Lyons Video

Reflect on the following questions:
Tell us about your video project. What was successful? Challenging?

For studying the 2 decades in between the World Wars, I assigned each kid with a specific country and they had to research its history more in depth.  The kids had to present their information to class using ANYTHING but power point.  I gave my kids the options of animoto, prezzi, movie maker, photo story, skit, or record a video.  

The kids had the opportunity to get creative and had several days to research and create it.  However, most kids chose the easiest options which was prezzi, but I did have a few groups use photo story. The challenging aspect was determining how to assess the project.  While all of the kids had the required amount of content, some put more effort into the presentation of the information.

Media Projects

I recently had my students create presentations using Photo Story, Animoto, Glogster, or Prezi.  Many of the students chose photo story and the projects look great!!  I am a little shocked at how little the students know about some of these programs as well as how much "hand-holding" was needed to help produce a good presentation.

Socialization Video Assignment

Students were given an assignment to create a video demonstrating their understanding of the agents of socialization and how those agents have personally impact them. The assignment was a huge success for most students. It took a lot of time, but they enjoyed it and it worked. I will bring a couple of the DVD's to the meeting with me.

Video assignment

Here is a video I show for the stages of grief:

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G_Z3lmidmrY

I currently have a student teacher so I have not assigned a video assignment.  However, earlier in the year my kids created children's stories using storybook.

Brian Tobias' video for Brown v. Board

Roegner's audio lesson (or lack thereof)

I was planning on using Audacity to record students reading parts of Oedipus to listen to as we read it in class.  However, because of interruptions in our schedule, I'm just starting Oedipus tomorrow, and I also don't have time to teach the kids how to use something new right now.  Bryan talked to me about my plans, and I think what I might do now is use Google Voice to record the kids reading in class.  That way, we could play it back later if we needed to, or I could give it to kids who were absent.

Adventures in Audio

Initially I had planned to do something with Audacity for this assignment, but then one of my team members told me what she was doing with Google voice and I was intrigued.   So I switched mid-stream, set up a Google voice account, and am going to use it to provide my students with occasional extra credit opportunities and also to tie in current events to each of my units (which I never seem to find time to do in class).  I plan to give the kids their first "assignment" tomorrow, so . . . . we'll see how it goes.

Brian's Audio Lesson

After finishing a lesson on international relations in the 1930s I assigned the students the following;question for homework to be answered using Google Voice: Who seems to be a greater threat to global peace and security in the 1930s: Germany or Japan? Explain your reasoning using specific events from the 1930s.

Because it was brief, all the students completed it (some with more supporting information and analysis than others). I accomplished my goal of having them think about and apply the course material, but thought it might have been more efficient just to have the discussion in class w/o the voice messages, rather than the next day after we listened to them as a class.

Philosophy Audio Project

My audio project was to have my Introduction to Philosophy class record their responses to the daily philosophy quote rather than to record them in their journals.  The quote for January 31:  " An improper mind is a perpetual feast" by Logan Pearsall Smith.  Students were allowed 10 minutes to go into the hall or outside to record their interpretation of the quote.  We played a few back (much to the chagrine of the recorders) and discussed their initial reactions.  I also printed out their dictated responses from Google Voice to show the students how they had been "interpreted" by Google.  Some of the interpretations were extremely far off from what the students had actually said.  I took a show of hands and no one wanted to continue recording their daily responses to the philosophy quotes since they felt that writing their responses in a journal allowed them to get better feedback from me! (We also had a firedrill during the time they were supposed to be recording their responses so this might have prevented the class from fully enjoying a more creative way to be "philosophical.")

Audio assignment

I used Google Voice as a checking for understanding activity.

Students had to create a quick google voice message that showed knowledge of  cones and rods.

The students did not know everyone would listen to them.  The best part was the text of the messages.  None of it was correct!

