Featured Project
Cell Online Dating Ad Using Nearpod
Use of AnalogyCell Online Dating was a lesson presented to high school students through the Nearpod app. The lesson was created in the hopes that students would make connections better if their assignment options were interest based.
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Bridging the GapInformation about different organisms were placed in a "dating profile." Students can see the main characteristics of different organisms in their "about me" section. Photos and species names were used to incorporate scientific language and discourse.
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Choosing a MatchThis activity used real world examples such as popular musical artists. Once students chose the 2-3 profiles that they wanted to work with, they were able to match the profiles with other profiles that I provided or they made their own. Students submitted their matches and reasoning behind their match choice.
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Overall, I feel that the delivery can be improved. Engaged students were able to go on the internet and search different animals, bacteria, plants, and etc. to match to the profiles. They asked a lot of questions. Their reactions showed curiosity and excitement at the all of the possibilities. In the future I would incorporate more collaboration and make it an active activity similar to speed dating. The students can use the pre-made profiles or dating checklists and go through speed dating where they try to find their match. They can then record their matches and tell me why their profile matches with the others.
Some of the benefits of using Nearpod have a lot to do with access and technical options. Teachers can display the presentation in live mode or homework mode. Live mode allows the teacher the control the slides, and homework mode allows the students to control the slides. The activity was in homework mode so that students could go through the slides as they pleased.
Overall, I feel that the delivery can be improved. Engaged students were able to go on the internet and search different animals, bacteria, plants, and etc. to match to the profiles. They asked a lot of questions. Their reactions showed curiosity and excitement at the all of the possibilities. In the future I would incorporate more collaboration and make it an active activity similar to speed dating. The students can use the pre-made profiles or dating checklists and go through speed dating where they try to find their match. They can then record their matches and tell me why their profile matches with the others.
Some of the benefits of using Nearpod have a lot to do with access and technical options. Teachers can display the presentation in live mode or homework mode. Live mode allows the teacher the control the slides, and homework mode allows the students to control the slides. The activity was in homework mode so that students could go through the slides as they pleased.
Exploring Other Technology
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Lessons Using Technology
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What's New in Education?
Flipped Classrooms
Educators and other individuals in this field need a variety of ways to effectively engage students in their learning. One of this biggest setbacks that comes about while using new strategies is the mindset that one size fits all. Different strategies work better for some students than they do for others.
The Flipped classroom strategy uses technology to further student learning providing options for teachers to record their direct instruction and lessons to post online. This allows students to watch the lectures at home, where they can fast forward through the content that they already comprehend or stop and go back through content they didn’t understand thoroughly the first time the teacher taught it. I think this strategy uses online lectures in an engaging way. It seems great for embedding interactive pictures, videos, graphs, slideshows, and other forms of media.
Overall, the flipped classroom seems like a pretty useful approach for today’s learners. It incorporates technology in a way that aids and supports learning instead of as learning. Having the lecture available for students at all times should drive learning, but I worry about the students who don’t have access to the online lectures at home. All students may not have the resources at home or a means to get to where the resources are located. So, I wouldn’t totally switch in the in class learning to homework and assignments only.
I think that there is some hope for this strategy to transform teaching and learning. This tool forces teachers to review their teaching habits and mode of delivery. Technology and education go hand in hand, and a flipped classroom provides a nice balance of technology utilization and student-centered learning. This method also helps increase interaction between the students and teachers. Those interactions should help improve the teacher-student relationships which in turns provides a safe and open learning environment. Learning environment is important when it comes to student’ understandings.
The flipped classroom opens the door for the use of a lot of technological tools. Many of the online tools that I’ve researched would work wonderfully with this method. I can use websites such as Nearpod and Khan Academy to show videos and direct instruction presentations for at home viewing, and classroom time can be used for other online activities such as virtual labs, ThingLink interactive video and pictures, or any other assignments. These options will help me properly scaffold the content for each students’ level of understanding. Flipping my classrooms will help me differentiate for each student.
Concept Maps
A concept map is a visual representation of the relationship among terms. It uses visuals such as graphs, charts, and etc. This strategy is great for visual learner in the class and can be used in a small group or whole class setting.
