iPad Training, Round 2

Last week, we had more iPad training at our school.  I was excited to hear that it would focus more in depth in how to integrate iPads into our teaching.  Here are some good ideas I walked away with.

• StoryKit is a digital book creation tool.  You can type text, add pictures, draw pictures, and add audio.  The one drawback is that it's only viewed on StoryKit.  You can email a copy to your friends, but it won't be book like.  Here's my example from the Stamp Act. This version has less bells and whistles than what you would see on your iPad, but you get the idea.  
• Popplets is a graphic organizer creator.  I love it!  It's more fluid than the software our school requires, and students can even insert pictures.  You'll see my example also from the Stamp Act here.  My link is the free version, but our school is going to use the paid version which has more capability like putting a popplet in Drop Box.
• SonicPics helps you create stories using pictures and audio. I have the lite (free version) which only allows three pictures.  The paid version has more capability.  
• ScreenChomp is an interactive white board.  You can start with a blank screen or a picture background.  Then you draw on the board and talk at the same time.  I told my social studies class about it, and they looked at me like I was crazy.  I told my advanced math class about it, and they looked at me like I was crazy.  I told my regular math class about it, and they got excited.  I think they are excited to have another way (verbal) to explain how their understanding of math procedures.  I have not had the opportunity to use it in class yet, but I will soon.  I've had kids play with it already and the enthusiasm is  obvious.
• PhotoCard is a postcard app. I plan to do this on my next vacation. Take a cute picture of my daughter.  Put it on the app.  Write a neat note.  Email it out.  Cheaper and more personal than a real postcard.  However, this could be a good way to get a one short snippet of information out of a kid.  See my example below.

Funny.  I never was into professional development till someone handed me an iPad.  Now I love it! 

Consumption vs. Creation

How does your school use technology?  How do you integrate technology in your classroom?

I recently read this post, in which the author spent a bit of time on my soapbox.  As I see it, there are three ways technology can be used in schools.  Today I read this post about a fellow tech integrator who is just plain struggling to bring technology into his lessons in an effective way.

The more I research best practices in technology integration the more I get frustrated.  When I read other people's blogs or tweets, there is a lot of talk about how computers are going to revolutionize the education system.  The advent of the iPad raised this talk to a whole new level... so it would seem.

I just went to the App Store and hit the "Education" category.  Top six results sorted by relevance were... Color Mix HD (Fairy Princess), Color Mix HD (Dinosaur), If you're happy and you know it, Monkey Preschool Lunchbox, Math Puppy - Bingo Challenge, and Timmy's Preschool Adventure.  Raise your hand if any of those title get you excited to go to school tomorrow.  Next, I merely typed "Math" into the search window.  My top six results were mainly drill and practice apps. Math, Math (R), Motion Math: Hungry Fish, My Math Flash Cards App, and Motion Math Zoom are all some form of drill and practice.  I'm pretty sure that my school didn't spend thousands of dollars so my students can learn their math facts.  My mom spent a buck or two on index cards and few minutes to write it all down for me to learn my facts.

I was intrigued by the first result though.  It's called... Math..  (No, that double period is not a typo.  The name of the app is Math., and the other period is the end of the sentence.)  I installed it on my iPad, and it looks good. They work you through concepts step by step and have video accompaniment too.  Not a bad thing... but still a consumer product.

I may have rambled a bit getting to this point, by I do have a point.

My research is turning up two distinct categories.
1.  It's all focused on consumption products. I'm not poo-pooing consumption, but do we teach higher level thinking through these products?  Kids spend most of their life consuming technology: TV, video games, and music.  Do we need to overload them in school too?  Do we need iPads to do what my mom did with index cards when I was 10?
2.  "These computers are going to change everything!"... but very little practical application to go along with it.  There is a large group of educators out there who are itching to change the educational system and rightly see these electronics as the means to get there.  We all know that these tools can do something special we could not dream of when we were kids, but very few are giving practical suggestions of how to get there.

This summer I got my first iPad and started in on Twitter.  It wasn't long before I found @coolcatteacher and @thenerdyteacher.  I love following them because they give practical suggestions of what they are doing in class and how they integrate technology.  However, they teach high school, and I'm in upper elementary.  I'm still struggling to find someone in my grade level who is using these tools to do cool things (creation tools, not consumption tools).

So, here's my promise.  I'm going to keep plugging away.  I'm going to find ways for my students to create using iPads, and I'm going to post those projects here. If you or a friend are on a similar quest to use project based learning and creation apps in the upper elementary classroom, please send them my way.  I would love a buddy to bounce ideas off of. Imagine what we could do collaborating together.  If you stumble across this post and you realize that we're barking up the same tree, please send me your blog address, twitter handle, or facebook friend request.

