Voice Thread

Today's assignment was to participate in a Voice Thread by responding to two videos by Ken Robinson.  Ken Robinson is a facsinating person and said many things that really made me think about the style of teaching in our system today. 

I loved Video #1 titled Ken Robinson says School Kills Creativity.  My younger son, a junior in highschool,  is extremely creative.  He enjoys drawing, writing poetry, and playing music just to name a few things.  I discussed with him Mr. Robinson's thought about school killing creativity.  He agreed.  He said that they rarely get to create anything.  There are not many open-ended tasks or assignments.  Teachers are in such a constant frenzy with having to teach to the tests.  Tests dictate everything and students need to be taught how to take those tests.  There's always a right and wrong answer, very black and white.  The grey area where creativity lies (in my opinion) is becoming obsolete.  My favorite quote from this video was that "if your (a student) not prepared to be wrong you'll never come up with anything original."    That statement is profound!  We, as teachers, often do not give students the chance to be "wrong."

Mr. Robinson also says that "academic ability dominates our view of intelligence."  Again, a profound thought and I DO see evidence of that in the classroom.   I have a student that appears to be very intelligent when carrying on a conversation, and she can discuss a multitude of different topics thouroughly.  When it comes to her product, she can't produce.  All of her test scores earn a failing grade.  I think that she is very intelligent, but her academic ability is lacking.  I am in a quandry.  I allow her to do some of her assignments orally, but worry about her ability to take a test when she has to.  Again, teaching to the test.  I feel that this student will be able to function in society, but I don't know how she will ever make it through a college/university degree. 

I think the theme of Video #2 is that we need to educate our youth for the future.  OUR future.  He discussed the fact that our education system was designed for a different age and in the past, an education was a must to ensure employment.  That was the purpose of an educaiton.  He thinks that "we are trying to reach the future by repeating the past."  I agree.  Our future is going to look very different from the past.

Lastly, ADHD.  Mr. Robinson said that we live in an age with a lot of stimulation with the advent of new technology.  Our students are stimlated outside of the classroom and are then expected to come into a classroom and "sit still" and "stay on task" when it is boring.  He actually found a correlation with an increase in the diagnosis of ADHD and standardized tests.  WOW!   What's the solution?  I have felt for years that ADHD has been over-diagnosed.  When my son was in preschool, a fellow mother (and teacher) told me that she thought he had ADHD.  I was beside myself.  I shared the information with my sister-in-law who has a PHD in Child Psychology.  At the time, she actually worked with some children diagnosed with ADHD and conducted testing.  She explained to me then (13 years ago) how over-diagnosed ADHD was.  I have to say that I agree with Craig, who in our Voice Thread stated that probably only 10% of those diagnosed actually have ADHD. 

A Voice Thread is a great interactive tool to engage students in a dicussion.  It allows individuals to comment on various topics by recording and/or typing a comment.  I looked at several different Voice Threads and many of them were extremely interesting.  The ISTE NETS T standards which relate to this assignment are one and three.  Using Voice Thread is a great way to promote student reflection and engage students while demonstrating fluency in technology.  A Voice Thread is also a way to communicate information and ideas and collaborate with students.

BenderConverter

Today's assignment was to rip a video from YouTube, download it onto your computer, and then to place it in your Blog to be viewed by all.  What a nightmare!!!  I worked on this one for three days.  I am finally beginning to get a clearer picture of the process.  

First, I downloaded Real Player from the course list.  Using Real Player, I searched and found several videoes from You Tube that could be used in a second grade classroom, and I downloaded them.  This is the point where I had a lot of problems.  I could not figure out how to convert them into MP3's.  WMV was simple, MP3... not so much.  In order to convert files to MP3's, Foxtab (Video to MP3 Converter) was downloaded.  I added a file from my Real Player downloads to Foxtab and converted them to MP3's.  I then signed into Google Pres, created a one-slide presentation, and inserted my video (fairly simple compared to the rest of it).  I just hope it works.

The next part of the assignment required that I embed my Google doc into my Blog.  I tried this at least four or five times.  Now it seems so simple!!!! Your Google doc presentation needs to be open.  Click the pull-down arrow beside share and click publish/embed.   View video for clarification.  A link will be displayed at the bottom of the page.  Copy and paste the link in the "Edit HTML" tool of your Blog.  The video should appear (hopefully). 