Scheidenhelm

At first I thought I could use my blog as another way to keep parents up to date with homework in the classroom.  My team using our homework hotline and our school website to get this done, so I decided to switch to communicating with my challenge level parents to keep them up to date on the differences between the challenge level and regular level classes.  I emailed my challenge parents, but have no followers.  :-(  But I will keep trying.
I had students bring in internet devices to do some light research for a couple of assignments.  It seems to work pretty well for simple googleing.  I found I have to be very specific about what they had to look up to avoid 20 minutes of wasted time on Wikipedia.
I plan on continuing to try keeping up to date with my challenge kids and using the devices for research in the classroom.  I have not tried any polling sites, but that sounds like it would be super cool.

Lyons' attitude

She is getting very short tempered with Mr. Hilton Maybe she is too good for us.

Joshua Hansel

      I have used Facebook to update the community about the Lindbergh Wrestling team.  I've found it very easy to use and anticipate using a different page to update students and parents about the details of my social studies classes.  I'm still a little fuzzy on all of the aspects of facebook.  For instance, I tried to create a poll to ask members of the community their opinion on a given topic, but had a little difficulty finishing this.

    As far as student use of personal devices, I feel like it's an up-hill battle.  Only about 5-7 of my students have smartphones  that they bring to school.  The good news is that those handful of students have used their devices for research as well as to view websites that I have brought up in class.

    As time goes on, I assume more students will begin bringing devices that can be used in class.  If this is the case, I anticipate using smart devices for a wide-range of activities.  I'd really like to begin using Poll Everywhere to find out how students feel about specific without the fear of public ridicule.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Lindbergh-Wrestling/181223245285228

Jennifer Ellsworth

1.  The English 2 Teachers have started a Facebook Page and are encouraging students and parents to "like" it and read what is happening on a daily basis.  We also post work that is done in class and work that is due for homework.  We used to send out group emails and now we are sending the group emails to make parents aware of the new facebook page and directions to follow it.
http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Lindbergh-High-School-English-II/303205636371234

I also made a blog http://jenellsworth.blogspot.com/  But since then we came up with the facebook page and therefore, I will not be using it.

2. and 3.  New EOC Moodle in classes with laptops.  Having trouble all logging in at the same time.  Trying to figure out best way.....hoping the day of EOC this is not a problem.

Lyons

I updated my Moodle page by adding my google calendar to it.  I plan on using that next year to keep parents informed and track the pace of the course.

For student devices, I assigned a project in which they would have to interview someone.  I allowed them to use their cellphones during the hour in order to complete that requirement of the project.

I like the google calendar, but I need to figure out a better way for parents to view it... most parents don't have access to the Moodle.

Lombardo Facebook

With the beginning of a new semester and a new group of 125 students, I was able to introduce my facebook page to all of them. I have found that not many have even "liked" the page. I do not want to make them use it. So I will see how it goes.

In terms of devices..... I have encouraged students to bring in new laptops, notebooks, ipads, etc. in order to take notes and use them for other things in class. I do have more using it now than I did last semester

I think I will continue to encourage them to "like" the facebook page maybe trying to give some info for quizes or tests to make them realize tha it may be useful.

B. Tobias Technology

I have used twitter tweets to inform IB students about upcoming due dates and instructions.
http://twitter.com/#!/BrianAdamTobias/followers
I have encouraged students to use smart phones to take notes quicker and to use their own computers to e-mail me paper topics.

Lynch Update

I have encouraged students to use their smartphones for educational purposes including flashcards and notetaking.

Additionally, I have added useful websites to my School Center website.

Lisa

 I surveyed all my students at the end of 1st semester about technology improvements that would help them in the classroom.  Students' top responds are being implemented.  1) Class Facebook page with updates  on all due dates and tests  2) All handouts and powerpoints are on moodle including our class calendar.

Mary McCartney

I have used my blog to communicate with students.  I post a question for them to answer from home.  We were not successful with the first attempt, but I will try again.

http://www.blogger.com/home

Regarding student devices, students have used them to do research using youtube.  We are working through connection issues.