Thing 21 - Standards and Capstone: The Water Cycle by Stacey Hampton

Standards

       

I did not have the Next Gen Sci Standards app before this activity.  I did, however, have the CCSS app.  It is extremely handy to have this app on my iPad.  If I want to look something up, it is much easier and certainly more convenient and quicker than having to sit down at the computer or dig through a file to find the paper copy.


Capstone

Thing 21 Capstone: Lesson plan by Stacey Hampton

Poster from Inkpad

Screenshot of a presentation being made

Thing 20 - QR Codes and Augmented Reality

QR Codes

1.  Students writing progress could be kept in a QR code.  Samples of their work could be scanned in or a photo taken.  It would be a digital writing portfolio in a code.

2.  Many times in the classroom we videotape something that we want to share with the child’s family, but it’s not convenient to make CDs or DVDs for parents or grandparents.  Videos could be uploaded to the cloud or Youtube and then students could create a QR code to share with their family.  

3.  I saw an idea about having a scavenger hunt in the school.  I think I could use this activity with information during our unit on the Underground railroad.  While going from code to code, students would have to make decisions as a runaway slave and then choose which code to scan to see their fate.  “It’s raining tonight, do you make your escape tonight?”  Scan the code for yes or no.  Their next piece of information leads them to the next two codes from which to choose.

The only roadblock I could think of would be, if a student needed to scan a QR code from home, and they didn’t have a device that would scan a code, then they would be “out-of-luck”.

Augmented Reality

I looked at the colAR mix app and the Flashcard app.  They were both very fun to play with and share with my son.  I could see Kindergarteners really getting into the ABC flashcards.  The more fun something is, the more kids will remember the information.

My son loved the colAR app the most.  Watching the dog run around the house and seeing the tennis shoe he colored dance made his face light up.  I could see kids really learning 3-dimensional figures, landforms in 3-D, and understanding measurement of 3-D objects so much more with the use of Augmented Reality.

Thing 19 - Research and Reference

Citations

Wow!!  I was floored when I saw this app.  I can't believe how easy it is to get your citation done so quick, easy, painless and correct!  This was always the most difficult part of a paper for me.  The only thing I see as a downfall is the fact that this generation of students isn't learning "how" to cite work, they just do it.  It's like having 100 contacts in your phone, but you can't call anyone when you can't access your phone--you don't know ANY of the phone numbers.  You know where to locate it, but don't know the actual number to dial.

Dictionary

Merriam-Webster

Dictionary.com

I would recommend the Merriam-Webster app rather than the Dictionary.com app. (1) I find the fonts used are easier for a younger child to view .  My other reasons seem more of why I wouldn’t choose the other app.  (2-3)The main screen of Dictionary.com has a lot of large vocabulary words that could be intimidating to the younger student and it also seemed cluttered to me.  (4) While I was trying to scroll through the choices on the main page I had ads popping up in the middle of the page(4).  I don’t mind ads on the bottom, top or sides, but across the middle of the page??  If I was frustrated, imagine how frustrating a 7-year old would be.  This is why I would recommend the Merriam-Webster app for my school.

 



Online Bookmarking

I am always seeing a website that I think, “I have to remember this when we are working on the ___________ unit”.  Then, I forget!  Having Diigo would help me to remember and organize sites.  Then I wouldn’t be looking for that little piece of paper that I’ve lost in the pile on my desk.  Increasing productivity for me is a huge need.  I think saving the sites, highlighting important parts and using the “virtual sticky notes” would keep me organized, and save me time and increase my productivity; which would be very valuable to me.  I used to save to flashdrives, but I have had too many get lost or go through the laundry.  I think a benefit is that you are saving important information to a different location and then your things wouldn’t disappear; like the summer our hard drives were wiped and we didn’t know about it ahead of time!  Many people lost tons of important information that year.  That was so long ago, but can really impress upon you to backup, backup, backup.  Thank goodness for Diigo and Evernote and other apps that save and save our “tail”.

Thing 18 - Study Skills & Visual Thinking

Study Skills

Using Quizlet

I found this app to be extremely easy to use.  I was able to make a set of flashcards for our upcoming Landforms Unit.  It was easy to do and playing with the available features was fun.  My son stopped what he was doing to come watch me as I was frantically typing before the definition ran across the screen.  This would be an easy way for 2nd graders to Expand vocabulary and could be used as a “word work” activity to go along with The Cafe and Daily 5 activities in my classroom.  Also, with the many choices of activities available with this app, it could be used with students of varying abilities.  I could see my students buddying up so that higher readers could work with my special education students or lower readers.




