Here is a research paper I just finished for a master's class called "Cognition & Technology." The title of the paper is Student-Created Online Materials to Engage and Challenge Younger Students. You can read it if interested.
I'm finished with my first of 5 summers of master's classes! Yahoo!! It was very informational and stimulating, but I'm excited to be done with homework and prepare for another great school year.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Google Earth Virtual Field Trip
Here is the first virtual field trip I have made with Google Earth.
Instructions on how to view:
This virtual field trip will introduce my students to the basic geography of the earth as well as the potential of the Google Earth application. Specifically, it will familiarize them with terms like hemispheres, equator, latitude, longitude and prime meridian. They will also learn some interesting facts about each of 7 continents including where they are located and something they are well known for. They will learn unique tools in Google Earth, such as weather, historical imagery, and ruler.
Aside from the above learning outcomes, my students (or anyone who views this) will develop a broader view of our world, which will help them not take their home for granted (especially when compared with Antarctica's weather). This virtual field trip will help students learn to appreciate the unique highlights found on each of the continents, and hopefully interest them in finding out more about a specific continent and/or country. Plus, just using Google Earth is fun and engaging. You can't help but move the world around, playing with it like ball. I'm sure students will 'accidentally' come across things around the world that will fascinate them and distract them from the tasks just because the scenery is so amazing in the app. Hopefully they will see how our earth is similar in its geographical features, and be inspired to keep it beautiful and inhabitable.
By learning about our continents and interacting with Google Earth, my students will develop their respectful mind. They will understand the world and their place in it better. They will value the variety of scenery, history and culture around the globe and acknowledge how different theirs is from others. They will also develop their ethical mind by seeing their place in the world, and that even though they only take up a small space, they are responsible for doing their best to preserve and improve that space. Hopefully they will discover this by thinking about how everyone in the world, with that same healthy mindset, will help maintain a wonderful, beautiful place to live.
Instructions on how to view:
- Click on "Here" above, then download the .kmz file from the ge.tt site.
- Make sure you have downloaded and installed Google Earth before opening the downloaded .kmz file.
- When you open the file and successfully start the program, make sure to close the tips that pop up, then click on the little triangle to the left of "Geography Trip" folder on the far left side of the program's window.
- Double click on "UCAES!" to read the directions and start your adventure!
This virtual field trip will introduce my students to the basic geography of the earth as well as the potential of the Google Earth application. Specifically, it will familiarize them with terms like hemispheres, equator, latitude, longitude and prime meridian. They will also learn some interesting facts about each of 7 continents including where they are located and something they are well known for. They will learn unique tools in Google Earth, such as weather, historical imagery, and ruler.
Aside from the above learning outcomes, my students (or anyone who views this) will develop a broader view of our world, which will help them not take their home for granted (especially when compared with Antarctica's weather). This virtual field trip will help students learn to appreciate the unique highlights found on each of the continents, and hopefully interest them in finding out more about a specific continent and/or country. Plus, just using Google Earth is fun and engaging. You can't help but move the world around, playing with it like ball. I'm sure students will 'accidentally' come across things around the world that will fascinate them and distract them from the tasks just because the scenery is so amazing in the app. Hopefully they will see how our earth is similar in its geographical features, and be inspired to keep it beautiful and inhabitable.
By learning about our continents and interacting with Google Earth, my students will develop their respectful mind. They will understand the world and their place in it better. They will value the variety of scenery, history and culture around the globe and acknowledge how different theirs is from others. They will also develop their ethical mind by seeing their place in the world, and that even though they only take up a small space, they are responsible for doing their best to preserve and improve that space. Hopefully they will discover this by thinking about how everyone in the world, with that same healthy mindset, will help maintain a wonderful, beautiful place to live.
Tuesday, August 6, 2013
Friday, August 2, 2013
Respectful & Ethical Mind Project
"Today’s students face a future where boundaries are abstract and global learning is critical. Tomorrow’s citizens must be global communicators, must be able to participate successfully in project-based activities, and must have collaborative skills" (2007, Reed).
In Howard Gardner's book, Five Minds for the Future (2006), he recommends 5 ways of living and thinking to be successful and productive in our 21st century globalized world. This post will discuss a classroom project that can be used to develop 2 of Gardner's proposed minds - the respectful and ethical minds.
Gardner defines a respectful person as one who "accepts the differences of others, learns to live [and/or work] with them, and value those who belong to other [groups]" (2006, p.107). By and large, my students do this pretty well, but it is easy to form a special or exclusive group because it provides them with some friendship security. As a teacher and Christian, it is always my goal to teach my students to follow the golden rule, found in Matthew 7:12, "So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets" (2011, NIV Bible). I think that describes a respectful person just as well as Gardner's. I always want my students to be inclusive of others, value everyone's unique contributions to life, and as Gardner recommends, "search for common ground" (2006, p. 125).