I originally wrote this post over a week ago and stopped since it sounded so obnoxiously cocky.  I went back today and deleted whole paragraphs and tweaked a few things.  Please don't read this and think that I'm promoting myself or what I'm doing.  I'm just showing my frustrations and struggles to find what I'm looking for out there.  Instead of this blog being self-promotion, I'm getting my voice out there trying to find some sense of community so we can learn and grow together.

Thanks for listening to me ramble.  I'm not even sure if I ended where I started with the title, but I feel better now.  

 @kylepace

I Love It!

We are wrapping up a unit in my 5th grade Social Studies class on the events leading up to the Revolutionary War.  We read the chapter really fast and focused this week on a project.

Step 1: Select a topic.
I broke them into groups of 2 or 3 then gave them a number of topics to select.  We have Stamp Act, Boston Massacre, Common Sense, Boston Tea Party, and Lexington and Concord represented.

Step 2: Research.
We are using popplet to record the research.  This is a graphic organizer creator.  Students had to give me 6-10 facts and at least two pictures.  At least three of the facts had to be found outside the textbook.

Step 3: Create.
We are using StoryKit to create a book.  Each page had specific information required.

·         Page 1 – Define the topic.  Include the date of the event.  Include a picture and audio.

·         Page 2 – Why did this happen? (What was the cause?) Include a picture and audio.

·         Page 3 – What was the effect of this event? Include a picture and audio.

·         Page 4 – How did this event lead to the American Revolution?  Include a picture and audio.

·         Page 5 – Source information.  Include author, title, and date for books and web address and date visited for web sites.  (Search engines don’t count.  Give me the address of the site that gave you the information or picture.)  If it gave you information or a picture, you need to list it!

My five groups are spread around the room and in the hallway creating now.  It's so cool to see them writing and speaking into the iPads.  They are learning.  They are creating!  They aren't bored!

I love it!

How have your students created a book on their iPads?  

Toontastic Week!

I just sent my kids working on their very first full-fledged Toontastic project.  My directions to the students are copied below.

I can tell you that these kids are excited to be creating something fun, and they haven't even touched an iPad yet.  Just the thought of writing and animating their own story has them full of giddiness.

I'll let you know how it goes when we get on the other end.

******************************************

READING

Toontastic Week!

TEST GRADE

You are going to spend this week creating your own cartoon using the Toontastic app.  However, I am not going to just let you grab the iPads and start creating.  You must plan first.  So, follow these simple steps so that you can create a wonderful Toontastic cartoon.

Step One:  Plot Hill.  I want you to create a simple plot hill (on notebook or computer paper) with the following items…

·         Introduction.   Introduce your main character(s) and something about the setting.  Do NOT just say, “Main Character is Bobby.  He lives in Cincinnati.”  Be creative about it.  Think about how your favorite stories and TV shows introduce character and setting. 

·         Initial Incident.  Give one event that introduces a problem.

·         Rising Action.  I only need two events in the rising action.  Feel free to do three if you want, but I think that two will be plenty.

·         Climax.  Give one event that is the major turning point.  Remember, your problem isn’t solved yet, but it’s really close.

·         Falling Action/Denouement.  You need one event to solve the problem and wrap it up.  If you’re dying to have two, you may. Keep in mind that too many events will make your life harder later in the week.

This is a class work grade.  Come show it to me when you are done. 

Step Two:  Draw.  When you get on Toontastic, you’ll see that they use different vocabulary than I do.  That’s not a problem.  Here’s the translation…

·         Story Arc = Plot Hill

·         Setup = Introduction

·         Conflict = Initial Incident

·         Challenge = Rising Action

·         Climax = Climax

·         Resolution = Falling Action and Denouement combined

·         Be sure to draw one square for each item on your plot hill from Step One. 

·         This is important!  DO NOT RECORD SOUND AT THIS TIME!

This is a class work grade.  Come show me when you are done.

Step Three:  Write a script.  Yes, you need to write a script to go along with your cartoon.  Your script should include everything you are going to say and every sound effect you are going to create. 

This is a class work grade.  Come show me when you are done.

Step Four: Record your voice.  I am going to try to separate you into different places in the building so you aren’t all causing a ruckus on each other’s cartoons.  You are allowed to have assistants and/or props to help you with this step.  Just remember that this is your grade, not theirs. J

You have only five class periods to do Steps 1-4.  I will also host a Toontastic Finishing Up Party after school till 3:15 on Monday, January 9, if you need to finish up.  I am expecting that you will be done by that time.

This is a test grade.

Step Five: Watch each other’s cartoons.  We’ll do this in class when everyone is done.

Paper work (Steps 1 and 3) can be done at home.

iPad work (Steps 2 and 4) can only be done at school since the iPads stay here.  Use your time wisely.  If you can find other time (study hall) to work on it, you may but you may be restricted to only class time.

