Last year I made simple "flipped" videos using a program called Jing. I used my notebook (smartboard) files and did a simple screencast for topics. I would upload these videos to my website and kids would watch and take notes. I hate doing notes in class so WHY would I record these boring presentations for them to watch?
During MERIT I was required to make a video to teach something. I immediately thought of my obnoxiously cute puppy at home. Of course during the summer I had the idea of creating a whole series with her in them. Now that the school year has begun I have already resorted back to Jing. My next video I am thinking of trying to incorporate my pup but only if time permits....who has extra time though? Here is the one and only video with her as of now.
I am putting my videos on my Youtube channel for students to refer back to. It makes it easy since all videos will be stored here! I am excited to create playlists to organize supplemental material as well!
Sunday, August 25, 2013
WSQing with Science!
During my two weeks at MERIT I learned about an amazing blog by Crystal Kirch. She gave me the idea of doing WSQs with my students. A WSQ (pronounced whisk...like the kitchen tool) goes along with flipped videos. The W stands for watch and take notes, the S is for summarize and the Q is for questions(about content or a future quiz question).
I assigned my first WSQ to the kids last week. I had explained how it works and also put step-by-step instructions for them to follow. Eventually I want them to do this on their own but you have to start somewhere! Here is the link to the worksheet they used.
I gave them a day to watch the video and take notes. The next day we started class by having a WSQ discussion.
I have been emphasizing that this is the year of failures and questions since I am learning so many new things and trying it out with them. Since I have already stated this many times with them, it made sense to have a discussion centered around their questions.
I gave them a couple of minutes to share their question with their table groups then they had to choose one they thought was a good question. They wrote their groups question up on the board. Once every group had written their question then we went through them and I had THEM answer their own questions. So powerful and brought up many more awesome questions!
I assigned my first WSQ to the kids last week. I had explained how it works and also put step-by-step instructions for them to follow. Eventually I want them to do this on their own but you have to start somewhere! Here is the link to the worksheet they used.
I gave them a day to watch the video and take notes. The next day we started class by having a WSQ discussion.
I have been emphasizing that this is the year of failures and questions since I am learning so many new things and trying it out with them. Since I have already stated this many times with them, it made sense to have a discussion centered around their questions.
I gave them a couple of minutes to share their question with their table groups then they had to choose one they thought was a good question. They wrote their groups question up on the board. Once every group had written their question then we went through them and I had THEM answer their own questions. So powerful and brought up many more awesome questions!
Tuesday, August 20, 2013
Last Year Learnings
I took a couple of workshops last summer (2012). After taking these workshops I thought I was a pro at google apps and knew everything about flipping my classroom. This was far from the truth!
I liked the direction things were moving last year. I did simple screencasts of my presentations which the students watched and took notes at home. I thought these were great until I learned how people are doing awesome things with their videos!
At the end of the year I wrote down some goals about how I could improve my classroom. I thought I had everything down until I started MERIT.
Don't get me wrong, MERIT was amazing! The only downside was that I started school a week after completing this program. After my two weeks my "goals" and "to do" list grew to over two pages. I only had a week and so many things to implement!
Cue my blog.
This blog is going to detail the ways I am changing my class to benefit the students. All the successes, the failures and the to be improved.
I liked the direction things were moving last year. I did simple screencasts of my presentations which the students watched and took notes at home. I thought these were great until I learned how people are doing awesome things with their videos!
At the end of the year I wrote down some goals about how I could improve my classroom. I thought I had everything down until I started MERIT.
Don't get me wrong, MERIT was amazing! The only downside was that I started school a week after completing this program. After my two weeks my "goals" and "to do" list grew to over two pages. I only had a week and so many things to implement!
Cue my blog.
This blog is going to detail the ways I am changing my class to benefit the students. All the successes, the failures and the to be improved.
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