In the science classroom, I’ve utilized concept maps when introducing various concepts. Recently during a cell lesson, the students and I used concept maps to go over the components of cell theory. We use concept maps that are both fill in the blank or open-ended where they create their own.
I use powerpoint and word to create concept maps. Most people are familiar with the programs and majority of the computers on the school campuses have them so that the students have access as well. Cacoo is another tool for concept mapping. It is very user-friendly and versatile. It is a free online diagram tool for creating sitemaps, flowcharts, mind maps, wireframes, mockups, and etc.
The file below is an example of a cells concept map created with popplet. I chose this topic because it is the main idea of the standard one of the GA Performance high school standards. This standard covers the building blocks of life and how they are connected with macromulecules, water, and enzymes. This is used in the classroom as a way to tie our content together as we go throughout the semester.
Flipped Classrooms
Educators and other individuals in this field need a variety of ways to effectively engage students in their learning. One of this biggest setbacks that comes about while using new strategies is the mindset that one size fits all. Different strategies work better for some students than they do for others.
The Flipped classroom strategy uses technology to further student learning providing options for teachers to record their direct instruction and lessons to post online. This allows students to watch the lectures at home, where they can fast forward through the content that they already comprehend or stop and go back through content they didn’t understand thoroughly the first time the teacher taught it. I think this strategy uses online lectures in an engaging way. It seems great for embedding interactive pictures, videos, graphs, slideshows, and other forms of media.
Overall, the flipped classroom seems like a pretty useful approach for today’s learners. It incorporates technology in a way that aids and supports learning instead of as learning. Having the lecture available for students at all times should drive learning, but I worry about the students who don’t have access to the online lectures at home. All students may not have the resources at home or a means to get to where the resources are located. So, I wouldn’t totally switch in the in class learning to homework and assignments only.
I think that there is some hope for this strategy to transform teaching and learning. This tool forces teachers to review their teaching habits and mode of delivery. Technology and education go hand in hand, and a flipped classroom provides a nice balance of technology utilization and student-centered learning. This method also helps increase interaction between the students and teachers. Those interactions should help improve the teacher-student relationships which in turns provides a safe and open learning environment. Learning environment is important when it comes to student’ understandings.
The flipped classroom opens the door for the use of a lot of technological tools. Many of the online tools that I’ve researched would work wonderfully with this method. I can use websites such as Nearpod and Khan Academy to show videos and direct instruction presentations for at home viewing, and classroom time can be used for other online activities such as virtual labs, ThingLink interactive video and pictures, or any other assignments. These options will help me properly scaffold the content for each students’ level of understanding. Flipping my classrooms will help me differentiate for each student.
Concept Maps
A concept map is a visual representation of the relationship among terms. It uses visuals such as graphs, charts, and etc. This strategy is great for visual learner in the class and can be used in a small group or whole class setting.
In the science classroom, I’ve utilized concept maps when introducing various concepts. Recently during a cell lesson, the students and I used concept maps to go over the components of cell theory. We use concept maps that are both fill in the blank or open-ended where they create their own.
I use powerpoint and word to create concept maps. Most people are familiar with the programs and majority of the computers on the school campuses have them so that the students have access as well. Cacoo is another tool for concept mapping. It is very user-friendly and versatile. It is a free online diagram tool for creating sitemaps, flowcharts, mind maps, wireframes, mockups, and etc.
The file below is an example of a cells concept map created with popplet. I chose this topic because it is the main idea of the standard one of the GA Performance high school standards. This standard covers the building blocks of life and how they are connected with macromulecules, water, and enzymes. This is used in the classroom as a way to tie our content together as we go throughout the semester.
cells_popplet.pdf | |
File Size: | 464 kb |
File Type: |
Promethean Board & ActivInspire
The ActivInspire program can be used to make lessons engaging and fun for students. Educators can use a number of features to make lesson on the Promethean board interactive. The lesson shown on the left is a flip chart lesson on cells created by integrating PowerPoint presentations. My colleague and I used translucency sliders, hidden shapes, and eraser tools to reveal answers and information for our students. The flip chart file can be downloaded below for a better look. You may need to download ActivInspire software if you do no already have it in order to view the file. Download here: Cell Lesson Flip Chart |
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