How 1:1 ipads have changed student presentations

Every year, students are assigned to present in classes.  This can take many different forms.  With the use of a variety of apps, what used to be an "end of the unit project," are now becoming a "celebration of learning."  This past week, students were required to present on a historical event, a historical fiction novel, and explain whether or not the novel is considered to be more historical or fictional.  With this presentations, I have noticed the following benefits of 1:1.

• Without any prompting, many students used their ipads much like a note card as they followed along as they presented.  This helped students have a support, allowing them to have more confidence and maintain better eye contact.  
• Presentations have a wide variety of media.  Students included video, images, text, and graphics to complement what they were saying.
• Students integrated a variety of apps.  Some used pic collage or skitch to put together a collage of pictures which could represent the events.  
• Putting many elements together into one presentation forces students to think about the information at a different level.  Students must understand the info well enough to know what is most important and decide how best to represent that for the audience to understand.

Fun for the Geography Whiz

• Gameon.world
• Smartypins

I'm Willing and Eager but No One Needs Help: Getting People to Come to You

So you are now in the role as an Instructional / Technology Coach but how do you get your staff to ask for the support you want to give?  Take a look at these tips:

1.  Create that 30 second elevator speech:  When people ask "What do you do?  Do you like your job?" that is the first "in" you can have as you let them know what you have to offer.  

2.  Build Relationships:  People are more willing to ask friends for help than strangers.  Ask staff about everyday things.  This soon builds into a trusting relationship, opening up new possibilities.

3.  Know that Sometimes people just need someone to listen:  While negativity is always a downer, sometimes people just need to vent.  Sometimes they aren't really looking for a problem to be solved but just want someone to understand and be able to relate.  Even if you can't, being that person who can listen once in awhile is just another way to build that trusting relationship.  Some day they might just be willing to listen to a solution too.  

4.  Be Seen Physically:  They can't ask questions if they can't find you.  Be sure to work in an area with clear visibility by many people.  Soon you will be getting questions from people even when they didn't even come in with one.  Seeing you triggers the, "Oh, yeah.. I was wondering" or "Maybe you would know.." 

5.  Be Seen Digitally:  Another coach once told me, "You are only an expert a million miles away."  Create a presence on Twitter, google +, or blog posts.  If staff see you being knowledgeable on topics out of school, they are more likely to think of you as a go-to when they have a question.

6.  Never Turn Anyone Away Without Bringing an Answer:  If someone asks you a question, they are looking for an answer from you.  People don't like to wait for an answer or to be bounced around like a tennis ball.  While there are times that you may need to direct someone elsewhere, the best way to help if you can not solve the problem is to physically help the person make the transition.  When you ask a store associate where you can find the dill pickles, the best support is to be physically walked to the pickles rather than having the associate say, "In the back of the store" or "Aisle 10."  There is always some way to help.  This will likely bring them back again.

7.  Take Advantage of opportunities to learn:  When someone brings in an issue, it is always a good idea to watch and learn.  Chances are pretty good that this issue will resurface again.  The more you know, the more likely you will be able to help.  

Building a Website with Kids

If you are looking to have kids put together a website, I would recommend:

 Student Newspaper Example

• Easy drag and drop images, videos, text..
• Easy drag and drop organization
• Already developed themes
• Track stats on page views
• Receive direct feedback from Form Entries

Teacher Website

• New Drag and drop features
• Easy to use
• Easily connects with google accounts
• New, easy to use platform, gives limited theme oand colors options. Older version takes a little more comfort with technology but offers many more options.

Video Project Day 2

Day 2 of video project was not as positive as day 1.  Today the work needed to be done.  While some groups were motivated and efficient, others sat around staring at each other for awhile.  To help, I always tell students they are only allowed to film at home or during class time.  They can not film during study hall as that tends to be more of a distraction than anything else.  To help students use time wisely and make the most professional film, we talked about

Effective use of Time:

• Only take 2-3 shots of each scene.  This will keep you on track rather than spending the entire time laughing about one scene.
• Tomorrow you can look at videos and decide on retakes.
• Do not delete anything you tape as you may use in the end

Professional Films:

• Without proper equipment and professional actors, videos can look bad.  Be creative in the way or what you film
• Example: if you are running, just video the feet rather than the whole body.
• Focus on the positive not negative.  Most students wanted to have a student running in the hall and they show that student being told not to run.  Instead, have the student walking and modeling the proper way rather than drawing attention to the negative.
• Use the knowledge of others:  If you are not witty or not sure what to say, use what others have said by looking on google for quotes about your topic.
• Do not plan for a written word for word script.  This will take too long and will not be used anyways.

After the project I plan to have the students create a reflection which is what most of their grade for this project will be based on.  The reflection will focus on what went well and what they would do differently if done again.

Make Some History

Students were giving the task today to create a video that is inspiring to the audience, explains class expectations, and focuses on telling students to BE _____?______.  We modeled this off of Kid President video to students and teachers.  As soon as the groups started, students were motivated.  We also used google to help brainstorm ideas by typing in words and looking for quotes or images. For example, a group typed in Respect and they really liked the quote: "Seek Respect, not Attention!  It lasts longer."   Through this lesson we also talked about word choice which will lead into how to do close readings.  If a student used the word fun, they needed to think about how to be more specific.  We also talked about how to tie it all together.  Start with something more general that relates to the main BE ____ word.  Then give examples or quotes to inspire.  End with the bang: Be _____!  I am excited to see how they turn out.  For the last couple of years I have wanted to have students find quotes that are inspiring.  This was able to accomplish that easily without simply giving the assignment of "Your assignment is to find a quote that you like."  A 21st century way of having students determine classroom expectations!  When videos are done, we will be posting QR codes in the hall and classroom walls that students can look at as they have time or throughout the year for some motivation.  I love when a project really comes together to bring out so many skills that one worksheet or assignment could have never done.  Students are working together, brainstorming, planning, doing close readings of quotes, becoming inspired, inspiring others, displaying personalities and personal interests, setting expectations for the classroom, using specific word choice, and much more.  If you are interested in more about this lesson, feel free to send me an email.

Student Interior Designs: Day 1

For a while now I have wanted to do something with my classroom to make it an inviting learning space for my students.  The problem has always been that I am horrible with interior design as I have always been known as the room with a conglomerate of colors and furniture.  I tend to be the one that hoards furniture.  If I see it in the hallway on the way to the dump, it usually ends up in my room.   One day I finally put it out there and asked the art teachers if they knew of any students who would like to reinvent my classroom.  The next day, 7 students showed up ready to get started.  After brainstorming ideas and telling them what I was thinking along with the budget they could work with, they got to work.