For Gardner, an ethical person is one who "is responsible - meaning they take into account the implications of their actions for the wider community that is affected by them, they have a set of principles and values which they themselves abide by no matter what, and ultimately embrace the virtues of truthfulness, integrity, loyalty and fairness" (2006, p.128, 136). As a Christian who believes in a loving Creator God that sees and knows everything, my ethics stem from what the Apostle Paul says in Colossians 3:23,24 - "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving" (2011, NIV Bible).
So, to help develop these two minds in my students, I need to model them as best I can as an example to them. If I cut corners here and there, there's no way I can expect my students to be respectful and ethical.
One project I could do in the classroom would be to have my students do a "Flat Classroom Digitween Project." This is a great way to not only connect my students with other students around the globe, but to have them collaborate on a specific task! In other words, students will do individual and collective research for a humanitarian purpose. They will listen to and value one another's work, they will learn to be responsible digital citizens and learners, and they will work toward the betterment of humanity! In the process they will learn how to use great collaborative tools such as Edmodo and Wikispaces. I hope to try it soon.
References
Gardner, H. (2006). Five Minds for the Future. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Holy Bible, New International Version. (2011) Biblica, Inc.
Reed, J. (2007, September 28). Global Collaboration and Learning. EdTech Magazine. Retrieved from http://www.edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2007/09/global-collaboration-and-learning
Friday, July 26, 2013
Atomic Structure Glog
Click here to view my first glog. It will educate you about atomic structure and the periodic table of the elements in a fancy, interactive way! :) Since my students will be learning about this topic this coming year, I will have them explore this glog when we reach the chemistry unit in science class.
In case you are not familiar with a glog, it is basically an online poster that you can put videos, graphics, audio, text and hyperlinks on to. For us educators, it is like creating an online learning center where students can choose what order to learn things in, explore digital media at their pace and level, and even do interactive activities or quizzes in which a teacher can assess their learning.
I like learning centers (real or online) because they give students some autonomy and choices, which free them to be more in control of their learning. And we all know that students self-motivated even in the least bit will learn and enjoy their learning experience a lot more than information learned purely from extrinsic reasons like grades. And although the quiz in this glog will be graded, there is still a lot of optional information a student can look into if they have the time and interest to do so. In other words, I think it will be more effective versus learning from a lecture or textbook reading.
I think this glog will be a great way for students to be introduced to this topic versus a textbook too. I can basically let them loose on it, making sure that they stay on task at their computers, and that they are engaged in the topic. Another way I could use this glog is for students that finish another assignment early and want a bit more of a challenge or independence with the topic. They could spend a little time on the glog, or a lot. That's the advantage of this tool. Students can spend more or less time on it, which will naturally happen because of their varied skill levels and completion of other work. It could also be a motivator for struggling students to finish an assignment so that they have some extra special time to go do some activities online!
Here are the standards (learning outcomes) that will be accomplished from students doing this glog:
B. Benchmark for Science Literacy (American Association for the Advancement of Science - Project 2061) - for Grades 6-8 - The Physical Setting: 4D The Structure of Matter
In case you are not familiar with a glog, it is basically an online poster that you can put videos, graphics, audio, text and hyperlinks on to. For us educators, it is like creating an online learning center where students can choose what order to learn things in, explore digital media at their pace and level, and even do interactive activities or quizzes in which a teacher can assess their learning.
I like learning centers (real or online) because they give students some autonomy and choices, which free them to be more in control of their learning. And we all know that students self-motivated even in the least bit will learn and enjoy their learning experience a lot more than information learned purely from extrinsic reasons like grades. And although the quiz in this glog will be graded, there is still a lot of optional information a student can look into if they have the time and interest to do so. In other words, I think it will be more effective versus learning from a lecture or textbook reading.
I think this glog will be a great way for students to be introduced to this topic versus a textbook too. I can basically let them loose on it, making sure that they stay on task at their computers, and that they are engaged in the topic. Another way I could use this glog is for students that finish another assignment early and want a bit more of a challenge or independence with the topic. They could spend a little time on the glog, or a lot. That's the advantage of this tool. Students can spend more or less time on it, which will naturally happen because of their varied skill levels and completion of other work. It could also be a motivator for struggling students to finish an assignment so that they have some extra special time to go do some activities online!
Here are the standards (learning outcomes) that will be accomplished from students doing this glog:
EALR 1 6-8 SYSA Given a system, identify subsystems and a larger encompassing system.
