iPod, iCreate, iLearn at Wenonah » iPods

Weekly Newscast

klera — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 14:05:09 +0000

Toward the end of the year we decided to integrate podcasting and writing by creating a weekly newscast. This activity will continue next year.

First, I modeled the writing process by leading the class to write a newscast as a whole group. I shared with them graphic organizers, based on the “Step Up to Writing” method of forming paragraphs. This activity modeled the effectiveness of collaboration. Through discussion the students shared synonyms and together we wrote a rich podcast. I saw them brainstorming in similar ways when they later worked in teams. MODELING IS KEY!
We sectioned off a part of the whiteboard and allowed children to post “newsworthy” story ideas. On Fridays, during a 45 minute writing period, the students were paired and the teams wrote and recorded their news story. Here is the website, which displays the results. (Click here).
The Jamestown’s podcast is a mixture of on site reporting using iPods with microphones.

They loved it and I observed notable growth in the writing skills of many students!

Moon Phases Podcasts

jskeens — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 03:15:23 +0000

The students used their Earth-Moon-Sun models (previous assignment) to explain the phases of the moon. The students worked cooperatively in groups of 3-4, wrote and recorded podcast scripts, and created/edited podcasts using Movie Maker. Students were given a podcast rubric to use when they collaboratively wrote their scripts. They used the iPods with Belkin recording devices to record their podcast scripts. They manipulated their models to demonstrate each phase of the moon and photographed their model in each phase. In the computer lab, the students used a task list to create/edit their podcasts using Movie Maker, their photgraphs, and voice recordings. Since each group essentially created similar podcasts with the same basic information, we have asked the third grade students, teachers, and school principal to vote on the most informative and creative podcast. The winning podcast will be posted to our podcasting site.

Parental Involvement

jskeens — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 15:01:05 +0000

During Curriculum Night on February 5th, the students showcased their animal adaptation podcasts and moon phase podcasts to their parents/guardians. The students were very excited to use the iHome docking stations to listen to the iPods. I loaded the iPods with their “final” animal adaptation podcasts and their “working” moon phase podcasts. The parents were amazed and learned information through their children’s work. I had one parent bring me her iPod that night and asked me to download her child’s animal adaptation podcast to her iPod. How exciting!!! Of course, I whipped out the labtop and did it for her right then. The excitement for podcasting is growing…throughout our school and even at home!

Student Created Podcasts

klera — Sat, 05 Jan 2008 17:23:42 +0000

Jessica and I are planning to facilitate learning activities as the students create collaborative, original podcasts. In groups the students will have to explain the phases of the moon. Building up to this activity the students studied the sun, moon and Earth relationships. Completing a hands-on assessment, student groups created a working model of the Sun, Moon and Earth. I am creating a web page that explains our sequence of activities and will post it soon.

This week the students will answer the question of why the moon appears to change shape in the sky. They will use books, United Streaming videos, interactive notebooks information and Explore Learning Gizmo’s (http://www.explorelearning.com/index.cfm?method=cResource.dspResourceCatalog)to develop their understanding of this concept. Explore Learning creates effective, interactive science and math simulations, which guide students to understand concepts. They began creating such materials for middle and high school students to use. I have been recently THRILLED to discover that they are making their way down to creating activities for elementary aged students -beginning by posting Gizmo’s, for grade 3-5 Science concepts!

For an assessment activity, each group will write and produce their own podcast explaining the phases of the moon. However, only one podcast will be posted to the web to help avoid redundancy of material content. The students will vote as to which podcast they would like to post. All the podcasts will be put on our local, shared server and there 3rd grade classes will preview each podcast and vote on which podcast should be posted. All the podcast will remain on the server this year to serve as an optional review tool for students as they prepare to take standardized test in the Spring.

Some people may think , “Oh, go ahead and post every podcast on the website.” Jessica and I thought about this…we believe that doing so would be modeling ineffective web publishing practices. Students need to learn how to evaluate the meaningfulness of content and to post appropriate materials on their website. Our selection process, we believe, is a way to model effective posting behaviors.

Let us know your thought on this selection process! We are always open to new ideas. Thanks!

Testing – Kid Style!

klera — Wed, 28 Nov 2007 20:45:43 +0000

To conclude the Virginia Natural Resources unit and prepare for the culminating test, the students collaborated to create their own test questions based on the material. Each group recorded their 4-5 questions on the iPod using the Belkin voice recording accessory to the iPod. As a class, we listened to each group’s questions using a docking station. The students recorded their answers on a sheet of paper which I collected.