Popplet Lite

My personal iPad is the only one available in my classroom at this time.  Our school will be getting a class set next school year.  I am used to just purchasing an app for my iPad if I want it.  I’m not sure what I will do about the limitations of a free version.  Perhaps, I can approach our PTCO (parent group) for funding for the full version of the app.  In the meantime, I will have to adjust my lessons to adhere to the limitations.

My popplet is about my grandma, a biographical popplet.  I made this one as an example for my students.  Our school recently celebrated Grandparent’s Day.  Since we didn’t have the iPads for all, we made a similar paper/pencil version.  The class was excited, but I know they would be even more excited to complete the task on the iPad.

Another use of the popplet would be to make a timeline.  Our 2nd graders study the Underground Railroad and how it ties into the history of our community.  This also ties in to the start of the Civil War and other important events, speeches and publications during this time period.

I plan on making a popplet with my students to show the flow of water in the water cycle.  I will be able to insert photos and videos to enhance the experience for my students.

Thing 17 Creative Expression

Visual Expression

Inkpad

Some students prefer to write, some to read, others to draw.  Allowing children to share what they know in a preferred mode, will always result in better work.  As I presented the Water Cycle in a poster, students will be able to present other diagrams in poster form.  In the fall we study the life cycle of plants, in March we make posters to promote reading month to be displayed at the JDL Eastern Branch, and in the spring we use a sand table to show students the flow of water through various landforms, from mountains to ocean.  Any one of these topics could be illustrated with this app, graded for content and printed for display.  







Audio Expression

Garage Band


The Water Cycle Song

I had trouble getting the link to work to dropbox. I tried to upload to Youtube, it wanted me to add pictures, so I did. This is the final product.


Using Audio Expression in the classroom is similar to using Visual Expression in the classroom.  The more ways kids are able to express themselves and what they know, the better the results will turn out.  Music is just another way students are “smart” according to the Multiple Intelligences.  Just as there are different learning styles to take information in, there are also different styles and  presentation modes.  Using Garage Band to make music is a great way to allow students some choice in how they demonstrate their learning in your class.  I think creating “jingles” to go along with commercials to “advertise” is a great way to demonstrate learning.  I also happen to be a learner that can memorize just about anything if set to music.  As I listed the basic steps of the water cycle and one piece of information to go along with the steps, students will remember the order of the cycle because it is set to music.

Thing 16 - Content Area

Evaluating Apps 

Student App Rubric form

Review of Sock Puppet App

Review of a new app - free

Finding Apps 

National Geo. World Atlas Scored

National Geographic World Atlas

NG World Atlas info

Jungle Coins

Jungle Coins info

EF High Flyers 2

EF High Flyers 2

EF High Flyers 2 info

(1) National Geographic World Atlas - Using a globe in class can be challenging with only one globe and 28 students.  With this app, each student with an iPad has their own globe in their hand.  I chose this app because it was in the top 5 from Appo and because students can see the topography of land as well as borders of countries and states.

(2) Jungle Coins - This app allows children to practice working with money in four ways:  find coins, count money, compare coins and correct change.  It has real coin images along with cartoon graphics; there are 6 levels for varied ability practice.  It gives instant feedback for the child.  I chose this app because I liked the previews and it was listed as a top app by Technology in Education’s BEST APP of the year, top 5 on Appo and it is featured by Apple in several categories.

(3) EF (English First) High Flyers 2 - This app is to assist ESL learners to increase their vocabulary use.  It speaks the vocabulary words to you and then after studying you can take a quiz.  It keeps track of what you have correct and incorrect.  I chose this app because it was the number one app in it’s category according to Appo.

The National Geographic World Atlas app is part of the Volume Purchase Program.  The app is normally $ 1.99 (1-19), but can be purchased for $0.99 if buying 20 or more units of this app.  This is a 50% discount for this app for educators, a savings of $1.00 per unit x the number of iPads in our school.

By using an evaluation process, it will make sure that the app money budgeted for the school year is used effectively, fairly and is spent on apps that meet the needs of all students in our school.  Since we are a K-3 school, there will be a big difference in some apps for kindergartners vs. those for third graders’ abilities.  I think a team or committee for choosing apps should be established and have representatives from each grade level and special area teachers.  Each rep. could fill out an evaluation form, additional things to consider are the number of standards are covered by using that particular app.  This piece of information would be just as valuable as the cost of the app.