EALR 4 6-8 PS2C Explain that all matter is made of atoms, and give examples of common elements - substances composed of just one kind of atom.
GLE 2.2.2 Use organizational features and electronic sources (such as headings and numberings, CD-ROM, Internet, pull- down menus, key word searches, and icons) to access information.
A. National Science Education Standards for Grades 5-8
Physical Science (Content Standard B)
Properties and Changes of Properties of Matter
B. Benchmark for Science Literacy (American Association for the Advancement of Science - Project 2061) - for Grades 6-8 - The Physical Setting: 4D The Structure of Matter
Monday, July 22, 2013
Creativity & Technology in the Classroom
Here is a Q&A session I had with one of my students about creativity and technology in the classroom. His answers are in blue.
1. What do you like to create for fun at home or school?
I like to make drawings and pictures.
2. Do you like to be creative with schoolwork, or just do what you have to do get an A? Why?
It depends on the subject. For some (math, history, and science sometimes) I just like to get it done (textbook work). For art & hands-on stuff I like to spend time being creative.
3. What kinds of assignments/projects do you feel that you learn/remember the most from? Why?
Art stuff because I can look back on it and see it and remember. I also remember two of the projects we did this year very well - the one I did on a sea urchin and the other of a torpedo from the Industrial Revolution.
4. What do you enjoy more in school - when the teacher tells you exactly what you need to create, or when you have some choices/flexibility for what you can create? Why?
Choices, because I can be more creative/original/spontaneous. I can make it how I imagine it. I like making stuff.
5. Do you enjoy and learn better from books or online content? Why?
Online, because I can do it faster and obtain more information in less time.
6. Is it more fun to do hands-on projects or computer-produced projects? Why? Is there a time and a place for each?
I enjoy hands-on things better, but also enjoy computer projects in which I get to digitally design stuff, or create models,
7. Do you think there are creative ways to learn all the subjects in school?
Yes, with hands-on projects or computers. Computers have a lot of programs that foster creativity.
8. What kinds of learning/subjects do you think computers are most helpful with?
Science, writing and math because you can get instant feedback to see if you're right or wrong about something, plus you can do an assignment faster typing versus writing it.
9. Do you think we use technology enough in our classroom, or should we use it more? How so?
I think we use it enough, although I would like to use it more since I like technology and computers. If students brought their own techy devices to school, I don't think they would be responsible enough to stay on task with their devices. They would need restrictions.
10. If we could do anything to our classroom to make it a better place to learn in, what would you suggest we do or get?
Making everything digital and having all assignments on the computer (besides the hands-on projects).
In summary, my student seems to remember things better when given a project that is hands-on, creative, and/or involves online technology. He also greatly enjoys creative freedom and the opportunity to use online technology to expedite his assignments. I would say that his answers accurately represent most of his classmates' feelings on this too, based on my observation of them in class.
1. What do you like to create for fun at home or school?
I like to make drawings and pictures.
2. Do you like to be creative with schoolwork, or just do what you have to do get an A? Why?
It depends on the subject. For some (math, history, and science sometimes) I just like to get it done (textbook work). For art & hands-on stuff I like to spend time being creative.
3. What kinds of assignments/projects do you feel that you learn/remember the most from? Why?
Art stuff because I can look back on it and see it and remember. I also remember two of the projects we did this year very well - the one I did on a sea urchin and the other of a torpedo from the Industrial Revolution.
4. What do you enjoy more in school - when the teacher tells you exactly what you need to create, or when you have some choices/flexibility for what you can create? Why?
Choices, because I can be more creative/original/spontaneous. I can make it how I imagine it. I like making stuff.
5. Do you enjoy and learn better from books or online content? Why?
Online, because I can do it faster and obtain more information in less time.
6. Is it more fun to do hands-on projects or computer-produced projects? Why? Is there a time and a place for each?
I enjoy hands-on things better, but also enjoy computer projects in which I get to digitally design stuff, or create models,
7. Do you think there are creative ways to learn all the subjects in school?
Yes, with hands-on projects or computers. Computers have a lot of programs that foster creativity.
8. What kinds of learning/subjects do you think computers are most helpful with?
Science, writing and math because you can get instant feedback to see if you're right or wrong about something, plus you can do an assignment faster typing versus writing it.
9. Do you think we use technology enough in our classroom, or should we use it more? How so?
I think we use it enough, although I would like to use it more since I like technology and computers. If students brought their own techy devices to school, I don't think they would be responsible enough to stay on task with their devices. They would need restrictions.
10. If we could do anything to our classroom to make it a better place to learn in, what would you suggest we do or get?
Making everything digital and having all assignments on the computer (besides the hands-on projects).
