Lesson Plan Reflection

Link to Lesson Plan Reflection

Lesson Plan on the American Revolution

Lesson Plan on the American Revolution

Digital Audio Project on Subtracting Fractions

Lesson-My was for fifth graders on subtracting fractions.

Plan- My digital storyboard focused on subtracting fractions.  First, a student was given a problem with the same denominator and had to explain using words and/or pictures how to solve the problem.  Next, the problem got a bit more difficult.  My student was given a problem with unlike denominators and had to explain how to solve that type of problem.  Making it even harder, she was given mixed fractions to subtract and had to explain how she had to borrow from the whole number in order to subtract the fractions.  Lastly, she created a real life story problem subtracting fractions with unlike denominators.  A variety of math games were used throughout these lessons.

Reference to Learning Theory- Social Constructivism was used in this storyboard, giving students less and less support as they solve a variety of subtraction problems that will get more difficult. 

Twist- I gave the student much more support initially to help her explain how to subtract fractions.  By the end, little support was given and my student learned from their own mistakes and explained them to me.    


Digital Story Project on Subtracting Fractions

Audio Production

I decided to interview a few of my fifth grade students on their understanding of what the water cycle is and how it works.   In science this year, the fifth graders reviewed the water cycle; however, they had learned it in previous grades.  I wanted to see if they built their knowledge on what we learned this year about evaporation and condenstation and how it connects to the water cycle.  Below are the results of my audio interview.

Podcast of Water Cycle Interview

Final Wicked Project

I thought the Wicked Project was very worthwhile.  It allowed me to gain insight into effective teaching strategies for math and those strategies will be utilized in the future.

Also, I enjoyed getting the opportunity to follow other classmates Wicked Projects as a way to help me learn from their research.  All three of my group members created a project on issues that I deal with in the classroom.  Their projects helped me learn new strategies for students editing their writing, increasing communication with parents, and using Wiki for group projects.  Thank you to Linnea, Steve, and Amanda for creating such great learning tools.

Here is my presentation (two parts) on using math games and the SMARTboard to engage students, increase motivation, and help connect math to their daily lives.  Enjoy! 


http://screencast.com/t/i51sFT9qVS

http://screencast.com/t/kJtp9YsmdZH

Group Leadership Project Finalized

My group decided to use Jing to deliver our final project.  We had used Adobe Connect for our group meeting; however, we felt it echoed when we talked to each other.  Another negative with Adobe Connect was that we would have had to meet at a time that was convenient for all of us as well as our instructor. We all felt very comfortable using Jing to create our individual portion of the presentation.   For our group, it was very effective to use Google Docs to communicate with each other as well as email.       

I learned a lot during the development process of our Group Leadership Project.  First, I learned the importance of discussion with my group members.  When we got together on Google docs or email, it was important to communicate on what the final product entailed, helping each other understand it fully.  After discussion, we felt that it wasn’t fair to have one person create the entire Jing on Prezi.  Also, we didn’t feel as confident on the parts of a Prezi we didn’t specifically become a master on.  Although the flow of our presentation would have been a bit better with one person completing it, we felt it was important to show our collaboration on the presentation.  We watched the person’s presentation before our own part, trying to make it flow.  The development of the project was easier and more fair by assigning particular roles.

If I had to deliver a similar product again, the only part I would change would be to add a few more sound effects.  I had a very difficult time finding appropriate sound effects for the presentation.  There are a million sound effects on the Internet, but finding one that worked was more difficult for me.   

Our group collaborated well together and we have a product that we are proud of.  Enjoy!   

Group Leadership Project

Part 1 How to get started with Prezi by Lisa Napierala
http://screencast.com/t/STGZvwBV


Part 2 How to move, rotate, scale and zoom by Steve Veldman 
http://screencast.com/t/C8PFKglY3Svt


Part 3 How to use frames and create a path by Linnea Czerney 
 http://screencast.com/t/GzKcHHAf


Part 4 How to invite others to view by Amanda Kain  
http://screencast.com/t/8umJelEDrRr


Prezi:
http://prezi.com/hghw3c2dogey/copy-of-technology/

Personal Learning Reflection CEP 812

My passion for learning about technology and how to effectively incorporate it into my classroom is not going to stop after CEP 812 or after MAET.  Below I have created a podcast and screen cast, two technologies I have learned to use this semester in order to share my accomplishments as well as share what I will continue to work on throughout MAET and beyond.      

Here is a podcast of my Personal Learning Reflection for CEP 812:

Podcast

Script to Podcast:
 
After reviewing my goals from CEP 810 and CEP 811, I have learned an immense amount of knowledge up to this point in my masters.  When I started MAET, I had never created a blog,  a web page, or used an RSS Reader.  I was unfamiliar with Google for Documents, Forms, Drawing, and creating Presentations, as well as little knowledge on numerous educational learning sites.  Wow, has my knowledge for technology grown in just in a short few months!  

Most of my goals from CEP 810 and 811 have been fulfilled.  One of the most beneficial findings is learning from others on social learning sites such as MACUL space.   Also, I have created a website for student and parent use, as well as a blog.   

In my current CEP classes, I have learned about a variety of content management systems such as Weebly, Moodle, Wiki, and Wordpress.  I learned how to create a screen cast as well a podcast.    

This semester, one of the projects I learned the most from was through the Wicked Project.  Not only did I learn from my own, but through my group member’s projects as well.  The group I was assigned was a perfect fit.  For example, Steve Veldman’s project was on students editing and revising their written work.  I struggle with this issue on a daily basis.  After seeing his overall success with VozME, I too want to use this technological tool to enhance student learning.  Amanda Kain worked with WikiSpaces which I am not very knowledgeable on and Linnea Czerney worked with increasing parent communication.  All of these issues were relevant to my teaching and I enjoyed discovering new websites and information to enhance my teaching.

As I said before and I will continue to say, I will always search for new ways of incorporating more technology into the classroom.  I am becoming more confident in my abilities with technology.  My long-term goals are to discover many more free online technological resources that are user-friendly to implement into my classroom.  I am more confident in my abilities; however, I know I still have so much more to learn and that learning won’t stop after this class or after getting my masters.  As I mentioned last semester, I am still focused on getting Google accounts for students, as well as creating online portfolios.

I am very thrilled that our school is finally getting on board with SMARTboards.  I am trying to talk my principal into technology training on the SMARTboards and incorporate that into our Summer School Program for our youngsters struggling in math.  This is a great way for professional development and immediately use it for student learning.   
I know as I continue through my masters degree I am going to continue to learn an immense amount of knowledge.       


End of Script

I wanted to create a Screencast in order to show some of the ways I have learned about technology and/or incorporated technology into my teaching. 

Here is a screen cast made from Jing on my Personal Learning Reflection for CEP 812:

Screencast

I am excited to see what the rest of the masters program has to offer!