Parents, you may come after school till 3:15 on Thursday, January 12, to see your child’s cartoon. Please shoot me an email to let me know you are coming. 

The Last Holiday Concert

We recently read The Last Holiday Concert by Andrew Clements in my fifth grade language arts. I did this one as a read aloud which limited the activities we could do in conjunction with the book. Here's what we did.

Week One

Monday

·         Read Chapters 1-3

·         You will be given one character web to complete while I read to you.  I want you to give me four details about Hart.  You will need to give me two sentences for each detail supporting that point. This is classwork, but if you need to finish it overnight you may.  Due Tuesday.

·         Homework:  Go to  www.andrewclements.com and read the author’s biography.  Then, hop on over to http://mvcaelementary.wikispaces.com/.  Create a new wiki page and tell me three interesting facts about the author’s life.  Remember to use your fake name.  Due Wednesday before you go to bed.

Tuesday

·         Chapters 4-6

·         You will be given another character web just like yesterday. This one will be done on Mr. Meinert.  While I would like this to be done in class, you have till Wednesday to finish it.

·         Reading Response Journal:  What makes a kid popular?  Is this a good thing or a bad thing? (1/2 page, please)

·         Don’t forget yesterday’s web assignment.

Wednesday

·         Plot Hill Quiz

·         Remember that your web assignment is due before you go to bed tonight.

Thursday

·         Read Chapters 7-9

·         You are going to get a Sequence Chain in class today after I am done reading the chapters.  Your job is to give me the 6 most important events of the first nine chapters in order.  You must write two sentences in each box.  I will try to give you time to work with your group.  I would love to have this before you leave class but will happily take it before class starts on Friday.

Friday

·         Station Day!

·         One station will be a Reading Response Journal: Will Hart ask Mr. Meinert to take over? (1/2 page, please)

Week 2

Monday:
• Read Chapters 10-12.
• You know I can’t resist a good plot hill. Taking your sequence chain from last week and the new events we read so far, can you put 8 events on plot hill in the right spot? On a piece of notebook paper, draw your plot hill so far. I’ll take this tomorrow, but if you finish it today you can put it in Basket 2 before you leave.
• Go back to www.andrewclements.com. Click on books, then novels. Which of Mr. Clements’ books would you like to read next? Why? (Note: You HAVE to give me at least one book that you might like to read.) Your answer should be in complete sentences (2-5 should be sufficient) and put on your wiki page. You can just add to the page you created last week. This is due before bed time on Wednesday.

Tuesday:
• Read Chapters 13-14.
• Reading Response Journal: Poor Hart! Things didn’t go his way at the end of today’s reading. Tell me what went wrong and how you would have handled it differently if you were Hart.

Wednesday:
• Read Chapters 15-16.
• Reading Response Journal: Did we just see a new side of Mr. Meinert? Tell me how he’s starting to change. I love in this book how both main characters see the other side of school life. How is Hart changing?

Thursday:
• Read Chapters 17-19.
• Reading Response Journal: On page 126, there is a conversation between Allie, James, and Jenna about including all beliefs, mentioning fearing being too Christian and offending Jewish people. Jenna pipes up that she doesn’t mind but maybe they should include Kwanzaa and something about Islam. How does this differ from holiday concerts here at MVCA?

Friday:
• Read Chapters 20-21.
Be sure you take the AR Test before you leave for Christmas Break

Week 3

Monday:
• Mr. Meinert and Hart both changed quite a bit as this story unfolded. Literary people would say that they were dynamic characters because they changed. (Static characters don’t change during the story… like the kid who dressed up as the Elvis Santa.) In a paragraph (yes, a world famous 3-pt paragraph) you need to pick one of the two characters and tell me HOW he changed. You are only required a rough draft, but you should be careful to fit the format given in the Paragraph Notes. This is a classwork grade due Wednesday. You may turn it in anytime before then.
• I will be collecting your journals tomorrow, so I hope you’ve completed all 5 entries.
• Don’t forget to take your AR Test before Christmas Break. I will not accept late tests.

Tuesday:
• You and your group will be given a length of bulletin board paper. Imagine you had the chance to develop Thursday night’s Christmas concert. How would you design the auditorium? Draw and color it on the paper. Use the whole paper. Post your picture on the wall in this classroom. You will have two days to work on this. If it is not done by the end of class Wednesday, you will have to find time to finish it on your own. It is due the beginning of class Thursday at the latest.
• Paragraph due Wednesday.
• Don’t forget to take your AR Test before Christmas Break. I will not accept late tests.