In summary, my student seems to remember things better when given a project that is hands-on, creative, and/or involves online technology. He also greatly enjoys creative freedom and the opportunity to use online technology to expedite his assignments. I would say that his answers accurately represent most of his classmates' feelings on this too, based on my observation of them in class.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Social Media in the Classroom
Reflect upon the Pew research and think about how your students connect with each other outside of the classroom walls and the content they create and share. How can we apply this understanding to our instruction in light of the potential challenges and risks?
Since I teach mostly 10-14 year olds, I will discuss this week's topic in the context of that age group or "teens."
What I found to be interesting in the Pew Project is the apparent dependence of teens on the internet for a variety of things: social networking, entertainment, purchases, and information. “Among families with children between 12 and 17, more than three-quarters (76%) now have broadband internet access at home" and "nearly two-thirds of teen internet users (63%) go online every day" (Lenhart, 2010). The internet has obviously become increasingly important for them. Not only that, but having a number of techy gadgets (about 3-5) has become as common as having shoes! Of those gadgets, a cell phone and mp3 player are the most common. I can vouch for the truth of these statistics even in my small, rural Christian school.
What I found to be interesting in the Pew Project is the apparent dependence of teens on the internet for a variety of things: social networking, entertainment, purchases, and information. “Among families with children between 12 and 17, more than three-quarters (76%) now have broadband internet access at home" and "nearly two-thirds of teen internet users (63%) go online every day" (Lenhart, 2010). The internet has obviously become increasingly important for them. Not only that, but having a number of techy gadgets (about 3-5) has become as common as having shoes! Of those gadgets, a cell phone and mp3 player are the most common. I can vouch for the truth of these statistics even in my small, rural Christian school.
A random idea I have thought of based on how prevalent ipods are among my students is to make a podcast or even have them create podcasts on content we are studying. To go a step further, we could create educational songs in class and then put it on their devices. In this way, students could be listening to 'educational content' anytime and anywhere, even sharing them with friends and family!
Another fact I found good to know was the prevalence of teens on social networking sites (73%), most of them commenting on a friend's page or picture (Lenhart, 2010). The most relevant information I learned was how teens lead the pack in sharing content, remixing content, and interacting with blogs. This tells me that teens are not afraid to publish things about themselves or content that interests them. That is exciting to know as a teacher, because it gives me a heads-up that my students should enjoy posting original work online at school.
What the Pew Project doesn't tell us though, is why teens like to share information online so much...My guess is that it is a communication medium that they are more comfortable with being vulnerable and honest in, versus face-to-face in the classroom. They can be more open with their thoughts and feelings, and not face rejection as quickly or potently (except for online bullying). That leads us to the idea that online communication can be just as vulnerable to bullying as face-to-face, which is something the teacher and school need to have a policy in place to help prevent and deal with as necessary.
Another potential challenge to having students share content and feedback in class is parental consent. I have pretty conservative parents that are uncomfortable with their child having an email address. I was able to convince all of my parents how useful and safe it would be for my students to have gmail this year though, because of my access to their email and ability to limit their recipients to in-school addresses.
Despite these challenges, I have found that students love to share their work with each other, and I often find them verbally telling each other what they are posting before their post is even published. Collaborative documents can be a little chaotic at times, but they enjoy working and watching each other's work real-time. In Edmodo, some of my students have posted random things, which others quickly respond to in facebook style. With these things in mind, I think a teacher can foster a safe online environment, with guidelines, that engages students and allows them to create and communicate online. Plus, parents can be given access to view their child's published work, and comment on it themselves.
Here are a few online sites that could take advantage of students' interest in social media and commenting on each other's work (the sites in bold are ones that I currently use with my students):
References:
Lenhart, A., Purcell, K., Smith, A., Zickuhr, K. (2010). Social Media and Young Adults. Pew Internet & American Life Project. Retrieved from http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2010/Social-Media-and-Young-Adults/Part-3/1-Teens-and-online-social-networks.aspx
Friday, July 19, 2013
IDEO's Deep Dive
This video is awesome!! IDEO is so unique in the way they tackle a project. This video definitely has implications for learning in the classroom.
IDEO's Deep Dive
IDEO's Deep Dive
Motivation!
Here is a thought-provoking video that discusses research about rewards/incentives (grades) and the influence they can have on a person's performance.
It can also be found at http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html
It can also be found at http://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation.html
Eight Tips for Fostering Flow in the Classroom
I found a great list of ideas to help students enjoy learning, be motivated to learn, and learn better. Eight Tips for Fostering Flow in the Classroom
Monday, July 15, 2013
Creativity in the Classroom
I just watched a revolutionary and sobering presentation by Sir Ken Robinson. He is one of the most viewed speakers from TED. Here is the link if you are interested in watching his 20 min. talk that packs a lot of punch against our aging educational system.
