I've been somewhat absent from this blog recently. Partly due to the same reason I was creating this blog - the GB Henderson Summer Program. While the Las Vegas program has not yet started, and will not start for just over two weeks, the Colorado program is currently under way and I was asked to spend two weeks in Colorado providing assistance at the program here. Needless to say I've been very busy trying to help out while still completing the work for my Master's classes and trying to fit in some sightseeing on the side!
However, while helping out with the summer program here, students are coming up with ideas I've never considered as well as reminding me of resources that I've used in past years that I thought I'd mention. Let's first start with what the students are coming up with - Google Sketchup! Students independently came up with the idea to create models of their displays using Sketchup. The students were able to quickly create scale drawings of their vision that communicated their thoughts and plans with the teachers. This lead to clarity in communication and ease of planning - I can't believe I haven't thought of this before! One student even decided to import his model into Alice, a "free scripting and prototyping environment program for 3D object behavior," in order to create a simulated environment. The technical capabilities of these students never ceases to amaze and wow me!
As far as reviving a previously used resource, I revisited an online polling service, Poll Everywhere, to introduce students an audience response system for an interactive piece for their end event. Students are currently considering using this system to test audience knowledge about the ownership of food companies. They will see how much people know about the ownership and subsidiaries that rule the food industry.
Are there any other similar resources or suggestions you can think of to help the students out? We are always open to suggestions!
Thursday, June 21, 2012
Saturday, May 19, 2012
Go with what works
This week I ran across a couple of resources that sparked some ideas for me. In both situations, the theme seemed to be, "go with what works." In the first resource, it was suggested to use a popular novel as a way to approach a scientific debate and in the second resource, the popularity and familiarity of social networking was cited as a tool to help fight obesity. Sometimes as teachers, we need to remember that it's okay to go with what works and that it's not always necessary to keep re-inventing the wheel.
The first resource that I came across was a blog from the New York Times. This blog proposed using the Hunger Games (and the scenarios with their genetically modified jabber jays cross-breeding with the mocking birds to create mocking jays) as a way to start the conversation about genetically engineered organisms. While the Hunger Games scenario is fictional, it is a great way to drum up interest in this topic and to use the success of the hugely popular series to get students thinking about a topic that would otherwise seem rather foreign to middle school students. I liked the journal prompt the author suggested as well as many of the other resources for continued exploration. I will need to make sure to revisit this and find a way to incorporate this into my summer teaching.
The second resource that I came across was an article about how an online social network is helping obese students with their struggles to lose weight. It discussed how students benefit from the anonymity of the program, along with the social supports that are built into it. I think this would be an interesting way to start a discussion on how the internet can truly bring people from similar situations together regardless of their physical location and how we all can benefit from a support group. As we start thinking about a lasting project from this summer, perhaps this might be a direction we can go in - a creation of a support group or an online diet and exercise regimen (perhaps as an app?) - a judgment-free zone of support as students work to support one another and to encourage others to become more fit.
The first resource that I came across was a blog from the New York Times. This blog proposed using the Hunger Games (and the scenarios with their genetically modified jabber jays cross-breeding with the mocking birds to create mocking jays) as a way to start the conversation about genetically engineered organisms. While the Hunger Games scenario is fictional, it is a great way to drum up interest in this topic and to use the success of the hugely popular series to get students thinking about a topic that would otherwise seem rather foreign to middle school students. I liked the journal prompt the author suggested as well as many of the other resources for continued exploration. I will need to make sure to revisit this and find a way to incorporate this into my summer teaching.
The second resource that I came across was an article about how an online social network is helping obese students with their struggles to lose weight. It discussed how students benefit from the anonymity of the program, along with the social supports that are built into it. I think this would be an interesting way to start a discussion on how the internet can truly bring people from similar situations together regardless of their physical location and how we all can benefit from a support group. As we start thinking about a lasting project from this summer, perhaps this might be a direction we can go in - a creation of a support group or an online diet and exercise regimen (perhaps as an app?) - a judgment-free zone of support as students work to support one another and to encourage others to become more fit.
Food Revolution Day
In honor of May 19th, the so declared Food Revolution Day, I thought I would share this visual.ly infographic from the Food Revolution Day website.
Maybe we need to consider having the students make some sort of infographics of their own? While I like the idea, I always struggle with the fact that once I show them examples, they come up with products that are eerily similar to the examples I've shown them. Any suggestions for ways to get students to create truly original work?
Maybe we need to consider having the students make some sort of infographics of their own? While I like the idea, I always struggle with the fact that once I show them examples, they come up with products that are eerily similar to the examples I've shown them. Any suggestions for ways to get students to create truly original work?
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Design Your Own Apps
Another thing I'd like to consider or possibly explore as a project for this summer would be the idea of creating apps. As I was skimming through blogs, I came across a post by Steven Anderson on Blogging About The Web 2.0 Connected Classroom: So...You Wanna Design Your Own Apps. (I'm not sure if I'm citing his blog post correctly, so if I am failing to follow blogging etiquette, please let me know - I want to give credit where credit is due, and I don't want to offend anyone!)