Wednesday:
• You will have all class period to work on your picture with your group. I’d love for it to be done and hanging today. Make sure your names are on the front.
• Don’t forget to take your AR Test before Christmas Break. I will not accept late tests.


Thursday and Friday:
• Due to our own concert and the party, we will not have time for Reading class these days. We may have time for Language Arts, but I’ll fill that time with something else.
• Don’t forget to take your AR Test before Christmas Break. I will not accept late tests.

HAVE A GREAT CHRISTMAS AND A MERRY BREAK! We all have worked hard this first half of the year and could use a break! I’m proud of how far you’ve come in such a short time. See you in January!

So, tell me.  How have you used The Last Holiday Concert in your class? What ideas have you found that worked well for you?  How can I improved on this for next year?

Catching Up

I have a lot to catch up on. Here's a cool feature of the iPad.  I typed up the bulk of this post on the plane flying from Philly back home.  I typed it in Notes and transferred it to Blogger when I got home and could use the Internet again.  Sure, you can do this on a laptop too, but using an iPad in public just feels cool.

On to the post...

I recently posted about WebQuests, and I wasn't impressed.  I found another quest on pioneer colonial life which was a ton better.  It was quick and easy and informative...but not exhaustive.  One problem.  In order to advance to the next level you had to answer yes or no.  That meant that in theory very little reading had to be done.  Make a guess. If you're wrong, no big deal, pick the other choice. So, I'd like to think that my students read every bit of the quest, but let's be realistic.  I didn't. Maybe for next year I can find something in the middle.  Till then, my faith in WebQuests is not entirely dashed forever.  Here's the link I used.  http://www.hfmgv.org/exhibits/smartfun/colonial/intro/intro.html  It even worked well on the iPads.

My kids love QR codes.  I use them in lessons now, and you would think I just gave them ponies for Christmas.  Attached below is one QR code I used to introduce an activity.  It will take you to a video of me introducing the activity.  My wife refused to watch since I didn't look happy.  Oops! I'll plaster on the smile next time.

You'll notice I used Vimeo not YouTube.  Why?  Ease of access in school.  Our school doesn't block YouTube, but it is quirky.  Vimeo was easier for me.

I'm struggling for a math app on a sixth grade level.  I find apps on blogs and download them.  However, they either seem to drill and practice facts below them or hit topics above their heads.  Do you have ideas?  I think I'm going to download a massive amount of math apps and give the kids a solid hour to explore and find their favorites.  From there I can come up with a plan for the future.  I welcome your input if you have something good for me.

My fifth graders tried Toomtastic for the first time a little while ago.  The response was overwhelmingly  good. they only had 8 minutes so they didn't produce anything to get giddy over, but I plan to have a Toontastic week soon. What I figure is that I'll give them time to plan, then to draw, then to animate.  One complaint kids had was that they had a hard time recording their voices in a loud room.  We'll have to have a "recording studio" room set aside for making that aspect of the production. More when that happens.

Thanks for reading.  If there is a topic you want me to hit, let me know.  I'll see what I can do.

Tech Integrators - December 8, 2011

I am sitting in the Philadelphia International Airport awaiting a flight home after a funeral, so I have some time for blogging.

My first thought is about my iPad, my music, and the Internet here in the airport. Every time I bring up Safari, my iTunes cuts out. So I turned on Pandora. Same thing. Now I'm listening to Muzak. Ugh!

Here is an article about what to do before you unleash a 1:1 program on your middle schoolers. The #1 thing? Email training. Interesting. I think my students are being trained on Office right now, so we're a bit off the radar here. I know that in one of my wiki projects I had to put the kabash on goofball emails as teachers and parents had to read them. Craziness. Here's the link. http://tericeschneider.com/?p=11

This article is about 10 months old. Ancient for this discussion, but it has good questions to comsider before you get into a program. A lot of it is for administrators and the IT department not the teachers, but there are some good thoughts for classroom teachers as well. Are you teaching in project-based environment or are you still the lecture-style teacher. If you are putting machines in there hands, you have to be prepared to give up some control.
http://ipadeducators.ning.com/profiles/blogs/preparing-your-school-for-an

Do you use Twitter as a teaching tool? I have a hard time allowing my 10- to 12-year old students get ahold of Twitter. I must still be a bit old fashioned. However, this article gives reasons to ponder it.
http://www.teachhub.com/twitter-classroom-discussion

I'm a gmail guy. I really think a third of my life is run by Google, and another third is run by Apple. This article helps us guide the way to meld the two together. I need to do this.
http://lifehacker.com/5859854/

If you're not following the Nerdy Teacher, then start now. Here is his list of 5 most needed apps in school. What would you put on your list?
http://www.thenerdyteacher.com/2011/11/in-next-few-days-i-will-be-rolling-out.html?utm_medium=twitter&utm_source=twitterfeed