So is Robinson correct? Do schools kill creativity? Well, schools have long upheld the 3 Rs: reading, 'riting & 'rithmetic as the most important components of the curriculum. And in our society, it makes sense that the 3Rs are emphasized because practically everything we do depends on them - our jobs and our personal ambitions. Plus, that is what our nation's standardized tests measure.
I thought Robinson (2006) made a powerful point when he said that schools start educating from the waist up, and then focus more on the brain, and then specifically on the left side, which is where the 3Rs operate. What he's implying is that schools don't value the arts, physical education, or other creative endeavors as much as the 3Rs. Is that bad? In my opinion it's terrible, and that is why I'm thankful to be an Adventist educator, because Adventist education emphasizes a wholistic educational experience. We don't cut physical education or the arts if there are financial problems because we recognize how the mind, body and spirit are interconnected and interdependent. One example is the fact that exercise helps students focus better in school! Another neat study that compared Adventist education with non-Adventist education shows that our Bible-centered, wholistic approach to education not only helps our students do as good as other schools on standardized tests, but above average! I am passionate about what I do...but back to the question.
I'm not sure if schools are the main ones to blame for this problem though. Former President Bush's No Child Left Behind act caused 'teaching to the test' to become schools' main motivation because of the fear of losing funding. This has limited teaching time to focus on the skills and content needed for the tests, which are predominantly focused on the 3Rs. PE and the arts have in turn been more neglected because they're not being tested.
I think that digital media can help reduce the creativity killing in schools. In my classroom, I love to use digital media because it engages my students very effectively. My understanding of digital media includes videos, online websites (static and interactive), music, and educational computer games. Digital media, by nature, is creative too. It was created by artists, musicians, designers, programmers, directors, editors, etc. Whenever I show digital media to my students, or let them independently interact with it, their creativity is encouraged because they want to make or do things similar to what they just experienced. Digital media can be controlled and/or manipulated by them too, versus a printed textbook. None of my students have ever said that they would be interested in writing a textbook! Plus, the fact that 80% of 6th-8th graders own an ipod (Project Tomorrow, 2010, p. 8) is reason enough to include digital media in the classroom, since it is obviously an important part of their personal lives. If I don't incorporate digital media in my classroom, students will view my classroom as less and less relevant, since their personal lives practically revolve around it. Project Tomorrow (2010) says that students "recognize from their own experiences growing up immersed in digital media that the best way to drive educational productivity is through the effective use of rich and relevant digital tools, content and resources” (p. 25). I want to make sure to capitalize on that so that my students can not only be creative in school, but be prepared for the real world when they graduate from school!
References
So is Robinson correct? Do schools kill creativity? Well, schools have long upheld the 3 Rs: reading, 'riting & 'rithmetic as the most important components of the curriculum. And in our society, it makes sense that the 3Rs are emphasized because practically everything we do depends on them - our jobs and our personal ambitions. Plus, that is what our nation's standardized tests measure.
I thought Robinson (2006) made a powerful point when he said that schools start educating from the waist up, and then focus more on the brain, and then specifically on the left side, which is where the 3Rs operate. What he's implying is that schools don't value the arts, physical education, or other creative endeavors as much as the 3Rs. Is that bad? In my opinion it's terrible, and that is why I'm thankful to be an Adventist educator, because Adventist education emphasizes a wholistic educational experience. We don't cut physical education or the arts if there are financial problems because we recognize how the mind, body and spirit are interconnected and interdependent. One example is the fact that exercise helps students focus better in school! Another neat study that compared Adventist education with non-Adventist education shows that our Bible-centered, wholistic approach to education not only helps our students do as good as other schools on standardized tests, but above average! I am passionate about what I do...but back to the question.
I'm not sure if schools are the main ones to blame for this problem though. Former President Bush's No Child Left Behind act caused 'teaching to the test' to become schools' main motivation because of the fear of losing funding. This has limited teaching time to focus on the skills and content needed for the tests, which are predominantly focused on the 3Rs. PE and the arts have in turn been more neglected because they're not being tested.
