Finger Puppets?

This has real potential! Check it out here.

Are Video Games on to Something?...

I've been reading up on some very intriguing ideas about the concept behind video games. The reality is quite simple, or so sources note. Game designers appeal to the difficulty of engaging individuals for longer periods of time. The entertainment factor seems to be more dynamic than simply entertainment.

In essence, individuals must be engaged on many levels. Educators are familiar with the concept - multiple intelligences, learning styles. We know that nobody learns in exactly the same fashion (although some can be very similar), and most do not learn in only one focused fashion. Video games have achieved what educators have struggled with for years: create multiple dimensions of challenge as well as appeal.

Most successful video games involve gamers in a primary plot that is supported by numerous sub-plots. Among these plots and sub-plots are various activities and challenges, most optional. Gamers have the opportunity to challenge themselves to any degree they desire, and most games are capable of challenging the very best while engaging the least savvy among us as well.

Educators everywhere learn the lesson. If we can frame our class after this concept, we can achieve what is often considered impossible by those unwilling to work hard enough to achieve it.

Teaching Credit

Random video lesson about credit - very creative and comical!

Research with Mr. Smith 4

Research with Mr. Smith 3

Video #3: Citation

Using Credible Sources

Video Lesson #2

Research Video 1

This is the first video in a series for 8th grade ELA students preparing for a research project.

Theme Intro

This is a possible option for an introduction to theme. Have students watch video and brainstorm possible themes. On a T-chart, have them write their ideas on left and provide evidence from the source on right (PROVE IT!).

Homophone Review

What a perfect homophone lesson introduction!

Cont...

Influence Unit Intro

Genre Mini-Lesson

Genre Lesson on Prezi

Solid Advice

Came across this advice from my PLN - courtesy of "Free Technology for Teachers" blog by Richard Byrne.

Influences Visual

Teaching an 8th grade ELA unit on "Influence" and was tipped off by Dione Hickok (Riley St. Middle School) on this great representation of the theme!



(Sorry about the sizing... I suggest clicking the video and watching it on youtube to get the full frame.)

Great Wordle Ideas!

Purely Amazing...

I've never seen anything like this. The things that can be accomplished with technology today obliterate what was accomplished yesterday and may yet be forgotten by tomorrow.

ACDC Vs Iron Man 2 - Architectural Projection Mapping on Rochester Castle from seeper on Vimeo.

Very Creative

PIXELS by Patrick Jean from ONE MORE PRODUCTION on Vimeo.

Video Used in Diverse Pop (EDU 363)

This is a video I made for our presentation on Hispanic American students.
The goal is to convey the struggles that many Hispanic American students face in American education. An activity accompanied the video.

Graphic Organizer

This graphic organizer is a custom design I created for the purpose of prewriting aids to a very specific type of writing assignment. It fulfills the GLCE/HSCE W.PR.08.02 which calls for a variety of prewriting aids to be used.

The graphic organizer helps students visualize a perspective assignment. Any writing assignment in which students are asked to provide different perspectives or viewpoints benefit from this type of organizer. However, my assignment is one in which students will be required to develop multiple perspectives on a topic and then present the topic from one specific perspective while including and referencing the other perspectives. The graphic organizer will very clearly outline this relationship for students and makes for an excellent reference tool while working on the project.

"Mother to Son"

Today's Lesson: Gifninja

It is a simple tool, but a lot of fun for a classroom!

gifninja.com Create custom animated gifs at gifninja.com!

Blabberize Vid

I am using this video in class today where I am subbing at Potter's House High School for an 11th grade Civics class. Do you think it would be interesting if you were in Civics class?

Random Poll

Vote on either Kobe or Labron here.

Learning Object 3: Xtranormal video

This video is a useful way to communicate less "exciting" course content to students. For example, I would use this video in a stream of videos teaching students about the writing process. It would more easily grab attention and communicate ideas in small, digestible pieces.

Learning Object 2: US Expansion Pretest

This survey on surveymonkey actually functions as a pretest for me to decipher what the class knows on a given unit of study. It is a quick, easy, and generally entertaining way for students to be assessed without pressure.

