Presentations with Prezi

Using Databases

Reflection - Part 1 - I used the Prezi app to create my presentation. Since I previously had only used Power Point for presentations, this app had positives and negatives. The template options were creative, but I had a hard time following the presentation structures that had circles in different sizes and in seemingly random orders (the "progress" structure.) I prefer the more linear ("report") type of structures. After choosing a background image, theme, and structure that I liked, I was frustrated by the limited ways that I could edit the slide. I do appreciate uniformity in a presentation, but I didn't like that I could not insert text boxes in other places or adjust font sizes. I did like that I was able to complete the whole presentation on the iPad. I could search the web, take screen shots, enhance the screen shots with Skitch, and insert the images into the presentation.

     If students were using Prezi, I would suggest they sketch out a rough draft or flow chart of the presentation ahead of time. I would also suggest that all screen shots be taken beforehand and stored together so that they will be easily accessible. I would also recommend that students cover the topics in "Presentation Zen." These recommendations will help them make presentations that will have greater impacts. 

Reflection - Part 2 - As a K-5 technology teacher, I have many opportunities to use presentation apps to support the curriculum. I am thinking of ways that I can collaborate with classroom teachers to enhance student projects with presentations. Our second graders research animals each year. Students could create presentations including their own drawings and other images of their animals and include facts about them. Our third graders made timelines of their lives that are displayed in the hallways. These timelines could be presented through Prezi and include pictures and important dates. Our fourth graders research states each year. A presentation app could be used to create virtual field trips to different locations for the regions being studied. The presentation could be set up as if the student were a tour guide to a particular area. This lesson could be an example of modification. The original research assignment is being significantly redesigned. The student is given the flexibility to choose points of interest within their state, find pictures and videos to enhance the presentation, and then take classmates on a "tour" of his/her state.  

Photo Enhancement

Original

Modified with Skitch

Photo Editing

Original

Modified

Reflection - Photos and use of the camera can most definitely support curriculum. First of all, kids love it! They love to see pictures of themselves displayed in the classroom, in presentations, and on the teacher's webpage. Pictures are always a great marketing tool promoting what is going on in the classroom and in the school.
     In my own subject area (technology), students could use the iPads to take and edit their own pictures for presentations. We have used images in Edmodo, in creating Jib Jab videos, and while creating presentations. Adding pictures that they have taken themselves, instead of using images found online, will add a level of ownership and uniqueness to the presentation. This would also be a time that I could promote good digital citizenship when taking and using photos of students.
     The camera feature would also be a great way to document what is happening in the classroom. It is often difficult to assess certain tasks that are done without the use of paper and pencil. The camera feature will help me document student learning in different ways.

Create a Personal Magazine

Space Flipbook

Reflection - I really liked using both the Flipbook and Zite apps to stay informed. With Flipbook, I was able to easily search different topics and save useful links together in one place. It will prove to be a great time saver when I need to go back and retrieve information that is important to me. It is also a great tool for organization. I was able to create several different magazines, both personal and professional, that have colorful and visual resources to read, view, and share with others. This would be a great resource for grade-level teachers, subject area teachers, or school improvement members to collect and share valuable information. I really like the customization of Zite so that I can just read about topics that are important to me. I enjoy using Pinterest, but these apps are going to be just as useful, if not more so, to collect and organize information on topics that are important to me. 

News Apps - npr

Social Media - Twitter

Opportunities - I see Twitter as an opportunity to expand my circle of professional acquaintances. I have used it to build relationships with other teachers and administrators. It has been a useful tool for networking and research. When I have been looking for ideas and solutions to difficult situations, I have searched certain content through the use of hashtags. I routinely browse the "home" screen looking for interesting topics. I also use it to follow certain news outlets for updates.

Drawbacks - I have used Facebook for several years but I never really "enjoyed" using Twitter. I find it to be somewhat impersonal. It does not really encourage true conversation between educators. It tends to be one-liners and retweets. I sometimes see the same weblink retweeted by several people that I follow. It gets a little repetitive. I also have a hard time with the 140 character limit. It doesn't allow people to complete thoughts. I also find the Twitter abbreviations and symbols confusing and prevents creative expression. I'm really hoping that the experiences from this lesson will help me get past some of my negativity towards this type of social media.