I think that digital media can help reduce the creativity killing in schools. In my classroom, I love to use digital media because it engages my students very effectively. My understanding of digital media includes videos, online websites (static and interactive), music, and educational computer games. Digital media, by nature, is creative too. It was created by artists, musicians, designers, programmers, directors, editors, etc. Whenever I show digital media to my students, or let them independently interact with it, their creativity is encouraged because they want to make or do things similar to what they just experienced. Digital media can be controlled and/or manipulated by them too, versus a printed textbook. None of my students have ever said that they would be interested in writing a textbook! Plus, the fact that 80% of 6th-8th graders own an ipod (Project Tomorrow, 2010, p. 8) is reason enough to include digital media in the classroom, since it is obviously an important part of their personal lives. If I don't incorporate digital media in my classroom, students will view my classroom as less and less relevant, since their personal lives practically revolve around it. Project Tomorrow (2010) says that students "recognize from their own experiences growing up immersed in digital media that the best way to drive educational productivity is through the effective use of rich and relevant digital tools, content and resources” (p. 25). I want to make sure to capitalize on that so that my students can not only be creative in school, but be prepared for the real world when they graduate from school!
References
Robinson, K. (2006, June). Ken Robinson Says Schools Kill Creativity [Video file]. Retrieved from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG9CE55wbtY
Project Tomorrow. (2010). Creating Our Future: Students Speak Up About Their Vision for 21st Century Learning. Retrieved from http://www.tomorrow.org/speakup/pdfs/SU09NationalFindingsStudents&Parents.pdf
Sunday, July 14, 2013
Empathy & Education
One of my classmates has an excellent 5min talk on the role of empathy on learning, which you can access below. I definitely recommend that you listen to it. I also shared some of my own comments about it afterwards that you can hear.
Jen's VoiceThread
Jen's VoiceThread
Friday, July 12, 2013
Emotions & Social Interaction VoiceThread
You can go to the link below to watch and hear my VoiceThread about the role of emotions and social interaction in learning, and how technology can help develop those skills.
VoiceThread
VoiceThread
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Plant Structure & Function Prezi Reflection
Here is the question I will be answering in this post: "In what practical ways can a media-infused presentation like the one you created help foster the development of both the disciplined and synthesizing minds?"
First of all, the "media-infused presentation" this question refers to is a prezi I made on plant structure and function, which I will be using with my students this coming year. Click here to view it.
Before I answer the above question, I should clarify what Howard Gardner's (2006) definition of a "disciplined" and "synthesizing" mind are. In his book, Five Minds for the Future, Gardner describes the necessity of developing 5 minds to be successful in our changing world. Those are the disciplined, synthesizing, creating, respectful, and ethical mind. I will probably be posting something related to each one this summer. For now, I will briefly describe the disciplined and synthesizing minds.
The disciplined mind, as Gardner (2006) would describe it, is when a person focuses on what they are learning, sticks with it continuously, and masters a skill or craft, which Gardner believes to take at least 10 years to do. An example of a person with a disciplined mind would be a surgeon, whose experience and continuing education enables them to master and constantly improve at patient care.
A synthesizing mind is when a person is able to gather information from completely different sources, boil all the information down to the main point(s), and then be able to clearly communicate that synthesized information with others. An example of a person with a synthesizing mind would be a teacher, since they are inundated with educational resources, but have to pick and choose what is most important and effective in helping their students learn.
With that background, I will now reflect on how my prezi will help foster those minds. I believe that it will help my students develop a more disciplined mind because they will need (and hopefully want to) stick with the prezi until it is completed. I will make sure they have enough time to go through the whole prezi too, since a plant's structure can only be fully understood when it is seen as a whole and not just parts. On the other hand, helping them 'zoom in' on the different parts of the plant will help their disciplined minds develop because they are getting a deeper understanding of the part compared to a basic definition. Plus, there are a couple of optional interactive activities in the prezi that allow them to dive even deeper to become more of an "expert" on plant structure and function. To go even further, this prezi will be placed in the midst of quizzes, discussions, and assignments on the topic, which will help my students "master" the content according to their developmental ability.
This prezi will definitely encourage my students' synthesizing mind because of the variety of media they will be exposed to within it. They will view pictures, text, diagrams, formulas, audio clips and video clips. The references alone will show them the spectrum of resources synthesized to create one harmonious, sequential presentation. I hope it will also be a good example of a clearly communicated presentation on a specific topic, that they can remember a lot from. But more than that, I hope it can be a good example of a well-synthesized presentation, so that they can in turn create their own prezis on a different topic. This prezi was a very effective project at helping me synthesize and filter information from various sources, and so I assume it will do the same for my students.
References
Gardner, Howard. (2006). Five minds for the Future. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
First of all, the "media-infused presentation" this question refers to is a prezi I made on plant structure and function, which I will be using with my students this coming year. Click here to view it.
Before I answer the above question, I should clarify what Howard Gardner's (2006) definition of a "disciplined" and "synthesizing" mind are. In his book, Five Minds for the Future, Gardner describes the necessity of developing 5 minds to be successful in our changing world. Those are the disciplined, synthesizing, creating, respectful, and ethical mind. I will probably be posting something related to each one this summer. For now, I will briefly describe the disciplined and synthesizing minds.