Thing 15 - Assessment

        

                     

Student Response Systems

 

1 question (plus name)

 

5 question quiz (6 questions with the name question)

Spreadsheet of Results

I like the instant feedback you get with Socrative.  I will be able to reteach in small groups as the need arises.  This tool allows me to assess in the moment to see if students have learned the information and then, after a few weeks, I can see who has retained this information.  Since our school will be getting a class set of iPads, scheduling will be as “interesting” as it is when several classes are wanting to finish projects in our current computer lab.

Enhanced Student Response Systems

     

As I said above, I like getting the instant feedback.  The confusion meter was interesting to me.  I did have several students mark confused.  However, looking back, I wonder if they were confused about the topic of money or the ability to take the quiz??  I usually have a pretty good handle on which of my students is struggling in math.  Using this app allowed me to have confirmation and to speak with students immediately about their concerns and answer any questions.  I was able to target several students that had little experience with money and have them meet with our instructional assistant, Mrs. Van Meter.   I really like the feature of the teacher controlling the pace of the quiz.  I have some students that would take three days for a ten question math test if I allowed it.

If I had to choose an app to use, I believe I would use Socrative.  I think it was easy to use and I liked how it looked on my screen and on the students’ screen.  The app GoSoapBox wasn’t bad, but I think it would be better for older children.  Socrative was very simple looking to me and hopefully would not be overwhelming to my students.  There were several that seemed a bit overwhelmed by the GoSoapBox app.  Those that tried the Socrative app seemed a little bit more comfortable with it’s function.

Thing 14 - Universal Design for Learning

Speech-to-Text

Screencast - Demonstrating the Value of Speech-to-Text

Text to Speech: Speak Selection

 

1. Students would be able to read along with an article without struggling over difficult words.  They would hear the correct pronunciation of unknown words. 
2. Students could listen to their own writing while editing their work. 
3-4. Students could listen to a book at a higher reading level to improve their fluency and comprehension.

Guided Access

Limiting students’ access to only one app and keeping control of the volume (1) will keep distractions in the classroom to a minimum, however, there are times when you want students to have access to more than one app.  You may want them to post to a blog after designing a presentation and they would need you to come disable Guided Access so they could switch back and forth.  This could be somewhat chaotic in a class of 28.

Guided access would also be useful to allow a student or small group of students to be able to use an iPad app with little supervision(2).  This would allow the teacher time for working with another group of students.
Students with physical disabilities or students with autism may have trouble with certain apps by touching things on the screen that will close the app or change it’s appearance.  By blocking certain areas of the screen or disabling the home button, you will eliminate issues and decrease frustration for these students(3).

Thing 13 - Classroom Tools

Text Your Class
Remind 101

Often times at the lower elementary level, notes don't make it home to the parents.  Using Remind 101 would send an e-note straight to the parent.  Another problem this app solves is when students come from 2 homes and only one parent is getting the information; the information goes out to everyone that needs to know!  All information is from the teacher and avoids any 2nd hand or 3rd hand mis-information.






Monitor Behavior
Class Dojo

   

I currently use a version of the stoplight.  Students pull a card with each negative behavior.  Green, Yellow, Orange, Red.  Students get a ponder sheet at orange and a visit with the office at red.  The ponder sheet has to be taken home and returned with a parent signature.  After visiting with the Principal, I make a phone call home.  It does display negative behavior and I know it doesn’t work with all students.

I think Dojo would be good to use because it recognizes positive as well as negative behavior.  There are always the students that never get into trouble and this would recognize them because you are able to record good behavior.  I could see students that are competitive trying to up their “score”.  I think students and parents would respond well to the recognition of positive behavior.  Some parents only hear the negative things about their child, this would help you track the positive behaviors to share with parents.  Parents could get notifications on the very day of the behavior with the messaging feature.


Teacher Tools
Power Teacher

Our school has been using Power School for a few years now.  I recently began using Power Teacher for the iPad.  I really like being able to access the gradebook from my iPad.  I can put on an educational video on the smart board (which is connected to my classroom computer), but cannot enter grades since my classroom computer is already in use.  By using the iPad app, I can enter grades while I have a “moment”.  I can also walk around the class and enter grades while making observations.  The only thing I haven’t been able to do is access the standards.  These are marked at report card time using a 1, 2, 3, 4 score for mastery of a standard.  If there is a way to do it, I haven’t found it.




GroupMaker

Learning to get along and work together is such an important skill in today’s work environment.  This skill can be difficult for second graders.  To make it worse, I can often get into a rut by choosing groups and not switching them up.  With group maker, I can have random groups made up everyday or even every hour.  I like that it can make groups of different sizes and variety.  I look forward to seeing my students stretching themselves and learning to get along with all of their classmates.