In his post, Mr. Anderson suggested several resources to help educators (and students) create apps. At first I thought that the Android App Inventor might show the most promise for me, as I am reasonably Google savvy, and I thought I could pick this up the most quickly. However, my biggest concern would be the fact that an app created using this would be limited by the Android platform. After reading the comments, I saw a couple of additional things to try.
I will need to spend some time exploring some of these options and considering which might work best in our summer program environment and addressing some of the questions that I have about using them. For instance, what kind of apps could we create? Could we use QR codes to direct people to the App Store or Google Play to download the apps?
Update 5/22/12: I just came across another article that suggested some resources for creating apps for Apple products. However, these articles made app design and creation see much more complex and more daunting that initial article did. The first article discussed the advantages of teacher-created apps, while the second article focused more on the different programs and services you could use to aid you in the app creation process.
In his post, Mr. Anderson suggested several resources to help educators (and students) create apps. At first I thought that the Android App Inventor might show the most promise for me, as I am reasonably Google savvy, and I thought I could pick this up the most quickly. However, my biggest concern would be the fact that an app created using this would be limited by the Android platform. After reading the comments, I saw a couple of additional things to try.
I will need to spend some time exploring some of these options and considering which might work best in our summer program environment and addressing some of the questions that I have about using them. For instance, what kind of apps could we create? Could we use QR codes to direct people to the App Store or Google Play to download the apps?
Update 5/22/12: I just came across another article that suggested some resources for creating apps for Apple products. However, these articles made app design and creation see much more complex and more daunting that initial article did. The first article discussed the advantages of teacher-created apps, while the second article focused more on the different programs and services you could use to aid you in the app creation process.
QR Codes
Another thought floating around is the prevalence of QR codes around Las Vegas. Many locations have the codes posted around town so tourists can scan them with their phone and then the code will link to a website or a video with more information. Perhaps we could have students create some sort of QR codes to accompany their displays at the end exhibition so the visitors could see where students sourced their information from, could view related clips from the guest speakers, or even be directed back to the main website of the program.
Although I've never created a QR code before, I've definitely used my smart phone to scan them and explored the content they linked to. While I'm always slightly anxious about using new technology, I was able to find a link to an article that has some ideas for 50 ways to use QR codes in the classroom. While I haven't had time to explore all of the ideas, I'm sure that some might be viable or spur additional ideas.
Although I've never created a QR code before, I've definitely used my smart phone to scan them and explored the content they linked to. While I'm always slightly anxious about using new technology, I was able to find a link to an article that has some ideas for 50 ways to use QR codes in the classroom. While I haven't had time to explore all of the ideas, I'm sure that some might be viable or spur additional ideas.
Project Ideas
As part of the summer program, the students create projects to demonstrate what they've learned over the summer. Last year we explored the theme of Energy and as one of the projects, some students customized a Google map to show where LEED certified buildings were located in and around Las Vegas. It was the first time I had worked with students to create a custom Google map and the students displayed their map using iPads at the end exhibit. The iPads allowed for visitors to interact with the map.
View Las Vegas LEEDers in a larger map
For this, year, I think it would be fun for students to work with Google maps again, perhaps they could use it show where the food for the end event is sourced from. This will likely create a map with a larger spread of data points and it might bring some insight to people regarding how far their food travels to reach them and start a conversation about eating locally sourced foods. (Something that would be interesting given that Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert and so much of the food we eat is trucked or flown in from other areas.)
View Las Vegas LEEDers in a larger map
For this, year, I think it would be fun for students to work with Google maps again, perhaps they could use it show where the food for the end event is sourced from. This will likely create a map with a larger spread of data points and it might bring some insight to people regarding how far their food travels to reach them and start a conversation about eating locally sourced foods. (Something that would be interesting given that Las Vegas is in the middle of the desert and so much of the food we eat is trucked or flown in from other areas.)
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Reviving the Blog
I started this blog just over a year ago as an assignment for one of my previous Lesley classes. We were required to keep track of the various assignments for our course here. I haven't used the blog since that time, but since the url is easy and since I plan to refocus the blog on internet resources, it seems appropriate to continue my collection and revive my blog.
My focus this time around is going to be on gathering resources and project ideas for the summer program I am employed at. This summer's theme is food and I need to begin collecting my ideas and resources to prepare for the program. As I work on my collection, I would greatly appreciate any resources or suggestions that you might have or be willing to share with me.
The summer program I work at is a 5 week program for gifted and talented students who have just completed sixth and seventh grade. It is a free program for the students. Students are given the opportunity to learn from experts in a given field to ask them questions and learn from their expertise. There is no set curriculum; rather it is up to the interests of the teachers and students to guide the program. It is a unique model that the participating students (and teachers) seem to enjoy.
My focus this time around is going to be on gathering resources and project ideas for the summer program I am employed at. This summer's theme is food and I need to begin collecting my ideas and resources to prepare for the program. As I work on my collection, I would greatly appreciate any resources or suggestions that you might have or be willing to share with me.
The summer program I work at is a 5 week program for gifted and talented students who have just completed sixth and seventh grade. It is a free program for the students. Students are given the opportunity to learn from experts in a given field to ask them questions and learn from their expertise. There is no set curriculum; rather it is up to the interests of the teachers and students to guide the program. It is a unique model that the participating students (and teachers) seem to enjoy.
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