Click here to take survey

Learning Object 1: Blabberize the Civil War

This is a video intended to introduce a lesson regarding Civil War perspectives specifically focused around children in the war.



pic sources:
kid: http://www.flickr.com/photos/62361174@N00/1346766013
man: http://www.flickr.com/photos/26406919@N00/477111054/

Survey

Students always struggle with time management. Everyone has their own "minor addictions" that seem to consume all their time. For many, these addictions include television-, internet-, or video game-related activities. Recognizing these addictions and the amount of time that is lost in them is the first step to solving the problem.

This survey is designed to create awareness and the opportunity to seek change in habits. When students complain about not having enough time, all they need to do is reflect on the amount of time they waste on unnecessary activities. This is only the first step, however. Follow-up is important in maintaining the goal.

Guess the story

Ribric for History Class

This is my rubric for a history role play project (click on the pic to enlarge).



This rubric aptly reflects the concepts of grading that I intend to adopt in my teaching. That is, I will be focusing much more on the experience of information rather than the regurgitation of it. Students will be asked to study and experience the contexts of the subject under study, whether history or literature. They will always be asked to pursue knowledge beyond classroom discussions and to display this knowledge in coherent, creative mediums.

I can use this rubric on any group projects regarding historical study as long as the final product of the project is some form of interactive presentation.

Haiti, We are the World 25

How To Video: Flotrackr

Animaniacs States and Capitals

Hillside Pic

From Blogger Pictures

Learning Style Reflection

Based upon the multiple intelligences survey, I appear to be fundamentally strong in four areas: kinaesthetic, visual, musical, and intrapersonal. My weaknesses, then, are naturalistic and interpersonal. I would definitely tend to agree with these findings. My every day inclinations lead me to pursue activities of physical, individual, and often musical characteristics. For example, my most common hobbies are running and playing guitar, and I generally pursue these hobbies in solitude. I am not averse to other areas, but I certainly do not tend toward group activities.

Based upon the Learning Styles survey, similar tendencies appear in my learning habbits. Specifically, I am predominantly a visual, non-sequential learner. I slightly disagree with these results on an every day basis. While I generally pursue solutions without seeking complete understand of details, I am also very attentive to details once the solution becomes more evident. For example, when told to go mow a lawn, I do not want anyone to tell me specific things to look out for or certain ways to do it. However, after I have pursued the activity for a time, I always desire to improve the manner in which I do something, so I am then much more attentive to detailed instruction.

My teaching, therefore, will undoubtedly reflect visual, kinaesthetic, intrapersonal tendencies, unless otherwise modified. I already know that I will include visual and graphic organizers with nearly every aspect of learning, whether direct instruction, group projects, or individual work. In order to counter the extremes of this tendency, I will need to provide more options for students. Many will consider themselves spatially and creatively insufficient; therefore, activities should not all demand some form of creative or visual representation. Also, beyond providing options in projects and assignments, I can continuously diversify the presentation of content in an attempt to reflect every learning style/intelligence each in its turn.

Ensuring that all students receive learning in their own strengths can be done through aforementioned diversification, but many other options are available to teachers as well. I can very easily assign choices to project representations and outcomes. I can allow group work for those who desire it and individual work for others. The most important aspect is being dynamic.

Aspects of Education

In the interest of determining what people value about education, I have set up a poll on the margin of my blog page. Feel free to vote and leave comments regarding your opinions.

Why I want to be a teacher

In response to EDU 262 assignment:

My desire to be a teacher is primarily founded on two sources of inspiration. First, I recently have served as a camp counselor at a Bible camp in Port Alsworth, Alaska. During this experience, I witnessed the vitality of influence on children. Those authority figures that existed in the lives of the Alaskan children commonly tended toward negative influences. Their common environments reflected the same negative influences. The reality I saw was that one of the greatest influences on children comes from their school.

Second, I have consistently discovered that some of the most influential people in my own life were teachers who were willing to sacrifice their own time and effort purely for my sake. Not only for me, but they were also willing to sacrifice for every student. I have been poured into by many, and I want to give to others as they gave to me.

After a short time...

I've recently learned that computers are both the answer to all our questions and the reason we have to ask them in the first place.

This is just the beginning.

I am looking forward to founding a fundamentally educational thread of thoughts and musings and experiences.