The disciplined mind, as Gardner (2006) would describe it, is when a person focuses on what they are learning, sticks with it continuously, and masters a skill or craft, which Gardner believes to take at least 10 years to do. An example of a person with a disciplined mind would be a surgeon, whose experience and continuing education enables them to master and constantly improve at patient care.
A synthesizing mind is when a person is able to gather information from completely different sources, boil all the information down to the main point(s), and then be able to clearly communicate that synthesized information with others. An example of a person with a synthesizing mind would be a teacher, since they are inundated with educational resources, but have to pick and choose what is most important and effective in helping their students learn.
With that background, I will now reflect on how my prezi will help foster those minds. I believe that it will help my students develop a more disciplined mind because they will need (and hopefully want to) stick with the prezi until it is completed. I will make sure they have enough time to go through the whole prezi too, since a plant's structure can only be fully understood when it is seen as a whole and not just parts. On the other hand, helping them 'zoom in' on the different parts of the plant will help their disciplined minds develop because they are getting a deeper understanding of the part compared to a basic definition. Plus, there are a couple of optional interactive activities in the prezi that allow them to dive even deeper to become more of an "expert" on plant structure and function. To go even further, this prezi will be placed in the midst of quizzes, discussions, and assignments on the topic, which will help my students "master" the content according to their developmental ability.
This prezi will definitely encourage my students' synthesizing mind because of the variety of media they will be exposed to within it. They will view pictures, text, diagrams, formulas, audio clips and video clips. The references alone will show them the spectrum of resources synthesized to create one harmonious, sequential presentation. I hope it will also be a good example of a clearly communicated presentation on a specific topic, that they can remember a lot from. But more than that, I hope it can be a good example of a well-synthesized presentation, so that they can in turn create their own prezis on a different topic. This prezi was a very effective project at helping me synthesize and filter information from various sources, and so I assume it will do the same for my students.
References
Gardner, Howard. (2006). Five minds for the Future. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Synthesizing Project
First of all, one should clearly understand the definition of synthesis before going about creating a synthesis project for students. According to Howard Gardner (2006), the creator of the theory of Multiple Intelligences (noted in an earlier blog post), synthesizing is "the ability to knit together information from disparate sources into a coherent whole" (p. 46). Disparate is means something that is different, but not comparable. In other words, the act of synthesizing would be more appropriate when trying to find similarities between a cat and a dog, not a dog and another dog.
Anyways, before you get lost in the vocabulary of this project, here is my idea to help students learn to synthesize, which I had my students do this last year in history class. While studying World War I & II, we watched videos, looked through books, and studied about it online. Then for a synthesis project, I had my students use the notes they had taken from each source to construct a digital timeline at www.tiki-toki.com, as well as US Government images. I required them to pick the same amount of events about each war in relation to their grade level. I also encouraged them to choose events that took place throughout the war and not just in one year or one location. Here is one of my student's timelines.
References
Gardner, H. (2006). Five Minds for the Future. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Anyways, before you get lost in the vocabulary of this project, here is my idea to help students learn to synthesize, which I had my students do this last year in history class. While studying World War I & II, we watched videos, looked through books, and studied about it online. Then for a synthesis project, I had my students use the notes they had taken from each source to construct a digital timeline at www.tiki-toki.com, as well as US Government images. I required them to pick the same amount of events about each war in relation to their grade level. I also encouraged them to choose events that took place throughout the war and not just in one year or one location. Here is one of my student's timelines.
References
Gardner, H. (2006). Five Minds for the Future. Cambridge, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Digital Media Atomic Structure Lesson
One topic I plan on teaching this coming school year is the structure of atoms. To start off the lesson I would have students watch a short video to introduce them to structure of atoms. (Click here to watch the 17 minute video on atomic structure. You will need an account with Discovery Education to view it.) I would give them the included video quiz to help them have specific details they would be looking for throughout the video, and to check their understanding of it immediately afterwards. Then together we would choose one element from the periodic table. I would draw and project the image through the document camera, and have the students draw it as well - either on a tablet or piece of paper that they will share with me. After discussing the structure, I would let students choose, on a collaborative Google doc, which element they would like to study and present to the their peers. Their assignment would be to create a short video clip of themselves explaining the details of their element, and to use whatever materials they want to construct a 3D model, such as a hanging mobile, of the atomic structure. Or, they could make an animated powerpoint of their element to show the movement of the parts of the atom. To do all of that they would need to research their element online, or use an app of the periodic table if we purchase one. Another fun activity to include in their presentation would be to video record a group of students working together to act out the atomic structure of an element by each posing (or moving) as their assigned part. To conclude the lesson, students would post their presentations on a class wikispace, which I would help them with, and then comment on each other's presentations. Their feedback could include how their classmate's element's atomic structure compared to their own.