The students had created test questions for other units in the traditional manner: pencil and paper. They were very excited about the chance to record their questions using the iPod and Belkin accessory.

We didn’t put the questions on the web this time, but we plan to do so next unit.

Podcasting for Review

klera — Mon, 26 Nov 2007 15:27:43 +0000

It’ s Kay here. I have recently joined the Classroom 2.0 on-line community. It is a terrific place for educators to meet and share ideas. On the Classroom 2.0 website, a user going by “TheMaze” , contacted me and shared how she is using podcasts in her teaching. Here is a URL linking to an example of a teacher using podcasting to scaffold at risk students as they study for tests…. http://www.masterymaze.com/content/early-man .

Jessica and I will be posting our activity soon!

Engaged Learners! October 2007

klera — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 00:29:35 +0000

I know it has been a long time since my last post. However, I am back. There apparently was a problem with the ordering process (not Apple Inc. related) and we seemed to have to wait forever to receive the class set of 5 iPods, voice recorders and iHome stereo (allowing for group work at one iPod).
We created a terrific activity, which involved student groups of 3 to rotate to iPod stations. Each station had a different video clip or two from United Streaming (www.unitedstreaming.com) downloaded to it. The students had a graphic organizer for sorting capital, human and natural resources found in the deciduous forest. They rotated to the stations, watched the movies and recorded oodles of resources provided to us by forests.
The result? They were able to observe the interdependence between humans and our natural resources.

A little background on our students: They are students in a 70% at risk school. They were considered to be a “tough bunch” and actually take a lot of TLC in order to get anything done.
How did they do? FABULOUSLY! You would not have recognized the class during the iPod station work! They were conversing, collaborating and getting along. The homeroom teachers and I just kept walking around and smilig the whole time. We did the lesson today with a second class and the same thing happened. The instructional coach walked in and reveled in the moment as well. He commented taht every child appeared to be engaged and excited about learning.

Pedagogy:
Students were discovering not being told (constructivism)
Students were working collaboratively (real world experience)
Students were moving with a purpose and active (brain based learning)
Students were watching video (visual learner needs)
Students were writing down observations (text based learners)

So far so good! I cannot promise to write every day -or even every week. However, I will try to write and share the iPod in the classroom activities we use. I may even include video from the classroom after we receive parental permission. This is a new tool to all of us. I will be sure to speak honestly about what works and what does not. Please share iPod ideas you have tried or think we should try in the classroom through our comments section.
Thanks!

iPods are on the way!

klera — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 03:16:17 +0000

We ordered 5 iPod stations which consists of 5 video iPods, iHome speakers, pelican cases, and griffin talk microphones. They should be here in about 9 days. Planning is commencing on the best way to create podcast guided science activities in the classroom. The iPods in science program is being piloted in a 4th grade classroom. Jessica, the classroom teacher and myself have begun to meet and plan for a smooth implementation. Our first goal is to create podcast-guided science activities to aid in small group work. The first science objective taught will be t the scientific process. Jessica and I will create a podcast that guides students to plan an experiment to discover which ball (out of a group of balls) bounces the highest. The students will not break into small groups and use the iPods as their guide during this first activity of the year. Instead, we will be using an LCD projector/ laptop combo to present the podcast to the whole class- modeling how to use the iPod stations as we complete the activity. I will post the podcast RSS feed in this blog when it has been established.

iPods in Fourth Grade Science

klera — Fri, 27 Jul 2007 16:19:02 +0000

A fourth grade teacher and myself are embarking on an exciting classroom project. We have written a grant to receive a set of 6 iPods for her science class to use as a learning tool. We will begin by creating podcasts to guide them through their hands-on labs. When that practice becomes comfortable for all we will upload content related videos to the iPods and send them home to serve as a remediation for ELL (English Language Learners) as they develop understanding of science concepts. In the spring (maybe sooner) the students will create podcasts of their own to communicate their understanding of science concepts they have studies. the podcasts will serve as a study guide or review prior to the administration of the SOL tests.

We were awarded half of the amount of funding we proposed to receive. Therefore, we are in the process of writing letters to request donations from local businesses. Hopefully, they will supplement the grant funds and allow us to purchase all the equipment we originally had in mind to buy.

Have any of you used iPods in the classroom? If so, how did you use them? What worked for you? What didn’t?