the time, where is the money”??