The ISTE NETS Standards that relates to this assignment are:

2) Design and Developo Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assesments

3) Model Digitl-Age Work and Learning

This assignment allowed m to demonstrate fluency in technology systems while customizing and personalizing larning activtes for different types of  learners.  In my (little) experience, I have found that many learn a lot by watching educational videoes.  This appears to double when you add music to that video.  I still remember the Preamble from my childhood (long ago).   However, I do still have to sing it.

The following is the downloaded video.  Enjoy!

Jing Screencast

Today's assignment was to create a Jing Screencast that can be used to teach and/or display how to do something on the computer.  I chose to demonstrate how to log into IXL.  I teach second grade and we use this site to practice learned math skills.  It has always been a nightmare to talk the class through how to log in.  They always seem to ask the same quesiton, "where do I type that?"  This is a great way to show them exactly where items need to be typed.

First click the capture prong on the Jing "sun" icon and drag the cross hair to the size that fits your need.  In this case I chose a full-screen because I needed to show the address bar and be able to scroll down.  The first several takes did not show enough screen to ensure that students could see all that needed to be seen.  Click the video button and a count down will let you know when to begin.  A Jing video is automatically assigned a URL, and saved to your clipboard (that can be sent to a Screen cast location), and in your Jing history as a PNG file.  Once in your history, open the video and use the drop down box to save to your preferred location: pictures, desktop, or even a flash drive. 

This assignment was brutally challenging for me.  I must have recorded twenty takes: I didn't like my voice, I stuttered, and I got toungue tied, just to name a few problems.  I fianlly finished it to the product that I refer to "as good as it's going to get."  I learned that I could save it to my flash drive (which made me very happy) because it has become my life-line.  I never leave for school without it.

The ISTE NETS T standards that best relate to this assignment are two and three.  I was able to design and demonstrate fluency in technology systems, communicate relevant information to students, and model the use of digital technology.

Jeopardy

When I first saw today's assignment, which was to create a review using Jeopardy, I almost had a heart attack.  I have tried time and again to create one without success.  To my good fortune, the activity sheet sent me to JeopardyLabs.  The first thing that I noticed was "This is... not PowerPoint!"  Thank God!  This site allows you to create a Jeorpady game in a matter of an hour or so.  I clicked the link for Jeorpady on the activity sheet, clicked start building, and created a password. 

Once there, I simply clicked on the "point value" and typed in my question and answer.  The thing that I like the most about this program is the ability to save and continue creating later when necessary.

I chose to create a review for a second grade reading unit, which I plan to use this Thursday to review for their weekly exams.  The topics used are: Spelling, Grammar, Phonics, Vocabulary, and Amazing Words.  These are many of things that are discussed throughout the week.  

The ISTE NETS T standards that relates to Jeopardy is number two: Design and Develop Digital-Age Learning Experiences and Assessments.  To create a Jeopardy review teachers must customize and personalize learning activities and skills that have already been covered with instruction.  And what a great formative assessment!  Teachers can observe students and reteach when needed.

I wish all of our assignments were this simple.  Believe me, I was worried until I got involved in the assignment and learned that it was NOT a PowerPoint.  Been there, done that (unsuccessfully).

Give my review a try at JeopardyLabs.

Word Cloud

Today's assignment was to create a Word Cloud using Wordle.  A Word Cloud is a great visual tool that can be used to reinforce a skill or concept.  Simply type your text into the cloud and click go.  The more times you type a word, the bigger the word is.  I love Wordle and have used it before.  It is "usually" idiot-proof.  My favorite way to use Wordle is with the parts of speech, but I can think of many ideas for a word cloud in all subject areas and grade levels; family members, different digraphs and/or other phonic skills, parts of the body, West Virginia counties,  and presidents,  just to name a few. 

I chose to create a word cloud using adjectives.  I went to the Wordle website, typed in my information, and clicked go.  I then explored some of the different options to change my product (layout, color, edit, language, and font). 

The ISTE NETS T that relates to Wordle is number one: Facilitates and Inspires Student Learning and Creatity.  Students can create a peice of art for mom while (hopefully) remembering the lesson that lead to the product.