My goals through this lesson would be to:
- quickly provide some highlights (video) about atomic structure so they have some background knowledge to work with
- motivate them to remember important facts about the topic (quiz)
- draw and discuss an atom's structure together (document camera)
- give students some ownership by letting them choose an element that interests them (google doc)
- have students synthesize what they learned with me and their online (internet) research to create a presentation (video / powerpoint)
- have students work in a group to act out an element's atomic structure (video camera)
- have students share their presentation on a classroom webpage (wikispace), and give feedback on each other's presentations
With all of these activities combined, there would be multiple ways and times for me to check my students' understanding of the topic. In addition to making assessment more convenient for myself, these various ways would enable students with various strengths and learning styles to showcase their understanding with me and the class in a way that would be fun and natural for them. If any students struggle with how to accomplish any of the above goals, I could encourage peer-to-peer mentoring. As we all know, when you teach somebody else a skill or concept, your chances of remembering that skill or concept is a lot better.
Multiple Intelligences & Higher-Level Thinking
Howard Gardner's Multiple Intelligences Theory and Dr. Bloom's Taxonomy of higher-level thinking have greatly influenced how I teach and assess my students. If you aren't familiar with these, do yourself a favor and at least take a brief look at them. They will at least help you better understand each person's unique strengths and the characteristics of a critical thinker.
Being a visual learner, here is a diagram for each idea, as well as a link if you want to learn more:
Martin, A. (Artist). (2005). Multiple Intelligences. [Image]. Ann Arbor, MI; University of Michigan. Retrieved July 3, 2013, from http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.martin/home
Being a visual learner, here is a diagram for each idea, as well as a link if you want to learn more:
Martin, A. (Artist). (2005). Multiple Intelligences. [Image]. Ann Arbor, MI; University of Michigan. Retrieved July 3, 2013, from http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.martin/home
Bloom's Taxonomy. (2013, July 3). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 21:30, July 3, 2013, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Bloom%27s_Taxonomy&oldid=562683312
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Media Usage Statistics for Young People
My big learning experience from today happened while reading some staggering statistics about what and how much media young people are exposed to each day and for how long. You can read it yourself if you want at http://kff.org/other/generation-m-media-in-the-lives-of/
Here are the highlights that I thought were interesting:
Here are the highlights that I thought were interesting:
“A
substantially higher proportion of girls than boys watch situation comedies,
and a substantially higher proportion of boys than girls watch sports” (Roberts, 2010, p. 26).
“Screen media [is] important to U.S. children.
Average TV exposure among 8- to 18-year-olds exceeds three hours daily, and
when all screen media are combined, average daily exposure climbs to 41⁄4
hours” (p. 23).
“The average daily time devoted to all leisure
reading by 8- to 18-year-olds is 43 minutes, of which more than half is devoted
to books (23 minutes) and a quarter to magazines (14 minutes). The remaining
six minutes are spent with newspapers” (p. 26).
What a contrast between the amount of time spent reading vs. watching TV!
“Kids with college-educated parents spend
substantially more time reading than those whose parents completed no more than
high school” … "However, girls devote significantly more time than boys to
books (28 minutes vs. 19 minutes)”... “U.S. kids average 13⁄4 hours per day
with music media, with the time almost equally divided between radio and
various recorded media (tapes, CDs, MP3s)” (p. 27).
“Rap/Hip Hop account for most of adolescent music listening: on any given
day, 65% of junior and senior high school kids reporting listening — over twice
the portion that listens to any other single type of music” (p. 28).
“Games account for 19 minutes of computer time
daily, followed by instant messaging (17 minutes), and visiting Web sites (14
minutes)” (p. 30).
“U.S. kids spend 49 minutes daily playing video
games of one kind or another, with console games garnering roughly twice the
amount of time
as handheld games” (p. 31).
“Boys spend almost three times as much time as
girls playing video games (1:12 vs. 0:25)” (p. 32).
The average amount of time a young person uses
media (including multiple devices at the same time) is 6:21 (p. 36). Yikes! That is a lot!
“The end result of combining time spent with computer games and video
games into a measure
of total interactive gaming is to reveal that interactive games consume more
than an hour daily of U.S. 8- to 18-year- olds’ time” (p. 32,33).
(p. 38)
Roberts,
D.F., Foehr, U.G., & Rideout, V. (2010). Generation M2: Media in the Lives
of 8-18 Year-olds. Kaiser Family Foundation. Retrieved June 25, 2013
from http://kaiserfamilyfoundation.files.wordpress.com/2013/04/8010.pdf
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