Digital Space - Social Studies Padlet

Social Studies Padlet

Reflection - I used Padlet to create a review for a 4th grade social studies unit. The students had been studying the Northeast Region of the United States so I asked them to post points of interest from the region. For each point of interest, they searched Google Images and attached a picture of the location. The students loved the experience! They were very eager for me to approve their posts so that classmates could see them. It proved to be a good review, as some needed to refer to their text and notes to find the perfect point of interest. There was some concern that someone might pick the same place as them, but I assured them that it would be fine to have multiple postings of the same location since they would likely choose different images. If I were to do the lesson again, I would ask students to make a list of their top 3 points of interest before starting to work on Padlet. I would also spend some time practicing Google Image searches and demonstrating the options for posting the images. 

I have used Padlet before, but I thought of many other ways that it could be used in an elementary setting. 

• It would be a great way for students to post prior knowledge at the the beginning of a unit of study. Then students could make a new wall at the end of the unit. The two walls could be compared to note the learning that has taken place. 
• Another idea is to create a book wall where students can post the title, author, and rating of books they have read. They could include a picture of the cover to give other students in the class an idea of independent reading books. They could also attach a weblink to the author's website, a book review, or the AR book finder.
• Our second graders write animal reports each year. Padlet would be a fun way to post three facts about their animals and attach a picture. This would quickly give classmates information about a variety of animals along with some fast facts. 

Video Call - FaceTime

FaceTime with my training partner (my sister)

Reflection - Video calls can open doors to so many different kinds of learning experiences. As an educator, video calls can help to connect professionals. I have been able to attend training sessions and webinars without having to travel. I have also been able to communicate with top professionals whose sessions may be too costly for my district to fund. It is also a great way for teachers to share ideas, lessons, and materials. I can watch a lesson being taught by a colleague to help improve my own teaching skills. 

     Video calls can also be used in lessons with students. Connecting with other classrooms is an eye-opening experience. Children can learn about students from other cultures. Different learning styles can be explored. The Mystery Skype project is a great example an engaging video call. Students come up with their own clues about their state, hometown, and school, while receiving clues from the other school about their location. Lessons in geography, history,  and climate are learned while also practicing their presentation skills. 

Pedagogy - SAMR Model

Substitution - At the :48 second portion of the Chicago iPad video, teachers were using the iPads for spelling words. This is an example of substitution because the iPad was replacing the traditional method of spelling out words on paper. There is no functional change, the new technology is simply replacing the old. This best relates to Bloom's level referred to as remembering. 

Augmentation -  At the 1:37 mark of the Chicago iPad video,  iPads were being used to help special education students with grocery shopping. This is an example of augmentation because the traditional method of taking a written list to the grocery store was substituted with a list on the iPad. The functionality of that list was then increased by the addition of pictures and audio to help the students locate the grocery item on the shelves. This is closely related to Bloom's level of applying.

Modification - At the 2:06 mark of the  Chicago iPad video, students were using iPads to design and operate virtual roller coasters. This would be an example of modification because the task of building a roller coaster is significantly redesigned due to the use of technology. The physics app allows students to create the coaster and then manipulate its individual parts to design something functional. The analyzing level of Bloom's taxonomy is most closely related to this task. 

Redefinition - The Zeeland video gave an excellent example of redefinition. Students were using iPads to create commercials to advertise the sale of wristbands. The commercials were student-designed and student-created. The technology was the tool used to create something new. Students were collaborating with one another while creating something authentic for a real audience of their peers. The is closely related to Bloom's level referred to as creating. 

Reflection

After watching all of the video selections and reading the information related to Bloom's, I was able to easily see the connections between Bloom's model and the SAMR model. As teachers, we are always striving to teach at the higher levels of Bloom's taxonomy. As we integrate more and more technology into our classrooms and lesson plans, we should continue to include higher level thinking skills. We need to make every effort to be sure that technology is not just serving as a substitution for paper and pencil tasks.

Customizing my iPad

Customizing the home screen helped make my iPad unique and extremely functional. It is so much easier for me to find the apps that I am looking for. Creating folders also allowed me to group together apps that I am using for a common task. The apps that I need quick access to are in the dock area while my other apps are grouped into folders by commonalities. As I add more apps, I can easily group them with others.